Wow! What a great Thanksgiving! Once again we gathered at the CWC gym with 45 people and shared a great meal and games - from 12:30 - 6:00pm. After that we returned to our house for more food and conversation. The Konings stopped in also and that was a special treat.

Hey, how about our president! What a coup! He shows up by surprise in Iraq for a Thanksgiving dinner with our troops. Talk about a political slamdunk! Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt are rocking backwards on their heals, while trying desperately to book flights to Afghanistan on Christmas day. Too late fellas....oh, and by the way, our troops have specifically asked that you not show up in the Afghan or Iraq theater of operations since both of you are doing everything in your power to keep them in harm's way...and all for political reasons. You should be ashamed!

Proud to be a Bushie!
Dave

Last night, Steve, Vicky, Autumn, Harrison, Jody, Savannah, and Lisa hung out at our house. What a great time! Steve and I decided to split and see a movie. We went to Elf. Entertaining Christmas fare, but kinda lame. It's always great hanging with our kids.

With 3 grandkids hanging around the house last night, it reminded me of what I learn from them for life:
1. If you poop in your diaper, chances are pretty good that someone will change you without much delay. I'll be putting this principle to the test in 20 years or so.
2. The younger you are, the more an adult will change his/her voice when communicating with you. The tone and the pitch is much higher than normal and sometimes sounds as if the adult is in pain. Children seem to like this voice...or maybe they're taking pleasure in someone enduring some pain? I'm not sure.
3. If you don't get your way, it helps to extend your lower lip and and crunch your forehead while squinting. Most people will react immediately and do everything they can to please you or meet your needs. I've already tried this manuever a few times today and it hasn't really worked well. I'll keep trying though.
4. If you tell an adult you love them and even give them an uninvited hug...the sky is the limit - they will be eating out of your hand!

One of my favorite poems about being a Papa:

A grandfather's love is special,
for it's a love that's grown
Through all the years of ups and downs
with children of his own.
He understands a grandchild's heart -
the dreams and wishes there -
He turns tears into laughter
with his gentle, loving care.
A grandfather's love is special,
unconditional, and true -
It's a precious joy and blessing
we can count on all life through.
by Emily Matthews

Let it be,
Dave

Last night, Steve, Vicky, Autumn, Harrison, Jody, Savannah, and Lisa hung out at our house. What a great time! Steve and I decided to split and see a movie. We went to Elf. Entertaining Christmas fare, but kinda lame. It's always great hanging with our kids.

With 3 grandkids hanging around the house last night, it reminded me of what I learn from them for life:
1. If you poop in your diaper, chances are pretty good that someone will change you without much delay. I'll be putting this principle to the test in 20 years or so.
2. The younger you are, the more an adult will change his/her voice when communicating with you. The tone and the pitch is much higher than normal and sometimes sounds as if the adult is in pain. Children seem to like this voice...or maybe they're taking pleasure in someone enduring some pain? I'm not sure.
3. If you don't get your way, it helps to extend your lower lip and and crunch your forehead while squinting. Most people will react immediately and do everything they can to please you or meet your needs. I've already tried this manuever a few times today and it hasn't really worked well. I'll keep trying though.
4. If you tell an adult you love them and even give them an uninvited hug...the sky is the limit - they will be eating out of your hand!

One of my favorite poems about being a grampa:
A granfather's love is special,
for it's a love that's grown
Through all the years of ups and downs
with children of his own.
He understands a grandchild's heart -
the dreams and wishes there -
He turns tears into laughter
with his gentle, loving care.
A grandfather's love is special,
unconditional, and true -
It's a precious joy and blessing
we can count on all life through.
by Emily Matthews

Let it be,
Dave

I just wrapped up another class at FLAME! Advanced Theology is in the bag...less a couple of post-course assignments of course. Four more classes to go!

I've been dealing with thoughts about worship lately, and it's been cool to kick some thoughts and ideas around with others. I'm finding out that I just may be a Gen-X'er in a Baby Boomer's body. Now that's scary. More on this later. Gotta jet! I'm speaking about the church in ALPHA tonight.
alphabetized,
dave

Hey all!
I'm back! Back in commission after a whirlwind tour of Europe on a bus, with some great people that we met for the very first time at the beginning of our trip. Gayle and I traveled to the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France. Our favorite was Italy. Many 'Wow" moments...including the Colliseum and may other ruins in Rome. Venice was a highlight as well. It's been said that if a pigeon poops on you in San Marcos Plaza in Venice, you will have good luck. I left Venice triple lucky! I found out that you can clean the poop off your shirt simply by licking your finger and applying the spittle to the spot. Danger: Don't continue to lick the same finger!

This weekend I was reflecting on the Cross of Christ. What a powerful symbol! So much meaning - so much purpose - for such a simple excution device. Is't it amazing that the cross not only held our Savior's body in place while he paid the price for our sin, but it also illustrates the great commandment - Mt. 22:37-39. The vertical post of the cross points upward to the heavens - as if to God the Father, Himself. This is a great reminder to love God with all my heart , soul and mind. The horizontal crossbar on which the hands of Christ were nailed, point east and west. That's how far our sins have been removed. They are also a poignant reminder of the second part of the great commandment: To love your neighbor as yourself - my horizontal relationships. When I can get these lines straight - my relationship with the Father and my relationships with others - then and only then, can I bear much fruit in the power of the Holy Spirit.

What does the cross mean to you? Is it just a couple of hunks of wood slapped together, or maybe something that is designed to be worn around your neck, or on your earlobe - a piece of jewelry? Or is it something that causes you to stop and take notice? Does it speak of grace and love? Think about it...

Dave's Dusty will be back in action after his meeting with the DBMD.
Thanks.
Dave's son.