Steve Dangaran: Life & Times

Ryan & Sarah

2011-05-14T08:44:00.001-07:00

Let me be the first to introduce you to Sarah Hunter: the girl with the new ring in the photo above. Ryan proposed on Friday night May 6th at his new apartment on 21st St. in the Pearl District/Portland, OR. A bit later they walked a few blocks to 23rd St. where a bunch of us were waiting at Papa Haydyn's (thanks David and Karen Woods for the inspiration on that one) to celebrate. We love Sarah and can't wait to welcome her to the DanFam!

Possess Nothing

2011-05-14T08:14:00.000-07:00

Before God created man He first prepared for him a world that was full of useful and pleasant things (Tozer, Spiritual Classics, p. 113). These were 'things' meant to sustain and please the man, and yet, to remain external to him. The many attachments intertwining my heart, mind, and soul are beyond mere externals it seems. How do I grow in affection and commitment to those I love; grow in experience and effectiveness with initiatives I care about; increase my borders and boundaries; and hold it all loosely so as to possess nothing?

Then Jesus said to His disciples: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life must lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What good will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?

Splagnidzomai

2010-09-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

Luke 10:33 In the middle of the Good Samaritan story the author of the gospel connects reader and protagonist by revealing the nature of his motivation to act; which is best explained by the Gr. word splagnidzomai, which comes from the root splagna, meaning 'inner parts' such as liver, spleen, and heart. In the context of the story, the Samaritan traveler came upon a beaten, half-dead man on the 'bloody road' connecting Jerusalem to Jericho (called the 'bloody road' because of the wanton bloodshed and gratuitous violence that often occured there). Seeing the victim on the road, the Samaritan was moved in his inner being; he felt compassion. Matthew uses the same word to describe Jesus' response to the people who were scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. He was moved in his inner being to act on their behalf.

What situations impact me to the core of my being? When have I been moved to care for another person in need? Recently a friend of mine stopped by the church to find someone to pray with. He wasn't looking for me specifically, but I ran into him in the hallway and he told me what he was up to. We sat down together and he told me about being separated from his wife and children, being out of work, and missing his kids. As we began to pray, something inside of me said give him all the money you have in your pocket. For a split second I held back, but decided to go with my instinct. We prayed and prayed some more, and when we got down praying, I reached into my pocket and gave him all the bills I could find. It wasn't a ton by the worlds standards, but it was more than I've ever given randomly. I typically do not give money on the spot to those in need to protect myself from giving away everything I have and being irresponsible with my real obligations, but on this occasion I was moved in my inner being. Splagna was taking place.

2010-03-29T19:23:00.000-07:00

A Mini-Family Reunion

After 1 year, several of my aunts, uncles, and cousins decided to put together a mini-family reunion as a way of honoring/remembering my mom, dad, and brother. Pictured here are 4 of my mom and dads 6 remaining brothers and sisters (Uncle Gilbert, Auntie Retta (dads siblings); Uncle Marvin, Uncle Herbie (moms). Two live in Fresno, one in Las Vegas, and another in LA area. What a cool thing to be together and say to each other, 'you are important!' Would've blessed my mom and dad no doubt.

Earlier that day a few of us went to the graveside to put some now flowers on the headstone which holds my mom, dad, and brother. It was really peaceful and brought some further closure for me and Janet. We are totally confident that God has them securely in His hands, but there are still days when I wonder what's going on. Being there was a fresh reminder that their bodies are no longer with us, but with God.

When we got on the plane to fly to Portland, there was a genuine feeling of satisfaction and blessing. Many good things shared with family and friends. We are grateful to God for His care!

30 Years later . . .

2010-02-14T10:14:00.000-08:00

So here we are in the lobby at the fabulous Hotel Lucia in downtown Portland (about 10 blocks from where Ryan will be working next year in the Wells Fargo building pictured here as well) celebrating Valentines! Thirty years ago we got engaged, can you believe it!! (See story below under 'My Valentine'). Tons of fun: like coming up out of the parking garage with our pillows, books, and bags in hand, only to find Steve & Trina Fowler standing on the very street corner with their son Chase, then heading down to Pioneer square for the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics on a big screen, then to all the jewelry stores to check out new rings, and getting on the Max to explore the rest of downtown Portland. Couldn't have been better! So what are you doing for your Valentine this year?

2010-02-08T19:22:00.000-08:00

My Valentine

On February 14, 1981, I asked Janet to marry me on the back porch of her house in San Diego. (It wasn't quite as nice as our current front porch that she is standing on last Christmas in this picture). I had dinner all prepared, waiting for us on the table, her roommates lit the candles before they took off, we were supposed to walk in the back door, except they forgot to unlock it, and Janet didn't have her keys with her for some strange reason. So there we were; locked out. So I did what I've become so good at through the years, improvise.
Obviously it worked out pretty well for me; I asked, she said yes, and here we are 29 years later. In honor of 29 years since we got engaged, we head to Portland this weekend to celebrate on Friday night. Our friends Carl and Sue Nelson are putting us up at the Hotel Lucia as a thank you for doing their daughter Molly's wedding in December (cool idea guys! Thanks). It will also be fun to hang out in the city where Ryan landed his first job (which he doesn't start till next year).

Petra

2009-11-28T09:19:00.000-08:00

Do you recognize the fantastic scenery in these pics? I am standing at the ancient site of Petra in Jordan, 1 hour from the Red Sea, 2 from the Dead Sea. The Nabatean peoples carved these amazing structures out of the hillsides; they have been standing for over 2500 years.

I spent two weeks in the MIddle East just before Thanksgiving '09 as part of a team from our church to help establish community centers in three specific locations in the region.

I also got to see the place where Jesus was baptized on the Jordan river, Mt. Nebo where Moses died and was buried (Dt. 34), the ancient ruins of King Sihon of the Amorites who was defeated by the Israelites (Num. 21), the plains of Moab (Ruth), and the hills of Gilead. Tho we did not get a chance to cross over into Israel, we could clearly see the city of Jericho in the distance, and the eastern hills of Jerusalem above Jericho. What a blast!

Bikin' Fool

2009-07-18T21:25:00.001-07:00

So today I ended up out in the middle of nowhere on a perfect 25 mile ride; I stepped out my apartment door at Gonzaga, turned right, crossed the bridge, past the park, and off . . . the next 22 miles were meandering trails like the one you see here on the Spokane river. I've been spending 3 or 4 days a week riding to my hearts content; stop every 6 or 7 miles for a drink, a short walk around to catch my breath, and off. Considering I'm riding the 30 year old Schwinn Tour that was given to me last summer after my trail bike was stolen on campus one night, I'm not doing too bad. I caught up to an old dude a few days ago on one of those 5K Italian jobs, he took one look at my beater and kept going. 8 miles later I'm still with him and he finally says, 'So, how you pushing that old whip of yours around so fast?' 'They don't make em like this anymore do they,' I responded. '35 lbs and slow as molasses. Guess you just gotta be good.' And with that I turned on my afterburners and left him in the dust (ok, i made up that last part, i didn't really leave him in the dust, but the rest is all true). So friends, the next time you see me this summer, look for my bright yellow nike shirt and 30 year old whip riding like the wind.

Social Construction

2009-06-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

"The foundational idea of social construction seems simple enough, but it is also profound. Everything we consider real is socially constructed. Or, more dramatically, nothing is real unless people agree that it is" (Kenneth Gergen, Entering the Dialogue of Social Construction).

"Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man . . ." Romans 1:22-23 The Apostle Paul

So which person do you believe? As for me, I'll stand with the Apostle Paul thank you! One of the most pervasive theoretical constructs of epistemology (how we know) is social construction; the notion that all truth is man-made, that what we agree on together in relationships with other human beings as truth is truth. This would be a convenient way to live, even generative, in the sense that every situation can be viewed through a positivistic lense; we can make anything positive, life-giving, constructive.

The only problem is its not true, plain and simple. There is objective reality and transcendent truth. Jesus proved that by walking out of the tomb on the side of a hill two-thousand years ago. When I first arrived at Gonzaga I was not prepared for the onslaught of relativistic, social constructionists running around campus. In class I would sit and listen, stew a bit inside, attack a time or two, and generally walk away with my tail between my legs. This summer has been different. I no longer have the need to correct others, to defend good, or make all things right.

I'm sad this is probably my last summer in Spokane (I've just about completed my course work on the way to Dissertation research and writing next year) because my new found freedom is refreshing. I don't have to defend God from social construction, I'm simply called to live my life and be faithful to Him; He'll accomplish His purposes in and through me. What a difference a summer makes.

2009-06-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

"So now that you've graduated from UofO, what are you doing next Ryan?"
"I'm going to Disneyland!"

Easter and Emotions

2009-04-23T21:13:00.000-07:00

Easter weekend was quite the mix of highs and lows . . . Good Friday was spent in Fresno celebrating and mourning the home going of my mom Eve (she died of lung cancer on March 19th). The next day, Saturday April 11th, all 5 of us took turns driving a Penske truck and my dads cool Lincoln GS all the way to Salem. Later that night, Ryan and his girlfriend Emily (in picture above) came driving up and we played guitars and hopped in the jacuzzi till midnight. What blast! Then came Easter morning; we emptied out the truck into the garage before church, and had a fantastic day celebrating the resurrection of our Lord, and enjoying time together the rest of the day! Ryan and Emily beat Jon Marc and me in 2 on 2. Then a walk around Minto Brown, then helping Kelsey move some things out of her apartment; all together. Yeah! The next day when everyone was gone and Janet was at school, I had time to stop and think about the blessings and the losses in my life, and the emotions came gushing out. For the next 24 hours I'd lose it periodically, unpack another box with a picture, or a CD, or a trinket that would remind me of my mom, or dad, or brother, and I'd start crying all over again. A good friend said to me recently, "I think God is teaching you how to cry!" You know, I think he's right. Thank You Jesus! "Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted." Matt. 5:4

Grandma D is going home

2009-02-18T03:14:00.000-08:00

Its only a matter of time before Grandma Dangaran is headed home to be with Jesus. Just before last Thanksgiving she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and given months to live. We've all been down to CA to spend some time with her, like the girls here in the cool pic (Granddaughter Jordan (left), Niece Scottie (next), grandma, and Granddaughter Kelsey (right)). Janet and I and Ryan and Jon Marc went down just after Christmas and had several days with her; really hard, but really good.

Here's what I believe: death is not to be feared because we know that we are safe in God's hands through His son Jesus Christ! The bible tells us that 'death has no sting' if we have been 'crucified with Christ.' When we surrender ourselves to Him, admitting our sin, and seeking forgiveness at the cross, we have a promise of eternal life in heaven together with all the saints who have gone before. My mom gave her life to Jesus way back in the 1960's and has faithfully followed and served Him ever since. Yeah God, we are not as those who have no hope! Mom is going home, and so are we who know Jesus as Savior and Lord!

Family Jam Session

2009-02-16T07:35:00.000-08:00

When the guys are home from college, one of things you'll hear around our house is the sweet, sweet, sound of music. Somebody picks a song and away we go. In this scene, bud (Jon Marc) is driving a fresh rendition of 'Nothing But the Blood' he learned this year at CCF in Eugene. He's been helping out on the worship team a bit, and seems to have a knack for it. Yeah God!

California Here I Come . . .

2008-12-03T07:58:00.000-08:00

So its official. Ryan is headed to SF next summer after graduation from Uof O to join the team of young gun accountants at PriceWaterhouse, the world's largest accountancy firm. They are based in 150 countries, and Ryan tells us after the first year he could be placed anywhere in the world. We asked him if he could choose the West Salem branch; he's looking into it.

After 4 years as a Duck, our now 23 year old will be the first to head back to California (we'll see if any body else in the fam follows). These are tough economic times, so a job offer of any type is something pretty cool. Way to go Ry! We're proud of you.

The big building he'll be working in is behind him and Jon Marc; fortunately we got to spend some time there last summer after he did an internship with a different accounting firm. I guess we'll be heading there again real soon.

Summer in Spokane

2008-07-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

Aloysius Gonzaga (pronounced al-o-i-shus): Born in 1568, son of wealthy Italian merchant Ferdinando Gonzaga, marquis of Castiglione. His formative years were spent at the family castle near Mantova, Italy, traveling back and forth to Brescia for studies and training in a military academy. While reading a history of an early Jesuit missionary in India, Aloysius was capitivated by the adventure and meaning of a life of serving God and church. To become a Jesuit, one must renounce all worldly possessions, property, and riches. Al's father was concerned for his sons future without the possibility of inheriting any of the family wealth or status, but could not convince Aloysius to turn his course. On 25 November, 1585, Aloysius was accepted into the Jesuit novitiate and began his studies and life of service in Rome, taking the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in 1587. While his life as a Jesuit priest was shortlived, dying on June 21, 1591 of complications from ill health, he was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII as the patron saint of young students and Christian youth for his views on education for the children and teens, and his committment to the causes of the poor and defenseless.

Rich and Poor

2008-06-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

Haves on the right, Have nots on the left . . . this scene from Sao Paulo, Brazil is becoming more and more prevalent around the world, with the rich and poor living within a stones throw from each other. In the U.S., we try to keep the poor more hidden, but we all know they're there.

My Candidacy project at Gonzaga this summer is wrapped around the notion that wealth tends to be concentrated among those who are already rich, and while the 'haves' continue to have more and more, those living in extreme poverty (less than $1 per day in wages) get closer and closer to our door step.

There are no easy answers, and those that are offering them seem to be more interested in perpetuating the wealth condensation phenomenon than providing genuine solutions. For today, may we truly be mindful of who our neighbors really are, and how high the walls have become.

Jon Marc Graduates

2008-06-11T11:54:00.001-07:00

Salem, OR. This was a night to remember. Jon Marc Dangaran graduated from West Salem High School as part of the class of 2008. 267 seniors walked across the stage to thunderous applause, only the sixth class of Titans to don caps and gowns since the opening of the High School in 2002. Pictured above is one proud papa and son; where to now Jon Marc?

Merry Christmas 2007

2007-12-31T08:18:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas in Depoe Bay at the home of our good friends Greg and Barb Burge. Santa was good to all of us: a new Taylor Made club for dad, some Uggs for mom, a Sector Nine longboard for Ryan, a huge piece of luggage for Kel, and a Takamine guitar for bud. So cool! As I look out my home office window this morning and it's cold enough to snow, I am thankful for Janet, my kids, a life with so many blessings, and my relationship with God! Merry Christmas all!

Remember the Titans!!

2007-11-03T21:54:00.000-07:00

The West Salem Titans went undefeated this year in league and are ranked #4 in the State. Jon Marc is a senior and began the preseason on the starting defensive unit. He played the entire game on defense at outside linebacker/rover and kick-off unit against now #1 Lake Oswego and made some important tackles. Unfortunately he broke his foot in the second game against Barlow from Gresham, OR and hasn't been able to play since then. He's running at about 60% now and hopes to finish out his high school career back on the field with the guys he started playing with in third grade. Remember the Titans as they start the playoffs!! Yeah Jon Marc Dangaran and crew!!

Steve's Note: Dec. 1: We made it all the way to the State Semi-finals where we lost to Tualatin by 1 point, yep, you heard it, 1 point. Ouch! The coaches didn't think Jon Marc was ready to play, so he finished the season cheering his buds on from the sidelines.

Budding Artist

2007-07-21T00:26:00.000-07:00

I've taken up a new hobby, sort of. In my free time here at Gonzaga I decided to use my Left Brain a little more, or is it my right brain? Tell me what you think of my canoes and puppy dog.

Inspiration

2007-07-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, my dad died this summer, the day before Father's Day; and the day before I headed to Spokane to begin my doctoral studies. Interestin coincidence on all of that, hmmmm. Well, the picture you see here is one I look at everyday, because that picture was taken on the day my dad graduated with his doctorate in education many years ago (that's the light blue you see around his collar). Can you tell I was about 20 years old? I think I met Janet the next year. Well, my dad has been a source of inspiration for me through this whole process, and one of my go-to-guys regarding my PhD work. I don't have him to talk to anymore about all of this, but I know he's excited for me.

Reflections

2007-07-12T23:08:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, I'm a reflective person by nature. I like to stop and get alone and think about who I'm becoming, where I've been, and where I'm going. Being here at Gonzaga without the fam, friends in Salem, people I know well (except for Bob Sprague: we've known each other for 30 years) has given me plenty of time to do just that.

So, here are my current reflections: Who I'm becoming . . . open to new ways of thinking and seeing the world. The Jesuits here at Gonzaga have a tradition of thanking God three times a day for whatever comes to their minds; they have another tradition called Ignatian retreat where they get alone with God and ponder the imponderable, then reflect with others on the imponderable, then go and ponder somemore; hmmm. I'm also getting better at ambiguity, mystery, and intangible. I'm not so good at those things. Im also beginning to understand at a much deeper level what is the true work of leadership (notice I didn't say the true work of a leader). More on that later, in my next reflection . . .

Thinking about Thinking

2007-07-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

Some of you have been wondering what I'm up to here at Gonzaga

Here's a typical day:

6:30 Rise and shine; head to the showers; cook up some oatmeal packed with strawberries and almond slices; then it's time to hit the books. Study till about noon.
12:00 Knock off for lunch
1:00 Reading, writing, some in groups, some not.
6:00 - 10:00 pm Class four nights a week.
10:30 Relax a little bit perhaps; if I'm behind, guess what, I study.

Weekends: Janet came for an awesome visit this past weekend; I took off from noon to noon I call it (Sat noon to Sun noon). We got to go to an Alliance church here in Spokane and out to lunch with the pastor and his wife and kids. Way cool! But the typical weekend: you guessed it, study, study, study.

So what am I studying you may be asking:

Organizational Theory
Leadership Theory
Principles of Research

In each of these classes I have several projects, about 4 books to read and report on, one or two major papers (10-15 pages), and various other things. Thus far, I'm simply learning how to think, so in essence, I'm spending a ton of time 'Thinking about Thinking.'

At this pace, I'll finish my course work in about 4 years; God willing I can speed it up a bit along the way. OK, so there you have it; gotta get back to . . . you got it, studying!!

What are friends for . . .

2007-06-29T08:14:00.000-07:00

Dave, Dave, and Jeff . . . my three closest childhood friends. They were all at my dad's memorial a few weekends ago in Fresno, CA and have each experienced the loss of at least one parent, so we had a lot to talk about. Backpack trips, horseback riding (getting tossed a time or two, mainly me), saying goodbye to the Eckerts when they moved to Minn, being in each others' weddings (Jeff and I), rolling around in the mud, ministry together, on and on. After 4 hours at Starbuck's we could have spent the rest of the day together; way cool! Thank you Jesus for these kinds of friends; the history we share; knowing we'll be together again with our parents. What are friends for . . .

More Zag Pics . . .

2007-06-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

Gone to Zag Land

2007-06-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

Bob and I left Salem about 12:00 pm on Sunday, June 17, and here go 2 Fathers off to study for 6 weeks in Spokane, WA. Here's a few pics of our apartment, Bob is standing in his room, which is identical to mine, just switched around. He started class tonight, I start tomorrow, we've both been studying since 6:30 am, a break to do some paper work at the admin building, some lunch, then more studying. I'm reading and writing more here than I ever have, but really starting to dive into the research aspects of the program. Tomorrow night I present a research topic that I'll be working with for the entire summer, 7 small papers leading up to it, than a biggee with group presentation at the end. My other two classes are similar; and just think of it, all focused on Leadership!!! Wow, wow, wow.

The Mighty Oak

2007-06-12T08:44:00.001-07:00

The mighty oak, how long will it stand . . . the sunset in the background, coming into every life. These are two images that have a great deal of meaning for me today. The oak: my father of almost 50 years is living out the 'sunset' days of his earthly life. Yesterday I stood bedside where he as spent the last 41 days out of 100 fighting the deadly cancer that is overtaking his frail body. As he struggled for breath, semi-sedated with morphine and other powerful pain killers, he looked into my eyes as I said, 'Good-bye dad, I may not see you again on this earth. We will be coming right after you, so don't worry about mom, or mike, or me! We know we have forever to enjoy together in heaven. Thank you for all the sacrifices you have made for us; the model you have set; you've been a great dad. I love you very much!' Then I walked out, headed to the airport, and off . . . Is this the way things were supposed to go Lord? I could not have imagined the script playing out like this; but I accept your leading in my life and have no problems releasing those things, people, circumstances that I have no control over. Bless you, my heavenly Father, for great gifts, and for the 'crucible' of pain that cause me to depend even more on You. To my friends and family who have been interceding on our behalf, we say 'Thank you!' You have truly blessed us with your support and encouragement!!!

Our Great team

2007-05-17T21:57:00.000-07:00

Meet my friend Steve. Steve is our Pastor of Outreach at Salem Alliance Church and had some amazing experiences before he came on board at our church. He grew up in China as the son of missionaries; worked for Luhr Jensen fishing lures; and like me, was a UPS employee for a time. But what most people don't know is that he pumps some serious iron. Yo Steve, keep pumpin'!!

My African Adventure

2007-03-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Mon, Feb. 12 Took off for West Africa from PDX by way of Atlanta to Dakar, Senegal. Arrived on Wed at 5 am. Greeted by missionaries, toured the city, first encounter with the African people since 1995 when I visited Cote d'Ivoire. They are such beautiful and gracious people, friendly to Americans and always ready to greet us. The Alliance has been ministering here for over 100 years. We will be spending the next two weeks bringing encouragement and pastoral care to the missionaries in this region. We will be hosting 2 prayer conferences in Burkina Faso and Mali with a team of 9 people; preaching, leading worship, youth and children's programs too.

West Africa is 50 to 90% Muslim, with mosques like the one pictured here

on almost every corner in some countries. Most Africans mix in animism and fetishism with Islam that is powerful to break through. Animal sacrifices are common place in this region as a means of appeasing the gods so that crops and families might prosper. This type of religion can only be overcome through prayer and Holy Spirit power. The missionaries are truly involved in a battle for souls with the spiritual powers of darkness.

This man is named Timotay, or Timothy in english. He lives in a village of several hundred people. He was born into privilege as the son of a chief, and became the chief of the village when he was a young man. Several years ago he heard the gospel through Alliance missionaries and gave his life to Jesus. Immediately, the village leaders renounced him as chief and began praying curses on him and his family. Timotay remained faithful to God and the beg tree in the middle of the village that represented life to the villagers began to die, which got the attention of many of the villagers. As Timotay grew in his faith and became more and more faithful, he decided to start a church at his house. Today the church meets each week and more people are following Jesus.

In the city of Koutiala (koo cha la), Mali, there is a brand new hospital that has been operating for about a year. Africans can come and recieve top notch medical care 365 days a year. Built by a joint effort of several American C&MA churches and the national church in Mali, the staff consists of 1 doctor (pictured here) whose main focus is training Mali doctors to some day take over the healing ministry; 3 nurses who are also training their replacements. This is an exhausting work that requires a great deal of perseverance and committment.

It was exciting to meet and talk with African pastors, like Daniel in the picture on the left. John and I and several of our team got to sit under the trees in front of his house and hear about his vision for the church in Burkina Faso, and his heart for evangelism and discipleship. Daniel also teaches at a bible school for pastors along with some other men who believe God is raising up a new generation of pastors for the harvest in their area. Praise God for more workers into the harvest!

One day a missionary named Korina Saarloos from the Netherlands took John, Steve Lippold and I to a prison outside of Bamako, Mali where 1oo men were being held for not being able to pay their bills, robbery, and murder. The man in the gray shirt on the right is named Mohammed and he gave his life to Jesus a few weeks ago. At first the men ridiculed him, but in recent days they have become more open to the gospel. We got to go into this cell which housed about 40 men in an area smaller than my living room and pray with the men and sing gospel songs in Bambara, their native language.

My favorite story is about a pastor named Christoff pictured on the left who pastors a church in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood. About 10 years they dug for water and hit a spring 1o meters under ground. The Muslim leaders forbid the people from recieving the Christian water, but because the needs are so great for water, the people came for water anyway. The spring continues to give water to this day, and recently the Muslim leaders came on Christmas day to bless Christoff and his church because the people are getting much needed water. Praise God for His spring of living water!

There are so many more stories to tell, but I will save them for another day. John Stumbo and I and the rest of our team are grateful for the opportunities we had to minister together and share our lives with the missionaries and some of the people they serve. Perhaps the most important lesson we learned is that God is big enough to meet our needs in Salem, Oregon; and at the very same time meet needs in West Africa. What a great God we serve!

African Adventure '07

2007-02-07T08:24:00.000-08:00

3:00 AM Monday, February 12 Depart for PDX; fly to Atlanta; Depart for Dakar, Senegal 2 PM. Arrive Senegal, West Africa 5 PM Transport by bus to Bamakou, Mali.
9:00 AM Tuesday, February 27 Depart for Paris, France; connection to UA Fl 217 to Chicago; depart for pdx - 5:17 pm arrival.

While I may have missed a few of these times, the above itinerary is pretty close to actual for my upcoming trip to Mali and Burkina Faso, West Africa. This is the second time I've been invited to participate in a Field Forum for missionaries of the Christian & Missionary Alliance. Essentially, these are gatherings of all the missionaries and their families country by country for 4-5 days; the focus is spiritual refreshment and pray.

I will be traveling with John Stumbo our Sr. Pastor, 2 or our children's staff, 4 medical personnel (doctors and nurses), an attorney, a building contractor, a hair stylist, and a mom. This highly specialized team has the capability of hosting 'church' for these missionaries who give so tirelessly day after day, month after month in settings that stretch them culturally. John will be speaking, I will lead worship, our entire team will be taking down a big tree that hangs out over a missionaries house, threatening it if there should be any root rot present, which we think there is. The children's team will put host ministries for the kids while we're there, the hairstylist will cut hair and do manicures, while the medical team will conduct clinics, give shots, take care of non-emergency procedures.

This is my second time to Africa, and second Field Forum (Philippines '01) that I have had the privilege to be part of. Janet and Kelsey came with me on the first one, perhaps the boys could come in the future. My hope during this time away is to focus on missionary care, leading them to the throne of grace in heartfelt worship. I will be bringing a guitar, tons of overheads and songbooks, and a joyful attitude of worship. In the Philippines, I led in a similar way in worship, and am thankful for the experiences I enjoyed there; God is always preparing us for the next steps in our journey by what we experience today. That's pretty cool.

For those of you who have so generously supported this effort with your financial gifts, I thank you deeply. You have each been a blessing in my life in one way or another and I am grateful to know you. To my Salem Alliance friends, I am honored to be representing you along with my teammates, as I invest myself in this endeavor. Mom and Dad, thank you for always believing in me, for your generous gift, prayers, and love. I wouldn't be able to do this without your support through the years. Janet, Ryan, Kelsey, Jon Marc: You inspire me to reach for the stars. I am a better husband, father, pastor, and person for knowing each one of you. Thanks for praying for me.

What We Were Made For

2007-01-28T20:40:00.000-08:00

'I cry out to God Most High, to God who fufills His purpose for me.' Psalm 57:2

Last Saturday I took my 45 minute power walk around the West Salem hills on an awesome Saturday morning with these words of David from Psalm 57 ringing in my heart. God had a purpose in mind when He created me, when He shaped me inside my mother's womb. That purpose has been very clear to me at certain points in my life; and quite obscure at others. It was fun to walk through the hills and ponder my purpose and see how it has played out over the past 48 years of my life.

"What was I made for Father?" was all I could think of on Saturday. The thoughts that came into my head revolved around experiences I have had with people through the past few years; like the college student who came to my office last week to ask if I would meet with her and her brother as they tried to make peace with their father; like the 35 year old school principle who asked me to meet his close friend who is going through some rough times; like the young engaged couples who have asked me to do their weddings and sit down faithfully to recieve counsel and insight about their relationships; like the pastor from Washington who asked me to come and preach at his church in order that his congregation might become a place of small groups; like the Willamette MBA student who met me on Friday to tell me about his self discoveries.

These encounters and others just like them have led be to see that my purpose in life is to 'help guide others on the journey of life.' I've had a heart to do this since I was 8 years old, and the desire has only grown.

"We're Going to Disneyland!!"

2006-12-31T16:48:00.000-08:00

Cousins, Cousins, Cousins!!!!

2006-12-31T16:14:00.000-08:00

Here's Jon Marc, Kimberly, Bradley, Jamie, and Ryan hanging out in Simi Valley when we visited in December. They're all about the same age and they love being together. Bradley and Jon Marc are talking about checking out U of O for college and rooming together; wouldn't that be cool. We'll see what happens.

Janet and I are in a picture with my first cousin Linda and her husband Mark (parents of Kim, Brad, and Jamie). We sort of grew up together, so it's pretty cool when our kids get to hand out.

Merry Christmas from the Dangarans!!!

2006-12-24T17:44:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Eve and we made it to San Diego to celebrate with Janet's family. We now have 4 nephews and nieces to come visit (courtesy of Janet's brothers and sisters) so we'll probably be coming down here more often in the future. We hope you are enjoying the holidays with your family and friends; we sure are (we got up this morning and played some baseball with Brian; sister Julie's husband of 5 years; what a great way to spend Christmas Eve morning). Drop me a comment below and let me know how you're spending this Christmas. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

The Best Place I Never Heard of

2006-12-22T23:36:00.000-08:00

Check out these pics of a place we had never heard of before coming to Palm Springs for Christmas '06. It's a place called the Painted Canyon. We took a hike through it and around on and finally on the rim of the canyon. What a cool place; you'll have to check it out sometime!

Palm Springs for Christmas!!

2006-12-19T19:44:00.000-08:00

Ho Ho Ho from So Cal. We were dreaming of a white Christmas so here we are in Palm Springs (all the tile in the house we're staying in is white so it's sort of a 'white Christmas'). We got the pool turned on so tomorrow we'll be lounging around the pool (imagine that, on Dec. 20th!!) and dinking around the golf course.

I look more Oregonian than California with my sweater standing in front of the pool. I'll figure it out tomorrow when it gets all warmed up. The kids are here; it's our 25th anniversary and life couldn't be better.

This is the master bath; which is about the size of our bedroom back in Salem. We'll have a party in their one of these nights. The boys are staying out in the casita/guest house which is set up like a beautiful hotel room. No complaints there!!

Merry Christmas all!!!

'A Bates/Dangaran Christmas'

2006-12-17T23:38:00.000-08:00

Twas the night before Christmas . . . almost! For the past nine years we have spent Christmas Eve with our good Salem friends the Bates, switching locations every other year. We share a great meal, gifts, and friendship. It doesn't get much better than that! Here's our two moms (Janet and Debbie) standing in front of the Christmas tree.

Here's our two 18 year old princess' Kelsey and Liz. Both are out of High School; Liz at Corban College where her dad Mike is the VP of Advancement. Kelsey works at the Courthouse fitness centers and is studying for her Real Estate license. Where did all the time go???

This year Becca Bates brought Josh Mann into the family, and into her life. This is their second Christmas together, and with their first addition Scout the Chi-wow-wha, they're going to have a great holiday season. Josh is thriving as our Pastor to Middle School Students, and Becca has jumped right into the mix as a huge part of the ministry with Josh.

Home Sweet Home!

2006-12-15T20:05:00.000-08:00

This is 1251 Luke Ct. NW, Salem , Oregon, the place we call home. After visiting our close friends the Millers in Battleground, WA several years ago (who have the identical house with a few tweeks in the floorplan) we decided this would be the home to build if ever we had the chance. Sure enough, in 2000 a lot came available that we liked, the plans came together, and we broke ground. We negotiated several 'do-it-yourself' pieces into the plans; painting the interior (wow was that huuuuuge, we couldn't have done it without our good friend Jack who is a retired painter), trimming out the windows (thanks to our friend Leroy who showed me the ropes), completely finished the basement (drywall, moldings, paint), all the landscaping, and a few other minor things. What a learning experience. Don't think we'd ever tackle that much again. But we did save a ton of cash!
If you should ever be near us please stop by, we're only 10 minutes off I-5.

The Lights are Out!

2006-12-15T10:40:00.000-08:00

So here I sit at the Beanery in downtown Salem waiting for the power to come back on at church; we're in the middle of a major storm in the NW; trees and power lines are down all over the place. Last night the winds must have hit 50+ mph near our house; I just read on the web that some areas got hit with 90 mph winds. Whoa! (Since I've been sitting here 3 friends have stopped by to say hi while they're drinking their java (I'm not a coffee drinker anymore, used to drink a ton while in grad school, but swore off it back in '85, I drink tea now); it's been fun to catch up.) In any case, I love the winter weather here in Oregon; always get to wear fleece and sweatshirts and sweaters and stuff. Every now and then it snows at our house and everybody hopes they'll shut down the schools. When the snow days come it's pretty cool, kids outside sledding, making snowmen, so cool!! Who would have ever thought this is the life we'd live after living most our lives in Cali. One final thought on PNW weather; one of the coolest things about winter time around here is getting home at the end of a busy day with the fireplace burning, somebody curled up reading, or on-line, or just relaxing. What else is there to do except join them. (In case you're interested, there's an empty lot right next door to us. Love to have you as neighbors in this winter wonderland!!)

Ouch!!!

2006-12-14T21:31:00.000-08:00

Way back in September Kelsey got into a bad accident; and both her feet got broken. Ouch!! Fortunately we had a great surgeon who put her back together again, with the aid of four pins sticking out her left foot.

All the pins and cast are off now, and she's walking with a slight limp. Hopefully she'll be moving around normally before too long. Our prayer is that she stays out of accidents, hangs out with friends who are really friends, and gets on the right foot again real soon. We love you Kelsey!

2006-12-14T21:12:00.000-08:00

Turkey Bowl '06

2006-12-13T23:08:00.000-08:00

So here's Ryan going deep with a pass from dear old dad! We still got it! Every year since arriving in Salem we've played football on Thanksgiving day. Then we get home, get warmed up, and eat the big bird with our family and friends. You oughta try it.

Doing Ministry

2006-12-13T07:32:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about ministry is being on a team; a great team. The way I know it's a great team is we love being together. Like the other day; we took an hour and half out of the day to have our own Christmas party. Karen and Linda cooked the soup, Cindy decorated, and I brought some drinks; what a deal! If you take a look below you'll see some of my pics from the party showing our ornament exchange, eating of course, and having a great time together. I wish everybody could experience ministry like this!! ALL FOR JESUS!!!!

Heading back to San Diego!!

2006-12-12T17:10:00.000-08:00

25 years ago and 6 days from now we did it; in front of all our known family and friends we got hitched, tied the knot, took the plunge, got married. It was a clear, sunny, even hot afternoon in San Diego. The kids only get to hear about it cause they didn't get to be there. So next week we get on a plane and head back to this spectacular place to celebrate with some of the same family and friends. So here's to the the next 25 . . .