Friday 30 May 2008

The outside of the new home!

This is the outside of my brothers new log home. What you see most is the garage with a loft/bedroom yet to be completed over the garage area. The main part of the home also has a wrap-around three sided covered porch. Again, all the wood you see was made from trees that my brother cut and removed from the woods, forest plots. I think the outside of the home is just as nice as the inside.

Maybe I am opening up a can of worms, but how important is the "outside" to God? Does He have some guidelines as to how our outside should look as well?? We focus a lot on our inside but should we be focusing some on our "outside"?

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

I get to be the first poster???!!!! May that can of worms bite you!!

My "outside look" has been a thorn in my side for many years. Have lost weight many times, but it always comes back. You don't know how depressed I have gotten or how badly I hate myself for that. I have questioned my Christianity many times because of this "flaw" or "worm" in my life. It is called lack of self control.

Wow! You got me going with this one!

Janis

Indian Lake Papa said...

Janis - well here we go! Is maintaining the "ideal weight" a spiritual issue? I struggle with this as well - I have pounds to lose. But like "inside battles" we need to keep working on them. If Jesus was here, would He put his finger in your face? I don't think so - He would listen as you asked for help. But he probably would be sipping on ice water rather than coke! :o)

Anonymous said...

Excuse me!!! Diet coke or better yet, Diet pepsi!! LOL



Janis

Heather said...

Just thought I'd say hello. See you comment often on Tam and Mandy's blog so I thought I'd pop over and check out your blog. Since I was here I thought I'd say hi!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Janis - Sorry!!! Pepsi is really my choice as well!

Heather - thanks for stopping by! Please come by again!

Tanya said...

I believe God is not so concerned about our outside. I have looked in the mirror for many years. And I have always hated the way that I had looked. But recently, I have looked in the mirror and seen a different person looking back. I am not talking about looks or beauty as much as I think I see Jesus. As I work on the inside the outside takes care of itself. I do believe that someone was telling me about Moses, and after so many day in the mountain (can not remember the number of day) He came down with this glow, not even the Israelite could look at him, because of the glow. So, go for the glow and work on the inside, the outside will fall into place. Tanya

Indian Lake Papa said...

Tanya - I agree, in fact I have seen people so focused on the outside of others that they end up having some serious inside issues of their own. I think our outside should show a spirit of worship - a smile is a good start.

Anonymous said...

I am a friend of Tam's. I have been blessed by your comments on her site. I wanted to come by and meet you personally. I love the beautiful picture of you and your wife. Talk about an "outside" view! Your countenances are a beautiful reflection of Him. We are merely clay vessels that are cracked, and hopefully oozing His GLORY! I will be back to visit. Thank you for all you share! He uses you. in Him, Storie

Anonymous said...

I am new at this:-)

Carol said...

Reminds me of a song I learned many years ago (to the tune of "Blest Be the Tie That Binds"):

"I know how ugly I are...
My face is no bright shining star!
But I don't mind it,
Because I'm behind it--
The folks out in front get the jar!"

When we went to our son's college graduation, and he was graduating with honors, we went the night before to attend his honors banquet. We got there late, and looked around and could not find our son. We asked, and we were told he was sitting at the table with the guest speaker...our son was the one with 100 little braids on his head...green braids, I might add (he dyed his hair). I could hardly look at him, and here we were at the table with the guest of honor! Well, I made a choice...I decided to look at my son as God looks at me...He looks at my heart...man looks at the outward appearance. (However, I do believe that what's in our hearts flows outward...as someone else mentioned already).

Brandy said...

EEKS.

Hmmm.... I'm thinking that God isn't pleased when we abuse our bodies and mutilate ourselves (i.e. obscene or excessive tattoos, piercings). Also, just b/c one is skinny doesn't mean they are healthy. I think we need to maintain a balance. No one is perfect and no BODY is perfect. I think God is pleased when we take care of ourselves. I also don't think he would appreciate us focusing SO MUCH on our bodies being perfect that we become vain or completely focused on physical perfection. Am I making sense Papa?

I do think God is MORE concerned with the inside than the outside, but I also think he cares about how we treat and PRESENT the outside. ;-)

Unknown said...

i agree...when the inside is in line the outside will also fall into line. BUT - that will look different for each person. We are all created uniquely. Different styles, shapes, likes, dislikes.

You can stand 2 people next to each other at our church and they will look completely different.... one has a mohawk, a nose ring and several tattoos and the other has gray hair, 3 piece suit on and a walker to get around...and both are passionately in love with JESUS. BOTH are serving Him in their journey and calling. they both reach their sphere of influence and are both needed. I think it is beautiful!!!

Too much uproar has been made in the church over non essentials. brent got a nasty gram a few weeks ago because he took his flip flops off while playing the piano during church. His sustain pedal broke and he was fiddling with it with his bare foot. Those kind of complaints are over non essentials and its a pity that the person missed out on a moment with God because Brent had to take of his shoe.

CrossView said...

"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." (Is. 53)

"Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king..."
"Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women...
(Esther 2)

The Lord can use His people in spite of, or even because of, their looks.

Now gluttony is a whole different thing... =P

Indian Lake Papa said...

I am upset! is that okay? Tam - that incident w/Brent should have never happened! Flipflops??!! Who gives a rip! Folks - be ever so careful what you focus on - especially in a worship service! We need to focus on Christ and we are there to worship him!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Storie - thank you for your comments - please come back again - soon. Mama is very special. Those that know mama have great praise for her - she is radiant and puts up with my nonsense! She is my great defender! I have a winner!

Crossview - mama is special ain't she?!! i agree, we need to focus on our inward appearance -

Carol - Green spikes! Oh my! ha! My kids never got into that stuff - what a challenge for parenthood! We love our kids - don't we.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Brandy - I think you are my bio daughter - I agree so much with your comments. Inside is so important, but there is a place for being attractive for Christ - in our world. I sure love you little one!

Robin said...

Great picture! Great post! Great comments! As I read throught the comments I realized everything I had been thinking was already there - so ditto :)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Robin - I like your post as well1 I am just glad mama does not have a post like yours! ha! congrats again from here. I think "ditto" is very appropriate!

mandy said...

oh my gosh its SO beautiful!!!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Mandy - just like our inside spirit should be!! Beautiful! Thank y'all fer comin by ms. Mandy! keep sing'in for Jesus!

Brandy said...

I sure love you Papa. ;-)

Robin said...

Thanks Papa! I couldn't wait to share my news and thought the date was neat - being 2 years after a cute conversation between my kiddos.

Hope your weekend is great!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Brandy - love you too - pray for you through out the day - miss not being a part of your everyday life.

Robin - I especially like the way you make this pregnancy a part of everyones life in your family. Your kiddos must be excited!

Anonymous said...

I have certainly been guilty of wasting too much time on my "outside". I can say that since I retired I don't spend time in front of the mirror like I use to. :)

The words love, devotion, caring, which speak to the person inside us are what counts, not the image we project to the world.

A person who is going to judge me by how I look, or dress, is not someone who I am much interested in knowing anyway.

Indian Lake Papa said...

I like your "inside" imagery Ed - If we do somehow get together someday for lunch - your not going to scare me are you ??!! ha! We are so old - who gives a rip! See ya for lunch one of these days!

Heather said...

Wow. This IS a can of worms:) Leave it to you, Papa!

Absolutely Jesus cares more about our inside than outside. However, He does want us to be a good steward of the vessel He has given us to live out our lives on earth. Our body is a temple and the Holy Spirit dwells there.

I also agree with Tanya. If we are walking close to God we will glow and our outside will begin to match our inside. Not sure I'm glowing, yet. It's been hot and I think I may have just been sweating.

I love your heart, Papa!

AND....I love that your so upset about what happened with Tam's hubby. Me, too! ARGH! I suggest Brent plays the piano EVERY Sunday BAREFOOT! Maybe even shorts and a t-shirt, too! ;)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Heather - I agree Christ wants us to focus on the inside - but don't neglect the outside either. I am always working on the outside - after all, if I am an ambassador of Christ that's what they see first! I try not to make that a hinderance.