The van from hell

Yesterday I had to drive this van to Norwalk to pick up some sound equipment for a friend. This is his van and it's previous owner was Satan himself. Here is why I believe this to be true...

• I left Riverside at 4:30pm. Traffic wasn't bad till I got onto the 91 west. It pretty much sucked from the 91 to the 5 north and all the way to the church.
• The van has no working AC nor do the windows roll down (not even joking). So while it's 100 degrees outside, I'm baking inside this car. No human being would own something like this. Its safe to say that I was not having a great day.
• What should have taken me 44 minutes, actually took me 2 1/2 hours. I got to Norwalk at 7pm. This whole experience really tested my patience. Honestly, I think I failed...

Oh, I looked like a youth pastor from 1986 while driving on the freeway...Absolutely ridiculous!

New at In & Out

Today for lunch a friend and I went to the wonderful In & Out. We ordered, waited, sweated, and finally received our food. We walked over to the tables (which were outside) and sat to enjoy a killer burger (animal style of course). Next thing I notice is that my bum is beginning to roast. I'm not talking rump roast, which is a slow cooker. No, I'm talking deep fried! The temperature outside was so hot that the chairs and tables were unbearable to use. Both my friend and I have third degree burns (not really) from this ordeal. Nobody ever told me that In & Out sold hot cross buns?

Not a Handyman?

Ok, the house that I am staying at had a problem. The drain in the bathroom was clogged. The water took 5 hours to drain. Now, having no handyman gifts I went out and bought some the gel/foam drain-o. I almost had a coronary went two hours later I still found the water slowly draining away. I grabbed the plunger and attacked the drain. Lo and behold, that did the trick. My pop would be proud!

Summer cold...God the Doctor

For the last week or so I have been sick with cold that I picked up in Arizona of all places. I rarely get sick, but when I do I'm out for the count. A few days ago I went on a staff retreat to Big Bear...big mistake. My head felt like it going to pop (altitude sickness?)! As with feeling miserable I had forgot to bring my medicine. So, sometime around 12am I walked down to the front desk of the hotel we were staying at and asked to see if they had something for me. They didn't. They did suggest that I go the 7-11 that was down the street. The answer to my problem? Nope, I drove up with some else, and he was asleep. So, I walked all over Big Bear at 12:24am looking for drugs! With no luck, I finally went back to my room, where I prayed that God would knock me out...It was 3:30am when God finally obliged. The funny thing is...I woke up feeling refreshed?

A promotional rant...

It's that time again...Transition. Many of our students will be leaving to the High School realm (some are already gone, they are just counting down the time). High School is such an exciting time in one's lives that I am also excited for them. They get to hang out with the coolest high school guy ever, get to enjoy uber-fun events and really develop character (not that they didn't have that chance in middle school). With that said, we are losing many of our student leaders. It has been an honor to see them grow in their journey with God and find the Refinery a place called 'home' here at Mag. Nevertheless, there are those who have written the Refinery off as childish with the that there interaction has become distant and sometimes rude. It is my prayer that the students will remember to 'run that race' and continue to look for opportunites to serve and grow...Sorry for the rant.

Donkey-ville aka Oatman

On our way back from the very hot Arizona, we stopped at a little place called 'Oatman.' It was cool (kind of). The town is filled with roaming donkeys and baking piles of...what?. The donkeys are mellow and love carrots, and love to walk into stores...go figure! Overall, I give this town 50% on the coolness factor. Please note: the donkeys are in fact more cordial than the human inhabitants of the town itself...go figure.

What?

Hummm....who is this guy again?

You scored as Anselm. Anselm is the outstanding theologian of the medieval period.He sees man's primary problem as having failed to render unto God what we owe him, so God becomes man in Christ and gives God what he is due. You should read 'Cur Deus Homo?' Anselm 73% John Calvin 60% Jonathan Edwards 53% Charles Finney 47% Karl Barth 47% Friedrich Schleiermacher 47% Augustine 47% J?Moltmann 40% Martin Luther 40% Paul Tillich 33% Which theologian are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Arizona Trip 2

After driving (for what seemed like hours) we finally arrived at the Canyon. It was an awesome sight. Although, I have to admit, my ADD was really kicking in, after about 30 min. of walking around and looking at the Canyon, I started to become restless. Nevertheless, it was awesome!

Arizona trip

I have been on a 'mini-vacation' in Arizona this weekend. Here is a picture of the awesome Grand Canyon. Breathtaking and amazing, word's still can not describe the beautiful workings of the Creator!

Humm...that's funny?

It's funny how things work out. This afternoon I had lunch with Chris (who by the way is very cool) and talked about his willingness to help out in our junior high ministry. It was a good lunch (can't really trash talk In-&-Out) and just hanging out with Chris and listening to his heart for ministry was just what I needed. Anyhow, as I returned up to my office, a current leader was waiting to talk with me. Basically, he has stepped out of ministry for whatever reason. I find it incredible to see God's interaction within this ministry. Everyday, I am in awe of God's great providence and plan that he has us. God knows and provides....for some stupid reason I keep forgetting that!

Southern California Road Kill

I found this poor unfortunate vitim of Riverside traffic during one of our service projects this weekend. Poor MacDonald's!

Club MU Recap

This past weekend a group of students and a team of dedicated leaders ventured into the humbling world of service, love and experiencing God in a new way. Club MU is our weekend missions outreach event for junior highers. This is the weekend recap.

Friday: Had dinner at Wahoos Huntington Beach, the kids loved it, although it was funny to see the less-adventurous ones order French fries and a coke...junior highers? We then headed to a fire pit on the beach and worshiped God by fire and the majestic sounds of the waves crashing all around us... breathtaking!

Saturday: We started our day with a service project of grafetti removal at 8am. We painted this huge wall in record time. We then headed out to the good old Riverside Plaza to watch the movie "Cars." Some liked the movie, others thought commercials were more interesting...go figure. After the movie we headed to March Air Force for our lservicevive project. We had the opportunity to play with kids from a shelter. Kickball and dodgeball was the menu and everyone had a great time. We finished with an awesome drama and worship. Again, students had a great time and the families from the shelter had a great time as well. God's love definitelytley felt at that shelter. We finished the day with a BBQ and pool party at one of our leaders home...goodtimes!


Sunday: We arrived back at the church (hopefully) changed and humbled by experienceence this weekend.

This was an awesome experience....enough said!

Pre-weekend rant...yes I have been known to pessimistic

We have three more days left before we embark on a (hopefully) awesome experience within the context of service. I will be taking our junior highers on a local mission’s trip that will hopefully change their lives. Couple things that I am asking you to lift up in prayer:

• The Students will connect with God and experience him in completely different way.
• That I will find some more leaders to help (a few have seemed to be obligated to other things ...conveniently)
• That the students will walk away having grown in their journey with the Father and a better idea of what love and service actually is.
  

There comes a time when one must ‘kill the golden calf’, this coming weekend is that time. For some reason our students have become complacent in their journey. They've become experts in weighing the ‘fun factor’ against the ‘spiritual factor.’ Unfortunately, they (I should say some) are determined that ‘Fun’ is more important. I am not saying that our students need to become nuns and monks and throw fun out the window. But when I am hearing “so…is there going to be free time, are there going to be any guys, how long we really have to paint those walls, we are going to swim more than we are going to work…” I have become a little discouraged. I have to wonder the motive, age, and the fact that they are junior highers and not in high school of the kids. But with that said, they, ARE junior highers! They will react to the weekend in a fashion that is consistent with their mentality. No matter what the motives are God will be there whether they like or not and lives will be changed...whether they like it or not! I apologize for the rant.

When it rains it pours...

This week I have felt the strain of working within Junior High ministry. I have felt the pain, tiredness, annoyance, and confusion. What am I doing? What is our purpose? Why don't they get it? Its moments like these that I feel God's presence even more in my life. I call these moments God moments. With the frustration that we all feel throughout the week, God is still at the helm plotting the course. He gently guides us and lovingly allows us to make mistakes. Yet, his grace is so amazing. Just when you think you hit rock bottom, he is there to pull you from the dispare that sometimes clouds our lives. Take comfort in the fact that are weakness is an opportunity for God's glory to be shown within our lives. He knows our needs, pains, and is holding our heads up when the rains begin to pour from the sky.


"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their stregth. They will soar on winds like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

Memorial Day recap

Wow...This is a late posting, but who cares anyway? This memorial day I went to the beach with my girlfriend and some church friends. I made a mental note not to go to Huntington Beach next year for a holiday. With the normal crowdiness (this that even a word) we found a good spot...right next to tower 15. As everyone started to set-up camp I walked to the water. My eyes where wide.

I love to bodyboard (or boogie board for you older folk). I absolutely love it! With that said I was in the water rather quickly and trying to find that perfect set that would send my 235 lbs. Body crashing over the water...I found one! Not only were the waves rocking awesome, but the rip was catching as well. So I took this one wave, it was beautiful but deadly. It folded my bodyboard like a piece of paper and I went tumbling into the shallow blue oblivion. Tons of fun!

Have no fear I was alright, but my board was trashed (or at least the leash was)...sad day.

Humble Pie Weekend

This weekend God gave me a wonderful helping of humble pie. On Saturday I had the opportunity to serve by helping a blind family move from an apartment to a house. This task seemed easy enough...wrong. Not only, did I get lost, I didn't have the guts to call to get the proper directions from the family. So I paid with 3/4 of my gas tank and a long day.

It is easy to forget what we are supposed to learn from things like this. I spend the day reflecting and this is what I came up with:

• Service is not about time schedules, pride, disabilities or ego...It’s about love!
  
• Never underestimate people with disabilities...God can use anyone!
  
• God's timing is unbelievable and perfect!

On Sunday, a student informed that our JH mission’s weekend experience (that is happening in June) will not be as good as the last one, because the former junior high pastor and his wife are not here to facilitate this event. This hurt...a little. I am one that wears his emotions on his sleeves. Acid comments and frosty glares do not bother me. But, as I'm trying to the best job I can with this ministry, a comment from a student who hasn't been in the JH ministry for the last year and a half was unexpected.

Lessons I learned from Sunday morning's second helping of humble pie:

• No ministry is perfect!
  
• God can use anyone!
  
• Learn from the past, be encouraged by the future!
  
• We do make a difference in our student’s lives!

God is so good! " My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" ( 2nd Cor. 12:9)

Leader Lingo

I facilitated my first leaders meeting last night. I heard it went well. However, I personally feel that I sounded like an idiot. Why do I seem to become more verbally incontinent when talking with people who are 20 years older than me? Am I trying to impress them with my $24,000 lingo I have received from CBU? Maybe it’s my utmost respect for them…and am so excited to be in there presence? Who knows?

Coffee Roasters vs. Starbucks

Have you ever found a place that you immediately claim as “your own special place?” Today, I have staked that claim. I have been looking for a quite place (where I can study, have quite time; listen to my ipod etc.) that was relativity close to where I am staying. There is this little shopping center right around the corner, and within this village center is the most appealing coffee house I have ever been to. It’s called “Coffee Roasters.” Now, some of you may be familiar with this shop, but I have never been to such a place. Being a college student, my radar reflected the commercialization of Starbucks®, so naturally I was searching for a Starbucks® that was close. Big mistake! Not only do I have to battle someone for a comfortable arm chair, their wi-fi requires a fee (thoughtful ideas from T-mobile). Where as "Coffee Roasters" wi-fi provides excellent signal strength and there is plenty of room for all. Ultimately, I find “Coffee Rosters” to be more sophisticated and accommodating to people who really want some quite time...and the some would say that the coffee is better. I would have to agree!

Well...here I am blogging. I swore to my friends that I would never do something like this, but here I am. I will try my best to keep you updated on everything I deem appropriate for you to read. Have a great weekend...whoever reads these things...?