Spiritual Retreat

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I'm off with my amazing pastor friends to a spiritual retreat at the Hilltop Renewal Center near Big Bear, CA. It's always crazy trying to get away with moving and all, but it's so good at the same time.

I'm looking forward to praying, resting, talking, playing in the snow. Where I'm going there will be a lot of snow, so this is a good test for me.

Have a great day,

Into the future,

davidT

I Bought a Weapon Today

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I thought it would never happen but it happened yesterday. I bought our 4 year old his first pirate sword, patch, flag and telescope combo.

That happened way sooner than I expected and in fact I told myself I would never buy our son a weapon. Funny.

I actually wish I had bought one for myself!

Have a great day,

Into the future,

davidT

Pretty Worn Out

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Crown molding is not easy, it takes a looooong time. Have you done crown molding? No? Then, you don't understand. Have you done crown molding? Ok, you get it. It takes a loooong time and I'm tired.

I actually enjoy doing it, the angles, the cutting, the nailing, the look is nice. But I'm tired. I'm going to bed.

What is crown molding? See image.

Have a great day,

Into the future,

davidT

It's a Beautiful Day, Yet Real

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Today has been a very beautiful day for me. I feel happy inside. What's causing such bliss?

1. Listening to "You Are Holy" by Nordemann (my wife's cd)
2. My wife loves to worship to this CD during the day which makes me tear up thinking how lucky I am to be married to a woman who worships
3. My wife and I are painting the ceilings together and it's going well (living room done). More today (kitchen, bedroom)
4. Children are happy. Yesterday they were playing "horsey" around the house which means little David (4) is in the front as the horse, poor kid, Isabela (6) is in the middle with a scarf around David's neck, and Canela (8) is in the back grabbing on to Isabela's hood. It's so fun to see them go.
5. Finalizing details on our next steps. Asking God for wisdom.
6. Writing songs, lyrics, writing on the piano, very creative time for me right now.

It's a good day. A day of work and tears, laughter and trusting God for tomorrow. Sometimes I can find God really easy in the dark nights, but I think I need to find God in the Sabbath rest as well, in the "great is thy faithfulness" days as well as in the "Lord, where are you" days. I've had both recently and both are great, in fact I think that although much more challenging, the nearness and kindness of Jesus in the dark nights is much sweeter.

UPDATE: My friend Susie's husband Larry fell off a ladder sometime this week and cracked his skull open and has internal bleeding. He's at UCI Medical center right now and they may have to go in and do surgery. Susie sang with me for 10 years at Bethany and is a dear friend.

God is faithful.

Have a great day,

Into the future,

davidT

Compulsive Cleaner

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Here's what I want for my birthday (April), rings and cleaning gear.

I like to clean, bit compulsive about it. For example, while my wife is cutting carrots, chopping up broccoli or shredding lettuce, again WHILE she's doing this, I'm by her feet, picking up leftovers with my dustpan off the floor. Yeap, pretty compulsive! It's my gift.

The ring is to celebrate our new marriage, our 12th year anniversary. I recently read that every great marriage has a combination of old and new marriages. Both R' and I feel 2007 was the beginning of a new marriage for us, we've made many positive changes in how we do things. I bought her a beautiful modest diamond ring yesterday and this is the ring she will buy me, Titanium, wide (10mm) band, swirls and a small diamond.

Have a great day,

Into the future,

davidT

How Many Things to Update?

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How many things can a person update in one life time?

Myspace.com
Blogger.com
Facebook.com

This is getting ridiculous.

Although I must say I like Facebook | David Trigueros a lot right now. We'll see how long that lasts.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

How to Respond to Challenges

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God shapes me during times of illness. I guess he does that in all of our lives. Think of Job during his on going losses, think of Martha during her brother’s death, of Peter’s mother in law, and the little girl’s parents to whom Jesus said, “she is but only sleeping.” That was tough to hear.

I don’t like it when my wife is sick, or our children are sick or anyone I love is sick, it scares me. Yet I know this is one of those two or three things in my life that God uses to grow me into His child.

The others are:
1. Illness
2. Things I don't know how to do
3. Unresolved situations

All these things cause anxiety in me, stress and a feeling of overall lack of control. I don’t like to not know how to do something, or feeling unloved or feeling like I’m not good enough. I don’t like having to compensate for this attitude by being more than I am. It leads to burn out and resentment even bitterness which leaves me vulnerable to making stupid decisions.

How I respond:
1. So I pray and I keep working at it, and I trust God and I get nervous and
2. I write about it and I pray again.
3. And I work, and engage life and do what I can to keep going and
4. I take breaks and play music and sing to God.

When life throws me into those moments of weakness, I usually retreat and run, that’s how I cope. But instead, I am learning to be the hero my wife needs me to be, the knight in shining armor, her rescuer and helper.

So today, instead of sleeping all day while she’s not feeling well, I will engage, help her out, and do some work. This is what’s best for me and for her.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

A Recession That is Coming

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Is there a recession coming?

Mortgage Problem
Unemployment at 5%, highest in last two years
$100/barrel last week

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Driscoll, McManus...Comparison

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Podcasts I'm enjoying:
1. Erwin McManus, pastor of Mosaic Church in Los Angeles, CA (listening to his December 2007 Christmas series)
2. Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill in Seattle, WA (listening to his message from the "Creative ChurchConference, May 2007")

Erwin - Passionate, creative, relational, challenges Christians not to be judgmental, preaches acceptance, can come across as wishy-washy, not enough of a fundamentalist, traditionalist.

Driscoll - Quotes Luther, harsh, bold, passionate, fundamentalist, preaches against moralism as a substitute to the Gospel, can come across as ego centric and critical, but in love with Jesus and the Gospel, not religion or moralism.

What I learned from both of them:
1. Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, his message of grace and mercy
2. Christians often get in the way of this simple message
3. Love for those not yet followers of Jesus

Great examples.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

What I'm Listening To

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Enjoying these days:

1. Over the Rhine, "All I Ever Get for Christmas is Blue" from "Snow Angels", "Later Days" from "Good Dog Bad Dog". Amazing vocals, great songwriting, so moody, I love it!
2. The Frey, "Vienna", "Heaven Forbid" from "How to Save a Life"

About Over the Rhine:

"Look no further than the lyrics to this track for what animates Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, the married couple at the heart of Over The Rhine: “I hope this night puts down deep roots / I hope we plant a seed / ‘Cause I don’t wanna waste your time / With music you don’t need.”

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT