Extreme Makeover Home Edition 2

This past Monday the Silva family was told that they would find out if they were selected to be the family. Someone from the show would be with them early in the morning, but they wouldn't know until "the bus" showed up at their house and they heard Ty Pennington say, "Hello Silva Family." Well at about 8:20am that is exactly what happened! And with a flurry of excitement and activity the Silva's knew that God had answered their prayers.

After a few hours of meeting everyone and taping some opening spots, the family was driven away in a very large black limosine to the airport where they would be taken for an all expenses paid vacation at Disney World. The Silva Family would have been thankful for even this alone, for they have never gone on a real vacation since they were married. I know they are going to have a great time down there in warm, sunny, (did I say warm) Florida while we are dealing with freezing temperatures in Rhode Island. But that's OK, Spring Training has started and we know warm temperatures will be coming, but not this week.

Tuesday we went to the scene to begin our week of volunteer work. There are actually quite a few people from our church who have been involved throughout the week, and will continue until the job is done. Tuesday was a set up day for the production staff. Donna & I were able to help in the area of the Arts Tent. This will be used to make any special order furniture, one of a kind projects, and artwork that will be used in their new house. I have to say I was amazed at just the scale of organization to undertake such a project. We were involved in building our own home 7 years ago, and then put on an addition 3 years ago, but it was nothing like this. Everybody had their own area of responsibility. They invaded the entire neighborhood (in a nice way). The yards and driveways of Ken & Doreen's neighbors are being used for tents, eating areas, storage, and parking for a myriad of vehicles. The Silva's belongings were packed a moved to a storage facility until their new house was finished.

Wednesday was set to be demolition day. It began with "The Braveheart March." This is where a volunteer force dressed in blue T-shirts and white hardhats march down the street to take on the challenge that is set before them. Rather similar to how we as Christians are to approach each day. To be dressed in the armor of God prepared to march forward to the task that He is bringing us to that day. Whether that task is repetitive such as going to work, or whether it is something unusual, God has given us what we need to face it, and face it with success.

Soon came along a caravan of garbage trucks. Ken works for the City of Warwick as a garbage truck driver (or sanitation engineer if you prefer). His co-workers took great delight in being a part of "trashing" their old house. It was quite a scene to see them rush into and out of the house demolishing the interior. One man exited the building proudly raising a toilet to cheers of the crowd. Now it was time to bring down that old house. As we've been saying around here, "It's time to get the lead out." First, they came up with the unique idea of taking an old garbage truck, lifting it with a crane, and swinging it into the house. There was a lot of anticipation as we watched the crane raise the truck and begin its course of travel with a trajectory set straight at the front wall of the house. To our chagrin, the truck bounced off of the wall. Everyone thought this would smash the wall like it was made of matchsticks, but it didn't. They attempted it two more times, and it did some damage to the house, but after the third collision it swung wildly and hit the crane. It was then decided that the tried and proven method of the good old excavators would be used. Again, anticipation built as we watched the buckets of the excavators position themselves above the roof. A few more shots of Ty with his handheld video camera and the demolition began. In a matter of minutes the house lay in a pile of rubble to the cheers of the hundreds of people who had gathered to witness this event. There was no doubt now that a new house had to be built. By the end of the day the house had been hauled away, and excavation was in progress for the foundation to be installed.

You know, this is exactly what Christ does in our lives. The old life which is sinful, unhealthy, and destined for disaster is destroyed. And He then builds us into something new, wonderful, and destined for hope. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." - 2 Cor. 5:17

I guess I could say it like this. Anyone who has come to know Christ has received an "Extreme Makeover Heart Edtion."

Extreme Makeover Home Edition

What an exciting week for us! Ken and Doreen Silva, a family in our church, were chosen by the Extreme Makeover Home Edition show. Ken and Doreen have been active members in our church for a long time. Ken serves as a Royal Ranger commander, Sunday School teacher, and as a Deacon/Trustee. Doreen is the Sunday School Superintendent, and teaches a Sunday School class.

Now if that isn't enough, they are also foster parents. They have 2 birth children, Kenny & Matthew, and have adopted 3 of the 13 children they have fostered. Isaiah & Jayedin are brothers, and were adopted together. Samuel came into their care and was adopted as well. Together they form a family of love and caring that welcomes more children into their home for care on a regular basis.

Several years ago, they sold their first house to purchase a larger house, not for the prestige of having something bigger, but so they could house more children. Eventually, it was discovered that the house and property were contaminated with lead. What to do? They did everything they could to protect the children, who had to undergo regular lead testing. They even had to close off parts of their house so the children would not be able to get into it. This family just didn't have the resources to fix this problem on their own.

This is where many of us would begin to question, "God, why did You let us buy this house?", or "Why is this happening when we are trying to do such a good thing?" Isn't it interesting to realize that you & I can never come to know God's power until we are faced with a situation where we come to depend on Him alone? And He doesn't usually give us all the details up front!

As many other families do on Sunday evenings, they would go home from church and watch ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition. As they watched the stories of how other families were helped by the people of this show, they decided that they would look into the application process. As my wife and I talked with them, we volunteered to nominate them and help with all the requirements of the extensive application process. Trusting that God would somehow make a way for this family where we didn't see one.

As the weeks and months rolled along there was no response. Not surprising when you consider the number of entries that must roll in asking for help. Ken and Doreen were not discouraged, they just kept on doing what they knew God had put in their heart. Some foster children would leave to be reunited with their families, and others would come into their care. After all, there was now room for one more. Being a Christian is more than just having creeds you say you agree with. Nothing shows our faith in Christ more than when we put in daily practice. While many people avoid sacrifice by saying, "How can we?", the Silva's attitude is more along the line of, "How can we not?" In fact, when Doreen was interviewed by the local news and asked about all they do she said, "If not me, then who?" How different would our churches be if more people had that approach to the challenges of life? How different would our society be if more people approached life in such a way? The Bible tells us that Christians above all others should have the mind of Christ. Do you?