The Tiny Life

I am currently building a tiny house in my yard. Its design and construction has taught me some valuable life lessons.

Prior to building it, I attended a tiny house seminar where they taught me some things to consider. Like this gem...

To get ready for living in a tiny house, go through everything you have and get rid of 90% of it. Then, do it again.

I also learned this valuable design concept....

Everything must have more than one purpose or it has not been thought through completely.

An example of this would be the couch in the "living room." It's a couch (1) that folds out into a bed (2) with storage underneath (3).

The roof over the door (1) comes off for transportation and then covers the front window to protect it from flying road debris (2).

In my old age I also use this tiny house concept of doing multiple things. When I go downstairs to get something I think, "What else do I need down there?" So I won't have to make the trip twice.

It's all about living efficiently, and with a purpose.

When I drive to visit friends I will listen to the Bible and pray along the way. I combine shopping trips with a round of disc golf before or after, and pick up litter as I play. Efficiency.

And moms, I don't have to tell YOU about multitasking.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28

When my wife goes grocery shopping she buys some extra food items and drops them off at the food pantry.

Try this one. When you are paying for your meal at a drive-thru restaurant, also pay for the meal of the person behind you in line. You will not only touch them with the kindness of your hearts, but the heart of the cashier as well.

We are here for a reason, and a multitasking purpose. To love God, to love others, and to bring glory to God in everything we do. Multitasking in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

"Less is more." - Mies van der Rohe

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” - Mark 9:35

The Parable of The License Plate

I have been trying to get a license plate for my tiny house on wheels for the past four months. What a nightmare! One snag after another. Battling against the DOT can be an uphill battle. Unless, of course, you have someone to help you.

Things were going along well at first. I sent in my license application. All filled out. I sent them some money. I thought I had covered all the bases. Nope. I received a letter back from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation telling me they needed more money. Figures. Fine.

So I sent them more money.

Then I got an e-mail from my "application specialist" requesting even more information. They wanted to make sure my "RV" had a bed and a sink, a toilet and a cooktop. It's not an RV if it doesn't have them I guess. So I wrote back and told my specialist friend that I had all those things. Well, I had most of them, sitting in the trailer. I immediately ordered the rest.

That still wasn't enough. I needed a special certification stamp from my trailer manufacturer. It had have some special wording and it had to be attached to the trailer. I had a document with the wording on it but it wasn't attached to the trailer.

Well, that's a problem apparently. Looks like I had come to the end of the line in my effort to get licensed. Ah, but I have read the Bible. I know all about Law vs Grace. The Law, in my attempt to get a license plate, was being played perfectly by the state DOT. All their rules and regulations were quite hard to live by.

But then along came my tiny house trailer manufacturer. My savior! When I confessed to them my struggles with the state, they went above and beyond the call of duty. I got this e-mail from them yesterday.

"We will get you one. Let me work out the details and I will let you know asap. What address would you like me to send it to? Sorry this has been such a pain for you but we will make it right.

Angel"

My trailer company is sacrificing its profit margin to get me right with the State of Wisconsin. And did you catch the name at the end of the trailer company's message? Angel! Are you kidding me?

We can never satisfy the requirements of God's law. There's too many rules. Besides, we are prone to break rules to begin with. Jesus said, "There is no one good."

Thank God for His grace and mercy!!

Without the grace of my trailer company I'd be up the creek without a license plate. But thanks to someone who exhibited grace and mercy, I just might make it to "the promised land."

I thanked the trailer company for their customer service. And I thank God for the sacrifice of His Son. Without that I wouldn't have met the requirements of getting into heaven - a sinless life.

We all will be given a "license plate" when we get to heaven. A name that no one knows except Jesus. But only those who are 100% perfect will get one. We are made perfect through our faith in Christ. Send in your application today!

"Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." - Romans 10:1-4

Grace - Michael W. Smith

(wait for the message at the end)

The Parable of The Tiny Home

Today my tiny home will be in the Fourth of July Parade in Waupaca. It almost wasn't. Why? Because I was looking at things through MY eyes, not God's. Let me explain.

For several years now I have had a desire to build a tiny home, but it's not for me. It's for others to use who might have need of shelter. A home for a homeless family perhaps or a family whose house just burned down. That's not the story here though. The story is about God - His teaching, His protection and His love.

A few days ago I called my insurance agent checking one my coverage for when we would be taking the tiny home on the road for the parade. She checked and her company determined that my $10,000 investment (so far) would only be covered up to $1500 under my home owner's policy. What!?!

My friend Mark called later to arrange a time to pick up the tiny house for the parade. I told him the story about the lack of insurance and that the tiny home would most likely not be making the trip. I called the Chair of our non-profit, Hub Ministries, Inc. and told her the same sad story. Everyone understood. Everyone but God I think.

Two nights ago I went to bed believing that there would be no tiny home in the July 4th parade. I woke up feeling the same way. Maybe someone would come through with some insurance, maybe . . . Then I picked up my Bible and began to read. I was in Isaiah 40, reading through the Bible. This is what I read.

"28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint."

- Isaiah 40:29-31 

As soon as I read that I knew that the tiny home was going to be in the parade. Insurance or no insurance. Why? Because this house I am building is not MY house. It's God's house! Where was my faith? Where was my trust? It was in myself, and my insurance, not God.

The tiny house that is being built for those in need in our community does not belong to anyone except God. He has chosen a few people to build it. He has directed us to form a non-profit, not for our glory but for His. Our job is to build and be obedient, not to build and be fearful.

So, if you see us in the July 4th parade, please, give God the thanks and the praise. It is HIS house, not ours. And it will be passing before your very eyes.

God Bless The USA - Lee Greenwood

The Final Fight

I was sitting in the living room watching Ben Hur the other day when I was interrupted by a sound. It was the sound of something we usually experience rather than hear, but I got to experience BOTH on that day. It was the sound . . . of love.

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone was at my door. There was a lady standing outside our garage, knocking at the door! Alright, who is this lady? And what did she want?

So I bolted out of my chair and went out into the garage. The opening of the door revealed a somewhat familiar face but I couldn't place it. Then I saw the lady's husband climb out of their car. He looked familiar too! Hmm.

Turns out I had seen them both a month ago at the local home show. They were interested in the tiny home I am building for the homeless and the plans we had for a tiny home village.

So I gave them a tour of the tiny home. That took two minutes. LOL! Then we talked a bit and I walked them back to their car. I thanked them for coming out and gave each of them a hug. Why? Because of what the lady said.

"We're trying to understand what God wants us to do to help you in your efforts."

What?

There are lots of negative headlines in the news these days. Lots of pain and suffering in our world too. It seems rare when people want to help one another . . . love one another. It's unexpected when it should be the norm.

The sound I had heard that day was more than just a knock. It was the sound of love. Someone wanting to help someone else. So much so that they had piled into their car and traveled a distance to display it.

"7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." - 1 John 4:7-12

Who will you show love to today?

Love is the final fight. - John B. Perkins

The Sound - Switchfoot

The Parable of The Old Stud

The Old Grey Stud

Before you say anything, no, this is not a biographical piece. LOL! It's building a tiny home and not having enough supplies on the job site. You get desperate. How desperate? You'll see.

My friend Chuck and I were working on a few of the remaining walls on the project. I was looking through the scrape heap for a 48" 2x4 or something a little longer that I could cut without too much waste. There was nothing.

Well, there was some of the craps I had used last winter to hold the tarp on the trailer. I was indeed desperate. I picked up an old grey, weather piece of wood and measured it. Exactly 48"!! I wouldn't even have to cut it! So I picked it put it in place and nailed it into the wall.

The Old Rugged Cross

As I thought about it later I smiled. It was just like me. God reached down and grabbed a weathered old man and called him to be part of His family. He takes chances on lots of people and things seem to work out just fine.

How has God used you for His glory? He wants all of us to serve Him in some way. Are you using your gifts to shine a light on Jesus? We should be doing that. It's our job. :)

I was taking a break later that afternoon, looking at the old stud I had used when I noticed something else. Take a look at the picture to the right. I'm sure you can see it too.

What a blessing to be a child of God and to be serving others through the gifts He has given us. It makes me feel useful in my old age. Not "a stud" by any means, but a useful part of His family. And that is a good feeling.

"For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God." - Hebrews 3:4

The Old Rugged Cross - Johnny & June Carter Cash

You Are

I'm not sure when it occurred to me. Was it on my ride home? Was it later that night? No, it was yesterday morning during my prayer time. That's when it hit me. It was a message behind the message! See if YOU can figure it out.

First, a little back story. I am building a Tiny Home to be used by those who are in need of a place to stay. Construction has been going slowly all summer. All I have done so far is the floor. It's time to build some walls but I am just one man. So I had an idea - a wall-building party on Saturday. The trouble was, only one person came to help. Together we built and raised one wall. Still, I couldn't have even raised THAT one by myself.

To make things worse the temperature was in the 90's and just about that humid too. By the end of the day I was wiped out - physically, emotionally and spiritually. That's when I made up my mind to hire someone to finish the work. It's nearly October. In Wisconsin! Time is short!! I was depressed at my inability to get more done for those who need homes.

I called a contractor on Sunday but there was no reply. Nor the next day. Remember that bit of information for a few moments.

Monday night I had a meeting with a group of people trying to make a difference in our community. My friend Dana did the opening devotional. It was about Nehemiah and about how the first thing Nehemiah did when we heard about Jerusalem's walls being broken down was he prayed. A great devotional and a great reminder about putting first things first.

But there was a hidden devotional in Dana's devotional about Nehemiah - specifically for me it seemed. Who rebuilt Jerusalem's walls? Most people would answer that Nehemiah did. His name is all over the story. The story is in the Book of Nehemiah. But he did NOT build the walls. The people of Jerusalem did. God used His people to build the walls!

When I told our group about my decision to hire someone to finish building the Tiny Home, they wouldn't hear of it.

"We'll have a barn raising party only for the Tiny Home!"

"I know some carpenter friends."

"I'll make a lunch for everybody."

"I'll help out too!"

Although I am the guy with the trailer and all of the lumber in his garage, I'm not going to be the guy building and raising the walls. It will be the people of our community. Think about it. It's perfect. That's the way it should be! That's why no contractors are returning my calls. Just like in the story about Nehemiah and the Israelites, God had the people build the walls.

God had this plan all along. Who would have ever thought that!! (sarcasm) No wonder things were moving so slowly. It was because I was trying to do things on my own. Without God. God will build this house. I just have to get out of the way.

Lord, you are the God of these people. You are the light in this darkness. Who's building this tTiny Home, Lord? It's obvious. YOU are.

God Of This City - Chris Tomlin
Chris Tomlin talks about "God Of This City"
Building The Barn - Witness

Nehemiah

Who rebuilt the walls?

No Spring Chicken

Yes, it is spring. It is a time when all things are made new again. Flowers are blooming, trees and lawns are turning green. The birds are chirping and my bones are creaking. Why, oh why, at old age are our minds more adventuresome than our bodies?

As I write this story I am sitting in the dining room of our 1200 s.f. ranch home. I can see into the kitchen from here. The living room and sun room too. Based on the way my body feels today, I find it hard to believe that I built this house myself 35 years ago. It should have fallen down by now. And where did I ever get the energy!?

Thirty five years ago I was more supple, more bendable, more resilient. Today I am old. I try doing some of the things I used to do but rather than having success I have twinges and "boings" and I seem to have more snaps, crackles and pops than Kellogg's.

After lamenting my body's woes to a friend, she replied, "You ain't no spring chicken." For those who are not familiar with that phrase . . .

"The phrase ‘No Spring Chicken’ is usually used in a negative way to describe someone who is no longer young, probably past his young adulthood, and sometimes doesn’t realize it and tries to look and act younger than his age." *

My friend was right. Cluck . . cluck.

I am reading through the Book of 2nd Chronicles right now. Solomon just got done building God's house.  (I don't think HE built it himself though. He had "people" for that.) In chapter seven King Solomon dedicated the temple to The Lord. After he had done that God responded at night and told Solomon something that is worthy of remembrance, especially for me as my friends and I try to build a Tiny Home for our communities homeless.

^"14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Last night my wife and I were talking with a neighborhood friend. When our friend asked me what I was building in our yard I replied, "God's house." I wonder if God would heal my body if I humbled myself and prayed. Hmm. You know, He just might. :)

Father, I am building a house for you. Not that you would occupy it like in Jerusalem, but one that you can use for anyone you wish. I pray that you could keep this old body healthy long enough so I can accomplish the work. May there be good weather and plenty of good-weather weekends until I can get it enclosed. I pray for the people you have in mind who will be using it and who will be helping. I pray that you would be glorified in the provision of this home. May the obstacles be few and may many more houses be built - all with the same purpose . . . in Your name.

Can Tiny Homes Solve Homelessness In The U.S.?

* The origin of the phrase actually comes from its literal meaning. In the early 1700s, Farmers found that chickens born in the spring brought better prices than 'old' ones that had gone through the winter. When farmers tried to sell the old birds as 'new spring born', buyers complained that they were 'no spring chicken'. The first recorded use of the phrase in its figurative meaning was in 1906.

Meanwhile, In The Shower

Trying to figure out what God will do next is nearly impossible. Sometimes we might guess and be right but that would be a rare exception to this unseeable being who works in us and though us and all around us yet works quietly, preferring to be unnoticed. Yet, desiring to be known.

I have written before about the topic of "ideas" - wondering where they come from. I probably deduced that, in the end, ideas, like everything else on this planet, come from God.

Some of the best ideas I come up with . . . or should I say, the ideas that GOD comes up with, occur to me in the early morning hours. That's probably because I am still half asleep anyway and probably walking in some kind of dream state as I step into the shower, but that truly is where most of my ideas come to me.

Perhaps I should quit my day job and become a professional dreamer like Daniel. Yeah, that would be me alright. I'd be a natural. My wife will tell you that I have very little trouble falling asleep in the living room chair - a prerequisite for dreaming. LOL!

"7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream." - Daniel 7:1

This past Thursday morning I was struck by an idea that came bursting into my cobweb-filled brain, totally uninvited. The early morning thought I had was for a construction project. Not your "normal" dream but what IS normal when we are dreaming, right?

Anyway, for the past two days I have thought about little else - pursuing this dream, trying to figure out what to do with it. It seems weird but I think God wants me to build . . . a shed. Yeah, I know . . . it's not really an "ark", is it.

Reading what I wrote just now, I admit the idea DOES sound a little weird, but a shed is actually the perfect answer to a bigger question I have been asking myself for months now. As I look back on some of the "ideas" I have had along the way, they all seem a bit "out there" but that's why I think they are going to work. They all fit together and God loves the strange, the unexpected and the unusual. Hey, He loves ME and I'm certainly strange. But, as Mandisa's song asks, "What could be stranger (and more unexpected) than God in a manger."

My passion is helping others and I hope that, by honoring God while I do that, He will bless me with His provision in my pursuit of this "dream". Did my "dream" really come from God? I don't know. But ideas come from somewhere, and this one is just so "out there" that hesitate to make it known at all. And how will I know it will be "of God" or "of man"? That's easy. If it is "of God", it will succeed.

Here's a short video that I saw on Facebook Tiny Home group's page that launched this strange plan.

France Prefab Tiny House - Pin-Up Houses

Daniel's Prayer

God  Speaking - Mandisa

Me of Little Faith

Trying to find the right path through this world all by yourself can be like hacking your way through a dense jungle with a machete. It's possible, but it can also be difficult, especially if your blade is dull.

Recently, I ordered the trailer for a tiny home I am going to be building. It was slow going to make that decision. My machete blade, my confidence, was dull. Even though I only had two options.

Option One was buying a trailer specially built for tiny homes from Georgia. Option Two was simple - buy local. Only the trailer would cost $400 more. Even though it cost a little more, I chose Option Two. God, however, chose Option One.

This past Monday after work I was on my way to order the locally built trailer. It was going to happen. I had e-mailed the salesman and told him I was coming and when I was going to be there. It was a done deal. But on the way there I began feeling apprehensive about it. Really nervous and unsure. I began to doubt my decision. Was this really the right thing to do?

Upon my arrival at the trailer place the salesman I had been communicating with was nowhere to be found.  He was "unavailable" and was in his office with the door closed. Nobody else there knew anything about my previous trailer discussions. No one could find any quote.

After waiting 15 minutes, someone said, "I'll go get him." Good, I thought. He never came out. 15 minutes later I left. No sale, no salesman, nothing. I was SURE this was the right choice. I was clearly wrong.

I ordered my trailer on-line two days later from the company in Georgia - Tiny Home Builders. I couldn't have been more pleased. I received a phone call, half a dozen e-mails, a subscription to their newsletter, and I was provided access to numerous classes regarding tiny home construction. My logical choice was clearly not what God had in mind. God was clearing my way through the tiny home jungle, despite my desires to go in a different direction.

^{"11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.} - Jeremiah 29:11

What I didn't remember until later was that I had previously prayed for God to guide my decisions in my desire to build this tiny home for the homeless. He did just that as I literally found the door closed when pursuing Option One.

God had answered my prayer.

I found it very humbling to be reminded that God actually does hear our prayers. "Ye of little faith," I could almost hear Him say. I felt ashamed to realize my doubt in God. Perhaps I thought He was "too big" to help me with such a small decision. I was wrong.

How has God answered prayers in YOUR life? Has He brought someone into your life to help guide you in some way? Have you prayed for a new job and then suddenly been given one? Have you prayed for one thing to happen, then something even better happens?

As Christians, we have been chosen by God. That in itself is humbling! But I also believe that we have been chosen because we are supposed to do something for Him. We're not just supposed to sit on our butts in church for an hour on Sunday and then do nothing for the rest of the week. We are to move forward in faith . . . blind faith. God will direct us to accomplish His will. Why do we keep insisting on grabbing the steering wheel when He's sitting right in the drivers seat doing just fine.

May we be obedient in our decisions, may we be faithful in God's provision, and may we be sure of His direction for us. Even though sometimes it seems wrong to us, may we be ever-faithful of His plans for us, plans to prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.

God's Miraculous Plan - Nick Vujicic
Tiny House Trailer Video - Tiny Home Builders

Bob? The Builder?

Bob the Builder is a British children's animated television show. In each episode, Bob and his group help with renovations, construction, and repairs and with other projects as needed. The show emphasizes conflict resolution, co-operation, socialization and various learning skills. Bob's catchphrase is "Can we fix it?", to which the other characters respond with "Yes we can!" (Wikipedia).

"Can we fix it?" Fix what? Hmm. Interesting question, especially after my Sunday morning reading:

^"9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. ¹⁰ According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 3:9-11

I am getting ready to embark on a building project. I don't have any supplies yet. I don't have enough money in the bank to complete the project. On paper, this project is doomed to failure before it even begins. It doesn't make very good business sense. Naturally, I am going to do it anyway. Why?
The last verse above (v11) says it all for me lately. The only foundation upon which a successful building project can be laid is on Jesus.

I am getting ready to build a Tiny Home. I'm building it, not so much for my wife and me to live in, but as an emergency shelter for OTHERS to live in. Sounds noble I guess but I found myself stalled in the process. There were several factors contributing to my lack of motion. How am I going to pay for it? Who am I going to find who can help me? Is anybody really going to need this thing? Basically, doubt and fear were blocking my path. That is until . . . today.

This past Saturday I was speaking with a friend at a local food pantry. She told me how she had decided to "be intentional" in her work in Jesus' name. Maybe that should have been the title of this blog post? And then this morning I was listening to a message by Chuck Swindoll on my way to work. It was VERY convicting, delivering the same "be intentional" message found in Jesus Sermon on The Mount.

^"24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

²⁶ “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” - Matthew 7:24-27

I am reminded of a commercial I saw for a local health clinic. The ad featured local football star Aaron Rodgers. At the end of the commercial Aaron offers four words of encouragement. He simply says, "Let's get after it."

As I look at this project I have ahead of me I have to stop thinking that this is ME doing this. Yes, I can draw plans. Yes, I can build things. But this is not MY project. This is God's project. Bob is not the builder. God is. HE has already laid the foundation. HE has put people in place to help. Now HE is the one encouraging me through a friend to "be intentional" and through a commercial to "get after it" and through His Word Jesus reminds me that to be "hearers" of the Word is not enough. We must be "doers."

Are you procrastinating about something? Why? Procrastination is one of Satan's biggest tools to keep us from honoring God. I need to pray my way out of procrastination. I need to ne intentional about prayer and about honoring God's plan and be faithful, expecting God's provision. And I need to get after it. Today.

Let's Get After It - Prevea Health (Aaron Rodgers)