Taken by Suprise

Today at one of the best Sonsets we have ever had (see programs for more details: http://www.magonline.com/jrhigh/programs.htm) a student came up to me and ask to give the devotional this night. I was blown-away! This guy stood there and told his peers to go out and share Jesus with their peers. I beamed at Garrett as he took a stand for what God had laid upon his heart. What was even a more a kodak moment... Garrett's father was standing in the corner of the patio watching... he was beaming as well.

Magic Mountain

Yesterday I took 24 junior highers to Magic Mountain, good times. Here are some of the highlights and lowlights:

Highlights:

• Got to spend time with students I normally don't connect with...can't beat that!
• The rides were extreme.
• There were no injuries or accidents (one student puked on the way there...bad McD's)
• Good leader support
• No logistical issues

Lowlights:

• Heat (although it wasn't that bad it still was hot)
• Some students didn't like the rides
• Prices for food inside the park (I had to take out a student loan just to pay for lunch)
• Magic Mountain employee's attitudes (they suck, and if they speak English your lucky)
• Students with extreme ADD and mis-management of money (one student spent his entire lunch/dinner money at the arcade...go figure)

Overall, the trip was great. Students had a great time, no one got hurt and we got back to the church right on time. Can't ask for anything more, I love my job :.)

Staff Meeting

Today at the staff meeting I was asked to pray for the Senior Pastor (a man whom I greatly respect and am honored to be in the trenches with). I was nervous...but real! I am blessed to be in such awesome company.

Deadlines

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  Can anyone explain to me why some people think that 'deadlines' for events do not apply to them and that they can sign up whenever they want....humm...maybe I need some starbucks right now?

The beginging and the End

a song on my itunes began to play...these are the words

This is where we start
This now take our hearts
Away

Thus we reach the end
The beginning and the end
You see I could not try
And here you and I
Parting due to me only
And now

bizarre, that's what I have been thinking/feeling these last few days...
Ok that was random and kind of emo...please forgive me!

My Sarcasm

Within the past three weeks I have been notified that my sarcasm is a little too much at times. I like to think of my 'humor' as a gift (it has gotten me out of trouble more than its gotten me into it), but I should be more serious sometimes and remain silent. My official rebuttal to such attacks on my humor...don't visit the UK!

• For those of you who have discussed this issue with me in a professional setting, this post is not intended for you. Your views are valid and respected, and are being introduced into my personality matrix. This will take some time.

Weekend Glance...

These are the highlights of my week:

• VBS is now over...THANK GOD!!!
• I got to rap during the worship rally at VBS... my CD will be out this fall.
• Went bodyboarding on Thursday. Saved a kid from being taken out by the riptide with my trusty bodyboard. Lunch at Wahoo's (Huntington Beach...If you we wondering)
• Free lunch at Chick-Filet on Saturday. Evidently Satan got the same coupon, because it was hotter than hell in Corona. Something was not right that day?
• Church...I am reminded how much I love my job!

These are the low lights of my week:

• Broke up with my girlfriend on Tuesday. The hardest thing I ever had to do...It had to be done.
• General tiredness from VBS
• Summer Camp issues (nothing major)
• CBU fin-Aid issues (Evidently, working at MAG rates me right up there with Bill Gates. However, my checking account would suggest something completely different. Please pray for me and this)
• I am staying at a home were the ants are unbelievable, the dog runs away, and the AC sucks upstairs.

Overall it has been a decent week..Praise the Lord!

Home in the Hills...

I went home this weekend for some much needed rest and relaxation. As you can see from the pictures, Tehachapi is beautiful place of oak trees, horses, cows, sheep and heat (it was very hot here)! My parents seemed to have my itinuray planned out for the whole weekend. Here is what it looked like:

Friday: Lunch at our favorite place 'The village Grill.' It is a hole-in-the-wall type of establishment. But, places like this most of the time have the greatest food. I ordered the French Dip...it was pretty good (not Mimi's Cafe good...But good). We finished the night with a BBQ...Loved it!

Saturday: Woke up early and got messured for a tux. My sister is getting married in a few months and alas...I'm in the wedding. After that we took off to Bakersfield (separate cars). My father and I had sushi, went to Breans Christian Bookstore, and saw 'Superman Returns' (loved it). Pops was tired so my mother took me out for Mexican food. We finished the night visiting with my Aunt and Uncle. Good times! What the girls did is still unknown to us, but I can imagine it involved spending money at the mall.

Sunday: Went to church...Loved it! Ate Thai food. My folks seemed to have ordered almost everything off the menu because the waiter kept bring dish after dish...Loved it! Drove around Tehachapi taking pictures like a retard. Apple cobbler and coffee at our favorite pie place...Loved it! To finish the day, my mom made breakfast for dinner (if you have never done this...you have not lived...just kidding. It's awesome)!

Monday: Hasn't come yet...I plan of leaving for the Ghetto (Riverside) when my parents leave for work, which means...I don't get to sleep in.

Overall, God had blessed my time here with my folks. It has been great to get away and SLOW DOWN!!!

Hello Doggy

This morning I walked to the back yard to feed the six year old black lab named Scotty, as I do every morning. However, this was different...He was gone! Somehow, he broke his tie-line that he was attached to and decided to jump the fence and check out the town. After driving all over creation yelling "Scotty...Scotty...Scotty" (like I have tourets or something), I decided to check the animal shelter; he was not there either. Anyway, sometime around 2:30pm I hear a scratch at the front door. Lo behold Scotty came home...covered in white feathers! I am assuming that a family is now relieved of a few chickens or water foul. Needless to say, this place is now on 'lock down' and he will be in solitary confinement for the duration of the summer...poor doggy!

Beach Trip Recap

Yesterday, I took our junior high group to Huntington Beach. Fun Times!!! The waves kind of sucked, but the students found things to do; football, rugby, looking for buried treasure, throwing sand, neglecting re-applying sunscreen after numerous reminders. The parents that joined us were down right AMAZING!!! They made sure that everything was ready and prepared. Our stove that we brought with us could not cook burgers. One parent walked over to the camp next to us and asked if we could theirs. We got hooked up! I almost die in a rip current...David...Thanks (Brad must never know of this)! Overall, excellent trip. Good planning, good attendance, good food, awesome fellowship and admiring God's creation.

The worst BBQ ever!

Ok, today was supposed to be our promo BBQ (entering in of the new 7th graders and leaving of the new 9th graders). The BBQ happened but with some lovely little lowlights.

• The place were supposed to have it at didn't have anything we needed (extending cable, trash cans, etc.)
• individuals who really didn't want to be there and physically and verbal pronounced this.
• delegation gone bad (simple things such as moving objects from point A to point B require a 5 min. Explanation of'why', stuff I didn't have time for...'just do it' sort of thing)
• A very weak parent's meeting. Talk about 'creative redundancy'!

Overall the highlights are as follows:

• the one's who showed up seemed to have a great time.
• The food was great (didn't get any of it though).
• The pool was cold and the music was grand!
• We did get hooked up with a sweet tent!

I learn, study and move on...THANK GOD!!!!