This is the Home of
DONALD BRIAN SANDERS,
a.k.a DONALD B. SANDERS,
a.k.a. DON SANDERS,
of Irma, Alberta, Canada,
Edmonton/ St Albert, Alberta,
Rocky Mountain House, Alberta,
Kamloops, B.C., Canada,
Dallas/Grand Prairie, Texas, and now
Calgary, Alberta, Canada since 1984-11-15.
a.k.a. 'Minstrel4Him'
a.k.a. 'Bornagain56'
Welcome To My MAIN HomePage

Since I am the 'go-to' guy around here, you can contact me - the webmaster - at:
'donaldbsanders@yahoo.com' or 'dbs707@live.com'

LATE BREAKING NEWS - STROKE! ! !
As I write this on Sat 2009-11-07, I am recovering in the Fanning Centre, Neuro Rehab Unit, in N.E. Calgary
from a Serious Stroke - a blood clot in the neck - which hit me, suddenly & painlessly, as I relaxed
in my apartment in the early evening of Tues 2009-10-20 & which left me quite helpless,
so the ambulance rushed me to the emergency at Foothills Hospital.
However, by the grace of God & prayer, along with the expert emergency care of the Foothills Hospital,
I was stabilized enough in 1 week, to be transferred by covered wagon & 2 cowboys (this IS Calgary!)
(though it took both men to get me into the wheelchair for the bumpy ride), to
the Dr Vernon Fanning Rehab Centre on Tues 10-27 where my recovery so far has been quite amazing.

I will keep you posted on my progress, by regular up-dates on this web-site, thanks to these free computers
which are for the use of clients of Fanning Centre, which I am already able to use, albeit,
quite slowly for the first couple of weeks using the old 'hunt & peck' method.
By Fri 11-13 I was starting to play hymns on the old piano in my ward & this has become 'an official part'
of my regular therapy.
Tues 12-08 - It is now 7 weeks since the stroke laid me out. Now I am fully independent, with my
wheelchair; & I have various kinds of other regular therapy 12 or 15 times a week;
I started using a 4-wheeled 'walker' over 2 weeks ago, supervised;
last week I started walking on my own, though haltingly & with an attendant at my side;
12-03 now I am using the walker to walk from my area of the building to the dining-room for meal-time.
The doctor, the medical staff & the therapists are very happy with my consistent progress & my up-beat attitude
- from totally helpless to mostly self-reliant in 7 short weeks. Today I can stand with no help for several minutes at a time, etc.
I will soon be using public transportation - the handi-bus - for outings around town in my wheel-chair or walker.
Hallelujah! And many are blessed each day as I play 'gospel' on the piano, & sometimes I sing too!

Fri 12-11: Today my good friend Ron Maack picked me up - in my wheelchair at Fanning Centre - in his little
Chevy/Suzuki 4-wheel drive vehicle & we spent 2 very pleasant hours away from Fanning Centre so I could do
some banking & run a couple of errands; then we shared an hour visiting over coffee in his vehicle.
Ron & I have been good friends since we met in 1986 at Calgary Christian Centre, though neither of us go there now.
On Monday 12-14, the head therapist said that because of this very successful independent outing, I am now freer for more regular outings, with fewer strings attached; & today Friday 12-18 she said I am progressing so well with my mobility that some of the therapy sessions are no longer necessary!

Monday 12-21 will be special - it is the day I go back to my own apartment
for a 'home visit' with the therapists so they can access how well I can manage own my own!
So I will be home before Christmass, even if only for an hour or so.
I will keep you posted.

I continue to solicit your prayers & your Hallelujahs! for a complete recovery because
I am trusting God for miracles in my life & I am rejoicing today for His healing hand thus for.
A good friend asked me on Sun 11-01 if I was at all depressed, to which I replied:
'On the contrary, I am actually quite joyfull, because I am progresing so well'.
One of my early goals upon arriving here at Fanning, was to play my accordion before Christmas -
I was playing the piano by Nov 13 & now as of 12-18 I play 'gospel' for a about 1/2 hour, twice daily
& many staff & clients ane thanking me. Oh yes, I maybe forgot to mention that there are quite a few
Chistians here - they come out of the woodwork when they hear my music! Praise the Lord!

HEY THERE ! ! - Spring 2007 - Do you know this old guy? - DBS now has whiskers!
Whiskers Mar 2007 Click here - Whiskers - spring 2007.
self-picture - March 2007 - 10 months of not shaving looks like this.
Sept 23/2008 - after 27 months - pic will be much more rustic looking! Ha!
up-dated pic coming soon!

I am having fun with this here 'whiskers' adventure! It is turning-out to be an interesting 'social experiment';
the reaction of people is quite interesting, & quite varied.
So that I do not expect to shave any-time soon, but maybe a trim?
My whiskers are now about 5" long! (as of 2007-09-23)

COMING SOON - Whiskers after nearly 3 years - would you recognize this guy?
As of 2009-04-04, my whiskers were (a.k.a. 'beard' was) about 8" long & quite fashionable-looking (??).
I am over-due at posting more pictures; coming soon - weeks?

This is what I looked like after a hair-cut & beard trim - also coming soon.
Now it is spring I don't need so much insulation- ha!
The pictures are trapped in my computer at home.

MORE PICTURES FURTHER DOWN THIS HERE WEB-SITE.

Sign on a north-west Calgary church:
Do not fear tomorrow - God is already there!

INTRODUCTION TO MY WEB-SITE - PRE-AMBLE: or is it just 'ramble'?

1. The lengthy title helps 'Google' and others to find me on the vast world-wide spiders-web that we call 'the internet'.

2. For now, this Personal Web-Site is my idea of "self-publishing".
It is basically 'an auto-biography of the life of a fairly ordinary man', with 'lots of rabbit trails'.
On this web-site you will discover something of: who I am, where I have lived, my work-place history,
my religious beliefs, some auto-biography, some pictures - along with many rabbit-trails.

Note: 2008-09-23: THIS PART NEEDS SERIOUS UP-DATING FOR CONTENT & RELEVANCE.
We now interrupt our regular programming for some important announcements -
Late-Breaking Religious News = Google 'Benny Hinn' or other 'Charismatic Christian' sites or 'Modern Day Miracles' for this info.
Thank you for taking this detour. (This info changed 2009-05-22.)

Later this year I plan to add new sections on this page for links to
'Modern Day Miracles'

Also COMING SOON: 'Politics - Some of my Heroes - & rogues -in both Canada & the U.S.A.'- quickly:

I have some strong views on the 'de-Klein'-ing of Alberta; he was BAD for Alberta - he was a 'rogue'.

Stephan Harper & Stockwell Day - they are both GOOD GUYS & very good for Canada.

U.S.A. - Bush & Cheney are my heroes; they have made the tough decisions
but that rogue up-start, the new black kid Hussein - he is an imposter plus he is in way too much of a hurry &
he is doing wicked & stupid things because he is seriously lacking wisdom, he is a Socialist
& he has very little experience with any-thing practical.

Now back to our on-site/ in-site-filled/ regular programming:

More importantly, you may discover the passions of my life.

Some people write books and publish their autobiographies.
Some musicians have become rich and famous with their music.

Me? I am just 'an ordinary guy' - and I do not aspire to become rich - a farm boy from rural Alberta,
with lots of memories (good & not so good), who has lived a few decades,
who has seen a lot of changes (again, + & -),since he was a kid;
a guy who has raised 3 fine kids of my own & now is a grand-father;
who has had a few successes & a few set-backs in life;
written a few gospel songs, loves playing the accordion for my King, and ... is developing this, my very own web-site.
Since I became 'internet friendly' in January 1995, I have wanted to personally develope my very own personal web-site.
So here we are. Big as life, as it were. And 'world-wide' too. As it is.
So then, this is my idea of 'self-publishing'. Explore. Enjoy. I invite your enquiry or comments on any part of this web-site.

This web-site has 'grown like rabbits' since the spring of 1999 or so, and has become a bit tedious to follow.
Therefore, I am am constantly in the 'renewal process' - lots to do yet -
- as I re-format/ overhaul/ renovate/ re-construct/ modify/ sort-out/ etc, this here web-site of mine.

God bless you, as you put up with the re-construction period, comma, semi-colon, etc.,
as I re-construct my life's highway - past, present, future/ etc/ as it were.
I am attempting to make it more interesting/ easier to follow/ more relevant/ etc/ with excess verb-age
better organized, with more 'clickable links', and less verbiage to distract you.

So then, this 'Main Page' was brand new in format as of October 2004, and I trust that you find it to be fairly logical and easy to follow.

INDEX TO MY WEB-SITE:

1. Who I am = Click = DBS - The Basics.
Donald Brian Sanders, originally from Irma Alberta, and
a Calgarian since 1984, with many interesting stops in between.
How to contact me/ Where I have lived/ and/ or/ Where you may have met me/ + some Pictures (then & now)
Please take a minute, and send me a note - I always enjoy hearing from friends old & new.

2. The Workplace Click = The Workplace.
= Detailed Work History, with some references; (more than just a resume).
As of January 1, 2005 - Officially RETIRED and no longer looking for work.
The 'mild stroke' which I suffered in July of 2004 has left me unable to work on any kind of regular or scheduled basis,
and my doctor has recommended that I go on permanent disability pension.
So then, this link will give you an idea of the interesting career that I have had. Interesting, but 'Totally Historical'.

Mini-Bio: = A very sketchy overview =
farmer - bookkeeper - accountant - controller - night-school instructor - commercial realtor - amateur gospel musician - family man.

Now unable to work on a regular scheduled basis - I will probably be spending more time volunteering
with Christian organizations in downtown Calgary, and with music and ministry opportunities.

(Secion 2. - updated 2005-04-07)

3. My Life: = Some 'Autobiography': Click = SomeAutoBio.
-:- Growing up on the farm circa 1950 -:- Home-coming 1997 - Back to my Roots
-:- My eulogy at Dad's funeral Feb 1999 -:- Recent events - 2003 & 2004.
-:- Also - some recent pictures of me plus my adult children & my grand-daughter.
-:- For these & more . . . follow this link.
This page will be up-dated from time-to-time with more auto-biography, etc, as I re-live the past, and as more time passes.

4. My Family Tree a.k.a. Some Genealogy Click = Genealogy.
Here is some detailed work done by some of my immediate family, who wish to remain 'anonymous':
My grand-parents' main family lines were: Sanders & Deadmarsh and McNaughton & Boyd.
Who knows - YOU may be related to ME - a 'shirt-tail relative', as it were.

5. McNaughton Clan Click = McNaughton Biographies.
= Here are some Biographical Notes & Genealogy, prepared by some of my 'McNaughton' relatives from around Irma.
These notes were passed on to me in 2004, and they tie-in well with the detailed genealogy work in #4 above.
These notes 'put some flesh' onto the 'bare-bones' genealogy from section 4 above.

6.a. My Christian Journey = My personal testimony + Life with 'the 2x2's' = Click = MyFaith.
Includes: -:- Who are 'the 2x2's'? / a.k.a. - 'Christian Conventions Church'; with some excellent info links; and
-:- My 'inter-denominational, pentecostal-charismatic beliefs'; etc. (updated - 2005-02-04)

6.b. Gospel Music & Ministry In My Life Today:
Click = Gospel Music & Ministry In My Life Today
'Gospel Music & Ministry' - it is what I live for - I am here to bless you with Gospel music. (updated - 2005-01-27)

6.c. Some Christian Mentors In My Life - from my youth to the present day =
Click = Christian Mentors.
I believe that my strong 'inter-denominational/ Christian/ evangelical/ Charismatic/ faith' is a fairly well-rounded application of Christian teachings, and it is a result of receiving godly teachings from many different godly sources, and different perspectives.
My deliberate desire to be 'inter-denominational' enables me to receive excellent teaching from a wide variety of Christian perspectives.
I try not to 'put God in a box', because God does not belong to any particular denomination.
HE (God) can bring truth to us from a wide variety of sources - if we have ears to hear and hearts to understand and receive.
With doctrine and 'looking at different churches and ministries' - I try to be 'discerning' rather than 'judgemental'; flexible and not rigid (this does not equate with 'liberal').
Let God be the judge. If you love Jesus, then you are my brother or my sister. (updated - 2005-01-21)

6.d. Some Issues of Christian Doctrine & Church Practice Click = Doctrine Matters.
Here I am raising some issues of 'Christian doctrine' and 'ministry practice' today, some of which are (maybe) controversial to many/some believers. Read. Enjoy. Get disturbed. Whatever. God knows where you and I are coming from - with life's experiences, conviction, training, personal doctrinal preferences, etc. Many of my good/best friends have decidedly different views to what I have in some of these matters. But you know what? I prefer to not enter into argumentive debate with them; friendship is much more important than arguing over doctrine. Some of these matters are either 'sacred cows' or 'no-no's' in many churches.
(this page updated - 2005-04-24)

6.e. These Are My Friends = my Christian friends come from many 'different' walks of life:
Click = Meet My Friends.
Here you will meet a very wide array of born-gain Christians - 'former' pimps, strippers, hookers, drug dealers, hippies, among others - 'the cream of the crop', as it were. (or is that 'as it was'? or 'as they were'? whatever.) Maybe a 'motley crew' to most of you. Welcome to the 'Household of God' - HE is in the business of changing lives. Hallelujah! There but for the Grace of God were I, etc.
(this page added - 2005-04-19)

7.a. Some Fine Christian Links = Christian Ministries/ Gospel Music/ etc:
Click = Christian Links.
Here you will find a variety of very good evangelical & charismatic Christian ministries & music that have blessed me over the years.
You will be both blessed and challenged, I promise you. Enjoy! (updated - 2005-01-19)

7.b. Western Canadian Christian Links
Click = CanWestern.
Here are some Christian Ministries based in Calgary or Western Canada - including: World Evangelism, Gospel Music, Street Ministries, and more - a growing mixture of 'home-grown ministries'.
This part is so new that it is also very incomplete - it will be expanded over time. (updated - 2005-04-07)

7.c. The 50 Most Influential Christians in America = Click = America's Top 50
From "The Church Report" web-site, readers voted these 50 men and women as "The 50 Most Influential Christians in America".
It is no surprise to me that President Bush is #1 on this list. He should be.
It is also no surprise that many of my favorite Christian leaders are also here.
(this link discovered & added - 2005-04-24)

8. Rabbit Trails = Miscellaneous stuff that may be a bit of a diversion:

Rabbit #1 = Some of my Heroes in education, politics & business.
Click = Heroes. (last update - 2005-01-29)

Rabbit #2 = Some things that annoy me, but which I have little control over.
Click = Annoyances.

Rabbit #3 = The lighter side - My Memory Chuckles
= Some chuckles from - Yesteryear - Last Year - This Year - From Whenever.
Click = Chuckles. (last update - 2005-02-20)
Includes picture of 'flying kitty cat'.

Rabbit #4 = We all have said - 'It is a small world' - here are some examples in my life:
Click = Small World. (This page was added on 2005-01-12.)

Rabbit #5 = Did you know that 'kitty cats can fly?'
I did not know either, until I saw this picture.
Click = Flying Kitty Cat.
(This page was added on 2005-04-21.)
Looks to me like his poor kitty cat got lost on another rabbit trail, as it were, but trust me, I will soon find him 4 u all, so that you too can see him fly.

I found the 'flying kitty cat'!! - just go to 'Rabbit #3' above, the kitty is there.
or maybe you need a better browser <=> etc, whatever, eh?

9. Now Here - My Accordion Page!! Click = Don's Accordion Page
My instrument of choice - the accordion, then and now, and the future - including a picture of a
modern 'electric midi accordion keyboard'. Who-da-thunk-it. This is my next major purchase.

10. The Music of Donald B. Sanders
Over the years I have written a number of new gospel songs (words & music).
Here I am starting to post some of 'The Best of Don Sanders'. Enjoy. Click = BestOfDonald
Some day, maybe I can minister to you, and then you can feel the emotion and hear the music, not just 'see' the words.
*** The songs that I write reveal much about my spiritual journey, and 'my belief system'. P.T.L.
= New Page - Dec 2004 & latest revision on 2005-03-06.

11. Mini-Bio of Donald B. Sanders: � as of 2004-06-26;

- Born in 1944, raised in a farming community in eastern Alberta, and a Calgarian since 1984;
- Don has 40+ years of varied experience: in Mixed Farming, Accounting & Income Tax, Computer Systems,
Small Business Consulting, College Instruction & the Real Estate Industry;
- Has held Senior Accounting & Controller positions in several businesses & industries, including non-profit institutions;
- Was involved with Commercial Real Estate in Alberta, plus Dallas & Memphis, for several years;
- Has successfully taught Night School at a Regional College, including being instrumental in upgrading the course content;
- Has served on the governing boards & advisory committees for several Christian & political organizations;
- Has been actively involved in his local church & in Gospel Music since a youth;
- Don has a passion for inter-denominational Christian unity, fellowship & ministry;
- Has written the lyrics & music for some new gospel songs, and is preparing to publish & record his own music + 'golden oldies'.
- Donald's instrument of choice is the 'electronic accordion'; and
*** He is available to travel & share his testimony thru gospel music - to groups small & large, or on the streets.
- Don has three adult children, and two grandchildren.

My Purpose in Life is: 'Serving God by Serving People'.
My Passion is: 'Making Melody for HIM Wherever I Go!' I am a 'Minstrel4Him'.

Be a friend to someone who needs a friend - there are many.

Help: who-ever - where-ever - when-ever - how-ever - what-ever - you can.
I intend to.

May God bless you - more than you could ever imagine!! Have a wonderful day.

This 'complex' was last maintained - updated - added to - modified - etc - on 2009-12-08.

And it will always be - continuously - 'under construction', as it were.

Maybe some folks would say that this site is 'over-constructed' already. So be it.

Now I'll drift along. Bye for now. Winds of change are coming. This summer. I promise.

Since I am the 'go-to' guy around here, you can contact me - the webmaster - at:
'donaldbsanders@yahoo.com' or
'dbs707@live.com'

Hey there - am I getting fancy, or what? I am getting into rainbows, yet. Lookkeeee heeere -

Just remember, that God is the Master of the Rainbow, He invented then,
He surprises us with rainbows after or during a rainfall,etc;
& reminder that 'never again will God flood the whole earth, as He did in Noah's day'.