God is love.

“Each person is meant to love a person or more than one. Maybe we were meant to happen. All the small cracks allowed me to realize he was truly for me.”


And there’s that crazy thing called love. With love you learn to trust no one but yourself. Let people in but give them limited information. You learn from the past and avoid making the same mistakes because it scares you more than anything to experience the same pain. Never settle for less than what God made you. Stick with your values and morals. Don’t ever compromise them because as Dr. Seuss once said, “Those who mind don’t matter, lives those that matter don’t mind.” Be careful how much you give of yourself because in all reality no one stays content forever. You give a little and we ask for more. The number one thing I have learned is that the only way you can truly love someone is by experiencing the love of God. God is love and blesses us with people in our to love us and for us to love. We all need love, whether we admit it or not. No one in their right mind wants to live alone and unwanted. God is the source of love. Love is a blessing not something any one of us deserve. He demonstrates His love for us through the people we love and who love us. However, when a break up does occur it doesn’t mean that he loves us any less or is abandoning us it is usually a consequence of our selfish desires and unwillingness to abide by his “rules.” These rules are not meant to be a debby-downer in our lives but, instead to prevent us from experiencing pain and heartache. He does it out of love. It’s like a parent telling their newly certified teenage-driver to not drive late at night. They don’t tell them not to in order to keep them from having a good time but, for their safety. They may have an idea of how dangerous it can be out there and how risky it is to drive late at night but, they don’t fully realize how careless other drivers may be.
Lately, I’ve been guilty of being such a worry wart especially when it comes to the topic of relationships. I get worked up about what may happen in the future with the relationship I’m in but God manages to grab a hold of me and bring me back to sanity. He reminds me that whatever happens in the future will eventually come whether I agree with it or not.

Proverbs 16:9: “In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.”

Therefore, I must love as much as I can and demonstrate His love through thick and thin. Even when they’re moments when I just rather walk away from the situation I must stay strong and continue to love just as Jesus did to his enemies. Of course there’s always that question: “Well what happens if I show all my love and they don’t or, we end up breaking up?”…Well, I wish I could give a precise answer but at the moment I’m figuring out an answer to that question as well. Until then, just live and love with the mind set: “Love as you would want to be loved and, love as if it was Jesus.” While dating, make decisions that are profitable in your relationship. In a book that I’m reading, “Dating with Pure Passion” it explains the importance of making decisions that are profitable to relationships. This means making decisions that benefit or improves it.- “The more sensual your activity together, the stronger your bond will become. However, if you break up, you will damage your hearts as your rip them apart(153).”

my niche

With the experience and the many opportunities I have been given this semester I have discovered my niche. I wrote for sports, features, cultures, and news section this semester. The section that has stood at the most is sports. Perhaps it could be because I was once an athlete and have a love for almost any game. From previous experience I understand how much dedication, sacrifice, and hard work must go into a sport in order to be successful. Therefore, I have decided to focus my blog in the field of sports.

There are innumerous amounts of sports but the ones I would like to concentrate on are: volleyball, football, basketball, and baseball. Last summer I was given the opportunity to work as a media intern with a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Dodgers. It opened my eyes to see how much I truly enjoyed working in the field of sports. After every home game me and another intern would crank out a press release. It was a challenge at first, not only learning how to write a press release but also working under pressure. As difficult as it was I enjoyed it nonetheless.

In researching other sports blogs I have come to find that people I searched have written their own opinion of the topic they were covering. It was not really unbiased writing which was encouraging to know that I my writing does not always have to be unbiased.

I look forward to narrowing my blog on a certain topic rather than it being part personal life and part school related. Though I will miss blogging about everyday life, this will be a great chance for me to gain experience in writing in a more professional manner. It will also be beneficial to any readers who specifically were not able to catch the game or would like information on the latest sports talk. So enough with the past nonsense and on to real life in the journalism work force!

**written for JRN 215

LOVE God & LOVE others.

Wow, my heart is just consumed right now with God’s love. Tonight, was the first time in awhile that I attended Generate because of confliction with work. The service began with worship. Generate’s worship service is unlike any other worship I have ever experienced. You can just seeGod’s love throughout the stadium of people who are just on fire for God. It is such a mind-blowing scene. Young people with their arms stretched out in adoration of God, praising Him with all their might. It seriously is one of the best feelings ever! Tonight’s message was about addictions and defining the line between what God thinks is “over the line.” Pastor Tony related it to drugs, drinking, clubbing. The main points that came from the message include:

• The love of God is as powerful as a striking wave.
o Tony used the analogy of person first learning how to surf. They get constantly knocked down by the wave each time they get up.
• Stop focusing on what you can’t and shouldn’t do..Focus on what you CAN do.
• Clanging Cymbal= annoying.
• FOCUS on point of motivation.
• Change always happens whenever you converse with God. WE are too scared to become serious with the conversation because we do not what to give God our complete trust.
• It’s not what you’ve done. It’s about who God wants you to be.

Pastor Tony left us with the following questions:

1.) What’s your motivation?
2.) Does this glorify you, God?
3.) Do you love God enough that the things that break God’s heart, breaks yours?
During the service I experienced a kind of love that I have only received from one person, and that is God himself. It was a unique type of love. A type of love in which God doesn’t need your love in return. A love that is far better than human love. I was again reminded that I don’t need anyone else’s love except for God. I don’t need anyone else’s approval to feel confident of who I am. That type of love, is so extraordinary. A love that I would choose over human love. I was so inspired by the message that I came back to my computer and started typing away.

God is amazing. God is just. God is love.

Final thing to leave you with, Love God and love others.

Columbia University-Report On Journalism

http://www.minnpost.com/insideminnpost/2009/10/19/12627/a_modest_proposal_for_federal_funding_of_journalism

http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/cs/ContentServer/jrn/1212611716674/page/1212611716651/JRNSimplePage2.htm

Journalism has played a significant role in society since Gutenberg invented the first printing press. This is true because many people rely on the news to give them information of what is occurring in the world. They depend on writers to give strictly factual information that is not fabricated. For many years, newspapers has been the most popular way of relaying the news to the people. People often got a jump start to their day with a coffee in one hand and a newspaper in their other hand. But due to the rapid growth of technology newspapers are being used less and less. This is true because it there are less reporters writing, “Fewer journalists are reporting less news in fewer pages” (Downie and Schudson). Newspapers however are not the only channel of news that is losing its audience. The number of television news viewers has dropped as well. Though these two popular means of news will not be extinct just yet, it will quickly begin to be lost in the sea of news transformation, “Newspapers and television news are not going to vanish in the foreseeable future…but they will play diminished roles in an emerging and still rapidly changing world of digital journalism”(Downie and Schudson).
The transformation of news has raised many questions of concern of whether or not the new form of news will be able to be as affective to its audience as it is now. The most popular solution right now is the internet. This is true because it is faster to put information on the web as opposed to printing it and relaying the news to its audience the next day. It is also easier to access, free, and less money to advertise. However, with this said internet news organizations can not expand without the help of already established news organizations, “credible independent news reporting cannot flourish without news organizations of various kinds, including the print and digital reporting operations of surviving newspapers” (Downie and Shudson).
Regardless of the way news will be transformed it is important that news industries keeps its people informed in a respectful and organized manner, “this is an essential purpose for reporting, along with interpretation, analysis and informed opinion, and advocacy” (Downie and Shudson). Reporters have a significant amount of responsibility with the consideration that they inform the people of what they do not know. It is a job that may seem quite simple but, if not done in an ethical manner can result to dramatic consequences, “reporting is not something to be taken for granted” (Downie and Shudson).
Because of the decline of newspapers, many companies have had to let go of a significant amount of their writers. For example, The Los Angeles Times’ decreased to 600 writers with an original number of 1,100. Due to the dramatic fall of journalists many newspaper circulations have collaborated together to form one newspaper. “Ohio’s eight largest newspapers…have formed the Ohio News Organization” (Downie and Shudson). This is occurring throughout the country In order to preserve print news and their news organization.
The transformation of news will effect not only the news’ companies but also the people. Perhaps it may benefit the people more so than the news organizations because of the faster, cheaper and easily accessible benefits. Despite, what may replace news print and television news the preservation of ethical reporting will still remain the same.


**written for JRN 215

favorite bible verse

"...Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."- James 1:3-4

One of my favorite verses is James 1:3-4. Though it was assigned to choose only one verse I could not help but include verse four as well with verse three. These verses are very powerful. I chose to write about this verse because I feel like this time in our life is such a beautiful yet scary time. I mean this in the sense that we are learning about who we truly are. To make it a little more complex, some of us no longer have the financial support of our parents. We are all trying to figure out our lives as a grownup now. Which is slightly ironic because, personally when I was younger I could not wait until I was an adult. But now that I have hit that point in my life I wish that I could just go back to being a kid at times.

This verse serves as a great support system when I am going through trials in my life. I often remind myself that God is always by my side and that everything he puts me through is for my benefit. A motto that I like to live by is, “What does not kill, only makes you stronger. “ This verse reflects that type of attitude. God lets us endure the trials that we go through so that we may be mature enough to handle future situations.

This verse has impacted my life in so many ways, whether it was family or relationship issues. Though the pain was not the best experience in the world this verse encouraged me to stay strong and continue to trust in God. My pastor once told the congregation that what may seem like chaos in this world is something that is perfectly orchestrated in God’s eyes. I thought that was such a beautiful analogy. We often forget that God is in control and already has our lives planned out. We get so worked up about what we are going through; and either forget or choose to ignore God’s love and mercy.

This verse can be helpful to anyone regardless of what there are going through. This verse is a reminder of God’s love. He only wants the best for us. God does not put trials in our lives to punish us but, to make us stronger advocates for Him.

**written for JRN 371

my passion

Each person has a passion, whether it is a sport or the desire to stay in shape. Regardless of what motivates a person, the effort and time spent to achieve their goal is similar.
For me, my passion is life. I know it may sound unrealistic to some but I really do love living life. I live for the small things in life. I live for the ability to hear the crashing of waves, taste the sea of salt water on my lips, seeing the smiles of my loved ones, hearing the sound of a child’s laughter, helping senior citizens with groceries and the list goes on. God has blessed me with more than enough. Sometimes I forget how blessed I really am. Though, I may not be the wealthiest I have so many other things to be grateful for. The fact that I am healthy and have all my senses is more than enough to have a positive outlook on life.
This is just a couple of examples of God’s beauty. My passion of life is founded on God’s love. I am constantly amazed of how God work in mysterious ways. I have realized that God blesses us with every person that pays a visit in our lives. The amount of time they spend is unpredictable. However, God never fails to make us stronger and wiser human beings, doing everything for his glory.
I honestly can say that God is the reason of why I am so passionate about life. It amazes me how he sent his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of all people. I cannot help but wonder God’s thought process of why he would do such an inexpressible act of love for all who fall short of his worth.
God’s love has made it possible for me to overcome the various obstacles in life. His love ties back to my passion in life through my desire of living my life to the best of my ability. I constantly fall short of perfection but I strive daily to glorify him in all that I think, say and do.
During a bible study last year, my group leader pointed out a good point of how he strives to honor God with his words and actions. He said, “I consider my words and actions a constant prayer to God. This mindset keeps me from cussing and speaking unkind words.” My bible study leader’s mindset has inspired me to do the same.
I have come to the understanding that life is too short to spend on insignificant and worthless things such as, what people may think of your morals and beliefs. With this said, it is important to live life with all I have been blessed, living each day like it is my last. I know it is a cliché statement but honestly believe our world would be very different. I realize it can go both ways, good or bad. However, I do my best to stay optimistic about situations by leaning on God as my Fortress.
**written for JRN 215

a hard-boiled egg

Yesterday afternoon was a sad day for me and my baby egg also known as my white previa mini van. Its actually not a baby in any way considering my family got it in 1998! hah. Anyways, it all began while I was driving to Disneyland this afternoon. My engine was sounding funny earlier in the morning when I started it but I didn't think anything of it. Well as I was driving down the 91 West my engine started to make a weird sound again. Thankfully my boyfriend, Brett, was driving right behind me. He called to tell me that water was spurting on his windshield. This was the first red flag that there was something wrong with my car. It wasn't until I saw that my thermometer, that predicts if your car is overheating, was all the way at the "H." I freaked out and called my cousin who's well-educated in mechanics and asked him what was wrong. He told me that my car is over-heated and that I should not drive after arriving to my destination. Well, unfortunately I did not make it to my destination. The next thing I knew my car began to go at a slower pace. I managed to make it to the shoulder of the road just before it completely died. I literally thought that my egg would burst because it was smoking on the inside and outside. To summarize what happened after Brett called AAA to have my car towed to one of his dad's offices, the East Anaheim Police Station. So as of right now my little egg is chilling in the parking lot waiting to be towed back home. Hopefully, it's in too bad of condition to repair so that I can get a new car!!