It’s been 4 months now since I purchased the body shop and collision business.  The winter was good to us.  While numerous vendors and contacts have told me that many shops were slow due to the lack of snow, I was able to add another employee and keep both busy full time.  We’ve added equipment to the shop and improved the lighting.  The dream continues!

Cannon Falls is a great community and I’ve been welcomed by so many.  Now a member of Rotary and the Chamber, along with meeting with a group of Christian men for a monthly breakfast / inspirational time.

I’m now looking at the start of racing season and hoping to get on the track AND be competitive.  Racing is a great release and its fun to be at the track with so many friends.  Unfortunately, I’ve noticed on Craigslist a couple of the cars owned by people I know have been up for sale.  Sad to see people leave the sport, but I also can appreciate the challenges.  I wish them well.

Yesterday marked the end of journey, today marks the beginning of a new journey.  Over the last 18 months, I have experienced the dream of someday owning a body shop and storage facility (yes both of them) becoming a reality yesterday when I signed the papers to purchase the assets of Johnson’s Collision Center and Store-Rite Storage in Cannon Falls, MN.  The body shop will be known as Soulfisher Collision.

When this dream began, it was really just an idea, a concept and had no likelyhood of becoming reality.  I had a well paying job but like most of us, I also had credit card balances, and most of my savings tied up in retirement funds.  Then December 16, 2010 came and I found out I would be out of a job once the merger took place.  For about 2 hours, the world seemed like it was going to close in, then I got the email from my wife saying that this was just the opportunity to pursue the dreams.  Suddenly, what could have been a very dark day brightened and a world of possibilities emerged.  From that point I began researching and searching for the opportunity to make the dream reality.

While the journey was a long eight months, I now have both a body shop and a storage center, paid off credit cards and money in savings.  To be honest, I can’t explain it all.  Yes, there was a lot of hard work, money to be borrowed to fund the business and risking it, but it was all accompanied by peace, inspiration and I believe, the incredible guiding hand of God.

I know that opens up so many questions and can be painful for some people who have lived faithfully and haven’t seen the same blessings that came my way.  I don’t have the answers, but I can just say be thankful in the little things as well as the big.  We all have things to be thankful for.  Most of us will sit down to way too much food to eat today, yet some will be handed a meal in a mission as they have no other source.  Yet in both, we can be thankful for provision.  It really is an “attitude of gratitude” that we need to have.  I’m always amazed by the joy you see on the faces of people around the world with so much less.  It clearly isn’t what we have, but the source of what we have that brings joy.

God bless you this Thanksgiving day and in the holiday season to come and beyond.  Search for the joy of the provider and give thanks!

It’s fall and the weather is starting to turn cold.  Soon road construction will end and winter begin.  We joke about these being the seasons in Minnesota as a way of defusing our frustration with delays in travel.  We hate waiting or being held up.  We are an instant society.

It is also the end of the racing season.  Tomorrow marks the last race event of the year for me.  I will bring the Corvette out for a few more passes down the track.  No expectations, just a little bit more fun before the cars go away for the winter. It was a frustrating season as I only won one round all year, well, technically two, but I don’t count a first round bye as much of a win.  But I learned plenty in this year.  It has been a year of developing patience.

There have been so many times that I have wanted to throw money at the Corvette, or even rush to get the Mustang back on the track this season, but I have learned to wait.  Not just wait, but wait for a better thing.  Money is in the bank that would pay to fix the car issues, but I need to reserve that capital to purchase a business, which has been a goal for years.

The business process has also been a season of waiting.  I have waited from December 16, 2010 to April 1 for the Qwest/CenturyTel merger to take place so I could receive my severance.  I’ve waited since first inquiring on the business I’m purchasing to now, and yet am still waiting on the finalization of everything necessary to close.  There has been waiting on attorneys, banks, the seller, the appraisal, and a host of other things.  But waiting has been good.

We think of waiting as wasted time, yet it isn’t.  In the time I have waited for the business, I have had opportunity to learn.  I’ve learned more about business in general and the one I am pursuing over the last 8 months then I have learned in years.  Waiting has been a blessing.

So what keeps you waiting.  Next time you have the opportunity to be delayed, take a moment and think about what you can learn in the place that you are.  It has been said to “stop and smell the roses.”  I might change it to “smell the roses, you aren’t going anywhere soon anyway.”  If you can find the good things at the place you are, you will experience an incredible release of the anxiety you could be feeling and find peace.

So as the apostle Paul so often wrote, “Grace and peace to you.”

Another month has past.  It has been a month since…

* my last blog entry

* I last raced my car

* I mowed the yard

Funny how time can go by so fast.  So often we measure it by all the things we’ve done.  Here I measured it by what I haven’t.  That actually feels like a more meaningful measure of my life lately.  It has been filled with waiting.  Yes, there is progress, but the big things feel only slightly closer than they were a month ago. While there is progress with the business, there is still waiting.  Until the waiting is over, I can’t say that I have purchased it, thus I can’t measure my time by any progress.

I am learning something however.  I am learning that I can be patient.  More than anything I want to buy a race motor, work on my Cobra, or tackle a number of projects that could involve money.  It isn’t time, so I wait.  But I’m okay with that.  If you know me, I’m intense and love to push hard and get it done, but I realize there is a reason to wait.

Well, enough rambling.  But I needed to see the shadow of time move, so I have now created a new blog entry by which to observe it’s passing.

The words I shared as part of our invocation at Rock Falls Raceway on 9/11 are below.  It is my hope and prayer that we can again return to the unity we found in the days following the tragedy of September 11th, 2001.

Today marks the 10th anniverary of a day many of us will long remembrr. On the morning of September 11, 2001 19 hijackers took control of 4 flights with the intent of attacking our nation at the very heart of it’s financial, political and military centers.

At 8:46 eastern time, American Airlines flight 11 was intentionally flown by the hijackers into thw World Trade Center North tower, folloed by united Airlines flight 175 being flown into e south tower just 17 minutes later.  By this time, many of us were hearing the news and coming to the realization that America was under attack.

Then at. 9:37 American airlines flight 77 was flown into the Pentagon. At 9:59, America watched as the South tower of the world trade center collapsed upon the many firefighters, police officers who were aiding those inside the towers in attempting to flee.  This was followed by the collapse of the north tower at 10:28

Meanwhile, aboard United Airlines flight 93 four hijackers were believed to be on a mission to fly the airliner into either the capitol or the Whitehouse. The passengers, having become aware of the tragedy unfolding in our country, along with the crew, fought to attempt to regain control of the plane and it was flown into the ground at 10:03near Shanksville, PA

All in all, 2977 individuals lost their life in this attack and subsequently, thousands of service men and women from not only our nation, but from those nation which have stood with us, in Afghanistan and Iraq.

As we, a nation, reflect on this tragedy the last few days, a common question has been “do you remember where you were we you heard the news?” I know i do and will never forget.

This morning, let me ask you some more questions to bring remembrance

Do you remember…

* how our nation came together as one nation?

* how democrats and republican congressman joined together as one congress singing God Bless America on the steps of the capitol?

* how we found hope in the steel beams inthe shape of the cross standing in the midst of the rubble?

* how we joined with neighhbors in backyards and praye?

* how the flag flew everywhere?

This weekend, memorials of stone were dedicated to those who lost their life that day.  May we take this moment to dedicate our own memorials, not of stone, but of heart and soul, to those lives by remembering those things that bring us together.

Yesterday was hot and muggy, almost oppressive as the heat and humidity built through the day.  In the evening, we attended church and where we meet is not air conditioned.  It felt great at first, but as several hundred people gather together in a closed room, the atmosphere becomes more stifling, despite the fans that were striving to keep air moving.  However, as I sat there, I started to notice that every once in a while you could feel a gentle breeze.  Not often, but enough that my focus changed from the uncomfortable heat to the cool sensation of a gentle breath of air.  It wasn’t constant, it wasn’t necessarily that cooling, but soon I looked for it, anticipating the feel of it across my skin. As I thought about this and the teaching on the topic of hope in dry places, I came to realize that hope is present in every situation.  To find it is a matter of attitude.  We can choose to feel the heat, the oppression of a situation, or we can stop and anticipate the hope that is there.  It is there, if you look for it.  No matter the circumstances you face, there is hope.

This message was further emphasized last night as Ronica and I sat watching the ABC News interview of Jaycee Lee Dugard.  Not many of us would have questioned her if she had simply said “I just wanted to die,”  but that wasn’t her focus.  She found hope.  Hope in a glimpse of the moon, hope in remembrance of her mother, hope that likely had to be sought out during the 18 years she endured captivity and abuse.

In my previous post, I talked about seeing the blessing and opportunity in what could be a bad situation with no job in this economy.  I now have a glimpse into what makes the difference, it is hope!  Each day is driven by hope.  I carry on because of the hope, the faith in those things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1).  May you find your hope in your circumstances.  And may you come to recognize the source of that hope is God as He reveals himself more fully to you as a loving father.

In April, I embarked on this new adventure with my employment change and I was going to faithfully blog my status along the way.  Well today is June 24th and my last post was a month ago.  A lot has happened in that month.  It hasn’t been a life of relaxation on the golf course as some might think.  Well, at least those that don’t know my game.  Golf is anything but relaxing if you are me, but that may need to change.  I have been working essentially full time on researching, planning and pursuing an auto body business since April 1st.  Well, this week, the effort paid off.  It’s not a done deal yet, but I have a signed letter of intent that the seller and I will work this deal.   In fact, the news came to me on my very last day of autobody shop management training.  Today I registered my new domain names and acquired a hosting provider so I can get things prepped for  day 0.  It has been an amazing journey thus far and has every promise of continuing to be such.

I cannot finish this blog however, without giving thanks to God for the incredible blessings I have received.  As I sit writing this post about in my RV, waiting for the drag strip to open, talking about buying a business, all the while i am technically unemployed, I realize how unworthy, but thankful I am to have all of this when so many struggle after losing their jobs.  I can’t explain it, it’s not a measure of godliness on my part, nor do I believe it is a sign that God’s favor is anymore being poured out on me than someone else, for my God desires to lavish his love on everyone.   It may just be place and time, or it may be attitude.  Since the day in December that I found out I would not have my job, there has been little sadness or despair.  It has always been opportunity.  I know it can be difficult and dark, but looking for the light in all circumstances can help show the way.

I find myself with very mixed feelings today.  All around I hear jubilee that Osama Bin Laden is dead.  I am seeing the video of blood on the floor of his home and hearing a lift in the voices of the news reporters.  Yes, we’ve seen the death of someone who  masterminded the death of more than 2700 people in the 9/11 attacks, Does this one death bring justice?  We forget that this man also was a husband and a father.  Creating new widows and fatherless children really make it better for the widows and fatherless of 9/11?  We consider ourselves civilized, the moral standard, but we’ve really revealed our blood thirsty character.

I don’t know how you bring justice for a 9/11?  I don’t know that you ever can, even if you executed every last terrorist, you would still not restore life to the many who have been lost directly from 9/11, or in the battles we have fought since.  I only know one life that was executed to bring justice, not only for the victims, but for all, and I am challenged by His words:  As Jesus said:

²⁷ “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹ If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹ Do to others as you would have them do to you.

³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36, New International Version, ©2011)

I may be the only person today who blogs and doesn’t write about the royal wedding. Did I disqualify myself by mentioning it?

Here it is Friday, already a week past my last post. I have been up to my eyeballs in writing a business plan. I’ve killed a few trees in printing industry analysis reports, financial records and such. I thought I would have more time on my hands to get things done around the house, etc., but I’ve never been a person who can just sit back and watch the world go by. I have to make sure things are moving.

This is another race weekend. Forecast looks bad for Saturday, but Sunday should be sunny, but windy. I’ll have to tie Ronica to the ladder (just kidding). Maybe I can figure out how to launch the Corvette this weekend. I need the boost to my ego. Good news about being so busy with the business search is that I haven’t spent much time thinking about putting the Mustang back together.

I suppose this is a rather meaningless post, so I won’t dribble on and on… Hope you have a great weekend.

On this Good Friday, I was surprised to find Discount Tire closing from Noon to 3:00. It is rare to find a business who still puts the words “In God we trust” found on the dollar ahead of the value of the dollar. Traditionally, this was the time of community Good Friday services and businesses took these 3 hours to allow there employees time to attend. Whether or not employees still make use of this, or just use it as a long lunch hour, there is time to, at least in passing, to recognize there is something special about this day.

So in these three hours we stop to recognize the last seven sayings of Christ.
1. Father forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).
2. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).
3. Woman, behold your son: behold your mother (John 19:26-27).
4. My God, My God, why have you forsaken me, (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34).
5. I thirst (John 19:28).
6. It is finished (John 19:30).
7. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46).
In these words we find the embodiment of grace and love.

First, we find unconditional forgiveness, or grace. Yes, these words were for those carrying out the orders of crucifixion, but they were for us as well. This isn’t a forgiveness for simply those things we confess, but for all those things we don’t even realize that we’ve done. How wonderful is this grace? Well, consider when you last forgave someone who hurt you unaware. Did you find a need to point it out to them, or just forgave them. Oh that we could extend the grace of Christ to others around us.

Second, the hope of paradise. There is escape from the torment of the pain and suffering for those who accept who Christ is. These words to the thief brought hope. In the pain and suffering of the cross, there was hope to be found that day. Not tomorrow, but today. In the midst of what you face, there is hope today for you as well.

Third, these words to John and Mary establish a relationship that goes beyond blood. In the heartbreak of the situation, in the moment of intense loss, we should reach out to others. We should also care for those out of our strength. The relationship is established both ways. May we be challenged to live in relationship with others.

Fourth, forsaken of God. We have all found ourselves in this place, feeling alone, isolated, not even feeling that God has concern for us. Christ, in taking our place finds himself in the same place. Take comfort in knowing that He understands your situation.

Fifth. Thirst follows the loneliness. Loneliness is an emotional ache. Thirst is physical. Here Christ not only recognizes his loneliness, but his pure helplessness. Unable to even obtain the most basic human need. A need for water, the very essence of life. Without it, we soon die. Yet when thirsty, even a small drink makes you feel alive. I wonder if the words said to the women at the well, He could provide a water where you would thirst no more, crossed through his mind? Just as he knew your loneliness, he knows your needs.

Sixth. it is finished. It’s done. Grace has been given to you. He didn’t say the words “I’ve done my part, now let them do theirs.” He said it was finished. Once and for all. Salvation is made complete. The grace and love of God is already established for you.

Seventh. Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit. At the depth of Christ’s despair, even in the face of feeling abandoned and barely alive, He placed His spirit in God’s hands. Let this be an example to us in our darkest hour, or anytime. May we place our spirit in God’s hands. Receive the grace and love that was made available to us on the cross.

I hope you take time this day to reflect on the meaning of Good Friday. The gift of salvation, of grace, of love, that we have received this day so many years ago.