Dan's Blog

Starka's (Grandma's) Painting

2011-12-26T21:47:00.007-05:00

I am driving home (well my wife is driving right now) from New Jersey for our annual Christmas trip to spend time with our parents. This year was especially nostalgic due to the fact that this year is most likely the last year my family will be spending Christmas in New Jersey at our home of some 34 years on Whitmore Ave. Mom and Dad will finally be joining my oldest brother and I along with my mother's older sister and brother in North Carolina. I have many fond memories but am really looking forward to having most of my family near home.

As I have many times recently, while talking with my parents, we started to talk about the old days and about the absolutely amazing stories of my family's migration to the United States from the former Yugoslavia. This time around my brother was going through the attic at my parent's house to make sure nothing of sentimental value was thrown away during the upcoming move. He came across a painting that I recognized from when it was hanging in our downstairs family room in the years I lived at home as a child. I never really appreciated it until I heard the amazing story my mother told me about this painting. I always knew that my mother's mother was a folk artist, but this painting, as I was about to find out had much more meaning than just that of the beautiful work of a female Slovak folk artist from rural Yugoslavia.

In the late 1960s, my mother's parents lived in a small town in what is now Serbia called Padina. At the time this was in the communist former Yugoslavia and was experiencing tremendous economic challenges especially for families like my grandparents who were Slovak minorities in a Serbian land. Starka and Starki (Grandma and Grandpa) wanted a better life for their large family and sought to build it somewhere outside the iron curtain. Starka and Starki along with my mother and a few of her brothers packed up the essential belongings that they would be able to carry with them on their trip and headed for the border of Yugoslavia and Italy where they would scout the international border for weeks before attempting to cross over to freedom into Italy. Much of the trip was on foot so as you can imagine they had to pack very light. One of the items they took with them was a "decoy" to use if they were to get caught by border guards as they attempted to cross into Italy. The decoy would be this painting by my grandmother that would be used to corroborate a story that they were just going to Italy to sell her art.

God was with them! After a few days, they made it across the border and into an Italian refugee camp. They remained there for some time until finally getting a sponsor in the United States. They moved to the United States with literally just what they could carry in their hands which of course included this wonderful memento that would be a reminder of the tremendous sacrifice and great risk my grandparents made so that I can have the blessings of living free in this great nation!

Some Gave All

2010-11-13T15:52:00.003-05:00

I am inspired on Veterans Day by those who have given their lives to protect and preserve the freedoms and privileges we enjoy in this great nation. As citizens of the greatest nation… the greatest society this world has ever seen, we cannot get away from the fact that there was a price that had to be paid for what you and I enjoy today.

The freedom for each one of you to come to your churches and worship without fear of punishment or persecution from a government or opposing sect is really a great thing. The fact that we can crank up the volume in our worship services and sing our guts out… shout to our great God… is an amazing privilege.

But the fact is, there was a price… Some Gave It All… so that you and I can enjoy God’s blessings. I honor not only the veterans of our great country's militaries but also the veterans of our faith.

Those who sacrificed their lives for no earthly kingdom but for The Kingdom of God. There are countless “veterans of the cross” who gave up everything for the cause of Jesus Christ. And through the sacrifices of called men and women of God, we stand today empowered by the message of Jesus Christ.

(Minucius Felix, The Octavius 37, c. 200) – “It's a beautiful thing to God when a Christian does battle with pain. When he faces threats, punishments, and tortures by mocking death and treading underfoot the horror of the executioner; when he raises up his freedom in Christ as a standard before kings and princes; when he yields to God alone and, triumphant and victorious, he tramples upon the very man who has pronounced sentence upon him. God finds all these things beautiful.”

The Hungry

2010-08-13T11:25:00.000-04:00

"When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed." - Mother Teresa

Job said, "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food." (Job 23:12)

When talking about giving a hungry person something to eat, I always consider sharing the Words of God with them - to help their hungering souls find that Jesus Christ is everything they need.

Let's attempt to be aware of those around us who may be hungry for something more from God in their lives... in the workplace, at the grocery store, at your neighbor's house. We are His hands and feet. We are here to share His love with others.

MLM And "Direct Sales" Truths

2010-07-30T08:59:00.000-04:00

Recently I have been approached by an unusually high number of friends and acquaintances giving me "the pitch" on a new MLM scam... uh I mean Scheme (Freudian Slip). This is to be expected I supposed in our current economic state. Unemployment is at recent highs and even those who are gainfully employed are facing financial difficulties as a spouse may be unemployed or at the least haven't seen an increase in income in many years.

I try to be a good steward of the resources I feel that God has given me. In my core value system, I feel the need to take great steps in research, and prayer prior to making a significant decision that will impact the finances of my family. I must admit, that I always have been HIGHLY skeptical of all pyramid schemes and MLM "opportunities". With the recent influx of solicitations, I decided to share some great resources with the few who will read this blog.

My first gut check reaction comes from the very basic laws of the universe that I learned very early in university studying Mechanical Engineering. The law is the Conservation of Energy. It basically states you cannot get more "stuff" out of a "system" than that what is put in. This has and always will apply to MLMs. This in itself is enough to steer me away. One look at how much money those top level recruiters are making and I am running in the opposite direction. Others may look at that as a motivation to sign up, but I see it in a different light.

If top level recruiters (or distributors as they are called in many cases) are making that much money, then logic dictates that they are consuming a large amount of resources in the "system" and GREATLY reducing the chance for you to have a nibble of the pie. At the very fundamental level, making money in a MLM is highly unlikely.

Beyond, my gut instincts, I have found a wealth of knowledge reinforcing my opinions on MLMs and how little of a chance there is to make money with them. The website MLM-TheTruth.com stood out. There are many articles and statistics on this website to help you understand the reality of MLM. One particular article that stood out is, "How do the odds of profiting in MLM compare to gambling?". Here's a hint, go to Vegas and have fun rather than signing up with that MLM. Your chances of walking away with more cash rather than less cash are GREATER!

Social Media and The World

2009-09-16T10:39:00.000-04:00

How are you using Social Networks and Media to change the way you do business? Whether you run a small business, and non-profit, a church or a multinational corporation, if you are a major part of what this video is talking about, you are missing the boat!

A Priest and An Atheist

2009-05-13T10:56:00.000-04:00

A while back in southern England, near Hove in East Sussex, across the Channel from Dieppe, an old priest sat on a bench looking across the rocky shoreline towards the rising sun. Said priest was enjoying the beauty of God's creation when a young man rode by on a skateboard. He stopped in front of the priest and said

"Hey old man, you a priest?"

"Did the collar and the black coat give me away?" chuckled the old man.

"Yeah. Why you sittin' there? You sick?" "No, I'm just enjoying God's beautiful creation." "God" slurred the young man, "There ain't no God!"

The priest nodded and said, "Will you be here tomorrow on your skateboard?" "Yup, why?" "I want to bring something to show you". "Cool. Later pops" and off he rode.

The next day the priest was on the bench when the young man rode up. The priest patted the bench beside himself and the young man took a seat. After he took a deep breath, he looked the young man in the eye and said "Here's what I wanted to show you". Out of a large canvass carrier he removed, slowly and reverently a painting. It was astonishing in its color, its clarity, and its artistic expression. The boy gasped and said "awesome! Who painted it". "No one" said the priest. The boy said "that's stupid, someone had to have painted it, it didn't just happen".

The priest grinned, pointed at the just risen sun, and said, "neither did that".

Pastor Harold Linder's New Blog

2009-04-30T10:40:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to share with my readers a great new blog. Being a part of the team at Heavenview UPC (a great Winston Salem Church!), I initiated an e-Evangelism effort for the pastoral staff. The hope is to begin to build a strong internet presence utilizing social media, blogging and our core website to be the dominate voice in the Winston Salem region for Biblical truth.

One of the first efforts was to ask our Senior Pastor, Harold Linder to lead us by starting a blog. The purpose of this blog would be to expand his ministry and spiritual voice outside the realm of the pulpit and into the e-Evangelism space. I am absolutely thrilled and inspired at the results! Pastor Harold Linder has embraced this effort with some of the best spiritual blogging I have seen to date!

Take a moment to visit HaroldLinder.com to see the rich, deep and powerful blogging from this anointed man of God! Be sure to subscribe to get automatic updates to keep you in tune with the message of hope for Winston Salem and the world!

The Dwight Bobble Head!

2008-05-29T10:33:00.003-04:00

I have to confess... I absolutely LOVE the sitcom show The Office. I don't know exactly what it is about it, but the humor is so unique and outrageous at the same time. I just makes me laugh.

No doubt, my favorite character is Dwight Schrute played by Rainn Wilson. His personality exaggerates (well not really by that much!) people I come across everyday.
My wife loves this character so much in fact that she asked me to get her a Dwight Bobblehead for her birthday last year. So I did!

I have no idea why... but every time I look at this thing, it makes me laugh! I think everyone needs a Dwight Bobblehead! It's a constant reminder that the world is filled with gullible yet passionate people that if you look at the situations at the right angle... they're quite funny!

New Facilities Launch

2008-04-07T10:24:00.001-04:00

Wow! If you were to try to pull me aside a year ago and try to get me to understand just how much goes into starting a new church facility, I would have never been able to even begin to understand the magnitude of that task!

Sunday was our first official service in the new facilities of Heavenview UPC (http://www.ServingOurGeneration.com/) and I can honestly say that I have a new perspective on the infrastructure involved in a successful, modern-day church. The technology laundry list alone required to be just "on-par" with what is expected in a "good" church is massive! High-power projectors, multi-media display systems, Easy Worship, IR Repeaters, remote switching, sound systems (as if that wasn't over-simplifying it enough!), office systems, phone PBX systems, office computer systems, network printers, data networks, video capture and broadcast systems, fire/security… [Deep breath]!

I must admit, it is tough for me to pace myself. I want everything up and running and I want it NOW. Financial limitations aside, time will not allow me to get all that I alone have committed to handle finished anytime soon. What does keeps me going is a statement that my pastor gave me almost a year ago that I believe his pastor (which is my childhood pastor as well) gave him;

"Always accept progress over perfection".

What a great way to lead people and organizations! It is so easy sometimes for us to aim for perfection and accept nothing else short of it. What ends up happening is we never get anywhere! We get our minds made up that we want "it" this way and anything short of it is failure, when smaller steps actually allow us to achieve so much more in the long term.

Believe me, everything wasn't perfect on Sunday, but is you've ever attended a Heavenview service in the last 10 years; you would be blown away by the progress that we have made!

d a n p o n j i c a n
C O M M U N I T Y p a s t o r
Heavenview UPC ▪ Winston Salem, NC

The Giants WIN!

2008-02-07T09:25:00.003-05:00

Last Sunday I preached… “The Passion of Superbowl Sunday”. I have to admit, I had a little fun with this. It was the Sunday morning before what was the most exciting Superbowl game I have seen to date. Okay, I know a lot of it has to do with the fact that MY team, the Giants not only were in the game, but WON the game! What a game!

I just wanted to share the 5 main points of my message in correlating the passion of a sports fan to what I would like to see more oft in the Church. Oh yes, and I did predict a Giants win behind the pulpit in from of a couple hundred people. HA HA!! God is faithful!

1. Sports Fans Are Faithful - They Don't Conform!
Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Sports fans usually identify with their team. They have hats, shirts, socks, even underwear with the logos of their favorite teams on them. They don't mind being different. They enjoy being the only one in a crowd with the logo of their team on it. They are "representing."

2. Sports Fans Are BIG Spenders!

Super Bowl tickets, World Series tickets, and college basketball's Final Four weekend cost in the hundreds of dollars. No sacrifice is too great when your team is involved in the big game!

Someone said, "You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving." How much do you love Christ? How passionate are you about this thing? Giving is a true test of our love.

3. Sports Fans Are Tireless!

Fans will travel for hours to see their team. Some fans will travel to road games no matter how far away. Further, they are emotionally attached to their cause. They feel that they are accomplishing something by supporting their “cause”.

4. Sports Fans Are Loyal!

If you enjoy sports at all, then you have probably heard of the term "bandwagon" fans. Don’t you hate that!? One minute they are rootin’ for this team and the next the other team. They are always on the side of the winner.

But these aren’t true fans. A true fan sticks with their team… through the good bad and the ugly!

We should have the same attitude as Paul taught the Philippians in Chapter 3: “That I may know him...I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

5. Fans Are Passionate!

True fans will never give up until the last second ticks off the clock. They never stop believing in the in the chance for victory for their team no matter what the circumstances.

In John Chapter 6 we read of followers who walked no more with him. They heard hard sayings that were difficult for them to accept. Jesus watched them leave, and asked His disciples this question, Will ye also go away? Peter replied with the great acclamation: Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

There’s no going back… there should be no doubting His love and compassion for us. Don’t lose sight of His goodness to us.

d a n p o n j i c a n

Use It or Lose It!

2008-01-10T16:03:00.001-05:00

Esther 4:1-14

When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; And came even before the king's gate: for none [might] enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, [there was] great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told [it] her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received [it] not. Then called Esther for Hatach, [one] of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it [was], and why it [was].So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which [was] before the king's gate.And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew [it] unto Esther, and to declare [it] unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, [there is] one law of his to put [him] to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, [then] shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for [such] a time as this?

The other night I had a bit too much caffeine during my "date night" with my wife (thanks honey… I had a great time!). The truth is I needed it to keep me attentive and just plain awake throughout the evening. Ahh, who am I kidding? No one needs that much caffeine. That was a HUGE Coke! As is normal with my body, the stimulating effect lasted well into the night much past the time I should have been fast asleep. By 3am I had made my way out to my reading chair in the living room to indulge myself in God's Word. I figured I'm not doing my body any good by laying awake fighting this xanthine alkaloid compound that was making my heart race; so I might as well do my soul some good by communing with God.

Esther is where my pages opened and I read the passage that I so generously copied for all you loyal readers above. What an amazing story! There's so much there that hits me as relevant for a person living in our modern day culture.

We have so much. Resources are available for anyone to accomplish just about anything. If you want to start a company, a couple of phone calls, a web developer, google to find a wholesaler and that's it! You're a modern day entrepreneur. Want to talk to your mother who is 400 miles away… sure! [And for free when you're IN]

Beyond all that cool stuff, God has blessed us immeasurably. Look at where are churches are today. We have great facilities, great music, great everything! Last night, I met with the Senior Pastor (ß sorry… this is to see if you are reading this!) and we were talking about how incredible it is that God has allowed our church to have such a great staff with such great chemistry and potential.

Maybe it's the pessimist in me, but when everything lines up so well… when it is all good, something stirs up in me because I remember the obligation that God has placed on us from scriptures like you just read.

Esther had it good! Cozy and comfortable way beyond what her peers were enjoying. Yet it is very clear that God intended her to take a risk way beyond what any of her childhood friends, way beyond even what her mentor and guardian would ever have to take. She would essentially have to risk her life… her social status… her comfort all for a people that God called His own.

That's enough to motivate me! No more caffeine after 6PM! And yes… I need to get to work producing what God has called me to produce.

d a n p o n j i c a n
C O M M U N I T Y pastor
Heavenview UPC ▪ Winston-Salem, NC

Salt?

2007-12-14T11:00:00.000-05:00

Matthew 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

----------------------------

Did you know that salt is a miracle? It’s composed of 2 poisons: chloride and sodium. If you ingest either by itself, you’ll die. But put them together and you have common, ordinary salt, and that which used to bring death somehow comes together to bring life, and that’s a miracle!

So it is with the Christian life, poisoned by sin, with death looming in the shadows, but it’s confronted by the grace of God in His death, and those 2 negatives merge to form a positive redemption!

Pariality

2007-11-07T15:18:00.000-05:00

I recently read an interesting tidbit. It is about a man that history recalls as a man who changed the world. Specifically, Mahatma Gandhi changed the way people influence power. There are countless who to this day look to Gandhi's techniques to influence great powers. Undoubtedly, a great man, no matter what you believe or think of him.

In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. One Sunday he decided to attend services at a nearby church and talk to the minister about becoming a Christian. When he entered the sanctuary, however, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go worship with his own people. Gandhi left the church and never returned. “If Christians have caste differences also,” he said, “I might as well remain a Hindu.”

Stop and think with me what our world would be like if one man reacted differently to Mahatma Gandhi's visit to his church. Imagine with me what our world would be like today if one nameless usher acted with the unbiased, unconditional love of Jesus Christ rather than what we even today so often do to people who we encounter that are "not like us".

There are over 837 million Hindus in our world today (about 13% of the world's population). Gandhi easily could have influenced the majority of these to have made different choices in their lives. Think of what might have been...

I think this short read illustrates the importance of every one we come in contact with! Everyone deserves the Gospel... everyone. The first 13 verses of James chapter 2 talk to this point. This isn't something we should address in our lives... it is something we MUST address in our lives!

A good friend of mine wrote in his blog this week and it struck a cord in me.
Please read it.

The Big Annoucement...

2007-10-13T20:25:00.001-04:00

Read it here.

A Month In The Life Blog

A Revival of the Miraculous?

2007-09-24T17:17:00.000-04:00

I've long prayed about a new level of God's supernatural power to be manifested in both my ministry and mostly in the Church at large. You might say, it has been my focus of prayer and my passion when I am spending deep time with God.

I grew up listening to the amazing missionary stories from my uncle, Prince Mathiasz. Accounts of demons being cast out in crazy fashion, divine intervention at the edge of life... the list goes on and on. You could even say that these times shaped my Christian life and walk with God.

In my mind I was determined to experience what I was hearing about.

If this was for real I needed to be a part of it.

As the years progressed and I became more formally involved in the ministry, the quest of miracles, signs and wonders became more and more prevalent in my life. I would attend conferences where this seemed to be the topic of focus, I would delve into this subject in great depths in my Biblical studies, sermons, teachings and through prophecies.

It was all made quite clear to me that we should be praying that God would manifest His power in the Church as promised for the end time revival.

Let me pause here for a moment and make one thing clear!

I still believe that God is and will bring signs, wonders and miracles to this generation's Church.

Healings, miraculous provisions and other miracles are Biblical and absolutely necessary in the Church. They are still one of the most powerful evangelistic tools available to the Church today.

Ever since my AIM missionary trip to Sri Lanka and my return to ministry in the U.S., God has been dealing with me about this topic.

While I am still looking for Mark chapter 16 vs 17 & 18 to happen in my life and in my ministry, God has dealt with my very clearly through several events in my recent days.

A great friend of mine recently captured what I'm about to say in a recent blog post.

Mark Johnston wrote on his blog:
"What we need, Jesus seems to be saying, is not an increase in our faith, but an increase in our responsiveness to the faith we already possess. We have enough faith to speak and act with powerful results – so all which remains is to… well, speak and act!

We shouldn’t expect significant supernatural power to accompany a life of spiritual mediocrity; and what is mediocrity other than doing only what is “commanded” of us in our religious context? We may be tempted to think that if we worship at the designated service times and do the minimum devotional maintenance that is expected of us and refer to ourselves as “Christians” we will be vessels of God’s power. Perhaps instead of asking Jesus to increase our faith we should be pleading with Him to increase our faithfulness..."

This is what struck me so very hard several weeks ago! We have (I have... but the Church, too, has) been sitting around waiting so long for this supernatural event to occur. All of a sudden, we find ourselves thinking that we are somewhat deserving or we entertain some other twisted reason in our minds as to why God would start to grant us supernatural power in the order of Mark chapter 16.

How backwards is that!?

I am disgusted with myself when I think that I actually may have thought along those lines before. Perhaps not under the impression that God owed it to me (us... the Church) but just that it would happen that way.

It's more clear to me now than ever before, what the world needs is the Church to step up to the plate and Danny Rivers said it best at NAYC 2007... Be The Church!

What, in my mind, would be the truly needed miracle in our generation is for the Church to hit the streets and start displaying that sort of attitude that can only be generated by a person who is completely in love with Jesus Christ and what He would be doing if He walked in the current world, in the flesh.

The true miracle would be Christians that go and serve others just because they have a love for people... here again, not something that comes natural to most people... dare I say, it would be super-natural.

What would happen if we became Christians who befriend their neighbors and spend quality time building a lasting relationship with them before ever mentioning church, Sunday's special program or how good the music is at First united Pentecostal Church of ___________.

How about a group of believers that look at a new convert or a guest to one of our services with un-judging eyes welcoming them into the fold without hesitation, just as they are. Believers who recognize that God loves them with all of their imperfections just as much as he loves you. A Church that focuses more on helping people discover God's love rather than a life-style that you choose to adapt to in order to attempt to please Him.

Is this the kind of "revival of the miraculous" that we are just supposed to sit around and wait for until it forms out of thin air? Or is this more of our choice to follow the plan of Jesus Christ and go out into the communities and Be The Church?

Let me take this opportunity to close this entry with a declaration I love by...

I declare the presence to supernatural power in my life! I will show the world God's power through the choice I make everyday. The choice to show His love and His power to those I come in contact with.

Pawns on God's Chess table?

2007-09-18T15:26:00.000-04:00

Recently I had the opportunity to spend some time with a friend that I haven't seen in almost 2 years. As you might imagine we had some "catching up" to do! We had a conversation that ended up delving into some deep and difficult issues. The question that was posed to me was, "Are we simply pawns on God's chess table?" I discovered that perhaps many people struggle with life and what sometimes seems like a fate that is already laid out for us.

It happens to almost all of us... we all have our times when we have questions on why God does things the way He does. Ahhh, that question... WHY?

The Old Testament... Why?
Why would God ask the nation of Israel, God's people to go through all the trouble of obeying the law of Moses? The laws that deal with participating in animal sacrifices, in strict codes of conduct, dietary laws and lifestyles. Why?
Especially if He knew all the time that He was going to come down to earth, manifest Himself in the form of man and die to offer a reasonable means of salvation for mankind?

I think this simple analogy sheds some light on God's thought process (remember, we are created in the image of God).

The parents of an unruly young toddler are a bit fed up with little Johnny not heeding the warnings to stay away from the hot stove. Time after time, they warn him, threaten to punish him and sternly inform him of the consequences of playing around the hot furnace.

After some time and another instance of little Johnny heading towards the stove, Dad stops Mom from another disciplinary tactic and says, "No, let him go... he needs to learn for himself."

Sometime, we just need to learn some lessons for ourselves.

We can all attest to this fact! I submit that God knew/knows us better than we know ourselves. The law clearly illustrated to man that we are unable to attain salvation solely on our own abilities! We need divine intervention! God knew that the law would fail. The Old Testament is laced with Messianic prophecies. It was all a part of the plan!

We have to recognize the difference between the man-creation and the angel-creation.

Angels were created for one purpose. They never had a choice... they fit into the pawn mold perfectly. But God wasn't satisfied with this creation. He turned His attention to His latter creation, man, or a true worshiper.

He couldn't have the kind of relationship He wanted with the angels that He had obtained with man. It all comes down to the power He gave us... the power to choose.

Faith
James 2:20 "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"

Works? I wonder if this word was intended to imply a conscious decision? The bottom line is we choose to have faith.

Faith is not something you are born with. Faith is not something anyone else can give to you. It's our own personal power of creation. We choose to believe in something, and because we do believe, it becomes very real to us.

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

I choose to be a Christian... I choose to know God...

That is why I have a real relationship with Him.

American Idol(atry)

2007-09-13T13:47:00.002-04:00

Great read on what I feel is a great hurdle commonly overlooked by today's "churched" culture. The article can be found under the "Freebies" link on http://www.thecommune-ity.com/.

"American Idol(atry)" by Royce Wilson

Rest assured that the very least of my worries, presenting a title such as this, is taking to task reality entertainment. My deepest concern actually revolves around reality itself and the hopes and fears revealed by this reflection of current culture. Ty Burr in Entertainment Weekly recently referred to America as "...a culture built on celebrity worship." He goes on to say, "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness means getting discovered at Schwab's, or writing a best-seller, or becoming the next American Idol." The begging, pleading and profuse weeping of rejected contestants has very little entertainment value the moment one realizes how much emphasis has been placed on needing this type of validation.

In our Genesis while God was creating the different types of creatures he always referenced the atmosphere in which they were to live and draw their existence. The waters were addressed to bring forth the fish. He spoke of the air when mentioning the winged fowl. A charge went into the earth while creating beasts and creeping things. This was the environment where these creature were to thrive, find meaning and fulfill their purpose. To put the species in the wrong atmosphere and expect it to exist with fulfillment is not just unrealistic, if prolonged, its death.

When God made man he spoke to himself.

God is the environment in which man is to derive sustenance, get his value as a creature and finally make sense of his existence. Seeking this from another source is idolatry -plain and simple- and it kills. No wonder our culture is gasping in fits and starts thrashing on floor like a fish out of water. A good majority of it thinks that a kind word from “Simon” puts them on the fast track to becoming someone. If they only knew. They are suffocating because they are attempting to breath in an environment hostile to how they are made. You see, IN HIM, they already are someone without simon's (or anyone else's) hollow validation. God is the only Judge whose opinion really matters.

What are we doing in student ministry to ease the ache from false pursuits for the empty? Are we connecting the youth of our culture to the exclusive source of human validation?

Idolatry is not, though it is often mistaken, only as simple as finding an object and giving it divine status by worshiping it in some way. The heart of idolatry is much more subtle and crafty. How about any effort to find worth and validation outside of our Creator? This is closer to its essence. What we worship we will become. To worship is to seek to be defined by the thing worshiped. What will we allow to define us and give us fulfillment? This is at the heart of Idolatry.

The reality series referenced in this title is a bleeding edge indicator of the yearning of our present state. “Please give me one more chance!” “Can I sing just one more song?” “This means so much to me.”

These expressions must be properly translated. “Define me or I will be nothing!” “Please validate my existence with social acceptance and its idea of success!” “I have to become famous because I don't see my worth already as a child of God!”

Interpretation comes clearly with the words of yet another rejected contestant crying behind the scenes after failing to make it through the audition, “Now I can go back to being a nobody!”

When was the last time you sought God and the validation that comes from living solely in the environment of His Glory like you craved your next breath? It's impossible to lead someone somewhere we have never been.

Are you breathing o.k.?

Royce Wilson (an evangelist living in Alexandria, LA) thinks the best bio is written by the ones who have to live with him. He is head over heels in love with Deanne his wife and crazy about Mackenzie, Zachary and Sydnie his children. They know who he really is and love him in spite of himself. He feels his calling to the Kingdom is first fulfilled as husband and father.

Saved To Sacrifice

2007-08-31T09:33:00.001-04:00

This is a message I preached at our new home church (Heavenview UPC in Winston Salem, NC). I got this message while I was in Sri Lanka on AIM appointment and felt to preach it a only a couple places. I hope it inspires and motivates you to fulfill God's purpose in your life.

Saved To Sacrifice - Rev. Dan Ponjican

Check 1... 2... 3...

2007-05-24T16:26:00.000-04:00

Just another test in my attempts to be an internet media mogule :)

mms://74.208.12.94/Test2

Mom's Day...

2007-05-14T15:03:00.000-04:00

Early Friday morning at around 1:30AM I got a call from my Dad. Two days before Mother's Day and my mother was in the ER for a heart attack. After a long and trying weekend, I would like to thank all that have prayed for my mother. She is making good progress but is still in ICU at time of this writing. She underwent an angioplasty to remove a blockage and have a stint installed. Thank God for keeping His hand on her! Prayer works!

Mountain Biking

2007-03-26T13:49:00.000-04:00

Last year I picked up biking as another hobby (like I needed one more!). I started out with a used Raleigh I bought off of Craigslist for $100. I quickly found out that I liked it and that I wanted a new bike that fit me better and had better components.

I found a 2005 model Iron Horse Warrior Race on clearance for about $800.

Last weekend was the first time I really had the opportunity to test it out on a good single track/downhill. We went to Dark Mountain in Wilkesboro, NC. Here are some shots of me in action.

Detailing

2007-03-16T13:00:00.000-04:00

I've taken up the art of auto detailing. My black 1999 Ford Mustang Cobra has become my learning "victim"...

Here is a write-up on my process thus far that I posted on Autogeek.net
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/4830-1999-black-cobra-paint-correction.html

Here are a couple favorite result shots so far:

Let me know if you are in the NC Piedmont Triad area and you want me to detail your car!

New Episode

2007-02-13T21:30:00.000-05:00

One more to see if it updates...

http://www.youthtroop.com/podcast/danspremiumpodcast02.mp3

Second try...

2007-02-13T18:53:00.000-05:00

Let's see if this one works. Not sure if I am doing this right. I tried to find this podcast on itunes but I couldn't find it. Not sure if that is because I didn't do it right of if it just takes time to show up in the system.

Let's see if this one will work.

http://www.youthtroop.com/podcast/danspremiumpodcast.xml
http://www.youthtroop.com/podcast/danspremiumpodcast01.mp3

Trying to create a Podcast

2007-02-13T16:32:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to create a podcast...

My First podcast

First Post

2007-01-19T11:14:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!