We want to wish you and very Merry Christmas!May God bless you and keep you and make his face shine upon you.
Blessings,
Dante
Stronger then....
If for nothing else through the course of the week, I look forward to my Saturday Mornings. Albeit, today was a tad hard waking up to a cold room (snow outside) and and comfy bed, however, I managed to remember that a "brother" of mine said that he may go to men's group this morning so I got myself up and to men's group.
I am so thankful that I came today. Every third Saturday we have two facilitators that have been doing this for the past two and a half years and going on three. They continued their theme on Anger and we split the group (as it was too big for all to share). We read Scripture from Genesis to Colossians and touched on some key things relating to anger and to ways around and through anger.
I have the privilege and honor to be the men's ministry leader (co-leader) of this flourishing ministry in our church. As one elder recently told me it is a "hotspot" for spiritual growth in our church - To God be the Glory forever and ever, amen! Our formula is simple on Saturday Mornings: Open with worship, read scripture, discuss relevant and real-life experience and see what wisdom and scripture has to say on this. The Holy Spirit does the rest. (that is our success to our men's ministry).
The two discussions on anger have really energized me in my walk and our walk with like-minded brothers. The coolest thing is seeing some of the "younger spiritual" brothers (not necessarily in age) growing and sharing and really putting their ideas and scripture that means much to them. They think that more mature Christians gain more by talking more - I don't agree with that because when we see brother's and/or sister's turning away from the world and growing spiritually - that is awesome.
I love it when I see spiritual growth in people - it energizes me - it excites me. I want to thank any of you legacy dads out there that have changed course and submitted to God's will in your life - you are already winning the battle through obedience.
This morning brought me to a really healthy place in realizing that we don't have to react to the world in a worldly way. Instead if we choose to Set our hearts and minds on things above (Where Jesus Christ is). Put away the earthly things that turn us away from Him. Clothe ourselves in love and kindness and putting on the love that binds us. Giving thanks to God our father.
When we do this and we humble ourselves before a Holy God and realize that in Him we can have the abundant life that he has planned for us then we realize that all things are possible with God.
Saturday Mornings are a beautiful thing!
Dante
Do you know the reason for the season?
This week I have read through the entire Gospel of Luke and have be recharged with the miracle of Christmas and the teachings of Jesus. I have to confess that sometimes I feel distant with my prayer life and with my walk only to realize that there is more at play than meets the eye.Luke Chapter 1 & 2 gives us the setting and story of the Birth of Jesus 
and John the Baptist, along with Jesus as a boy in his Father's house. Luke 3 & 4 tells about John the Baptist in the Wilderness and the lineage of Jesus along with the devil tempting our Lord Jesus (yeah, good luck with that one :)). Luke 5 through 22 tells us about his teachings and fulfilling of prophecies along with life lessons for you and I.
I cannot even begin to tell you how I am really looking forward to Christmas Day with my family. I will admit that this year has been a very bittersweet year for me. My mother died in March and my wife's 100+ grandmother just died as well. On the very night that we were at the wake, our friend called me to tell us that she found our dog dead on the kitchen floor. We left the wake early to tell our kids about our dog Sammy dying and to allow them to say their goodbyes to him. Needless to say, my heart aches.
The good news here is Jesus - he makes things new everyday. I am amazed that a God would love us this much to send His only son for us to die on a cross and to take our sin away. The beautiful thing for me this week was reading through the entire Gospel of Luke. I am renewed and refreshed with some more things to share along the way.
Are you willing to be a true disciple of Christ - no matter the cost? In Luke 14:26 Jesus gives us clear understanding that when we choose to follow Him we may have to decide to choose Him over family members and even more so over our self. 
That is, are we willing to die to us and live for Him no matter the cost. One thing that struck me as profound is when Jesus was watching the rich give tithes of their abundance but watched the widow give all that she had (two copper coins). She gave out of her comfort zone while others only give what they are willing to lose. How much more should we, as disciples be willing to give up? I read a "tweet" this week that made me laugh hard. It said, "I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible more as they get older, then I realized: They are cramming for finals!"
What makes me wonder the most these days is when we get to Heaven (and the Judgement Seat of Christ), how many Christians will realize that they got this life wrong. They could have done more? They should have gave more! They should have thought of self less and others more. Pure religion in the eyes of the Father is that which takes care of widows and orphans and avoids the ways of this world (paraphrasing James 1:27).
This Christmas, I want to wrap my arms around Luke Chapter 2 and spread the gospel to my family, friends and community more. I want my life to be that light that says Jesus is the only way.
Blessings,
Dante
Good bye old friend...
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
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Samson Alexander Girolimon the First
5/26/2001 - 12/2/2011
Grow into a faithful man (by Unknown)
When I began this Christian walk in Christ I was a child. My faith was easily tested, for my life had been quite wild.But I had faithful men to pray with me and help me find the way. They gently nudged and shared the Word and knew just what to say.
I marveled at their wisdom, envied it in fact, As they carried me along and helped me spiritually stay intact.
It was the Holy Spirit in them which gave them love and joy and peace. And as they loved me because they were loved, my spiritual life increased.
As I read the Word and understood it, (Holy Spirit there again), I came to know and understand that these were faithful Godly men.
Not just because of what they did for me, but for the Spirit in their hearts. With that help they were faithful and loving, their wisdom to impart.
I wasn't always faithful, I faltered now and then, But I have been lifted up repeatedly by faithful Godly men.
I now strive to be like them, for they strived to follow God's plan. They loved (and still love) and nurtured to help me grow into a man.
Am I a faithful man? I hope so, but I'm still climbing towards the throne, Led by faithful Godly men because the way there they've freely shown.
We must no longer be a child but grow into faithful men. And reach back to help those who are children, when they falter in sin.
Someone did the same for you, a preacher, a father, a friend. It was a child we were in the beginning; it is a faithful man we must be in the end.
By an anonymous Deacon.
Thanksgiving, a Few Days Late.
Thanksgiving, a Few Days Late.My wife and I were discussing being blessed and cursed, this morning. Wait, it's not a strange as it sounds. The conversation started as we were sitting in a small cafe' on Michigan Ave. in Chicago, celebrating our 18th anniversary. Celebrating a family that is a huge blessing to us and one we were having fun being grateful for.
However , we are both divorced, with kids. And while our blended family (kids all grown now) is a magnificent blessing, it can be really hard. Especially now during the holidays; its not necessarily a blessing for us or for the kids. The blend is something we all live with, always there but never more tangible than in this season. Blessed and cursed, in tension.
And we are not alone. You aren't either.
Maybe this tension is a microcosm of what it means to be Christian. Broken flesh and reborn spirit, old man and new man, cursed and blessed, living together for a while.
Still, we are not alone.
I think about our Lord Jesus Christ and wonder if he didn't walk the same way, blessed as the Son of God, cursed living in this broken world and ultimately carrying our curse of sin completely.
Into hell. Out again. Cursed and blessed.
Jesus, thank you. No really, from the bottom of everything we are, thank you.
You get us,
Kurt
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(NOTE: Kurt is a great friend of mine who is an elder and facilitator in our chruch/men's group, respectively) - thanks Kurt for your insight! -Dante)
What are you thankful for...?
This past Saturday, I had the privelege to be a bystander and watch and listen to a group of men that really made me appreciate our men's ministry. First of all, the morning started with a few songs led by a guy who wanted us to start the day out with praise and worship a while ago. The last song that he played (we sang) was from Jesus Culture called One Thing Remains.
It was powerful to listen to words that are not about us, but about who made us and who loves us more than we ever could. The two facilitators that morning decided that the group was just too big for everyone to share, so they split the group up and we discussed our lives and the Bible verses we read and what each meant to us. It was a great morning and a powerful morning.
Holiday weeks can be a bit taxing with everything going on and since my mother died back in March, I, for the life of me, cannot catch up with all the paperwork and responsibility that comes with responsibility of being the executor and my father living in assisted living. That being said, I have been really thankful for my family. First of all, for my wife, Kate, who loves me no matter what I do - you see we married each other for better or for worse - no "ifs" "ands" or "buts"...When we said "We do" we meant it. I am thankful for that.
I am thankful for our three wonderful children that God has blessed us with. I love the way that God has made each of them and I appreciate how much they show me how much God must love me!
I am thankful for my friends that I pray for. When I first got into ministry I prayed for spiritual friends like I have today, I am thankful for that.
Today, even in my own personal trials and tribulations, I am thankful!
What about you? What are you thankful for?
Dante
10 Years...
Last week my family went on our annual vacation, which normally would fall on this week, but because of teachers' conferences, we moved the vacation up one week. We went to Florida (Clearwater Beach & Disney World) and we had a great time, even with the stresses of work lingering into my vacation, I was able to really enjoy my family.As we spent 2 days in Disney and a week on the beach
and in the swimming pool, I asked my son what vacation meant for him. His answer really put things in perspective for me: "Daddy, that is simple, it is about being with your family and relaxing." I think that for a seven year old to find that answer at such a young age speaks volumes to this generation. In life's hustle and bustle and technology boom, we need to take a step back, breathe and inhale the sweet smell of family.
Every morning that I woke up I either went to eat out with the family (nieces and nephews and grandparents) and then I would read my Bible and pray and thank God for the blessing of family. The blessing of comfort in family and the secure feeling to know that I have four people in my life that think the best of me no matter what else life throws at me.
Speaking of which, tomorrow (11/10/11) will mark my 10 year anniversary of marriage to my beautiful wife - Kate. 
I cannot even begin to tell you how faithful God has been to me even when I have turned my back on him in my twenties, he stayed faithful and true and knew the plans that he had for me, plans to prosper me. He gave me my wife and kept his promise to me. I have a Proverbial 31 wife. She is an awesome wife and an incredible mother through the good and bad/hills and valleys of parenting. Kate would be the first to tell you that her and I don't always "get it right" in relationship and in parenting, but we are committed to see it through and to be our families greatest fans. When life gets difficult and sometimes downright unbearable it is family and a right relationship with God that can see you through any valley. Kate has taught me a lot in life and she doesn't even realize how much she has.
She has taught me to love family even when it is difficult to do so. We choose our friends and not our family, therefore, we have to love our family no matter what. She has taught me that when I set my mind to things I can do almost anything that I set a goal to, even if I fail along the way. She has taught me that I can talk through any argument and not to hold grudges through life. When she says she forgives - she truly forgives. When she knows that I am mad, she won't let it rest until we see it through. She has taught me how much my mom loved me, because I see the love that she has for me, my son Trey and my daughters, Audrey and Belle.
One of the work stress into vacation days was when we went to see Winter (the dolphin with no tail) as the kids had to go see the female dolphin after going to see the movie in the theater. With love and with family, we can overcome any obstacle - even losing a tail along the way.
As I will hopefully come home from work tomorrow, I cannot wait to see my beautiful bride and to tell her exactly what she means to me. What my marriage to her means to me and to tell her how thankful that I am that God is in the center of our marriage and how much I appreciate her as a friend, a wife, a lover and mother!
When this life is done the legacy that I want to leave my children and hopefully some readers who truly love this blog is this: Of faith, hope and love - love is the one thing that we need to put above all the rest. For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son. That whosoever believes in him shall be saved.
Thank you Kate! I am proud to be your husband!
Love,
Dante