Hospitality of the Home
When Gary first moved into his home, he was very thankful for the Lord’s provision and committed to having his home known as a place for a heart of hospitality toward others, a home of friendliness and warmth. A home that is well cared for, maintained, organized, attractive in color, personalized, and interesting makes it most welcoming and enjoyable.
Special thought and attention to detail were given to each room's design. Many rooms have an individualized theme: sports/tropical basement, the “Cub” family room, Chicago/Jazz front room, DJ office dining room, the Western bedroom, and the upstairs library bedroom. After buying the house, it took Gary many months to strip wallpaper from every room, prepare and paint all the rooms, and then decorate the rooms appropriately.
For years, the DJ company was run out of the downstairs rooms and the carpeted garage. The home has been a hallmark of hospitality over the years, hosting many church events with up to 200 guests at a time, for 15 plus years hosting yearly youth meetings, scores of church community group gatherings, and many elder and deacon meetings. In addition, the C.S. Lewis Institute of Chicago’s barbecue was held there, with over 100 in attendance. Many neighborhood barbeques, as well as many special sports-themed parties like the annual Super Bowl Party and NFL Draft Night, have been hosted there as well.
As the Apostle Paul instructed in Galatians 6:10, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Horticulture
Gary enjoys laboring in his lawn and gardens. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Gary’s roses year after year flourish with beauty, splendor and magnificence. Extensive exterior projects included personally erecting and securing a split rail fence around the house and a semi-private fence extending throughout the entire backline of the lot, building a shed on concrete, putting in a circular driveway, building a second patio on the property and totally transforming the landscape by removing trees, bushes and gardens and replacing them with new sod, planting trees, new bushes and creating new gardens. The grass has always been given first class attention.
Gary’s commitment of excellence in stewardship and tender care comes from the understanding that God Himself is depicted as the first gardener, Genesis 2:8 , "And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, where He placed the man He had formed" and in humanity's role "to work it and take care of it" Genesis 2:15, indicating that horticulture is a God-given privilege and responsibility. The Lord employed horticultural metaphors in His teachings in the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:3-9 and in John 15:1-8 , Jesus declared, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser."
