SurftheWorld

Why the Pain and Evil?

2009-09-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

Eight years ago the United States experienced the most devastating attack on our soil possibly since Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7th 1941. I will never forget that morning. I was a junior in high school. It was a Wednesday morning and every Wednesday we would pick up a girl that lived down the st and take her to school with us, and when she got in the car she was louder than normal. She was saying frantically, "planes are crashing into the big buildings in New York!" And I didn''t think to much of it, as there are small tragedies like this on a regular basis. But my mom knew something was going horrible wrong. (yea laugh it up my mom still took me to school my junior year). When we turned on the radio the men were in shock of what was happening. The World Trade Centers had been a striking point for a major terrorist attack. As soon as I arrived at school it was on all the t.v's. They kept playing the video over and over of the plances crashing into the buildings. The rest of the morning we watched the news and prayed for our country. Then the buildings collapsed. The situation went from bad to worse because there were many law enforcement officers (Police and Firefighters) that had rushed into the buildings to save others. Truly a heroic act. And the buildings collapsed. This layered the city with a large cloud of ash. Our country, possibly for the first time since Pearly Harbor was helpless. There was nothing we could do, and there were thousands of people that were unaccounted for.
I will never for get this day as long as I am alive. Tragedies are always bring into the question, "why did God allow this?" And it will always bring out stupid answers that help no one, other than we don't know why this was allowed. All I know is I am waiting for the day where there will be no more pain, evil, or suffering. I believe this day will come soon, and I am looking forward to it, until then I will continue to pray for those who suffer because of the evil in the world. For those who can place their faith in Jesus Christ, there is hope of a future where pain, suffering and all evil will be vanquished. What are you going to choose to believe?

Jesus avoids sin?

2009-09-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

This morning I was woken up very early (well 5:15am), and that is crazy early for me. I couldn't fall back asleep, so naturally I got out of bed and got ready for the day. I made some coffee and sat out on my porch and began to read. This morning I continued to read out of Luke ch. 3&4. In Luke 4, during the temptation of Jesus, I realized the importance of Scripture. Here is what I mean. We get a conclusive view of the 40days of Jesus' temptation in the desert with the culmination of the three that are recorded in Luke. 1)Turning stones into bread. (Jesus had not eaten anything in 40 days, I would have lost then and there) 2)worship the devil in return for authority and glory (which I find dumb, doesn't Satan know Jesus already has that?) 3)Jump and have your angels save you (Jesus says not to tempt the Lord). Most of us probably know this story, but what was so fascinating to me was how Jesus uses Scripture at His weakest point to avoid sin. 1)Deut. 8:3, 2)Exodus 20:3, 3)Deut. 6:16. This is such a great example of being faced with the opportunity to sin, and lets face it, Satan is a good tempter, but Jesus shows us it is no match for the power of God's Word.
I began thinking of times that I face temptation (which is daily) and how I respond to these struggles, whether it is lust, lying, anger, being fake etc. Do I trust my own strength to make an attempt in avoiding sin, or do I rely on God's Word? Most of the time I rely on my own strength, which is why I fail so often. I wonder what my days would look like if every time a pretty girl walks by I recited Ephesians 5:3 "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people." NIV I know that the Holy Spirit would love to use the power of God's Word to fend off any type of sin and struggle through out the day. I will begin collecting verses to memorize so when I am faced with and struggle I can battle it with Scripture and not my own weak attempts. If you have any Scripture references that you use or would like to shoot my way please feel free to do so. Thanks
David

More than Enough

2009-01-03T16:45:00.000-08:00

So last Monday morning the youth group headed up North to San Jose to the Southern Baptist State Youth Conference, and it was amazing! This conference was life changing! We had two amazing speakers, Will Snipes and Chris Simning. The MC was Bob Smiley, who is hilarious and the bands were Addison Road, Charlie Hall was the worship leader and then the all to famous Kutless, who freakin rocked to hard! The whole theme was as you can see (if you can read backwards) More than enough. The whole premise was that through any life circumstances God is more than enough to get us through these times. It was cnetered around the premise of Paul writing to the Philippian church telling them he has found the secret in being content in every situation! (Phil 4:12). The messages were amazing, the bands were great, and our students connected. I had the opportunity to pray for many of our students on their request which if you know anything about youth, that is huge! I am hoping that it will inspire our students to continue to rely on God for their strength. It was a challenge for me because ever through out the conference, I was trying to make sure everything was taken care of and I realized I needed to rest in the fact that God was more than enough for any situation at hand and I needed to focus on that, and just thank him for even allowing me to be a part of something so amazing! I continued to tell our students to take God serious and trust Him. One student in particular who has been through some very tough times and does not understand why so much has happened to him and his family told me "I am choosing to trust God" That was awesome!

I'm Back

2008-12-27T22:36:00.000-08:00

So for the past month I have been extremely busy. I finished my first semester at Seminary, which I was pretty pleased with overall. Christmas break has been enjoyable, first visiting Taylor's parents in Running Springs for 3 days (where there was tons of snow!) and then off to visit my family in Clovis for 4 days where we spent Christmas day! So we have been traveling a lot, but it has been good to spend so much time with my amazing wife! We have been to the snow twice, sledding both times, which has been so much fun! Now we are back home where we will be having youth group tomorrow and then leave for Tsunami Youth State Conference in San Jose on Monday morning! We will spend the New Year there with about 15 students! So I am really looking forward to it. Over break I have read a book that I am going to recommend to everyone, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. It talks about the relentless, overwhelming Love of God, and how our response should be so much more than we see in the church today! I am hoping to look in the Scriptures and emulate what the church is suppose to look like and have God be the FOCUS! I love where God has me right now, although its not always easy or gratifying to me, I submit myself to God and what He wants because I have faith that He knows what is best! Tomorrow in Youth Group we are going to be talking about breaking the mold of a typical Jr. High or High School student, and how to pursue God without compromise! Well I am going to hang out with my wife and then get some sleep Sundays are always a hard working day!

Vacation here we come...

2008-11-25T13:13:00.000-08:00

So right now I am sitting in an EzLube getting our oil changed so we can go on vacation! It feels like we have been going non-stop forever, so I am very excited about our vacation! Today we are going to Oceanside and staying at a resort that the Bogies let us use their time share for...So we are staying down there tonight and then all day tomorrow. Then tomorrow night we are driving from Oceanside to Clovis. I am very excited to be up there! We are having Thanksgiving at my mom's house. Then on Friday we are driving out to Pismo Beach to stay out there for a night and relax all day Saturday. Then it will be back to church on Sunday! We are starting a new series on Sunday titled Stained, and it is going to be a series on Sin. So we are going through the first few chapters of Genesis, and seeing how God has tried to protect His creation from the beginning, and when we sin we act outside the boundaries and outside the life that God wants us to experience! So I am hoping that our students will see that and their will be lives that are changed. Lately I have been reading Romans with Tim, and it has been good, but still wanting to be more in depth.
Talking time off is always nice, but can be stressful as well because I know all the things that still need to be done, but are not getting done because I am taking a break! Well that is something that I will have to be ok with because I need a break. I am very much looking forward to spending time with family, espicially my brother! I probably wont have a chance to blog while away, but when I come back I am sure I will have many pictures to show!

Surf=Refreshment

2008-11-17T22:25:00.000-08:00

Well this past week has been amazing!!! I was able to surf twice last week, and both times were amazing. Tuesday morning I woke up about 5:45 am and Matt picked me up and we went down to our favorite place, San O!!! The waves were perfect, about 3-5 and some sets pumpin overhead! It was so much fun. Then after we could not paddle any more, we went to the Rip Curl store in San Clemente and tried on the new H-Bomb which is the new battery heated wetsuit, and it only cost $1000! Yea right, I am waiting until all the technology and kinks get worked out! Then it was off to Sonny's Pizza! The best Pizza in the entire world! It was so good, between the two of us we finished a whole Large Pizza! Then Thursday which is usually my real busy day, I only had my evening class, so I went down to Huntington around 12:30 and bought my new wetsuit which is amazing, and then paddled out by myself for 2 hrs before class and had a blast at on old favorite place to surf back in college, 56th street in Newport! So that was a blast, but then I was very tired in my Old Testament class. So this past week has been amazing! I have been able to spend time reading the Word everyday this week which really helps me feel connected to God, and overall have a better day! I am thinking about paddling out before my early class on Thursday and get a little session in this week and then possibly Friday morning!

A new Book...

2008-11-06T21:52:00.000-08:00

So I am starting a new book as of yesterday. I have read this book once, but it was good enough for me to read again! So I am going to try and power through it in a few days! Andy Stanley is an amazing leader and knows what it takes to be in ministry. So I am hoping that this will help me prioritize my time and energy in ministry. School has began to lighten up with my first class ending. Today I only had class from 1:30-600, which was awesome because it allowed me to come home early and hang out with my wife for a little bit and relax. So tonight I listened to a podcast and then played some cards...And now I am going to read and go to bed.

The New Word!

2008-10-30T23:48:00.000-07:00

So last week I was looking at some new books on Amazon, and came across the new study Bible by ESV, and looked into it and ordered it. So I am receiving it on Monday! I am really excited about this book for so many different reasons. 1) Because of the verse 1 Timothy 3:16. 2) I want to become a follower of God that knows his expectations and does my best to follow him! This Book is an amazing source that I am looking forward to studying in depth. So far my seminary classes have been pretty awesome! Today I finished my first class, Worship and Faith Community. I am pretty sure I will get an A, but you never know! Amazon said that I will be getting a package from them on Monday, so I am excited about it. If you get a chance to check out the video on Amazon.com you should watch this. I have like 6 weeks left and I will finish my first semester at Seminary. And then I will be taking classes during the Janurary Term in San Francisco. So that will be cool, but I will be away from my wife for a week. So that would be kinda lame, but I would finish earlier so that would be awesome!

Today...

2008-10-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

So tonight was Small Group. It was really good, we enjoyed having everyone together and hanging out! The topic of tonight was how to avoid a financial collapse. So it was very relevant to what is going on in our society today. I was very interested in what everyone had to say. Then after we hit the spa and enjoyed good company.
Tomorrow is going to be a very long day because I have chapel in the morning at RCS Jr high chapel, and then I have Discipleship and then I have to finish my paper for my worship class. After that we have youth group and then all day Thursday I have class. So I am looking forward to the weekend. Tonight I was confronted with the fact that I need to be doing a better job at taking care of myself. I need to monitor my caffeine intake and make sure that I am sleeping enough. So that is going to be something that I will be working on these next few weeks. Well tomorrow is an early morning so I better be off to bed.

2008-10-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

So today was a great day where me and my beautiful wife got to hang out all day together and just relax. I havent been feeling to well so she took care of me. We ended the night with a trip to the car wash, the out to one of our favorite places to eat, Anchos, then to Best Buy! Now we are at home hanging out and just enjoying being married! It is such a blessing to be married! Its nice to just be able to come home and be together! So if you are married hopefully you have the same joy, and if your dating, well you have something to look forward to. I was telling my wife tonight how lucky I feel to have a wife that is so amazing! If you know my wife you know what I am talking about! Its nice to have someone that you can share everything with and you know they are going to love the same if not more because of your honesty! Well I just wanted to put up a pic of us and write a little about our day! Tomorrow is another message on True Love Waits, and this week the dudes are in for a little surprise!

Date Night!

2008-10-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

Thats right read it and weep! Boys rule and girls drool. So I dont know why my wife insists on
challenging me to astroblasters, and putting a 30 min massage on the line! Haha, but I am not going to complain, because tonight I am going to get a sweet back massage!

So if you cant tell we are at Disneyland. We made it out there at about 330, thinking there wouldnt be anyone there yet, but we could not have been more wrong. Apparently it was ditch school/work day and go to Disneyland because it was so freakin packed! We only were able to go on a few rides, but the Fireworks were amazing. So that was nice... Here are a few other pics of our night out

Then we ended the night with one of my favorite rides, Indiana Jones! It was awesome as usual and after some amazing Fireworks, it was time to head home! An Amazing night

2008-10-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

So today was an early start to school. I only had one class today, but I did not tune my wife into this info because I wanted to come home and surprise her and take her on a date... Well I had plans and flowers and we were talking, but we made the mistake of laying down and we both fell asleep. Haha We could not decide if we would be able to go to Disneyland, which was the plan, because we both had to much homework. So we fell asleep (I am not going to say how long) but is was actually really nice to have a day where we could just relax and not have to be stressed out with anywhere we needed to be. Then I was not feeling to good when I woke up, and my wife is amazing, she went picked me up some dinner and brought it to me, while I was laying down. So now I am just hanging out at home and about to read some for class.

Tomorrow night though we will be heading out to Disneyland hopefully right when Taylor is out of class, so if you are interested in going let me know and we will carpool! We are contemplating renewing our passes because they expire in 3 weeks! So we are going to try and be going as much as possible. I received a comment on my last post to not be to upset because the new Mac is nothing special, all the hype is getting is simply because of the body, so that was a relief, and I like the look of my Black MacBook. Well anyways...I need to get to doing some hw.

Are you serious?

2008-10-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

So I was checking the website for apple because I am addicted to cool technology! And they have a new MacBook out is driving me crazy! I just bought the new MacBook like 6 weeks ago and now they have a new one out that is even better, for the same price? What? That is one think I do not like about Mac, they do not hold their value because they are always coming out with better products! So I am trying to see if my warranty is good so I can take the computer I have back and upgrade to the new one! I am so lame! I know I should just be happy with the one I have... But their is something better out there! haha I am a snob. So pray for me cause these are some of the weaknesses I have. But the new computer is pretty freakin awesome! I have already downloaded and read all the reports about the ne Mac and it is pretty insane how they continue to revolutionize these computers and just technology in general. Well I have a presentation soon so I have to get back to work, but I couldnt help but be tempted by this amazing new laptop!

Youth Group

2008-10-13T19:48:00.001-07:00

This past Sunday we began into our series titled True Love Waits. So this means not much more than a whole lot of awkward conversation in Youth Group. So we are going to go against the grain of this culture and are going to be opposing the World View that is affecting society today. I have already received many phone calls from concerned parents that we are going to talk about inappropriate topics, so I assure them, I know I will make some jokes they wont like, but we are standing firm in the Biblical View of who created sex, what context it is created for and how to achieve purity until you are in those places! Its going to be a challenge... On Sunday we are going to be breaking into 2 groups, High School & Jr. High. I am excited about this weekend and think that it will be challenging for many of our high schoolers... So if you have any suggestions, concerns, questions, or just want to comment, go ahead. I know that this series is what so many youth in today's culture need. My prayer is that by the end of this series our youth will know how to take a stand and show other students they are serious about their commitment to Christ and they will be drawn to Him through their lives! That is my prayer and hope. I also hope they will understand how important this is for them to apply to their lives, so they do not get roped into the tricks of this world and hurt because no one cared enough to encourage, love and teach them how to have discipline and carry out what we say we believe.

Tears of thanksgiving and joy...

2008-10-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

So we have to do this in youth group! I could watch this over and over again and I cry every time! A very powerful message showing how much we need Jesus as our protector. Even when we fall into temptation he is trying to get our attentions, and then when we decide we can not do it and call out to him he breaks through and defends us! He is so powerful...

A night that changed the day

2008-09-18T23:04:00.000-07:00

So today began very early with little rest and so much to do. I made it to class a little early to class so I tried to gather my thoughts and get ready for the day, but for whatever reason I was feeling horrible, I was leaning over in class thinking I was going to pass out. It was horrible. Then I had a break from 1-630, so I went and got some Jamba Juice and started in on my hw. The day was getting better. Then I went into Old Testament and overwhelmed with information. Dr. Watson is a brilliant mind and I struggle to always follow along. But it was good. All I could think of was getting home to my wife, and going to bed. But something happened on my way home, I put on a podcast like I always do, I am addicted to listening to other speakers, if you speak I listen... And it was one of my favorite Pastor, Francis Chan from Cornerstone Simi Valley... And oh my gosh, I was completly renewed in strength, and felt God speaking to me saying we need to do something in Riverside! I dunno what it was or what I am suppose to do, but espicially in High School and College students, my heart goes out to them... My heart breaks for them when I think of what they are going through and have no hope, because no one has shared the absolute love of Christ. I wish desparately that I could portray Christ better so that people would know him... Right now the words of this blog cant even describe how my heart is breaking for these students! So now I am at home, listenting, praying, thinking of how I can make myself accessible to God for changing these students lives. It has to happen... We only have two options, and for me to know that I am not doing everything in my being to show people Christ is unacceptable...Maybe that is why I am not able to sleep these past 2 weeks, because I am being self absorbed with the youth group we have right now, maybe we need a complete change in the way we think and our society knows Christians... We need to be ready to do what it takes to follow Christ and love people!!!

Ended up to be a good day!

2008-09-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

So today started off as a normal day, I woke up, showered and went to work. On Tuesdays we have staff meetings and today Matt wanted to love on the staff. Well he is usually pretty creative, and last year he took us to Sports Chalet to go school shoe shopping! It was so awesome, so this year was again a surprise, but we went back to Sports Chalet! I bought some really nice running shoes! I am hoping that it will inspire me to work out on a more regular basis! So it was just a normal day and then we were spoiled! I felt very loved and appreciated! Now I just have to put them to use. So tonight I went running for about 2 miles! The little plus part that is under the Nike Swoosh means that I can place a sensor in my shoe that will link to my ipod and keep track how far I have run! Pretty cool. So today was awesome...

Yesterday was also another great day that I didnt get to post about! I had the morning off and just stayed home, read, studied, did some homework and then went into work for a few meetings. I was able to spend a good amount of time praying, reading and singing to God! It was awesome! Tomorrow night I am speaking about Galatians 5 and in there are the commands that are given to us that will prove we are being Christ like. And tomorrow night is specifically on kindness. Which if oyu have ever been around Jr high and High school students you know kindness is not something they specialize in! So hopefully they will get a few tools and ways they can work on being kind to eachother and others and through that people will see Christ.

This is really the biggest disconnect for people that don't believe in Christ for those that do. It is that when we act in a way that does not portray Christ accurately, they automatically assume that this is who Christ is, and he is a jerk, so I dont want to be a part of that! And that is not true, if we as humans could accurately portray Christ as who He truly is then the entire world would follow him, but we dont! Anyways, that is why I feel it is so imporantant to instill into our young adults virtues and characteristics of Christ!

Wishing I was here...

2008-09-13T19:50:00.000-07:00

So these past few weeks have been pretty crazy with youth and school starting up. It seems as if I have barely anytime to even spend with my wife. She started school as well two weeks ago and now are lives are even more busy than before. I seem like I hardly have the time to do what I need to do, let alone really want to be doing. I was thinking about how if I was not full-time at Sandals,(Church)and had some other job and still had school, there is no way that right now I would have time to serve God. I am not to sure how some people are so committed! It is pretty awesome, that is why I think God has me working at a church to serve him because he knows that if it was volunteer, I wouldn't always show up. Even working in ministry, I feel like I have my priorities mixed up. So I was looking on Surfline, which is the surfing website that has videos, pics and ads of what you are missing at the beach. So when I have no time to surf, I find myself looking on Surfline more and more... Its kinda my way of rebelling. So here is one of the pics of the week that I thought was awesome! Surfing is something that I am hoping I can return to soon, because it really refuels me. The mornings that I can paddle out, spend some time with God in the water, and catch some waves, is the best day I can describe. I believe that there is a Spiritual side to surfing that because I believe in a God that has Created the Universe, but also that I have an intimate relationship with, being out in the ocean fills me up and gives me another connection to God that no where else does. I would not go as far as Surfing Mag. did a few months ago and call Surfing a god or Religion, but I feel that I am enjoying the creation of the God that has saved me! Well right now it is time for me to get to studying and looking over my message for tomorrow. Hopefully this week will allow me to blog more and even find time to hit up the waves

2008-09-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

So right now I am in the library doing so hw and thought I am going to take a minute to blog! So here is one of the books that I am reading right now for my Worship class. I am having to read so many books and write responses to them. They are pretty good and give you so much insight to Biblical references to worship and how to deepen that relationship with God. So today I have a break between class from 1-6:30, so I am in the library attempting to do hw. It is going pretty well, I am just powering through it! I am really looking forward to my class that starts tonight, Old Testament I. The professor that I thought I was going to be having is out on Med leave becasue he is actually reall sick right now, which is a bummer, but I am sure whoever is teaching will be great! Well I am going to have a snack, strech and get back to reading!

Rock Climbing

2008-08-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

So last night Taylor and a few other youth leaders had a Jr. High girls sleep over...Not exactly the thing I wanted to do on my Friday night. So my good friend David Shay called me and said get ready I am going to take you rock climbing! So I thought to myself, ok you are not in horrible shape lets go climb some walls for a few hours. So we get there and I was instantly intimidated! So David being the good friend he is encouraged me and showed me on the vb, which stands for the very beginner... So that was not to bad and I felt confident. So then I began pushing my limits with strength and skill, I was mostly relying on any strength I had because the skill was nowhere yo be found! So here are a few pics of me attempting these climbs! But I did pay the price, I have two places on each pinky where my first 2 layers of skin has been peeled off! Pretty nasty, but manly. So now I am hooked and want to go climbing again, but its sorta exspensive...But a heck of a work out! I think Taylor and I might go on our day off this coming Monday to hang out and get a good work out in! I took some video but it was pretty dark and I fell on every move I tried, I was trying to show off for the camera! Well right now my mom, sister, brother, and 2 nephews are on their way down to visit from Clovis bcause Natalie is getting baptized tomorrow! Well I am sure I will have a few more pics to show from tomorrow!

First Day of Seminary...

2008-08-28T19:32:00.000-07:00

So this morning began earlier than normal at about 645, which really is not to bad. But is was the first day of class pursuing my master degree in Divinity. So I had a good breakfast (that my beautiful wife made) and drank my coffee and then I was off to class. The traffic was not to bad and I actually was about 45 minutes early to my first class, what a lil school boy! So I ran to the nearest gas station to get some Tylenol because for what ever reason I had a headache... So I returned back to class in time and I had Worship in faith and community for 3 1/2 hours! It is going to be an interesting class. The work load is going to be killer, but will help me gain the discipline that I need in Seminary! Then I went to Approaches to Teaching Bible, which my professor she was amazing. So that went from 130 to 620, who invented a 5hr class. Although it was very interesting and I am really looking forward to the class, 5hrs is a long time. Thank God its every other week! Then my last class which was the one I was actually most looking forward to was Old Testament was cancelled because my professor was sick, so I will have to wait until next week! But it was a really nice surprise to my wife because I got to come home and have dinner with her! So now I am just at home hanging out and about to eat dinner. Today has been a great day and I am looking forward to the next few months!

New Computer!!!

2008-08-25T23:45:00.000-07:00

So I finally got my new computer!!! I was so pumped... I am starting class on Thursday and so I went out to the Apple store and bought my new computer! I am so far very pleased with it and know I am going to enjoy it. I am looking forward to having my new laptop for so many reasons. It will be able to travel with me when I am going to class and to work. This will allow me to work from home, mostly on Fridays, because now that I have class every Thursday all day, I need to put some hours in working a things on Fridays!
This coming weekend is going to be a very special weekend. Natalie, my younger sister, asked me to baptize her. So my family is coming down from Nor Cal to visit and see Nat get baptized! I was hanging out with her and Daniel tonight and was just very encouraged. So this weekend should be awesome! Well tomorrow is going to be an early day, Staff meeting at 9am and then meetings into the afternoon! So I will blog again hopefully soon....David

An Altar Built...

2008-08-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

Camp to say the least was a God experience!!! We had a long bus ride, which I couldn't fall asleep on in fear of being marked with Sharpie that would last the rest of the trip! Our bus driver was named Anthony, and he was awesome, I think he used to be a racecar driver because he flew up that mountain! So the first few nights of camp were very mind boggling. The camp Pastor, Will Snipes, was speaking exactly what our students needed to hear and exactly what we had been preparing for our Church Group devotions. So through that God already had orchestrated plans beyond our beliefs...I was so encouraged with our students. The entire trip I kept on referencing why we went to camp, to meet God! And we definetly did. The second to last night was one of the most powerful nights of my life. The Youth Group put Taylor and I in the middle of the room, and all 55 of them put hands on us and prayed for us as their Pastors...And of course I was crying like a little girl and so was my wife and almost every single student. Any animosity that existed was crushed!!! And then they had a book that they wrote in saying what we have meant to them. Really amazing. I felt broken before that group, and now I know why God took me on that trip! So to say the least we encountered God. So on the last night for a group devo times we went around and prayer walked around every other group that was their. And the last thing we did was something that was practiced in the Bible, whenever a group or someone would experience God they would build an altar, proclaiming that they had an encounter with God...And so that is what we did with our students. We took either a rock, twig, piece of bark, anything that symboled his creation, and put them all together in thanks to God for showing up and impacting us all in such an amazing way! I had my expectations of camp, but God took those expectations and completly blew them out of the water!!! So here is a picture of the altar we built with about 60 of us participating! It was really amazing!

Fuge is huge...

2008-08-04T00:29:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow we are leaving for Camp!!! I am so pumped, this is such a great time where the leaders and students get to get away for a week and connect on a deeper level with each other and most importantly with God! This summer the camp Pastor is Will Snipes who I have heard from a few different people is awesome and brings it! So I am stoked for that... One thing I am nervous about is how students every year go to camp, come back excited about their relationship with God, and the world takes that away with either a distraction or some event that makes them doubt their experience or meeting with God was legit. I see this almost every time we get away for a short while...It is even to a greater degree when we go to camp 9hrs away... So that is what we talked about in youth group today, how we are responsible for what we know and putting that to practice! If we know what we should do and do not do it, we are sinning. (James 4:17). So for me that is scary seeing how I am going to be going to Seminary and learning so much, I am going to have to stretch in my ability to apply knowledge, and start doing what I preach and what I know...or else I am sinning. So if you read this please pray for all the students, and staff that we have at camp. I will be away from civilization, meaning I will be with at least 10 other dudes in a cabin, and not have a computer so the blogs will rest until I can get home and load pics of our amazing time I know God has in store for us! I can't wait to be there...

Interview turns into Worship...

2008-08-02T21:33:00.000-07:00

So last week I picked up a book that I have been wanting to read ever since I heard him speak last year at CBU. Lee Strobel has an amazing story of hhow he came to Christ. He is a brilliant mind that has really paved the way for many thinkers, Christian and Athiest. In this book he interviews so many different sources that I have found so far only can point to an "Intelligent Designer" His questions are penetrating and challenging. There was an interview that was so compelling with Stephen C, Meyer, and PHD from a leading school, Cambridge University in England. He has earned his degrees in physics and Geology. While at Cambridge he geared his studies towards history of molecular biology, the history of physics, and evoltionary theory. He obtained his doctorate from Cambridge and wrote his dissertation on scientific and methological issues in origin-of-life biology. The interview goes back and forth of many of the issues that are presented when you are searcghing after big answers such as, where did everything come from? or How did our universe begin? These are the big questions Strobel was asking and even pushing that science had the answers to support evolution. But Meyer was doing a great job at showing other possibilities... The last part of the interview is what greatly captured my attention. Before Strobel left, he asked him a question in which he thought Meyer would avoid, but he was wrong, very wrong. He asked, "Over the years you've studied the scientific evidence that supports theism, how has this affected your faith?" I will share a portion of his amazing answer..."So exploring the scientific and historical evidence for God is not only a cognitive exercise, but its an act of worship for me. Its a way of giving the Creator the credit and honor and glory that are due to him. To attribute creation to a mere natural processis a form of idolatry to which we're all prone. I don't judge my naturalistic colleagues for being prone to that. That's how I am constituted as well. All of us have a tendency to minimize God, to think and behave as if we weren't really immersed in his creation and that we aren't ourselves the product of his unimaginable creative power. Looking at the evidence-in nature and in Scripture-reminds me over and over again of who he is. And it reminds me of who I am too-someone in need of him."
I was blown away with this interview, and so was Strobel. This was so much for me to think about even as a "Follower of Christ" I always need the humble practice and put into perspective of who I am in comparison to Him. I am nothing compared to him. I need that mindset, like Meyer, that every day, whatever I am doing I need to use it to worship God because He is worthy of all praise!

A Lost Passion...

2008-08-02T13:22:00.000-07:00

There are so many weeks in which I know I need sometime to refuel, yet never find the time to do it! The number one way this happens is when I make the long drive on the 91 fwy, sit in traffic, merge to the 55 onto the 5 and surf! I have never paddled out and come back in disappointed, maybe scared if the waves are pumping, but usually stoked from being out in God's creation and allowing the energy of the ocean to push me along the top of the water and surf! It is one of the best feelings in the world! I have not surfed in sometime now, and need to make that drive so I can do what I love and that is to surf!
My time lately has been filled with preparation for Summer camp which is going to be amazing... High school camp is always so awesome to see our students go up there being in a stagnet relationship with God, or a relationship at all, to coming home feeling so close to God its amazing. Never the less camp is life changing for most of our students, and leaders! So we are leaving Monday, bright and early!

Surfs up

2007-07-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

So this morning I woke up at 430am to head down to Ol Mans to surf with some good friends. Although the surf was small it was so much fun. We stayed out for over 3 hours and messed around. One of the better days that we have all had. Surfing is always a good day, no matter the wave height or water temp. Its always fun times! I am thinking about going again in the morning, but not to sure. Now Taylor is on her way over and we are going to hang out tonight. So I probably wont go surfin because we will stay up really late! Well I am out for dinner right now.
David

2007-07-17T22:38:00.001-07:00

Surf

2007-07-17T22:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Taylor and I had the opportunity to go to the beach surf, layout and spend the whole day together! It was awesome! One of the best days we have ever spent together...

Today

2007-07-17T22:31:00.000-07:00

Today was a really good long well worked day! I was in the office for the majority of the day, then I came home and relaxed through the night! Tomorrow is another day full of work and appointments, but thats good because that means people are being challenged and led. I am looking forward to going to the first small group tomorrow night for Frontside. Well I am heading off to bed...