tbt > 1998 IGNITE (GTD invents "Land-Yaking")

GTD THROWBACK THURSDAY > GTD "INVENTS" Motorized Steer-less Land-yaking
(1998 Ignite Camping Retreat)

JOIN US ON SLAMMED THIS JULY!

Join us on our 19th Annual SLAMMED Adventure Trip this summer (July 2-6) in Tellico Plains, TN. This is one of the most God-awesome adventures you'll ever go on!! Click here for details

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HE IS RISEN!!

Happy Easter!!! We have so much to celebrate!! Thank You Jesus =)

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LIQUID Was A Splash!

We just completed our annual day-before-Easter canoe trek called Liquid. We were honored to have a packed trip with 28 awesome people!! We paddled 4 miles at Weedon Island as we engaged in a few squishee ball fights. We also had a pre-Easter message called, "God's Love Language". Good times with great people!

UPDATE: 247 pics from our Liquid Canoeing Trip have been uploaded to GTD's online photo album. Enjoy... and Happy Easter =)

HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY!! (from Laurie)

If it wasn't for what Jesus willingly gave at the cross (his life) my life would be a mess. Nobody but him could of saved me from the mess of myself.

Because of his death, my acceptance and acknowledgment of who he is and what he's done I have forgiveness of my sins and am made right with God.

Thankful I don't have to jump through hoops or be perfect. He accepts me just the way I am.

Jesus is a choice.

He's the way, the truth and the life.
- John 14:6

HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY!! (from DUG)

HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY!! I'm so thankful that Christ took my sins, my failures, and my spiritual debts upon Himself to become the perfect sacrifice. He didn't do it only for me, but for the entire world. But it only works when we make it personal.

Just like anti-venom for a deadly snake bite, it's not enough to just know about it. It has to go from the vial into the syringe and then into your blood stream. It can't save your life just by being aware of it. It can't even save your life just by believing it exists. It has to get inside of you. You have to receive it.

Likewise, we have all been bitten by a deadly snake in a spiritual sense. There is only one anti-venom that can save us. It's the perfect blood of Jesus Christ. His body was the vial. The cross is the syringe. The anti-venom has to go from the vial into the syringe and then into your spiritual blood stream. It can't save your life just by being aware of it. It can't even save your life just by believing that God exists. It has to get inside of you. You have to receive it.

The Bible refers to Jesus as the Great Physician. Good Friday is the day that Jesus' vial (His body) was broken and punctured and His blood flowed so that we can be saved... that we can be liberated... that we can celebrate wholeness and the fullness of life... that we can have eternal life. He makes His supernatural anti-venom freely available. But He doesn't force it on you. At a certain point you have a responsibility in this. You have to receive it in order for it to work. You have to administer the injection by placing your faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

One way to place your faith in Jesus is by praying a simple prayer from your heart like this: "Dear God, I confess that I am separated from You. I have missed the mark. I have sinned against You. I ask you to forgive me of all the wrong things I have done. Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for my salvation so that I can be made whole and have eternal life. I ask You to come into my heart and to be my Savior and the Lord of my life. From this day forward I commit my life to following You." If you sincerely placed your faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ then you just became a new Christian. The Bible says that you are now born again spiritually. Like any newborn you need to grow. Start reading the Bible & find a great church... your spiritual adventure has just begun!

Jesus paid the full price on Good Friday. He BRAVELY & COURAGEOUSLY went to the cross to pay for our sins. He's my Superhero! We have so much to celebrate!!   - DUG <><

Just In Time For Easter!

One of GTD's faithful Ministry Partners, my cousin Dennis Maddox, just released his new praise & worship CD called "Canvas". Dennis is out of Savannah, GA and the joy of the Lord oozes out of him at every pore. If you are looking for a CD that celebrates Jesus then check this one out =)

Click here to check it out on iTunes

CarsO... GTD's #1 Jr Guide

I'm so proud of my 11 year old nephew! Carson volunteered last weekend on one of our retreats and he was one of the hardest workers I've ever seen. I couldn't keep the tasks coming fast enough. That boy RAN all over camp non-stop helping us with the set-up. And talk about being efficient... he works all day fueled on the equivalent of 1 peanut - LOL! Thank you to GTD's #1 Jr Guide - "CarsO"!!  (-DUG)

Martha, Mary, and FUMCO

We had a fantastic time with the HS youth group from First United Methodist Church of Oviedo (FUMCO) during our camping retreat this past weekend! We were in DeLand, FL and the weather was PERFECT!! We camped out, made smores, played games, kayaked, spent quality with God, enjoyed the campfire, & watched an outdoor movie. It was wonderful!

Retreats are always a great opportunity to unplug from technology & distractions and plug into God. One of the Bible passages we focused on was the story of Martha & Mary in Luke 10. Martha invited Jesus into her home, but got distracted by serving. While Mary enjoyed fellowship with Jesus and focused on Him while sitting. Martha got upset at Mary, but Jesus affirmed that Mary had actually chosen what is better. Often times it is easy to get distracted from spending time with God by actually getting too busy in our acts of service for God. In those times, ministry actually gets in the way of intimacy with God. We must constantly be reminded that working for God is never a substitute for spending time with God no more than working to support a family replaces spending time with our family. It's all about relationship. Service should RESULT from our relationship with Jesus, not REPLACE our relationship with Jesus. Sitting is better than serving; sitting precedes serving. We can't adequately serve until we have sufficiently sat.

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Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
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Be Still

There is no better place to draw close to God than in his creation. It's a beautiful morning for a weekend retreat! 

To learn more about how you can join us on our next event, go to www.goingthedistance.org

LIQUID IS SOLD OUT!

LIQUID IS ALL BOOKED UP!!
NO MORE CANOEING SPOTS AVAILABLE!!
LIQUID IS FULL!!

Thanks for the overwhelming & quick response people. We look foward to a great trip next weekend. We will contact those who registered on Monday (after our youth retreat) =)

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Only 10 LIQUID Spots Remain!

QUICK LIQUID UPDATE: We have 20 people registered for our free canoeing trip on April 19th. Only 10 spots remain!!

GTD will be hosting a retreat this weekend in DeLand and unable to monitor the registration forms until we return on Monday. As soon as we get back we will update the headcount.

Liquid details & registration


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Packed

All packed up and ready to leave tmw morning for our annual retreat with FUMCO =)

FUMCO Retreat This Weekend!!

Packing up for our annual retreat with the high school youth group from First United Methodist Church of Oviedo!! Heading to DeLand tmw. Love these guys!! =)

How Does GTD Celebrate 18 Years of Ministry? WITH A FREE LIQUID CANOE TRIP!!

FREE GTD CANOE TRIP!!!

In celebration of 18 years of ministry GTD is giving away 30 FREE canoeing spots on our annual Liquid Canoeing Trip scheduled for Saturday April 19, 2014. No Tricks! No Gimmicks! It's a small way we can say "Thank You" to our loyal participants. All you have to do is register online before we run out of space. And this event includes lunch!! Come play with GTD as we enjoy God's amazing creation and celebrate another year of ministry =). Spots go fast so register on our LIQUID link right now!

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Need A Power Boost?

Spending quality time reading the Bible & talking to God ("prayer") is like a supernatural Vitamin B12 shot! There is no better way to start the day!! I would wish it upon everyone =)   - DUG <><

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The 10 (or more) Essentials

I love playing with outdoor gear. This morning I'm repacking a couple of CamelBaks with "The 10 Essentials" for survival. Because there are actually more than 10 items recommended for "The 10 Essentials" I now refer to these survival "must haves" as "The Crucial Essentials". They include things like water, food, fire starter, water purification, first aid, signaling devices, paracord, knife, flashlight, sunscreen, insect repellant, etc, etc. They are the things you will wish you had if you get lost in the wilderness. In addition, it helps to have mental toughness & the know-how to use these items packed in a seperate pack... your "Brain Pack". At GTD we supply our guides with many of these items. That's why you see so much gear in the picture. I'm also doing inventory. I love this stuff =)

Beach Day with The DOC Ladies

It was a PERFECT day to be at the beach and we loved every minute that we got to spend with the ladies from DOC Church of St Pete!! GTD was honored to host a Beach Day full of fun games & challenges for this wonderful group of Godly gals

"...but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." 1 Timothy 6:17

I love that we have a God who wants us to enjoy everything that He has provided.

Looking for a great church in downtown St Pete... Learn more about The DOC on their website.

165 pics from our Beach Day with The DOC Church of St Pete have been uploaded to GTD's Online Photo Album. Enjoy =)

Click here to see them all

LAST FEW DAYS TO SAVE $50/PERSON OFF THE GRAND CANYON TRIP!!!

LAST FEW DAYS TO SAVE $50/PERSON OFF THE GRAND CANYON TRIP!!!

The early registration discount of $649/person ends at 11:59pm March 31st. After that the cost goes up to $699/person.

I challenge you to find a 6-day planned trip to the Grand Canyon for less than GTD offers it. It's impossible!! You can't find a company that will do all that we are offering for under $2000. You couldn't put this trip together by yourself for less than we offer it! Many outfitters charge $825 just for the hikes. We offer an entire pre-planned trip for only $649!!! But that's only for a few more days!!! Then the cost goes up to $699.

AND.... GTD offers you payment plans, Bill Me Later, and referral discounts to help enable you to participate. We've made it tooooo easy for you!! Ask anyone who has come in the past and you'll find out they loved every minute of it and would highly recommend it to you. In fact, they love it so much that many people come back the next year!

Check out the details here and register today!!

LORDY LORDY, LOOK WHO'S 40!!

LORDY LORDY, LOOK WHO'S 40!! GTD's Mission Director just turned 40! We had a wonderful time celebrating Laurie's 40th birthday on Wednesday. Due to the cold, the swimming with the dolphins was postponed until next week. Instead we had a delicious vegan lunch at Leafy Greens in St Pete then spent the day at Myakka State Park in Sarasota followed by dinner at Outback. /// Turning 40 is a milestone in many people's lives. For many, it is a time to reflect as well as to look ahead. Laurie shared her thoughts about turning 40 in a post on her facebook. It's a good read and I hope it's as encouraging to you as it is to me. Enjoy! ... and Happy 40th Birthday Laurie!

"THOUGHTS ABOUT MY 40th BIRTHDAY:
I write this on the eve of my 40th Birthday and as I think of ushering in the BIG 4-0-, I can't help but thank God for the years He has given me here on this earth. I am so thankful for the love and complete forgiveness I have found in Him as my Lord and Savior. My life has been full of ups and downs, great memories, bad choices, hurtful times, I've caused hurt and been hurt, I've overcome, I've struggled through, I've found joy in the simple things and in God's amazing beauty, I've lived in abundance and I've lived in need, I've looked into the eyes of loved ones on their death beds, cried many tears, my heart has been full of joy and sadness, I've said goodbye to those I've loved, longed for those I miss, I've made new friend and lost old, I've felt confident, successful and yet insecure all at the same time, I've impacted lives of children as a teacher, volunteer and missionary and still I feel as though I've haven't quite hit my God given potential, I've been an athlete and dancer, worked in a fast food and pizza chain, been a waitress, customer service rep, bartender, teacher, secretary, bridal consultant, realtor, cheerleader, coach, missions and prosperity director and through it all the LORD has refined me, changed me, challenged me, grown me, loved me, forgiven me, helped me, inspired me, pursued me and has NEVER given up on me even at times when I've given up on myself. My life is HIS. He is my friend and my creator, the one who has made me unique in every way. He's the one who put the curl in my hair, the pigment in my skin, the smile on my face, the color brown in my eyes, a great sense of smell and hearing, given me a sensitive heart of compassion, a love for mankind and animals, he's blessed me with creativity, an eye for photography, a passion for health, a desire to help others, a sense of wonder, a love of nature and so much more. Tonight I reflect on Psalm 139 (the entire chapter is worth the read), vs 13-18:

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you."

What beautiful thoughts! These words are a beautiful gift. I am blessed. My prayer is that all people would know and understand who God is and know Him as I do. My life has been forever changed by His love!

Happy Birthday to me! Here is to celebrating 40 years of life and for many more years to come! I look forward to seeing how God uses me in the future! Thanks for taking the time to read this, to wish me a Happy Birthday and for being a part of my journey!"  (- Laurie)

VOLUNTEER OF THE DAY!

VOLUNTEER OF THE DAY! Carson Vescovi =)

We loved having my nephew Carson over at the GTD office yesterday. He volunteered one of his spring break days and worked all day helping me build some extra storage shelves. Let me tell you, this hard working 11 year old is already skillful at building and planning. Great job Carson!  (-DUG)

GRUNGE Teaches A Spiritual Lesson

So how do you turn a caving trip into a spiritual lesson? Did you know that King David went "caving" prior to becoming the king? You can read all about it in 1 Samuel 24. It's a powerful story about integrity, waiting on God's timing, not prematurely taking matters into your own hands, resisting peer pressure, Godly & loving confrontation, and strategic & tactical retreating from your enemy. And it all took place in a cave and just outside of a cave. Enjoy! GRUNGE 2014 Recap =)

1 Samuel 24

JR Guide: Carson

My 11 year old nephew, Carson, did a marvelous job as our Jr Guide on the caving trip this past Saturday. This was his 5th time caving and he helped get the group geared up, he gave them tips from his past experience, and he supplied plenty of encouragement & support throughout our underground adventure. We're so proud of him =)

- DUG <><

Outrageous Time on GRUNGE!

Blessed with a tremendous time this past Saturday with some fabulous people on GTD's GRUNGE Caving Trip!! It was an outrageous adventure!

176 exciting GRUNGE Caving Trip pics have been uploaded to the GTD Online Photo Album!! Enjoy =)

Click Here To See Pics

God's Not Dead

On Friday we saw the movie "God's Not Dead"... FANTASTIC MOVIE!!! Go see it!!!! The best $10 you will ever spend. The acting in Christian movies has gotten better and better (less cheesier & less cheesier). But the story line (as always) is excellent, relevant, and well thought. LOVED IT!!

It's A Great Day For Caving!

Caving is the one thing I said I'd never do when I got hired on with GTD and it was the first thing I ever did and now I'm here leading another trip with Doug Garner and His nephew Carson!  So glad my never turned into trying, I hate living my life in fear of things, it's not the way God intended it to be. -Laurie 

"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7

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!!!!!