Tyler has learned to play peekaboo with a blanket. He was on Deb's lap last night and it made me smile! I thought you might like it too.
Keep Smilin'
Dan
Friday, November 17, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Dominoes!
As a kid I used to love to set up domino trains and knock them down - I ain't got nothing on this guy - Enjoy! Dan
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Astronaut Gets Special Wake up Call
On July 4, 2006 Mike Fossum was a rookie astronaut making his first shuttle flight. At 2:38 p.m. EDT, Space Shuttle Discovery and the crew of STS-121 was off and running in a blast of sound and fury. “Oh boy ... oh my goodness ... what a kick in the pants that is,” Fossum says. After reaching an altitude of 50 miles – and it doesn’t take long to get there – Fossum and the other rookies on the flight were “officially” deemed flown astronauts. At 8 ½ minutes into the flight, Discovery was in its initial orbit and rocketing through space at a speed of 17,500 mph. The shuttle docked with the International Space Station, it was up to lead spacewalker Sellers and Fossum to get to work. Their three spacewalks totaled approximately 21 hours. Asked if he could possibly begin to describe the view, Fossum says simply, “I’ll try.” “It was just almost overwhelming to see the Earth, to see the curve of the Earth,” Fossum continues. “My full vision, from one side to the other, was almost unencumbered by this large bubble helmet that we’re in. The view is so much clearer (than from inside the Shuttle). The colors ... the vibrant colors ... the layers in the atmosphere on that thin band of atmosphere that you can see on the horizon ... I could’ve sat out there for hours just watching the Earth come by.”
On the fifth day of the flight it’s hard to tell if Mike Fossum was already awake - probably so. Rookie astronauts almost always wake up early. There’s too much to see, too much to do. He had a space walk that day and the view out his window? Spectacular!Still, for years, it’s been a NASA tradition that its explorers receive unique wakeup calls. The all-Navy crew of Apollo 12 was awakened to a bugle and boatswain’s pipe on its November 1969 journey to the Moon. There have been more than a few college fight songs and pieces of classical music. This was Mike’s wake up call.
Thanks to WorshipTogether.com for the original article and the link to the NASA video clip. Let’s all worship the God of Wonders today.
God Bless
Dan
On the fifth day of the flight it’s hard to tell if Mike Fossum was already awake - probably so. Rookie astronauts almost always wake up early. There’s too much to see, too much to do. He had a space walk that day and the view out his window? Spectacular!Still, for years, it’s been a NASA tradition that its explorers receive unique wakeup calls. The all-Navy crew of Apollo 12 was awakened to a bugle and boatswain’s pipe on its November 1969 journey to the Moon. There have been more than a few college fight songs and pieces of classical music. This was Mike’s wake up call.
Thanks to WorshipTogether.com for the original article and the link to the NASA video clip. Let’s all worship the God of Wonders today.
God Bless
Dan
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Noah takes a photo of himself everyday for 6 years.
I just watched one of the most fascinating videos. Noah Kalina is a photographer in New York. He has been taking a picture of himself everyday since January 11, 2000. The video cuts these together over some great music and it ends by saying this – “Everyday, Jan 11 2000 – July 31 2006, 2356 days, a work in progress.”
We are all indeed a work in progress. Each one of us is in the process of being molded and changed into the people we will become. God is in charge weather we admit it or not – the question is will we choose to embrace what he brings into our lives or fight it. Will we seek to be molded into the person he designed us to be or will we try to figure it out on our own.
One of the podcasts I listen to is the Bald Worship Leader podcast by a guy named Phil Ayres. Recently he challenged his listeners to take a closer look at the parable of the talents. Reread it in Matthew 25 when you get a chance. The point come down to what are you doing with what you’ve been given. We’ve all been trusted with different stuff: relationships, finances, skills and more. There are only three possibilities for those things: they are deteriorating, they are maintaining or they are increasing. The only option the Father rewards is increasing. If we are not caring for and increasing what he has given to us we are ultimately failing.
The awesome thing about this is that we do not need to rely on our own strength or ingenuity to make the increases happen. Philippians 2:13 says “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” It is God’s Spirit which is, as Romans says, transforming us by the “renewing of our mind.” So where does this leave us. Do we simply sit here and allow ourselves to “become” – will we magically turn into super Christian? No Way!
In Phil. 2:12 Paul says “as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” It is only when we do our part that the Spirit come along side and does His. Not when the boss is looking over our shoulder but when he is out of town, when he is off for the afternoon are we diligently working to increase what he has entrusted us with!
God hit me between the eyes with this in the area of my skills as a worship leader. I must be working to increase what he has given me and not be content to show up and maintain what is there. Musically am I honing my craft, congregationally am I stretching where we are? I have been entrusted now with a congregation of worshippers – I am responsible to increase their “skills” and the richness of their experience as well. I am not alone, God will help but I do have a responsibility to grow what has been given to me.
Father,
I pray that when you return I will hear the words I long for “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Give me your strength to make it happen.
Amen
Keep reading!
Dan
I just watched one of the most fascinating videos. Noah Kalina is a photographer in New York. He has been taking a picture of himself everyday since January 11, 2000. The video cuts these together over some great music and it ends by saying this – “Everyday, Jan 11 2000 – July 31 2006, 2356 days, a work in progress.”
We are all indeed a work in progress. Each one of us is in the process of being molded and changed into the people we will become. God is in charge weather we admit it or not – the question is will we choose to embrace what he brings into our lives or fight it. Will we seek to be molded into the person he designed us to be or will we try to figure it out on our own.
One of the podcasts I listen to is the Bald Worship Leader podcast by a guy named Phil Ayres. Recently he challenged his listeners to take a closer look at the parable of the talents. Reread it in Matthew 25 when you get a chance. The point come down to what are you doing with what you’ve been given. We’ve all been trusted with different stuff: relationships, finances, skills and more. There are only three possibilities for those things: they are deteriorating, they are maintaining or they are increasing. The only option the Father rewards is increasing. If we are not caring for and increasing what he has given to us we are ultimately failing.
The awesome thing about this is that we do not need to rely on our own strength or ingenuity to make the increases happen. Philippians 2:13 says “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” It is God’s Spirit which is, as Romans says, transforming us by the “renewing of our mind.” So where does this leave us. Do we simply sit here and allow ourselves to “become” – will we magically turn into super Christian? No Way!
In Phil. 2:12 Paul says “as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” It is only when we do our part that the Spirit come along side and does His. Not when the boss is looking over our shoulder but when he is out of town, when he is off for the afternoon are we diligently working to increase what he has entrusted us with!
God hit me between the eyes with this in the area of my skills as a worship leader. I must be working to increase what he has given me and not be content to show up and maintain what is there. Musically am I honing my craft, congregationally am I stretching where we are? I have been entrusted now with a congregation of worshippers – I am responsible to increase their “skills” and the richness of their experience as well. I am not alone, God will help but I do have a responsibility to grow what has been given to me.
Father,
I pray that when you return I will hear the words I long for “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Give me your strength to make it happen.
Amen
Keep reading!
Dan
Thursday, August 31, 2006
All Tired Out!
When I look back and see that I last posted here in June I'm amazed. It has been one busy summer - just look how exhausted Tyler is! Mom and Kim are both recovering well from the accident, I did a fair share of traveling for work and now it's almost time for school to start. We went camping last weekend and will be gone over Labor Day as well. It's been a great time and ultimately a great summer. This post was really just an excuse to post a cute picture of my boy. (a dad can be proud can't he)One thing I'll be writing more about soon is the worship journey God has me on right now. I was asked to take over the leadership and planning for our worship team at church. It has been great to be in that role again - God has been teaching me some cool stuff that I want to flesh out into a post soon.
Keep Reading,
God Bless
Dan
Monday, June 19, 2006
The Body at Work
Our family had a shock this weekend. My Mom and my niece and nephew were in a very serious car accident. (If you want to know details you can go to the update page I set up for them here but this post isn't really about that.) One of the things that has been so incredible to see over the last five days is the Body of Christ at work. We each have been given different gifts and talents and mine tend to be fairly public. I teach, I sing, I lead worship and people see me using my gifts. That doesn't mean that my gifts are more important than the next persons they are just more public. But this weekend it was the quiet gifts that we rarely see that made the difference. In the stress and confusion of the weekend simple things like someone bringing a bag of Taco Bell tacos up to the hospital meant so much. The hundreds of people praying has worked miracles. The folks who watched our kids for us so we could be where we needed to be. The people who chipped in and helped finish the Bible school projects my wife has been working on and the list can go on and on.
It is in the little things that Body of Christ can be truly seen at work. Jesus taught about the "cup of cold water given in my name" and loving your neighbor not hermeneutics and worship techniques or church grow methods. He knew that if we spend our time on building true relationships with those around us, both believers and unbelievers, so many of the other things would take care of them selves. We reach our world by loving it not by preaching to it. The body is healed by care not criticism.
In the midst of this our pastor is preaching on stewardship. Steward ship is being faithful in the little things. When this happens we will be trusted with much. I've heard it put this way as well, "When you watch the pennies the dollars take care of themselves."
Watch your pennies, mind the little things, do the good that is right before you today.
May your life be faithful - Dan
It is in the little things that Body of Christ can be truly seen at work. Jesus taught about the "cup of cold water given in my name" and loving your neighbor not hermeneutics and worship techniques or church grow methods. He knew that if we spend our time on building true relationships with those around us, both believers and unbelievers, so many of the other things would take care of them selves. We reach our world by loving it not by preaching to it. The body is healed by care not criticism.
In the midst of this our pastor is preaching on stewardship. Steward ship is being faithful in the little things. When this happens we will be trusted with much. I've heard it put this way as well, "When you watch the pennies the dollars take care of themselves."
Watch your pennies, mind the little things, do the good that is right before you today.
May your life be faithful - Dan
Friday, February 24, 2006
Moby
It's official, we are insane! Yes the 2nd grader, the kindergartener, the preschooler and the infant were not enough. The Wilson's decided they needed to add a dog as well. Moby came to live with us last week. She is an English Springer Spaniel and is about a year old. We adopted here though the English Springer Rescue Society. She lived with a family that loved her a lot but didn't have enough time for all her energy. Well I'm not sure about time but the girls definitely have enough energy for her. She has been a great addition and we're having a ball.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Tyler!
Man it feels great to write a little bit again. I’ve had to take a bit of a hiatus the last few months. Life has been CRAZY! There is a new baby at our house. Tyler Henry Lane Wilson was born on December 8th – he was 6 lbs 4 oz and 19 in long. He is awesome! I’d forgotten how much energy it takes to care for an infant though. I’m tired most of the time. Between midnight and 3 am feedings and chasing around three little school girls the rest of the time life has kept us hopping. But God is good and he keeps on blessing.
Perception or Reality?
"They say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of Him as somewhat of a recluse." - Emily Dickinson
I ran across this quote today and it got me thinking about our perceptions of God vs. reality. Reality is that God is indeed everywhere. Perception often tells us that he is reclusive because we don't "feel" his presence. We almost universally react not to what is truly real but our perceptions, our felt reality. Our actions are dictated not by what we say we believe or consciously would agree too, but rather by what we subconsciously believe - what our experiences have taught us is reality. Two of us may hear the same person give the same political speech and one may feel moved to action while the other distrusts the speaker’s sincerity and perhaps morality. How do we get our emotional/perceptual reality in line with our intellectual reality? Or actually the better question is “How do we realign to God’s reality?” In some ways I think this duality is reflected by Paul in chapter 7 of Romans when he talks about the good he wants to do and the evil that comes so easily.
One of my favorite artists is Charlie Peacock. He poses this problem this way in his song Heaven is a Real Place.
Oh for the eyes to see beyond this flesh and bone
To my final destination, to the city I’ll call home
Well it’s crazy to pretend and try and act like
I’m one of the locals
Every body knows that I’m really just a tourist
not by accident but by my own choice
Still so much of the time I live like this spinning
ball of land and ocean is my reality complete
Would you say a prayer for a change in me
This is what I want
This is what I need
I want to live like heaven is a real place
I want to live like heaven is a real place
In my everyday time and space
I want to live like heaven is a real place
God didn’t give up on the idea of Eden as
some misguided episode
The garden has given us place to the city where the
walk of God with man will be resumed
May my whole life reflect my belief that Heaven is
where I’ll spend eternity
That would be something, something to see
Till death is swallowed up in victory
So what is the answer? How do we experience this perception change? In the Old Testament we are told that when Moses went up the mountain to receive the 10 commandments He asked to see God’s reality and when he came back down he glowed with the fading radiance of God. In 2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul talks about this happening in our lives when he says "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. This comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." Tim Hughes puts it this way when he says "The more we gaze at Him as we worship, the more like Him we gradually become. BEHOLDING IS BECOMING!"
The answer brings us back again to Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” The solution is intentionally, daily focusing on the Father. It comes from daily seeking His face, His presence, His touch. It is in this daily focus we are bit by bit shaped, bit by bit molded, bit by bit changed into the people we were created to be. The reality of this world fades and his surpassing glory – the true reality takes it’s place.
Father, mold me and shape me. Cleanse me with your fire. Sanctify me and may my reality be your reality. Amen
Seek His Presence
Dan
I ran across this quote today and it got me thinking about our perceptions of God vs. reality. Reality is that God is indeed everywhere. Perception often tells us that he is reclusive because we don't "feel" his presence. We almost universally react not to what is truly real but our perceptions, our felt reality. Our actions are dictated not by what we say we believe or consciously would agree too, but rather by what we subconsciously believe - what our experiences have taught us is reality. Two of us may hear the same person give the same political speech and one may feel moved to action while the other distrusts the speaker’s sincerity and perhaps morality. How do we get our emotional/perceptual reality in line with our intellectual reality? Or actually the better question is “How do we realign to God’s reality?” In some ways I think this duality is reflected by Paul in chapter 7 of Romans when he talks about the good he wants to do and the evil that comes so easily.
One of my favorite artists is Charlie Peacock. He poses this problem this way in his song Heaven is a Real Place.
Oh for the eyes to see beyond this flesh and bone
To my final destination, to the city I’ll call home
Well it’s crazy to pretend and try and act like
I’m one of the locals
Every body knows that I’m really just a tourist
not by accident but by my own choice
Still so much of the time I live like this spinning
ball of land and ocean is my reality complete
Would you say a prayer for a change in me
This is what I want
This is what I need
I want to live like heaven is a real place
I want to live like heaven is a real place
In my everyday time and space
I want to live like heaven is a real place
God didn’t give up on the idea of Eden as
some misguided episode
The garden has given us place to the city where the
walk of God with man will be resumed
May my whole life reflect my belief that Heaven is
where I’ll spend eternity
That would be something, something to see
Till death is swallowed up in victory
So what is the answer? How do we experience this perception change? In the Old Testament we are told that when Moses went up the mountain to receive the 10 commandments He asked to see God’s reality and when he came back down he glowed with the fading radiance of God. In 2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul talks about this happening in our lives when he says "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. This comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." Tim Hughes puts it this way when he says "The more we gaze at Him as we worship, the more like Him we gradually become. BEHOLDING IS BECOMING!"
The answer brings us back again to Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” The solution is intentionally, daily focusing on the Father. It comes from daily seeking His face, His presence, His touch. It is in this daily focus we are bit by bit shaped, bit by bit molded, bit by bit changed into the people we were created to be. The reality of this world fades and his surpassing glory – the true reality takes it’s place.
Father, mold me and shape me. Cleanse me with your fire. Sanctify me and may my reality be your reality. Amen
Seek His Presence
Dan
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