HOME

How do you define 'Home'? 

• It's the place where you keep all your stuff.
• It's where you live.
• It's the place from which you orient your life.
• It's where you eat and sleep.
• It's where you rest and relax from your work and other activity.
• It's where your family connects meaningfully and interacts.

In American culture, our homes range from shacks to mansions.  When we lived in Kentucky, I remember seeing homes where the chickens wandered in-and-out of the house the same as the people. 

Sandi Patty used to sing, "Home Is Where The Heart Is."  By this, I think she meant that it is where love is cultivated and exchanged among family members.

Debbie has always been so good at making a house into a home!  We've almost always opened our home for groups and other guests;  they quickly attest to the warmth they sense when they walk into our living room.  What's that about?

Our homes have never been extravagant.  Debbie's decorations, although nice, are not expensive items.  Our furniture has often been worn and uncomfortable from much use.  Our carpets have had unfortunate stains from a wide variety of 'accidents'. 

Yet, our home has always been a respite to me from the stresses and pressures of being a pastor.  She's consistently created a 'safe zone' for us. 

Since our marriage (almost exactly 39 years ago) we have lived in at least twelve different places.  Each one has been a comfortable haven.

Our kids have returned to our various houses to visit us;  they've never complained.  Even though the place may have changed, it's still HOME! 

Right now, 'home' is Travis' cabin on the Tri-State Campground in East Liverpool.  It's a humble place to live.  No AC - but a good supply of fans.  We walk across the drive to use public restrooms;  however, since camp ended we each have large private bathrooms!  :-)  We've been hot.  Most mornings we're cold and damp.  We cook on a grill and in a microwave.   We have a small, flatscreen TV that we watch DVDs on.  My biggest inconvenience has been not having TV reception;  I really do miss watching the Olympics.
We've been here for a month and we probably have another month before we move on. 

Then, Debbie will face the challenge of making a small apartment in Changchun into our new 'home' for the next year.  And I assure you, we'll entertain LOTS of Chinese students while we're there!  And beyond that - who knows?  Maybe more China.  Or a year in Europe?  Or Africa?  Or back to the States? 

But, no matter where we are, my wife will turn it into a HOME!