February Update

Welcome back. You belong here.

I guess I do monthly updates now....

1. LB Emergent Pastors meeting a few weeks ago was interesting. At our table, one of the veteran pastors was pretty upset at the notion that veteran churches are not as relevant as they need be. Interesting, I thought he was more open minded than that. Yet, I understand. Who wants to feel irrelevant?

2. Good Friday is on it's way. I'm producing my second Good Friday show this year, I'm calling it "Gethsemane". Should be great.

3. Artist Retreat in full swing. I'm directing our third retreat this year, March 16-18th, we usually bring about 40 artistic types, which is a small miracle. Artist types normally don't commune, but God is working in their lives. The theme is "the Character of the Artist". Much needed among such types.

4. Cold, flu, nose drip, blah, blah, blah. I've joined the club. I've been off 3 days this week, sick.

5. I launch "Heaven" in Resonate this Sunday. Our creative team is building a city in our worship venue, working with new artists such as Micah who's performing her original song called, "So Far Away".

6. I miss my wife. We need more time alone. It will come. I was in tears regarding my love for Rachelle as I listened to "In This Life" a song about love on Switchfoot's latest, "Oh! Gravity." (good album, fyi, I like "Circles", "Awakening" and "Amateur Lovers").

7. Enjoying our children in our home. The other day I saw this picture of them sitting on our steps and had tears in my eyes about our love for them and how special it is to have our home for them to enjoy.



8. It's been great hanging out with my sister. She's here from Nicaragua, leaves next week. Monday for example, we went to the Jewelery, Garment and Toy Districts in Downtown LA and shopped, shopped, shopped.

9. Working Out, Persevering amidst illness and broken toe. This week I couldn't lift (perhaps Saturday) due to a bad cold (missed 3 days of work), and a broken toe (running is out), but I've been doing my abs and eating 6 small meals a day, power bars, tuna, oatmeal, cottage cheese/non- fat yogurt, chicken, vegetables, tons of water, no pizza, no junk, no cookies. Next week, back to lifting 4x/week, running 3x/week. Should be back to full strength.

I've been feeling pretty happy, focused, energize lately.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

January Update - The Cloud is Lifting

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Stuff I am doing:
1- Work is super busy
2- Wishing I could finish my MA in Theology (no money, no time right now) perhaps in the Fall I can take 1 class (1 class=$1000.00, $0 aid)
3- Wishing I could lift 4x/week, doing more like 2-3x/week, running 3-4x/week, abs 4-5x, not bad, getting close to being at full force.
5- My goal is to be back at 100% starting in February (see why below).
6- My goal for 2007 is to gain 7-8lbs of pure muscle. Good realistic goal. It will mean I need to eat more of the good stuff I already eat (tuna, fish, protein, good carbs).

And oh yes, I broke my left pinky toe on Monday. How? Lifting of course. I dropped an olympic bar (40lb) on my foot. Ouch! No running or lifting for me this week. I hate it! And I feel overworked and underpaid.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Aguaceros, Finding Myself and My Music

Picture: "Aguacero" (downpour) in Nicaragua.

Welcome back. You belong here.

I think the time is coming to travel the world and find myself again, to be inspired and put new sounds into my music, into my creativity and mind, hanging out with souls that have life, with people that are changing the world in simple ways and with new sounds and new spirits from my childhood and the world. To talk to God, to listen to God, to hear what I am in Him and who He is shaping me to be.

To not know what the heck to expect, this is not a planned "do something Lord" but just a natural part of life, a time of silence and rest, a time to listen, to listen, to feel, to feel, to learn, to learn, to be broken, to be broken, to confess, to confess, to jump for joy, to jump for joy.

And to allow Him to break me, go through temptations (as Jesus was tempted in the Mt. of Olives) to be in the wilderness, to feel my dryness first hand, to cry in His presence, to feel Him and hear from Him once again, to pause and allow Him the room and the space to deal with me.

There are phrases I need to get in touch with again from Nicaragua and my growing up years such as:

AGUACERO - a really strong tropical storm. "downpour"

I have many memories of these storms from back home, and I need to be in that spirit and environment once again.

I need a sabbatical to feel again, to listen to God once again, to shed deconstruct behaviors and grow, expand, keep moving forward. Something like 3 months in the summer. A family vacation slash sabbatical to think, write, feel, hear, pray.

I feel like the last few years have been great years, much productivity and renewing. But it's also had clouds, depression, sadness and an overall "aguacero" in my life. I need to drink deeply from the well once again and take in the life all around me.

The trip may include:
- Nicaragua, my home (of course)
- Raymond Street (that's here in Long Beach, where I grew up)
- Africa
- India
- San Francisco (family)
- Seattle
- Oregon (family)

Not sure why, but I think those place may provide guidance and refreshment.

I have never felt more focused and passionate for the Kingdom and my Jesus than now, but I feel the need to refocus and pause before the journey continues.

There's something in my life, a timing, an age thing, a boundary, a change in my life, all good and natural things in a leader's/artist's life, a rhythm of sorts that tells me this is needed and right.

I don't want to burn out, I don't want to run on fumes or old systems. I want to keep growing, keep learning, keep afresh, focus on ancient truths that will never change and yet to keep them contextualized. Focus on the right objectives, goals and desires of God's heart for my life, our marriage, our children, our extended family and who we are becoming to our friends and neighbors.

What have I been reading? What has influence my thinking?

I've been reading "Isolation - A Place of Transformation in the Life of a Leader", reading about artists like John Mayer, Ricky Martin, Bono and their growth as musicians and artists and I find similarities in their process and their amazing success at doing the right things that inspire and move millions of souls and yet hold a child in need. From huge to small. That's what I am called to be.

How do I do this?

I need money ($5k), time off work (2-3 months) and places that would host me. Not sure how that's all going to happen and I hate not having my family with me, but if God wants it to happen it will happen.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Listening To

Welcome back. You belong here.

And Happy New Year to you too. The Rose Parade was beautiful (saw it on TV, should take my wife and children next year).

Inspiring me these days (available at iTunes and Amazon.com)

Music
1. Leeland, "Sound of Melodies" - Brit/pop, emo worship
2. Starfield, "Beauty in the Broken" - modern worship
3. John Mayer, "Continuum", blues/jazz
4. Keane, "Under the Iron Sea" - Brit/pop
5. Sigur Ros, "Takk" - emo
6. Mute Math, "Mute Math" - pop/emo rock
7. Switchfoot, "Oh! Gravity" - modern rock

Reading
1. 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1 and 2, Matthew 5, Romans 1 - on the qualities of a godly leader
2. "The Present Future" by Reggie McNeal - on the future of the Christian church
3. "The Great Omission" by Dallas Willard - on following Jesus as His disciple
4. "Liturgical Theology" by Simon Chan - on how and why we worship

Waiting to read
1. "The Starfish and the Spider: Unleashing the Power of Leaderless Organizations"

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Enjoy That Beautiful Family

Welcome back. You belong here.

You know how sometimes people say things that stick with you? Well, in the last few weeks we've had an amazing time with family and friends and something that I hear from them often is "enjoy that beautiful family you have..."

I have a beautiful family and I am committed to enjoying them. First my wife who is my partner and friend for life. We are becoming one more and more each passing month, each passing year. Even this weekend, I felt so in love with her seeing her host family, seeing her speak and open her heart in conversation, doing the little things to make things happen, it's amazing to me. I also do my part to love her. Tomorrow I stay home with the little ones while she goes to Target at 6am for their 75% off sale.

And then we have our three "hermosos"- our children, 7, 5 and 3. Sigh of contentment...do I enjoy them? Yes.

Today, we went on a bike ride. Little David who goes waaay too fast for me, Canela who is fun to ride with because everything I do is perfect (innocence is bliss), and Isabela who loves being a part of the pack. We had a great time going twice around the block.

Then there's David's red wagon near the trash and I smile. You ask why? He loves to stand on the wagon and look inside the trash bins. I know, I know, counseling right?...I don't get it either but he loves trash, trash trucks (he has three of them) and can't wait till Wednesdays when the trash comes by our house. I love that little boy.

My life is filled with joys and I am thankful for them all. It also has it's sad moments, even this year we've experienced some ups and downs, but they hardly dim my happiness and thankfulness for all God has done in our lives. God has been faithful and we worship Him and thank Him for His strength and peace in our lives.

This weekend it's New Year's Eve, and what will we do, party? eat, drink and be merry? We'll be home with our children who'll all be asleep by 8pm and Rachelle and I will babysit Charlie our 8 month old nephew.

And when he's asleep, we'll watch TV, sip some champagne, embrace, kiss in the dark, dance by ourselves in the quietness of our family room and go to bed together just past midnight. I love my life.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

I'm the Man

Welcome back. You belong here.

Fitness Update: (so far this week)...

Monday - ran 30mns, abs
Tues - did arms/legs, abs
Wed - did chest/back, abs
Fri - did arms/legs
Sat - ran 30mns
Sun - did chest/back, abs

Eating at 90%.

Note: I workout in my garage where it's cold and windy and now my iPod broke and I'm dealing with the December blues but I won't give up. PERSEVERANCE, one of my favorite words.

You too can do it. Who needs a New Year's resolution? How about a today resolution!
Getting in shape is good for your body, mind and soul.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

My iPod is dying

Welcome back. You belong here.

So our little Isabela (5) dropped my iPod on the hard kitchen tile a few days ago and so now the iPod is near dead. I'm trying to restore it back to OG, load all 2000 songs back and hope for the best. Not looking good right now.

New iPod? My iPod is 5 years old after all, but...I had decided going into this Christmas that I couldn't afford a new one.

That decision just got challenged 100%.

And with the $1000.00 I'm spending today on the clutch of our old truck...not looking good.

Clutch

iPod

Clutch

iPod

Clutch...Getting to work

iPod...hours of listening pleasure

Tough one.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

UPDATE: Clutch, DONE, $1000.00
iPod, DONE, it's officially dead.

A Secret: There is No After the Holidays

Welcome back. You belong here.

Here's a secret we're all aware of, there is no "after the holidays." You know how people say, "I'll see you after the holidays..." No they won't. If they don't want to see you now, they won't want to see you then either.

Well, the secret is out.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Fitness Update: Struggling through the December blues.

Last Week:
Lift: 2x
Run: 3x
Abs: 4x
Eating: 85%

That's not bad, but my plan is twice that. December is such for me, mostly it's emotional. So I try not to get down but to hang on, do what I can each week, and NEVER give up, always PERSEVERE.

I am pushing through the holiday syndrome slowly, working through the December blues - the loss of loved ones (father and 2nd mother), slight depression, Christmas church stress. I know these times (injury, depression) are a part of the sport, so I do my best and look forward to Monday.

My plan for next week:
Lift: 4x
Run: 3-4x
Abs 4-5x
Eat at 95%.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

I'm Not Shopping Today But Did Last Night

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Every time I go to the mall I hope no one sees me.
"Do I know that person? Yikes! I think they're from church, noo!", "Wait, that's not them, yeaaaaah!" "That was a close one...."

Funny, being a last minute shopper is hard work but fun.

And yet, I'm done and today Saturday, I am NOT SHOPPING. I am praying for all those that did or are shopping right now. Remember, it is better to give up that parking spot than to receive. And don't say anything to anyone you'll later regret.

Tomorrow, I do the 10:45am and 6pm services. The 6pm is different from the 10:45am in that it's an adaptation from the 9 Lessons and Carols, our is 5 Lessons and Carols and includes live readings, and invitation and benediction, worship elements from all our worship services (traditional/contemporary/modern), beautiful images, moving videos, a quiet and meditative lobby display and of course songs of Christmas.

We went through the dress rehearsal last night and it went very well. I especially enjoyed singing with Bianca, one of our new vocalists. We sound good together.

I hope you have a great Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Prayer for the day: "Come Lord Jesus Come", from Rev. 22.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Helping a Family in Need

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Jesus said to do this....

Today, our extended family brought over $500.00 worth of gifts to one of the poorest families in Long Beach - Maria the mom, and her 4 children Ana (9), Jesus (11), Juan (12) and Maria (13). The husband is an alcoholic and wasn't around. Maria is from Oaxaca and has lived in Long Beach for 7 years and in the States for 13.

They live in a studio in a dense part of Long Beach, the children's bunk beds are in their living room/tv room/dining room, there was a strong stench in the apartment, but the place was neatly kept and the children were well behaved.

In attendance was Rachelle and I, my sister Marcia, our three children, my wife's sister Suzanne, my wife's sister Meredith, her husband Tom and their baby boy Charlie, my wife's mom Lynette and dad Dennis Baker.

My wife cooked them a turkey (her first ever and it was to give to a poor family, my wife is amazing). Together, our combined families brought them new wrapped gifts - school uniforms, Barbies, new pants, new dresses, shirts and shoes, bubble bread and even a Christmas tree. Both our girls gave their very best/favorite dolls and Isabela (5) used her own saved up money to buy a Barbie for them.


The family is part of Long Beach Friend's Church, where Yolanda and David Hamm attend. Yolanda was my contact person through Eric Marsh from Grace Long Beach and Hope for Long Beach and has an ongoing relationship with this family. Yolanda leads a Bible study of 12-13 people including Maria and other Spanish speaking families.

My wife cried when we first got there and could hardly finish her opening words of thanks and appreciation. This was my wife's project and vision.

It was a meaningful experience. There's a relationship with the family and a Spanish speaking local church (very important), and from our children, to all of us, to Maria and the family we we were all touched by the love of God. I read from Matthew 1 on the visit of the magi to see Jesus, the tough circumstances Jesus was born into, yet when the magi came, they worshiped Him and so did we.

I was also moved that our children saw a place they're not used to and yet to see children that are just like them - happy, hoping for Barbies and trucks, that go to school, that speak English and Spanish and have bikes. When we got home they spoke of their time there... Canela (7) said "there house is small."

At the end, we worshiped together and sang "Silent Night", "Noche de Paz" and of course, "Jingle Bells." It was an amazing night which gives me perspective on how much we have.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

What is Good?

Welcome back. You belong here.

One of the temptations for me this time of year is to focus on the negative - what hasn't been done, what I'm not doing well. I can focus on my office being a mess, my music being in too many piles, my body not being as defined as I wish, the children's room being too messy, too much dirty laundry, not enough time with the children, missing too many deadlines, etc. etc. etc.

Instead, I should focus on all the great things in my life. How? What am I doing about it?

1. Realizing I'm in that mode and admitting that it stinks.
2. Asking my friends to keep me focused, to remind me of how great my life is, to feel free to tell me when I'm off
3. Apologize often
4. Take a deep breath
5. Pray, ask God to change my attitude
6. Read the Psalms, read 1 Peter 2 on being holy
7. Give to others, focus on others
8. Make a list of all the great things in my life

Two weeks ago, our girl Isabela (5) was in the hospital feeling very sick. Today, she was in the school play, smiling and having a great time. She's still feeling some minor neck pain, and is on a second dose of ab's, but is feeling much better. God has been faithful.

Tomorrow, we go help a needy family with school uniforms, a Christmas tree, new pants and shirts, a new dress for the mom and new toys for the children. Our whole family will spend time with them, making their Christmas special. We have so much. They're on welfare, the dad is an alcoholic, the children have very little, they live in a poor part of town, immigrant family.

And as far as all the house, the deadlines, it's not that bad. All those things are fine, things are getting done, and those that aren't, they will get done eventually.

Having a stressed out day? Wish you had more money, less to do's, more time for you? Give to others. Give, give generously. God will give you a new perspective on life.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

My Sister is Here

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My sister Marcia is here with us from Nicaragua. It's great to have her here, I have missed her. We are looking forward to time together with family this Christmas.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

In the E.R. tonight with our 5 year old

Welcome back. You belong here.

Please pray for Isabela (5), she's at the ER right now with my wife (I'm home with our other two). Isabela has a fever, and now her neck hurts, pretty sore, so we worry about meningitis. Although she's showing signs of improvement from her flu like symptoms, fever is going down, eating a little more, she can hardly move her neck, so we had to take her in.

They'll do a spinal tap, first one for her and our family, so I'm feeling down but I know it's the right thing. We can't take any risks. We're praying all is fine and they find nothing except a bad flu and swollen nodes, etc. That's what I expect, but we have to be sure....

Bummer. Long night just got longer. Thank you for praying.

Have a great day,

Into the future,

davidT

UPDATE-1: We took Isabela into the ER and the doctors determined she didn't need a spinal tap because they don't think it's meningitis. Relief!! But they did a CT scan just in case and they found a small absess, basically pus near her neck that is causing her all the pain, combined with fever from a bug, she is a mess. So she's still at the hospital, they had to admit her and she's on antibiotics.
Best case scenario - The antibiotics get rid of the absess and she goes home tomorrow.
Worse case scenario - They operate on her, going through the mouth to drain the absess.
We're praying for God's will, but we're really praying for #1.
Please pray for her on this.

My wife is wasted, on the couch layed out, didn't sleep at all last night. She hasn't been home in 24 hours.
I slept two hours last night, sending out some emails, picking up, dropping off our other two.
We're working together, asking all the right questions, and becoming one in this whole thing for our little girl.
Canela and David Dennis are in school today, David is now with his grampa, I'm about to go get Canela. Isabela is sleeping right now.

We had Isabela's little friend Keyla and her mom drop off some crayons and coloring book and a Barbie note pad. I almost cried, I felt so touched. We've been to their house a few times just serving them with our love and they are here for us now. Amazing.

Our whole family has been near, I sure wish my mom was here (she lives in Nicaragua) and how I wish my grandmother still was around (she died 2 years ago this December).

God is with us, she will be okay, God is near, we are in His hands.

UPDATE-2:
Isabela's fever is better, the antibiotics seem to be working. Still in the hospital, they're doing tests for various viruses. Her neck pain is also improving, she has more energy. The abscess on her neck doesn't require surgery at this time, they're treating it with the antibiotics. We're wanting her headaches and neck pain to continue to improve. She's making progress. Today was a better day for her.

UPDATE-3:
Isabela is home. She came home Thursday night, after 4 days in the hospital. Amazing. It's so good to have her home, sleeping in her own bed. She's feeling better each day and today she's back in school. I thank God for all He's done to heal Isabela. Our 7 year old has strep throat, she's home from school today, but you know what, God is faithful. Seeing Isabela recover has been a huge encouragement. Her neck is better, her fever is gone, she's doing better each day, still on antibiotics for 10 days as part of her treatment for the abscess in her neck. We are praying it's gone by now.
Thank you for praying for her. Rachelle and I are recovering this week.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Hearing God in People

Welcome back. You belong here.

A theme I've been needing to hear lately is this: God speaks through other people into my life, my situation. And second, you are a gift to me.

Somewhere along the pastoral, Christian kid life, I believed that I hear God, and that I have something to offer the world through my life, music, Word, etc. But the idea of me hearing from people, to have them be Christ to me, to have them be a messenger of God's wisdom into my life is newer to me.

But I know it's true. Samuel spoke to David regarding his sin with Bathsheba, he spoke to him in a relevant way, speaking of sheep to a shepherd.

My wife says things to me that are God talking. Now I'm realizing that more and more! Duh! She'll tell me things like "we should invite Nikki and John over, and offer them to live with us for 6 months..." Yikes! But I know God speaks through her.

Speakers, music, the Word, prayer, these are all natural ways for me to hear God, and I feel God has done that with me for a long time. Although you know what, I feel that He's speaking to me more and more through music. Just today, he was telling me to bless Jeff a young worship leader. He was telling me I should love him more, embrace him, bless him, tell him what I see in him as a young 22 year old young man without a father, with his mom living far from him. I haven't really wanted to, but God keeps telling me to do it. I hate when God talks to me!

But listening to my wife has been an amazing thing for me, not just being the spiritual leader myself, but realizing that she leads with me, that God leads our home through what she says, in her time in the Word, her impressions, I think she has a gift of exhortation or wisdom or prophecy, something like that. I was just recently hearing her talk to her sister in such a clear, concise way that wasn't easy necessarily, but was very true and helpful. Wow, I was amazed.

I've had people tell me a few things along the years that were true but not very nice, but I love them for it. Once a singer told me, "you're very condescending..." I was, and don't struggle with that as much because her comments made me begin the process of confession, repentance, change, awareness, etc.

There are books, Devotional Readings from the Renovare line that speak to this idea. I don't know which ones but I'll find out from our SF pastor. He speaks this language often with me, the set-up team, the child care workers, and it speaks to something I need to adapt into my heart and thinking.

For you are my brother and you are a gift to me. You are Christ to me, you speak to me, sharpen me, edify me, I need you and you need me. We are in community with each other, you have the ability to hurt and lift me up. I give you that choice, I open my heart to it, for you are my brother, my sister. You are Christ to me, you are the Body of Christ, if an ear speaks (well, that's weird but you get it), I will listen, when I speak you can listen.

I am not alone, the Word, prayer, worship are some of the ways God speaks to me, but I believe you are the voice of God too, and even if your words hurt me and I reject them, even if you are wrong, even if your own flesh and sinfulness gets in the way, I will see that as a gift, and a chance to surrender and trust Christ, Jesus for those tough moments, but I will not see you as anti-Christ, for the Spirit of our common Father is also in you. He prayed we'd be one, so I want to be in relationship with you my brother, my sister.

I hope you also take that risk to open up, to receive, to be in authentic Biblical community with me and those you love. I am a gift to you, you are a gift to me. Let's receive one another as such.

For further reading:
1. "Hearing God" by Dallas Willard, 1999

Amen.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Marriage Conference and My Great Life

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My wife and I are at the Family Life Today marriage conference in La Jolla, CA this weekend. Wow, amazing time. I haven't been online much (blogged once, email two, three times, no surfing, no work stuff). The content has been amazing, the room is great (Radisson) and the cost is awesome - FREE for Pastors and wives.

But even if it wasn't free, we'd be here, it's great. We've been married 11 years, three children, house, house remodel, 13 years of ministry, 8 years of teaching for my wife, we have a real life. What is wrong someone asked us? Why do you need to go to a marriage conference?

This has been scary but rewarding. We've talked about things such as:

How is our sex life going?
How do you feel about our communication?
How do you think we're doing in our companionship?
Would you still love me if I tell you how I feel about you sometimes?
Did you know that I get scared for my life when you drive! : )

Things like that. We've talked about all those themes this weekend, scary? Yes, but amazing. Great rewards too.

We've talked through lots of real issues, but for both of us, coming from pretty conservative backgrounds it's been good to say, "our marriage is fine, but we want to make it great. And to get there, we need to say of some things (such as sex, attitudes, etc) that they need improvement." You want to know about our sex talk heh? Sorry! You'll have to call me for that one.

Anyway, it's been amazing to unmask the scary "how is our marriage question." Yes, I felt afraid, so did Rachelle, after all things are great right? Yes, but we've been picking up some dust, some bad habits, some unspoken themes. It's bound to happen, after all we've been busy raising three small children for the last 7-8 years, we dealt with two deaths, a remodel, the loss of our grandmother, seeing her through the last years, months and days of her life. Gone are the days of eating out every night, watching TV every night, being young and free, spending with no cares in the world.

And we DON'T want to become busy raising a family, scheduling life and dance lessons, school and vacations while our marriage gets stale. We want to have a fresh, vital, real marriage. And so how do we get there?

This weekend has helped us, it's brought up things we've been meaning to talk about, it's encouraged us, it's made us feel like the sky is the limit. It's brought us together even more, from 85 to 95%. It's made our marriage current because we're talking about current themes, desires, hopes, visions for the future.

I'm so amazed at the grace of God, his love, his ability to work in our lives. I'm soooo amazed at the love I have for Rachelle, the real, tested and tried 11 years, 3 children, real marriage and real love I have for her and her for me. Honeymoons are great, this is awesome.

We're growing in so many areas these days. First, in our marriage as I've said, that's the foundation, the granite underneath it all, second, in our relationships with couples, friends, community, authentic Biblical spiritually forming communities. We both now have that, which has been a journey of years to get here. Third, our missional work, serving our lost neighbors, loving our unconnected friends, praying for our children to become men and women of God. But most of all, our passion for this Jesus, this Man-God, his Message of hope and forgiveness to the world, to me and you, to believers and to those not in the Kingdom. Our burden for people has only increased, for the poor, children, inner city Long Beach, for racial diversity, for a vision for the world, for Nicaragua, for Romania, for Russia and Africa.

We feel we're at the best we've ever been, not because we're perfect, in fact shedding that idea for these two conservative Christian kids has been the most amazing thing, but to understand grace, forgiveness, the experience that in each other, to extend that to each other, has been a most satisfying experience. And the sex has been great too.

So we feel like we have our best years ahead, and we walk this line with an awareness of our uglyness, our sin, our desire for self, division and self-protection. But we walk together, with Jesus and His Spirit as our hope and breath, and these three little people who follow us, watch us, learn from us and whom one day we will see leave us. We want to do great things for the Kingdom of God, and we realize more and more that it's not our striving, but His Work in our lives and hearts and minds that will accomplish this.

And we realize that our friends are watching, Jeff and John, Annie and Justin, Nikki and John, Jake and Jessica, John and Howard, Corrie and Ana, Sarah and Gary, Kyle and Dennis. These are our other friends, some our children, some our peers. We have much to give them and to receive from them.

All this makes me glad, makes me love Life and Jesus and our families, our heritage, our background. It makes me aware of realities such as illness, aging, suffering, all of it as parts of our lives. But His Word and prayer and His people, His mission, all compel us forward. We have much to live for, so we are doing it. I hope you are too.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT