I am going to get into trouble for this one, by I don't care. Dan was the first guy to tell me he would kiss me right on the lips! "Don't dare me, I won't even hesitate!" ...was his response after bugging him about being a "kiss-(up)" ...but he wouldn't be out-done, and after saying what he did, had the whole audio shop laughing! I must say, he had me for a loss of words... a rare experience if you know me! This man was the biggest pain in the butt when it came to talking about God... the hardest Atheist and smartest verbal jouster I had ever encountered this side of Rant/Rave.
Dan was much more. He backed up his words with humanity... I mean he was the best example of love "without" Christ I have seen! He worked as a human service worker and took care of the helpless... we would always see him walking or driving around his clients, Dan was big in most peoples books. I am not using the term big "loosely" Dan outweighed a few of my friends put together, I think the reason he was so heavy is because he had to carry around such a big heart.
Here's the deal, Dan gave his life to Christ... I'm not saying I am proud of the way it happened, I'm just saying it did. We had to gang-up on him... many times 2 or 3 of us would be in a free-for-all at the top of our lungs... the way it was meant to be... yet it wasn't actually this that won him over. Actually it was a prank from his late father. You see we had been talking so much about Jesus, that his dad put a message ring-tone on his phone, it rang... "Pick up the phone, Jesus is calling!" One night Dan heard that, about 3am ...and it freaked him out! Now his dad upon hearing about it, laughed his head off... but the laugh was on him... you see where Dan lives... there is no cell service!
Dan's dad passed away, and it was hard. Dan angrily questioned us... only to get the "find out for yourself" answer from us... he did! One day Dan came into the audio shop where we would meet, and brought out an electronic Bible app on his phone... you could have pushed us over with a feather... there was no stopping him! He wanted to be baptized soon after... well, there wasn't anyone big enough to stand in his way.
My friend Bill and myself were there to assist his baptism... Jesus had this one!
One day I was singing a tune "One toe over the line sweet Jesus..." Dan laughed his face off ...here was a preacher singing what was really "One toke over the line" ...I said "No way!" ...he just laughed harder! Got his phone Google search and schooled me! What a guy. I am going to miss him. Bill and I used to sing a song by Elton John (Daniel) just to get him going... truth is it's fitting and true. We miss you so much. I know one more thing... Heaven won't be the same now that you're there.
The best past of Dan's life I could see was his family, his mom and his brother. They loved him and fought with him; encouraged him and sustained him, right to the very entrance into Heaven. Dan also had those who would sit with him, pray with him and sing with him... and a pastor friend Ron, who held his hand and recited the scripture
"The Lord is my Shepherd" at the very end... or shall I say the beginning.
On a final note... Dan I shook your hand, hugged you, slapped you on the back, and tried to drown you... I have loved you like a brother... but there is one experience I should have had... I should have kissed you Big Dan... (on the cheek) !:]
Daniel your my bro.... see you soon.