Youth Pastor John's Blog

Happy Birthday Dad!

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:15:00 +0000

Bring it On (Summer Camp 2008)

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:52:00 +0000

Well. I am ready to hang out with these guys for a week and have fun. To much food, endless blobs, and a good sun burn, plus an amazing time of worship and friends. This year we are taking 14 students to Forest Home for High school Summer Camp at Lake View for an unforgettable week. My memories of past camps are the best so I know the kids love it even more. It also gives us something to talk about and look forward to until next summer. Today is the first day of the month when I have actually felt prepared for camp. Now I am ready. Ready to wake up at 2' in the morning with a video camera in my face and lots of laughter from the guys. Ready to have great discussion with the group about life and Jesus. Ready to blob (a giant bounce type thing that you jump on and launch a kid off the end into the lake) the Davis brothers to the moon. Ready to drink mocha chip shakes and eat mozzarella sticks. Ready to nap by the lake while my great leaders/counselors work hard. I am ready.

Accept,
John

A Bike Ride to Remember

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:46:00 +0000

I like to ride my bike, my dad (as pictured) also likes to ride his bike. Yesterday we joined forces for the first time on the road. Yes we have hit the trials together but never the open road. What a ride. First off I rode from my house to my dads... 10 miles up hill. Then my dad told me about this great 10 mile loop that would be fun. Keep in mind it was 1pm and near 100 degrees. We rode off together toward Ramona express way, past mead valley, and into Perris (just like 'le tour'). We were averaging around 23 mph having a great time cranking along. Once we hit perris blvd. we realized the ride was not 10 miles... it was more like 25 miles. We were already out so we had to come back, we started toward Moreno Valley and finaly started moving up Catus blvd. It was hot. We were semi worn out, and there was a nasty head wind. My dad was threatning to call for a ride and I was lucky enough to have him taking up the front and blocking the wind. Then 'pshhhhhh' and my dad shouts "oh yes". A flat tire! We took a seat on the side of the road, in the middle of no where, in the dirt, the heat etc. and waited for my mom to come pick us up (yes we had spare tubes and tools but... it was hot). Funny Monday. I seriously rode my bike for the majority of my day off.

Oh Sunday Night!

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:54:00 +0000

Painting

VolleyBall

Youth Fundraiser: BBQ and VB

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:38:00 +0000

A wonderful mother, friend, and youth leader.

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:19:00 +0000

Sunday July 6th I received a phone call that Tammy had passed away. I was shocked. A few Sundays before I had sat with her in the parent camp meeting, talked to her on the phone about restocking our soda machine as a youth fundraiser, and washed her car at our camp fundraiser. Tammy was always fast to point out where I needed help but was just as fast to volunteer to help me. As I sit at my desk planning our BBQ fundraiser tomorrow I really just want to call Tammy to help bail me out one more time. It is hard to say 'good bye' to someone you thought would always be there.

No Complaints (Another Beach Trip)

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:13:00 +0000

I read enough blogs to make this statement. Ministry related or not most blogger's are complainers. I have no complaints. In my fifth year of youth ministry and still loving every second. Yes summer time is nice. We go to the beach, paintballing, summer camp, etc. I never mind keeping track of students and having fun at the same time. It's more than programing and fun events. Last Thursday night we packed out one of our classrooms for a bible study on Acts. Tonight we are planning on having a solid group again. Yesterday Bill, Caleb, and Steve helped me count heads and slap five with students at the beach. I could only remember looking back on my first year in ministry when I had to cancel a beach trip because not one student signed up. That is not the case these days. A safe day at the beach. Great leaders. Lot's of fun. No complaints. What a blessing!

Accept,
John Denton

Le Tour

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:44:00 +0000

Nerds unite! I might be in a class of my own; I love watching the Tour de France on TV. Each year I follow the entire race and enjoy every minute of it. What a race it is. If you have not checked out this years tour you should. Watch athletes push it to the limit. You could even learn the lingo and shoot the breeze with me about Le Tour.

"Hey John has the peloton narrowed the chase yet?"

"Who won king of the mountain?"

"Do you think Schumacher will hold onto the yellow jersey?"

4th of July BBQ and Church in the Court Yard

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:41:00 +0000

Happy 4th of July (VLOG)

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:34:00 +0000

John, Pat, and Phil. Having fun on the 4th.

Beach Trip

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:25:00 +0000

Caleb hard at work. Youth Ministry in the summer equals fun days at the beach (not to mention lots of head counting). Thanks Caleb!

Life on the edge

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:00:00 +0000

My parents never held me back, if anything they were the ones pushing me off. I was BMX racing a few months after my training wheels came off my bike. I am pretty sure I was in some sort of organized sports from the beginning. When I had a hard week at school my dad sat with me in class. He drove me and ran with me for the first month of high school cross country running. My mom stayed at home in the afternoons and would fix a snack. She would listen to me, when I needed it most. When I struggled in math my junior year she contacted my teacher and arranged for tutoring. There were never rewards for excellence in my family. It was just expected or if anything the norm. Having an older sister who dominated the academic front and a father whose middle name might as well be 'smart.' I tried to find my own in other places. Skateboarding and snowboarding eventually with a fight won over team sports, but my parents still continued to provide me with the means to succeed. Skateboard deck after skateboard deck, season pass after season pass, they still pushed me to be my best.

When I began to realize I could get into trouble I quickly realized that I could do better. My parents gave me that drive, a hope, the knowledge that 'I can.' It's interesting really. I never became a professional BMX racer, soccer player, runner, scholar, snowboarder, or skateboarder. Yes I won a few races, scored a goal, beat my best time again and again, graduate from college, and can hold my own on a skateboard. Was that why they pushed me? For a few achievements? As I train for my next benchmark; a sprint distance triathlon. I have began to realize what my parents were doing when I was four, ten, and sixteen. They instilled a sense, more like a taste of what its like to push a little harder, to go that extra mile, and to continue on when it hurts the most.

Thanks Dad. Thanks Mom.

Accept,
John

...live life on the edge (note: that is a picture of me on the edge of the Grand Canyon)

Youth Today.

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:08:00 +0000

Carwash!!!

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:05:00 +0000

Help send a kid to camp! You can still help out. $425 sends a kid to camp. You can make a students summer the best ever!

Bowling with Steph

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:05:00 +0000

This week has been a blur!

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:38:00 +0000

Man! I can't believe it's Thursday already.

High points of my week:
-Caleb arrived home Tuesday!
-Summer camp meeting went great!
-My triathlon wetsuit came in the mail

My weekend looks like this:
-Open water swim Saturday (woops carwash)
-Bike ride Saturday
-Might surf tomorrow with Chris
-Ready for youth tonight and Sunday with Caleb back!

Sorry this week has been so slow on the blog front...

My name is John and I like to party...(Hot Rod; anybody?)

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:29:00 +0000

In case you have been on the moon I just wanted to let you know. Sunday Nights are for those who like to party (and by party I mean play whiffle ball, volley ball, other strange games, and eat to much ice cream) . I love this picture because some how I snapt it right after Aaron was belted in the face with the foot bag (plus the hats are classic). As I always like to point out, we should issue safety glasses to everyone that enters into the youth building. See you next Sunday night!

When Church Kids Go Bad?

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:55:00 +0000

This book cover makes me laugh.

America's Got Talent: Extreme Dance FX

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:20:00 +0000

Awesome! Danielle, one of the girls in the youth group is on NBC's America's Got Talent. She is the one with the blond hair second to the left most of the time, on the left at the beginning of the clip. Her dance team 'Extreme Dance FX' is pretty awesome. Make sure to cast your vote for them when it comes time!

Yikes, August 9th! (My First Triathlon)

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:29:00 +0000

On August 9th, I will be competing in my first triathlon. It is a sprint distance race and should be fun. My main goal is to get comfortable with the triathlon thing and hopefully train for a few more this year. Either way the money is down on this one.

Until Then (The site I am working on for my aunt).

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:08:00 +0000

Monday Update

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:55:00 +0000

Because I care about my readers I wanted to give a little bit of a Monday Update.

First of all I took my Dad golfing. It was his fathers day gift. We had a blast! I shot a 92 and my dad shot a 109. After our round my dad looked at me and said, "never buy me another father's day present, let's make this our tradition." Then we had lunch and watched Tiger Woods US Open playoff at Torrey Pines. My morning with dad was great.

Second I went for a 45 minute bike ride trying to build my strength on the bike. My first triathlon is going to be on August 8th! I have been training for sometime.

Third, I jumped in the pool and cooled off. It's a hot day! Almost 100 degrees in Riverside, Ca today.

Now I am laying around waiting for the Angels game to start. In the mean time I am going to work on a website for my aunt and hopefully eat something!

Father's Day with The Family

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:35:00 +0000

Dad. Happy Father's Day.

How I get shirts

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:57:00 +0000

Stephanie sent me this picture today of newly acquired tees. Thank you Steph!

The Giant Overpass!

noreply@blogger.com (John Denton) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:40:00 +0000

Well. Today I was fortunate enough to drive on the giant over pass that connects 60 and the 91 freeway. I watched an episode of Modern Marvels on the overpass but had never driven it. Today I was able to take it all in.