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Dave and his grandfather, circa 1971
 
Here’s a recap of my recent road trip to the Pacific Northwest as recounted by FaceBook.  I’ve cleaned it up a bit for readability and privacy. But here you go.
 
PS – HOMM is the abbreviation for House of Myrrh Ministries.
 
I headed up north for training in the HeartRecovery process which is under the umbrella of HOMM.  Besides the obvious knowledge that was imparted, it was personally enriching.  I know that I was there because I needed to be.  I am still not sure what affect this has on where I am headed in the future.  But then I really don’t need to know.  That’s the beauty of trust.
 
THURSDAY

 

 
Dave thinks it’s more comfy sitting on a sofa than a car for 3 hours.

 
Dave goes to bed before my last 400 miles tomorrow.

 
FRIDAY
Dave resumes the great big adventure

 
Dave always forgets about the glorious beauty on I-5 between Redding and OR border!



 
Dave just passed through the state of Jefferson, almost there? Or where am I?

 
Dave does not text while driving! How can I, I’m too busy updating FaceBook. 300mi to go.

 
Dave considers what the pioneers thought as they arrived at this point on the Applegate Trail. 200mi to go!

 
Dave says that driving between the lines reminds me of coloring between the lines – sometimes you wish the lines would go away so you could see how creative you are. 100mi to go!


Dave GZ! HOMM at last.

 
Dave is very ready to settle in for the evening.

 
SATURDAY

 
Dave finds it interesting how 50% were eating in this eve but no one is here but me. If I were prone to wondering what I did wrong, I might be wondering…

 
Dave has arrived at his nighttime abode. Now time to knock that homework out before these sleepy eyes can see no more.

 
SUNDAY
Dave hides in the Truth!

 
Dave finds incredible joy in transparent worship celebrations


 

Dave S. – Dave, I just found out you were up at House of Mryrr. When are you headed back? Are you planning on sharing with us tomorrow night?


 
Dave is not disappointed, 26 hours well spent. Time to process while beginning trek home. Eugene tonight? Probably…

 
Dave rests in Eugene before trekking on tomorrow
 

Dave sings “on the road again”… Only 482mi to go as the GPS nags.


 
Dave 400mi 4 I get to squeeze my honey!

 

 
Dave arrives in CA! Fog and sanded roads on pass. Looks like I missed less fair weather between Friday and today.

 
Dave finds this extended quiet time after an experience like this past weekend is medicine for my very soul. Stopped for prayer since my last post. Shasta Lake and only 200mi to go!


 
Dave has 100mtg, good thing as I’ve eaten 5,900 calories of butter toffee peanuts (4 lbs) – don’t know if I can survive till I get home



Dave is home away from HOMM. I’d do it again next weekend.  It was worth it!

 
Taking a couple days off work and headed to the Pacific Northwest for ministry training.  I calculated last night that I will be driving about 10 hours each way, hopefully between the storms that have been battering the west coast, in order to participate in 25 hours of workshop sessions.  All this resulting in giving up two precious PTO days plus an entire weekend.
 
I have no doubt that the next four days will be an awesome experience from the beginning of the drive until the end of the drive.  I look forward to this weekend with great anticipation?
 
Did you note the “?” at the end of the last paragraph?  That was intentional (unlike my other typos!).  This weekend will stretch me beyond where I would go on my own.  I am drawn for reasons I do not understand.
 
Sometimes that’s the way it is.  And that’s OK.
These days so many things are occupying my mind that it’s seems hard to have time to thing about a mundane blog.  Well, that’s not exactly accurate.  The truth is it’s not many, it’s the magnitude of the things I have to think about.  Much of it is big tasks, tasks that require me to think outside myself and determine the greater good for others.  It can be pretty daunting.
 
As I re-read the previous paragraph I guess it sounds like I’m world leader status trying to determine how to deal with a crisis of world proportions.  Just in case you were wondering, that’s not it.  Not even close.  Anyway, there are weighty things in my world.  Things I desire to put my best effort into.  Things that affect others and not just my little island.
 
Just thought I’d make a note as to why this blogging hobby may have seemed to slow down.
 
PS- I spent a significant portion of this previous week reading a fictional novel for no other reason than it seems fun and fun is what keeps one sane.
This photo of me, age 5, is a landmark for me.
  It epitomizes who I think I am;
    who I aspire to be.
Sounds strange but for some reason I identify with that guy and it’s more than the fact it is me a few decades ago – it is who he is.

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I’ll be on the road next week to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with some family.  Personally, I hate traveling for any holiday.  I can’t quite my finger on it.  Sure, there’s the crowds, the rush to get there – but it’s more than that.  It’s like giving up a sense of family by not being close to home.
 
Of course, hosting has it’s own pitfalls – none of which seems too significant to me and my significant other.  We honestly enjoy it.  Sure there’re messes, noise and lose of ones “normal routine.”  But all in all we rather prefer it and look forward to it.  I am guessing that a day will come when that won’t be so and we’ll want to pass the baton to a younger, less worn generation.
 
It just occurred to me that I can find reason to celebrate traveling this season.  Leftovers.  I always consider leftovers a plus this time of year because they are SOOOOOOOO (yes that’s an S followed by 8 O’s!) tasty.  I am currently trying to follow the South Beach Diet and there is no hope that day.  But you know what?  I don’t have to come home to days of overindulgent eating.  Now that’s a silver lining!
I’m often running toward the next thing.  Life has no time to get boring.  On the flip-side, life leaves no time to smell the roses.  Where’s the balance in it all?
 
This previous Saturday was one of those days that started way before I wanted to get up.  So many things, so few that I could actually get to.  Then in the midst of this I get a call asking for more of that time.  I knew (and desired) that I should make this new request to the top of the list.  I told him that I would work around his schedule.  I had no idea how the day would pan out but I knew this was “right” in the scheme of what’s important in life.
 
I scheduled one other priority event for a friend to coincide with a good healthy walk/talk.  These two events were the most important; these two events were people.  After a 7:00am start (I allowed myself to sleep in!), I find myself at 2pm ready to begin the other things on my list.  Suddenly it occurred to me that all “other” (aka people) dependant events were accomplished.  Now the time was “mine,” if I can call this “list” mine.
 
I think to myself that the kids are gone for the rest of the day so it was time to drop it all and have some fun!  I looked my wife in the eyes and said something to the effect that the day is done so let’s go have fun.  She’s all for that!  We ran off did a few things – boring, something else – yes!  something else – boring, something else – yes!  In the course of the next 8 hours we chose some unsuccessful activities and some great ones.  We had fun together.  Even in the middle of the boring-let’s-get-out-of-here activities we shared those together and enjoyed the company.
 
It did wonders for my soul.  And you know what?  I can only recall one thing that was all so important and didn’t get done last weekend.  You know what?  It’ll be there next time I make time for it.
 
Somehow life is about roses and lists.  The soul needs a balance of both or it withers for lack of joy or lack of purpose.

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There is a song that was released last year by Matthew West that says:
This might hurt, it’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care if I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking,
“What if I had given everything,
Instead of going through the motions?”
The Motions, Matthew West – 2008

 
 
I want to live my life in such a way that I don’t look back and ask, “What if I had given everything?

Well, after more than a week working at a “spare time” plugin for this blog I am finally ready to unveil the Jeepometer to my sparsely scattered reading audience.

If you’re interested enough to care you’ll see the Jeepometer on the right bar beneath the Daily Detour, which is beneath the Dave’s Cabin advertisement, which is beneath the Archives.

Strike that, as I think about the order of placement, I think my priorities need to be adjusted. By the time you read this post the sequence on the right side will be “improved.”

The Jeepometer is not completed but is finally ready for unveiling. Minor additions/improvements will be made over the next few weeks, so stay tuned.

By the way the Jeepometer is moving toward the hypothetical price of a Jeep Wrangler (YJ) {1992-1995; w/~140,000mi; soft top; very good condition} including taxes and registration.

I can dream!?!

I am still here. For those that notice… I have completed one book and have begun another. Slow moving but movement nonetheless. A Sense of History should prove to be a very interesting way to approach history and I look forward to the read.

I am completely without words when someone tells me that God doesn’t speak. Many have said to me that their prayers go unanswered as if falling on deaf or interested ears – maybe there are no ears at all.

The funny thing is that I can relate. For years I never saw God as personal, so I never much expected Him to speak. Many times I have prayed and received silence in return. Of course I see right there that my definition of prayer in that last sentence is limited to asking God for something. Prayer is much more than that.

I have been at critical junctures in my life, even since the inception of this blog and there have been long periods of silence. But then at other times it’s answer after answer, sometimes before I am even done asking. This has been one of those weeks. Again. This year has, for the most part, been one of those years. Sure, maybe this or that could be coincidence but when it comes to one thing after another after another – it would be irrational to believe it were chance.

Yesterday God gave me a wild pear. I had been praying for a few weeks that I would spy a wild fruit tree that I knew existed in the area. No sighting. Yesterday was a day spent in a lot of intercessory prayer for several friends and family. Prayers were answered. Then as if to say “thanks for asking” I looked up and there was my fruit. I did not expect it. I don’t believe I had even prayed for it this week. It was not mere chance. It was divine. How do I know? I know that I know.

I know that when I have asked of God fervently, laying my whole being at His feet he has ALWAYS given more more than I asked for. He desires to give me more and it’s almost as if He’s waiting for the opportunity to do just that.

He knew the perfect time to hand me a pear. It would have been good a few weeks ago when I first started asking. But yesterday it was a blessing.

My choice good or blessing? Hmmmm… I’ll take the blessing every time.

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