Welcome back. You belong here.
One thing about moving to CO from CA is that people have assumptions. First, people assume that we're rich which we're not (can you say low housing market?). Second is that we miss the beach. I don't surf, so I don't miss the beach that way, but what I do miss is the ocean breeze and seeing the ocean, running next to it.
And I don't like the mountains either, I'm not into skiing, hiking, fishing, snow boarding. What I am is a CITY PERSON.
I like cities, their diversity, their people, cultures, I like what a city brings in its night life, clubs, sporting events, freeways and no I don't miss the traffic or crime.
So when people ask me "do you miss the beach?", or when people say "you'll love it here, do you snowboard?" my answer is always the same, "I am a city person." So my two favorite spots here in CO so far are: downtown Denver and downtown Arvada, CO.
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Monday, May 12, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
I Am What I Miss
Welcome back. You belong here.
What do I miss about Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA? (the short list):
1. Diversity - Latinos, Cambodians, Philippinos, African American, etc. etc.
2. People of different backgrounds as friends, learning from each other, sharing life together, from children to teenagers and adults
3. Thinking about the world not just local news
4. Nice shoes, clothes, hairstyles
5. Style
6. Sense of community, those that love So Cal, feel they belong to something special
7. Carne Asada
8. Spanish
9. The weather, the weather, nice sunny days with a light breeze
10. The ocean
11. People we know
12. Streets we know
13. Freeways and quick access to everything
14. Our family
15. Our neighborhood, our home
I realize that a lot of what I miss is who I am, especially when it comes to diversity.
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
What do I miss about Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA? (the short list):
1. Diversity - Latinos, Cambodians, Philippinos, African American, etc. etc.
2. People of different backgrounds as friends, learning from each other, sharing life together, from children to teenagers and adults
3. Thinking about the world not just local news
4. Nice shoes, clothes, hairstyles
5. Style
6. Sense of community, those that love So Cal, feel they belong to something special
7. Carne Asada
8. Spanish
9. The weather, the weather, nice sunny days with a light breeze
10. The ocean
11. People we know
12. Streets we know
13. Freeways and quick access to everything
14. Our family
15. Our neighborhood, our home
I realize that a lot of what I miss is who I am, especially when it comes to diversity.
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Walking with God
Welcome back. You belong here.
I don't remember many times when I could say
I've walked with God
Except during times of crisis, times of despair
When I was almost forced to do so
What do I mean, "walk with God?"
To ask versus talk, to listen
I hardly ask anyone for anything
My way to cope is to be in control
Control by learning, control by doing
Control myself, control others
And when things don't go my way
Depression or anger are the two emotions
That tell me that something's wrong
Do you know people that talk this way:
"I was talking to God the other day," or
"God, tell me what to do in this situation."
I know people like that
They walk with God
They talk and listen
They have what appears to be an "on going conversation"
I asked a mentor about this once
"How did you learn to walk with God?"...
"I haven't always been this way"
"I learned this after trying everything else"
"Nothing else seemed to work"
"I realized I need to walk this way"
That's my problem
Most times I feel I don't need to walk this way
I got it under control
I'm supposed to do it myself
When you're in control
And you want to do it your way
When pride and selfishness
Self-justification or hurt
Cause you to want to control everything around you
It doesn't matter what God or others say
You're doing all the talking
But when you learn to ask
To seek and listen
To walk with God
Things seem slower
You don't have to have all the answers
You don't seem to rush to get things done
You're dependent on something greater
And you feel, how can I put it,
Like you're leaning on someone else
Don't get me wrong, it's still you in that moment
But you feel like you're walking with a friend
Once upon a time
There were two friends walking along
They were talking about the recent events
Of how their best friend had suffered
Of how they missed him
Suddenly a stranger approached them
And joined their conversation
He walked along side of them
And this friend spoke to them from his life
With perspective and wisdom
Of people from the past that brought wisdom and hope
"Did you notice how are hearts were warmed as we walked?"
That's what it must feel like to walk with God
Last week during an hour or two
I think I walked with God
It felt great
I hope I can do it again
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
I don't remember many times when I could say
I've walked with God
Except during times of crisis, times of despair
When I was almost forced to do so
What do I mean, "walk with God?"
To ask versus talk, to listen
I hardly ask anyone for anything
My way to cope is to be in control
Control by learning, control by doing
Control myself, control others
And when things don't go my way
Depression or anger are the two emotions
That tell me that something's wrong
Do you know people that talk this way:
"I was talking to God the other day," or
"God, tell me what to do in this situation."
I know people like that
They walk with God
They talk and listen
They have what appears to be an "on going conversation"
I asked a mentor about this once
"How did you learn to walk with God?"...
"I haven't always been this way"
"I learned this after trying everything else"
"Nothing else seemed to work"
"I realized I need to walk this way"
That's my problem
Most times I feel I don't need to walk this way
I got it under control
I'm supposed to do it myself
When you're in control
And you want to do it your way
When pride and selfishness
Self-justification or hurt
Cause you to want to control everything around you
It doesn't matter what God or others say
You're doing all the talking
But when you learn to ask
To seek and listen
To walk with God
Things seem slower
You don't have to have all the answers
You don't seem to rush to get things done
You're dependent on something greater
And you feel, how can I put it,
Like you're leaning on someone else
Don't get me wrong, it's still you in that moment
But you feel like you're walking with a friend
Once upon a time
There were two friends walking along
They were talking about the recent events
Of how their best friend had suffered
Of how they missed him
Suddenly a stranger approached them
And joined their conversation
He walked along side of them
And this friend spoke to them from his life
With perspective and wisdom
Of people from the past that brought wisdom and hope
"Did you notice how are hearts were warmed as we walked?"
That's what it must feel like to walk with God
Last week during an hour or two
I think I walked with God
It felt great
I hope I can do it again
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Friday, May 02, 2008
Where is Home?
Welcome back. You belong here.
It's good to be home, but where exactly is home?
The sea breeze, the palm trees
Running without a shirt on
The people, the world is here
Friends I miss, people I love
My family
This is home
Yet...
The mountains and open space
The new opportunities, a fresh start
The chance to be at a grass roots level
The chance to change the world
So, where is home?
Earlier today I was driving up to a park to see some friends
As I approached the curve side there was a woman, two little girls
And a little boy
Their faces were familiar, their smiles warmed my heart
They were my family
So I told myself, really, wherever they are, is home
Wherever we are, I'm home
Wherever God says to go
That's where I belong
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
It's good to be home, but where exactly is home?
The sea breeze, the palm trees
Running without a shirt on
The people, the world is here
Friends I miss, people I love
My family
This is home
Yet...
The mountains and open space
The new opportunities, a fresh start
The chance to be at a grass roots level
The chance to change the world
So, where is home?
Earlier today I was driving up to a park to see some friends
As I approached the curve side there was a woman, two little girls
And a little boy
Their faces were familiar, their smiles warmed my heart
They were my family
So I told myself, really, wherever they are, is home
Wherever we are, I'm home
Wherever God says to go
That's where I belong
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Thursday, May 01, 2008
What Kind of Cleaning is Spring Cleaning?
Welcome back. You belong here.
Boxes, boxes and more boxes...moving does that, boxes everywhere you look. So today, as I sorted through tons of stuff (too much stuff), something interesting happened.
Today I got rid of a ton of files, pictures, music, folders, books I've read. They all represent a time and a place in my life that is now over.
It's amazing how much of my previous life has ended, I guess it's all still in me as life never leaves, but there are things that are no longer in front, they're now behind me.
So as I sort through stuff I find myself feeling better. I am looking forward to new books, making new memories, to living in a new present. It sort of feels like someone has died and I'm getting rid of all their stuff.
Spring cleaning? Well, it's 20 degrees and snowing right now, my fingers are almost frozen. But something about this process makes me look forward to the future and I guess that's what spring is all about. It's The Spring of My Soul.
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Boxes, boxes and more boxes...moving does that, boxes everywhere you look. So today, as I sorted through tons of stuff (too much stuff), something interesting happened.
Today I got rid of a ton of files, pictures, music, folders, books I've read. They all represent a time and a place in my life that is now over.
It's amazing how much of my previous life has ended, I guess it's all still in me as life never leaves, but there are things that are no longer in front, they're now behind me.
So as I sort through stuff I find myself feeling better. I am looking forward to new books, making new memories, to living in a new present. It sort of feels like someone has died and I'm getting rid of all their stuff.
Spring cleaning? Well, it's 20 degrees and snowing right now, my fingers are almost frozen. But something about this process makes me look forward to the future and I guess that's what spring is all about. It's The Spring of My Soul.
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Post It Complete
Welcome back. You belong here.
Lifting today (1st time in Colorado), I was remembering how when I used to lift back home (Long Beach, CA) I used to have a post it in my garage that said "Future Ministry". I had 6 or 7 other similar notes that had significant events written on them (illness, death of family, marriage, etc). Underneath each event, I wrote "God's Faithfulness" as God brought me through some difficult times.
Now that I'm here, I can write "God's Faithfulness" underneath "Future Ministry", that post it is now complete.
While lifting in my new garage, I couldn't help but feel God's joy and pleasure all around me. It was a beautiful day, a day where I felt the happiness of God. Our new ministry assignment is a dream come true in so many ways.
Yes it's been hard moving, getting used to a new job, church, city, people, schools, etc. We don't know many people here and our family and trusted friends are all back home. But today was a new day. God's faithfulness became a reality, it's always been there, today it just became tangible.
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Lifting today (1st time in Colorado), I was remembering how when I used to lift back home (Long Beach, CA) I used to have a post it in my garage that said "Future Ministry". I had 6 or 7 other similar notes that had significant events written on them (illness, death of family, marriage, etc). Underneath each event, I wrote "God's Faithfulness" as God brought me through some difficult times.
Now that I'm here, I can write "God's Faithfulness" underneath "Future Ministry", that post it is now complete.
While lifting in my new garage, I couldn't help but feel God's joy and pleasure all around me. It was a beautiful day, a day where I felt the happiness of God. Our new ministry assignment is a dream come true in so many ways.
Yes it's been hard moving, getting used to a new job, church, city, people, schools, etc. We don't know many people here and our family and trusted friends are all back home. But today was a new day. God's faithfulness became a reality, it's always been there, today it just became tangible.
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Friday, April 25, 2008
When I look at the Pictures
Welcome back. You belong here.
When I look at the pictures
Of rock stars and wanna be's
I can almost believe
I can be
I can be
But I know better
I know better
I'm me
When I watch the videos on You Tube
And see the guitars glitter
In the ambers and reds
As the crowd grows wild
I can almost believe
I can be just like them
But I know better now
I know better
I'm me
Me is what I am
Not what I see on TV
Me is not that bad
It's actually pretty good
If I put the pursuit down
To follow what's on TV
And instead embrace the real me
What would be of my life?
It would be priceless
It would be filled with rightness
To pretend I'm all that I do
Is not that fun anymore
It drives me away from truth
It keeps me from being in the flow
I want to be me
I want to be free
Release me from the theater
Of acting on a stage
Instead I want to say hello
And talk and listen
And feel completely scared
But knowing I am me
Knowing I am free
From the old me
Into the new me
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
When I look at the pictures
Of rock stars and wanna be's
I can almost believe
I can be
I can be
But I know better
I know better
I'm me
When I watch the videos on You Tube
And see the guitars glitter
In the ambers and reds
As the crowd grows wild
I can almost believe
I can be just like them
But I know better now
I know better
I'm me
Me is what I am
Not what I see on TV
Me is not that bad
It's actually pretty good
If I put the pursuit down
To follow what's on TV
And instead embrace the real me
What would be of my life?
It would be priceless
It would be filled with rightness
To pretend I'm all that I do
Is not that fun anymore
It drives me away from truth
It keeps me from being in the flow
I want to be me
I want to be free
Release me from the theater
Of acting on a stage
Instead I want to say hello
And talk and listen
And feel completely scared
But knowing I am me
Knowing I am free
From the old me
Into the new me
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Friday, April 18, 2008
While There's Still Time
Welcome back. You belong here.
New job, new city.
Overwhelming, always something to do
A person to call, a vision on a napkin
A meeting to have, don't forget to talk to the boss
And my life at home
What matters most
Waits, listening to the conversation in the car
It goes something like this
"Today was a long day
Today was overwhelming
Today I met with the boss"
And they read books
And stare out the window
Every time we cross a railroad track
Our little boy says, "Mom, mom, you look that way
I'll look this way"
Lots of trains around here
Time passes so quickly
Our girl is sad her older sister no longer sleeps in the same room
Tears each night of how hard it is to be alone
The older sister is glad to be on her own
She pushes to grow up
She pushes forward
Life moves forward
We stay behind
Time passes so quickly
While there's still time
I will look left and right at the railroad track
While there's still time
I will sleep in our girls room once in a while so she won't feel alone
While there's still time I will be proud that our eldest is growing up
And kicking a soccer ball in the backyard with her new friend from across the street
Time passes so quickly
While there's still time I will help our little boy clean up his room
While there's still time we will go on another bike ride by the creek
While there's still time we will clean the tree house and paint our names on it
While there's still time I will record their voices in my mind
Yesterday I met a man who plays guitar and sings songs to God
I heard a recording of his two young daughters playing piano as he played along
One played the low keys, the other the highs
This man told me
That he has a cyst in his brain
That he had a seizure two weeks ago
This man is young
He told me of his dream
To one day see his young girls grow up
And play this song for them
Of them playing along
High keys, low keys
While he sat at the piano playing along
While there's still time
While there's still time
While there's still time
I will play along
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
New job, new city.
Overwhelming, always something to do
A person to call, a vision on a napkin
A meeting to have, don't forget to talk to the boss
And my life at home
What matters most
Waits, listening to the conversation in the car
It goes something like this
"Today was a long day
Today was overwhelming
Today I met with the boss"
And they read books
And stare out the window
Every time we cross a railroad track
Our little boy says, "Mom, mom, you look that way
I'll look this way"
Lots of trains around here
Time passes so quickly
Our girl is sad her older sister no longer sleeps in the same room
Tears each night of how hard it is to be alone
The older sister is glad to be on her own
She pushes to grow up
She pushes forward
Life moves forward
We stay behind
Time passes so quickly
While there's still time
I will look left and right at the railroad track
While there's still time
I will sleep in our girls room once in a while so she won't feel alone
While there's still time I will be proud that our eldest is growing up
And kicking a soccer ball in the backyard with her new friend from across the street
Time passes so quickly
While there's still time I will help our little boy clean up his room
While there's still time we will go on another bike ride by the creek
While there's still time we will clean the tree house and paint our names on it
While there's still time I will record their voices in my mind
Yesterday I met a man who plays guitar and sings songs to God
I heard a recording of his two young daughters playing piano as he played along
One played the low keys, the other the highs
This man told me
That he has a cyst in his brain
That he had a seizure two weeks ago
This man is young
He told me of his dream
To one day see his young girls grow up
And play this song for them
Of them playing along
High keys, low keys
While he sat at the piano playing along
While there's still time
While there's still time
While there's still time
I will play along
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
What Am I Doing?
Welcome back. You belong here.
What have I been doing lately?
1. 1st time ice skating (I tell you, these Coloradians, they love their hockey!)
2. My new stage, Easter look called "Radiance" stars, stars, stars
3. Easter egg hunt (nice sunny day, dry)
4. Good Friday (Surrender Room)
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Saturday, March 08, 2008
If This World Could Only Change
Welcome back. You belong here.
If you would never leave me
If these chains would not pertain
To this fragile mind, to the fear inside my head
Then my life would be so great
But share with you again and then
I would become the man you want
You want me right?
Don’t leave me, don’t leave me
You’ve never left
You know I can’t go on without you
I can’t make it without you
Don’t leave me
In this place
Don’t leave this man
In this lonely place
If I would only stay right here
And not go back to that place
Of fear and worry, of anxious not's
Not strong enough, not sure enough, not anyone
To see the canyon below
This crazy thought is trying to show
That life is bigger than my little head
My little head, is filled with big thoughts
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
If you would never leave me
If these chains would not pertain
To this fragile mind, to the fear inside my head
Then my life would be so great
But share with you again and then
I would become the man you want
You want me right?
Don’t leave me, don’t leave me
You’ve never left
You know I can’t go on without you
I can’t make it without you
Don’t leave me
In this place
Don’t leave this man
In this lonely place
If I would only stay right here
And not go back to that place
Of fear and worry, of anxious not's
Not strong enough, not sure enough, not anyone
To see the canyon below
This crazy thought is trying to show
That life is bigger than my little head
My little head, is filled with big thoughts
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
New Things
Welcome back. You belong here.
Hot AND cold water to brush my teeth
Rolling down the window, honk the horn
Talk to the driver next to me
In the middle of a minor blizzard to ask for directions
Special squeegee for snow
Frozen driveway
It takes longer to get in and out
We’re tired by 7pm
Working hard to think about everything
We don’t want to take our coats and hats off
It takes too long to put them on!
How do we get to church?
64th doesn’t go through to Wadsworth
70 Saturday, 40 Sunday and snow
Yes but…
Fun to play in the snow for children
Bike ride in cul-de-sac on a sunny day
New house is amazing
Terry’s gift of grace
Gary and Cindy’s kindness
Canela said, very organized house!
Canela – I’m an artist, I like to read and I play the piano
Did my first CO snow angel
Snow is so quiet and beautiful
Mountains seem blue and white
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Hot AND cold water to brush my teeth
Rolling down the window, honk the horn
Talk to the driver next to me
In the middle of a minor blizzard to ask for directions
Special squeegee for snow
Frozen driveway
It takes longer to get in and out
We’re tired by 7pm
Working hard to think about everything
We don’t want to take our coats and hats off
It takes too long to put them on!
How do we get to church?
64th doesn’t go through to Wadsworth
70 Saturday, 40 Sunday and snow
Yes but…
Fun to play in the snow for children
Bike ride in cul-de-sac on a sunny day
New house is amazing
Terry’s gift of grace
Gary and Cindy’s kindness
Canela said, very organized house!
Canela – I’m an artist, I like to read and I play the piano
Did my first CO snow angel
Snow is so quiet and beautiful
Mountains seem blue and white
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
It's Not Going to Fall Apart
Welcome back. You belong here.
The story goes on
Just before it starts
And already I’m thinking it can’t be
When it appears to be
It’s so easy to lose your sight
When there’s a log in your mind
What I long to see is right in front of me
But all I hear is what the voices tells me at night
It’s going to fall apart
It’s never going to last
Ignore it all, forget it all
It’s going to fall apart
I fight to stay awake
To the dreams I have received
My life is beginning again
Anything can happen, anything can happen
It's not going to fall apart
This time it'll be different
It's not going to fall apart
The house of cards is built on strength
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
The story goes on
Just before it starts
And already I’m thinking it can’t be
When it appears to be
It’s so easy to lose your sight
When there’s a log in your mind
What I long to see is right in front of me
But all I hear is what the voices tells me at night
It’s going to fall apart
It’s never going to last
Ignore it all, forget it all
It’s going to fall apart
I fight to stay awake
To the dreams I have received
My life is beginning again
Anything can happen, anything can happen
It's not going to fall apart
This time it'll be different
It's not going to fall apart
The house of cards is built on strength
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Friday, March 07, 2008
Down the Street
Welcome back. You belong here.
Down the street there is a family, they have three children. Our little boy rode bikes together with them this morning (nice sunny day) and so I joined in on my bike as well. Not a family I would normally hang out with, but trying to break through my stereotypes.
Things that are different here:
1. Colorado Tan (store down the street)...is there such a thing as a Colorado Tan?
2. Cold all day long (25F). Yes, it's also sunny and we like that, but I'm getting tired of putting jackets on/off/on/off/on/off. I'm thinking of just sleeping in my jacket tonight.
3. Churches everywhere. Wow, I counted about 20 from school to home today. Some even meet inside other churches. My friend told me that "even the snow is Christian in Colorado", maybe he's right.
4. Making a difference. There are plenty of people here that have no faith, no sense of God. I met many of them at the YMCA this morning while working out, at the Juice Stop, at Big 5, children's school, at Office Max. Both Rachelle and I have had many opps to talk about God and serve people.
One example was Rosa at the children's school EL Foster, a bilingual inner city school. She spoke no English and was trying to register her boy in preK. Rachelle busted our here Spanish skills to Rosa's huge surprise and helped her out, we hung out in the parking lot for 10-15mns. Good stuff.
So far, this has been an amazing experience for us all. Lots of grace, lots of redemption, lots of dreams coming true. It's almost too good to be true. I want to blow it all up and self-inflict pain.
Today a friend told me, "don't dump on your own parade, it'll soon dump plenty on you without your help." After being in a blowing up mode for the last few years, it's hard to accept grace. Jonah (Jonah 4) had a hard time with it as well, remember the worm? I am that worm, just want to eat a good thing away and destroy it instead of enjoying it.
Better go and just enjoy this beautiful day.
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
Down the street there is a family, they have three children. Our little boy rode bikes together with them this morning (nice sunny day) and so I joined in on my bike as well. Not a family I would normally hang out with, but trying to break through my stereotypes.
Things that are different here:
1. Colorado Tan (store down the street)...is there such a thing as a Colorado Tan?
2. Cold all day long (25F). Yes, it's also sunny and we like that, but I'm getting tired of putting jackets on/off/on/off/on/off. I'm thinking of just sleeping in my jacket tonight.
3. Churches everywhere. Wow, I counted about 20 from school to home today. Some even meet inside other churches. My friend told me that "even the snow is Christian in Colorado", maybe he's right.
4. Making a difference. There are plenty of people here that have no faith, no sense of God. I met many of them at the YMCA this morning while working out, at the Juice Stop, at Big 5, children's school, at Office Max. Both Rachelle and I have had many opps to talk about God and serve people.
One example was Rosa at the children's school EL Foster, a bilingual inner city school. She spoke no English and was trying to register her boy in preK. Rachelle busted our here Spanish skills to Rosa's huge surprise and helped her out, we hung out in the parking lot for 10-15mns. Good stuff.
So far, this has been an amazing experience for us all. Lots of grace, lots of redemption, lots of dreams coming true. It's almost too good to be true. I want to blow it all up and self-inflict pain.
Today a friend told me, "don't dump on your own parade, it'll soon dump plenty on you without your help." After being in a blowing up mode for the last few years, it's hard to accept grace. Jonah (Jonah 4) had a hard time with it as well, remember the worm? I am that worm, just want to eat a good thing away and destroy it instead of enjoying it.
Better go and just enjoy this beautiful day.
Have a great day,
Into the future,
davidT
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