Well here I am after another long sabbatical of "the xanga way". Man, a TON has happened since my last post. I feel like a completely different person. It's amazing how a few months can totally change you. One tough season is closing, and another is beginning-more on that at a later time. The internship year is coming to a close and I can't help but wonder where the time went. In one sense, it seems as though this was the fastest year ever...yet in another the slowest and most drugderous yet. My first year of ministry is over, and my students are graduating on Monday.  This brings much of my attention to another question, "Have I done my job correctly?" Have I given them everything I possibly can-is what I've done enough? I wonder if this is what a parent feels like when their firstborn leaves for college. No matter how much you've taught them-it always seems as though you could have done more. It's like a piece of me is leaving-these 16 interns who have made their hearts my soil for the last 12 months are now leaving to reach the soil of others...it's a heart-rending thing. Pastor Steve has always said that the occupational hazard of this ministry is that the interns leave-and if it ever gets easier...then we haven't done our jobs. Well, I can only pray that I've done all, but the ball is in their courts now, and I believe they will take it and score much. Guys, if y'all read this, I love you and appreciate every one of you, you're gonna make it, you're gonna do great-as long as you keep your heart on Him.

After yet another xanga sabbatical, here I am! Life is going amazing. My students are pulling together like never before. We're getting into the "ministry" part of our year, so we're beginning leadership classes and servanthood classes and 5-fold gifting classes. The unity and devotion that they are displaying toward one another  bring so much joy to my heart. I am so proud of my people!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!

The road team comes home a week from Sunday. I miss my Neil, and my everyone else. Road team, if you read this, I MISS Y'ALL!!!

We are now (pretty) much having class 5 days a week and conducting services EVERY weekend. I remember telling the Lord at one time, "Anything You need, I'm Your man." Well, He answered that prayer exceedingly-abundantly DEFINATELY more than I asked for. heheh. (And by the way, I'm loving every minute of it.) It's really hard work, but never have I been involved in anything so fulfilling. The Lord is a God of Destinies. I never thought He'd have such an exciting one for me!

                                                        You're Next

Yes. After 2 long months-I am updating. It has been a crazy 2 months, and now Christmas is here. Despite the long sabbatical, I am at a loss for words. Do You ever look back over Your life and look for words that would appropriate expression-and then fail to find the right ones? Exactly. Things couldn't be going better. That's about all I 'got right now.

I would love to wish everyone who's eyes cross this page a Merry CHRISTmas. Push the standard this weekend and let everyone You come in contact with, see Christ instead of You. That is my endeavor. (Yes-even in traffic) If we live different from the world, they'll notice and begin to inquire. Inquirey=oppertunity. Show Christ before You tell about Him, but don't neglect to tell about Him either. Major on the showing part and the telling part will be a whole lot easier :)  God Bless You All!

Dan

Have You ever been so full of emotion that You don't know which feeling is real and which is just, a feeling? (i guess)  I often wonder what it is exactly that makes us feel the way we do about certain things. I don't necessarily think it's the devil-I think it may just be that our bodies are unredeeemed and stupid. (hehe) Regardless, it can really leave You feeling disoriented and helpless. It's a good thing that I don't have to rely on my own mind-I can put on the mind of Christ. One good hour (or how ever long it takes) focusing on God (through the Bible and Prayer) and all of that floats away and renews my mind to the place where I can function again. It's not what You can do, it's Who You know-and I know God.  John 17:3