Mediocre Alaska has run its course. This will be my final post on this site as all posts from all pages have been merged into our new blog: hoffs' Soul (http://www.hoffssoul.blogspot.com/). Please continue to follow our family online and share your thoughts. This new site has all of the same content, but in a more streamlined fashion. I look forward to seeing you over there!
In Him,
David
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Ephesians 6:15
The New International Version says, "and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace."
I really honed in on this verse today and thought more about what it says. Verse 15 is tucked in the middle of a well-known passage describing the "armor" necessary in spiritual warfare. Interestingly enough, only one element (the Word) is represented by a tool that is both defensive and offensive in nature (all other references are defensive).
Anyway, I digress. So, the Gospel of peace gives us readiness? Of course it does! See, Christ claimed that persecution was inevitable for believers. He told us that the road is hard and that the door is narrow. This, being a tough road, is not one for the leary. He understood the trials well-enough that He and the Father saw fit to send us a great comforter - the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reminds us of Christ's gospel (his birth, life, death, and resurrection) and guarantees our peace in all circumstances.
These shoes that Paul wants us to wear are a product of the Gospel, when we embrace it. The Gospel will prepare us for the road ahead, regardless of what may come. This readiness, or preparedness, is indicative that the work of ensuring our peace is already complete - we are prepared! He has made us ready because of the Gospel, nothing more, nothing less. So, since the work is already complete, there is nothing more we can do to make it more complete! We can be at peace knowing full well that Christ, paying the full price for our salvation through His gospel, offers us the ultimate boots - His gospel. We are now at peace. We are now ready! Let our light shine of His love and be a constant reminder of this readiness and peace by allowing our lives to be an outpouring of His Gospel.
In Him,
David S.
I really honed in on this verse today and thought more about what it says. Verse 15 is tucked in the middle of a well-known passage describing the "armor" necessary in spiritual warfare. Interestingly enough, only one element (the Word) is represented by a tool that is both defensive and offensive in nature (all other references are defensive).
Anyway, I digress. So, the Gospel of peace gives us readiness? Of course it does! See, Christ claimed that persecution was inevitable for believers. He told us that the road is hard and that the door is narrow. This, being a tough road, is not one for the leary. He understood the trials well-enough that He and the Father saw fit to send us a great comforter - the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reminds us of Christ's gospel (his birth, life, death, and resurrection) and guarantees our peace in all circumstances.
These shoes that Paul wants us to wear are a product of the Gospel, when we embrace it. The Gospel will prepare us for the road ahead, regardless of what may come. This readiness, or preparedness, is indicative that the work of ensuring our peace is already complete - we are prepared! He has made us ready because of the Gospel, nothing more, nothing less. So, since the work is already complete, there is nothing more we can do to make it more complete! We can be at peace knowing full well that Christ, paying the full price for our salvation through His gospel, offers us the ultimate boots - His gospel. We are now at peace. We are now ready! Let our light shine of His love and be a constant reminder of this readiness and peace by allowing our lives to be an outpouring of His Gospel.
In Him,
David S.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Poetry in Locomotion
The 2009 Georgia Tech Press Guide is titled "Full Steam Ahead". Tonight I found out why! My Yellow Jackets discarded a 19-year dry spell in style beating Virginia in Charlottesville in almost every aspect of the game.
They ran more.
They passed farther per attempt.
They scored more points from kicks.
They had more critical conversions.
(They unfortunately had more penalties).
And they maintained possession of the ball a full 25+ minutes more than the Cavs!
This was the first full Tech game I've gotten to watch in about a year and I couldn't have been more pleased! I definitely caught them in stride. Even when the emotions of being winless in Charlottesville since 1990 and the weather posed a serious hindrence to an option offense that relies on sure footing and excellent ball handling Georgia Tech demonstrated why they deserved to be at the top of the Coastal standings in the ACC.
Next week they are away at Wake Forest - definitely win-able, however I know CPJ well enough to know that he doesn't take any game for granted. His coaches and managers and trainers and video crew are doing everything possible (even now, just hours after a huge victory on the road) to ensure his players are fully prepared for the Demon Deacons and another important away game.
Go Jackets!
In Him,
David
They ran more.
They passed farther per attempt.
They scored more points from kicks.
They had more critical conversions.
(They unfortunately had more penalties).
And they maintained possession of the ball a full 25+ minutes more than the Cavs!
This was the first full Tech game I've gotten to watch in about a year and I couldn't have been more pleased! I definitely caught them in stride. Even when the emotions of being winless in Charlottesville since 1990 and the weather posed a serious hindrence to an option offense that relies on sure footing and excellent ball handling Georgia Tech demonstrated why they deserved to be at the top of the Coastal standings in the ACC.
Next week they are away at Wake Forest - definitely win-able, however I know CPJ well enough to know that he doesn't take any game for granted. His coaches and managers and trainers and video crew are doing everything possible (even now, just hours after a huge victory on the road) to ensure his players are fully prepared for the Demon Deacons and another important away game.
Go Jackets!
In Him,
David
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
I am back in Afghanistan
And I have been for almost two weeks.
The last 130 days are slowly ticking away and I am starting to finally get back into the "post-leave swing". I've started several projects lately and I have a few more left to start in the hopes of getting most of the concrete work done before winter sets in.
I am not travelling as far as I was before the break but I am travelling about as often. The air is getting a little clearer as the cold sets in, but it is still a drastic difference in air quality from the North Georgia mountains or the Gold Coast of Florida.
I have been exercising more lately, running almost every other day. I also use the stationary bike and occasionally workout on the rowing machine. In general though, I still feel like I need to lose a few pounds.
Every day I am comforted by my Creator and my life is made perfect by His grace. It is a hard concept, grace; but it gains importance in my life daily. I am constantly reminded that I am saved by grace alone and that anything good that comes from me, actually comes from Him - driven by His grace.
In Him,
David
The last 130 days are slowly ticking away and I am starting to finally get back into the "post-leave swing". I've started several projects lately and I have a few more left to start in the hopes of getting most of the concrete work done before winter sets in.
I am not travelling as far as I was before the break but I am travelling about as often. The air is getting a little clearer as the cold sets in, but it is still a drastic difference in air quality from the North Georgia mountains or the Gold Coast of Florida.
I have been exercising more lately, running almost every other day. I also use the stationary bike and occasionally workout on the rowing machine. In general though, I still feel like I need to lose a few pounds.
Every day I am comforted by my Creator and my life is made perfect by His grace. It is a hard concept, grace; but it gains importance in my life daily. I am constantly reminded that I am saved by grace alone and that anything good that comes from me, actually comes from Him - driven by His grace.
In Him,
David
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
You Wait in Kuwait
That's about it in a nutshell. I am currently in Kuwait waiting for a flight back to Afghanistan (not that I'm too anxious to return). My stay on the way over for R&R (Rest and Reconstitution) was very short - less than a full 24, but the stay on the way back has already passed 48 hours with no end in sight. My best guess is that I'll be on my way within 72 hours.
There is plenty to do here, however. I've got mutliple sources of internet access (obviously), a 24-hour DFAC (Dining Facility), KFC, McD's, Subway, movies, books, games, and decent transient sleeping arrangements. All in all, it's not a bad gig. The best part is that the weather has been very mild for the area due to being here in mid-late fall versus the middle of the summer.
Still, I'd rather be at home. The 15 days with Rachel and the kids was all too short, though very well spent and very appreciated. Rachel and I spent a week by ourselves in a cabin on Lake Blue Ridge with our sailboat, Sundae, tied up at the dock just behind us. Then we picked up the kids and shared some very terrific time with both her family and mine before heading to Florida for a week on the beach at one of our favorite vacation destinations. The resort we stayed at is called Waterscape and it is wonderful. It has five different pools, two hot tubs, and it is right on the Gulf with it's own white sand beach.
Thank you all for your support and encouragement over the last year since getting tasked, trained, and deployed. We have a few months left before being fully reunited. Until then, I'll try to keep you up to date.
In Him,
David
There is plenty to do here, however. I've got mutliple sources of internet access (obviously), a 24-hour DFAC (Dining Facility), KFC, McD's, Subway, movies, books, games, and decent transient sleeping arrangements. All in all, it's not a bad gig. The best part is that the weather has been very mild for the area due to being here in mid-late fall versus the middle of the summer.
Still, I'd rather be at home. The 15 days with Rachel and the kids was all too short, though very well spent and very appreciated. Rachel and I spent a week by ourselves in a cabin on Lake Blue Ridge with our sailboat, Sundae, tied up at the dock just behind us. Then we picked up the kids and shared some very terrific time with both her family and mine before heading to Florida for a week on the beach at one of our favorite vacation destinations. The resort we stayed at is called Waterscape and it is wonderful. It has five different pools, two hot tubs, and it is right on the Gulf with it's own white sand beach.
Thank you all for your support and encouragement over the last year since getting tasked, trained, and deployed. We have a few months left before being fully reunited. Until then, I'll try to keep you up to date.
In Him,
David
Friday, September 4, 2009
Camel. . .check.
Today a soldier who has been here for almost two years is celebrating an imminent return to the States. In honor of his service, an Afghan and his son brought this camel along a 12-hour journey to our camp for rides and pictures. So, I finally got a chance to ride a camel! As an engineer, I figured it would only be appropriate to ride it with proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), so I donned my hard hat and took a spin around the volleyball court.
I was very surprised at how quickly this huge animal raised up from sitting on its knees. I was also surprised I didn't fall off! See, only one set of legs goes up first and you need to watch your balance very carefully to make sure you don't fall off!
Anyway, I can finally add camel ride to my growing list of unique Afghan experiences!
In Him,
David
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