Life as we know it.

Being born in the suburbs of Napa, Ca I was fortunate enough to have an average life that was not mixed with the abuse and violent family splitting divorces that far too many of us in this world are left with.Through school there was an average amount of friends and isolation from the popular kids that any teenager must face in his/her path to adulthood. Playing sports, listening to music, binging on alcohol and drug abuse filled my teenage years of high school, as it may apply to many boys in western culture, especially California. Up until my first year outside of high school most of life would be considered average. Average to the point where one would presumably paint a picture of me in a gray outfit, not name brand, in a gray room with a mediocre expression. I broke free from this by playing in a band for two years. Jumping in the lead vocals role was just the thing to help me forget my past, accept my present, and look forward to the future. The band finished as most do, leaving all parties having their feelings hurt and no money in hand. After the music faded I found that it was time to grow up. Marrying my high school sweetheart and trying to land a job serving unfriendly, non-appreciating people that forgot that they too are humans. I learned that there are people in the world that consider themselves God's....and many of these people often come to my home town to indulge in gargling with wine and spitting on the servants that should feel blessed to be in their presence. Life has had an interesting way of showing me that the term "ugly Americans" actually exists which has left me in the place of searching for meaning, understanding, and fulfillment in everything that I do. I have heard that life is all about perspective...what I am learning is that whoever said this, was never faced with many of the things that most of us today are presented. Perspective is only the first half, the second part is motion...what to do with the given situation....so from now on we are to continue to live, because at the end of the day that's the most we can do.

So this has been interesting...

Life certainly has a way of mixing things up right when you think you have control. I recently hear a song that reminded me that we are all just people placed on this earth for limited time, trying to figure out what were all doing here. we make connections, relationships, and grow together. unfortunately sometimes we loose relationships, and grow apart.

The past year has been full of ups and downs, emotionally and physically.

With our sights on straight were heading back out there and doing it right this time.

I will always remember the one's that I have been blessed to meet and I understand and fully acknowledge those who have left a special memory with me. Many of you have been a part of the growth that I have been stumbling through this past year, but it is through this growth period that I can truly say "this has been interesting"

Mud Bowl 2010 Pictures

Youth Specialties rap-up

This has been an incredible few days, we have had the chance to clear our minds and hearts and allow God to enter and work with us. We have also had the opportunity to meet some awesome people from around the Napa area and even make some connections outside of the state. Doug Fields gave his testimony of working as a full time youth pastor and the effect it can have on one's family when the ministry is the main focus. He spoke of a balance yet need to pay attention to our individual families. The past few days have been a roller coaster of deep emotions as well as excitement and joy. We thank Crosswalk for sending us down here as it has allowed us to reconnect why we started youth ministry and the overall importance that it plays in the grand scheme of advancing the kingdom. With love, respect, patience, and gratitude we say THANK YOU!

-Olivium Espinoza :)

Inner battle, Finding our depth, the great intercessor

Our morning "big room" meeting was all about this inner battle of quantity verse quality. We all want our group to grow whatever it is weather it be a youth group, a congregation, business or anything that one is passionate about. There is always this overwhelming feeling that "Big" is the destroyer of deep. So is our goal to grow numerically or spiritually? When the day is done we as leaders must note that it has to be a balance that is not easily attained.
Mike Pilavachi from across the pond spoke of intercession. He posedthe idea that Intercession is much more than prayer. True intercessors identify,identification leads to agony which leads to
spiritual authority. Jesus was a true intercessor. 

Day 2 inner struggle, Gods plan, healthy healing

We started off the day listening to a good and long time friend Ben Kerns, he was my (Tim) old youth pastor who got things started and really introduced me to the love of Jesus. It was great to hear from him and even catch up over lunch. Later we heard from Mark Yaconelli, who has written many books and has done a lot of work with youth ministry as a whole. He spoke of living Jesus through our acts and reflecting on whats inside. We also heard from the widely known Miles McPherson who spoke of finding truth and the grace of God through our struggle and pain. Both speakers were very interesting. I (Tim) have always been a skeptic of natural healing through God but early on in this trip I was overcome with ear pain. Not just a little old ear ache but a crippling pain that went through my head and into my eyes. I was virtually deaf and it made it hard to see, through prayers and a true surrender to God I awoke this next day with no pain, no sorrow and a comfort that I truly never felt. God is good and through surrender and open hearts HIS work is reveled. We have much more to learn and will continue to check in throughout this trip.  

Day 1 a scary trip, weird room, and creepy picture

Wow! That was an exciting travel day. It was a decent flight not to bumpy but it did take the pilot 3 tries to land the plane due to weather, or maybe he was a rookie and this was his first flight! I guess we will never know, but the lightning storms outside all directions of the plane was a nice touch. As I mentioned after 3 attempts we finally came slamming down on San Diego runway with great force, I think we might have popped a tire but that's just my worrisome suspicion. None the less we checked into our room late and was surprised that a handicapped ADA room awaited us with kneecap level sinks, low showers and a creepy picture of a girl in a blue dress watching us sleep. All of this aside we are greatly excited to start our first day at Youth Specialties! We are looking forward to being fed by some awesome speakers and relax with three thousand other youth workers.