Time To Move...

So it's been in my heart now for a few weeks to take the youth from my church out for a few hours a month to make a change in our community. That is one of the things I really try to encourage my youth as well as others. One of my phrases I always use is, A change only happens when something moves! So it's time to move!


It has been extremely hot here in the desert and I see a lot of people, kids and families walking from place to place. So, I've been wanting to drive around with an ice chest, filled with cold bottled water available to pass out to those who may look hot and thirsty or maybe even just want to talk.



My kids and I went up to our local lake on monday and did some kayaking and cliff jumping. Needless to say, I still have the ice chest filled with bottle water from that day in the car.

So I was driving home from work on tuesday, and the highway crosses over the California aqua duct. As I crossed over I happen to look over at the water and saw a person in it. Now, anyone that is familiar with the aqua duct, they will know that many people have drowned in this! It is not for swimming! The sides are extremely steep and their are pumps in this that will suck you down under, plus the current.


When I passed, the first thing I thought was, Oh no, please Lord, don't let that of been a dead body! So I turned around and went back. When I pulled up and off the road next to the duct, I noticed a man climbing up out of it.



Of course I was thinking, thank you Lord! The man then noticed me and came walking up to my car. I said, "bro! what were you doing? Don't you know people fall in and can't get out and drown all the time!!"


He said, "ya, I know, but I have been walking for a while and felt like I was going to pass out from a heat stroke, so I jumped in to cool off." It was then when he said, " man, that is really awesome of you to even check up on me, to make sure I was even ok!" It was then I remembered I had the ice chest in the back with nice cold bottled water.


I asked him if he would like a bottle of cold water, and he was like, Oh Ya! I gave him the water and he was very grateful. By this happening, I now know this is just one of the many things I can do for God to make a change! All it takes is something so little as that.


My pastor once said, "A little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in little things is a great thing" Pretty cool ha? I hope and pray that this can be encouraging to you as me.



The bible tells us in Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;


Pray for God to show you what He would like you to do. Let's get moving! Amen!


God bless,
Dan

I'm sooo done...

Ok guys, I am so done with hearing all about Michael Jackson!! Was he a great singer? Yes! Was he a great performer? Yes! Did he make great music? Yes! Was he a great person? I will leave that one for God to say!

I think it is completely sad when the world considers his death so more important than others! ( Farrah faucet, Ed McMan, Billy Mays, Steve McNair ) etc.

The same day Michael died, just a few hours before, was when Farrah passed. You saw a few minutes of her announcement. Then Michaels came on the news. Not only was Farrah no big deal anymore in the medias eyes, but the media hasn't stopped!

Now the world is going to have this great tribute to honor Michaels death. What about the others?? Where's theirs? Oh, I know, maybe it's because they weren't as rich with wealth! We all know if you have more money than others, that makes you a better person than them!! NOT!!

This world is sad! I'm so glad that I'm not of this world...just in it!! Jhn.15:19 Let me remind you, when God created man and women, I believe He created us equal! Also God said, "do not turn to idols..." Lev.19:4

Don't get me wrong, it is sad that Michael passed on. I just don't think it's fair to the other deaths. You think all the families of all the other deaths aren't hurting as bad as Michaels family?
Death is death! Their all going to be affected the same way!

You want to honor peoples deaths?? How about honoring our troops that gave up their lives for ours, their the real heros!!!

I can only say, "please keep these families in prayer"

God bless,
Dan

The difference between courage and faith...

The difference between courage and faith is...courage is something we can easily say we have and are willing to do. But when it comes to faith...faith is actually stepping out and doing it... and believing you will be just fine!



We went to Little Rock Dam and did some kayaking and some extreme cliff jumping! At least it felt pretty extreme to me! We jumped from 20ft jumps up to 75ft. It was awesome and refreshing!

This must be the frog jump! lol

Devyn doing some kayaking

I don't want water rushing into my brain or out my ears!!

I think I can...I think I can...I know I can...

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh....I think is what he said.

They really pushed him off...and watched! Their mean!!

Oh no...where's the rock behind me? I change my mind...help me Lord!

Splash!!!

I believe I can fly...I believe I can touch the sky...

Christopher...Christopher...hold my hand...I'm scared!!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

God bless,
Dan

Our bowling adventure...

Last night was our youth night... and bowling it was!





As you can see, we had a totally awesome time! This picture I told them to look funny and to look like they had a good time. ( just kiddin ) I did tell them to make it a funny one though. We definately have a group of characters!!

We walked from my house to the bowling alley and back. It almost felt like a school trip. As we were walking, everyone was dancing, laughing, talking with each other and having a good time. I just kept looking at their faces. All I saw was great big smiles!!

It made me think not only about the verse for this blog, (1peter3:8 ) finally, all of you, be of one mind, being compassionate, sympathetic for one another and love as brothers. But it made me think about this song I always loved... "Lean on Me" Remember that one? Awesome!

Talks about letting our pride go, being there for someone in their time of need, being their friend and helping them carry on. We all need somebody to lean on...I had to add it to my play list, you can skip the songs and check it out.

That's the kind of love and compassion these kids showed tonight!!

I want to thank all the youth for your outstanding behavior!! Seeing God work in you, continues to also strengthen me. Love you all!

God bless,
Dan

Happy Fathers Day...

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't updated for a few days. It's been pretty busy with kids award assemblies and school graduation. I will be posting some of that tomorrow. Hope you check it out!

I wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow is Fathers Day. I hope and pray for all those still with fathers, that they will take the time to either visit, call, text or even e-mail their fathers to let them know just how special they are!

It's a time to put any hardship away and think about all the good times with your father and all the good things he may have done for you. The times he was there. All the laughs, all the crying, maybe even during your times of need.

I think back about my father and it makes me smile! I think about all those memorable moments and places we've went, the times together we shared and the serious and dumb things we talked about.

There are so many things I can look back on and talk about, but I just want to remind everyone how special fathers really are!

I have to say, I'm very blessed to have a father like mine! Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a daddy! I love you dad! Happy Fathers Day.

For anyones father that is not around for whatever reason, I am very, very sorry! I will be praying for God to give you strength, peace and comfort during this time that may be hard for you. We serve an awesome God! He will never leave you nor forsake you!

Happy Fathers Day... to all the Fathers out there!

God bless,
Dan

Dans Blog Has Been Hijacked!

Yep,

thats what happens when your wife knows your password because she's spent countless hours helping you design a blog header, setting up a hit counter and teaching you html coding.

Then she gets on and posts crazy things for all the world to read and makes you look like the husband of a nutcase...MMWWAAAAAaaaaa...*cough cough* *hack**fart*....ooops. sorry.

But really, I'm here to tell you Danny how very proud I am of you for starting this blog! You have such a big heart and an even larger love for God and I think it's awesome that you want to connect with people on this level......even if you are a big botarded goofball ;)

You are in fact....a huge dork. but you're my dork and I wouldnt have it any other way! I love you so much honey! you are my life!

Okay, so I will try not to do this again. No promises. I have almost no self control. None......and it's kinda fun too :)

Love you muchly,

Your wonderful, perfectly flawed, wife

Oldie But Goodie...

Okay, so I was driving home from Santa Fe Friday, during the busiest time of the hour, (4:00pm)

Traffic was absolutely crazy!! There I was, in dead stop traffic, on the 605 freeway, pulling my hair out because we were going no where fast! So I started to look for some kind of christian radio station to listen to.

As I'm searching, an old song came on and brought the biggest smile to my face :-) And yep, you know it...I started singing that sucker loud! People on the side of me probably thought I was crazy! But I didn't care. Made me laugh at myself!

But let me tell you, it brought an overwhelming joy to myself! I don't know if it was because I probably looked like a fool? or if it was simply the song? I don't care! It brought joy to me for a whole 4min. lol Kidding! It made my drive home a lot more pleasant.

It was one of those catchy songs that I know you all used to sing. Don't even try to deny it either! lol

So if you go to my music player, try to guess which song it is? I hope it will make you smile too!!

God bless,
Dan

Definitely No Secret and Definitely Not Quiet!!

So the youth were practicing tonight, singing a song called... "Nothing But Jesus" That talks about being in a secret, quiet, still place so that we can be more focused on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

But I'm here to tell you... and I think my wife would definitely say so, that these thin walls of mine were not still! And I think because of these walls, their was definitely no secrets! lol

It was not Quiet! As you can see... drums, bass guitar, electric guitar, keyboard and some loud Vocals. It was awesome!! I know God and all the neighbors in palmdale heard!
Great job to... "The Connection youth worship team"

God Bless,
Dan

I Think We Passed The Test, For Now...

I don't know weather to say... "thank you Lord or I'm sorry Lord" I came home today from work and felt tired. Knowing we were going to go to church tonight, I was already thinking in my head and hoping that my wife would say, "honey, lets just stay home tonight!"

Now I'm sure that I could of came up with a few good reasons to convince her to stay home tonight and she would of probably listened. But I just started asking God to give me strength so I wouldn't be so tired for service.

Needless to say, "we went on our way." Was it a little bit rough? of course it was! I was tired! God's holy medicine didn't kick in yet! lol

So as we pull up to the church, I noticed that the parking lot was looking quite emptier than normal. As we get even closer, we noticed it was quite dark in the building too. Yep, you guessed it... their was no service going on there tonight!

First thing that went through my mind was, "thank you Lord" Now I know that probably wasn't to good of a thought, but you know what? I'm human!! And the one thing I want my readers to see and know is...that I'm real and you can be real here too!!

Here's a thought...

Maybe God just wanted to see if I was going to be faithful and go? Who knows? I do know that God will test our heart, mind and faith. (Jerimiah 17:10) God knew there wasn't any service tonight!

And to end this note, Lord, I am sorry for having those thoughts of excuses, please forgive me Lord. Continue to work in me and mold my heart and my ways to yours. Amen!

God bless,
Dan

Save money and 2hrs of your life...

Wow! So we went to go rent a movie last night hoping to find, "The Haunting in Conneticut." That didn't happen! Obviously, or I probably wouldn't be bloggin right now.

That movie isn't even out yet! So the only movie that even looked like it might be ok was, "100 feet" Ya...I know what your thinking, that sounds stupid! Yep, Your right!

Let me save you the $4.00 and 2hrs of your life! Don't bother renting it! This movie is about a ghost who comes to haunt his wife because of his death. This movie made no sense!

Sometimes you could hit the ghost...which I thought you can't! But then sometimes you could hit him?? Then the wife basically molests a kid that looks young enough to be her grandson! eeeww!

So what does she do? Of course all movies have to have a love scene. While she is with this young kid in bed, her husband ( the ghost ) is floating on the ceiling watching them and she is making a joke of it. So what does that do? Makes the ghost mad! Hmm! I wonder why? Dahhh!

Needless to say, the ghost gets revenge on the poor little kid and tears his body apart! ya... kinda gross! So, to make a long story shorter, the wife ends up realizing she still had on her wedding ring, which still bounded her to him...even though he was dead! Then decides to take her ring off and throw it at the dumb ghost, which he catches it, then turns kinda human, then explodes to pieces.

If he caught it, why didn't he just throw it or something?? And that was the end! I know, your thinking Wow! I just wasted a few minutes of my life finding out about this movie! I apoligize to all who got caught up in this one. But I felt led to save you some money and 2hrs of your life...

God Bless,
Dan

Who Am I...

My name is Dan. I live in the good old desert of the Antelope Valley. Which I still don't know why they call this the Antelope Valley! It's a valley ok, with no stinkin Antelope! A valley of flat, hot, dry dirt and snakes!! Oh, did I forget to say... flat, hot, dry dirt!

I am married with five beautiful children. I have to say their beautiful because I'm their dad! lol
Just kiddin! They really are!! They are my life! They mean sooo much to me!

My wife Rusty, is the best thing that could of ever happen to me! She married me! She's not one of those girls who tries to impress you with cosmetic stuff or even materialistic things. She is true and for real!! Besides, she doesn't need all that fake stuff, that's what makes her the most beautiful lady out there! And yes, I have her! Ha Ha!

We've been married for almost 19 years! Yep! 19 years! Awesome... ya! But together for 23!
Within the last 5 1/2 years we've actively been following Christ, our Lord and Savior.

When I say actively been, I mean actively been trying to! We all fall short of the glory. But we have an awesome, forgiving God! thank God!!

He has truely changed our lives! My wife and I and the kids have become so close with each other since we have made the choice to allow God into our hearts and home. I have also grown closer with God.

The one thing I pray for...is that this can be a place of joy, laughter, happiness, encouragement, prayer and even a place to come to if you just want to talk. Amen!

I'm going to love on you regardless who you are, what you are, or even what your going through! 1Jhn.4:7

God Bless,
Dan