Where Have I Seen Good

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Over the last two years I've processed and experienced a lot of new things, some tough (no friends, struggled with feeling accepted), some amazing (snow, fireplaces and easy access to many things). In all those things, I've seen God shaping me and changing me, mostly into something positive. Here's a summary:

1. Working with Latinos. An amazing joy has been volunteering at EL Foster Elementary school where our children attend. I've had the privilege to mobilize Latino parents to do various activities and be an activist for this community. At EL Foster I feel supported and loved by the staff and parents. It's been an amazing experience. Leigh, Katherine, Mrs. Webber, Ms. Amanda, Alma and many others have been a dream staff to serve with.

2. Immigration Reform Team. Piper and the American Friends Society have been an amazing place for our whole family. We've been a part of a team trying to do visitation at the Aurora Detention Center. We've done rallies in front of the Capitol in Denver, done vigils, passed out flyers. Meeting Piper and her staff has been a dream come true. Both Rachelle and I feel alive when we're with them and feel we're making a difference in the lives of immigrants and Latinos in CO.

3. Music. A great joy has been working with some amazing people in music. Just tonight, I once again was in awe of the talent and stories of hope these guys bring. Just about every week, I leave the stage happy to have played with great people, do beautiful music and do it for a greater purpose than ourselves, we're doing it for God and His Kingdom.

4. Our Neighbors Abbey. Our neighborhood is sleepy, older people live here, it's sort of a retirement community, some young families but not many, but still we've made some amazing friendships. The latest thing we did was a Thanksgiving Open House where 20 of our neighbors and friends came and ate together. We feel so thankful for the relationships we've established here over these two years.

5. Our Staff. I continue to be in awe of the vision and staff at work. Steve, Jeff and the rest of the guys are a dream come true, a combination of excellence, heart and skill. I get to work with some amazing people every week, every day, yes, some challenges, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. They support me, believe in me and I often feel I'm given opportunities to grow and be myself.

6. Easy Access. Something I love about Denver is how simple and easy it is to go places, get involved, make a difference. For example I'll never forget paying a ticket at the DMV in Denver, the whole thing literally took 10 mns, and that was on a Monday at noon.

7. The Snow. I have learned to really enjoy the snow, in fact, I hope to get more into snowboarding, and just enjoying it in the winters. After all, we have some of the best snow in the world here. All I need is a 4WD and some gear and off we go!

8. Community Service. Both Rachelle and I have have met some "amazing" missional people here in CO. Michelle is her good friend and she does backpacks for Foster children in Jefferson and soon Denver county. Linda does a Clothing Store for the poor, others do work in Mexico, others help the homeless, we've done coat drives at our elementary school. The other day First Annuity Bank called to have me possibly help them get more involved in the community. I hope to start a company called kick.com on collaboration, innovation, communication and community service. I want to start a Neighbors Abbey where we explore faith, do book clubs and get to know our neighbors. There are so many doors God has opened for us in two years I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the dream coming true.

There are so many other things that are small but amazing gifts from God, simple stuff that make us happy. My gym the YMCA is 2 mns from my house and it's so nice, there David also gets to play basketball on nice rims, nice floors for very low costs, he's part of the Jr. Nuggets.

Rachelle works part time at EL Foster a place where she feels accepted and a school we both love. Our house is getting a top of the line roof this week pretty much for free (thank you hail storm!) I have a great life coach just minutes from work, Denver Seminary is not too far, CU Boulder is a great college, affordable and in a really cool town Boulder, CO. Denver is beautiful, nice streets, amazing pubs, sports bars, Coors Field, Invesco Field, Pepsi Center, all within walking distance, the skate park. And even though we are not mountain people, the Rockies are gorgeous and the times we've been we've had a great time.

We have great medical coverage with Kaisser (and their offices are close by), our Volvo has held up nicely and owes us nothing, we have a simple TV, our bed has no bed frame, we hardly have any decorations in our house, we love our fireplace, we live a very simple life. We have a nice backyard with green grass (right now it's dead, winter can be depressing), it is sunny here most days, they dryness sucks but oh well.

Somedays, I go outside at night, like two nights ago, look up at the stars, you can see the Big and Little Dipper just about every time, and I feel like the luckiest man on earth.

Has it been hard at times? Oh yes. Do we miss home? Yes. Do I miss the diversity, culture of Long Beach, CA, the ocean? All the time..But going back every 6 months or so has really helped, mom and dad, my best friends Matt and Rim they're all there in SoCal just miles away from each other, we still own our home in the LBC and it's being used by church planters and missionaries, it makes us feel like we're helping the Kingdom of God become tangible.

Move back? Sure, it'd be easy to give up and just be comfortable again. But I sometimes feel the small and temporary trials we've experienced are getting better. Life is getting easier. And what if all these trials are part of a grand story God is trying to do in us? Not one to make us rich (I'm just glad to have a job), not one to make us fat (well, I am fat but you know what I mean) but to live a life that is worth living. The struggles just make me appreciate all I have even more.

I have everything I need here in CO. Yes I miss my friends, and sometimes I get lonely and depressed, or feel unwanted. But most days, I feel I'm living a dream, I love my wife, we do things together, our children are amazing. God's redemption has been made clear to us in amazing ways.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Our Story is Really Happening

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When we moved to CO almost two years ago, we said as a family "Why are we moving to CO? To change the world for Jesus". Big statement right? But the exciting thing is that we're seeing it happen. What do we mean by changing the world for Jesus?

1. Change the world - we came to CO not to live a more comfortable life, in fact it's had it's challenges (like any good story has), but to make a difference in our home, neighborhood, city and the world.

2. For Jesus - we want our faith to be the source of change, to rest in God and be seekers of God, and that this change would speak of our love for God. We hope others see that and consider how to do the same.

I've been reading Don Miller's latest book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" about stories, and how stories are a "character pursuing a dream in spite of challenges and persevering to get there." The book has struck a cord with me, with our move to CO and things we've done as a family to live out a great story.

The other night we had family council, all five of us meet every Sunday afternoon to talk about our lives, our feelings and what's going on with our family. Canela (almost 11) said "I feel creative! I feel energy!" The day before she had spent 2-3 hours with a mentor who taught her how to croche. She's been on fire ever since, it's so her, and it's been great to see. That's a way she is seeing her life be changed.

In Don's book, he talks about a 13 year old girl who started to smoke pot. Her father was concerned, didn't know what to do. So they talked about how his daughter had been with this bad boyfriend, making wrong decisions because she was bored, she was not living out a significant story and how every person is meant to live a great story. So the dad came up with this crazy idea to build an orphanage. The whole family, his wife, including his daughter went about raising $25,000 to help build this orphanage. The daughter got totally into it, dropped the loser boyfriend who had told her she was "too fat", stopped smoking pot and got her act together because she was living out a great story.

Being here in CO has had it's challenges, but every great story has its ups and downs. But the great thing has been that we're trying to live this amazing story of making a difference in the world around us and learn to trust God.

How have we done this? I could go on and on telling you stories from our school, our neighborhood, the children's involvement in Peace Jam, UNICEF and more. But let me just say that what makes my heart content, is that we're seeking a great story.

There's no guarantee our children will never smoke pot or have a boyfriend we disagree with, but my hope is they'll always remember the feeling of living for something greater than themselves. This great story is not over, it continues every day and wherever God has us in 3 years or 3 months, the story remains. The question will be, will we remain focused on living a great story or simply live life.

For more on our great story, go to our family blog here.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Who's That Talking?

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Yesterday someone told me "Trig, you can be that guy! I think you are the guy to [do x]" The inner child in me who wants to know I have value, believed it, swallowed it hook and sinker without a second thought. Although I do have a passion for the issue we were talking about I don't think I'm supposed to change my plans.

The problem is that just a few days before, the real me had determined something completely different, but because someone I respect said something positive, I almost changed my mind. So who's talking? Is it the real me or voices inside my head? That often happens when I am led by what others say, not by what I know of myself.

Part of the change I see in me is to stop believing the negative stuff people say as well as the great plans others have for me. I'm learning to be myself and follow what I believe I'm on this earth to do.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Haiti: Be Careful who you give your $ to

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The recent tragedy of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in the island of Haiti hits close to home. For more relief work efforts read the Help for Haiti - White House Blog.

Being from Nicaragua, a country that looks very similar to Haiti, and having been raised in Southern California, the pictures are haunting. That could be me, my family, any of us. Leaders and pastors at our church are personally affected by this tragedy as well. We are all in the process of raising awareness and funds for this great need.

And a note of precaution for Andrew's blog: "Be careful who you give your money to..."

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Immigration Rally and Vigil

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Over the last few months my wife and I have been attending prayer vigils, signed petitions and been a part of a visitation center group advocating for comprehensive immigration reform.

It's been an amazing journey, new to us to some degree, although I've been dealing with immigration issues my whole life. Tonight, we signed a petition to ask our congress representatives and senators in CO to do something about immigration reform.

If you want to sign the petition go here.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

My Community of Theology and More

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My theology is a process, some day I will post more about that here. Suffice it to say it's been and continues to be quite a ride. But the purpose of this post is the richness of doing theology in community, specifically with my friends/pastors here in CA. I did church with these guys for 5 years, but more than that, we've lived in community with each other.

We've seen each other through struggles in church, our marriages, birth of children (many of them!), moving away, church transitions, loss, grieving, raising teenagers (not yet me) and so much more.

And even though we now live in different parts of the country (well, I do, they're practically neighbors), our community remains. We email, call each other, I travel to see them (hint, hint) a couple times each year and every year we do a monastic spiritual retreat where we talk, process, make decisions, have a lot of fun and spend time with God.

This community, regenerative friendship, sustains my theology, is a safe place for all three of us to dialogue, disagree?, sharpen, refine, challenge, and most of all grow. It's a wonderful thing.

We're all doing church in three different contexts now, three different models, which only brings more meat and bones to our talks. The reason this matters is because I feed off of it. I'm a thinker and my thinking leads my actions. So to have a group where I can talk and process is huge. It often, like this recent trip, leads to different actions in my life.

I'm grateful for my friends, their influence and our commitment to each other.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

On God and Culture

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Over the last five years there continues to be a shift among young people towards the pursuit of more traditional church. What I mean by that is that more and more unchurched young people (20's and 30's) seem to want a more black and white style of preaching, church doctrine, and church service.

I saw this again at a young-hip 20-something church in Hollywood, CA called Ecclesia (they even have the cool-so-5-years ago Greek thing going).

The crowd looked more like call backs for the latest Twilight movie than your typical Sunday morning crowd. And even though the pastor was hip, handsome, tattooed, pierced, everything they did, said, talked about would have to be considered traditional, reformed, fundamental. No signs here of emergent, postmodern type stuff. In fact, next week they start on series called "Know and Decide" on truth, knowledge and how you can know things like the existence of God and the reliability of the Bible.

No doubt it was attractive, even for my less linear leanings. I could easily see why so many young people, perhaps lacking truth and black and white in other areas of their lives (that could be a completely wrong assumption), are drawn to this style of church. It's the best of both worlds - hip yet straight and narrow.

There are many churches like this that fit under the Young Reformed church camp, Mark Driscoll being their most famous son. Matt Chandler's church The Village also comes to mind. I have friends that are planting young reformed church communities.

While I don't think this kind of church is for all unchurched younger generations, I do think that our culture is changing once again, and that instead of relevance, hip and cool, young people are in need of guidance.

The challenge I see for all communities, whether emergent or reformed, traditional or open source is the issue of community and relationship. My concern with young reformed churches is the lack of love. My concern with emergent movements is the lack of guidance. I think we need both.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Hace 5 Años (Five Years Ago)

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Today marks the 5th anniversary of my abuelita's death (grandmother). I was raised by my abuelita basically since age 6. My abuelita cleaned homes her whole life. She gave me everything she had and died of an unexpected brain anyurism at age 78.

Today, I spent time with my good childhood friend Hugo (Juice). We talked about a lot of things, including abuelita. At one point Juice said to me, "I loved your grandma, she was a great woman". I loved her too and she was a great woman. She taught me everything I know, from sacrifice to endurance and hard work. She taught me the value of suffering and being long-suffering yet she was a woman who laughed. I remember her laugh.

I remember just about everything about that day, her hospital bed, conversations we had and then her burial on Jan. 7th, it was a rainy day, my friend Juice was by my side, so was the rest of my family. But that's not all I remember. I remember her wisdom, her tough love, and huge heart. I remember her advice, her singing, her laughter, her voice on the phone with Tia Alicia or Tia Sonia. I remember her tears, her hair, her knees, her feet, her hands, her beautiful face.

I basically lived with mi abuelita from age 12 to 26 and she then lived with me the last five years of her life. That's about 30 years of being together every day.

I don't remember her favorite perfume, although it'd come back to me if I smelled it, but I remember her favorite shoes, familiar clothes, her church outfit, her pj's. I remember her favorite TV shows (Sabado Gigante) and countless soaps in Spanish. I remember her singing worship songs to Jesus, I remember her Bible, her chair, her doing her bills and talking to my Tio Albino. I remember her voice, everything about her I miss.

Today I remember mi abuelita, mi viejita que se fue muy temprano (died too soon). I honor and respect her, and thank her for all she taught me. I miss you abuelita, there will never be another one like you in my life.

May my life be lived in respect and appreciation for all you did for me and may I live in a manner worthy of your life.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Top 10 Events 2009

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My Top 10 Events in 2009:

1. Started working out again (1month ago)
2. Went back to counseling (also 1 month ago)
3. Celebrated 14y of marriage with my wife
4. Near completed year2 (in March) post move to CO
5. Turned 40 (ouch, that one hurt)
6. Dealt with ear infection, dizzyness, MRI for 5weeks (better now)
7. Went snowboarding for 1st x (in CO of course)
8. Joined immigration reform interfaith group, held vigils and peaceful protests outside detention center
9. Mobilized 30 Latino parents to speak against closing of their school
10. Had open house Thanksgiving event at our house, 20 people came

Ok, a few more...

1. Took 10ppl Christmas caroling in Old Town
2. Helped organize help for children at our school - 30 coats, 30 food boxes through Angel Food and 10 families through Shining Star
3. Saw six co workers lose their jobs
4. Went to monastary in Big Sur, CA with friends for spiritual retreat
5. Worked to resolve issues with co worker
6. Talked about my job with executive team

It was a great year, tough at xs, but good nonetheless. Gods grace surrounded me.

Into the future,

davidT