Home improvement

This “New Home Construction Checklist” is made to help you through the step-by-step process of building your dream house. If you’re doing this for the first time, it has to be confusing and frustrating. I’ve tried to simplify as much as possible.

NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION CHECKLIST

Find the right lot to build on. Check the neighborhood, as well as the proximity to transportation and town conveniences. Get pre-approved by your lending institution. Now you know how much you can spend. Hire an architect. Review the services included in his/her fee. Review your wish list to make sure that every item you want is indicated on the construction documents. Anything the architect is not doing, relative to permits and building department requirements, you should start looking into what you have to do. Go to the building department and ask. Once the architect completes construction documents, and you approve them, start the process of getting permits. Often, the contractor will do this, but it might pay for you to do it yourself. Hire any services not included by the architect (i.e. surveyor, builder, etc.) Select a builder, determine schedules, and finalize pricing. This might result in a few minor changes to the design or construction specifications. The builder should be familiar with the local building department requirements and should arrange for all necessary inspections by the building department. Get your financing. Once you’ve finalized the plans and the costs, go to your lender with the information needed to complete the financing. Determine what (if anything) needs to be done by you before the building starts. This could include landscaping or layout issues, or building department processes. During construction, have weekly meetings at the site, to check progress and answer questions. Be available to the builder to answer questions between meetings. Make sure the payments are made on time (this is the grease that keeps the engine working smoothly). Think about landscaping options (I recommend doing the bare minimum initially). If you wait a few months, you will end up with a better landscape because you will have thought about it and seen other landscapes that give you ideas. Close the construction phase of the financing and finalize your mortgage. Get your Certificate of Occupancy and other closing documents from the building department &/or builder. Occupy the house and start decorating.

Best of Luck. This should be a fun process for you. Don’t let it cause unnecessary stress.

By: Charles Gueli

If you have invested in having a grand home, then I am sure keeping it looking nice is important to you. That is why you should only consider the best when looking for contractors for new construction and upgrades to your home. For example, if you are considering finishing your basement, you are entering a world of opportunities and upgrades for your home. Here are some luxuries your newly finished basement could enjoy. All of these are aspects that will increase your property value and standard of living.

Every successful business man likes to talk about his job, car, family, home, boats, and so forth. They may go on about their pool or Jacuzzi tubs. It’s time for you to take the mic and time for your home to see some additions. When finishing a basement, you have an open canvas to work with since all your necessities are in the main part of the home. A popular investment among fancy homeowners is their own home movie theater. The basement is the perfect place to set up shop and a professional basement renovations company will have an array of options for your personal needs. They will be able to install proper lighting, molding, flooring, and more. They will give you custom options for building in shelves to store your movies and games along with track lighting for subtle light and uninterrupted movies. It is advised not to have them install any windows in your new movie theater. Save windows for other areas in the basements. Movie theaters should be dark with crisp views of the large screen.

While movie theater’s are quite the extravagant feature, there are more things that catch a homeowner’s eye for basement upgrades. This is your opportunity to escape from the kids and relax in a comforting environment. Let the kids let loose in the theater while you enjoy your own private bar or even wine cellar. Both upgrades are feasible and are sure to bring a new excitement to coming home or having guests over. Professional companies will have all the options you are looking for in your wine cellar such as built in wine racks and beautiful glass doors to walk into your private cellar. They will know exactly how to showcase your fine wine and in a classy and custom way. As far as for your bar (to sit and have your well deserved glass of wine), there are endless options for construction. You can have custom cabinets, full kitchen appliances, hand picked knobs and handles, and even things like custom shelving for your bottles and glasses. Special areas to hang your wine glasses from are always a nice extra touch.

When it comes to finishing your upscale basement, do not let any idea get in your way. If things like movie theaters, wine cellars, and bars are all easy upgrade options, then there are many more upgrades to follow. Start thinking about what extravagant feature you want in your basement and call the professionals today for your custom home basement additions.

By: Paul A Buchanan

New construction homes in Virginia are appealing to today’s consumer for a variety of reasons. For starters, there are the breathtaking panoramas of Virginia Beach and the diversity and history of Suffolk, Chesapeake and Richmond. Virginia is a state with beauty and quality of life. It is the kind of place where a person doesn’t mind “settling down.” At the same time, there are many activities for people of all ages. The beach is appealing to all generations, but when not getting sand in your hair, souvenir shops, clubs, and restaurants offer welcome distractions. Living in Virginia gives you a chance of the life you’ve always dreamed of. And following new construction communities in Virginia enables you to live it in the home of your dreams.

Living Space

With mortgage interest rates at all-time lows, it is easier than ever before, under the right credit and income requirements, to buy more house for less money. While higher rates do much for lending in today’s economy, the real advantage if you are in a position to buy is in a slashed rate 30-year mortgage. More space means that you can enjoy the home for longer, raise kids, and still have the freedoms you’d always envisioned for yourself during earlier times.

Peace of Mind

Newer areas offer greater peace of mind, often enjoying lower crime rates and even locations within gated communities. Knowing that your family, possessions and property is safe from harm gives you all the reason that you need to chase after new construction communities in Virginia.

Forging Personality

When a house is several years old, it bears the personality of all those who lived in it before you. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it is more preferable to set the tone of your living space early and give the inside and outside the personality you always envisioned.

Hassle Free

Aside from personality, the longer a home has been lived in, the more it is subject to repairs. With everything that is currently known about home improvement, houses built today are sturdier, more reliable, and less apt to breakdowns. When you aren’t spending all of your time as Mister (or Miss) Fix-It, you can focus on enjoying the house and making it your home.

Build Family

A house is just a place. A home is where memories are made. It takes time to turn a house into a home, and one of the best ways to do so is to lay roots. If you are married to or cohabiting with a significant other, getting your own house is the place where you can start to think about children and the future. It is a place where you can grow your house into a home that will last for generations.

By: Darren W Chow

Many families dream about building a new home for many years before they actually do. It isn’t unheard of for families to research building a new home for a few years. It’s never too early to start thinking about what type of home you want to build; the earlier you begin your research the more you will know what you want in a home when the time comes to move forward.

Below are some tips on how to get started on your journey to building a new home:

One of the first steps to building a new home is to find land. It is highly recommended by many building professionals that you find your land first before you begin the design process. Your land could affect your overall design for your new home. For example, your land may influence how you position your new home and what views you are looking to maximize. Maximizing natural lighting is important for the energy efficiency of your new home. Also, your lot size can impact how big you can build your home, especially if you have a small lot with restrictions. If you decide to build a garage right away, where you position your garage depends on the layout of your land too. When it comes down to it, your land will play a significant role on how you design your home.

If you are looking to build a timber frame home, panelized home or any other prefab home the next step is to find a manufacturer. With so many types of building styles and manufacturers out there it can feel overwhelming. It is important to have multiple discussions and possibly make arrangements to see a sample home in person. There are many online tools today to help you establish a connection if you live far away from the manufacturer.

The next step is to start the design process. Many prefab manufacturers offer design services or you can work with an independent architect or designer. Once you have your land, starting the design process is one step closer to building your new home.

To help you figure out a timeline, you should allow at least a year from start to finish to build your new home. The design process can take as little as three months or as long as nine months, depending on the number of changes you make and the complexity of the design. The construction process can take anywhere on average between 9-12 months. Your timeline could be less or more depending on the size and complexity of your design. Also some methods of construction are a faster and more efficient way to build such as prefab homes that are manufactured in sections than shipped to your site and assembled.

By: Molly Gagnon

After purchasing your home builder’s model home, the new construction phase is exciting and filled with anticipation. You’ve signed the contract and construction is about to start. What do you do? You need to make sure that your home is built correct.

What is correct?

The first thing that commonly comes to mind is the home being built to ‘Code.’ In a general sense, the code issue is reviewed by the governing municipality. Commonly they have inspectors that look for your house to be built to code.

By the way, the ‘Code’ is only the MINIMUM set of standards. Kind of scary to realize that your new home is only being inspected to a minimum set of standards. You would have a fit if your children were taught to a minimum set of standards. The bar is not being set too high here.

The most important factor when your new home builder or general contractor starts construction of your model home is having a game plan. Ask your self these questions: Do I understand the new home building process? No, truly ask yourself! Do I REALLY understand the new home building process? Can I tell if my new home is being built to today’s standards?

If your answer is not a definitive yes; you should consider choosing between one of the following options.

Home inspector or not
One solution is to hire a home inspector with experience reviewing the new construction home building process of your new home. This type of inspection process is not the same creature that you may have experienced when purchasing an existing home. Fees for this type of service will be at least $500. Multiple visits along with fully documented reports at specific milestones during construction process are necessary. The trick here is to make sure that your inspector understands the finer elements of the new construction process.

There are three likely pit falls with the home inspector route. First, in an effort to prove his worth, the report is filled with issues that don’t matter much. The concern here is provoking and creating an adversarial relationship with your new home builder or construction company. Second, issues which are truly important in the construction and ultimately performance of your house are missed in the process. The third and final area of concern lies with accountability. Home inspectors do not guarantee or provide a warranty for the accuracy of their services.

Is there another way?

There sure is; just to do it yourself. I know what you’re thinking. Hold on there partner, don’t you remember the questions asked at the top? Of course I do. This is where with a little help, you can take the bull by the horns and make sure the work is completed correctly yourself. It is possible for you to manage this task.

What if you had a step by step process? What about a process that not only tells you what to look for, but when to look for it? And, how about a process that even provides photographs as examples of what to look for. With all of that, I’m confident that you’ll have the skills necessary to make sure your new home is built to today’s standards.

Now you understand that it you can make a difference in the quality of your home builder’s new home construction.

By: Jon Andrson

Those about to embark on a new construction or home improvement project may be able to claim thousands of dollars in free grant money to pay for many of these expenses. These construction and home repair grants are available through local government agencies and private organizations that benefit from tax incentives by providing you with the cash you need.

Home improvement grants can help you pay for drawing up plans to expand your home, update your house with energy efficient equipment, or pay for materials. Labor costs may also be covered by the grants you may be eligible to receive.

Local and state governments tend to be the agencies that support home improvement grants, as they benefit directly from your home improvement and construction projects. As homes are repaired, expanded or rehabilitated, the government can assess the property at a higher value. As a result, the property values of the neighborhood increase and higher property taxes can be collected. In the end, by providing cash incentives to home owners, the government benefits as well.

Government home improvement and construction grants may also be offered in particular neighborhoods as a way to encourage people to gentrify or improve low-income neighborhoods. Billions of dollars is spent every year in community development, but most people are unaware that that these funds can be obtained for their personal use.

Those interested in seeing if they qualify to receive home improvement grants can do so by simply applying for this free grant money. By searching the database for the available grants in your area, you can quickly see how much money is available and who qualifies to receive these funds. As a result of submitting a application, individuals may receive thousands of dollars that can be used to improve the functionality and appearance of your home.

Once obtained, these grant funds never have to be paid back. The applicant should closely review the terms of the program to clearly understand what the money can and can’t be used for, as each grant program has different restrictions. However, most grant applications do not require a credit check, down payment or any kind of collateral. Simply find out if you are eligible to receive free government money today but submitting your grant application.

By: Sarah Beckham

If you have a problem with something that you purchase in a store, you can simply return the item most of the time and get a refund or another item that isn’t damaged. In the new home building construction business, this isn’t exactly how it works, all of the time.

All of the products that are purchased are brought to the job site and assembled into the new home. If any of these items are damaged, there’s a good chance that they will need to be removed, if possible and returned to the store that they were purchased from to make the exchange.

That’s okay and usually works… sometimes. If you install a couple of boxes of floor tile and you notice that there is a flaw of some sort after you have installed them, I don’t think the store is going to be happy or interested in having you return floor tiles that have tile grout or adhesive dried on to the back of them.

In other words, some new home construction defects are going to be bigger problems than others. If you notice there’s a chip in a piece of tile, bathroom sink or even a light fixture, don’t bother to install it in the new house. This is the point when it needs to be returned for an undamaged item.

By now you’re probably wondering, wouldn’t everybody do this, isn’t this kind of stuff called common sense. Not when someone’s in a hurry and isn’t really worried about the finished product. The biggest problems with construction defects in new homes is building materials that get damaged by other workers or building materials that are already damaged and installed anyway.

There’s not a lot that you’re going to be able to do about building materials that become damaged after they are installed, but there is something that you can do before they are installed.

By: Greg Vandenberge

Quoting a price for construction of a new home is one of the hardest things to do because every home is unique and truly there are no two houses exactly alike, even if it is only the lot that makes them different.

Perhaps one of the most significant factors to cost of new home construction is the local region. Local building codes and labor play a major role in the cost of new home construction. Local building codes vary widely by region. For example, in warm climates building codes often do not require high-performance windows, higher insulation values or advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Strict building codes or lack thereof makes a significant impact on the cost of constructing a new home.

Local labor in certain parts of the country is also higher than in other portions of the country. In places that unions are prominent in residential new construction, prices will generally be higher too. Strong unions tend to set the upper price point for skilled labor and it seems non-union wages are higher in areas with stronger union representation. As a general rule, places that have excess labor will have lower labor rates. Because of the recession and the real estate new construction depression, the price of labor has been generally falling around the country the last few years. This trend will continue until the supply and demand of labor reverses itself.

Although not included in the cost of building directly, land prices are easily the biggest factor in home and lot package. The cost of a lot in a city like Los Angeles, New York or Chicago could easily cost more than a home with a lot located in Indianapolis or Minneapolis. Also, lot improvements can be a hidden cost if the lot is not previously engineered by a land developer. Soil corrections, raising or lower lot elevations, sourcing utilities not on the edge of the property, drilling a well or installing a septic can all add large costs to the budget. If the lot is not pre-engineered by a land developer, obtaining at least one soil boring (four is best) where the house will be located is a very smart idea before you close on the purchase of the lot.

Finishes are another big contributor to the cost of construction. I have heard some rich and famous have built houses exceeding $5,000 per square foot with the major difference being extremely high-end finishes. Gold plating things can add up quickly. For us regular everyday type folks, even things like kitchen appliances (stove, dishwasher, microwave/hood, and refrigerator/freezer) can cost as little as $2,000, but can easily cost $25,000 for appliances that basically do the same things, like cool and cook food. Lighting fixtures can be much the same story. You can purchase lighting fixtures at your local Home Improvement store for as little as $500-600. Conversely, you can purchase a single dining room chandelier for a few thousand dollars or ten of thousands. In the case of the rich and famous, the sky is the limit on this stuff.

Having a green building background, I also know that green building can cost you your green (cash). There are a lot of builders selling “green bling”. “Green bling” are things that consumers have heard about and want added to their home and either have a slow payback or no payback at all. Unscrupulous builders can take advantage of a buyers desire to be environmentally conscience by selling a bunch of upgrades that are not only expensive, but are not really that green.

For the average American, building a new home will vary depending on the factors above and more, but in general the higher the square footage, the lower the cost per square foot and vice versa. The majority of houses I have seen around the country range from a low of about $80 per square foot to a high of $300 per square foot. In the Midwest, a good guideline is to budget for $150 per square foot on the main floor, $100 per square foot for the second story and $50 per square foot for finished square footage in the lower level. To these budget numbers you add the lot cost and lot improvements and you should be in the ballpark. For example, a 2,400 square foot two story home with 1,2000 square feet on each floor would cost approximately $380,000.000 with a $80,000 lot. In a down economy the pricing will be lower and higher in an up economy. There are wide differences in the quality of construction at the same price point between various builders.

As you can see, there are many factors that go into the cost of a new construction home and therefore it can be very hard to compare pricing between builders. Sending out a set of plans for bid does not mean you are comparing apples to apples. Builders are smart and know how to cut costs to win a build, but that does not mean you are receiving the best value.

Larger builders tend to deliver the most square footage for the least amount of money, but have cost reduced the product to make that happen. Cost reduction usually means materials are on the lower end of the price spectrum. You will see things like hollow-core pre-painted doors, plastic or pre-finished trim, vinyl floors, shower inserts, vinyl siding and the list goes on and on and on. While lower cost materials does not necessarily mean lower quality, there is a definite difference between homes built with higher quality versus lower quality materials. Square footage, house floor plan and granite counter-tops shouldn’t be the only considerations if you are planning on living in that home more than 5-10 years.

On the other hand, smaller builders tend to provide custom type construction with higher building materials, but can come with their own set of challenges. Smaller builders may not have adequate staff to provide the customer service you may be looking for or may not even be in business in five years. Many smaller builders fail to run a very tight ship financially and the cost of your project could easily be over budget. Also, using a smaller builder does not guarantee a quality built home. It is best to do your homework on any of the builders you are considering.

As a builder myself, we use an open book methodology. This means the consumer sees all actual costs and the actual builder’s profit. I am not advocating our system over another, but I find in todays’ world of educated consumers, consumers understand a builder needs to make a profit and seem to be more comfortable when that number is fully disclosed. To that end, I have never had a customer come to us and ask us to cut our profit.

I am not sure I adequately answered the question “How much will building a new home cost me”, but hopefully you have a better understanding of the things that attract cost and some ideas about how to go about selecting a builder.

By: Raymond Pruban

Stucco has been use to protect and decorate exterior and interior walls and ceilings for many centuries. Stucco is available in dozens of textures, thousands of colors and is currently the cladding of choice for most new construction and remodel or restoration projects.

The two main categories of exterior stucco that encompass dozens of different systems are Hard Coat Stucco and EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish System). Hard Coat Stucco is the preferred system for residential or multifamily construction, and is being used increasingly for commercial projects since it is more economical. EIFS is more commonly used for commercial building projects, but is often also used for high-end custom homes.

Hard Coat Stucco is typically applied in 2-3 coats with a cementitious base coat. Two commonly used hard coat stucco systems are called One Coat Stucco and Three Coat Stucco. Traditional Three Coat Stucco consists of two coats of a cement base and one finish coat. One Coat Stucco is actually a two-coat process but instead of two base coats it consists of one cementitious base coat with one finish coat. In the last few decades One Coat Stucco has become much more popular simply because of the cost. The materials used and application process are virtually the same for both systems, other than the exception of One Coat Stucco taking fewer steps and less time. The design ability and performance between the two systems are also the same, although Three Coat Stucco is typically stronger and will crack less in most circumstances.

The finish coat application of both hard coat systems is the same. There are numerous finish options but they can be consolidated into a few categories which are: Integrally Colored Stucco, Painted Stucco, and Acrylic Finishes. Colored cement finishes or “colored stucco” was the popular choice over Three Coat Stucco for most of the 20th century. It is simply a mixture of cement, lime, sand and pigment. It is inexpensive and easy to apply, however, if the base coat cracks the finish is almost guaranteed to crack. Colored Stucco will stain easily, is hard to repair, and allows water to pass freely through it (which can be good or bad depending on what part of the country the system is applied within). It is usually applied by hand and can achieve virtually any finish imaginable.

Painted Stucco has been around almost as long, and is the majority of the finishes being used today. Painted Stucco is the same mixture of materials less the color, so it is applied the same and will achieve all the textures that integrally colored stucco will. The final step with Painted Stucco is the paint application. The paint, or as some like to call “coating”, will look more vibrant and is easier to patch. Color options are vast and it is important that a good quality stucco paint is used. The most desired stucco finish today is Acrylic Stucco or Acrylic Finish. Some will call this system Synthetic Stucco, which is somewhat correct since it is a synthetic finish, however it is not a synthetic system.

Acrylic Finish is available in as many colors as a paint and has the same chemical make up as paint, but is a much thicker application. This does raise the cost of the overall system, but offers many benefits that the other two finishes do not. Acrylic Stucco will bridge most all hairline cracks and does not allow water to travel freely into the system, which is a huge benefit in freeze/thaw zones. Acrylic Stucco will keep it’s look and typically will not require any maintenance for many years, whereas painted stucco must be repainted and repaired within a few years. Colored Stucco stains easily, will show every crack and is very difficult to repair.

EIFS is a full synthetic system or what most will call Synthetic Stucco. EIFS systems weigh much less than traditional stucco and are much more flexible. Although most EIFS adhesives and base coats are cement based, they are heavily polymer modified so they are considered synthetic. These type of systems have been used successfully for many decades but are much newer in the stucco world. Most all EIFS systems use EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) insulation board which is usually adhesively attached to the substrate and sometimes mechanically attached. The EPS adds insulation to the wall assembly, absorbs movement better than any other stucco cladding used today, and adds many design options.

The original or traditional EIFS systems all used a cement-based adhesive and/or mechanical fasteners for the EPS, fiberglass netting for reinforcement and to gauge base coat thickness, cement base coat, and an acrylic finish. These systems are known as Barrier EIFS. Since these systems are so watertight, they’ve had some problems such as not allowing water to escape after it had travelled into the system because of improper application and flashing. The industry quickly designed Drainage EIFS or Water Managed EIFS which some manufacturers had and promoted before these issues arrived. Drainage EIFS systems have been very popular in recent years and include added or altered components such as notched or channeled EPS, plastic trim, trowel or roller-applied waterproof coatings. These systems seem to have remedied the water drainage problem of years past. The finish coat options for EIFS are not as vast as they are for Hard Coat Stucco. Since EIFS is a “soft system” or synthetic system, cement finishes will not work unless they are acrylic or polymer modified.

Most EIFS manufacturers have their recommended systems and will not warranty their products if deviated from the original specifications. Almost every final coat for EIFS consists of an acrylic emulsion and marble or silica sand finish that is hand-troweled over the base coat. Acrylic finish is integrally colored and very flexible. There are a few standard textures that acrylic finishes provide, including Smooth Finish, Sand Finish, and Rilled or Swirl Finish. These finishes, which are expensive, are usually applied in one coat at a thickness of 5/32″ or less. Many different textures are possible by multilayering an acrylic finish.

By: Timothy O Williams

Jesus said, “No one can see the Kingdom of Heaven unless he is BORN AGAIN,” (Jn 3:3). A born again disciple is one who has, literally, been given a new lease on life. He or she gets to start over, sins forgiven. We become new creatures, the old is gone, the new has come, (2 Cor 5:17). The Holy Spirit, the promised parakletos (comforter, in Greek), now dwells within each of us who are disciples of Christ. We are His home. Yes, God… the One who made both Heaven and earth… chooses to live THROUGH those who claim Jesus as Lord so that He can advance His Kingdom THROUGH them. Yes, we become His home but for Kingdom purposes, not for our own benefit.

WARNING:

Many are under the false impression that, as a disciple, our relationship with God simply makes us “better” people. A sort of “we’re-in-the-club-and-you’re-not” syndrome often sets in. WRONG! We’re not BETTER people… we’re NEW people! (It’s been said that some folks are nicer by nature than Christians are by grace.) We’re called “Believers.” That means we are to BELIEVE what Scripture says. I believe Jesus told us to go make more disciples, Matthew 28:18-20. Yes, we’re now in God’s family, but for a definite purpose.

How can this be? Remember, we’re spirit-beings having an earthly experience. These bodies will die and our spirit will live forever… somewhere. Heaven or Hell, it’s our choice. God Himself wants to co-labor with us to bring others into His Kingdom way of living. So that they can attain REAL life. Often, when someone proudly claims to be a Christian, one cannot help but wonder if they have Life. REAL Life. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life…,” (Jn 14:6). The question then is, “Do they have Jesus?” Do we?

Sadly, many non-Christians are under the impression that we THINK we’re better than they are. This “holier than thou” perception has led them to describe God’s kids as judgmental, hypocritical and boring, among other things.

The words of Christ are what brings about the desired effects in our lives. Too many of us are all too aware that, frankly, since our supposed salvation experience, not only have we not changed one iota, but many of us have done worse things SINCE we were “saved” than we did before! How can this be? Who are we kidding? Many altar workers at large-scale evangelical crusades can attest to the many re-curring “salvation” cards received by those responding to the “altar call.” Those organizations that keep good records can verify the vast numbers of “recommitments” that come to the altar year after year, either to be “saved” (apparently hoping it really”sticks” this time) or because they know in their heart that nothing changed after experiencing what they thought was a life-changing moment last time.

The problem is at the root. Our typical idea of salvation is that of one’s sins being forgiven, complete with a guarantee of a mansion in heaven in the sweet by ‘n by. Unfortunately, this was not what Jesus taught at all.

Jesus focused on the here ‘n now, and the manner in which we were to conduct our lives in this new and living way to which He introduced. He even modeled it for us, setting the standard. He taught that we should 1) Repent and believe the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, 2) deny ourselves, 3) take up our cross daily, 4) give up everything, and 5) over 30 times mentioned some form of the phrase, ‘follow Me.’ It stands to reason that, as we make disciples, we should teach that being such is about following the example of Jesus Christ, doing His works and submitting to the Kingdom of God. Multitudes have a twisted sense of forgiveness without lifestyle change… and call it ‘grace’… when, in fact, discipleship is about denying self and glorifying God.
We cannot claim citizenship in God’s Kingdom and remain chummy with this world’s system. If we attempt to do so, yet claim to be saved, we’re deceived. Satan loves it when we feel secure about our salvation without also having to reject sin and carnality. He loves it even MORE when we perpetuate this lie from pulpits, in commentaries, Sunday Schools, seminaries, and the Christian media. Are we teaching Eternal Security or Infernal Certainty?

Over the years, I have personally prayed with hundreds of people to receive Christ… the Roman Road, Four Spiritual Laws, ABC’s of salvation, Professions of Faith. Then, one day, I stopped. Today, I’m more inclined to “take it away” from one who thinks they want to become a Christian, to have them go home and consult their pillow, count the cost, and call me when they’re ready. I’ve been asked, “What if they die on the way home? You should at least pray a sinner’s prayer! After all, Romans 10:9-10 says to ‘confess with your mouth’… .”

Frankly, God knows their hearts. They shouldn’t have to utter a sound. Is the person with laryngitis, or a mute, forbidden to go to Heaven because they didn’t pray a repeated prayer? Manmade doctrines and traditions strike again. Another sacred cow bites the dust.

By way of example, I once asked a group to whom I’d been teaching the Scriptures in the workplace, if everyone there considered themselves to be a Christian. All but one, a young Hispanic woman, claimed to be Christian. The next day, as I was walking toward the elevator, that same woman, walking out of the elevator, grabbed my arm, wheeled me around and said, “Michael, I want to be saved!” Two years later, she’s still under my discipleship via eMail and phone. Folks, when the fruit is ready for harvest, it practically falls into our hands. No coaxing necessary.

Was the soil of her spirit prepared through the studies? Yes, but she was inspired to ATTEND the studies by the Christian presence she’d observed in the workplace. The following Sunday night, I met her at work and she followed me in her car to a home meeting where she was lovingly welcomedinto the fold by other Christians for discipleship. Particularly from godly women. Incidentally, within days of this experience, she was in a terrible auto accident which almost cost her her life. She nearly lost her arm which was terribly mangled. She’d been adequately prepared, however. Satan was not happy. The last thing she remembered before the accident? She was talking to her passenger about God.

Why not hold a crusade and tell the masses what Jesus told His potential disciples? Imagine hearing the following message over the PA system in a stadium:”Six times He warned that the world will hate you. Your family and friends will turn against you. He didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword that would divide families. You will suffer persecution. You may die. Now, go home and think about giving up your life and all that is dear to you to follow this person called Jesus Christ.” I wonder how many would return the next night of the crusade??

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for My name’s sake, will receive a hundred-fold, and inherit eternal life. But many will that are first will be last, and the last first,” (Matt 19:29-30).

Typically, we try to lure people into joining this institution we call “the Church” based upon promises of peace, joy, love, unity, and prosperity. Try to sell THAT rubbish to a Sudanese pastor whose had acid poured all over his hands, in front of his congregation, by Muslim soldiers.

Or the Pakistani village whose Christian members were physically mutilated by radical Muslims.

Or a Chinese evangelist who never sleeps more than a few nights in the same bed for fear of being turned in, even by family members and informers infiltrating his own congregation, while Americans “buy” the Chinese propaganda that there’s freedom of religion there.

The common method of Western discipleship is in training new converts to sit, carry a Bible, take a few notes, say ‘Amen,’ get indoctrinated with non-biblical manmade doctrines, learn new rituals, the chain-of-command, and become “good” at this routine… even “professional.” Man, are we ever missing the boat!

No, nothing will change a person like God’s Word. These are not “bolt-on” tips for living. Nor are they warm, fuzzy spiritual “thoughts for the day.” The Words of Christ are foundational… the only thing on which our new lives can built. And maintained. Use them. Filter every other teaching you’ve ever heard… or are currently hearing… THROUGH HIS WORDS, even those teachings that come from within the pages of Scripture themselves!

“Therefore everyone who hears these Words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon a rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock,” (Matthew 7:24-25)

Doesn’t it make logical sense that, in order to be a Christian (meaning, literally, an anointed one; a Junior Jesus), one must follow the teachings of THE Christ? To those desiring to live this new way, as new creations, Jesus asked (perhaps He STILL does),

“Why do you call Me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say?”

“If you continue in My Word, then you are truly My disciples…,” (Jn 8:31,32; 15:7)

“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life,” (Jn 12:25).

Need pastoral counseling and prayer? Write or IM me at team1min@aol.com

Every blessing!

By: Michael Tummillo