Great News! Construction has begun on our long planned for and much awaited Community Center. This is a project that was part of the initial dream of His Way ten years ago, but has been worked on in earnest for the past year and a half.
The trees have been taken down and the earth is being moved. And I mean a lot of earth is being moved.
They have cleared off over 270 dump truck loads, or about 4100 cubic yards, of beautiful top soil. It is painful to watch such rich, quality soil leaving while being replaced with with old, hard, red, Alabama clay. But this hard pack is essential for laying a solid foundation.
In watching this process, it is a vivid reminder of what we have been doing through this program for the past 10 years.
In order to lay a firm foundation for a successful life of recovery, you have to begin by removing tons of soil upon which the past, failed life was built. As Paul says “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (Colossians 3:5-8)
You cannot build a new, godly life on the remains of an old, failed system. You must remove it! Then you can bring in the new soil upon which a successful life can be built.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (verse 12 & 13)
This process can be long and arduous, but it is essential for a foundation of success. Remember Jesus’ final illustration at the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:24-27.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
When you decide to allow God to change your life, don’t be in a hurry. Dig deep to remove all that cannot support a godly life to grow high and lasting on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
Just remember, you need to dig down to rise up. And the further down you are willing to go, the higher you will be able to soar.’
Tom Reynolds
Tom Reynolds hails from the Pacific Northwest, and spent 25 years in full time ministry in California, Colorado, New Jersey, and Alabama. Today, Tom is the Executive Director of His Way.
Click below to learn more about His Way’s construction project and how you can help!