My first year of blogging by John Denton

It's official. I have been blogging for one year. 159 blogs later I am still feeling good and enjoying writing more than ever. 4,324 others have enjoyed checking out my blog as well according to Google analytics. My blog audience hails from 59 country's and 652 cities around the world. Here is a interesting look at my top 5 cities:

1. Irvine 608 visits (the Hamers and friends)
2. West Hollywood 320 visits (unknown blog reader)
3. Riverside 302 visits (church community)
4. Los Angeles 296 visits (fun people who like LA and my blog)
5. Santa Barbra 270 visits (my cousin Pat and others from Westmont)

My favorite blog statistic was the number one keyword people googled to find my blog "sorry pat hamer" was googled 167. My guess is my cousin Pat googled "sorry pat hamer" 167 times.

Thanks for reading my blog cyber space, the people in the Netherlands (193 of them), and friends, I will continue to blog more than ever in the next year.

Accept,
John Denton

New Accept Youth Ministry Website Idea.

I am looking for feedback on this idea so check it out and let me know what you think and if it is worthy of the internet. Thanks. www.acceptym.com/idea. Go ahead and click comment to post your thoughts.

Accept,
John

My dad wants to save trestles.

"Thanks for posting this on your blog John. Just got an email from the toll road company asking me to speak out for the expansion! I was so mad... then I went to your blog... keep writing. We need to SAVE TRESTLES! Thank God for all the people who've labored so hard and long to fight to save this sanctuary." Dad (pictured above at trestles)

It's beautiful (looking south toward lowers)

The Surf is fun (me having fun at one of the many spots at trestles)

Save Trestles (you decide)

On surfline's site there was an astonishing before and after segment on the San Mateo 241 toll road extension. Check it out http://www.surfline.com/surfnews/photo_bamp.cfm?id=13362&ad=1

Where I live.

There are some interesting sights to be seen in Riverside. Recently I have started taking note of all of these places in my head, and today I decided to photograph this one. The Riverside Beverage Co. I am not sure what sort of beverages were made here or how long ago, but it is quite the factory. It is old, abandon, and whatever business took place here is obviously long gone. I still enjoy the building though because it represents success at one time or another. I think it is amazing that so many people drive by places like this everyday and don't take note of them. Open your eyes and see all of the interesting things that you might be missing out on. I will try to keep on posting strange buildings and others sorts I see around town.

A Message from the Surfrider Foundation

The time to Save Trestles is now!!

On Wednesday, February 6, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) will hear the application for the Foothill-South toll road that will run through San Onofre State Park.

This project threatens precious coastal open space, water quality and the surf break at Trestles, and it would set a dangerous precedent for YOUR State Park system.

Join hundreds (if not thousands) of Surfrider Foundation activists and other opponents of the toll road for a rally at the CCC hearing. Come help us send a clear message that our State Parks and open spaces deserve saving!
This is literally THE most important hearing in regards to protecting Trestles and San Onofre State Park. We need an enormous crowd to attend. Please help spread the word to all your family and friends in Southern California.
The Surfrider Foundation and partners are renting buses and organizing carpools in San Clemente and San Diego. We are also providing lunch, tee shirts, and posters/sign for all supporters. Surfrider has it all organized—you just need to show up.
If you have questions about the hearing, or are interested in organized transportation, email Stefanie Sekich at: SSekich@surfrider.org

Hoping you can make it,

Your friends at Surfrider

What: Crucial Vote to Save Trestles at California Coastal Commission

When: Wednesday, February 6, 2008. Please arrive by 9am.

Where: Del Mar Fairgrounds—at Wyland. Hall 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Del Mar, CA 92014 - Just off the I-5 in Del Mar at Via de la Valle exit.

Visit the Fairgrounds website for complete directions. Please consider carpooling.


P.S. If you can't attend please be sure to send a letter to the Coastal Commission by visiting our site. Stay tuned to www.savetrestles.org for updates and talking points for the meeting.

Thoughts from my iPod

I rarely ever sit around all day and do nothinng. Today I did. It was nice, I was able to work a little on my calender and I also discovered my wii can conect to the Internet via my wireless network. If you don't see me for a week it is because I am playing classic games I downloaded from the wii store.

Live long and prosper

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."
Matthew 6:29-31, The Message

Soon Enough

Timmy Curran in Concert

Go to this concert at the La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas, Ca. Hear excellent music by surfer Timmy Curran, buy cool stuff at the auction, and have fun. All while supporting a great non-profit Heifer International (www.heifer.org).

Heath Ledger; dead.

Sad Day

Save Trestles (please)

In Southern California there are few places you can go along the coast that are as untouched as trestles and the San Mateo creek area of San Clemente. It's beautiful. You park your car a mile from the beach and walk in along the creek; birds, bobcats, and even trout call this area home. My dad loves telling me stories about how it used to be before the paved trail, parking lots, and developments along the cliffs. I could imagine he grew up thinking it would always be like that. Now we are looking at a new dawn of mass development. A toll road right through the canyon that intrudes on this "protected" region of coast. The state is taking back protected land and giving it to a private group to build a toll road! The toll road company is even willing to pay millions for the damage it causes to the environment. Any time someone attempts to pay you money to keep you quite is the best time to stand up and say no. Lets stop the destruction. For more info check out http://www.surfrider.org/savetrestles/

I don't play guitar...

I own a guitar. I have played it a bit. Never in front of others. Tonight I was preaching for our main service at church. I had the opportunity to play guitar during worship, so I did. It was needless to say interesting.

It's Official (Starbucks)

Today I had a major epiphany? I was standing in line at starbucks, there was a lady ordering drinks for her entire office in front of me, next thing I know one of the friendly starbucks employees handed me my drink from behind the counter. Yes I did get a free drink but I also came to the realization that I might need to slow down on the $3.95 iced mocha thing. They remembered my face and my drink! What next?

Dinner with friends

Last night I had the opportunity to hang out with my cousin Phil and Dalene. We had dinner, ice cream, and even went to Borders (the book store). It was a great evening. Thanks Phil and Dalene.

30 Hour Famine: Keep up the great work!

The 30 Hour Famine is a month away and we are already getting tons of support from World Vision. For the last four years the youth of Central Community have taken part in the 30 Hour Famine. The first few years it would be me and a few youth, now it seems every student in the group comes out and brings a friend as well. World Vision does an amazing job of lifting up leaders and youth groups. Yesterday there was a package waiting for me in my office with a great plaque and letter inside. The letter states, "I want to thank you for leading one of our very best 30 Hour Famine groups in the nation!". I felt good inside, not about my work but about the work of the hundreds of youth over the last four years who have worked hard to save kids lives. This year I hope that every youth pastor in the country will be receiving one of these plaques for their groups efforts in the 30 Hour Famine. If you have not signed up for our 30 Hour Famine here at Central Community or for your youth group there is still time, check out www.30hourfamine.org.

Accept,
John Denton

Wii for Free

Andrew is most likely the nicest junior high student I know. It is no surprise because his mother is super nice as well. The kid works hard in school and gets straight A's. When he isn't doing homework he trains as a boxer; you would never guess. Regardless of all these facts Andrew recently received a free Nintendo Wii. You might be asking how? Well I guess Nintendo thought Andrew was a pretty cool kid and sent him one in the mail. In the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) every junior high student writes a business letter to any company they would like; a class project. Andrew likes video games so he decided to write Nintendo and say lots of nice things. In his letter he compared the Wii to the Play Station 3, and also added in a few ideas for new games. Soon after these letters where sent out his fellow classmates started receiving free t-shirts, stickers, and other items from the company's they wrote to. Andrew had received nothing. A few days later a giant box came to the school addressed to Andrew. Yes! It was a Nintendo Wii, lots of games, and a nice letter from the people at Nintendo. In the letter Nintendo told Andrew he was a really cool junior high student and that they loved his letter, especially the game ideas and were thinking about using a few of them. The moral of the story is hard work pays off. Andrew would work hard in school free Nintendo Wii or not. Work hard in 2008 and see what happens.

Accept,
John Denton

"Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"

I need a sofa!

Do you have a sofa or love seat that you don't need? If so I will be happy to take it off your hands. Thanks friends. My apartment is empty!

2007 in Photographs