Hola!

Today I find myself in Mexicali, Mexico. I'm here with a group from First Covenant Church of Sacramento and it is hot! I wish I could wear shorts, but for some reason they have this rule that we must all wear pants... always. They say it's a culture and respect thing and I can understand that. But I wonder, when culture changes, will we still be "wearing pants?" What I have seen and experienced in most American churches is that we are missing a huge demographic: the young adults... 20-35 years old. I attribute this to the fact that many churches are still "wearing pants" when we should all be wearing "shorts and tank tops." I'm not saying that we should embrace "G-string bikinis and speedos" but rather, do not hold onto traditions that don't matter. We have become culturally irrelevant as a whole, and when I do see churches try to be relevant, many times they do this at the cost of teaching the Bible. I believe that the Bible is relevant, applicable and alive today. To be relevant all we have to do is love people, meet their needs, and read the Bible!

As we move into a post-Christian society, I hope and pray that God will draw all to him. I pray for peace and grace, and for God to be glorified!

Life is Like Tetris

I realized a while back that life is like Tetris. At least that's how I play the game. When I have to pack my car... Boom. Spacial Tetris. When I have 4 things to do with only 46 minutes to do them... Boom. Time Tetris. When my friend and I are having a conversation... Boom. Auditory Tetris.

Things come at me, I move them around in order to fit efficiently together in my screen view of life. But I found out something... Not everyone likes to play Tetris. Maybe I should stop playing and just surf.

Hey Friends

Life is in constant movement. I know this sounds like common knowledge, but I feel that so many of us work super hard at trying to make ourselves comfortable and stable. I was talking with a wise friend the other day and he said, "You are either progressing, or you are digressing."

I had to think about that for a moment. I thought... I work so hard at making things happen, or I work so hard towards planning an event, and then... It comes, it goes, and it's over. If I sit too long focusing on it, what just happened, thinking how cool it was, and how I should do it again, I'll slip into stopping progression. It's good to look back and evaluate, but I need to keep moving forward, keep growing.

This pertains to everything... Music, surfing, physical fitness, my spiritual growth in relationship with God, knowledge, etc.

I want to keep moving forward. I want to see new ways I can serve and love people.

Let's not be stagnant. Let's not be comfortable. Let the progress commence.

Grace and Peace,
Dave