1. I'm thankful for my life--given to me by God. Every breath is a blessing. 

2. I'm thankful for my salvation, purchased for me on the Cross 2,000 years ago by Jesus Christ, secured forever by the Holy Spirit. This gives me the promise of eternal life in Heaven. 

3. I'm thankful for my beautiful wife of seven years. Marriage to her is infinitely more blessed than I ever imagined. 

4. I'm thankful for my children. Grace Marie is almost five and fills our home with such joy and laughter. Dan Jr. is 1 and is walking and has his own unique and curious personality. And Emma Rose is awaiting her entrance into this world, sometime around Christmas. Can't wait to see what she looks and sounds and acts like. 

5. I'm thankful for my parents, who courageously raised us children in the Lord, who provided more than we needed, who encouraged us along the way, who set us on a path to success. Every year that passes I'm more grateful for them. 

6. I'm thankful for my church, Gages Lake Bible Church, who has welcomed the Darling Family with open arms. Their generosity and love and patience has overwhelmed us. You are a wonderful people. We love you. 

7. I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve in ministry. Ministry is my passion and God has graciously granted me the opportunity to preach and teach and encourage and disciple. 

8. I'm thankful for the opportunity to write, for a publisher willing to publish my work, for Tamela, my incredible agent, for all the publications willing to publish my articles and devotionals. 

9. I'm thankful to be an American. America has a lot of issues, but we still have the greatest nation on earth. We still live in the top 1% of the world. I love this nation, warts and all. 

10. I'm thankful for great friends, who are there through thick and thin, who encourage, exhort, and even rebuke when necessary. You've enriched my life. 

 I just finished a fantastic novel by my friend, Tricia Goyer. Here is my review: 

"This is a time for war, not love," says Gabi Mueller, an unlike heroine in a time of war. Hitler's crusade had encroached upon her village and so her courage, Christian faith, and competence led her into a cooperative role for the Allies. 

This is a well-crafted, first-rate novel, each page sparkling with action, dialogue and rich character development. I found myself knee deep into the lives of the characters and the drama of the times. I was overwhelmed, at times, by the historical and cultural touch points. I felt when reading, that was right there in the midst of WW, mixing into the lives of the common people forced to make tough choices. 

This novel wasn't just a pleasurable diversion, it delivered an education into the lives of the common person on both sides of the Swiss-German border in a time of considerable, historical tension. I heartily recommend this book.

The Bible says it like this: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." – John 15:13.

In other words, if you want to see real love in action, look at a man who gives himself for his friends. When I think of that verse, I think of the brave men and women throughout history who have set aside their lives, donned the military fatigues, and went to battle to fight for the interests of our great country. Many didn't come back. They spilled their blood on the battlefields all over the world. 

I think of my own grandfather. He passed a few years ago, but his memories are still with us. Grandpa was a valiant man, a product of the Great Depression and World War II, part of what Tom Brokaw so accurately described as "The Greatest Generation." I'm not sure they make people like Grandpa anymore. He grew up in Chicago. His mother emigrated from Poland and raised her children by herself. Grandpa never knew anyone who owned a car. They literally had no money. He would ride the backs of milk trucks and delivery cars to go to the butcher to buy liver that was going to be thrown out. But people in Grandpa's generation didn't complain. He often said to me, "Dan, we didn't know what we didn't have. We had a good life." 

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Grandpa enlisted in the Army. He didn't want to mess with being drafted. He want to have some control over his destiny. Grandpa served for years in the Phillipines as a tank commander. 

How I loved Grandpa. He had a lifetime of wisdom and wit. He was content in any situation. He loved his family and worked hard to support them. He sold cars in the city of Chicago. He often let us come to the showroom and climb in the new cars. 

When Grandpa passed, it left a hole in our hearts that remains today. 

Grandpa was just one of many veterans who gave their lives. I think of others like my friend Tim who served in Vietnam. I think of Jim, an elder in our church who served in the Navy during WWII. I think of my own brother, Tim, who served in this latest Iraq War. 

Most of us go about our lives, living in the greatest country on earth, oblivious to the fact that thousands of our fellow countrymen are sweating it out on some desert or in training or in a foreign land. They do it for love of country. We owe them a lot. 

Not all veterans are perfect. Not all soldiers are saints. Nobody is saying that. But on this day what we are saying is this. Let's take a step back and give them an extra measure of gratitude for their service.