Google Earth?

Maybe in a few weeks you will see a picture of me on Google earth? or Google street view? My dad spotted the car on his way into the office and I ran outside in order to get in their 360 degree cameras range. So next time you have nothing going on check out our address and look for me on the corner of Phoenix and Arlington.

5623 Arlington ave.
Riverside, Ca 92504

I like high technology and this would be a nerds dream come true. Keep your fingers crossed. Sorry my picture of the vehicle was no bueno.

John

Wednesday at work?

I love "working" on Wednesday's. Beach trips, surf trips, magic mountain, paintball, and more. What a summer.

Summer Camp Video

Camp Photos

Check them all out at acceptym.shutterfly.com (you could even make a photo book or mouse pad of your favorite photo?)

Back from camp!

Had fun. Ate lots of food. Spent time with students. Check back soon for pictures and video. Peace.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Bring it On (Summer Camp 2008)

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

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!

Painting

VolleyBall

Youth Fundraiser: BBQ and VB

A wonderful mother, friend, and youth leader.

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)

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

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

Happy 4th of July (VLOG)

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

Beach Trip

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

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)