mobile devices (Photo credit: Hands On Support)
What Apple and Google are not Telling you About Mobile Device Security (infographic) – Forbes.
I found this post & infographic very instructive and helpful. Some simple actions to take to be more secure on your mobile device.
In a previous post, My Places to Be Alone, I shared some photos of places I like to go to be alone. These are creative spaces that draw me back and refresh me. These spaces inspire my creativity. They include . . .
The rocks at Scarborough, RI.
Writer’s heaven
My writing space at the Mt. Flyer in Ludlow, VT
A college garden.
A private library.
QUESTION: Where are the creative spaces that you most like to be alone?
© 2012, David C Alves
For me, there’s no cure like the beach. Such a variety of things combine here to relax and refresh me. The wind, the water, the sand, the sun, my slow pace, all combine to restore my joy and refocus my attention. Even if I sit in the condo and simply listen to the sounds while I write or reflect, I enter a new frame of mind and heart.
This morning it was overcast and cool as the tail end of last night’s storm cleared out. But there’s nothing sad about the lack of sun. It’s simply another mood.
Only at the beach do I totally let down. In the morning, I’m sitting with a coffee. Watching all the movement around me. Hearing a constant, distant roar of high tide under a nine knot Northeast wind, settles me into the rhythm of nature. Every few seconds, gusts hit the balcony door. Since it’s not tightened down, the wind moans past it into the sitting room briefly rustling the fig tree’s long, slender leaves. The blinds sway and clack–some wind-inspired conversation I’m not privy to.
I smell coffee, sea spray, and wild roses. These are the smells of my experience here at the shore. I remember the smells at the shore when I used to go as a teenager to West Dennis, Cape Cod, every summer. There I smelled salt water, sun-tan lotion, beach plum, scrub pine, and clam flats. Sometimes I was treated to the smell of an old fashioned New England clambake.
Along the beach, spume and spray lift with every crash of the white topped waves as they spend their energy down the shoreline. Colorful jackets and sweatshirts here and there make their way along the paths over dunes to disappear beyond. Then minutes later they reappear far out along the waterline. I sit and watch. I listen to the quiet in my spirit, undisturbed–at rest and grateful.
Later afternoon, the sun returns and I sit out with a tall, cold, Iced tea or juice–ice cubes clinking and sweat dripping down the glass onto my coaster. Listening to my favorite playlists of Brazilian bossa nova and smooth jazz or of the beach songs I recall from my past. No agenda. No conditions. No schedule. Just plain laziness and rest. I’m not a tourist here. I’m planted. The perfect atmosphere to inspire a creative spurt and perhaps a stray post.
I believe I’ve found my cure.
QUESTION: What does the beach do for you? Is it a cure for you?
©2012, David C Alves
How I Use OneNote 2010Ever wonder why the western church lacks such power and presence? Ever wonder why your life seems to be missing something that would take you over the top in your spiritual growth? Do you want to be more like Jesus?
This word is to those who consider themselves disciples of Jesus Christ. This word is to those who have experienced supernatural regeneration and are “born-from-above.” This word is for those in that group who want to go deeper into the mysteries of Christ.
This word is for those who do not think that they already know all there is to know about being a child of the King. This word is for those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good and want to know Him better. You’re disatisfied with the status quo. Tired of fighting the church wars. Underwhelmed by the crowds of professing believers who are more about appearances, perfomance-based-easy-believism, and simple platitudes. You are more interested in relationship than a pursuit of knowledge for knowledge-sake. You beleive the Scripture that says knowledge “puffs up” but that love “builds up.” So you want to know the deep love of Chirst and of the Father.
What if you’re who God thinks you are? What if you’re not merely a servant of God, or a disciple, or even a friend of God. What if you’re who the Father says you are . . . a “son”?
I believe that He has illumined His intent for the church at this season of our journey? I believe that our understanding of who God says we are is an essential prerequisite to the Second Reformation–God’s recapturing of Family, of relationship in His image.
What difference would it make to KNOW that you are loved deeply and have an identity that you may have heard of, but not yet discovered in experience? What if entering into who God says you are were to transform not only your thinking but your everyday decisions and activities? What if the truth about you placed you squarely in the family that God is Father of?
I believe that the Father wants us to know this important truth:
“All who are led by the Spirit are the ‘sons of God.” (Romans 8.14)
Are you born-from-above? Then you have “the right to become [one of the] ‘sons of God.’ (John 1.12)
Are you “led by the Spirit”? The you are one of the “sons of God.” When’s the last time you heard a message on “sonship”? And if you did hear one (and I’d stand amazed, because in 35 years as a Christian, I’ve never heard ONE) did you understand how important it is to God that you understand that identity? Why did He make sure that Scripture preserved and outlined our sonship?
This is an important word for the church today. Sonship is the key to you living into the fullness of what Jesus did in His Atonement. His sacrifice accomplished more than simply forgiving your sins so that you could fly off to heaven [which is an unbiblical image anyhow].
Your identity as one of the ‘sons of God’ is the word for His Family today.
My book explains from the Word of God why the biblical doctrine of sonship is so important to God the Father, and thus needs to be important to me and you. Perhaps understanding sonship is the next step in your walk with Christ and your fellowship with the Father. I wrote this book to help those who have responsibility in spiritual formation or who are mentors. I also wrote it for anyone who is willing to go deeper. WSOGSW is not an easy read. You may find that you read some and then put it aside for awhile because you have to ponder or dig into the Word. But you receive what you’re willing to give. If you study and meditate upon these truths, you will be amazed at the result.
What others are saying:
“Believe Who You Are, Do What You Must,” @ Lay It Down | Carl Simmons
Five-star Amazon Reviews by church leaders
QUESTION: How do you view yourself in light of the fact that God has made you a “son.” (yes, ladies too).
©2012, David C Alves
What? LeeRoy in Danger? Absolutely!!So LeeRoy asked me to update his friends.
He’s been overly concerned these days about challengers to his territory. Apparently this group of about 5 Coyotes (pronounced Ky-OH-tees) have been showing up in our second field at between 9-10PM every night for the past week or so. They look lean, mean, and hungry.
One comes out into the garden baiting LeeRoy. The pack’s glowing eyes can be seen in the opening from our first into our second field when we shine our car’s headlights there. SO . . .
The alpha coyote comes into LeeRoy’s garden (Remember: LeeRoy the Garden Dog). He immediately gets LeeRoys attention. LeeRoy starts barking like crazy. LeeRoy’s bark is scary too–really low and loud! The coyote turns to run so that LeeRoy will run after him to the second field–where the pack stands ready to attack him. BUT . . .
They don’t know LeeRoy. They underestimate his cowardice. He is extremely afraid of other dogs (yes, even girl dogs) so he won’t give chase, he simply moves away from the garden closer to the house. Barking over his shoulder. The closer he moves to the house, the more he barks (as though he’s really tough). The lead coyote is baffled, but keeps trying to bait LeeRoy by running at him and then turning with his tail between his legs when LeeRoy barks at him.
Last night, Cheryl–who lives with us–tells me that her headlights are on the pack. So I grab my gun (pellet) and take a shot at the gang. The noise of the gun going off (I was surprised how loud the pellet gun sounded. I think a .22 would have been quieter.) scares LeeRoy. So LeeRoy runs away from me right toward where the gang is laying in ambush. We all start calling, and whistling for LeeRoy to come back. I hide the gun behind my back.
Cheryl goes down, grabs his bowl and starts clanging it with a spoon as she shovels food into it and hollers for LeeRoy. Luke–who also lives with us–calls for LeeRoy too.
LeeRoy stops just short of where they’re hiding and heads back a little and sits to see what all the noise is about at his food bowl. Every once in awhile glancing over his shoulder at the opening in the field.
Meanwhile, the coyotes are pacing back and forth and the alpha coyote heads out of the garden, back toward where his gang is hiding. They’re frightened by all our shouting for LeeRoy. So we realized . . . we can’t get LeeRoy into the house. We can’t shoot at the coyotes or chase them with my machete or LeeRoy will think we’re after him. But that gang won’t give up. They’ll be back again tonight.
What’s the solution?
This is where you (or someone you know)come(s) in. If you have a solution, please comment here. If you know someone who has a solution, why not help LeeRoy by sending this post to them so they can respond to us? Thanks.
QUESTION: What do you think we should do to help/protect LeeRoy from this evil, hungry looking bunch? I’m opened, though I can’t speak for LeeRoy.
©2012, David C Alves
I recently watched “180″ again. I was amazed at the power and clarity of the images and reasoning in the questions. So I decided to re-post it in case you missed it the first time around or wanted to review it and re-post it yourself. This is MUST SEEING!!! Watch TO THE END!
This video is not just about abortion or Hitler. Anyone who thinks so has missed the point because she did not watch to the end. This clip is about escape from the Matrix–the life you’ve led as one of the “sons of disobedience.”
In this documentary, Ray Comfort shows the way to set the record straight with God BEFORE he comes to judge. Comfort helps people change their minds to agree with God on this side of reality.
The most powerful recent documentary Marcy and I have viewed in a long time. We were AMAZED at the historical ignorance and moral bankruptcy that 65 years + of public education and family disintegration have created. The perfect environment for Christ’s return and ultimate justice has arrived. And Jesus will not delay.
Watch and see what you can DO to be ready for His coming.
This video will help you to see how your self-directed, culturally infected life has been atoned for by Jesus, the Messiah. What a miracle! Only God could have come up with this remarkable salvation. This is no invention of man.
QUESTION: Have you trusted in the finished work of Jesus of Nazareth on the cross for the complete forgiveness of your sins? When? How? Or Why not?
| Microsoft OneNote: A… on How I Use OneNote 2010 | |
 | David Alves on My Creative Spaces |
| David Alves on Beach Cure |
 | Andrew H. Kuharevicz on My Creative Spaces |
 | carlsimmonslive on Beach Cure |
My Literary Blog Marcy’s Walk (my wife’s blog)
