I know that it's hard to stomach a long blog, but hey I'm entitled to at least one a year. So here it is:

We have recently started this thing called "Hold On" stories. Basically a "Hold On" story is a story of God's unimaginable faithfulness. When you feel like giving up and cursing God; when things get SO bad that you ask: "why me?" You say: "If God existed then He wouldn't let this happen."
You know what, God is SO faithful that He loves you the same through all of that, and He is there the whole time. And your every heartfelt prayer is like beautiful music to His ears.

Here is a story from a real person that offered to share about God's awesomeness. It has been unbelievably encouraging to me:

Josie posted on September 06, 2008:
" When I was six years old I was diagnosed with Type One diabetes. I was in the first grade. It was so hard trying to ajust to pricking my finger more than four times daily and taking a shot every time I ate something. I stayed in the hospital for about six weeks, I think. As soon as I was able to come home, I learned that my parents were going to get a divorce. It wasn't that much of a shock since they always fought at home, but I didn't want it to happen and I took it really hard. I have two sisters who were 11 and 7 at the time. We ALL took it really hard."

"Not soon after my parents serperated, I got a really bad stomach virus. It turned out to be the symptoms of guillian barre syndrome. That means that I was paralyzed, from head to toe. I stayed in the hospital for another six weeks. Going through therapy and taking all sorts of medication. While I was in the hospital I turned seven. It was probably the worst birthday ever. Even though I had tons of people come visit me and bringing me things, I couldn't help but think that I would never get better and maybe even die. I knew it had to be hard on my mom. She stayed at the hospital with me, sleeping on the uncomfortable couch beside my bed, getting up several times a night to check on me or help me reposition myself since I wasn't able to do it myself. My sisters moved around from reletive to reletive staying with different family members since my dad was gone and my mom with me. "

"I couldn't help but think "Why Me". I would cry, A LOT. But after staying in the hospital and recovering, I am now able to walk again. I don't have to use a wheel chair or a cain. I'm a regular teenage girl. With hopes and dreams. and I think if you were to see me today, you would never guess that I wasn't able to walk at a time. Now that I am 14, instead of thinking "why me", I think "why not me". Maybe God will use me in the future to speak to others about him and his unwavering love for me, how he showed me mercy in giving me my legs to walk and play my favorite sports. I'm going to try my best to live for him, since he died for me."

That is awesome. I hope that you guys get a chance to post your own stories and please is you found this as encouraging as I have, then please feel free to share this blog post in a bulletin. I know that this story can minister to a lot of people like it did me. Go and share your own: "Hold On" stories

Thanks Josie for sharing,
DDB
Derek

I know that my blogs are becoming more and more in depth, so in pursuit of that I bring you: "What rhymes with Orange."

This is where you can post words that are (supposedly) un-rhymable and the rest of us attempt to give it a go!!!

I'll give you one: "Orange"---I had one response so far- "door henge"!!!! GREAT
Another good one is "Silver"---"Seal fur?"

Don't dispair: Remember that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

-DDB
Derek

Hey,
Derek here.
I have a little gift for all of you music fans out there. It's called Pandora.com. It's an incredible music website that allows you to stream your favorite music and suggests ither music that you may enjoy.

When you get your Pandora, share your station with me. My email is guitarraclasica@yahoo.com (please no spam ; )

Enjoy,
Derek

One of my favorite combos was Lupe Fiasco with a side of Daniel Doss Band = David Crowder! Awesome!!!

Tell me your winning combination.

Hey,
Derek here.
I have a little gift for all of you music fans out there. It's called Pandora.com. It's an incredible music website that allows you to stream your favorite music and suggests ither music that you may enjoy.

When you get your Pandora, share your station with me. My email is guitarraclasica@yahoo.com (please no spam ; )

Enjoy,
Derek

One of my favorite combos was Lupe Fiasco with a side of Daniel Doss Band = David Crowder! Awesome!!!

Tell me your winning combination.

I didn't try out this year for the Olympics like I usually do enter the "tight rope walker guy" competition. Here are some pictures of me training: *hint: you have to start low, and don't sneeze---ever.

http://www.bloggingmontreal.net/images/april06/tightRope.jpg

http://ieng9.ucsd.edu/~gmauger/pub/SunsetAndTightRope.JPG

http://allaboutalpha.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/Tight%20Rope.jpg


Anyhow, I am enjoying watching gymnastics though. Is it over already? I hope not. I'm gonna go watch it all over again on youtube.

So, what's your fav olympic event? There are no wrong answers except for ping pong.
Everyone knows that's just the Red-headed step child of Tennis (no offense Joe "Red" Stevens).

-derek

So what's it gonna be this summer? Chocolate or Vanilla? Or you gonna get a little crazy with some neopolitan? Well don't. Let's keep it safe.

Which one?

-Derek

Hey guys, Joe here.

Sorry you haven't heard from me for a while. Life has been very busy. To cut to the chase, I've been gettin married, hitched, Joe Stevens done jumped the broomstick. Now I am a married man, and a very blessed one at that. Thats nothin new to me, for God has always blessed me, but now there is an extra special blessing in my life. If you ever get to meet my wife Kari, you will know the blessing I am stoked about. I am still the same Joe in many ways, but I am also the Joe who has started a legacy with a new branch of the Stevens family. I new beginning which I hope rings the love of Christ through our lives together, and hopefully through a family of my own. I will say, marriage shouldn't be expected to be easy. It takes selflessness, which I have trouble with sometimes. Courage, faithfulness, trust, among much other disciplined acts of love. It shouldn't be taken lightly. With all that said, I will say. It has already been the best three weeks of my life. Sharing God's blessings with someone else is incredible to say the least. I am having a blast. I'm still ready to rock out whenever given the chance, but I am rockin the gold band on my left hand, and not ashamed of it. Humbled actually. Please remember to pray for me an Kari, as we begin our joint life together. Satan hates to see marriages succeed. I hope  and pray he hates ours.  God be lifted up.     Love y'all  Joe  

Hey- if you haven't already be sure to check out my journal - here's the link:

Daniel's Journal

You can get to Bryan's blog from there as well.

Also- for those of you who have been praying for my Mom- we have some good news-- the tumors have shrunk even more and they are skipping a treatment this round--- so her body can recover from the side effects and because the tumors are so small!

We are pumped about this next week-- DDB is headed back to THEE Camp with Park Cities-- we had a blast last year and are looking forward to another great week!

-Daniel

The last three nights we have been chasing Casting Crowns around California and Arizona. Fortunately we caught up with them in time to open up for them each night! One night we got to meet Justin Unger and he opened up as well, it was fun- he's a worship leader and brought his band from church to play wit him.

Well now we are off to Glorieta, NM. We'll be there for a week with Fuge camp. I call it fuge because I'm not sure if it's centrifuge or Mfuge or another one of their cool camps.

CHORD CHARTS-- many of you have been asking about chord charts. Well, now they are up. simply go to our website (www.danieldossband.com) and click on "media" and then "chord charts".

Let us know if you have any questions!
Thanks!
DD

ps- you can read more about this week at my blog-- go to our site and click on "journal"

Hey guys,

Just got back in town to the boro. Me and kari were in Knoxville with my family this weekend for a family wedding shower my Parents through us. Being off tour now, I got to relax and hand with the fam and some of our close freinds. Between goin to Dollywood, seein my loved ones, gettin cool presents, trout fishin wit my lil bro, and eatin lots of good food, me and Kari gettin to be with the fam was the best of it all. I actually got to sit down with Dad one night and talk about my Nana (his Mom) who passed away around ten years ago. It lead to me gettin to tell him how thankful I am about the sacrifices he an Mom made to raise me.About how thankful I am of the selflessness they have lived out and continue to live out in their lives today. I told Dad thinkin about bein a dad myself one dya is scary, cause its hard to believe I could ever be the father he is. Him and Mom have truly been an example of Christ in my life, and everyone else around them. We cried, hugged, laughed, all the good stuff. They are and have been one of God's biggest tools in teachin me how to love. I cherish that gift.

If there is someone in your life like that, tell them thanks. Bless them with the truth of what they meen to you. I am sure it it will get to their heart. Love you guys too.   Joe