Where have I been?

Where has the time gone? Hard to believe thedavewave has been without a Dave for over two months. To all my faithful readers out there, my apologies.

Where to start... the picture. It was taken this past weekend at Devil's Lake State Park. Got to run climbing and rappelling for a couple Timber-lee groups. My reclining on the rock before the groups got there was well earned. I was awake by 5:10am and climbing the bluffs by 6:00am to ensure we got the climbs we wanted. Good times later that morning with guys from the Father/Son Retreat and youth from First Presbyterian Church of LaCrosse.

Our outdoor education season is winding down. Only 1 1/2 weeks left before summer staff training and 10 weeks of summer programming. The year is flying by!

Olivia and Hattie are a handful, with Olivia turning 3 last April and Hattie turning 1 a couple weeks ago. When do they start college?Seriously, I love my girls! Jen's got a few more weeks before she's done teaching for the summer.

I've got more on my mind, but I'll save it for later this week. Gotta keep you coming back for more!

Why do people hate change?

Get it? Change?

Sorry, but I thought it was funny reading some of the angry comments left on a coin blog (yes, there are blogs for pretty much everything) regarding the redesign of the back of the 2010 Lincoln cent coin. Some folks are outraged - "It's ugly!", "should've left it the way it was," etc.

People don't like change.

I actually collect Lincoln cents. I've got one from 1909 (the first year Lincoln was on the penny), steel pennies from 1943 when World War II demanded copper for shell casings, the switch in 1959 from "Wheat" pennies to ones featuring the Lincoln Memorial on the rear face, and on through the present day.

I can imagine there were similar thoughts with each of these changes, but we survived. We weathered the storm of the different, persevered, and came out the other side relatively unscathed...with new pennies.

Admittedly, in the grand scheme of things, the penny change is insignificant (hopefully for you it's not a big deal!) But why is it, that as Christians, we sometimes get all bent out of shape when change is thrust upon us. A move, loss of a job, illness, standard of living, etc.

GOD, WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!
(Why did they have to change the penny?)

Now, let me back up a bit to clarify something - just because you're a Christian doesn't meant difficult things don't affect you, like you're inside some fluffy, pink, cotton candy-filled bubble of denial, 'cuz...that's just weird. Jesus, our ultimate example, wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus before raising him from the dead. Take a good look at the apostles... beaten, jailed, stoned, crucified, etc. 

Peter writes (1Pet 1:6 NLT) "So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while."

In The Message, vs 7 "Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine."

The Message in 1Pet 4:12-13 "Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner."

I've been reading "Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God" by Francis Chan, and he spends a decent amount of time trying to paint a picture of the enormity, the eternal nature of God, a God who spoke not just a few stars into existence, but countless galaxies, populated by billions of stars, with planets orbiting these stars...all because He could! He created caterpillars with 300 muscles in their necks alone...all because He could.

And He loves US!

As Christians, we're not immune from life's changes, trials, and tragedies, but thank you Jesus we have hope! Each difficulty we face is an opportunity for change, for refinement, one step closer to that finish line that Paul talks about in 2Tim 4:7 ("the only race worth running" in The Message...hmm, how many different races do we sometimes find ourselves...sorry, little attention deficit creeping in, topic for another day!)

"You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him - with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation." (1Pet 1:8-9 MSG)

How cool is that? Now, go enjoy your new pennies!

Social networking fast

Ok, I told you I'd write about my experiment in cutting the technical "cords" for a weekend. To be honest, it really wasn't that bad. The inspiration for my fast came from an article I read from a former editor of a well-known blog, chronicling her experiences (both good and bad) in living a life both on & offline.

I have to admit, it was tempting to check my facebook, or post updates to Twitter, especially for the first day or so, but then it kinda wore off. Maybe it's because I grew up in the days before email, MySpace, etc. Social networking back then involved physically getting together with people. Maintaining relationships required actions beyond a few keystrokes from miles away.

Don't get me wrong, I love technology (and most other things shiny - my iPhone is a part of my everyday life,) and it's allowed me to stay connected with friends, relatives, etc. in ways that were unimaginable 25 years ago...but we need to be careful that the people that are important to us aren't reduced to profile pictures on a computer screen. Go out for coffee, why don't ya!

Is death ever "good?"

How’s this for a nice, light post after my ebay blurb. And don’t worry, I’m still planning on posting about my social networking fast, but that’s getting pushed to the back for a while.

I recently was informed of the death of a friend of mine, someone I knew many years ago from a Bible study I attended. Service is this weekend. Having experienced my share of memorial services this past year, there’s a part of me that’s not exactly looking forward to going, in spite of the fact that it will mean a reunion with good friends from long ago, people who were lasting influences in my life.


Earlier this week I came across my “keepsake box,” a catch-all containing everything from my plastic Yamaha recorder from my 3rd grade music class, pay stubs from my first job (The Hobbyist), and birthday cards & letters from throughout the years. I also found tons of letters from my mom & dad during my time studying in New York. I spent a couple hours reading them, bawling, reading some more... more bawling.

Letter from when our dog Randy died... you guessed it! [sniff]

As a Christ-follower, what exactly is the “correct” response to death? Don’t base your theology off this (though, maybe I’m quick to discount it based on my personal bias...and the fact that I’m writing this wearing a bathrobe while eating wasa bread while listening to Clifford the Big Red Dog in the background.)

I’m sure you’ve heard them - the “Christian-ese” expressions (better place, with the Lord, God’s plans, etc.) offered to the grieving. I’m convinced that these are given, not out of insincerity, but maybe a lack of knowing the “right” thing to say in the midst of such pain and loss.

As one left behind, there’s also the temptation to try to be strong, to answer “ok” when asked by a friend or loved one. To be or do any less might seem to be lacking in faith or something. The ones who died, those who knew Christ as their Savior are with Him now. No more pain, worry, sorrow... we should be rejoicing, right?

Well...

Now, before you start throwing things at me (putting some extra pillows under my robe), hear me out. Death sucks! Whether it was over quickly or dragged on for many months, it leaves those left behind wounded. Those wounds may heal over time, but there will always be a scar, a permanent mark reminding us of our loss. That scar on my pinkie finger from when I cut it 24 years ago working at McDonald’s hasn’t produced pain in... about 24 years, but the reminder is there & will remain until I’m old & gray (no smart comments, please! :-)

As Christians, there is incredible comfort knowing that our loved ones are with God, that they’re no longer afflicted by the pain, illnesses, worries, losses, etc. that mark this broken, fallen world. There’s also security for those of us that remain, knowing that this isn’t the last stop for us. Thank you Jesus for making a way for us to know God the way He intended before sin wounded & scarred creation. Hallelujah!

As I prepare to see my friend who lost his wife tomorrow, I really can’t fathom the “right” thing to say. I anticipate that there may be no words at all, that as one husband to another, the best I may be able to manage will be to simply hold him & weep, and to continue to lift him up in prayer as he faces life without his beloved.

Dave's ebay secret

Here's a light post for the day - I've been using ebay to buy & sell stuff since 2005, but it's not until the last couple years that I've perfected my technique for winning auctions. After some really good buys this past week (i.e. $175 snow pants for Jen for $13.06), I'm feeling pretty good, so I figured I'd share my secrets.

(1) Know the value of what you're bidding on. It's not a deal if you end up spending more than it costs in stores. I laugh when I see people get into bidding wars & drive the price to full retail or even more!

(2) Watch for bad descriptions & photos. I love picking up items that are listed as "Patagonia fluffy jacket" along with a blurry photo. A casual glance may not reveal much, but closer inspection may reveal that the "fluffy" jacket is actually a Patagonia Retro X windproof fleece, last year's model based on the pocket design & zipper pulls, that retails for $185. I'll pick up the "fluffy" jacket for $30, turn around & list it accurately with great pictures and double or triple my money.

(3) And lastly, the "Dave Snatch." I'll set my scope on a particular item, watch it closely throughout the auction period, and if the price is still low enough where it'd be a deal for me or I could easily resell it, I get down to business. First, know your maximum bid. Don't get swept up in the thrill of the hunt. Give yourself the maximum you're willing to spend on the item. If it goes for more than that, it wasn't meant to be. Let it go! :-)

During the final minute, watch the bids. With about 30 seconds left, enter your maximum bid (the most you'd consider bidding) and place the bid. Go with an amount that's weird. For example, instead of entering $100, enter $101.22. I can't tell you how many auctions I've snatched by 50 cents because of entering an odd amount.

Here's where it gets fun. Ebay will ask you to confirm your bid. WAIT!!! You'll want to wait until about 6 seconds left before confirming your bid (a second or two longer depending on your connection speed.) This timing prevents someone from submitting a counter bid before the auction ends.

BAM!!! The moment of truth. You either just won the item or another bidder's maximum bid was greater than you were willing to spend in the first place.

Happy ebaying!

The real tragedy of Global "Warming" (btw, the polar bears are fine!)

[Getting on soapbox] Ladies and gentlemen, the myth of manmade global warming unravels almost by the day. Googling "Climategate" produces a wealth of information. Regardless of what you believe, read everything you can get your hands on. At the very least, it should prove that the theory of manmade global warming is far from settled science. We need to show our leaders that we have brains & can think for ourselves.

But this post is not about whether or not we're responsible for raising the earth's temperatures. It's about, in my opinion, collateral damage resulting most recently from this whole global warming mess.

(1) The death of network news. In the two weeks following the University of East Anglia's documents being made public, the "major" news outlets in the US remained oddly silent on the matter, even as it was being reported in major outlets worldwide. Instead, viewers who rely on NBC, CBS, and ABC were treated to more than 35 reports on Tiger Woods' marriage problems, even something about a moose, with nary a SINGLE mention of quite possibly the biggest scandal of modern science. Crickets chirping...

And they wonder why their ratings continue to plummet? It's because they've lost our TRUST. No longer champions in search of truth, they've instead become a glorified infomercial, hawking agendas.

(2) Corrupted science. Contrary to how Al Gore and other global warming acolytes would like to portray them, the recently published documents from the University of East Anglia are pretty damning. An article in the Wall Street Journal-Europe calls "Climategate" the "tip of the iceberg" as raw data from other researchers, including NASA and NOAA, has not been provided as required by FOI. Interesting to see how far the rabbit hole goes! Think Al will give refunds if all this proves to be a big sham?

Used to be the scientific method couldn't be corrupted, but when the politicians write the scientist's paychecks, what should we expect?

(3) Polar Bears. Ok, contrary to what kids are STILL being taught in school (the "drowning" polar bear pics were debunked years ago, btw) they're really not a victim in this, as scientists who actually STUDY polar bears for a living report that their numbers are increasing overall, that the varieties that are decreasing are doing so primarily as a result of hunting. Actually, according to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, if there's an increase in temperatures, it'll result in an INCREASE in habitat for wildlife, decreasing the arctic desert and increasing forested areas.

Bottom line? Study for yourself, guys! And you politicians out there, beware. Knowledgeable citizens vote.

A financial milestone

Besides being December 1st (WHITE RABBIT!), today marks a significant event in our family's financial history.

We don't owe anything on credit cards. Zip. Nada. Zilch.

Four years ago, Jen & I were introduced to Dave Ramsey & Financial Peace University. Both with good jobs, in debt up to our eyeballs, Dave encouraged us to take steps to change our situation.

We learned that that dread "B" word...budget...isn't a dirty word but a tool intended to gain control of the money we worked so hard to make in the first place.

Then came the debt repayment plan. Almost $40K in credit card debt is hard to ignore, and even harder to pay off playing by the card issuers' rules, especially when they CHANGE the rules frequently (ex. "New changes to your account terms and what they mean to you.") Four years later, that debt is gone & we never wanna go back!

Next are the car loans & student loans. We're working toward having those completely paid off within the next 1 1/2-2 years.

We're already talking about saving for and paying cash for a house. How crazy is that?