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.

The Lone Traveler, moving on?

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Today was a cool 48 degrees as we called out “Ready to go?” He walked out with nothing in hand, looking like a stuffed winter coat and new shoes. “Just a minute, I am almost ready” he replied as I made room for his personal belongings in the back of the car. “Ok, I will go get your meds packed up, Thanks for being ready to go, I have to make a Dr appointment in rapids by 8:30 this morning.”

A few minutes later I had all his meds packaged up, the black bag was full but not overflowing. “Can I grab a quick smoke before we head out?” I simply replied “sure, we are still ahead of schedule a bit”. He casually walked back after a few pulls on his hand rolled cigarette. “Ok, you got everything? Do you need help carrying anything?” confidently he replied “NOPE, I have everything I want!”  Knowing this man, I knew not to ask too many questions, he gets a bit frustrated with questions and leading conversation…. “OK, Let’s roll!”

The 1 hour trip was calm, a bit of chatter but nothing too deep, I asked what his plan was. He told me he has a plan and he would rather not talk about it, so I left it alone. I asked one more question as we drove down the scenic hwy 38… Do you need anything? 

This man came to us as a mess, medical bills, legal issues, no plan, no ID…. It was about 6 months ago, we helped him get things figured out, I drove him to the court house to get his legal matters fixed, that was a two hour drive one way, I got to know this man and he was a pretty decent fellow, his life story was so much like my own, troubled youth in the cities, stayed out of the big stuff, kept his head down usually… but he had some pretty significant troubles, I recognized the look, the despair and frustration. But in the end, he is a man, made in the image of God, redeemable by the blood of Jesus and infinitely valuable. 

Jess did the most work on getting his life straightened out, countless phone calls to the county, the SS office, State offices, Mountains of paper work, and finally it was all good to go… now he was moving out… He is moving on? “Where can I drop you off?” the quiet voice replied “Just drop me at walmart, I will get around from there!” and in no time, I was pulling into Walmart parking lot “I want you to know something, Jess and I have been praying for you from the first day you moved in, and we will continue to pray for you as long as we are able, Have a good one” and with a quick thank you, he stepped out, closed the  door and crossed over behind the car. I pulled away, we both started to cry, of coarse Jess had big sad, wet eyes and I sucked it up so I wouldn’t crash the car.

Jess and I hadn’t even gotten to the end of the parking lot… “I can’t believe that! All he wanted was his meds? No clothes? No personal effects of any type?” back at Sam’s Place he had neatly washed, folded and put everything away in his room, but he only brought what was on his back. I was reminded of what Job said in his deepest despair “Naked I came into this world, and naked I will go out of this world” This man left us the exact same way he came to us, WITH NOTHING!

Rumor has it he was headed to a homeless shelter in St Paul somewhere, he travels light and fast, wanting only to be left alone, ignored and helped only when he asks for it… The lone traveler. 

Jess asked me “Why? Why would a man choose to be homeless? On the streets? With absolutely nothing?” I can’t answer that question, but I can tell you how he got there…. Pain!

As I close this emotional blog post, I ask you, my christian brothers and sister, pray for this man and all the men that have felt pain so deep and so often, they only trust this pain, the one thing they have learned is abundant and always available.  Ask God to watch over him, protect him and change his heart of stone to one of flesh… it’s never too late, and prayer isn’t the only thing left to do, it’s the first thing we ought to do. 

God’s speed my friend. C

PS. Forgive my absence, we have nbeen very busy… and GRANDBABIES!!