I HOPE

Other than the lead up to my wedding day to my wonder wife Kimberly, I cannot think of an event that I have anticipated so much. With the inauguration on Tuesday, we will begin a new chapter in the history of our great nation. Barack Obama has inspired millions of people with a message of Hope. Here are some of my thoughts about our new President:

I HOPE he can lead us out of this economic mess.
I HOPE that a nation that has been very divided for the last 12-14 years can come together to support him.
I HOPE that he is even smarter than what he sounds (which he sounds very smart).
I HOPE that the secret service protects him well.
I HOPE that the countries expectations are not more than he can handle.
I HOPE that his 2 daughters are allowed to be kids.
I HOPE he can protect our nation from another attack.
I HOPE he leads with great morality and integrity.
I HOPE he gets to keep his BlackBerry.
I HOPE he can find the time to play some hoops now and then.
I HOPE he maintains the same amount of contact through social networking that he did during the campaign.
I HOPE he holds Americans accountable for our actions, just as we will for his.
I HOPE he makes the right decisions, if I agree with them or not.
I HOPE he is transparent.
I HOPE he stops predatory lending.
I HOPE he has the courage to stand up to the leaders of both parties for what he feels is right.
I HOPE that he will be one of the greatest presidents we have ever had.
I HOPE that I will get a chance to meet him someday.

I've Never Seen It This Bad

This was the title of this weeks service at Granger Community Church, the 1st weekend of a new series called: Help Wanted Surviving Tough Times. Mark Beeson delivered a message that was sympathetic, but to the point while teaching from 2 Kings 4:1-7 from the Old Testament. This was a message that will remain with me for sometime. The video playing in the background of the band playing "Under Pressure" was powerful that led into an even better message from our Senior Pastor. I am already looking forward to hearing next weeks message on what God has to say about the topic "I Think We Might Lose Everything". Once posted, I believe on Monday, you can watch this past weeks service on-line if you missed out on it by going to: http://www.gccwired.com/

Questions that were given to us were:
God wants to help you....What are you doing to cooperate?

What exactly do you do to establish an outpost of God's Kingdom wherever you are?

What exactly do yo do to add value to your family?

What exactly to do you do to extend a hand up and not just a hand out?

What exactly do you do to make this local church better?

What exactly do yo do to help the person next to you right now?

What exactly do you do to make Michiana a better community?

Who do you know that has a tough economic situation? Is there anything you can do about it? What can they do about it?

Do you find yourself praying more for victory and success, or relief and rescue? Why do you suppose that is?

Day Of Service

On Monday, January 19, the Corporation for National and Community Service is teaming up with the Presidential Innaugural Committee to offer a broad number of opportunities for you to serve your community on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There is something special about serving and working for a cause bigger than self interest. I know I always feel great after serving. There are a wide variety of serving opportunities that have been set up for Monday, you can get more information on them by clicking here: http://www.usaservice.org/content/home/

There are events scheduled at: Little Flower Food Pantry in South Bend, Feed The Children in Elkhart, Food and Clothing drive at Sav-a-lot in Dowagiac, various Martin's locations are having food drives throughout Michiana, Food and Clothing dive at The Window in Goshen. These are just a few of the places to serve in Michiana. Most of these are short 1-2 hour events that will not take up your whole day and make you feel good about helping people in need.

10 Cities Boasting Mini Sales Booms

Some cities that were hardest hit by the real downturn are experiencing mini sales booms.

Las Vegas real estate properties are down 28 percent in price, but sales of homes are up 15 percent.Motivated buyers accounted for 64 percent of Las Vegas sales in October, says Radar Logic, a derivatives firm. That’s the highest rate in the country.

"There's a pretty active housing market, it's simply at a lower-priced inventory," says Michael Feder, chief executive of Radar Logic. "And there are now bidding wars taking place over homes in foreclosure."

Phoenix and San Diego are reporting similar experiences. "We're clearing out the bad news," says Kiva Patten, a director at Merrill Lynch specializing in housing derivatives.

"By the end of 2010 – that's where we're calling the bottom in the forward market. You're going to get a small price appreciation in 2011," says Patten. "It's not like the turn is 10 percent per year, it'll be something like 3 percent or 4 percent."Here are the cities where experts say it makes the most sense to buy now.
Las Vegas
Sacramento, Calif.
San Diego, Calif.
Los Angeles
Detroit
Phoenix
San Francisco
Washington, D.C.
San Jose
Atlanta

Source: Forbes, Matt Woolsey (01/12/09)

727 Whitehall Dr., South Bend, Inidana

727 Whitehall, South Bend, Indiana MLS#234157 This 4 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath home veatures vaulted ceilings in the living room and kitchen, an eat in kitchen and a 2 car attached garage. Priced at $54,900 being sold as-is and all offers are subject to sellers bank approval.

63968 Madison Trail, Mishawaka, Indiana

63968 Madison Trail, Mishawaka, Indiana MLS#234191. Priced at $124,900. This home 3 bedrooms and 1 bath, hardwood floors, a large kitchen, stone exterior and a 2 car attached garage. 1468 sqft. and is surrounded by corn fields in the Penn School district.

St. Joseph County Foreclosures 1/15/09

Today, Thursday January 15, 2009, there were 50 homes originally scheduled to be taken back at sheriff's auction. Of those 50, 11 were able to stop the sale of their home leaving 39 that actually went back to the bank. Of those 39, 7 of them owed less than $50,000 and 3 owed more than $200,000. South Bend, once again, led the way with 32 homes taken back by the banks. Granger had 3, Osceola had 2 and Mishawaka and North Liberty had 1 each. Of the 7 below $50,000, 1 was in North Liberty the other 6 were in South Bend. Of the 3 above $200,000, 2 were from Granger and 1 was from South Bend.