Yeah, it's been awhile. I've been working a lot more since we moved to the Manchester Corps. It's definitely a good thing...to feel like we're doing ministry again. I preached yesterday and actually had people come to the altar to pray. Very good feeling.
I've also been Geocaching more. I attached my "geo stat bar" to the top of the blog. You can click it and check out the Geocaching website. I like it a lot. I've even taken Tyler out a few times. He loves the "treasure hunts" with daddy. My GPS reciever is the map and we are pirates.
7/31/2006
6/25/2006
8th Grade Math....Oy!
| You Passed 8th Grade Math |
 |
Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?
6/14/2006
Arrests may follow...
Ok, so I have a lot to say today...
Anyway, as a followup to my bat/moth story...A few days ago a high-rise window washer in Boston was arrested and arraigned on charges of animal cruelty. He was up working on the side of a building when a seagull started to dive bomb him. He swatted at it a couple times and must have knocked it out and it fell to the ground and died. He was actually arrested later that day and was arraigned yesterday....BECAUSE OF A SEAGULL!!!
I just don't understand the logic of the world we live in today. Child abuse and neglect...hunger...homelessness...murder...rape...terrorism...
And then a man gets arrested for protecting himself from a psycho bird.
I just don't get it...
Anyway, as a followup to my bat/moth story...A few days ago a high-rise window washer in Boston was arrested and arraigned on charges of animal cruelty. He was up working on the side of a building when a seagull started to dive bomb him. He swatted at it a couple times and must have knocked it out and it fell to the ground and died. He was actually arrested later that day and was arraigned yesterday....BECAUSE OF A SEAGULL!!!
I just don't understand the logic of the world we live in today. Child abuse and neglect...hunger...homelessness...murder...rape...terrorism...
And then a man gets arrested for protecting himself from a psycho bird.
I just don't get it...
Flag Day
Happy Flag Day!
Today is the day set aside to pay tribute to our country's flag. I love our flag and what it stands for, but I love the Army flag even more!
Blood and Fire! Wave it high! Spread the Message! Blood and Fire!
Happy Flag Day!
Today is the day set aside to pay tribute to our country's flag. I love our flag and what it stands for, but I love the Army flag even more!
Blood and Fire! Wave it high! Spread the Message! Blood and Fire!
Happy Flag Day!
Commissioning Weekend
it's taken me a few days to unwind and collect my thoughts. The drive home from NJ was horrible. Normally a 15-20 minute drive, it took over 2 hours to go from the Meadowlands to the George Washington Bridge...and that was at the beginning of the trip. Altogether we were driving for about 10 hours when it normally only takes about 6.
Aside from the drive home, the weekend was decent. We got to see friends and even meet some new people we hadn't been introduced to before. :o) My wife says I shmooze (i think that's a yiddish word). I call it networking!
Commissioning itself was ok. Yes, just ok. We drove down there because some good friends of ours were being Commissioned. These are friends who I got in trouble with at Youth Councils and camp "back in the day". It was great to see them start this crazy journey that is officership. The meetings themselves, Ordination in the morning and Appointment in the afternoon, were very drawn out. The morning meeting is usually a long one, but it had never seemed like it in the past. And the appointment service is hardly ever more than 2 hours...this year it was 3! That is supposed to be the upbeat and exciting meeting, people cheering and praising God for the new ministers that are being sent out...just kinda fell flat. Maybe it was just me, but I don't know. Anyone have any comments?
In His Grip,
Dave
Aside from the drive home, the weekend was decent. We got to see friends and even meet some new people we hadn't been introduced to before. :o) My wife says I shmooze (i think that's a yiddish word). I call it networking!
Commissioning itself was ok. Yes, just ok. We drove down there because some good friends of ours were being Commissioned. These are friends who I got in trouble with at Youth Councils and camp "back in the day". It was great to see them start this crazy journey that is officership. The meetings themselves, Ordination in the morning and Appointment in the afternoon, were very drawn out. The morning meeting is usually a long one, but it had never seemed like it in the past. And the appointment service is hardly ever more than 2 hours...this year it was 3! That is supposed to be the upbeat and exciting meeting, people cheering and praising God for the new ministers that are being sent out...just kinda fell flat. Maybe it was just me, but I don't know. Anyone have any comments?
In His Grip,
Dave
6/01/2006
Look Mommie a Birdie
here's a funny story for you...about 1:00 this morning trista screamesd and woke up out of a dead sleep. "There's a moth in the boy's room! A really BIG moth!" I said, "ok, ok...I'm up".
She had already taken Tyler out to go to the bathroom, but Bradley was still sleeping in his crib. I peeked in the door and said to myself, "Self, that is NO moth...". It was a bat! Trista couldn't tell the difference because up to that point it had not made any sound. And what did I do, you ask? I did what any self-respecting man would do...I grabbed my handy dandy phone book, stood in the doorway with the door mostly shut and tried swatting it out of the air (without swatting it into Bradley's crib of course!)
Here's the conversation that followed, with Trista still thinking it's a moth and not a bat:
Trista: Get in there!
Dave: No.
Trista: Why not? You have to get it.
Dave: I'm getting it... *as I clip the bat with the phone* *bat squeaks*
Trista: What was that?
Dave: Trista, it's a bat, ok...not a moth.
Trista: *muffled scream* Get in there!
Dave: No!
Trista: Are you afraid?
Dave: Yeah, kinda!
I clipped it again in mid-air and it flew over to the curtains and hung there looking at my neck like the blood-sucking rodent he was. I went into the room with a towel and my trusty phone book. He attaked! Alright, so it probably wasn't attacking, but it was the middle of the night, my wife was screaming, and I was a little out of it from just waking up...
I was finally able to knick it a couple times with the phone that it fell to the floor and stopped flying...tried to crawl to who knows where. I dropped the phone book on it a couple times but it kept squeaking. At this point, Bradley looked up at me with a look that said, "Daddy, WHAT are you doing? I'm trying to sleep."
Well, the bat was finally disposed of and the boys were put back to bed, but I couldn't fall back asleep. It took me almost an hour to "wind down".
Just another day in the life...
Blessings,
Dave
She had already taken Tyler out to go to the bathroom, but Bradley was still sleeping in his crib. I peeked in the door and said to myself, "Self, that is NO moth...". It was a bat! Trista couldn't tell the difference because up to that point it had not made any sound. And what did I do, you ask? I did what any self-respecting man would do...I grabbed my handy dandy phone book, stood in the doorway with the door mostly shut and tried swatting it out of the air (without swatting it into Bradley's crib of course!)
Here's the conversation that followed, with Trista still thinking it's a moth and not a bat:
Trista: Get in there!
Dave: No.
Trista: Why not? You have to get it.
Dave: I'm getting it... *as I clip the bat with the phone* *bat squeaks*
Trista: What was that?
Dave: Trista, it's a bat, ok...not a moth.
Trista: *muffled scream* Get in there!
Dave: No!
Trista: Are you afraid?
Dave: Yeah, kinda!
I clipped it again in mid-air and it flew over to the curtains and hung there looking at my neck like the blood-sucking rodent he was. I went into the room with a towel and my trusty phone book. He attaked! Alright, so it probably wasn't attacking, but it was the middle of the night, my wife was screaming, and I was a little out of it from just waking up...
I was finally able to knick it a couple times with the phone that it fell to the floor and stopped flying...tried to crawl to who knows where. I dropped the phone book on it a couple times but it kept squeaking. At this point, Bradley looked up at me with a look that said, "Daddy, WHAT are you doing? I'm trying to sleep."
Well, the bat was finally disposed of and the boys were put back to bed, but I couldn't fall back asleep. It took me almost an hour to "wind down".
Just another day in the life...
Blessings,
Dave
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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