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.

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 to Build Your Personal Library 

What if You’re Not Who You Think You Are? 

The 8 Biggest Problems People Voice

Steve Bartman–Whose Scapegoat?

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 not who you think you are?

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.

We’re the ‘sons of God’ . . . So What?: Believe God About Who He Says You Really Are!

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

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• Adopted into God’s Family (joequatronejr.wordpress.com)
• Government of God is familial – discuss? (face2facegduffty.wordpress.com)
• Like Father Like Son (dpeacemakers.wordpress.com)
• Does Church Matter? (askfathereric.com)

Follow @davidcalves

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

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?

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Well, I had a day like that last week. Those little annoyances get under the skin and I find myself reacting in anger or defensive tones with people. As I’ve grown in the Lord, it happens less and less, but it still happens. Then our Enemy starts in, “You think you’re such a good Christian. Well, you’re no different than you’ve ever been.”

We ask, “Lord . . . how long till I change and get the victory?”

Those are discouraging times for us.

But Phil. 1:6 says “ . . . he who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

In another place, Scripture says that we are being transformed “from glory to glory DAILY.” The Lord reminds me that He is not finished with me yet.  I am growing.  I have changed.  And so have you.

As we take off the old self and put on the new, Jesus will manifest Himself in the new self that He has placed in us. Paul said, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live, yet not I. But Christ lives in me.

Jesus is in the transformation business and you and I are His favorite subjects. He will complete what He has started. And sooner than you think, you (and I) will come forth as gold.

Father, will you please keep us focused on Jesus. Keep us anchored in your character and living out of the new self, created to be like you in true righteousness and holiness. Thank you Father.

©2012, David C Alves

The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain.  Break Camp and advance into the hill country . . . go to all the neighboring peoples . . . ‘

–from Deut. 1:6-7 NIV

I have a feeling that some of us just need to GO today—as in move out and trust God. Go in obedience to Him ONLY.

Have you ever heard the saying, “When the going gets rough, the rough get going.” The idea is that winners face what is difficult by taking action.

The action believers are called to is to GO!  Are you willing to GO?  Going requires several actions on our part:

*    We must choose to obey.  Everything begins when I choose to say “yes” to God.  I must love Him enough to be willing to go against my tendency toward laziness.

*    We must break camp.  We must be willing to step out of our comfort zones—intentionally.

*    We must move out (by faith).  We must DO something that demonstrates our seriousness.

Ask God to give you opportunities this week.  Ask someone you know who cares about lost people to pray with you this week about this.Then watch God prove His love for the lost through you.

Could this be confirmation for you? Are you amazed? As though the Lord is speaking directly to you? Just make your decision, trusting that you CAN depend fully upon His love–even if you make a mistake.

What a thrill awaits you as God lets you share His love with others.  The Lord bless us all as we watch the great things God will do in our midst as we reach out beyond our current boundaries.

©2012, David C Alves

How about YOU? Are you a witness to this truth yet?

Have you yet come to know that Jesus is indeed alive from the dead? That He can communicate with you. That He wants to share His love and treasures of wisdom and knowledge with you? That you are important enough to Him that He gave himself as a willing sacrifice to bridge the huge Chasm between you and His Father–Yahweh–the Only, true and living God.

He has opened to way to the Father for all those who are willing to believe. He has made us all “sons of God” through faith in His life, death, and resurrection from the dead.

This faith is not a blind faith. This faith is a faith based upon sufficient evidence and unimpeachable eyewitness testimony. This is a faith based upon personal experience as well. This is a faith that smashes all anti-supernaturalism. NO ONE who truly comes to know him and the Kingdom of God will remain a materialist. We believe in that which is also spiritual.

Today, because Jesus has risen, you can too. Today . . . because Jesus is alive, your spirit can be brought to life too. God is the one who accomplishes this in answer to your calling out to Him. When you choose to believe, and ask Him to come into your life. Get ready for weird and wonderful things to happen.

Invite Christ to be alive IN YOU!  Then get ready for your life to change . . . significantly.

First, believe that Jesus died and rose to live again as He testified. Ask Him to produce a godly sorrow in you for your me-centeredness and self-conceit. This will open the way for repentance [the desire to change your mindset and direction in life away from your way to His]. When you repent (turn to Him), He will meet you in a way that you can understand. Invite Him into your life. Invite Him to be Lord. Watch what the living Jesus will do.

Life will still be life. You may face tremendous challenges or difficulties, but you will face them with Him. He will be all that you need in the midst of every trial. He will be your Counselor. He will keep you in the center of His love and take you safely home to the Father.

May the Lord be with you as we prepare to celebrate Resurrection Sunday this year. If He is already alive in you, may you manifest His life to others. If you’re just coming to know that He’s alive, may this year’s celebration have brand new meaning for you. God bless you richly. Grace and Peace to you.

QUESTION: Is Jesus alive in you?