.....Times, they are-a-changin'.....by dave :)

So life is so different for my family and me right now....I honestly don't remember who I was before this journey began a mere three months ago.  The combination of reading 7 by Jen Hatmaker & beginning this friendship with a wonderful group of men (and a few women!) who happen to live in tents still gives me goosebumps.  So many amazing stories filled w/ laughter and tears.  What I find very amusing is the fact that I used to joke with Cara that I never heard God talking to me...I always talked to him.....just never heard anything back.....Cara was the one with the batphone to God....I just got my messages from God via Cara.  I have had more "God moments" in the past three months than I have had in my first 47 years on this earth.....I actually have learned how to REALLY listen to God and stop calling the shots....O.K., I still try to call some shots...but I'm getting better!!  Quick "God moment" (one of 20+ moments in three months...pretty impressive!!) as an example of God's sense of humor....So Cara reads these insprational books by these amazing people who are actually "living like Jesus" and shares them w/ me, and I struggle to find time to read these authors' incredible stories.  So we have been talking about Shane Claiborne's book The Irresistable Revolution, which I am absolutely loving!  Anyway, a couple weeks ago, we were talking to one of our new friends who was "passing through" which turned into a few weeks....and out of the blue, he asks us if we've ever heard of Shane Claiborne?!?!?  He says that the way we are doing what we are doing reminds him of his FRIEND, SHANE CLAIBORNE....WHO HE WENT TO SCHOOL WITH!!!!!  I almost fell over!!!...well, of course, Tim knew Shane.  We asked him if he had read any of his books which he replied,"No"....but he had all of these astounding stories of the their time together.....WHICH WAS IN THE BOOK I AM READING!!!!!....talk about your God moments!  So anyway....everything that I think about and do has changed in perspective.....nothing is the same.....I know that sounds so cliche'....in the next few days, I am looking at getting rid of a lot of my clothes....I really don't have a lot to begin with....but after wearing only 7 items of clothing during September....and doing 4-5 loads of laundry for the guys every week.....clothes are really not that important!!  I really have not watched much TV at all since school started...but this whole media month for 7 has really given me more quiet time w/ God....TV is not that important to me......I think I see about 2-3 movies in the theater per year.....those of you who knew me for many years are probably checking who is actually blogging here....it COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE DAVE MCMORRIS......he used to see EVERY movie!!  As I've said.....life is SO different for me....and my heart is so filled up every day!!  And our kids are seeing this and living life so differently as well....I've said it before and I'll say it again....my kids are pretty awesome...and learning to live more like Jesus every day.  And while I'm talking about amazing people...it must be said that Cara is the most amazing person I know.....here is my chance to say that I have never had an original thought in my head....all ideas that people think that I came up with....are Cara's ideas...I just take them and run with some of them!!  We actually make a very good team!!

Some people have asked me how long we are going to keep feeding our friends.  I said, "Forever....I think."  I mean, the people may change over the years...but the need is still there....and the relationships are what the real thing is anyway....giving food and essential needs is easy....giving our love and relationship is what really matters to these guys.....God has seen to changing our hearts for that! 
Last interesting tidbit......the other night, I got a message from some friends of ours who saw a homeless man outside of Schnucks but were not comfortable talking to him....so they called me to ask if I could go talk to him.  Of course, I was humbled and honored that they thought of me....but slightly amused because I am not a "homeless whisperer".  I have quickly forgotten at times how uncomfortable people are with the homeless......they are God's children....same as us.....half of my own children want to BE homeless when they grow up....so they can live in tents in the woods!!  I am blessed to have them in my life....I am excited that we are staying here for Thanksgiving this year...as we have invited all of our new friends to our house for Thanksgiving.....I am looking forward to a wonderful day filled with many memories for years to come!....until next time.....  :)