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58 days ago
Greetings family and friends, Island time is known for its turtle pace and carefree gait, but regardless of this my time on Helene has flown by. It is hard to believe that six months have passed since I was in Atlanta visiting my sister and her family prior to boarding a jet to Honduras. Since returning to the Bay Islands my experiences have been deeply profound and at times seemingly inexpressible. They have also been full of challenges– physical, emotional, and spiritual. Born in these challenges have been distress and struggles. But praise God! For we “also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). I have experienced many instances of our Father’s loving discipline and in this I am only encouraged because “the Lord disciplines those he loves” (Hebrews 12:6) and while “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it ...
90 days ago
Family and Origins I was the sixth child of a family of seven and an only son. My parents named me Dominic, after no one and for no apparent reason. I was born and raised in a little community in south-central Wisconsin and my dad was a well-known high school biology teacher who taught multiple generations of students. Thus my birth was probably significant news after so many girls had arrived before me. In the 1970’s and in the eyes of the prevalent Irish-German town folk I’m sure the Alvarez clan resembled some weird interracial Hispanic Brady Bunch. It’s funny how I never thought of myself as Hispanic until many years later when I was thrown into the company of men of many creeds and colors who together became soldiers. Ethnically, I consider myself a mutt (as many Americans should), since I carry the heritage banners of a Spanish-Philippine, Norwegian, Englishman, Irishman, and German. This is an unlikely assortment of groups to be wrapped ...
100 days ago
So in the span of my years, this is seemingly a long time coming. But in the extent of His mercy, it’s but a twinkling of the eye. I cannot help but feel the following words calling up from the pages and speaking unto my own circumstances: “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.” 1 Corinthians 1:26 Indeed, I try not to think too much about what I was when I was called into this present Grace. But dare I think I must now share that which I was? Should I begin by describing the depths to which I sank amidst a sea of alcoholism? Who hand-in-hand (or more aptly, chain-to-chain) dragged me asunder with moral assassins lust and obscenity? Shall I describe in detail the sickly and corrosive fibers of my covetousness, selfishness, and wholly unflattering and double-wide ego? Should I divulge ...
105 days ago
Before I begin I offer a disclaimer. I don’t know much of anything, and I know little about even less. If what I share this morning offends you, then it is likely me that you have encountered. If what I share amuses, then it might be me but depends on the nature of the amusement. If some fragment of what I share speaks truth, then that is surely not me. But already, I have assumed too much, and either way, I hope you will accept my sincere apologies for whatever shortcomings I reveal of myself, my writing, or my understanding of things of great importance. Allow me to begin on an honest note (and now that I have your attention): I am, among a multitude of other deeply flawed character traits…a selfish man. Thus the topic of this devotion has largely been contrived to feed my selfish needs, and today at least (or yesterday as it was), those needs center upon my need to smile and perhaps even laugh. In doing so, I do hope my words give glory to ...
141 days ago
Great-tailed Grackle ( Quiscalus mexicanus) Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 A featherless and goose-pimpled baby bird cranks its neck skyward. Its beak wide open; bulbous black eyes remain fixed on a jagged puzzle piece of blue sky cut through a dense green canopy. The hatchling’s life is tenuously held in a meager balance of minutes and seconds as its racing metabolism needs a constant flow of protein to support rapid growth and development. For now, it’s frail and tiny pink body appears all-elbows as it waits within a cup of interweaving twigs and branches. May your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Psalm 79:8b The open beak serves several purposes. It’s a cry for food and an easy target for delivery. It also helps cool a nestling when too hot through ...
