Is It April or August???

It's been in the high 90's and my luck with air conditioners is yet again bad! Went to turn the AC on Friday evening and no luck, nothing but warm air! I am told by the manager it should be fixed tomorrow. It's currently 87 degrees inside my apartment and is rather hot. I am attempting to write a final paper that is due in a few hours and have decided to break from it to say I hate the heat! If it is this hot in April I am scared to see what our summer is going to look like! Can I just go spend the summer on a beach in Hawaii?

One Heck Of A Year!!!!

Today marked my one year anniversary with Youth for Christ. On April 26, 2006 I was placed onto paid staff. It is crazy how time flies. I actually forgot today was my anniversary, I remember thinking last week that it was this week. I was approached by one of my volunteers at club tonight who reminded me it was my anniversary and then presented me with a card signed by all the students, along with a gift card to Starbucks. She brought me up to the front and said some nice things about me and I really was speechless.

This past year has truly been such a blessing. I am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to be part of such an awesome ministry like Campus Life and Youth for Christ. Daily I am challenged...and the funny part is that I am usually challenged by my kids! They may think they are just teenagers but they have impacted my life more than they will ever know. Today is a day to celebrate one year of fun but also one year of God's faithfulness to provide facilities, funds, volunteers, etc...but most importantly students. I love my kids and am so blessed to be able to be part of their lives. So, really today is Happy 1 Year Anniversary to my kids for putting up with me! Here's to many many more!

Life and Death...Death and Life

I have been reading Searching For God Knows What by Donald Miller for some time now. You see I am really bad about finishing books. I was given this book for Christmas. My dilemma is that I start reading one book and stop reading it to read another. I have countless books with markers in them of there I stopped. Anywho, last night I read something interesting...

"Adam and Eve began to die, not only physically, but in their souls, too, because they had been separated from God. It makes sense that if a plant is separated from the sun, it dies, and that if people are separated from God, they die. And so now it feels as if we live on a planet where there is just a little bit of water left, poisoned as it is, and we all are trying to get it and drink so we can stay alive. But what we really need is God." (Miller, p. 109-110)

When I first read this through I thought well don't be silly we will die without water. Just as a plant without sun would die so would we if we didn't drink some good ole H2O. But when I really started to think about it what we really do need is God. How often do I tell myself that I can do this on my own? Or tell God that I don't need Him in that area of my life? But the truth is when we separate ourselves from God we die. Maybe not in a physical sense but sure in our souls we do. When I distance myself from God I can tell there is an emptiness inside of me that can't fully be filled by anything other than God. I have been wrestling with the term "obedience" lately. What does it look like to fully obey God in all aspects of my life? How can I please Him with everything I do because everything I do is in obeying Him? I tend to become worked up in the day to day things of this world, becoming overwhelmed with so much to do in life, but realistically just as Miller says, all we need is God. Just things to ponder.

"Long life is in store for you."

Gotta love the best part of Chinese food...the fortune cookies! Looks like i will be living for a quite a while if my fortune rings true!

Frustration...

I'm frustrated! It feels as if it is difficult to keep everyone on the same page! I just got an e-mail from another Campus Life club that is being a tad bit difficult with how I want to finish out the year. I just don't know how to achieve unity in getting everyone on the same page! I guess there is only so much one can do.

Lovin Rainy Days...

I love the rain when you don't have to be out in it all day. I went to church this morning and then had lunch with the amazing BK. She told me her afternoon plans of taking a nap and agreed that was a fantastic idea. I came home, crawled back in bed, and slept for over two hours. There is something about the rain outside that just makes it perfect nap weather! This is the second day in a row that I have taken an amazing nap after being up for less than six hours. Haha. Now I have to do homework! =(

Fresno Makes National Headlines on Fox News

Check out this link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,267543,00.html

I knew this story had hit local stations but had no clue it made national headlines until I received a message from a friend across the country who saw it! It's sad that when Fresno makes the big news it typically isn't for something positive and uplifting. I'm going to ponder this article and probably post a blog about it later.

Wisdom Comes With Age

Today was YFC's annual Golf Classic fundraiser. It ended up being a great event...the weather held up for us and we had a great amount of golfers! I was assigned to sit at Hole #7 for about six hours to measure the closest to the pin for a cash prize. Well, I was assigned to work with a lady by the name of Ann. Ann came on staff with YFC one month before I was born so needless to say she has seen many aspects of YFC. She is also my elder by probably 35 years give or take. A year ago when I was interviewing with YFC I thought Ann didn't like me. I swore up and down that I wasn't going to get the job because of her. Well, needless to say I read the situation wrong. I have gotten to know Ann over this past year and really have began to love her like a grandma. I was a little worried this morning that six hours with someone much older than me would be difficult to maintain conversation. God quickly changed my heart, I had an amazing six hours with Ann. The time passed very quickly as I learned about Ann's life, about the history of YFC, and about just great stuff. I was truly blessed to be able to have spent the day with her. I feel even more encouraged about being a part of youth ministry and YFC after the talks I have had with her. So, Ann, you will probably never read this but I want to say thank you!

No News Is Good News!

Yesterday I had my appointment with the specialist in regard to recent health issues. I arrived back from the appointment with almost the same amount of information going into the appointment. I will not go into too much graphic detail, however the doctor is hopeful that it is a non-cancerous cyst. He is hoping that the pain and inflammation with subside shortly on its own and that the cyst can be left without having to remove via surgery. The reason that he is hopeful of this is that if a surgery was done it would increase my chances of not being able to have children. And I have not ruled out wanting to make babies!!! Because of my age the doctor really does not want to do a surgery. So, my prayer is that the ultrasound next week will provide positive results and that the pain will just go away on its own and I can go back to regular life. My ultrasound is next Thursday and I meet with the specialist again a week after that to go over the ultrasound results on Thursday the 3rd. Until then I am going to operate under the motto: no news is good news.

More Sad News...

Today I received an e-mail from the President of YFC/USA. The subject line: Organizational Announcement. When you see that subject line it means someones leaving, coming on, or changin jobs. As I opened the e-mail I immediately scanned the e-mail for names. First name that popped up was my good friend Jenny. (There were some other changes in the e-mail, important yes, significant to me not so much) I began to read the first paragraph and immediately was saddened that she is leaving YFC in June. Jenny has been a part of YFC for many many years, I think even before I was born! I am happy for Jenny as she is venturing from YFC to focus on achieving her doctorate and will be going to seminary full time. In the short year I have been on staff Jenny and I have connected at Summer Institute (picture above), DCLA, and Mid Winter. Out of everyone at YFC, I look up to her the most. She is genuine and truly cares (not to say others at YFC are not that way, they are!). Something about Jenny and I just clicked and I have enjoyed our one on one conversations and little e-mails here and there. It was my goal to one day work along side her at the National Office. This may never occur, however I do know Jenny will forever hold a place in my heart. Thank you for all you have done Jenny! May God bless you in your new adventure!

Scared...Anxious...Yet Holding Strong

Last night was rather scary for me. I was feeling a pain in a certain part of my body...well lets be real, my man area. The pain had been present for a few days but I wasn't alarmed since from time to time I experience pain from my hernia surgery some 15 months ago. However, this time the pain felt different. I ended up finding a lump of sorts. I was alarmed, yet I told myself that maybe it wasn't really there since it wasn't visible. I had a pre-scheduled appointment with my doctor for this morning since I am still not completely well from bronchitis that started some two weeks ago, so I told myself I would have the doc take a look to be safe. Well, I had a pretty crappy night sleep, I toss and turned, got up about four different times for something to drink. Those of you who know me, know that I hardly wake during the night. I couldn't help but to start thinking "what if's". Of course my mind turned to the negatives and I started to feel worried.

This morning my heart was pounding as I was waiting to see the doctor. He checked out my bronchitis and found that my asthma is now acting up and he doesn't think there is still an infection but just breathing difficulties. Thank you California air for allowing me to have asthma. He then checked out my other issues and confirmed that there is a lump. He then instructed me that we will need an ultrasound and he would like me to see a specialist. My doc is a great guy but didn't really give me details as to what could be going on.

So, it is the end of the day, I am sitting here in my office still filled with a sense of uncertainty. I am anxious to know what is going on with me. I keep telling myself that everything is going to be fine. I have been faced with many health issues in my short 23 years of life and this is just another one that will be taken care of. Through this I am holding strong, I believe God will see me through this just as He always does. I'd being lying if I didn't say that this new discovery has left me clinging to Him much more than I have in the past few weeks. Isn't it odd how we choose to be close to God when we feel like we are faced with a problem?

Please pray for me in the coming days. I have an appointment on Thursday with the specialist...crazy how they get you in quick when they think something is up. I have an ultrasound next week. Hopefully sooner...rather than later...there will be some clear answers as to what is going on. I pray that God gives me the strength to carry on and to not let this put a damper on my life.

In Him,
Derek

The Well Has A Place To Call Home...

Just two days ago I received an e-mail from my church's Associate Pastor. It informed us of the exciting news of negotiations of purchasing a permanent site for our North Campus. At the 11am service this morning the Senior Pastor (Brad Bell) announced that the board of the selling church was in a meeting this very morning to discuss the sell to The Well. Brad informed the congregation to check his blog (Link on left of my page) for an update when we had the final news. Well, I just checked and The Well Community Church now owns its first property! The crazy thing is it cost $3 Million but some wealthy businessman is donating $2 Million and financing the church the remaining $1 Million. Crazy that one person has that much money, but amazing that he has that huge of a heart. Whoever you are Mr. Man, thank you for for allowing this to happen. And more so thank God for answering the churches prayers! I have been a part for almost five years and seen the church grow from 400 in attendance to 1200 in attendance...God is definitely at work. It will be neat to see how this unfolds. ~Derek~

Cuppy Cake

Today at my Campus Life Student Leadership meeting I was introduced to "Cuppy Cake". It was this very disturbing song that some of my students thought was cute, others scary, others annoying. In my opinion it was scary...sounded like a song from a horror movie when a crazy clown was coming to kill someone. I got home and found the video on You Tube and it made me realize it wasn't as scary when you see the cute lil girls singing smiling face. Oh well...Cuppy Cake will still be forever odd in my mind. Watch and listen below...

Post Secret

Post Secret is pretty much sweeping the nation. From the books to the website (http://postsecret.blogspot.com/) people are sitting in awe of what kind of secrets people have.

Today me and my lil bro (not by blood but doesn't matter) went to Borders and sat there and read Post Secrets. We both were shocked at some of the secrets people are carrying...others we laughed at...some we were grossed out by. It was a good time of bonding. It got us both thinking what we might put on a little postcard if we were to mail it in.

Someone at my work started this project of having our students mail us in their secrets. We have gotten quite a reply. I didn't think kids would do it but they are. We sat around a table and looked at these things and were blown away by what some students are sharing. Feeling unloved, alone, dealing with being molested, feeling ugly, being rejected, anger, issues with God, family struggles...the list goes on and on. What is sad is that these are secrets without names. We may never know who is dealing with what but it made me realize that our youth have so much on their plates. It made me realize how important building relationships with kids and giving them a venue where they can be honest and feel accepted when they are ready truly is.

Post Secrets = A Hurting World.

67 Things I Like...

67 Things I Like...

(Because I am sick and have nothing better to do!)

1. The number 7
2. E-mail
3. Chocolate Chip Cookies w/Milk
4. My Dentist, Dr. Grant
5. The Fact That My Lil Sis Finally Got A My Space
6. God
7. Cell Phones
8. MTV
9. Movies While Being Curled Up In Bed
10. Cold Sheets
11. Vicodine (I am not a druggie, it just helps me sleep when I am sick)
12. My Job!
13. My Huge Pet Oscar Fish
14. Sardines (The Game)
15. My Lil Bro (Not by blood but he is still pretty awesome!)
16. Campus Life
17. Lots Of Pictures
18. Google Talk
19. Roller Coasters, That Don't Go Upside Down
20. My Family
21. The Beach
22. Memories Of Grandpa Don
23. Driving In A Breeze w/The Top Down
24. Bianco Fresco w/Almond Roca from Caffe e Via
25. Church
26. Chinese Food
27. Fresh Fruit
28. Music!
29. Running Errands
30. Running
31. Long Showers
32. Alone Time
33. Reading A Good Book
34. Laughing w/j.Lo
35. Doing Absolutely Nothing w/BK
36. Not Having To Shave
37. Cats
38. Massages!
39. The Chiropractor...Aka Doc
40. Vacations
41. The Color Blue
42. Banking (As in working in it)
43. Signing Karaoke with AL my Carpet Buddy
44. FPU
45. E-mails/Messages w/Mike in Kansas
46. Port Of Subs (POS)
47. Rascal Flats
48. Swimming
49. Roller Blading
50. Going To Seminars Out-Of-Town
51. Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream
52. The OC
53. Ballin!
54. The Real World
55. Looking At Year Books
56. Dr. Pepper
57. American Eagle
58. Playing Games w/My Lil Sis
59. De-Stress Dinners w/Meg
60. Naps
61. Ministry
62. Amazing Friends
63. BHS CL SL Retreats
64. Meaningful Conversations
65. Doctors
66. The Internet
67. Freedom To Blog About Anything!!!

Good Talks...

Today I had an amazing time with one of my students. He is one of the smartest 15 year olds I have met. I seriously have adopted him as my lil bro. We had a great lunch and then he spent the afternoon running random errands with me. We had great talks about life. He really challenges me to think. Here I am 8 years his elder and he is challenging me. The difference between he and I...he was raised in a Christian home and was force fed religion. Now, he is questioning his faith completely. He doesn't know if he really believes what he was raised on. He is totally a good kid yet really questions the bible and its relevance and truth. I on the other hand was raised without any form of religion until I was 19 years old. Its so cool to hear him out and just think about things with him and bounce ideas/thoughts/opinions off each other. I truly believe we all must question our faith for ourselves and I totally respect him for his questioning things. Totally love this kid! Makes me thankful I went through the life I did so I could be part of YFC and these kids lives! PTL!

Back Home!!!

So Cali Rally was a blast! 59 kids (7-12th grade) and 16 adults! I was the bus supervisor...fun times! We hit the beach, Disneyland, and Magic Mountain! Awesome times...exhausting times...sun burnt times! I love this trip because the relationships we make with kids over these three days are unforgettable! I love my job! It can be stressful and I wouldn't want to do this trip every month, however it was a totally amazing time! Thanks to all those who came on the trip! Major love!!!