Astoria, What a great place to visit. “Click here for video”

Kathy and I recently celebrated our 26th Wedding Anniversary in Astoria, Oregon. We had such a great time and the city is so beautiful. A lot has changed in Astoria. Take a quick look at this video.

I Once Thought

I once thought life was about “The Arrival” rather than “The Process.” I now know how wrong I was. I once was a dreamer, seeing success as the realization of all I had hoped for, now dreams are replaced with sentences that have no conclusion or ending. I once thought God was leading me to a particular end, a desired goal but He is not.

People have a hard time understanding life between here and there. We as humans want to find success in getting answers. In God’s Kingdom, success is found in the process. I wonder that life isn’t really much easier than we make it out to be? I wonder that our preplanning and positioning is more about avoidance than preparation?

Oswald Chambers says this; we must never put our dreams of success as God’s purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal; He is not. The question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident. What we call the process, God calls the end.

You need more than a WEBSITE to connect with people.

What people are looking for on your website is more than “Key Words” and links to other pages. People want to know who you are, why you do what you do, and why they should do business with you?

The Internet is the perfect place to establish this relationship but you need more than a website to make that happen. What you need is a quick introduction with each and every person who clicks on your page and Rick Dancer Media Services can do that for you.

Glance at your typical website and what you find is simply a page with a few pictures, notices and not much to really connect traffic to you. With video, and the right interview mixed with some pictures, we can help you tell your story.

People aren’t looking for glitz or glamour. What they want is a comfortable, relaxed conversation and we know how to do that.  Take a look at some of our work and give us a call.

Rick Dancer

It’s just like Walking

I wonder sometimes that we don’t over spiritualize our relationship with God. We look for the thrills and fail to remember that Jesus did a lot of walking.
I didn’t think of this on my own today. I’m reading through Oswald and found it. I so relate to this. I was raised in the church and sometimes feel guilty for not asking God to help me as much as I used to. It’s not that I don’t need His help it’s that I know He’s in charge and will shut me down when I need to be shut down. I’ve seen what He can do and truly believe that He’s in charge. It’s not that I don’t need to spend time with Him, I do. But I know He’s always right there. In my younger years I mimicked what others did and made every prayer into a spiritual event. I don’t do that anymore. I just talk to Him. It seems to work for us.
Oswald said this morning; at critical moments it is necessary to ask guidance, but it ought to be unnecessary to be saying always-“O Lord, direct me here, and there.” Of course He will! If our common-sense decisions are not His order, He will press through them and check; then we must be quiet and wait for the direction of His presence.
I believe there are times when we do need to get down on our knees and pray. I know there are times when I must escape to the top of a mountain to better hear God. But sometimes I hear Him talking to me in a song, or in something one of you says and no offense but there’s nothing all that spiritual about that. It’s just like walking.

Walterville Grange Restoration Click here for video

I recently read an announcement saying that a local grange, just down the street from my house, was having a work party. I wondered whether anyone would show up. I wondered if granges are becoming more popular. I wonder a lot these days. So, I took my camera to the Walterville Grange to talk with those who showed up. What I discovered was something that may soon be on the rebound. I think people are sick of just talking of community and want to be part of it. The trick will be, can we stop overusing the word “Busy” and simply get involved? That remains to be seen. Enjoy.

Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places

I was reading something in Oswald Chambers this morning that grabbed me.
“Many a soul begins to come to God when he flings off being religious, because there is only one Master of the human heart, and that is not religion but Jesus Christ.”
How easily we are attracted to the confines of religion. Relationship with God is much more difficult than religion. With religion I simply show up, kneel when I’m told to, sing the songs that they give me and go through the motions that have become the traditions of man and the “Norm” for most churches.
With relationship I can’t depend on a pastor, elders or others to do it for me. It’s between Rick and God. Sure, it’s nice to have other followers in your life to help you in those tough moments, but no one can fill my role in this relationship.
When my focus becomes my ministry, my church, or my anything, I find myself in dangerous territory. I used to hear people say (me too) that it was God first, family second and my ministry third. I don’t say that anymore. I think it’s God first, God second and God third. If I put Him in all three positions He’ll take care of all the rest.
Why are we so afraid of Freedom?
It’s no wonder we get trapped in the confines of religion. I think many believers today would rather be safe following rules and religion than free to follow Christ.