Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Disneyland-ask the man who owns one







My friend John once bought 40 acres of land near Durango for the princely sum of $100 an acre, and promptly named his ranch The Ponderosa.  This $4000 investment, a lot back in the late 70’s, would soon sell for almost twice that, making him some instant money, and making him look like he knew what he was doing, but the truth was, he was just lucky.  He was given a chance to buy something below value, and sell it for value.  he thought he was shrewd, others thought lucky, when really it was God and His grace shining on John and his real estate venture.  But not all investments pan out so well, and recently the old Packard Plant in Detroit went to auction.  At a minimum bid for this once state of the art manufacturing complex, the bids were to start at $1 million for the 43 parcels, cheap land, even in an area known for cheap land.  But the only buyer backed out, and now it goes to auction again, for the minimum bid of $500 per parcel, again cheap, or $21,500 for this piece of automotive history.  The bidding is about to begin, if it doesn’t sell, then it becomes the property of Detroit, and if they don’t want it, the it passes to Wayne County.  A property rich in history, with promise for the future from a visionary investor, it now sits, no one wanting it.  Next time you go looking for America, learn from this lesson in Detroit.  The only place where land is worthless.  Not even for historical importance.  How far have we   fallen from grace?  Isn’t Toyota or Nissan even interested?  Wonder if John knows about this?
Just to put this in perspective, the very plant that once made the premier luxury car of its time, can be had for less than the price of a new Ford.  Or Chevy.  Or Chrysler.  Keep your Toyota.  All names that once made Detroit great, and made the American made automobile the most desired and best in the world.  But with that comes the cost of demolition, and what to do with this large chunk of Detroit.  Tens of millions would be needed for just the environmental cleanup of the asbestos and all the oil spilled into the ground for the 50 years the plant was functioning.  A bill that must be included, and perhaps that is why no one wants it.  Not that Packard did anything illegal, but under today’s laws and what we know about asbestos the world has changed.  And the plant grounds haven’t.  But I have a suggestion, Disney.  They have the money and resources for an automotive based theme park.  Think of it as Disney City, we already have D lands and worlds.  Make it a tourist spot, and watch as Detroit and the area explode economically.  Why not?  The king of amusement parks and the one time king of luxury cars-two number ones, making another #1.  But who would come to Detroit in the winter?  Maybe the same ones who attended the Super Bowl in Minnesota, and will in NYC this winter.  With today’s technology, make it indoors, sliding roofs, just like a giant convertible or disappearing roof like the Skyliner, and pack it with hotels named after models.  Caribbean, Clipper, and even a 400, the number that used to represent the 400 richest in the US of A.  Build an Assembly land, and watch a car built, driving a car through like the Pirates of the Caribbean, the Caribbean even an old Packard model.  Country Bear Jamboree would be fun for the kids, as the bears work on cars, and kids get to learn auto history.  Hands on, modeling with clay, or drawing their own car.  And what could be better than a haunted house than a haunted factory?  Again all auto based-the ghosts of Packard, Hudson, Studebaker, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Plymouth reminding us of what it used to be like.  Why hasn’t someone thought of this?  Is Disney missing the chance of a lifetime?  What would make a person pass up such a deal?  It’s a small world after all?
Such is the story of Abram, in the years before he was Abraham.  When God told him his family would outnumber the stars, he was also given a choice of where to start it.  But he offered Lot the first choice, and he chose the Sodom and Gomorrah area, prime land, the land we would have chosen as an investment.  And Abram got left with what was left, the other side of the tracks.  And we all know someone who lived or lives on the other side of the tracks, and wants to move over and out of it.  But God honored Abram as he promised, and Lot’s choice turned deadly.  Even today Sodom and Gomorrah refer to sin and destruction, and their true whereabouts is unknown.  But as for Abram’s descendants, well more Jewish people live in NYC than in Jerusalem.  But it is all changing...
God is calling His people back to Jerusalem, and Israel, once the land no one wanted, is a verdant area, exporting fruit and vegetables.  It has a mighty military, and somehow its people have never ceased to exist even without a land to call their own, until 1948.  And once again the land no one wanted is being fought over, with Palestinians laying false claim to it, and terrorists attacking to take it.  But soon Jesus will deal with all that, but for now, keep an eye on Israel.  A small country the size of New Jersey, that is the most valuable and important land in the world.  And now with oil being found, perhaps the largest strike ever, the time is right, as we watch God taking care of His people, still.  Now if God can take a desert and make it fertile, giving it a value and desire for others to fight over it for, imagine what can be made of an old car factory?
Jesus tells us that He uses the foolish things of the world, the things cast off, for our benefit.  Some days you may feel like the Packard plant, you once were valuable, now not wanted.  Sin has overtaken a once beautiful life, and now it is in ruins.  But just as Jesus was resurrected, so can your life.  True you get the promise of heaven, but can get the benefits right now.  That old building your body lives in can be rebuilt, and given life again.  All for the price of following Jesus.  He has plans for you, and He knows them.  Interested?  Ask Him, and then let Him show you, but be ready...it probably will not be what you think.  It will be better, and the road exciting.  A small investment in faith can lead to profits like John’s, or Walt. D.’s, but you have to make the next step.  Jesus made the first.  Your life is up for auction...do you know anyone who will bid for it, based on what you know about yourself?  Jesus knew the value and paid the price.  Maybe inside that body is a new land, flowing with milk and honey, where now only Cheeseballs and stale chips live.  Will you take the next step?
Abram did, and today is known as a man of faith, despite all his shortcomings, doubts, and sins.  That is how God sees Him.  But it is how he saw God that gave him the faith to obey.  How do you see God?  Like investors see Detroit?  How the world once saw Israel?  Or as Walt once saw some orange groves in Orange County?  Check on real estate near Disneyland or Disneyworld today, isn’t your life more valuable?
Just an old car plant that no one wants.  It will take vision and faith to turn it into something.  Out of the ruins we rise, with Jesus.  Abram got stuck with swamp land, and God made it right.  Let Him make it right for you.  An e-ticket ride awaits those who believe.  To some an old factory, but to the right one riches beyond imagination.  Disney and Packard?  Will it work?  What will it take to call people back to Detroit?  Ask the man who owns one.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com