Dan Snyder : christmas eve

i had the opportunity to attend a christmas eve service at red rocks church in golden this afternoon. it was alright and short and packed. it was the 2PM service so i figured it'd be pretty small. i was wrong. there were like a 1000 people there and the back was packed with people standing. that's pretty cool. cool because like five years ago red rocks was non-existent. god's definitely blessing those guys which i'm a fan of.

anyways, before we took communion the pastor asked us to reflect on two questions: "where am i failing god?" and "what am i thankful for?" those are kinda big questions to ask yourself during the happy christmas season, right? but it was cool cause i like asking myself questions like that...but i don't do it enough.

(cue perfect segway here)

i have lots of areas where i know i am failing god but i'll refrain from sharing them with the blog world. i'd probably be more then happy to share them with you in person though, you just have to ask.

i have a whole lot to be thankful for. obviously, that list starts with god. and i don't mean to say that flippantly, he has really changed my life in the last couple of years. and for that i am thankful. he's saved me from a lot. and blessed me with some amazing experiences and opportunities. i'm reminded of psalm 118:1 where the author says, "give thanks to the lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." it's true, he's good...and his love endures...even when i fail him...he loves me. and that love endures forever. for-ever-ever? for-ever-ever.

but my thankful list continues with you. you, the people out there who believe in me, the people who pray for me, the people who have supported me, the people that "randomly" come across my blog or facebook. i'm thankful for the over 200 people who read my last blog (or the person who clicked refresh a lot) and i'm thankful for my family...thats us the other day.

as you've read, i'm working at a new church in denver and starting seminary in two weeks. i need your help. i need your prayers and honestly, i need your financial gifts. i can't do this without you. will you prayerfully consider giving? you can do so here, be sure to select my name when selecting your gift in step four.

why give?

i'm working at new denver at least 2o hours a week. i connect people with local service in denver and we have started a global missions initiative in guatemala, i help lead a young adults group and i am helping lead volunteers on sunday. in order to lead others into a developing relationship with jesus christ and to help the church grow, i am praying that you'll financially support me so that i can work at the church based off of your donations alone.

seminary is expensive ($445/credit) but i know it's necessary for my life. i felt god calling me to seminary and have felt confirmations of that calling lately. i'll be studying biblical studies-new testament and hope to graduate in a couple of years. after graduation, i'm hoping to become a pastor that connects others with jesus. again, that sounds pretty flippant and easy but it's not. i need god...and you. in my ideal world, i could get through school without taking out loans. so that's where i'm asking you to step in and pray about giving.

how much do i need?

this might shock you but i need $19,200 for the year. i know, thats a lot. if it helps ease the shock, i intend on paying my seminary education through the money i raise...and living off the little bit left over. it'll be like ramen college days on steroids...or something like that.

so if you've made it this far...thanks for reading. would you honestly take a minute and pray for me? that's a lotta money and it stresses me out so your prayers would help a lot...and school's gonna be really hard. but would you mind giving? any amount helps immensely. seriously. i'm praying and hopeful that god will bless me through you...and your friends...and your relatives. spread the word.