current statusness - 10/31/09

so yeah. back at Peet's. had to go through some major table-jockeying to get a table where i could plug in my laptop.

it eventually happened.

listening to some thrash/hardcore music (currently) while starting back on my PACT work.

it's due Thursday. it's possible.

oh man, I think life will be so much more down-to-earth without this thing weighing on me.

just got fully ROCKED in my brain and my soul by reading the book of Titus last night w/ @heathernesbitt. Unbelievable! Paul somehow knew that people would get so worked up and angry when fellow Christ-followers devote their whole life to DOING GOOD.

I understand what sound doctrine is. Doctrine is merely a set of beliefs and a bank of knowledge that you hold true and right. SOUND doctrine is learning how to live so that what you believe agrees with what you do... EVERYDAY.

So, all these "Amen" hollers in church whenever someone mentions 'sound doctrine' and 'holding to the truth' need to be PROVED and MADE REAL by the movement of your BODY, FEET and HANDS. Lip service is self-service!!

Dn

Wednesday, Oct 28 -- current status

I am still working on my PACT. I mean "working." I just finished writing tests that I am giving tomorrow and friday. It's nice that the rest of the week is mainly tests.

Still at Peet's, drinking a white mocha (hmmm).

had a great convo last night about how so many christians love to hate on Obama (thinking of him as some sort of Muslim, renegade who is infiltrating our bank accounts, churches, and patriotic sovereignty) and homosexuals (somehow christians assume that they're 'different' in their sin 'n' such. it's almost like christians think there is a separate hell for them or something).

Hating homosexuals and thinking you're better than them, especially because you are a Christian, is sickening to Jesus and has no room in the Gospel that Jesus showed. In fact, when Jesus talks about WHO is in hell, the person that is mentioned is a rich man who ignored the needs and plight of the beggin and crippled poor! NOT a homosexual! see your Bible (Luke 16:19-31). Again, rich man... not gay man.

Ok. I need to pick up on my PACT. Gotta finish writing some lesson plans and then talk about a video I made of myself teaching in my class. Woo hoo!

dnez

current status:

finishing my teaching credential:

for those familiar w/ the PACT assessment. I am nearly done. It's alot of work that seems meaningless.

The First Missionaries

Luke 2:8-20
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.10 And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

I have recently immersed myself into the gospel according to Luke. I am excited about the sharpness of Luke's record of Jesus' activity. Looking at the above portion of Scripture from the infamous story of the birth of Jesus something struck me.

The shepherds were some of the first messengers of the Good News. I don't think I've ever heard this piece of the Christmas story exposited. This is crucial. How important it is to realize that Jesus even greatly affected lives AS A BABY!

1) The shepherds HEARD the good news of a Savior, the Christ.

2) The shepherds had a REVELATION of their Savior from the Lord and they eagerly desired to be as close to Him as quickly as possible.

3) As soon as they witnessed Jesus, they immediately WENT AND TOLD OTHERS about Him.

4) When they returned from their mission, they continued to GLORIFY AND PRAISE GOD. This was their TESTIMONY.

As believers & Christ-followers, has Jesus, our Savior, been revealed to us? Have we heard the Good News? Are we compelled to share that Good News with those around us? Do we glorify and praise God because of what we have seen and heard?

Be encouraged. The Gospel has the power for life, from death.

socialvandal.

Sharefest/YDA camp post #2

Here's my second blogpost for the Sharefest Youth Development Academy, July 2009. It is currently happening at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

I have a group of 9 students for the next 2 weeks. I absolutely love it. God is ready to administer His justice. Praying for His time and His Words to be spoken and acted.

Here's the post:

Today was a beautiful one for the Sharefest YDA camp. Campers had the opportunity to hone their creative writing skills followed by a refreshing time in the CSUDH swimming pool.

As I look back on today's time in the pool, I'm reminded of my purpose for working at the YDA Camp this year.

Students found themselves participating in the pool time in a variety of ways. A few students opted out altogether. Some students found themselves dressed and ready to go in the pool, yet never made their way actually into the pool. A few students sat on the pool's edge and dangled their feet in the refreshing water. Still other students played in the shallow end the entire time, bobbing up and down without any fear of drowning or injury. Then, there was the group of students who quickly found their way to the diving boards (one high and one low) and into the deep end... 12 feet to be exact. Throughout the duration of the pool time, counselors were strategically placed in every part of the pool, on the pool's edge, near the bathrooms, and against the wall. There was never a counselor who was by him or herself not interacting with a student. All the while, we were under the watchful eye of Chief Lifeguard-on-Duty, Lee. It seemed that wherever you saw a group of students, there was a counselor nearby.

This scene has shown me why Sharefest YDA exists.

Life, as we experience it, is like a large swimming pool. There are many ways to experience life: the pool's edge, the shallow end, the deep, etc. And in these different life experiences, our students find themselves surrounded by onlookers, peers, and support systems. What I saw today that struck me deeply was that I am at this camp to provide genuine, nurturing support to my students for whatever life experience they have. Some students are sauntering through the shallow end of life; others find themselves in the deep end (whether they chose it or not). It is my job for this short amount of time to support these students in their current life experience while cheering them on to success and possible maturity to the next life experience.

I desire that these students are NEVER left alone to fend for themselves. Rather, each student needs support throughout their entire life to ensure fulfillment and success. Moreover, they may find themselves teaching, coaching, cheering, and supporting the next generation in the same way they have experienced it.

Sharefest/YDA camp

Here's my blog post for the Sharefest/Youth Development Academy currently taking place at Cal State Dominguez Hills through July 2009.

This post was originally posted on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at:

http://sharefest.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/yda-session-two-day-three/

Can You Feel the Heat?

Another fun-filled day was experienced during the Youth Development Academy today. Thanks to Lee Hancock, Mary Jo, and Paul for coming out to teach us some soccer skills while having a blast in the summer sun. It was a thrill to see students who were reluctant to participate in the soccer games become more and more enthusiastic about the activities as time passed today. One student in particular, Doris, was highlighted near the end of the day as a participant who changed her own attitude from uninvolved to joyful and abandoned as she ran around the soccer field with her fellow YDA students.

Following the rousing soccer games and drills, all session two students took a VIP tour of the Home Depot Center. Students were most enthralled with the privilege to be up close to Galaxy's #23, David Beckham's locker. To actually see his and his teammates gear in place ready for the next match was quite exciting. I tried my best to imagine the adrenaline that so often flows in that locker room just before each match. It must be exciting to know that years of training, discipline, drilling, determination, and possibly instances of failure led up to each team member's current status as a professional soccer player. I imagined my campers, both male and female, one day pushing beyond their 'brick walls' and finding success in a variety of disciplines. I can picture Lesslie as a professional female boxer; I can see Jasmin as a successful women's soccer team member; Jamel will someday grace the ESPN Sportscenter headlines as a NFL star; Morelia will no doubt be a box office success as a big screen actress.

Hopefully, today was a glimpse into the future for each camper with much anticipation for success.

Watch this. Pray for Iran.

This video is ominous:

I ask, "where are WE?"