Carry Me On Your Back

So this weekend was definately fun. And interesting.

I loved it. I hope many many more come along.

So, I'll start off with Friday night, watched a terrible scary movie called Session 9.

Don't watch it. It's not scary. Nor does it make any sense. BLAH!

But, I felt as if I needed to be redeemed, so I watched Iron Man.

Esteban fell asleep with a priceless face on. Monica as well.

I was the only one watching it. Oh well. :)

So, then I woke up at like 11. Decided to go pull Monica out of bed. Physically.

That was fun. Then we just kind of hung out.

And then decided to go to the mall, and Ice Skate.

Here's where the weekend starts to get fun.

Last time we took bus 30 to the mall.

So we get on bus 30 again, and well.... sit.

Realize its not heading to the mall thats like a 15 minute drive. We don't know where we are going.

Turns out, two hours later, we're in old town San Diego. We get off. Then back on.

After some homeless dudes tells us jokes, and then me learning how

to braid hair, we finally make it to the mall.

So its four. Ice skating ended at 2.

And start at 8 pm again. So. For four hours, we walk around, shop, eat, waste time. Haha.

It finally turned 8, and I finally got to do what i wanted, ice skate.

I really love to ice skate. Its super fun :)

So Saturday turned out well.

Except Monica lost her wallet on the bus! BUT! The bus driver found it, and sent her a facebook message! Thank the Lord! I prayed so much :)

Then today was nice.

Woke up late, hung out.

Went to the beach, beautiful beautiful day.

Then went to the Flood church! (They have four services, one at 8 pm!)

So that was really cool.

The band was good, except its super difficult to follow a female lead singer, they sing SO DARN HIGH! Oh well though, I managed.

I loved the sermon on Ephesians 2. Just knowing who I am now in Christ, its so amazing to be redeemed! I love it.

All in all, good weekend.

I have four classes tomorrow, I hope I manage! Bleh. haha.

Wish me well.

With much love,

D

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Tell Me I'm Not Alone

College.

What a crazy thing.

I'm still unable to fathom it. Still in the summer-camp-mindset.

Classes started today. The two I had seemed fine.

History of Western Music and Intro to Society were both fine.

Don't seem too hard.

But I'm dreading the fact of actually having to do schoolwork, again.

Blah! Whatever though, I'll get used to it.

Got one class tomorrow, so that should be fine.

The last few days have been rad. Lots of Revellian fun (aka Revelle, my "college") and yeah!

I've made some pretty awesome friends, mostly my suitemates, Monica and Michelle. So thats good :)

So I don't know how to write out how I feel.

Life is different. But its fun.

A lot of movies. A lot of Mario Cart.

Hope all continues to do well.

Fearing the worst. Hoping the best.

Oh college.

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Graveyard of Empires.

So forgive me for not writing.

Its been hectic. Busy. Crazy.

And forgive me for telling you I'm not gonna write much tonight.

I'm absolutely exhausted.

Just got back from the Sun God Dance (aka a super awesome dance we have on Sun God lawn)

It was definately legit.

Funny coming from me. The kid who didn't go to a single school dance.

But I loved this one. Outdoors. Strobes, awesome lights, amazing techno music.

And of course, some dubstep.

I enjoyed it much. Though, maybe I might have too much.

I must say, college is going pretty well.

I could dig this for a while, but class actually starts soon. BOO!

Anyways. I'll write soon :)

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Take Me Somewhere Nice

"A family is a little world created by love."

I love my family. My great big family!

I have been so greatly blessed by the Lord for my big family.

I don't know what I could have ever done without any of them.

Today was my last full day in Slobispo.

It was also the night I said goodbye to the Talleys (first picture).

It was one of the hardest things I've done in a while.

I know, I know I will see them in December.

I know, I know I come back during summer.

But, not being able to see them every week is hard.

Karena. Violet. Daniel. The faces that melt my heart everytime I see them.

I love them like my own brothers and sisters.

I gave them all goodbye gifts to remember me.

Karena especially got my favorite.

First off, I'll tell you she has my first grade teacher, which is crazy!

So, along with having my first grade teacher, I gave her my first guitar.

She was so stoked.

But after saying goodbye to all of them, I got into my car and immediately fell into tears.

I couldn't control myself. It was all this emotion finally exploding.

No more Mom. No more Talleys. No more Boutte's. I'm on my own.

Its crazy.

Though emotion of sadness is shown.

Deep inside me I know I'm excited.

God has SO much in store for me. So much I can't even fathom.

I trust in Him, for I know He has plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11)

So, as I drive down tomorrow, move in on Thursday morning,

I would love your prayer for the next week.

It's gonna be crazy and different.

I love you all. I love my family.

~Dan.

PS: I don't leave till 3 tomorrow, text me and come say hi and bye.

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Rubadub Shakedown

So today is my last full day in SLO.

I guess I wouldn't call it "last" in the fact I'm coming back in December, and for summer.

But I won't be living here anymore!

Crazy! 18 years, and now I'm moving on to La Jolla!

I'm super excited and super nervous, as I've said a million times.

Its a melancholy moment as I drive around SLO for the last time in a while

Getting all the last minute things I need. Haha.

But yes. I'll be home tonight if you want to come say bye!

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Love Is the Only Thing

So I can't believe its coming.

A few days left, and then I leave!

It's crazy.

And there's so much I have going on this next few days.

My room is like spotless. Nothing on the walls, or anywhere.

I just need to find boxes to put everything in.

Then besides packing, I need to buy stuff that I need.

Then visit all the people around here I need to visit before I leave!

Crazy crazy stuff. I'm excited. Nervous. Sad. Happy. Everything in one.

Prayer would be so awesome!

Now besides this.

There's something that has ALWAYS bothered me, but more so lately.

Its: Those who taint the name of Christ.

To expand. Those who call themselves Christians, and totally go against the Bible.

Besides the fact, that if you asked most anyone on the street, they'd say they're Christian.

Besides that, it's the people who call themselves Pastors, and yet, are so unbiblical.

It's those people who are Christian, and forget to LOVE. Forget to show FRUIT. (Gal. 5:22-23) Or even just forget life is about Christ, and nothing more.

At the moment. One name really springs to mind. Rev. Terry Jones.

The dude whose comtemplating burning the Koran.

Really man? Contemplating? That shouldn't even be happening.

As someone who professes, and teaches, the Bible.

Something like that shouldn't cross his mind. Ever.

If, that is, IF, he really opened his Bible, He'd realize there are many many words in the OT, New T and words that Jesus says that should convince Him otherwise.

"He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him." -1 John 2:9-10

"Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs" - Proverbs 10:12

"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself, I am the LORD." - Leviticus 19:18

Key word in every verse is LOVE. Without love, what do we really have?

The fact that He doesn't show it, let alone think it, quite rightly shows he should be sitting in the pews, learning about the Grace of God, definately not teaching it.

For he, like I, have no more right to have redemption, than Osama Bin Laden.

Yet, God is merciful. Full of Grace. He Loves us!

The fact is, one sin is no greater than any other.

Terrorist attacks are no greater of a sin than the hatred Rev. T-Jones is showing.

Like Matthew says, and I would love to emphasize and reiterate.

"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" Matthew 7:15

BEWARE of the false teachers that call themselves pastors, Christians, what not, but outwardly profess something contradictory to the Bible.

For those of you who believe we have a right to hate. Hate Muslims. Hate Athiests. Hate homosexuals. Whatever.

You are wrong.

We are called to love. Love no matter what. Love in the best times. Love in the hard times. Love the people we would love to hate. Love the people that are easy to love. Love those who have fallen so deep into sin they can't see the light. Love those who see the light daily.

I love the saying. Hate the sin, not the sinner. That is where we have the right to hate. Hate sin. Hate Satan. Love the sinner. Love the fallen. Love everyone.

Do not follow in the steps of Rev. Terry Jones.

Do not follow in the steps of Christians who hold up signs that say horrible things to homosexuals.

Do not follow the world.

Follow Christ.

His love shown to the broken. the wretched. the hated.

John 4 is such a perfect example.

He took water from a woman whom He shouldn't have associated with.

Read it. Believe it.

Act it.

For love is an action, not a word.

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Distant Shores

Today is Wednesday.

Which means one week.

One week.

Till I pack everything into a car.

And drive to La Jolla.

It's crazy to think about.

I'm so excited.

I'm so nervous.

What a change it will be.

Keep me in your prayers this next week.

For packing everything I want is going to be crazy.

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Forest.

So I've felt like the older I get.

The faster the weeks go by.

It feels like a day ago, I had four weeks till I leave.

Which has now turned to around two.

It feels as if a week ago, I was running around Hume Lake (tear. tear.)

Which is crazy! Why do weeks go by so fast.

Its like life flashes before your eyes. Its like:

"Well hello Friday. Here's another week gone"

Ah craziness.

And to add on to me "Getting old".

I was playing guitar on the couch today, stood up and my lower back ached.

It still does. Blah. I hope I'm not getting THAT old.

But. In the last few days, I've been reading pages, and pages of How To.

And what for, you might ask?

Logic Pro! Duh.

What is logic pro?

Um. Like my own studio. Of course!

I can record. Create. Do pretty much whatever I want with music I make.

Its pretty darn awesome. Though, its super confusing to learn.

But I will. Eventually.

But I wrote a song a while back.

Needed some "kit" (aka drum) added to it.

Plus bass.

And all the extra jazz.

So I had Casey come in and help me record.

So lately I've also been arranging the song (timing with drums. Guitar. Bass)

And I am SO close to finished. And it sounds pretty darn good too.

I need to add in some powerful oomph from an electric guitar.

But that should be easy.

Anywhoo. I think I'm even MORE obsessed with music.

And am definately going to keep buying equipment, for my own studio (some day!)

First on the list. Two monitors to hook up to the mac (so I can evenly see everything!)

Lately its been awesome to think and talk about discipleship at youth group

(Yes, I am still part of the highschool youth group, I don't want to give it up, yet..)

We've been looking at what it looks like to be a disciple.

Talmidim.

To make a long story short (if you want to read exactly what a Talmidim is, its super awesome, read HERE)

Back in the days of Jesus, children would memorize the Old Testament. Special students were chosen to continue study, and then even the few (very few!) of those, were chosen to find Rabbi's to follow. The students were called Talmidim. Disciple. This disciple did EVERYTHING the Rabbi would do. And they would follow in their dust (aka the dust kicked up by walking, no sidewalks!) These students were devoted.

It has been so awesome to think that, we didn't choose to follow Christ,

like these students chose their Rabbi.

Jesus chose us.

How unworthy we are to be His Talmidim. Yet we are called to it by Him.

But the thing I love about it. It isn't easy.

We are called to find joy in every circumstance.

Choose God over our family. Friends. Everything (Luke 14:26)

And deny ourselves. Everything we want. The things we think we should have! (Matt. 16:24-25)

What a calling. It seems so difficult. But I love the fact that I know it is fulfilling and sustaining.

Talmidim. Disciple. I am Christ's Talmidim.

It reminds me of the song.

Talmidim. What a wonderful one indeed.

Here it is. Powerful.

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