Life.

The picture of this great guy named Vick is at the end of this blog and is, I must say, a sad story. Vick was our bus driver while in Fiji on our missions trip last summer. Our team loved Vick because of his Jamacian music and the hang loose sign he consistantly gave as we passed by thousands of people. We spent about two weeks with Vick and then headed back to the states assuming we would see him when we came back. We recieved a phone call about 7 months after returning home from our missionary in Fiji telling us that Vick had been killed in a accident while driving his bus. Life is so short and so delicate, we had no idea that we wouldn't seeVick the next time we arrived in Fiji. Yet, because of circumstances his life is over. Sometimes I wonder if I would have treated him differently if I knew his life was going to be over soon. The Bible tells us that none of us are promised tomorrow. Life could end at any moment and we don't know when that will be. I want to live my life every minute to the fullest. I pray that Vick somehow had a chance to find Christ before he left this place called earth. I pray that you take the time to know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.

PDoug - WE love ya Vick

The People On Your Team

I don't know if you've ever taken the time to look at the people around you, but I spent some time in the last couple of weeks examining who I have closest to me. WOW, These people make me so much better than I am on my own. One of the things I love most about being a Christian is the fact that I don't have to be alone. The people closest to you make you who you are. The people that are next to me on the front line of youth ministry right now are Jody and Missy Vaughn, Jason Batt, Jason Harper, Dustin Larsen, Raul Cotto, Conor, Terri, Kellie, and all of our Masters guys and gals. I know that God has made me who I am to be good at what I do, but I can say I wouldn't be anything close to what I am without the people who line up next to me day after day.

Thanks guys and gals, It's great to be apart of a team like ours together.

Pd

The playground

Man, I love the playground. Do you remember the time you spent on the swings or maybe hanging on the monkey bars? This is an american institute of social learning. I watched my boys play today play like usual at the park but for some reason it looked a little different than normal. I really noticed the connection kids make, and I quickly remembered something I learned on the playground. The color of someone's skin or the way they talk didn't really matter. You noticed those details and then never paid attention to it again, they were just somebody to play with or to beat them to the next slide. The older we get without even realizing it, our culture begins to shape us and causes us to realize our differences. What a bummer, wouldn't it be great if we grew continueing to just except people for who they are? The great thing about being a christian is that God asks us to become as a child again when it comes to faith and inside of that faith is not seeing color or creed or language or any differences. I truly want to live this way. Regardless of what our culture says I want to see people like Jesus does.

Help me God.

Pd

WOW!!!!!!!

Ok guys and gals, I'm so proud of Oxygen!!!! Tonight was so awesome! P.Jody was incredible on the mic and havin Britt back was awesome. My prayer is that every kid in the Sac area will hear about Oxygen and more importantly about Jesus and come to meet with this Man they keep hearing about! Let's fan the flame as the bible says and burn brighter in front of our city to see! I believe we can make a real impact one person at a time. Each one reach one! Here we go!

And ladies don't forget about friday night, if you need more info check the calender.

Pd

Change

First of all thank you for all the great responses to my blogs! I'm going through a major season of change with the leadership in our ministry and it's just not fun. We are making shifts to better fulfill the goals and purpose of our church and these kinds of changes mean moving people around moving forward with different players on the team and often times changes such as these are really difficult to work through and not miss a beat. Have you ever noticed that God brings all of us through times of change, maybe for you it's finishing school and moving on to the next chapter of your life or simply an employment change. And then there are bigger changes such as families that are divided and children have to figure out how to deal with change or someone close to you dies and again you've to figure out how to deal with the change. Regardless, all of us will go through change in our lives, and how we deal with change will shape our future. How do you deal with change? What do you lean on in times of change, I know right now in my life I'm leaning on those closest to me and most of all Jesus. I know he's always loyal he'll never leave me or forsake me.

Don't go through change without him.

Pd

PS. Check out this picture of worship at Sac State

Electonica

Is it not amazing the abilities we have to communicate via electronic impulses and signals? I believe we are living in one of the most amazing times in history! With the click of a button we can communicate to each other around the world! Somehow this travels through wires and satellites and airwaves. Think about the opportunities we have to touch the world with the good news of Jesus Christ. The most amazing thing about this message is it is timeless, it never changes. Never. The hope it provided to people thousands of years ago is the hope that it provides now. Infact today more people are inviting Christ into there lives than ever before. Amazing. So if your a computer cadet, let the light shine!

Pd

A picture of us in Fiji

Kaioites All Around The World

If you were apart of Kaio in the last 5 years I'd love to hear from you! Some of the most incredible on earth formed a team in Ft. Myers Fl. to reach Highschool, Jr. High and College students. Chicho, (Alex), Raul, Tori, Caitlyn, Will, Shorty, Bobby, Charlie, Alison, Ross, Amber, PJeff, Jeff, my Fritz family, Scott, Amy Thomas, Amy Gwaltney, Gil, Eddie Z, Ryan, Landy, Andrew, Josh, the Porkers and on and on and on and on and on, I know I'm missing key incredible people. I would like for you to respond and pass the word that we are still on the move, regardless of the name of the ministry or leadership. God started in us something that will never be stopped and will only grow as we grow and continue to touch the world with God's great message! So pass the word to someone with an email to come read this and send there old leader a message!

PDiddy

Rain on the mountain

Well the Oxygen Open was a raining success! Well for about 9 holes. The day was going along just great on Monday at the Apple Mountain Golf resort when the days of Noah almost returned. I've never seen rain nor hail nor wind nor .........well enough with the King James., I've never seen anything quite like our day at the course. June 27 the event is now rescheduled for. I'm looking forward to the next tournament already. I came back Monday to deliver the hummer's new trailor to the shop for painting. You will soon see a matching trailor behind the hummer with matching logo's and icons. This trailor will house a generator for sound and coolers for soda and water. See ya soon.

PDiddy

Mommy's Day

I don't know how you do mothers day, but I want my boys to learn that this is one of the most important day's of the year! I don't know how do descibe the mom that lives in our house except by saying, thank you God! Gretchen is the most amazing woman in the world, (with my mom at a close 2nd), she truly is someone who serves in the shadows. She makes life possible for the me and constantly is loving and encouraging our boys. I have no worries about how my boys will turn out because of the mother they have! Thank you sweet heart for all you do, we love you with crazed passion. You are the definition of MOM.

Pd

The Day Off

A day off in my world........ Friday mornings are my day of rest and relaxation. My day to get refueled for the next week and get all my responsibilities at home taken care of. I know in the in bible we were given direction to have a day of rest. I can tell you from experience that a day of rest makes my life a whole lot more productive. These day help me keep life in proper perspective. For example, today I'm going to take my boys to the fair, go to costco, cut the grass and most importantly play with my dog Paige and my boys all day long! This is definitely my favorite day of the week!

Hope you have a day like this as well.

PDoug

Nothing Like Family!

I love when Kiah, Tate, Bo or Drew come barging into my office. Not really knowing the details of what might be happening behind daddy's closed door they just know they have access to my life anytime, anywhere! And there is not a better feeling that one of my beautiful boys (yes beautiful), running in to give me a hug or just wanting to say hi or tell me how school was today! Thanks guys, I love you.

Dad

Pick Up The Bus!!!!!

Pick up the Bus! If you've heard me speak many times you've probably heard about the bus and my Africa story. I actually found a picture of the occasion! We are picking up the bus and the driver is laying under the bus changing the tire! I coulndn't believe I had the exact picture of the story while it was happening!!!! Anyway, Don't forget we can only do so much alone, but together we can change the world!

PDoug

Holy Crud!

Well tonight I honestly thought the Kings were going to pull it off, maybe next year. No that that's over we can move on. I think one thing is definitely true with the Kings and just about any sports team. The home court helps. I know for me it's like speaking at oxygen as apposed to conferences or other churches retreats or outreaches. I love the homecourt advantage, being around people I'm close to that believe in me as I believe in them. I'm excited about tomorrow night, "Going through the motions" Sometimes as we grow up in the church we begin to go through the motions without even realizing it. I know as a youth pastor I struggle with this myself, not allowing what I do to become a job but keeping it my passion. Also in my walk with Christ, not allowing it to be apart of my job but making it my lifestyle. I'll tell ya more tomorrow, see ya there.

Peace

My World

Today I started early with my son Drew going to prayer with me at the church and I have to say, there's not much in life I enjoy more than seeing my son involved in things like our early morning prayer meeting. Today we had the first South Africa preperation meeting, I'm so proud of the students who have made it a priority to go and serve the people of Africa, they won't be disappointed.

I've noticed one thing in my world that is interesting to me. The importance of having fun. If I am making sure that I'm spending time having fun and enjoying life, everything benefits. I'm wondering if anyone else has found this in there life. We're always taught to go, go, go and work tirelessly, it's just not true. I'm having more fun in life right now than ever, I am blessed, my kids, my wife, people like the Batts, Vaughns, Larsons, Harris, well our whole staff and oxygen! WOW!

Thank you God,

Pd