5/14/2006

Just call me Noah

It has now rained for 3 days and it's starting to add up...I wouldn't be worried except that it's supposed to rian heavily for another 3 or 4 more days.













The picture on the left is one of many leaks in our basement wall. The left picture is our front yard and the pictures below are the back yard.

5/12/2006

Awaiting the calls

Well, this coming Wednesday is the "call day", in the US East at least. I'm not sure about the rest of the country. And I know Canada already recieved their calls.

So anyway, there are a lot of nervous, expectant people out there in Officer land right now. Some of my friends have been told they're not moving, but you never know...up until that last week in June when the moves actually happen. I don't think we'll be moving, although our appointment may change. In the end, I just pray for the leaders that the decisions made are of God's Will. And I also pray for the field that they accept the moves as God's Will. Much bitterness has been caused and allowed this time of year in the past...too much.

Well, more later when moves are posted.

For Blood and Fire (used without permission),
Dave

5/09/2006

Founder's Quote

I was doing a search for some of the Founder's quotes for our Corps webpage (www.use.salvationarmy.org/concord) and I found a very profound quote. The more I read about William Booth and some of his writings and quotes, the more I know how attuned he was to the Holy Spirit and the workings of God.

I know his most famous quote is from his last public appearance and rightly so: “While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while children go hungry, as they do now I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight, I'll fight to the very end!”

But I think this quote is incredible: “In answer to your inquiry, I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.”

He, of course, was speaking of the 1900's as "the coming century", but how true it was then and is today.

For Blood and Fire (used without permission),
Dave

5/08/2006

Title and Profile Changes

Well, okay, I've done it. I saluted and deleted: my favorite flag with my favorite phrase. I took the waving Blood and Fire off my profile, but I DON'T LIKE IT! If the Army was worried about what I would say in uniform or out, online or in person, why did they commission me? I also changed the title of my blog (took "The Salvation Army" out)...can't go letting people know what I do for a living.

Doug Burr has been blogging about this subject as well...www.seekerofthelight.blogspot.com

I know that it's not just my blog that was affected, but seriously, does the US TSA leadership not have enough more serious concerns to worry about? There's a reason I chose to put the flag on my profile in the first place. I am proud of The Salvation Army and what we do for the Kingdom of God. I love this strange denomination/movement/church that I minister for and in. If there were certain people that were "giving the Army a bad name" then speak to them and have them remove thier logos, flags, et al.

Okay, I'm done...for now.

For Blood and Fire (used without permission),
Dave

5/03/2006

Life in Prision or Death Sentence

The trial of Zaccarias Moussaoui has certianly made me think. I am still struggling with the death penalty...should we or shouldn't we? I firmly believe that people can be redeemed and some death penalty inmates do accept Christ and repent sometime before they are put to death. But, should we or shouldn't we? The OT law had the death penalty, and Christ himself said that He didn't come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.

I don't know, what do you think?

In His Grip,
Dave

4/29/2006

United 93







Trista and I just got back from this movie...wow...it was so intense.

There are many different and very strong emotions flying through me right now: anger, pride, sadness.

The movie was very well done. It showed the confusion of the day, but also the incredible story of these few "insignificant" fliers. If you haven't seen it, I insist that you go, but don't go alone. You will need a hand to hold on to at the very least. Some people have said that it is too soon to show this movie. I don't think so. I think we need to be reminded.

I have had many theological discussions over the years since seminary and heard the statement, "but we're all praying to the same God". There was a moment in the movie that showed this very clearly isn't the case. Right at the end, you see the terrorists "praying" to allah and praising him for the victory and at the same time the passengers are saying the Lord's Prayer.

I hope you all go see it.

In Rememberance,
Dave

4/25/2006

Now, where did I put that thing...?


This is how I feel sometimes...the kids, the house...Oi! :o)

Isn't this a great picture!?

I will put more of my testimony on the site soon.

Thanks for reading,
Dave

4/10/2006

Another Sign


And heres another one...


what is up with these church signs?

4/07/2006

Signs of the Times?


I found this picture on the another blog. I just put the link up on my page: www.sillysigns.blogspot.com


This sign is ont he wall of the Chapel in the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem. Hmmm, how will we ever learn with signs like this posted? :o)

Dave

4/02/2006

Searching the Globe

I was recently introduced to a new hobby. It's called Geocaching. You can find out more about here: www.geocaching.com

Basically, you use GPS receivers to go to coordinates given on the website. Sometimes at the coordinates you find monetary treasure (if you're the First To Find) and sometimes the person who set up the "Cache" will send you on a multiple step scavenger hunt that leads to a beautiful view. It is a great, fun way to get out and enjoy God's creation...although sometimes you do get some funny looks from people. :) "What is he doing, wandering in circles like that?!"

And it's not that expensive to get into either...unlike other hobbies. A new GPSr starts around $40, and it may even get you to where you want to go!

I just placed my first cache today. You can go to the website and search under my screen name to find it: MoxieMan. Mmmmm, Moxie...another great blog topic for the future! Well, enough for now.

In His Grip,
Dave

3/28/2006

Session Pic

We sure are a good looking bunch! :o)

3/27/2006

Still, Ambassadors of Grace

As the chief pointed out in his comment on my last post, Trista and I have returned from our 5 Year Refresher's. We got back late Thursday. I just haven't had time to collect my thoughts about the incredible week we had. We have a very powerful session; not earthly power, but spiritual. In our first meeting together on Monday we took prayer requests. There were two specific requests for elderly family members that were on life support. In both cases the family was already gathering to make some final decisions. We prayed for both of them and by Wednesday night during our worship time they had both made dramatic recoveries that stumped the doctors. Praise God that He is still our Jehovah Raffa, our Healer!

The third healing took place during a prayer time at the end of the Wednesday night worship. About 18 months ago, our sessionmate Matt Morrison and his wife were in a pretty bad car wreck. Since then he has only had feeling in half and his hand. A few of us were praying over him and by the end of the meeting he was testifying to full feeling and strength!

I love our session. Like any other VERY diverse group that is made to come together in classes and meetings and ministry we had our fights in training...some of them were very heated, but I think we were unique in that we could leave the fights in the classroom. We left the feelings associated with the fights at the SFOT. If we had not, I think God would have let us know during the worship time. It would not have been anywhere close to how incredible it was. There was a powerpoint presentation with picture updates of our children. There were testimonies of God's awesome Power and Grace and Strength and Comfort...There was singing. There were prayers. And there was a Spirit filled sermon preached by our session president Shaun Belanger. By the end of the night there was not a dry eye in the room. My eyes are welling up thinking about it right now. If someone had told me after our first session meeting at SFOT that we would all have bonded like we have I know I would have laughed. We are a strange strange group...so diverse in culture and backgroud, but with the struggles we have gone through together and individually and with the Holy Spirit binding us together we are all Ambassadors of Grace! I pray that God continues to bless our session with Grace and Power and I pray that we are all still as close as we are now in another 5 or 10 years!

I will be posting some pictures of the event in the next day or so.

In His Grip for Blood and Fire,
Dave
Ambassador of Grace
1999-2001
USA East

3/19/2006

5 Years...and many miles to go

Well, I honestly can't believe it. My wife and I are heading out tomorrow in the weeeee hours of the morning to our 5th Year Refresher Institutes. It's a little like a class reunion, but we have to take some classes all week, too. It will be good to see everyone, since it's been so hard to keep in contact.

I pray for those of our session that are not in the work anymore often...someitmes more than those that still are. I'm not sure why, just feel lead to I guess....

Anyways, we will always be the Ambassadors of Grace!

For Blood and Fire,

Dave

3/08/2006

Mountain Retreat


Well, I'm at our Divisional Officer's Retreat in North Conway, NH. We are staying at a hotel called the Red Jacket (see picture below). This view of the mountains is what I woke up to today. I slept with my curtains open so the sun would wake me up earlier than I would usually get up. I opened my eyes and saw this scene. Although it's not as green and alive as it will be a couple months, it is still an awesome view...and the teaching under our Divisional Leaders, Majors Dave and Naomi Kelly, has been great. I'll post more on the teaching later. I just wanted to share some pics of the area. It truly has been a retreat into God's presence.

This picture is from the hotel website...when there was actually snow on the ground! It hasn't happened too much this year.

3/05/2006

Be Thou My Vision

I'm still not sure why this hymn is not in The Salvation Army Songbook, especially since the tune (Slane) is in the Tunebook. If I had to pick a favorite hymn, this would be it. Maybe it's because of my Irish heritage, but I do love it. Here is a link to where I found the lyrics so i could use the song at a Funeral I am performing tomorrow: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/t/btmvison.htm

This will be my first "solo" funeral service. I guess I'm a little nervous, because I didn't know the deceased or any of the family at all. It fell to me, because the CO's are on vacation. I'm sure it will be fine, but pray for me.

Dave

2/28/2006

Refiner's Fire

One of my favorite choruses to sing is "Refiner's Fire": Words and Music by Brian Doerkson.

I'm sitting here surfing in blogosphere and working on a book my wife and I are writing. I lit a fire in the fireplace for the relaxing crackle. It actually helped me a lot. I love watching the fire. It really is relaxing and it reminds me of that song, "Refiner's Fire" (words and chording below).

Lord, let me be as gold and precious silver...I want to be holy, Lord...set apart for you, Lord...Lord, purify me...make me holy, make me holy



E B C#m
Purify my heart
A B
let me be as gold and precious silver
E B C#m
Purify my heart,
A B
let me be as gold, pure gold


E A B
Refiner's fire
E A B
My heart's one desire
E B
is to be holy
E A B
set apart for You Lord.
E B
I choose to be holy
E A B
set apart for you my master,
A B E
ready to do your will.


Purify my heart,
cleanse me from within and make me holy.
Purify my heart,
cleanse me from my sin, deep within

2/27/2006

Blog Snapshot



Check out this site. www.snapshirts.com

It will scan your blog and give you the themes from key words it takes out. They'll even make tee-shirts.

2/26/2006

Ch Ch Ch Changes...

Well, unless you haven't noticed I made some changes to my blog. I added some banner ads and the wrap for One.org in the upper right corner.

The other change was to our house...my wife has returned from Florida energized from the teaching and fellowship. It's awesome to know that she enjoyed herself and learned while she was there.

In His Grip,
Dave

MadBlog

http://www.blogmad.net/?ref=cf97eeb7eb8f7cf

Mad Blog is a blog referral site. If you sign up, they will promote your site and more readers will come...which is good in my case. I'm not sure how many people have actually read my blog. I think only 4 people besides myself have commented. Oh well...maybe this will make a difference and more people will be blessed.

In His Grip,
Dave

2/25/2006

Kid Crazinessss...

Well, only 1 more day to go until my wife returns from Florida. The kids have been ok...and I haven't gone insanse...yet. There's always today! :o)

Last night on the phone Trista was complaining about the sunburn she got on the first day down there...I told her she coldn't complain, at least she had the opportunity to brun!

Anyway, more later.

Dave