Living Hazzardously

Little pieces of our journey with Jesus

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The sun rises today on a new day, a new hope, a new tomorrow!

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The sun is less than two hours from breaking over the trees for the day, I sit and wonder how this day will go and what new challenges I will face. It’s funny how God does things, I would do them so much differently than he does, but in the end, He always delivers the best, every time. 

I basically closed Springlake Heating and Air after many successful years and thousands of satisfied customers. My knee, the lack of technicians, the limited infrastructure of the north woods… It took me Twice as long to install a furnace than it did only 2 years ago. I can’t make money working a maximum 4 hours a day… the pain of going up and down a flight of stairs carrying parts and tools back and forth… I tried to make the trips more efficient to reduce the number of trips and it didn’t help because I can only carry so much stuff in one trip. I found myself risking damaging peoples houses by carrying too much stuff or the trips themselves were harder because I carried too much weight… I just can’t do this efficiently on one leg… My heart broke every time I turned down another customer in need. And so Jess and I decided I just can’t continue…

BUT The sun rises today on a new day, a new hope, a new tomorrow! (I feel like this should be titled “Episode IV, A new Hope”) Yes, there is hope. Hope in a renewed day. Hope in a brighter day. Hope in the future. Without hope? There can be no joy. Without hope there are only memories of the best days. This hope came from a most unexpected place, a most unpredictable time and completely out of nowhere…. 

I remember 2014. I had lost all hope in finding a good wife, a partner that would bare the burden of life with me … Dating in your 40’s is not fun, nor is it easy… I gave up all hope and decided to buy a small house, fully embrace the bachelor lifestyle and live as a single man. I made plans to dig out and install a ramp into the basement where I could start working on bikes and stuff. Real “guy stuff” life. Basically transform my house into a shop (I still dream of this plan)… live like a man would live if he could… but then Jess came along from a very unexpected place, in a very unexpected way with a very unexpected set of challenges. Together we formed “Livinghazzardously”.

No “Regerts”. 

Jess…. She is my “Lady Galadriel in Lothlórien” that gave me the shining “Star of Eärendil”. The shining star that guided “Chuckie Baggins” while trapped in the sticky webs of Shelob’s “bachalorism”. The dark of that night was lifted as I traversed my way through the challenges of Mordor on the life quest to serve our savior, Jesus. Call me a dork… and yes I had to look all those names up.  

And so like the days of old, today I have hope of a brighter future for Spring Lake Heating. Perhaps things will turn out alright afterall? Perhaps the break I created by closing things down was the break I needed to start the next chapter? Perhaps the next chapter is actually greater than the last? 

Anyway, today is a very special day for me as a grandfather, so I will cut this short, I have work to do. I have a renewed hope, I have a joy in my heart that reaches to the moon and back ( I know, it’s super dark outside, the new moon is here). 

In Service of the one true GOD. C.

Sam’s Place is not for sale!

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A 501c3 can not be sold, we are not selling Sam’s Place… We are selling the bulding to protect Sam’s Place long into the future.

Turnkey: Real Estate & Cash-Flowing Asset Opportunity in MN

A historic, community-supported cornerstone is now available for an investor or group looking for an unmatched blend of financial safety and deep social impact. Due to unexpected life changes, the founders are offering this landmark property at a rock-bottom price to ensure a smooth transition to the next caretaker.

The Property & Location:

Originally built as the first rural hospital in Minnesota, this property features a rich 80-year history of community service. Located directly off Scenic Highway 7 and Scenic Highway 38, the building sits at the breathtaking, peaceful confluence of the Big Fork River and Rice River. It offers a serene, healing waterfront environment while maintaining vital connections to regional opportunities.

Asset & Financial Highlights:

  • The Structure: A substantial 4,000 square foot foundation across two stories, meticulously maintained.
  • Immediate Cash Flow: The sale includes the exclusive lease for a highly successful, active Board and Lodge facility with Supplemental Services. It is a secure, cash-flowing asset from day one.
  • The Mission: The facility currently serves as a vital transitional housing stepping stone, successfully housing up to 15 men focused on recovery and health.

The Investment Opportunity:

This is an incredibly low-risk investment opportunity with a powerful, built-in purpose. It is completely turnkey, allowing a new owner to secure financial returns while preserving a high-impact community program that cannot be allowed to fail.

It’s For SALE???

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An Update on My Health, Our Family, and the Future of Sam’s Place.

I had plans to write this post a bit differently, but God had other plans for us today. There are many things in life I can explain, and some I cannot. This one I hope to shed some light on.

I talked to the Dr “once the shots stop working, there is nothing else to do but replace the entire knee joint” less than a month after my last shot, I walked up the stairs to go to bed, the pain drove like I knife, deep into the leg, I barely caught myself as the leg gave out. Half way up… no hand rails, open stair case, I reached quickly and caught the floor above and stopped the fall… I made it this time. I yelped outloud, but tried to muffle the sounds, she heard me, I responded, “NOPE, I just stumbled, I am fine” but she knew. My knee is shot, and I am closing up the heating and air business to accommodate the impending surgery. I get to have the titanium knee installation… I should write a song and name it titanium…. 

I walked into the Dr office, Jess had accompanied me on this trip, the Dr said “Well, it’s cancer” My heart sank. I lost a father to cancer. I watched my mother beat cancer four times just to die from stroke complications… For the first time in my life, I faced my mortality. Jess said “It will be ok, we got this” 

Jess and I talked a lot those weeks and days that led up to a deeper understanding of what MY mortality means for us, for AL, for Sam’s Place, for grandbabies…. I remembered how horrible it was being the executor of my mothers estate, how hard it was to “DO THE RIGHT THING”… Doing my best to be fair… It was a hard job and I wondered how I could leave my life behind and make things easier for the boys… The verbal cues I got from mom were now just that, a conversation lost in the whirlwind of indecision and opinions.

If I die… When I die, how much of a mess do I leave behind? I refuse to leave a mess behind for my bride. She shouldn’t have to clean out my shop while dealing with the unthinkable. How do I set up a way for my bride to go on living? Should she have to clean out my shop? What about AL? Does he have a place to call home for the remainder of his days? What about Sam’s Place? Four years of effort and dedication on the line, if I die, does that all fall apart and go back to what it was? 

To anyone questioning our motives: This isn’t about money. This is about the survival and legacy of Sam’s Place.  Honoring what we have done and why we did it. 

Jess and I know we will never regain what we put into this endeavor, that’s a fact, but what I can do is perhaps sell the building to a person that has a reason to keep Sam’s Place alive, and healthy long after Jess and I meet Jesus face to face. I realized how much Sam’s Place needs me and Jess to continue operating and that is not what we wanted, we need somebody that can ensure this program will not fail, will not shut down, that Sam’s Place will continue to help 15 guys get healthy, stay healthy and realize the value God has endowed them with… I want to make sure that if I stumble, fall or die tomorrow, at least Sam’s Place will be safe, without me. 

In a few days, I will be posting the professional real estate details for the property. We are looking for the right person or group of investors to take the lead, ensure the longevity of our guys, and step into this mission. We are holding this up to God and laying it at His feet, asking HIM to bring the next caretaker. Please keep our guys in your prayers.