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?

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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

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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

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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

My Over reaction Levels Are Up, Asking Why

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This morning's interaction with my wife regarding cookies...She's at work today, I'm home with the children.

My wife: "can you make sure the cookies are in Isabela's backpack and David's backpack, they're for Kelly and Tracy."

Me: "what! I can't do that, who's going to give them the cookies? Shouldn't someone give them the cookies personally! Why don't you just ask me to give the cookies to them myself...."

My wife (tears): "that's ok, don't do it."

Me: "I'll do it, that's fine..."

My wife: "I gotta go."

Yikes! Talk about me being off my rocker. I'm off lately, dealing with bouts of anger, quick tempered and just over reacting to everything, feeling like little things are hard, can't do this, can't do that, I'm already doing so much, look at me, look at me, life is hard.

Something's off.

So I've been thinking about what it is. First, I just know something's not right. That's half the battle, acceptance that this is not good. I apologized to my wife, I feel so lame, but I know she loves me. But I have to do something.

What is my plan?
1. Called three friends and told them the scenario
2. Asked them to pray for me
3. I'm writing about what is causing all this. Usual culprits - grief, emotional overload, stress headaches in the AM's, my body feeling overloaded from emotional stress, Holiday Syndrome. My father, 2nd mother, all died in December. My concussion, in December. In November of this year, I fell off a Christmas stage (no major injury just a sore knee and ankle), then I got sick last week and it's still hanging on to me.
4. Thinking of God's graces. I just wrote down 5-6 contentment moments, thinking of Doña Lupe, she came over yesterday, made dinner for us, cleaned the kitchen floor and did laundry, all in two hours. She's my uncle's mother in law and she's going to help us out a few times a week, taking care of our children and doing some housework. This allows our children to be home by 3pm versus 5pm and get into their home routine. It's so awesome. Things like that.
5. Breakfast with my father in law. We talked this week, just praying, talking church, ministry, life, so good for me.
6. Called new mentor. Bill is a friend of dad Baker's. He's a pastor to pastors. Today I called him, and so hopefully we'll meet in the next few weeks.
7. Stay away from destructive behaviors, vices, sins. I'm asking friends to pray about my usual escapes (except for PlayStation 2 (can't afford PS3).
8. Praying, exercising (as much as this cold allows me to, very frustrating!), resting (slept 10 hours last night).
9. Vacation, I took this week off.
10. Weekend get away with my wife. We're going to the FLT Marriage Conference, I'm so glad to be with her and talk this through, mend, heal, be one.
11. Dinner with friends. On Monday, we went out with some good friends to enjoy Indian food, laugh, go to the WoW store and just have fun together.

I don't want to be like this, but the Holiday Syndrome hits me like clockwork every year, it's like a wave that I can't avoid, can't stop, but can recognize it and try to reduce it's effects on my wife, children, and ministry. I want to be filled with God's ways not my ways.

Perhaps you deal with Holiday stuff and you're beginning to notice the symptoms. Do you realize they're there? And what will you do about it? As my father in law said, anger is neither redemptive nor productive. It's time to do something about it.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Ortega Means the Dark Ages Again

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With Ortega all but officially back in power in Nicaragua, the country will go back 10-20 years economically and most of all in U.S. relations. Ortega is buddy buddy with Chavez and Castro, so all notions of a "new-softer-gentler" Ortega are non-sense. The man is corrupt, a communist and a U.S. hater. This is bad news for my country of origin, and my family who lives there.

What is good about this? The poor will be cared for, medical benefits will increase, education will increase, $$ on defense will increase. But so will religious restrictions, U.S. travel, free trade, etc.

Bush will probably wait and see. My guess is he's too busy with bigger fish to fry (Iraq, North Korea) to really care and rightly so. Nicaragua offers very little threat to anyone. But the connection between Venezuela, Cuba and now Nicaragua, offers a triangulation that few can ignore.

Expect sanctions, Nicaraguans on the U.S. side will have little chance of going home (or maybe little desire!), and expect a slow but real migration by businesses, hotels, tourism, resorts, airlines, etc. from the country. Just when things were looking up in Nicaragua, this comes.

But remember, almost 40% of the Nicaraguan people voted for Ortega. They wanted this. Why? Their alternatives were more rich-eat-poor U.S. educated U.S. puppets (such as Montealegre and Ruiz).

Now, we all wish Hertiz hadn't had a massive heart attack just weeks before the elections. He was a moderate Sandinista, hated by Ortega but with a leaning towards U.S. relations. I hope my family gets out of there soon.

Oh and today I am home with a bad cold, sniffles, sore throat, etc. arghhhhh....

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

This is How My People Vote

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This is how my people in Nicaragua vote. Today, the Nicaraguan citizens decide if Daniel Ortega (the Sandinista tyrant of the 80's) returns to power or if a Harvard educated U.S. puppet runs the country, gets even richer and once again forgets the poor.

What a choice!

My prediction, sad to say, Ortega.

Have a great day,

Into the future,

davidT

Training Update

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So what does it look like for a someone like me who is into fitness, weight training, running, lifting, eating 6 small meals a day, lots of tuna, protein, yogurt, cottage cheese, and no to pizza, cookies, ice cream, etc. etc? What does it look like for me in October?

This is a time of finding a new rhythm. The summer (long summers here in Los Angeles, CA) rhythm is coming to an end. The warm days are almost over, its getting darker earlier, the cooler nights are here to stay, holidays, etc.

Time to start eating, pause on working out, see you in January post-new years' (man, I'm fat!) resolutions? Not a FAT CHANCE! But change is in order.

Two weeks I lifted 3x/ran 3x, abs 5x, eating at 90%.
Last week, Rachelle had migraines for three straight days, then time change Sunday last week, and I only ran 2-3x, abs 2-3x, eating at 90%. That reminded me up of the change that is coming.

My body has been telling me two things (key, always listen to your body)
1. Lift heavier weights, increase in the # of exercises, move towards bulk in the next few months
2. Work out in the AM's not in the afternoons or evenings.
3. Conserve energy in light of holiday syndrome is coming (grieving, sadness, some depression, etc.)
4. Eat healthy, no pumpkin pie, holiday baking, etc. I don't need it.

So my new plan:
1. Time - I will once again work out at 7AM. For the last year I've been working out at 4pm or 8pm. I will run in the mornings, lift in the mornings, and be done by 8:30am.
2. Arnold Level 2 Plan. I have been following Dave Draper's plan for the last year, which is higher rep, lower weights, which has given me more definition. It's time to go back to Arnold, for bulk, and mass.
3. Eat more good stuff. This means more tuna, more chicken, more brown rice, more veggies, more healthy stuff. This does not mean, more food, it's more good food - Mexican and pizza are not considered good food.
3. Go hard and be consistent. Through Thanksgving, Christmas, grieving (both my father and second mother died in Decembers). Go hard, don't look back, be focused.
4. Take a break as needed. Rest 2-3 days a week, enjoy family and friends, sing carols, enjoy a movie with my wife, play cards with the children, go to church.

The sport of weight training requires movement and adjustment, lest you get stuck and stop or become unmotivated and just go through the motions. Never!

That's the commitment. I start right now.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Contented Day

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Right now, I'm having a contented moment, and a contented soul.

Like many of you, I'm a striver, achiever. In fact my #1 strength on a test called "Strength's Finder" is ACHIEVE. Bummer for me right? That means I'm always longing for more, for better. In my exercising for example, I pursue to be the best, to work out 6x a week, lift 4x a week, to eat healthy every day. And I do, I live there all the time and I actually get there most weeks, I've actually been into this fitness thing for now three years, I've been very consistent, and now I'm in the best shape of my life. As I said I'm an achiever.

But...

That means I don't always enjoy and stop to smell the roses, or enjoy a fall day when life is good. It's not that I see what's wrong all the time, it's that I am often too busy pursuing my goals to notice the beauty all around me. Sometimes people tell me, "David, your life is amazing RIGHT NOW, not someday." I have a hard time seeing that sometimes. I'm an achiever.

But today, I'm having a contented moment...a content day...a cease striving and know that I am God, life is beautiful, life is great day.

Do you need one of those days? I do.

What does that look like for me today? Is it that everything went perfect, got a raise, a good doctors report, a new guitar? No, in fact today, I had a content moment amidst lots of normal life and even some challenges.

First, our car blew a radiator hose while in downtown LA with my wife and children in the car! Usually that would be a disaster for this non-car tech guy and I would blow a hose of my own! But we got to a service station, a man from Mexico repaired the hoses, and in a few hours we were on our way again.

Other things that I've experienced....On Sunday, a friend gave me a note saying, "David you touch my life every time, thank you...." On that same day, another friend waved at me while getting ready to lead worship and said, "Go get them David!" that was so fun...after church another friend told me, "I'm going to put you on my prayer list and pray for you." Later that day, another friend told me, "David, you are already affecting my life." Later that evening, a new person to the church came up shook my hand and thanked me for I'm still not sure what, he just kept saying thank you, thank you. Strange.

Remember the guy that fixed our car? I got to share the love of Christ with him. He told me he had been a Christian when he was younger but that working as a mechanic had been hard for him and now he often found himself giving in to temptations and to the pressures at work and the comments from his fellow mechanics to "stop trying to be different and just be like everyone else..." He told me he didn't want to be that way. I told him that he didn't have to be, that inside of him lived Christ, that the light of Jesus is stronger than the darkness all around him, that the wide road leads to destruction and many take that path, but the narrow path leads to life and salvation and happy are those that choose it. He said, he wanted to be different. As he fixed my hoses and put freez-on back in the radiator, he said, "I will remember what we talked about today...thank you." Cool.

I was just in the garage about to lift my weights and push through another workout, I love doing that, I'm into weights. But instead, I came in here and typed this moment for you and me. I will probably work out later tonight, today it's chest and legs/abs, but right now, I want to enjoy this moment, enjoy life, enjoy God's little gifts of grace and love, the words of people and how they fill my life, to see my wife and hang out with our children.

I told Rachelle just a few minutes ago of my experience. She smiled and said how glad she was that I was giving myself the freedom to enjoy.

Tomorrow, I will surely keep pursuing greatness, new things, finish projects, do the right thing, lead, serve, grow, expand the Kingdom of God. But I wonder if God didn't show me this moment to remind me that it's not my striving that makes things happen, as much as my praying makes radiators leaks go away.

It's what Paul reminds us in Philippians when he says, "rejoice in the Lord always....rejoice" and when the Psalms say, "unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who strive." I still don't get the balance between rejoicing and achieving and maybe there is no balance, it's all rejoicing, it's all seeking God and resting in Him while doing your daily work. I'm not a lazy person, so it's good for me to rest in Christ. It's the attitude inside of me that is changing, it's the joy amidst the leaky radiator, the freeway traffic, it's something inside, it's something others give to me, it's something God surrounds me with - His peace, His joy, His strength.

So I will not forget this day and this moment, and I write you this note to share this with you in case you need the encouragement to cease, to stop striving, toenjoy, to listen to the fall leaves in your home, to enjoy the pumpkins on your front porch, to thank God for the people in your life.

Yes, the work the mechanic in downtown LA did was average, my guess is I will have to get an original part very soon and do it right, not bad for $30.00 and getting home without a tow truck. But in the mean time, I'm content with today and this moment, and I will take it with me for a long time to come.

May you receive the life around you in Jesus and His love, His grace, His goodness and friendship. May you rest this week in His kindness and direction, His provision in your life - people, things, love, family. And may you give that life to those around you who may be in need.

For one day, you may bump into someone that is striving and achieving and who needs to stop and smell the roses.

Have a great day,

Into the future,

davidT

Web Based Project Manager

Welcome back. You belong here.

I like this so far. Web-based project manager for my artisans as we plan Good Friday 2007, Christmas Eve 2006, Spring 2007 teaching series for AM and PM, etc.

Christmas Eve 2006 >Basecamp.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

I Just Want you to be My Friend...leave me alone!

Welcome back. You belong here.

Ever been in a situation when you have to cross that line from being a friend (meaning I don't speak truth into a situation) to being a real friend and speak truth with grace?

I'm in that spot right now and it's not easy. Whether young or old, I see a generation that wants me to love them and accept them but with strings attached, in other words, "as long as you don't tell me what to do."

I agree, no one likes to be told anything, but even the mere mention of God's truth, of consequences to their actions is hard for some. In some cases, the actions are harmful to others and to themselves and still I get "leave me alone...just be my friend."

What is a friend?

Solomon speaks of this:

8 There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless--a miserable business!

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no-one to help him up!

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Truthfully, it's also hard for me when I fall and others try to help me, or better yet they tell me things before I fall. But I'm learning the need for truth in my life - "David, that was unkind, David, that went long, David you didn't show up." After all, I do those things....I have to accept them.

So I try to be a friend, which to some means you stay on the surface, and yet try to reflect truth with grace and kindness. This is not easy for me, but I find it's needed in the Body of Christ. Some respond with acceptance, others respond a week later, others leave the church. Jesus told the adulterous woman, "you are right in saying you have no husband..." OUCH! Truth exposes reality, but then Jesus said, "go and sin no more..." Grace, help, acceptance.

Which way do I lean? I have a hard time saying things nicely without offending people. So I say them in fluffy ways and then one day I make myself clear and people are shocked. I am working on always being clear, to the point and having things well thought out, with advice from others, checking my math twice as they say, before I make that phone call.

Ultimately, I know I can't change anyone, only the Spirit of God can. I can only ask God to use me to speak words of truth and grace, and err on the side of grace always! People know they're screwed up, I know I show up late to things, I know I drop off the children late (sometimes!)....I need grace, help, a plan to improve not to be condemned.

On the other hand, you and I need truth, to talk about the things we're doing that hurt ourselves and others and to help people through those times.

Restoration, restoration, restoration, that is the goal of discipline, of truth in all this, Jesus came not to condemn the world, but that the world would be saved through him. That's my desire.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

What is Significance to Boomers, GenX and GenY

Welcome back. You belong here.

Some observations in working with three different generations. What keeps them motivated? What do they get into? What do they not tell you with their mouths but through their myspace, silence, body language, etc. What makes them tick as far as feeling connected to an organization?

Boomers
1. A role, title, a stage. In other words, I find that Boomers need to know they are on the "team", that they have a role to play, and that they are unique in that role.
EX - It's important for our leaders to know they are in charge of the Christmas Eve Service.
2. Excellence. Boomers (this is a no brainer), value things that are well done. Efficiency, organization, clear assignments.
EX - A good rehearsal is when we start on time, end on time and finish the job.
3. Personal space. Don't talk to me for too long, don't call me too often, don't touch me!
EX - One of my musicians often reminds me not to hug him.

Gen-X/Busters, etc...
1. Involved and valued. X'ers value being valued. "Do you love me" seems to be their never ending question. In other words, even though I don't show up to things, and am too busy to show up to meetings, do you still want me around?
EX - One of our photographers came last night with near tears in her eyes, wanting me to use her photography even though I hadn't seen or heard from her in weeks.
2. Time spent one on one. If you value me, you'll mentor me one on one, not in a group because I won't feel valued. I dont' want to be one of your people, I want to be the ONLY one.
EX - After a long rehearsal, some of our musicians want to talk in the parking lot for 2-3 hours.

Gen-Y/Millenials/etc...
1. Many things all at once. Collaboration, relationships, working together not just with my peers but with the bosses.
EX - My painters often ask me about big events in the church, when are we going to do the Good Friday show? What about the annual meetings, when do we get to lead that?
2. Social causes and stop playing church with me. It's not enough to do the job, but it has to matter. And btw, why is church so weird?
EX - Last year, 300+ people came to a music and art show called the RoboShow, all put on by GenY'ers, which benefited the "Invisible Children". They raised a ton of cash.
3. Let's go play basketball and go skating. Soooo different than the Boomers and GenX, GenY wants to do group things aaaaallll the time.
EX - After a midnight rehearsal, all the guys invited me to go skating at ElDo. I went home!
4. Mentor me, don't teach me stuff. I've noticed this generation knows a ton of stuf, they need me to be their friend not their leader. Tricky, when I still have to lead them, but although tempted to do it the old fashion way and talk about vision, values, blah, blah, blah, I have stick to the plan - relationships, servanthood and bbq's at my house to have the RIGHT to speak into their lives.
EX - We had 20 artisans at our house last month for a bbq. For boomers that would have been one bbq too many. For GenY I am planning MONTHLY bbqs.

There is much more but that's a start. What do they all have in common?
Passion. I find that for the most part, all generations have a passion in their hearts for something greater than themselves.

I count it an honor (actually it's nuts) to work with all three generations right now. I respect each generation's thing while praying God can use me to move all of them towards Christ likeness and a passion for the Kingdom of God.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT