Finding Freedom

To understand   Find Your Freedom

It will take some reading but it'll be worth your time.

I could hide away like a sailor on the sea,  (Jonah 1:1-5, Acts 5:38-39)

waiting for the birds to pass  (2 Timothy 2:15)

or i could fight my way to the front line of the war (Ephesians 6:10-18, Philippians 3:12)

I could build my home on the  sands of the shore,  (Luke 6:46-48, Matthew 7:24-25)

waiting for the birds to pass (2 Timothy 2:15)

or I could build a castle on the hill made of rock  (Luke 6:49, Matthew 7:26-27)

I could look past the poor in sight  (Matthew 12:9-13)

waiting for the birds to pass  (2 Timothy 2:15)

or I could give them more than the clothes off my back  (Luke 6:27-36, Colossians 4:2-6)

I could withhold the seeds of life  (2 Timothy 1:6-7, Matthew 7:19-20, Romans 8:12-14)

waiting for the birds to pass  (2 Timothy 2:15)

or i could water seeds the sower has thrown   (Mark 16:15, 1 John 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 2 Timothy 4:2)

I Know you'll get their safe (John 4:13-14, John 5:24, John 10:9, Jeremiah 17:7, Philippians 1:6)

Dont stop, for warnings of dismay  (Matthew 24:4-35, Matthew 6:25-34, John 14:1-4, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Go now brothers and find your freedom  (Galatians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Ephesians 3:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Romans 5:2, Romans 6:14) 

 ***(Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:3, John 14:6, 1 John 1:9, Revelations 3:20)***

Set Goals towards the Goal.

Even through distance and the lack of communication the lessons of my past never die.

Attempting to grow on my own only created a schemer a mocker and a liar.
In fact, "to grow" as a kid meant nothing, but seeking my own understanding.

I am blessed to have grown up with many things, one thing in particular was a dad who knew what was important and always kept to it.  For someone who would rather not accept attention or praise He taught me some of the best lessons.  Although I was either seeming to not pay attention or was unable to grasp the seriousness of his character I still saw his strength through my foggy binoculars.  I was young, dumb and too selfish to think anyone was any smarter than myself.   But in fact my dad taught me to take life serious in all cases and to be light hearted and loving to all.  For most of my life I thought that my dad was someone pretty cool but unsure if he really knew what he was doing.  In my attempts to grow into a mature adult I have realized that he was right all along.  I realized I had to use the same methods he always used and instructed by.  Integrity, by which he bases his work, humility in which his foundation is set firm and also, the reason to which we are living is not small or meaningless.  Lastly, to provide and work hard because not all things come easy and that everything is a blessing.

Now all that said there are quite a lot of examples to be said of but one thing that I remember the best and always bugged me growing up was his repetition of goal setting.  He loves to have goals, he strives on goals and he knows that without them his day is a bit stale.  Although he is a very relaxed and nonmilitant whatsoever man he knows that the small puzzle piece of a regimented task and daily list or life list has taught me a lot.  I can say that that small, or large, puzzle piece he has given me has gotten me to where I am today.  To see his passion for growth inspired me to see that I want to have a passion as well.  Growing up my passion was to first find my mountain and head for the top.  My dads approach taught me that the mountain is attainable yet it may take your whole life getting to the top.  You must gather your necessities, know what your path will bring, choose your path, and be patient.

Just to add my own personal revelation to his wisdom:
One thing that I said a few months ago with friends on a hike and realized it sounded a bit too brilliant to have come out of my own mouth was "The adventure is not in the destination but en route".

Meaning the joy of a trip is not always where you set out to go, but it is in the journey to the top while experiencing the life around you.  We had so much fun talking and getting to know the people around us that, after a few hours, we realized we went quite a few miles in the wrong direction.  We even knew that the vista point would be uphill and for a few hours we were going downhill!  The 10 or so friends didn't even realize that we were lost.  We were on the wrong path.  This path though had huge implications to my daily life.  Where am I going, am I going in the right direction, who is following me, will we make it there by nightfall?  I was the one leading everyone in the wrong direction.  I had been on the right path months before, yet never remembered the right paths' name.  Talk about feeling stupid.  But all in all, the friendships that were created and bonded through the en route of the journey was more important than that vista point.  No one cared we went the wrong way, they all agreed that it was still fun to go on a hike with everyone.  Now to me, at first, I doubted that flippant remark and got down about my mistake. My goal was to make it to the top, not to make stronger friendships.  One thing I realized, was that God has his own adventures planned for us even though we try to create our own.

The goals we set are important.  Almost the most important decisions towards building character and Christ-likeness.  My dads persistence towards growing in life towards Christ through goal setting is a prime example of what a Father is asked to do and and due to his following of Christ in his life I too follow Christ in my life.  He is a wise man and a man of few words but a man with wise words when spoken.  But to me I have realized, in my opinion, a wise man says less than any other man because wisdom is not ours to create, thus little can be said or is needed to be said.  But to say that, for those who do not know him, he is not a quiet or shy man, but in fact a very joyful and loving man of God.  Well-rounded, I'd say, because no wise man can be truly wise and not be filled with joy.  Many people actually thought C.S. Lewis was probably a very dull, extremely intelligent and serious man but in fact in the book called Jacks Life, it exposes his complete opposite appearance from the perceived studious figure.

So to be proud of the life I have been brought up in and continue in it I too encourage people to be mindful of their daily decisions and desire to grow through goals.

My goals from 1 year ago:

Goals to set:

Analyze my thoughts when meeting people and be sure to listen to the truth which God states about all people in John 13:34-35, which says, "A new command i give you: Love one another.  As i have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you my disciples, if you love one another."  This command is a very important reminder to keep when meeting and talking to friends or new individuals.  This also reminds me of a sermon I recently heard which stated "people will now we are Christians by our love and not our belongings or anything else".  The way that we treat others is largely effected by the truth which Christ has told us about everyone.  That everyone is equal and we should love them all as ourself. (Mark 12:28-31)

Never conclude beliefs due to my emotions or my own understandings - be sensitive to the Spirit and be in constant prayer.  The more I am in prayer the more I feel peace and comfort from the Lord in all I do.  There has never been a time when I am in prayer that i feel lost or confused.  There has though, been many times where I am not in prayer and feel lost and confused, stressed and begin to doubt myself.  (Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding) 

Allow yourself to go beyond your comfort zone - allow God to stretch you, grow you and mend you into the man of God He desires of you.  I so often stick to my own routine and schedule, which inhibits me from any growth or possibility of going outside of my comfort zone.  But EVERY TIME I allow myself to go outside of my comfort zone I feel blessed from the Lord and encouraged immensely.  (Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

My goals from 2 years ago:

1 year from now.

together serving/traveling together.

engaged or married.woah.

all year i work on an old camper and we go around the states and camp.

together.

making music.

painting in our sunday bests.

in love.

living in the now.

fully relying on God.

The camper idea hasn't quite happened yet, but if the Lord desires for us to do so, he'll give us a road map for that journey when it's time.

God Bless and Godly goal setting.



love dan.

I read therefore I grew

Contrary to my growing years, I like to read.

The push to read small books when I was young was more painful to me than my kindergarten teacher pulling my teeth.  Yet, somehow books have snuck in undetected.  I can't give any credit to high school whatsoever, or really most of college.

In all honesty, I might have read just as much in High School as in college.  In college I was the guy who listened, didn't take notes and somehow passed the test.  I did although have a notebook and a pen.  But, truth be told, I was doodling a sketch of the professor or writing lyrics or a general outline of my daily dream to accomplish.  I always 'loved' hearing the saying, "College teaches you not what to learn, but HOW to learn."  Whoever made that up didn't have my professors.  Respectfully, I did have great professors, but to learn is not to read.  To learn is to be applicable.  Or at least in my case.  And I studied social work.  I daily worked socially with everyone around me and found myself able to mimic my class discussions with everyone who didn't study social work and sound like I learned a great deal.  So much that the topics stuck in my head so well I even passed college.

Now I am no philosopher or idealist towards a specific way of thought or preferred educational outline so I'm going to get back to my point.  I can read now!  I learned of this phenomenon recently.  I have been reading books and then picking up another and then finding myself incapsulated by the author for some reason I have yet to find out.

The television has subliminal messages, my coke has high contents of sugar and my fat fast food burger is laden with salt.  All those ingredients can lead me to believe that I am getting something I like, thus, I want more.  So begins an addiction.  But with reading a book there must be invisible words encouraging me to keep reading because I read and never cease.

Well as with everything is a battle of nature vs nurture; as I learned in my SW classes.  And in this case it has to do with neither, I just wanted to throw a term out to familiarize you with my learnings.  Getting to the point, I have found that the truth an author brings by way of imagination and colorful reasonings lights my mind with ease and makes, for a moment, a cocoon of soothing remedies to the fallen world around me.  Not all authors do this though.  Some create a world inside a world, trapped and lonely, dazed into a coma state and feeling desperate for answers.  Those authors are into trickery, self-appraisal and judgmental unbiblical ideologies.

I believe if a book is good it must stem from another, and not it's own. Because no book can create a depth as deep as one author may do and generate enough longing interest and captivate your heart long enough to be considered a good book.  This is in part, and by far, why the Bible has become such a beautiful book to me and never brought close, not physically but mentally, to any other book in preference.  For to many reasons, for which all true Christians know, the Bible is so great that men and women are still brought to tears and curiosity that they dedicate their whole lives to absorbing its message.  Being God inspired, not idea inspired, politically, monetarily or popularity inspired.  It is full of depth and the more you read the more you find the connections of God's will being carried from the old Testament to the New Testament, from Revelation to the Old Testament and from story to story loaded with encouragement and hope.  Most of all a promise.  No author has much to say other than an idea or notion to try and make a buck or two.  Try making a promise with your reader that they could die for and see if they'll listen today.

As I have grown accustom to reading the Bible I've found there are authors outside of the Bible who I have found stem all of their directing points and truths from the Bible, thus they are great authors and books as well.   The books I have read I encourage everyone to read, as we are all asked to instruct and encourage others towards Christ.  I will list them in order of my preference of which generally should be read first to last.

Read all simultaneously while going through the Bible and commentary:
Lighter reading, still very deep and easy to understand
1. The Pilgrims Progress (modern english version) John Bunyan
2. The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
3. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
4. The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
5. Skrewtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
6. The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller

More intense reading and challenge, remember we should challenge ourselves sometimes! :
7. The Four Loves by C.S. lewis
8. The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton
9. The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
10. Celebration of Discipline by Foster
11. The new Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
12.  Spiritual Leadership by Sanders

Light, fun, encouraging, Christian and creative
1.  Pilgrims Progress STILL #1, it is easy, awesome and powerful!
2.  The Great Divorce STILL
3.  The Pilgrims Regress by C.S. Lewis
4.  The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Hobbit by Tolkien
5.  Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer by C.S. lewis
6.  A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis (especially in the face or faced the death of a loved one)
7.  Till We have faces by C.S. Lewis
8.  The Singer The Song and the Finale (trilogy) by Miller (really awesome books)
9.  Miracles by C.S. Lewis
10. The Cosmic/Space trilogy by C.S. Lewis

As I read I'll let you know what I've found to be a great book, and let you know what I've learned from it. Until then, if you are wanting to read but haven't read much lately this blog is a great transition to your next reading exercise.

Dan

time

even when its hard being away from loved ones

i live on and God uses me
where i am.
lesson number 1.

I Limp when I'm away.

One thing that I daily realize I do, without intentions, is allowing my heart to change when I am around individuals who I know nothing about.  My heart changes from loving and caring for strangers and changes when I am around friends who are believers and friends who I know are not believers.  For some reason my heart becomes shut off when I am in a gas station or eating at a restaurant or walking past a neighbor or sitting at a coffee shop.  I admit that in those moments I become silent and dead.  My faith is in my heart and not on my tongue.  My joy for the Lord is not a thought but a internal secret.  My eyes do not see people who the Lord longs for.  Although when I know full well I am around a believer or a nonbeliever my speech comes from my heart and my joy is alive.  But only when I "know" them and they speak of their beliefs.

I am a believer among believers and nonbelievers, and not those I have no clue about.  That has brought an epidemic to my thoughts and like a plague I notice it more and more.  If my heart is only awake when I know the people around me and their heart, what makes me sleep and stops me from seeing my need to serve the Lord is at all times with all people? Due to my realization and ability to catch my faults I will be trying to live out what Christ has asked me to become not only to those I know.  This is not a task for everyone but only those who feel the same pressures and convictions of their inconsistent walk.  We who walk need to walk straight up at all times, not limp when we are not being watched.

John 21:15-17
When Christ asked Peter three times if he still loved Him Peter became frustrated.  He said three times "Yes, you know that I love you."  And three times Christ replies with "feed my lambs/sheep."  Not feed the good sheep, healthy sheep, sheep who you think look better, or the sheep who come to you daily and listen.  But all sheep.  All meaning even those who you know you don't care about, the ones who you have hurt, the ones you have punished by not feeding, the ones who don't want to be your sheep and get lost.  Even the ones you pass by daily and don't think their worth caring for because you think they are fine not being cared for.

Pray that when I am convicted to feed all sheep that I listen, obey and do it and not limp around when I think no one is watching.  As well as the ability to let the joy I have in the Lord be seen and never held back.

Love, Dan

Day OFF.

Yeah, so that was suppose to be a song from the Lord of the Rings.

Studio Time

Find Your Freedom
             Click above to open


Today Jodi and I had the day off and we took some time to rerecord.

It's very rare to have a song recorded. This hopefully is a new trend of the new year.

enjoy.
and find the freedom Christ has given.

New Song

Find Your Freedom

                                                    Click above to open
This is a ROUGH recording...   

Jodi and I wrote this song today.  It is a depiction of a believer taking a journey towards the Lords Kingdom.   This idea came from the character Christian of The Pilgrims Progress; who could not stop or waver on the straight and narrow path, as others wanted to trick/confuse or lead him astray.  "Go now brothers and find your freedom", don't let others get you lost in their ways.  The pilgrimage we are on differs from all others.  The world wants us to think otherwise. "We will get there safe" as we stay near to the Lord. 

Find Your Freedom

i could hide away like a sailor

on the sea, waiting for the birds to pass

or i could fight my way to the front line of the war 

I Know you'll get their safe

Dont stop, for warnings of dismay  

Go now brother and find your freedom

I could build my home on the

sands of the shore, waiting for the birds to pass

or I could build a castle on the hill made of rock

I Know you'll get their safe

Dont stop, for warnings of dismay

Go now brother and find your freedom

I could look past the poor in sight

waiting for the birds to pass

or I could give them more than the clothes off my back 

I Know you'll get their safe

Dont stop, for warnings of dismay

Go now brother and find your freedom

I could withhold the seeds of life

waiting for the birds to pass.

or i could water seeds the sower has thrown