27. February 2007 by David Alexander.

Dondequiera que voy
alli estoy
Si me vine o me fui
sigo siendo yo
sea aca o alla
aqui o alli
el constante es yo
cambio de perspectiva
madurez en experiencia
golpes, heridas, chistes, carcajadas
pero siempre yo
el lugar no dicta el yo
(muchos estan aunque no son)
yo decido con quien estar
yo invite a YO SOY conmigo estar
YO SOY en mi, yo con El
YO SOY dicta el yo,
nuevo yo, pero yo
no el yo de entonces
pero si el yo de hoy
vengo y voy
yo

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24. February 2007 by David Alexander.

my life has certainly been a journey. to start to describe it now would take several gigs on an internet that is already overloaded with more information than most want to know. so, i will save it for another journal, another volume, at another time that maybe my descendants will have the fortune to be privy to. so many twists and turns, and now it enters another stage, and thus, with the venue of the blog, i have a new avenue by which to describe it.
27 years of bachelorhood, 9.5 years of marriage, and now enter baby (with only 6 weeks of preparation).
after 9 weeks, i can clearly say - they can warn you, but you are never quite aware of the change in life that comes with fatherhood.
priorities, schedules, finances, preoccupations, needs, pantry items, closet space, office rearrangement, and even the type of laundry detergent have changed.
my work focus has shifted. i am not certain i can yet see the destination to where this new focus is headed, although through the fog at times i seem to glimpse it. the fog i perceive is the God-zone, and whatever lies therein is far better than running from it, i presume.

the journey has led this far, the trail ahead, though unknown, looks interesting
the israelites were once in a season of change as they passed from slavery to freedom being led to a land of great promise, a land they had never seen.

You will lead the people You have redeemed with Your faithful love; You will guide [them] to Your holy dwelling with Your strength. -Ex 15:13

Mr. Checkov: Which way, Captain?
Captain Kirk, sitting on the edge of his chair in the bridge gazes for a moment at the screen upon which is an image of the darkness of space only broken by the myriad points of light from distant stars. He raises his hand, and with a flippant gesture
of his index finger, leans back in his chair and says “that way, out there.”
(rough sketch of the final scene from Star Trek: The Motion Picture)

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5. January 2007 by David Alexander.

When did the individualistic trend commence? It hasn’t really always been so evident. At what point did the army go from “be all you can be in the army” to “an army of one”? When did Dr. Pepper change from “I’m a pepper you’re a pepper, wouldn’t you like to be a pepper too” to “Be you, do what you do, drink dr. pepper?” Microsoft is not “you are the success story. And you used Microsoft office to get there” In the 2k6 world cup, Adidas has a great ad “Jose +1]”

Was it not Paul in Romans 12 that says “…, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. “Romans 12:3 (HCSB) [emphasis added by yours truly]
I suppose at one time or another we all have talents, gifts, and accomplishments that we could boast of. But it seems that individualism which has led to turfism has gone into overdrive. It amuses me whenever certain people carry on conversations and all that seems to be happening in the world started with them or has something to do with them. I would consider myself to have had as much opportunity and be gifted with as much talent or more than the average person. But as Mr. Limbaugh might quote it is “talent on loan from God”. As God has put the many different puzzle pieces (opportunity, ancestry, environment, culture, talent, personality) together to form who I am. Even greater still, is the realization that while I am a work in progress, I am also a piece of a greater puzzle that God has put together. I cannot function, nor can God accomplish His ministry through me, unless I team together with the other pieces around me.

In missional life, this means that I cannot exist void of the other Kingdom pieces. Although I could do good enough by myself, that is not satisfactory. Each member of the winning team fulfills their part with synergistic expertise. If my piece serves to add a little multicultural postmodern diversity to the whole so that together we can refrain from obsolescence, then I have served my function well.

All through God’s Word are examples of people who lived faithfully their whole life so God could use them for one or two significant events. Their are also plenty of examples of people that God used their entire lives toward a significant purpose. However, be it for one event or for a lifetime, each person in Kingdom history was and is just a part of the story that God is drafting to complete His purpose. IT IS NOT ABOUT ME!

Yes we are individual parts, but we are part of the whole and cannot function independently of each other.
May it never be David+1] or Localtown Baptist Church+1], but may it be Jesus+all of His disciples]

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14. July 2006 by David Alexander.

If you’re going through hell
don’t look back . . .
face the fight
you might get out before the devil knows you’re there.
- Tim McGraw

Moving is the purifying fire for the American Dream. If materialism has gotten ahold of you, moving will prove to be a nightmare. I spent the 5 days around July 4 moving. It wasn’t a pleasant experience. I had to preach on Sunday am and realized that my sermon should have been on garage sale techniques or how to tell if your American Dream is really a nightmare. Before this happens again, I will have rid myself of some things.

This moving experience also proved who some of our friends were. During a certain storm drain project and then in the actual move, some of our friends showed up and worked hard. Although I hate asking favors, I don’t like to bother people, and I am quite an introvert, I apparently have some great friends (or my wife does and she just loans them to me). I will forever be grateful.

Relocation disturbed my life for a month, but not my God. In circumstance after event, God was faithful. From finding a house to allowing hail for roof insurance to finding surveys for easements, God was active and faithful. God led me to the real estate agent who sold the first house to us, and that same agent was a wise friend through this whole ordeal. (If you need a great realtor, visit Stack Real Estate. )

I am not so sure about Mr McGraw’s theology. I have definite issues with some of the implications of the above lyrics. However, in the last summer’s adventure, one thing has been made clear, when going through the valley of the shadow of whatever, one can either be totally overcome with anxiety and doubt, or in faithful administration, allow God to be Father.

“. . . morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand has provided, Great is Thy faithful O Lord to me!”

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