In first part of chapter four some of the biggest naysayers of that project were found saying “Look at those charred stones they are pulling out of the rubbish and using again!”

My dad is a general contractor and I have the chance on occasion to help him do remodeling projects on some pretty impressive houses. My role usually consists of demolishing walls, floors and decks then disposing of all the waste into some oversized garbage can. Meanwhile some of the finest cabinets, floorings, fixtures and wood marches past that dumpster in exchange for the materials that just left.
So many times we look at each other through all the dust of destruction and say, “this stuff really isn’t that bad” or “we could probable use this again”.

When most people remodel they use new material but the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem was not done with new perfectly cut stones from the nearby quarry. Sure it got some new wood for the gates and fixtures, but the main walls were built from the stones of the rubble that was already there. Charred stone which many would have just removed was the foundation of a city.

Which made me think of the Casino Road Neighborhood. So many times I think, “We need really solid people to help rebuild this community” or “I wish some good people would move into this neighborhood”. But I have realized more and more God can and does (and probably would rather) use the charred stones that are already there to restore this community.

There are a lot a great people here already with a little soot on their clothes that many have overlooked. It is a natural reaction to not use what is already there because it is always harder to remodel with used material….more to come.