A Decision, part 2

(Image from StoneMill.com — posted here for inspiration’s sake 🙂

Well, in my last post, I mentioned that Something New is coming, and it is.

But this is not that.

This is something else.  This post has to do with our home building plans.

In my post back in February (“A Decision“), I wrote about the decision to take out a construction loan to build our home.  Well, it seems that we may have to go a different route, given certain financial obstacles that are proving repeatedly difficult to overcome.  And so, we are grateful to God for this “trial” (James 1:2-4), for it will compel us to build with little-to-no debt, but requiring great resourcefulness.  I am truly thankful for the necessity of having to go this route.  Why?  Because once our house is built, we will own it free and clear.  We will not be beholden to a 30-year mortgage.  And in America’s current economic landscape, that may be vital.  (Perhaps I will not be enslaved to the 40+ hour work-week, for the rest of my life, after all?  That’d be good.  🙂

A few things of note:

• Montana’s “building code” requirements are extraordinarily minimal; so while we will strive to build everything “to code”, we will only be bound by excellence of craftsmanship, within the bounds of frugality.
• We already have water (a well), electricity and phone/DSL going to the property.
• We have always had our sights set on heating the home with wood, since that resource is abundant at the property site.  That decision remains.

In summary, here’s how I see things unfolding, Deo Volente:

1. We will install a septic system and a (mostly-finished) basement.
2. We will temporarily roof the basement and live there, while we plan to build our timber framed home above it.  The basement will be 1,280 sq.ft… which is at least 200 sq.ft. larger than the place we have been renting (!) for the past 4 years.
3. All former rent payments (and all other available resource$) will go toward purchasing building materials, prioritized by immediacy of need.  Building materials (both purchased and gathered/salvaged) will be stored in a timber-framed barn, which we will build on the property (near the 40’x80′ garden), as a “test build” in preparation for building the home.
4. Once the Timber Frame House Plan is complete, and the timbers designed and fashioned, the frame will be constructed, clad with SIPs and roofed. (Timber material will have been harvested from our property, milled and stacked.)  Basement occupancy will continue, until…
5. When interior walls and flooring have been framed and clad, the family will “move in”, and continue with the “finishing touches”.
6. Estimated completion time: 5 years from start date.

This is all I have time to write… thanks for reading, and we’ll keep you posted.

A Decision

Years ago, when we began this dream of building our own home in the woods of NW MT, we soon became aware of a decision that would have to be made, which would affect many other facets of our life, for decades:

To mortgage, or not to mortgage?

We could build our house little by little, over the course of several years — even decades (!) — only as (or if) the cash became available.  We’d probably be living in an old single-wide trailer on-site as we built the house piece-by-piece.  Perhaps by the time our children had grown and had children of their own, our house would be finished…

-OR-

We could assume a construction loan/mortgage, take on the responsibility of paying it back over the next few decades, and enjoy the privilege of spending those next years in that house with our children, having made not only the house, shoulder-to-shoulder with our dear family and friends — but also having made many memories, and having given them a crash course (pun not intended) in home construction.

————————

Now, perhaps I can hear the cries of “go debt-free!” from all the Ramsey-ites.  I don’t disagree that being debt-free is a blessing.  Still, under the circumstances, the mortgage — and finishing construction in under 1 year — was the way to go, for us.  It was no small feat to bring our family of seven (now eight) from SoCal to NWMT.  We did it, in part, to pursue all the things we couldn’t afford in the uber-inflated economy of California:

• wide-open spaces
• agricultural pursuits like chickens/bees/high-volume gardening
• no HOA telling us how to use our land
• hunting & trapping wild game on our property
• even the simplest thing of owning a dog, with room for it to run around on.

All these things center on having a warm, safe, dry and secure “home on the range.”  To be constantly pushing back that dream of a “clean, well-lighted place” would undoubtedly frustrate and exasperate my family (Ephesians 6:4, Proverbs 13:12).

So wisdom was sought after… and received.  And then we acted.  We secured the most trustworthy General Contractor & Carpenter that the Flathead Valley has to offer, and we are currently pursuing a construction loan.  Please keep us in your prayers as we move forward, by faith.  I will post as much of the process as as I am able, here on this blog.  Thanks for taking the time to read, and may the Lord bless your days, as you trust — and rest — in Christ.

Humbly receiving spiritual direction… and DOING what we’re commanded.

“Remember <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30249L" data-link="(L)”>those who led you, who spoke <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30249M" data-link="(M)”>the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30249N" data-link="(N)”>imitate their faith…
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30259B" data-link="(B)”>they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.  Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”
(Hebrews 13:7, 17)

When I consider what the writer of Hebrews is saying here to the early Church, I am struck with a couple of easily-overlooked insights.  But before I get into those, I have to begin with some ground-level understandings:

• The human tendencies of the church (and human beings at large, for that matter) have not changed, in all of its history.  We want to call our own shots, and when anyone or anything except our own conscience or our own understanding makes any real or perceived attempt to instruct — let alone command — our behavior or correct our thinking, we usually resort to one of two responses:

                1)  aggressive rebellion; or
                2)  apathetic dismissal and distance (often including scoffing condescension)

• Our “Americanism” (whereby the “supreme law” of our land — the U.S. Constitution — begins with the infamous “We the People”), our love of individuality, and our esteem of democracy is far more deeply entrenched in our worldview and our church life than we ever recognize.  In other words: we don’t see ourselves through the lens of Scripture… we see Scripture — and church life — through the lens of ourselves.
• No matter how dignified we’d like to think ourselves, the God of the Universe calls us “sheep”.

So, having established these cautions, I would assert the following.

Verse 7 does not merely suggest, but commands us to not only consider the importance of solid, biblical leaders, but also to emulate their lives and “imitate their faith”.  Make no mistake: this commanded imitation pertains to some very unpopular and personal aspects of life:

• How we attire ourselves, in all situations
• How we approach “birth control”
• How we approach “dating” and marriage
• How we allow ourselves to be entertained
• How we enact our children’s education
• What we allow ourselves to find humorous
• What line of work we pursue
• What roles ought to pertain to our gender

…and SO many more.  Ultimately, what’s being communicated here, if I may paraphrase it, is this:

“If your pastor and elders are practicing what they preach, from the whole of Scripture, then do what they do.  Period.“

For example:

• If your pastor intentionally wears something nicer than jeans-and-a-t-shirt to your worship gatherings, do the same.
• If your pastor’s wife would never wear any clothing that would highlight her physicality (ladies), do the same.
• If your elders are content to live on less income, that they may devote more time and attention to their families and to the ministry, do the same.
• If your pastor’s family seems to be fruitful and multiplying in spite of the world’s demonstrated disdain for multiple children and in spite of their financial inability to make sure every one of their children can be sent to an ivy league university, do the same.

Listen, God’s Word commands us, in verse 7, to be imitators of our leaders, insofar as they are genuine imitators of Christ.  So let’s stop pretending that it’s our mission in life to discover reasons why we shouldn’t have to admire, respect and emulate them, all while asserting that “they’re only human, after all”.  Yes, they are.  But they are doing a pretty darn good job at following Christ with every fiber of their being, faults-and-all.  So let’s quit criticizing them and start emulating them.  I think that we’ll then be surprised by how wise, in fact and in Christ, they really are.  It’ll be a worthy endeavor.

Now, on to verse 17.





As far as our pride is concerned, this verse is where the rubber meets the road.  And, if you consider the account of Jesus and the centurion, submitting to biblical authority is what separates the men from the boys, as far as the Kingdom of GOD is concerned.  Nevermind trying to establish your own kingdom by acting within your own authority and individuality.  King Jesus died to redeem His Church, and it is SHE that He is coming back for.  There is an authority structure He has ordained within His “family“, and it is those who are the servant of ALL who will be called greatest.  As for me, I want to endeavor to be a joy to those in spiritual authority over me, and to make their calling — that is, to serve and lead their local body of Christ, on earth — as pleasant and mutually encouraging as possible.  Therefore, unless blatantly and clearly proven otherwise, I’m going to assume the following of my own pastor:

• That he (yes, “he” — not “she”) is fully devoted to Christ, and has unreservedly resolved to preach the whole Word of God, whether it is en vogue or not.
• Is a very humble man before God, who spends vast quantities of time and attention combating his own flesh and pride.
• That he is immeasurably vested in the spiritual growth of all within his care.
• That he is rightfully sobered by the gravity of his role in the Church, both locally and Kingdom-wide.
• That to live out what he teaches his flock, from Scripture, is the highest possible goal I could aim for, as a believer in community with the saints.
• That he does not choose so-called “open-mindedness” over Scripture-informed conviction.  Because after all, the latter seems to be in short supply these days.

I pray you find the joy that is available from humbly receiving “the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”  (James 1:21)

The Price Tag

“We get what we want, but there’s always a price.”

Our move to the wide-open spaces of Montana, from the populous (and expensive) confines of Southern California has been one of the best life-decisions my dear wife and I have made (by God’s grace) in our 21 years of marriage.  (I feel fairly confident to speak on her behalf in this matter 🙂  Here are some of the other choices that have benefited us greatly, or allowed us to simplify our lifestyle in an effort to pursue contentment with godliness (1 Timothy 6:6-11):

• Owning one car, and using public transportation when necessary.
• Becoming a one-income-earner family, allowing us to consistently supervise our children’s growth and development in accordance with our faith, without relying on (i.e. paying) someone else to do so.
• Home-educating our children, using readily available and straightforward materials, drawing out our children’s God-given aptitudes and interests, in accordance with the Scriptures.
• Avoiding involvement in “organized team sports”, in order to minimize unnecessary drains on our family’s time, attention and finances.
• Preparing most of our food at home, in order to facilitate nightly dinners together, be more healthy and save a lot of money.

Like Abraham in the Scriptures, we left all that was familiar to us and, by faith, moved to a land that was “foreign” to us.  Now, we live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and while our means are still humble, God has blessed us with so many incredible relationships and opportunities, including the ongoing effort to purchase and build a house on our own acre-and-a-half of fertile, wooded land.  We are so very grateful to Him for His provision.

Still, this undertaking has come with a price or two.  We are now much further (2-days’ drive) from some dear family members, whom we miss very much.  I had to leave the comfortable and familiar venue of “full-time paid church staff work” (notice how I avoided the term “ministry” — that’s a blog post for another day).  Instead, I had to practically change careers, spending at least 2 years before I began to feel confident and adept at this new line of work (2-way radio and internet installation, and radio tower groundwork).  And ultimately, having my earnings reduced by at least 50%.

All that notwithstanding, I wouldn’t change a thing.  And now, we have a beautiful new “Made in Montana” addition to our family, firmly “anchoring” us to our residence here, as it were:

Meet “Elliana Mercy Calvi“

So, for those of you contemplating leaving the bustling metropolises of SoCal (or any other densely populated area) for the rural life in wide-open spaces, I would first caution you to be aware that there is a price to pay.  You’ll have to trade one lifestyle for another.  It may cost you your “nest egg”.  (As the joke goes, “How do you make a million dollars in Montana?  Bring 2 million.” 🙂  You may have to leave the comfort of your extended family… but who knows?  Some of them may follow you there.  In any case, any major life choice is inevitably followed by a lengthy period of adjustment, as you know.  But for those of us who live by faith in our Creator and Redeemer – King Jesus – our hope and trust in Him is never misplaced.  He provides everything we need!

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

1 Timothy 6:17-19

So go ahead and grab hold of the rural dream.  With Christ, all things are possible.  Desire Him above all else, and He will work all things together for your good (Romans 8:28).

As always, I welcome your comments.  Have a fruitful day.

–Ric

We Did It.

Well, we did it.

One of the things we came to Montana to do, is done.

We have officially purchased our first piece of land — “1.456 acres more or less” — just outside of Whitefish.  Not only is this the first plot of land we’ve bought, it will contain (Lord willing) the first house we will have ever built…  which will also be the first home we will have ever bought.  Yes, this piece of wooded bliss will come to represent the end of 20+ years of paying rent.

Hallelujah.

Here’s a picture, courtesy of Gogle Maps (boundaries are approximate):

“The Calvi Homestead”

As of today, our names are on the title.  Now it’s our turn to “fill the Earth and subdue it.”  🙂

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
— Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) 

What in the world is a "Frolic"?

 Photo from AmishAmerica.com

I was talking with a couple of my brothers in Christ recently, when the subject turned (OK, I turned it 🙂 to the building plans for our home in the woods, beginning in the Spring/Summer/Fall of this year.  I told them that it became clear to me LONG ago that there was no way I could accomplish this endeavor with my pea-sized knowledge of construction (or lack thereof).  I then asked them, if I put a date on the calendar (say, over the course of some upcoming three-day weekend), would they come out and help us “raise the roof” and eat a bunch of food?  One of them, who’s had extensive interaction with the Amish in both Montana and Maine, said, “Absolutely!  The Amish call it a ‘frolic‘ or a ‘work-bee‘ “.  They were both quite enthusiastic about the possibility of helping building our home, which came as no surprise to me, given the reality of the love and Spirit of Christ operating in their families’ lives.  (Not to mention that they both have some serious labor forces in their families!  🙂

Then I got to thinking.

God has blessed me with such dear family-in-Christ in other locales as well, several hours’ drive away, but reachable nonetheless.  I suspect there may be many who would like to visit Montana in the Summer (a gorgeous time to visit here; isn’t it always?), and perhaps swing a hammer or heft a saw in productive fellowship on the outskirts of beautiful Whitefish, Montana.

So, here it is:

If you’re interested in being a part of our family’s biggest project to date, a labor of love that will represent the culmination of a lifetime of prayers and dreams, please consider joining our “Frolic” this Summer.  If you are seriously considering making the trip to join the effort and fellowship, please leave a comment on this post, or send me an email, letting me know when you might be available.  If you are unable to attend, please pray for the Lord’s protection, provision and wisdom as we build.  This will undoubtedly be a very long project, overall, but we would be honored to enjoy your company for even a small part of it.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Spring is looming…

Photo from JDPayne.org

…Yes, Spring is looming in the near future, and today I am feeling like a deer in the headlights.  For starters, I have a monstrous head-/chest-cold, that makes my head feel like it’s in a vise, and my torso is tired from cough spasms.

But more notably, there are a LOT of things heading my way this Spring:

• The home birth of our 6th child.  All of our other children were born in hospitals, so this is a bit of a leap out of our comfort zone.
• The beginning of construction of our home in the woods near Whitefish, MT.  I know virtually nothing about house-building.  I’m very nervous.
• Both of my jobs really tend to ramp up in the Spring, Summer and early Autumn months.

I know I should be extremely excited about all these things, and I truly am, but it does feel a bit overwhelming at times.  Your prayers for health, wisdom, provision and protection would be greatly appreciated.

Happy New Year!

Book of the Month — "The Heavenly Man"

This book is next on my reading list, as it came highly recommended by some dear and trusted brothers in Christ.

Have you read it?  If so, what are your thoughts?

If you’d like to order it and read it with me, so we can talk about it, click on the link above.

May the Lord make us more like Himself, daily, as we submit our very lives to Him.

–Ric

Pennies and Pounds, Part 1

Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 (NASB):

“Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you grasp one thing and also not <sup class="footnote" value="[a]”>let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.”

I have been meditating on this passage, off and on, for several years now.  Far from perpetuating the “balance” of today’s psycho-babble, I believe there some great take-aways here for modern Christ-followers.  I am still formulating how I’d like to address this passage, in a way that is relevant to the greatest number of readers, but here are a few personal applications that I feel represent the heart of what the Word of God is saying through Solomon:

• Go take your pastor out for a beer, but don’t get smashed.
• Enjoy the senses God gave you (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell), but faithfully in accordance to the ways He intended, for His glory.
• When the Bible seems too complicated to wrap your head around, stop and ask the Good Shepherd to help you love someone you don’t like (Luke 6:32-36).  That’ll keep you busy for a while.
• If some foolish person frustrates you continually, try to imagine how frustrating to God your folly must be… He is a Father, after all, and a Person, with feelings.  Then thank Him that His mercy endures forever, and covers suckers like us.
• Don’t worry.  About anything. (Matthew 6:25, Philippians 4:6)

That’s all I have for now.  Have a blessed day, friends.

An Open Letter to My Younger Self — Part 1

A while ago, I heard a song that (barring a few crass references) got me thinking about the last couple decades of my life.  Now, I’m only 44, and that hardly qualifies for large quantities of reminiscence.  Still, since I can’t change my past, the best I can do is pass on what little wisdom I may have acquired.

I must first make a few disclaimers:

• I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and I believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.
• I grew up in a broken home.
• I am a veteran of the U.S. Army.
• I have never been financially wealthy.
• I spent the majority of my “career years” as a pastor of worship for modern evangelical churches.
• I have willingly left that line of work, nearly 2 years ago.
• I have never started or maintained my own business.
• I have spent most of my life in Southern California, but am now a grateful “transplant” to Northwestern Montana.

OK, on with the program.  So as to refrain from the appearance of judgmentalism, I will address this letter to my 18-year-old self.  Some of these points, I have done.  Others, I wish I had.  Those of you who know me will know which is which.

Without further adieu…

________________

Don’t even think about going into debt for a college education: Unless you’re going after becoming a corporate attorney (perish the thought!) or hit the lottery, that monstrous obligation will haunt you for DECADES to come.  (Notice how I didn’t say “become a doctor”.  I’d sooner go through life with my hands tied behind my back and a leash around my neck.  Same thing.)  No, spend your youth EARNING a living.  Even a modest income, properly stewarded, is better than spending buckets of borrowed capital on a slip of paper (a “degree”) which probably won’t mean a darn thing in the world you will see unfolding.  Don’t pay to learn… GET PAID to learn a business or trade.  Then, become the leader.

Learn to MAKE or BUILD things.  DO something with the energy of your youth.  Pursue a career and life-path that will allow to you to step back from your efforts and say, “Look at THAT.  I made that.  I’m responsible for that coming to be.”  There is a world looming in the distance which will not be friendly to those who cannot build a dwelling, cultivate a vegetable garden, hunt and prepare one’s own meat and stitch up a wound.  Spend a significant amount of time and energy learning how to survive in the wilderness.  Be willing to do things, to solve problems, which most other people will avoid.  There is tremendous value in that.

Stay in shape.  Don’t let yourself become lazy or complacent in the area of physical fitness.  Stay strong.  Create a lifelong habit of physical exertion.  You never know when you’re going to have to run harder, swim farther, climb higher, or carry more than you ever thought you could.  Be ready.

Buy fertile, wooded land as soon as you possibly can.  Build a modest, simple, small and smart home on it, BEFORE you marry.  If you can do this, without getting bogged down in debt (preferably debt-free), you will alleviate yourself of the “life of quiet desperation” which Thoreau warned against.

Marry a woman whose Bible is worn out from use, and who is beautifully contented with the simple life God gives her.  A woman who spends very little on the things which mean little, and who is not afraid to pay cash-on-the-barrel for things that will last for decades (Proverbs 31).  Pour all of your manly love and affection into her alone, and don’t waste your character on pursuing anyone else — not even the thought of anyone else (Matthew 5:28).  And marry young.  Start having children (lots of them) as soon as possible.  Do not ever say something diabolically foolish, like “I don’t know if we can afford to have any more than 2 children.”  Be fruitful.  Multiply.  Trust God that He is better at providing for you and your family’s needs than you will ever be.

Don’t get comfortable in this life.  This world is not — I repeat, NOT — your home, if you have wisely and rightfully put your trust, your very life in the hands of King Jesus.  Be ready to say, “Where He leads me, I will follow.  What He feeds me, I will swallow.”

Learn how to get along with all kinds of people.  Make the Golden Rule your life’s theme.

_________

Well, it’s getting late and I’m getting sleepy.  Perhaps there will be a Part 2 to this post.

What would you say to someone much younger than you?  Leave a comment below.