Category Archives: building a log cabin

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Do Not Conform, But BE Transformed

what a waste

I’m nervous.  See, I’ve been talking with several builders who I want to help me finish my log home.  I’m doing the log work, I need these expert carpenters to help with the foundation, roof, and all interior work.  One has already declined because he can’t guarantee HIS work because he doesn’t know how good MY work is.  (Can’t blame him…..It’s not everyday that you hear of a Mississippi ‘redneck’ building a log cabin in his barn in Mississippi and then planning on bringing this cabin out to Colorado piece by piece on a truck).

One of the builders has taken an interest.  He’s got lots of questions.  So I send him the set of blueprints, along with the list of questions answered ( how big are the logs, what kind of tree used, how long have they been drying, etc,etc).  And…… he wanted pictures.  So I sent pictures.  Pictures of my carving and cutting the notches.  Pictures of what I’ve done.  (He’ll have to decide if this Mississippi boy is qualified to undertake building a log home….. and decide if he wants to help.)  That’s when I saw the picture of all the waste.

Man, look at all that waste.  A big ole pile of sawdust, shavings, knots, bark ,….. all removed so that my trees can be transformed.  What was once a tree (that I planted 35 yrs ago) has turned into a log.  This log now must be carved and cut using my chainsaw to be transformed even further.  What was once my tree, what was once my logs, are becoming transformed into something even more special……. my home sweet home.

Romans 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– His good, pleasing and perfect will.

This log home is a physical way of me showing how I live my spiritual life.  I take a tree I planted.  This tree is probably more crooked, bent, not so perfect as what you could buy in the wood yard.  But hey, it’s my tree.  Through a lifelong process, (some days it seems like forever),  I’m gradually cutting and carving (TRANSFORMING) this log into part of my house.

God takes an interest in me (and you).  He sends His Son Jesus to show His Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness to me (and you).  He “helps” me with my own life by sometimes carving and cutting what I’m doing and BEING into what HE wants, what HE thinks is best.  (Call it BEING Transformed!!)

Back to my log house.  The log home builder is going to decide if I measure up to him deciding to build this house. (Decisions, decisions, huh?)  Do you think he will choose to help with this project? ( I’m taking a moment as doubts and fears creep into my thoughts. OK times up, get outa here doubts and fears!)

He will choose to help.  Why?????   Because he’s not using not so perfect trees,….. he’s not using logs that have not been cut and carved,……He’s not looking at an amateur log builder,…….., Or a Mississippi ‘redneck’ ,  or whatever you and I could see as an excuse. What will he see?  Will the builder agree to build this project?  And Why??

Yes, the builder will agree to this.  The Builder will see the transformation.  From trees to logs to what I have been seeing all along from day one.  My HOME SWEET HOME.   (BAM!  The sound of my microphone dropping.)     😉

(Picture of what my TRANSFORMED logs will look like!)

log home int

See Ya!!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher,    part time (full time) transformer

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I’ve Got a Light in This Dark World

light

Electricity!  I’ve got lights in the log barn now.  For those of you keeping up with my log home project, I’m half way through building the nine foot walls for this cabin.  The summer heat has been relieved by daily storms and rain showers. It’s great that it’s cooler, but with the cloudy rainy days, now it’s too dark to see inside the barn. Even though it’s daylight, it’s hard to see the lines I’m carving, and more important, hard to see the lines as I cut with the chainsaw,……. even though it’s daylight, inside the barn it’s just too dark to see.  I need a light.

Much to my surprise and amazement, when I tied the light fixture above me and turned on the light I could see SO MUCH better.  I didn’t realize how I had been straining.  I didn’t realize how hard I was making it on myself.

See, every log in my house is “scribed” to fit the log below it.  I take the scriber and trace along the two logs to know exactly were they must be cut to fit.  This line that I trace is the line that I cut with the chainsaw.  When I cut inside of the lines, the logs don’t fit together.  Even bigger problems will show up.  Problems like leaks between the logs, and worse than that, structure instability with these logs that aren’t fitting together.  If I cut over and outside of the scribed lines, more problems.  Problems again with the structure and security of the logs themselves.  Rule number one for a handcrafted log home,……….. All joints and notches must fit.  For my logs to fit tight and soundly together, I must stay in line!!

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

This scripture was my daily Bible reading for the very day that I turned on the lights where I build my barn.  Coincidence?  Direction from Above? God interacting with me? Divine Intervention?  Really and honestly I don’t know.  But here is what I DO KNOW.

Each and every day I ask God to “help me”.  (Just like plugging in the light).  With His Light, I can now see so that I can “Stay In Line” with my life.  Each day even though it’s daylight, having God’s Light shine in my life gives me a new outlook on how to live.  With His Light I’m no longer blind, but now I see!  I can live a fuller and more meaningful life by staying in line as I carve and whittle each day into what will be my life and journey here on this Earth.

What I here from folks a lot of times is that they are scared of God shining His light on them.  They know that then all the mistakes they have made will show up BIG time.  Well, buddy, Don’t ya think that God already knows about your past and all your mistakes and blunders?  He knows about all my “Boo-boos”.  That mistake on log number three, that cutting I did on the second notch…… nobody knows about those mistakes I made but me and God.  But get this.  God’s light was given to us not to show how bad we are or can be, but Jesus Himself came not to condemn but to save.

As far as the light now being on while I’m building my log home,  It (the light) is saving me.  It’s saving me from myself.  It keeps me from carving and cutting too far out or too far in.  It keeps me in line.

Do you have God’s light shining in your life?  “Well, turn on the switch, plug in the cord.”  How do you do that?  Ask Him.  Say Lord, “help me”.  It’s an everyday activity.  Pray to God…… and listen for His still small voice.  Read a scripture every day.  There are lots of apps that will give you a daily “plug in” from God on your computer or phone.  Then each day as you live in His Light you will experience things that couldn’t be seen before.  Hmmm……. are you experiencing coincidences……direction from God…… Divine Intervention???  Again, I wouldn’t know.  But what you will know is that you will see things in a different light than before.  Gives a new meaning to the phrase “was blind, but now I see.  Thank you Lord!

I’m proud that you’ve “plugged in”.  See Ya!!

Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, part time chainsaw log home builder (using the light)