Category: Life

We all have passion in our life in some regard, whether burnt out or inspired. We chase after crazy dreams with this insane desire to make them happen. Passion is a wonderful thing when inspired because passion can really make things happen, but what happens when passion and obsession is misplaced?

It’s been on my mind lately because of things in my life. Ninja Warrior (as many know I competed in this last season) was an obvious obsession of my passion. It’s not bad to be passionate about something, but what happens when you realize your passion has taken you away from things more important. Passion has faded in my faith. While still ever present in my life, and it was a constant strength to me during training and for my two weeks in LA. I felt the fires die down a little as my desires for Ninja rose. I’m sure most Christian have been here before. When something consumes their life, and faith becomes a back burner. Not that we ever truly lose the faith, but we lose the passion we had for it.

I suppose the big question to kick this off is, “What is passion and where does it come from?”

Non-Christians would probably tell you it a powerful drive that comes from inside ourselves. That is comes from a place so human we can’t help it (not to say all do, but I’ve heard that before). As a Christian though I have the belief passion comes from the spirit. Passion to me comes from an externally place. We don’t wake up one morning suddenly passionate about something. We are inspired. People who create are inspired in their works. Art inspires art. Athletes inspire athletes. But what is that fundamental moment in time when someone decides they want to do something or be something?

For me it started after watching one episode of Ninja, but that wasn’t passion then. That was a notion that I wanted to do it. After starting training I developed passion over time. Same thing for most of the things I am passionate about. It took time and dedication before passion really started to grow. We are drawn to things and passion starts to develop the further we delve into them. We are all inspired at some point in our life (many times most likely) and somethings click so we start to dedicate to it. These moments are something deep in the spirit, something that calls to us from a far. Sadly some people may be inspired to do terrible things, while others inspired to greatness (I believe this another discussion regarding the influence of the devil, which perhaps I will cover another time).

From my perspective God is at the center of creativity and passion. True inspiration starts in the world that he created. True creativity all around us. He created us to be inspired to be passionate. He created us in his image, like the creator he is he made us to be creators and shapers of our lives. We have a certain freedom to choose, and he has given us inspiration and passion in life to chase after dreams. But finally reaching my point, what happens when our passions are too much? What happens when God becomes less?

Well we lose the connection to that spirit and that creator. We lose our inspirations. We replace inspiration with fear of lose. Our work which perhaps we once enjoyed becomes like a chain we feel we are tethered to and can’t escape. The things that were fun became painful. Returning to the center of our passion. Returning to God is how we can be reinspired to seek after these things, but the big conclusion is be passionate first for the one who created passion. Delve into him. Like with all things if you are not passionate towards him make him an every day routine so he can be an everyday obsession. We fight through bad days for passion to train or learn, now let’s find our way back to being passionate believers.

I want to encourage Christians and non-Christians to seek after God. If you don’t know what this means find a church, read the bible, find a person in your life who has that such joy in Christ! Let other help you! If you are a Christian and feel burnt out like I have been do similar. Get in a church community, get into the word and Seek after God till you find passion and don’t stop. Be inspired to seek after him and find passion through him in your spirit so you can be passionate and wise in all the other adventures of life.

In my life I want God first. I want to seek him out till nothing else matters, and then and only then can stand firmly in his ways and with wisdom, strength and confidence I can take on all the things of the world he calls me to!
-Dan

Here I am at the point of no return. I’ve come so far. I can’t go back now. I’m on the edge to new uncharted frontiers. What lays ahead is uncertain, but I know it must be great. Not to say it wouldn’t be easy to go back, the choice to turn tail and retreat back to the familiar is still an option, but since when did I choose the easy way. I am not the type of man who looks back (stubborn and proud? Yes… just a lot) and I made a choice long ago that I would press on, so that’s what I’m doing. I made a commitment to God that I would do his will, and that I would follow him. I am taking the initiative and setting the pieces in motion so I can’t look back, I must press forward. The time of for greatness is a stones throw away.

Since the initial choice for all the wrong reasons and a hundred recommitments I can’t go back now. I made this choice to serve God, and it’s not been easy. Fact is it’s brought upon me the hardest choices I’ve ever made. Every day a new obstacle, but every day I rise up, or I stumble momentarily to rise again. Sometimes it feels like two steps forwards and one step back, or I prefer the imagery of one giant leap up a down escalator. It’s kind of hard to gain ground when the ground is moving backwards, but I am trying. Course I am the type of person who would book it up a down escalator, cause why not. It’s a show of challenge conquered, maybe a lame example of challenge conquered, but it’s definitely not the easy way to get to the next level. I can’t help myself in the face of challenges. I step myself right into them knowing perfectly well what I’m doing. I will take the opportunities to get myself into situations that are complete madness just so I can sort myself out of it, cause it makes me stronger. It give me perspective. It breaks me of my usual for something new.

Foolish maybe and I work hard to minimize my foolishness (mostly), but without a challenge, without the stepping forward and falling back I would remain forever at a stand still. I like challenge, yet I dislike the pain of it. I love to overcome, but hate to fail. Unfortunately as I was taught, and have learned through experience the rule to success is fail often to succeed sooner. I may fail many times, but I’m gonna try try try till I succeed. Not to be said that there aren’t foolish endeavors. We all can get stuck on an idea or a quest of our own creation that we chalk up to be so important (I’m number one here frequently), and without reason we pick up our swords at the challenge of a gunslinger. Good luck beating that gunslinger with that sword (have you seen Raiders of the Lost Ark? Doesn’t go so well…) If it’s not of God then of course failure is gonna happen no matter how much we put into it. If it’s not part of my calling then I shouldn’t be trying so hard at something that will inevitably fail. So maybe it’s hard to know the difference. That is where I feel the rule of discernment becomes key, but discernment (and that so called “gut feeling”) topic I’d like to discuss another time.

I look ahead at the path I’m on, and yes I’ve thrown caution to the wind and jumped from the airplane once again. I can’t turn back now, there is no gravity reversals or return ropes to the airplane. The things I have set in motion can’t stop till I touch down. It’s time for me to step up, and start doing what I’ve been talking about for years. It’s time to begin the effort that God has called me to, and move as quick or slow as God desires. In the effort to change the world it’s on his timeline, not mine. What he has laid on my heart is the need to inspire a generation. To change the hearts, and minds of those who would rather be lazy or allow their moral compass to go wrong.

God has called me to be a leader so I am taking the given opportunity to lead a Christian men’s media team. I was gung-ho long ago to do this, but the Godly man and the good leader in me wasn’t ready. What God has set in motion in me is a preparation to serve him and not myself, and to lead in the area I am not only talented, but passionate about. To take men and build them up as a team ready to inspire a new generation with me. God has trained me in the ways I need to lead these brothers, he has given me the skills in which I can help them develop and continue to develop myself with them. He has given me natural talents and patience I will certainly need. Most of all he has opened the doors of opportunity for me to create these men I want with me to change the world, even if they don’t know it yet. The men I’ve chosen for this group are those who I know share the passion as me to be creative and who love God. Together we will bring a different voice to a world that only hears the voices of evil. Together we can preach through our talents and if we change one heart that is enough, but I believe God has chosen us to spread his message to the world.

The things about to happen will reshape the way we view society and they must. No more compromise or lack of values. We must give our best. This is the message I want my brothers to know. We are not a new voice, but one that is very old, we are the surround sound and booming bass for the voice of God. This is what I stand for, and I want others to know that I will never walk away from this path. I will never sell my soul for a few pretty pennies, but I will follow the calling no matter the cost. No matter the outcomes today or tomorrow. I made a choice to serve God, and he has given me a dream to change the world!

Luke 9:62 says “No one who puts his hands to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” So I shall not look back at what was or could have been, but take hold of my calling and serve the kingdom of God with all my passion to see the dreams I’ve been given made reality!

-Dan

For those who know me you know I am a dreamer. Not just dreaming of the future when I’m awake, but like clockwork every night when I go to sleep I start dreaming all night long. It feels at times like living in two realities. The real one when I’m awake, and the one in my dreams. Yes, it does get kind of confusing sometimes, but I’m really not crazy. Least not that crazy. Ok, I’m a little crazy, but my dreams aren’t always like living in a horror movie or psycho like (only sometimes). I kid, most of my dreams tend to be based on a grounded reality. Related to things that I am dealing with in a normal life, and hoping for in my future.

As of late my dreams have been very pleasant. So pleasant in fact that real life has been feeling like a drag, and all I’ve wanted to do is go back to sleep so I can live in my second reality. It’s been a struggle every morning dragging myself out of bed. I’m the first to admit the challenge of life, the challenge of just getting up in the morning, but this has been a different ordeal. I’m not really tired. I’m just under so much pressure, and I’d rather just live in my alternate reality of pleasant dreams, but I have pressed on. “Dragged on” might be a better way to phrase it. It feels like the weight of the world on my shoulders when my hopes and dreams seem so far away, but let me tell you about the week I’ve had. I’ve been put in on average 15 hours a day this week. Between work, workouts, and my own projects its a lot. I was ready for the week to be over on Tuesday. I had people coming down on me about my work when I’m doing the best job I can. And I had (still have) so much work to be done. This was not the week to want to be a lazy quitter.

This week I taught a demo for BodyCombat on top of my regular teaching schedule, plus subbing extra classes. Then I’ve done 4 video shoots (2 more to go) for work. Between shooting interviews and getting awesome shots I also participate in the Firefighter Stairclimb charity event at our gym, which I got to help put together and produce video for (video is below if you want to check that out). And next week I’m going on a work trip (ok, maybe it’s only 5 hours away, but still something really cool about being sent out of town for work). It’s like you know you made it somewhere when your job has you traveling on business trips.

It’s amazing what my life has become. To think a few years ago I was going to college still with no clue what I would be when I grew up, and now I’ve decided not to ever grow up, but right now just enjoy the crazy, and learn everything I can in a chaotic awesome job. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and creative mind. I wanted to make movies since I was in 7th grade when my friends and I attempted to make our first movie (notice the word “attempted”). Now 12 years later I am getting paid to producing video content. This is truly a dream come true. Beyond the video I am also learning so many valuable skills. A year ago I was still working at Pizza Hut, and I thought being a delivery drive was tough. And it was a lot of work, and I did what I always do by giving it everything I got. I had no idea working full time and dealing with people how tough work can be, but it is so worth it now.

While on occasion I am ready to throw in the towel, and just call it all off, I’m not gonna. If I walked away from this opportunity it would be the dumbest move of my life, because I have been called by God to do great things, and right now I know I’m exactly where I belong. Even when things get tough. No, especially when things get tough it teaches me how to endure, and how to take initiative. How to grow. I am amazed by what God is doing in my life, and how he’s transforming me. The who and the how I live is what he’s repurposing, and he’s showing me how to be a great man. A man of passion, discipline, challenge, and drive. Never giving up, but accepting the areas where I am weak, and learning to grow in them.

Like in the Stairclimb event I didn’t give up. I may not have beaten the firefighter’s time (those guys are amazing btw), but I did go the distance. Not just because I’m a fitness instructor did I feel obligated to go the full distance. I can’t quit because I am glorifying God, and who he’s made, and making me to be. It’s the accomplishment that makes me feel strong, but its proof of what God has allowed me to do, and the strength he gives me. So as I woke up this morning I am not feeling like going back to sleep, and back to my dream reality, but I feel like making my reality how I dream it to be. Changing myself, and changing the world. Call me crazy, but I believe the world can change, and I know I am meant to be part of changing it.

Here’s God open a new chapter in my life. I can’t wait to see what will happen next!