Our Canoe Trip With The DOC

On Saturday we had a fantastic time hosting a canoe trip for some of the men from The DOC Church of St Petersburg. It was a perfect day outside with some fun-loving Godly dudes =)

110 pics of the canoeing trek have been uploaded to the GTD Online Photo Album.

Enjoy!

"Thritly" Renovating =)

Picking up an office sofa, chair, & filing cabinet from the thrift store for Laurie's office. We finished painting and cleaning the carpet yesterday. It's way overdue, but we finally have some time to clean-up, clean-out, & "thriftly" renovate the GTD office =)

Payment Plans Available For The Grand Canyon Trip!!

GTD's Grand Canyon Trip for only $58/mth!!

Click on this link and then scroll down to the "PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE" section for more details.

RECAP PICS: Corkscrew Lowering Rescue

During last weekend's event the men learned how to rescue someone from a tall building. Many of the techniques used by firefighters can be summed up with the old adage, "Work smarter, not harder." Instead of trying to carry our "victim" down 5 flights of stairs, we learned how to safely lower him using the corkscrew method. Afterwards the leaders connected the Biblical lessons between our Great Rescuer - Jesus - and this rescue scenario.

RESCUE IS JUST ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING DELIVERANCE AND THAT'S JUST WHAT JESUS DOES FOR US IF WE ARE WILLING TO BE RESCUED!!!!!

RECAP PIC: Obstacle Gauntlet!!

During last weekend's event the men broke into small groups and competed in a series of rescue challenges called The Obstacle Gauntlet. Each rescue challenge was designed around a scenario in which an actual firefighter unnecessarily died in the line of duty. Firefighters are always trying to learn from past failures to prevent future loss of life and increase the likelihood of a successful rescue of those in peril. After this competition the leaders tied in the Biblical parallels between 2 great men of God (Joseph & Daniel) and the rescue scenarios. These activities provided great teachable moments.

THE MEN SOAKED IT UP!!!!!

RECAP PIC: 7 Story Rappel!!

One of the best highlights from last weekend's event was the 7 story rappel that the men got to do. There are not many adventures better at teaching the spiritual truths about faith, trust, and risk than rappelling.

THE MEN LOVED IT!!!!!

Trip Planning

We are working on our 2014 GTD events... looking forward to what God has in store =)

GTD's Tidy Bowl Man

back by pOOpular demand!

I'm at the GTD office replacing the wax ring from underneath the toilet so "everything" flows smoothly. Oh, the glamour of being a CEO ;)

How Do You Spell Lucky?

IT'S OUR LUCKY DAY!! The IRS has selected GTD for an audit. I can now check that off my bucket list.

No Better Way To Start The Day

There is no better way to start the day than spending time in God's Word. I was reading this morning about the time when Jesus fed 5000+ with just 5 loaves of bread & 2 fish. Sometimes people think they don't have a lot to give to God so they think they aren't very useful to Him. They look at themselves and say, "I can't do this" & "I can't do that". But the reality is that everyone has a gift... a talent... something to offer. God can & will use the "little bit" that we have to impact the multitudes if we are willing to surrender it into His hands. What are your 5 loaves & 2 fish? Are you willing to hand them over to God so He can use them to impact lives? - DUG <><

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Wet Paint!

We are painting Laurie's office tonight. There is now sunshine even at 10pm =)

They Came, They Saw, They ADVANCED

We had a phenomenal time this past weekend at the Men's RESCUE Advance Weekend! 20 men took on 5 tough rescue challenges. They came, they saw, they ADVANCED! It was a great, great, great event!

Pictures & videos coming soon.

Survival Salvation Bracelets!!

Thank you Terri Davis for the unexpected care package to GTD full of supplies & instructions for making Survival Salvation Bracelets!! It's a survival bracelet with the colors from the Wordless Book. The colors reveal how a person can receive salvation through faith in Jesus. We love, love, love this gift! Thank you so much Terri =)

Men Love Pancakes!!

Who wants pancakes! Our men's event includes "made to order" pancakes!! What type of pancake would you choose... and how many??

Final Dry Run

We had our last "dry run" meeting this morning for tonight's Men's RESCUE Advance event. Love working with these great guys =)

Chuck Peterman Takes To The Air Waves

All you old school GTDers in the Tampa Bay area will want to listen to 1110 AM radio today from 11am-noon as GTD's Program Director Chuck Peterman takes to the air waves for an hour long interview about FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). It should be entertaining... I've always told Chuck that he has a face for radio ;)

We are also looking forward to the FCA Banquet tonight put together by Chuck and featuring keynote speaker - former two-time National Champion football coach of Auburn - Coach Gene Chizik. Should be a terrific time!

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Checking Off The Checklists

Revising all the GTD packing checklists as I prepare to move them over to the new website.

The Grand Canyon Gear Checklist has been added to the bottom of the 2014 Grand Canyon Trip link.

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JUST ARRIVED!

30 brand new cots have just arrived just in time for The RESCUE Men's Advance Weekend =)

LET YOUR INNER HERO OUT!!

Hey Men! Are you looking to be challenged in your faith through exciting firefighter style obstacle courses that tie in spiritual truths with adventurous physical challenges? Then this event is for you!

Join us this Fri & Sat (March 7-8) to learn how to advance forward in a world that is retreating backward.

MEN!!! DON'T TRY TO DO LIFE BY YOURSELF! Team up with other guys who are striving after Christ and who will help lift you up when you fall. Come be a part of our RESCUE Men's Advance Event and escape the danger that comes from being a lone ranger!

Sign up today for one of the best events of the year!

Click here for details & to register

"A COWARD DIES A THOUSAND TIMES"

A One-Word Definition For Faith Is: RISK

Faith always requires you to risk something in order to display trust. We display measures of faith everyday without even thinking about it each time we sit on a chair, accelerate our vehicles, get in an elevator, or eat at a restaurant. We display that we trust that the chair will hold us, the vehicle's brakes will stop us, the elevator cables will not drop us, and the food we eat will not kill us. God created us to operate our lives in a perpetual state of faith, but He dares us to grow our faith beyond the minor accomplishments of sitting on chairs. He invites us, calls us, dares us to great things, but we must RISK leaving the comfort of our chairs in order to take hold of the deepest measures of life. Faith is like a muscle in that it wastes away if it is rarely used. But it grows bigger, stronger, and more capable when it is exercised. We have built a ministry that helps you grow your faith... that takes you to the edge and teaches you to overcome the fears that keep you from trusting and risking. There are greater tragedies in life than dying, such as living a life of regrets that comes from never risking. William Shakespeare wrote, "A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once." I want to invite you on a GTD event this year to help you grow your faith, to help you learn to take responsible risks, to move you from the coward's chair to the God-awesome adventure of a life of faith.

Follow our blog & check out our event calendar! We hope to see you on a GTD event this year =)

Look Who Is Learning Spanish!

Every year when I travel down to Costa Rica I always have a translator with me because usually I need questions answered quickly and I'm not fluent in Spanish. This past January when I was going through customs the man stamping my passport shook his head at me when he realized my passport was full of stamps to Costa Rica and I didn't speak fluent Spanish. I was so embarrassed and a bit ashamed, he totally called me out!  So here it goes!  Now I have no excuse!  Help hold me accountable friends! 

WATCH A FLICK THAT WON'T MAKE YOU SICK!

GTD usually shows an edited outdoor movie on our overnight camping trips. If you enjoy watching a modern Hollywood movie, but hate all the trash (cursing, nudity & sexually explicit content) coming into your household & mind then do what we do, purchase edited movies from Good Media. They are available at the same time the normal DVD is released and are usually cheaper. Enjoy!

The RESCUE Men's Advance Weekend (March 7-8)

Real Men Don't Retreat; Real Men Advance!

GTD is excited to be a part of "The RESCUE Men's Advance Weekend" along with Calvary Baptist Church of Clearwater. This event is open to all men 18 years old & older. We are taking up to 60 men through a 24-hour fire fighting rescue course that ties in spiritual parallels with our walk with God and our role in helping rescue our brothers in Christ. Men, you don't want to miss this event & the lasting impact that it will make in your life.

Date: March 7-8, 2014 (Fri-Sat)
Start Time: 3:30pm (Fri)
End Time: 4pm (Sat)
Cost: $75
Includes: Food, resources, t-shirt, teaching, training, activities, memories, & a life-changing experience.

To register click here

ThrowBack Thursday >>> 1999 SWAMP THING!!

GTD's #tbt (ThrowBack Thursday) takes us back 15 years to 1999 when 9 brave (some would say, "crazy") souls ventured into the heart of the Everglades to do GTD's first ever 30 mile swamp hike. These nine are GTD's original swamp trail blazers. (And yes, all nine survived)

See all 20 pictures here.

Breakfast with Josh Williams

I had breakfast this morning with Josh Williams... a long time friend who I hadn't seen in many years. He volunteered with GTD for several years during the early 2000's and often sacrificed his time to serve others. So great to see him still passionately seeking God. What a great guy =)   - DUG <><

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Turning To-Do's Into To-Done's!

Making progress... this is half of my current stack of to-do's. It has taken me over 4 years to chip away at a huge pile of tasks that remained after we had to let our staff go in 2009 during the recession.

The fact that I have all of my to-do's compiled into a few small piles and within 10 feet of my desk feels like an incredible accomplishment.

I'm stoked... I see the light at the end of the task tunnel =). I think I'm within 2 years of being caught up & even ahead of the game. That's such an encouraging thought =)))

Time To Get Grungy =)

IT'S BAAAAAAACK!! Get grungy with GTD as we explore the adventurous underworld beneath us. GTD's annual Grunge Caving Day Trip has just been scheduled for March 22, 2014 (that's a Saturday).

Specific details coming soon.


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Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day from GTD!!

As we celebrate a day devoted to love it's great to be reminded that the Bible is often referred to as "God's Love Letter" to us. The God of this universe is head-over-heels in love with you. That's something to celebrate everyday of the year.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

R2R Patches Have Arrived

Just got our Grand Canyon Rim-2-Rim patches in!! They look amAZing!

Want one??? You can't buy it, you have to earn it... 25 mile hike across the GC in one day. One of the best hikes in the world!!

Next GTD Grand Canyon Trip: Sept 29 - Oct 4, 2014

Special thanx to JLAZ Designs & AxcelMark Corp for making these beauties!!

New Link: "Calendar"

A new Calendar link has been added to this website.

Simply click on the Calendar button above to see the current event dates for 2014, as well as the available dates for booking a private event.

We are still working on our Public Event calendar so check back often to see what GTD Events will be open to the public this year.


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35 Years Ago

Celebrating 35 years of following Jesus!! On Feb 4, 1979 I asked Jesus to come into my heart and to be the Lord of my life. Reverend Jimmy Hammond of First Baptist Church of Pinellas Park led me to the Lord. One week later I was baptized. I was 8 years old. I've made a lot of good decisions in my life, but none better than when I decided to open the door of my heart to Jesus. That one decision has positively altered the rest of my life. I could talk for hours about how much joy & freedom Jesus has added to my life as well as how much garbage He has prevented me from getting involved with. I'm so thankful for the abundat life in Christ. I want to encourage any & every one to, "Taste and see that the LORD is good." (Psalm 34:8). I did... and I'm so glad I did =)

- DUG <><