Dan Van Horne

Senior Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, husband to Tara and dad to three awesome kids

[Keith Grabowski 🏈 Coach and Coordinator Network @CoachKGrabowski]

The world says find joy in being celebrated.

The Gospel says find joy in surrender.

@CoachDiDonato on a truth that changed his perspective.

- Stop chasing your own glory
- Find satisfaction in Christ
- Trust that true joy comes from Him

God doesn't love us by making much of us.

He loves us by freeing us from ourselves so we can make much of Him.

That's where lasting joy is found.

[Grove City Football @GCC_FB]

True joy is “Full, Always, Any”
Merry Christmas from Grove City College Football.

:A special message from @CoachDiDonato

[Ben Sasse @BenSasse]

Friends-

This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I’ll cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die.

Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence. But I already had a death sentence before last week too — we all do.

I’m blessed with amazing siblings and half-a-dozen buddies that are genuinely brothers. As one of them put it, “Sure, you’re on the clock, but we’re all on the clock.” Death is a wicked thief, and the bastard pursues us all.

Still, I’ve got less time than I’d prefer. This is hard for someone wired to work and build, but harder still as a husband and a dad. I can’t begin to describe how great my people are. During the past year, as we’d temporarily stepped back from public life and built new family rhythms, Melissa and I have grown even closer — and that on top of three decades of the best friend a man could ever have. Seven months ago, Corrie was commissioned into the Air Force and she’s off at instrument and multi-engine rounds of flight school. Last week, Alex kicked butt graduating from college a semester early even while teaching gen chem, organic, and physics (she’s a freak). This summer, 14-year-old Breck started learning to drive. (Okay, we’ve been driving off-book for six years — but now we’ve got paper to make it street-legal.) I couldn’t be more grateful to constantly get to bear-hug this motley crew of sinners and saints.

There’s not a good time to tell your peeps you’re now marching to the beat of a faster drummer — but the season of advent isn’t the worst. As a Christian, the weeks running up to Christmas are a time to orient our hearts toward the hope of what’s to come.

Not an abstract hope in fanciful human goodness; not hope in vague hallmark-sappy spirituality; not a bootstrapped hope in our own strength (what foolishness is the evaporating-muscle I once prided myself in). Nope — often we lazily say “hope” when what we mean is “optimism.” To be clear, optimism is great, and it’s absolutely necessary, but it’s insufficient. It’s not the kinda thing that holds up when you tell your daughters you’re not going to walk them down the aisle. Nor telling your mom and pops they’re gonna bury their son.

A well-lived life demands more reality — stiffer stuff. That’s why, during advent, even while still walking in darkness, we shout our hope — often properly with a gravelly voice soldiering through tears.

Such is the calling of the pilgrim. Those who know ourselves to need a Physician should dang well look forward to enduring beauty and eventual fulfillment. That is, we hope in a real Deliverer — a rescuing God, born at a real time, in a real place. But the eternal city — with foundations and without cancer — is not yet.

Remembering Isaiah’s prophecies of what’s to come doesn’t dull the pain of current sufferings. But it does put it in eternity’s perspective:
“When we've been there 10,000 years…We've no less days to sing God's praise.”

I’ll have more to say. I’m not going down without a fight. One sub-part of God’s grace is found in the jawdropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more. Death and dying aren’t the same — the process of dying is still something to be lived. We’re zealously embracing a lot of gallows humor in our house, and I’ve pledged to do my part to run through the irreverent tape.

But for now, as our family faces the reality of treatments, but more importantly as we celebrate Christmas, we wish you peace: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned….For to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9).

With great gratitude, and with gravelly-but-hopeful voices,
Ben — and the Sasses

[Andrew DiDonato @CoachDiDonato]

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2

4 years - Football
40 years - Degree & Career
Forever - Faith & Relationships in Christ

Never let a finite thing become the ultimate thing

[Alex Van Horne @alex_van_horne]

I am so grateful and excited to receive a offer from @GCC_FB. Thank you @CoachBBrest,@CoachDiDonato and @CoachBaney for this opportunity!

@LudloweFB
@CoachKevinAvery

[Lloyd Legalist @LloydLegalist]

Spread the word.

[Dan Van Horne @DanVanHorne]

Parents, no matter what happens @2025BONECAMP make sure you tell your athlete how proud you are of him for having the courage to walk on the field and compete with all his heart! Go get em @alex_van_horne!

[Alex Van Horne @alex_van_horne]

Had an amazing visit today at @GCC_FB!! Thank you @CoachBBrest and @CoachDiDonato for inviting me down to learn about the Wolverines!

[Alex Van Horne @alex_van_horne]

@HunterJolly1 Class of 2026
3.12 GPA
6’4”
250
OT
Fairfield Ludlowe High School (CT)

https://t.co/UKMX3Rso0w

[Bigelow Center for Senior Activities @BigelowCtr]

Magnificent Nativity carving made by Bigelow craftsman Guillermo Reyes. Shown with fellow craftsmen Don Lamberty and Chris Lussen.

[Fairfield CT, Superintendent of Schools @FairfieldSuper]

Dwight students witnessed a touching homecoming when Mr. Tilidze surprised his two children by visiting the school after Thanksgiving. Tilidze had been away for four months fighting in the Ukraine Military. Welcome home Mr. Tilidze!

[Dan Van Horne @DanVanHorne]

Had a similar experience and won’t go back again! @MyBobs I’m sorry it happened to you!

[Lori Latimer @beanmac]

Disappointed in @MyBobs. I bought a new couch in November and it already has begun to form holes under the cushions.The worst part, the 5 year warranty I purchased will not cover the damage. The only thing I have done to this couch is sit on it! Not cool at all.

[Dan Van Horne @DanVanHorne]

@drewforster Not at all! I just got back from frolicking! That’s still in a well

[David Crowder @crowdermusic]

When I grow up I want to be just like him #mypeople⁠

[Dan Van Horne @DanVanHorne]

Wow... amazing love

[Obianuju Ekeocha @obianuju]

This young man is EXCEPTIONAL!!!

She was found guilty of murdering his brother #BothamJean.

Listen to what he says to her ,even the judge wept!

[Carlos A. Rodríguez @CarlosHappyNPO]

“How do stop these people?” asked the president - a few minutes after calling immigrants “an invasion”.

A man from the crowd answered, “Shoot them!”

And the president smiled.
And the crowd joined him.
And then it actually happened.

Repent.

[Dan Van Horne @DanVanHorne]

Thinking on this verse for myself... all too often we apply Scripture to others and neglect God’s Word for us

[Bubba Wallace @BubbaWallace]

Minding my bidness and The King comes in with a surprise signature attack!

43000 RTs and I'll get it tattooed.