a sad, sad day

so it would appear that i have lost all my blogiples.  i never really had any i dont think, but the ones that i thought i had i have no more, so all are gone.  if you are reading this that probably means that you found me by accident, well i am sorry.  i no that i have not been as faithful as i should be to my blog, but seriously i am busy, really busy.  i am going to columbia tomorrow for the sc state baptist convention.  i am sort of looking forward to it, i decided that i should be involved that way if the SBC starts to go away i dont like i can have voice in the whole thing.  so any way.  other than that nothing new going on.  just trying to make it.  

i promise i will try to be better and make you proud oh followers of the blog.  

i do love you

Dan

is election day getting you down?

today is election day for us here the united states of america, and it is a crazy time for our country.  then again it is always a crazy time.  each generation has it's challenges and struggles, and each generation views theirs as the worst, the truth is that problems seem the biggest when you are in the midst of them, it is only time and distance that give us the perspective to see that the issue we faced wasnt as big as we had originally thought.    so if i may i would like to encourage all of you, and myself also with some words of Scripture. 

Romans 13:1-2: Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 

Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 

Remember whoever is elected president of the US, God is the ultimate authority, and the is no power greater, and no one has power unless God has allowed it.  our God reigns and this world is not our home, so dont fret or loose heart, but trust in the One who holds the universe together by the power of His Word.

your BFF

Dan

i really feel like you need to read more.

hey seriously i am serious.  i am not just talking about me blog either.  i have moved the list of books that i think you should read to right over here ------------->.  so what i suggest you do is pick one of the books and read it.  let me give you some help.  if you are interested in biblical counseling and what is a biblical way to approach our lives and the issues in them you should read either Seeing with New Eyes by David Powlison, or Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands Paul David Tripp.   if you want to understand in a more complete and mature way what Christ has accomplished for us on the cross you should read Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray.  if you are wanting to understand what 'free will' really is then read Freedom of the Will, by Jonathan Edwards.  if you want to be encouraged in your walk with Christ read Pursuit of God by AW Tozer, and if you are looking for some 16th century narnia type stuff read Pilgram's Promise, by John Bunyon.  

Really why are you not reading?  you are spending your time in other ways, why not read useful material that will educate, enlighten, and mature you in your walk with God. 

brought to you by the foundation for more reading, and jordi laforge AKA cunta kintay

and Dan

post it.

hey all you out there in blog nation addicted to my blog.  sorry for the lay off, but my head is about to explode and one more thing to add to the pile was just too much, even if that one thing was just getting on the computer and typing.  so anyway i have a very, very brief reprieve and i wanted to say hello, maybe i have been gone so long i need to reintroduce myself.  i am dan, the blogger of this here blog.  

annie and i and the girls are doing well, we are in the midst of our get out of debt plan, and things are going according to plan.  we have been faithful not to spend money as we said we would, but no extra money is coming in at all, we have not sold anything that we have tried to sell, and it cost money to post on ebay, and with criags list i have been getting some freaky emails, so we are trusting God to provide, we have already seen Him do that, the other day we got our heating unit fixed by a man in the church, when i went to pay him he told me it was free, talk about a blessing, so i know God will meet all of our needs.  continue to pray for us.  other than that things are going well, i am looking forward to december when school will be over and i can breathe again.  so i will talk to you later.  

dan

Who built the ark?

Are you serious?  Noah.

i talked to the kids about homosexuality tonight.  talk about a heavy, but necessary topic for kids.  i have 7th to college age students all in the same room, so sometimes it is hard to land on a topic, but i felt that it was necessary for them to have a biblical understanding of homosexuality, and the churches need to love people and pray for their reconciliation and restoration.  as i talked with them i brought up the media, and it dawned on me, tv today is on a mission to make sin not only acceptable but fashionable.  think of the tv shows that are popular, and you will find adultery, homosexuality, foul speech, drinking and drug use, nudity, sexual immorality, and all this is piped to a willing audience that is taught everyday by their tv set that this kind of behavior is ok, because really everyone is doing it.  as a dad, and annie as a mom, we have decided to be much more aware of what maddy and phoebe see, no more rated R movies for them, and no more beer, they are now on veggie tales and white wine, but seriously we need to be careful what they see, and what we see for that matter.  our prayer should be for our eyes to see sin as our Father in heaven sees sin, what would everything look like then?  would we turn the tv on, would we watch that movie.  i think not, 

your friend and confidant. 

dan

My God is an awesome God.

tonight my wife and i had a budget meeting, as you know (rebekah), we are working towards getting out of debt, and things are not as good as we would have liked.  so we took our burden to the Lord.  first we read Matthew 6:19-33, and then 1 John 1.  we confessed our sin to the Lord, how we have used what He gave us to be stewards of and instead of being righteous with His possessions we spent them on our own sinful lusts and desires.  then we prayed the promise of Matthew 6, not for all we want but for provision, and for our treasure to be found in Heaven not here on earth.  so pray with us as we watch our God provide.  He is the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hillsides, a truly awesome God. 

heart 

dan

Dan is awesome.

alright so stasia and i went to a marriage conference this week, and it was alright.  there was a lot more pop psychology and not nearly enough Scripture, one thing that was said that i did appreciate was when the lead speakers were discussing how their son had rebelled when he went to college, they said that they made the decision to love him through it, it made me think about those i know and love who are going through rebellion, i have loved some but probably avoided more.  so i have decided to love all.  not to tolerate or capitulate, or associate, but to love them while all the time showing the truth and calling and command of Christ.  much can be accomplished as the love of Christ moves through us to others. 

with much love and affection for all who call my blog home. 

Dan

Where have i been

so once again i apologize for my break in blogging.  mainly that is directed toward justin, who is the most dedicated reader of my blog.  and yes justin i am going to keep up with this.  annie and i are at my parents house in hendersonville right now because we are attending a marriage retreat at ridgecrest.  the people at the conference called us up and told us that they needed an example of a perfect marriage and they wanted to know if we were available. so there we are putting our marriage on display for the health of others.  (i am kidding), but we will see what the outcome is, so far it has been interesting.  i will report back after the weekend.

over and out

Dan

I am learning

so i am learning more and more about this whole blog thing.  if you notice i have added some new features to my blog.  i have some blogs listed to the right that i feel you could benefit from reading, and i have a new bar down at the bottom where i list books i think you should read.  being in school i read about 6 books every semester, so i have quite a few to suggest.  my favorite of all the books listed right now is Seeing with New Eyes, by David Powlison.  it is a book for my counseling class and i suggest that all read it.  it will challenge your understanding of the total application of Scripture.    one thing that i wanted to put on my blog is "the list".  the list is a list of things that Stasia (what i have come to call annie) and i are willing to do to rid ourselves of debt.  if i put it on my blog then it moves from private to public, and becomes a matter of accountability.  so pray for us, ask us how we are doing and be specific.  

without further ado i give you, The List.

1. Dan will no longer drink Simply Apple

2. Dan will no longer buy Starbucks for the house

3. Dan and Annie will not buy anything on a credit card.

4. Dan will attempt to sell everything that I own that is not vital to life.

5. Annie will use internet coupons when shopping.

6. Annie will get rid of her cell phone and get a track phone.

7. We will only eat out once a month at our own cost.

8. Annie will revise how and what we buy at the grocery store.

9. Dan will walk to work or ride a bike whenever possible.

10. Dan and Annie will use all surplus money to pay off debt.

11. Dan and Annie will not purchase anything that is not necessary.

12. Dan and Annie will turn off lights when not in the room.

There it is, might sound silly but it is the beginning.

with hugs and kisses, and happy wishes. 

your main squeeze.

dan

open the flood gates

today was a great day in church. we had a young couple stand up and give testimony to what God is doing in their life.  they shared how they had allowed selfishness and sin destroy their home, and how they came to a point where they knew things had to change or it was over.  they got the number of a christian biblical counselor, and began a discipling relationship that is transforming their life and their marriage.  

they repented of the selfishness in their life, and are seeking to free their family from debt.  so when it rains it pours, and round our house it is raining like noah.  

denley and i talked about debt and i felt conviction over annie and i and how we run our life.  then justin and becky come right on the heels of that and spur us on to make a plan, then this couple in the church is working through the same thing.  God is confirming in my heart the validity of debt free life.  just today a friend who is teaching in africa told me that they are staring a new school and need missionaries to come and solidify it, he wrote, "you should get finished with school and then we can both come and help establish the school."  what a joy it will be when i am free from the chains of debt and annie and i can go and serve as He has called us.  

pray for us.  that we will have determination and dedication and that the grace of God would richly fall on us and set us free that we might spend our lives in service.  

with all love and affection that i can muster at this hour.

dc.

adam

so we just got back from the homecoming game at marion.  and i realized that today was my 10 year reunion back at the great TC Roberson High school, and i was not there.  as i sat at the game with annie she said well that part of your life is over now, and she is right. dan collins that lived and went to tc is dead.  he has been buried with Christ and raised to walk in newness of life.   the guy they knew is dead, the guy I knew in high school IS dead.  so why pretend like he is still alive.  praise God for the work He has done and He has accomplished in my life, because only He could do it.  

oh and adam work is sitting on my couch.  

with much love.  

the new creation . 

crazy night.

so annie's mom cindy came into town tonight, and annie left us to go out to eat with some friends.  so i was mister mom at the house.  i made dinner, gave phoebe a bath and put her to bed, then cleaned up the kitchen while nana (cindy) gave maddy a bath.  then annie came home with some great news.  one of our friends, who was also out to eat with annie, is nine months pregnant and at dinner her water broke,  as i blog annie is on the phone right now with her checking up.  she is at the hospital waiting for the arrival of their first child a son named baine.  it got me thinking about how exciting it is to have a child, and the anticipation there is as you wait for the baby to come.  then before you know it they are there in your arms the most amazing moment of your life.  then before you know it you are holding you 9 month old in your arms praying for God to give them a second birth.  all this while you are looking at your two year old who seems like they turned two over night. 

where does time go?  cherish the moments and make the most of them seeing that you glorify God in all that you are.  teaching your children to love and fear the Lord because before you know they will be gone.   or at least that is what they tell me.  

with much love and appreciation for the elderly who told me time flies.

Dan

sorry, sorry, sorry,  i hear that there are rules to blogging.  and i missed a post last night.  i want to take this opportunity to apologize to all my faithful readers out there, it will never happen again.  not much has changed, probably why i forgot to blog.  i am not preaching this sunday, which is kind of a drag, but i will be back in the pulpit the first of november preaching on the love of God and the love that we as His children are called to.  so if you are in marion, or the greater pee dee region stop by.  

continue to pray for annie and i as we begin our journey towards freedom from debt. 

with much heart 

dan

well we just finished up a great visit with our friends Justin and Rebekah.  it would have been a perfect visit had we not gotten the plague.  annie and i spent most of last night throwing up, but we are getting better.   i have something exciting to tell you (that is most likely "you" singular, i dont have any blogiples yet).  Annie and i spent the last night we had with justin and becky working on a "get out of debt plan"  they have been debt free for several years now and annie and i want to work for that freedom.  i want to live my daily life in realization that my treasure is in Heaven and was never meant to be focused on this earth.  we want to really trust God and watch as He provides for all our needs.   so i ask that you be in prayer for us.  we have made a list of things that we are willing to do.  this is just the first step but it is one in the right direction.   

in Matthew 6 Christ tells us to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  that is our only focus not what we can accumulate along the way.  it is going to be a long journey, but with prayer, determination and friends holding us accountable we plan to be debt free soon.  

i will post updates on our progress in future blogs.  and justin just in case you are reading this is three in a row now, and i am showing no signs of slowing down. 

heart

dan

What are you supposed to do?

i am not sure what do to with a blog.  i know that in my first blog i came off very confident as if i knew exactly what a blog is and how to do it, but i am lost.  my friend justin thinks that i will not keep up with it, so maybe the point of the blog is simply to prove him wrong.  anyway who is going to read this?  i guess you are.  

well today is a day off with the family, and friends.  we are going to go on a walk and then hang out at home.   then i have to prepare a sermon for this sunday.  so i will talk to you later.  

am i supposed to speak in such a personal way?  i guess i will learn. 

heart

Dan

Welcome

Hey everyone out there in the blogosphere.  I am new to the world of blogging.  To be honest it sounds like an event at one of those out door games, where the guys have axes and springboards.  any way let me get you used to my style of blogging.   i call it 22nd century blogging.  there is no rules here.  syntax is up for grabs.  grammar is optional and capitalization and proper punctuation are not necessary for life.  this is an opportunity for me to write what i want the way i want when i want.  to much of life is dictated by schedules and demands.  so this is my bastion of freedom in a world of dos and donts and whens and won'ts.  so i hope you like and chances are no one will ever read this except for my close friends.  

sincerely 

Dan