This will be my last Orange Juice blog post. I made this decision on Friday, and related it to our editor, Vern Nelson, via email. At the time I intended to stay involved behind the scenes, however by the next morning I had changed my plans.
Allow me start what will be a long story, at the beginning. We rented a few movies on Friday, including the “Book of Eli,” an otherwise forgettable action movie starring Denzel Washington. In that film, the character named Eli, played by Washington has the last surviving copy of the Bible. He has carried it for thirty years, in a quest to bring it to a safe haven. He failed to do so, as it was captured by an evil man, but the movie ends (spoiler alert) with a surprise – Eli had memorized the entire King James version of the Bible. And the copy that was stolen was written in Braille. The evil guy was not able to do anything with it.
I went to bed, tossing and turning as I fretted about the lawsuit filed against me and this blog by a number of bloggers from the Liberal OC. And then I was suddenly in a very deep sleep. Something took me through a guided tour of my entire life.
The scene in the “Book of Eli” reminded me that, as a young man, I once memorized the entire Book of James, in the King James Version, in order to win a prize at my church. I think I may have been in the fifth grade at the time. I relived that moment and so many others as the night wore on.
And as I awoke on Saturday I immediately prayed for forgiveness and left my old life behind, at that very moment. You see as I relived my life I saw very clearly where I went wrong, and where I allowed my hubris to hurt many people. I told myself we were making a difference here and perhaps at times we did. But we also did a lot of things I now regret, and which I am now sorry for.
I want to thank Dan Chmielewski, Claudio Gallegos, Chris Prevatt, and Ryan Trabuco. Had they not sued me I would not be writing this today, with hope in my heart instead of despair. I ask that you, our readers, not judge them harshly. They did what they had to do. I had it coming. I see that now. I deserve whatever punishment I get. And if that means my family will lose our home, then so be it. We can start anew. I understand now how little the material world matters.
Over the past year, things got so bad, as I struggled with the lawsuit, that in recent weeks I even entertained thoughts of taking my own life, as my brother did. I realize now that this was the fallen one whispering in my ear, as is his wont. He is always looking for such an opportunity. And he must have know what God had in store for me.
I know now that I had to walk through the valley of the shadow of death in order to enter a new life. I had to be broken and humbled, and I truly was.
Everything that happens to us happens for good reason. I clearly see that now. God has a new mission for me. But to do it I had to go through many dark paths. I had to emerge into the light. I had to be born again. That is not something that just happens. You have to be led to it and then you have to be willing to accept it.
And so I am leaving the Orange Juice, permanently, as I am leaving politics altogether. Oh, I will still try to make a difference but now I will do so in the lay ministry. Now I will serve not this kingdom but rather the one that awaits us all.
I am leaving this blog to Vern. He is a good man and I know he will keep doing good things with this blog. He will be the publisher now and he will call all the shots. I will have no further involvement in this blog once I finish handing it over to him.
I do plan to keep publishing my New Santa Ana blog, but it is a very different blog. It is a civic blog with lots of news about good things happening in our community. I allowed that blog to become more political this year but that is at an end. If we do cover local politics we will do so with kindness in our hearts.
I wish you could all know the peace I now have in my heart. It is a wonderful feeling after so many months of despair. If you have been troubled and want to know how to leave your problems behind please do contact me, at artpedroza@gmail.com. There is hope indeed.
Again, I apologize to all those that I hurt over the years here at the Orange Juice. I cannot undo those harms. I can only pray that you will find it in your hearts to forgive me and that you too will find the peace that I now have, in service to Jesus Christ, my savior and yours.
“Jesus Christ, my savior and yours”……. Hmmmmm
Finely there is no more political party left for you accept the reborn christian aka Jesus Freak.
FYI, my savior is Satan the true God.
Now, what happened to you Art is a classical case of the “Out-of Body Experience” (“OBD”) and if it would happen during the botch-up suicide it would be called “Near Death Experience” (“NDE”). In both instances your soul leaves your body into one of many dimensions.
Just reflux it is absolutely normal.
“I do plan to keep publishing my New Santa Ana blog”……. Hmmmm
Based on that statement I know that you have not changed and the above is a ploy.
“I am leaving politics altogether”……. Hmmmm
The problem is that you have not take my advise and read, in detail, “The Prince” (Italian: Il Principe) which is a political treatise by the Italian diplomat, historian and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. Do it now.
To comrade sub. Vern, It is time to rename the OJ to Orange Pravda or Orange Izvestia.
Vaya con Dios
Aw, man…
It is good to hear that you are taking a break from “Hubris”. Enjoy your life and family.
And a litle GOD might help too.
Happy Holidays.
Mr. Pedroza who are “we” in your post? .Are you going to embrace “diversity”now?. I hope so!.
he has said this before so its the return of brett farve in a couple months . some one post a anti dream act or post something AGAINST ILLEGEAL IMMIGRATION . he will be back .
This is what God meant you too do now do it and stop feeling sorry for yourself!
Don’t be a big pussy!
We will stand behind you if it get’s too tough! If you have not noticed who needs enemies when you have friends like us!!!!!
All you need to know is that we like YOU as racist as you are you have created a place where racist, idiots and people who love politics can voice their wants, hates and disgust!
Where else would I meet true idiots like Naui, Arellano and all the rest of the Mexican nuts! And I bet they have never quite came across a foe like me either!
And of course not leaving out Stan and TGO!
So take a rest and come back and post your crazy RA RA Mexican posts!
🙂
“And of course not leaving out Stan”……. and of course titillating.
Setting up Nelson as your Editor was a mistake in the first place…giving him all the keys is unconscionable.
I hope that now when comrade sub. Vern has all the keys he will remove all pictures of the obese Tinajero.
april fools?
Chris, first thing I want is more Irvine Reporter posts. We need more good conservative bloggers here.
Are you crazy Vern???? YOU want more conservative bloggers!
Well, please no RINO’S! REAL conservative’s! Someone like me who can actually write!
He said “good” conservatives…you know, as in sane.
… or at least entertaining, like Bushala’s gang!
I saw nothing in his writing that said any thing about GOOD!
Maybe you are seeing something that is not really there! Just like you seem to believe that you are actually teaching kids in Santa Ana!
And usually people who are insane tend to be bad! Just like YOU!
Go back to doing what you were never born to do’ TEACH!
Look at Vern’s post from 6:43pm…
See that word “good” there”
How can you be a blog author if you can’t even read?
The same as you being a teacher, I suppose!
And if you look up the word GOOD! It does not mean sane!
other words you are a good teacher! NOT!
“Good” usually means average, acceptable, but I have a feeling Vern meant it in terms of “strictly adhering to or fulfilling all the principles of a particular cause, religion, or party.”
Well… I purposely used a vague word, good. I would want them to be a good entertaining writer, have a certain degree of honesty, and not be an immigrant- or gay-basher. Aside from that, there are actually several ways to be “conservative.”
What???
Art….I believe you and your readers would enjoy reading “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis. I think it explains much of what you are going through. Keep the Faith and never forget your first love… Blogging. It is what you were born to do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Screwtape_Letters
Not judge Chmielewski harshly? I can’t stomach the fact that Bypass Dan lives in my part of the city (the Northwood area of Irvine). He is the epitome of the terms “partisan hack,” “limo liberal” and “pathetic apologist” (with added emphasis on the word PATHETIC).
Yes, liberals are all love and let live like the old bitch pelosi until you piss them off and then it’s the true N. Pelosi the real old bitch!
Liberals are Pelosi!
Art,
I may be jaded from my years on this earth, but I know the Lord’s power, and I truly hope you are being sincere in your post. My parting piece of wisdom – actions speak louder than words. Best of luck and God bless.
Good luck to you and yours, Art, in whatever you choose to do.
I as always wish you the best. Sometimes we have to step back and reassess where we are going.
Often we have to accept the results of our actions, acceptance is the 1st step of puttung things right with yourself and God.
Your friend always,
Jim Benson
Art, God Bless You and your family. You are a making choices that will be ever life changing but will be rewarding. I too, don’t know what the future holds but we do know WHO holds the future. I will be praying for you. Have you thought about creating a biblical inspirational blog?
Or maybe on based on the Quoran, or maybe the book of Mormon….What about the Bhudda-Darma.
There are THOUSANDS of religious texts out there.
But I have to admit, the Fundemental Christain thing provides some potentially great fodder for continuing the BLOG WAR: A openly GAY AIDS Paitent. being supportted by TAX DOLLARS, A Muslim convert democrat lawyer and a jewish “reporter from New York!
Art, I have seen you post contrite writings before, only to quickly return with your hubris and accusatory style that over-uses words like usual suspects, racist, mexican-hater and other inflammatory labels coupled with a headline style that poses a question which implies someone is guilty of doing something bad. Given that history, I remain skeptical about this post. The real test will be the passage of time and whether it appears you are posting under some other name (such as Admin) or have really departed this blog.
fool me once a home run .. THAT IS SO TRUE .. we will know . if vern puts topics on illegal immigration and we have a anon blogger defending illegals , calling the people that want to enforce the law racist , mexican haters , we will know its him .
*Adversity……hmmm, we are familiar with that. No, Dr. Pedroza – we refurse to accept
your resignation. Keep your beak in….and then slam the door…..every time you get
the chance!
“The loss of one…deminishes us all!” You dear friend may not be irreplaceable….but
you are certainly worth the clicks you have perported over these years….each and every
one!
Just buy a new computer – store the other one in Storage Unit in Costa Mesa
….and you will feel much better in the morning!
rw
Art has a new gig writing the “Ask a Mexican” column for the OC Weakly.
Come on, folks, cut Art some slack. He read Dicken’s Christmas Carol and this is satire…
Why would we judge the people that sued him harshly? How did getting sued have anything to do with him not making his house payments?
It seems to me that turning this “asset” over to another at this time may be somehow related to the lawsuit. Including vague details of actions taken and specific names of individuals who he feels have wronged him, and attempting to lay the blame of his families financial problems at their feet without explanation just seems odd. …. I certainly hope not, and I hope that Art has found some inspiration to lead a better life, but I’m a little skeptical about his rationale if it involves walking away from anything of value shortly before being found liable for causing economic harm to others in the name of our lord.
I truly hope that Art is a better person than I believe him to be. Good luck my man!
Now that you found Jesus, I’m hot for you.
I do hope for your sake you are being truthful; otherwise, it’s blasphemy!
You, along with ROLAND Moxley and your and his surrogates, methodically ruined my and my family’s lives. You brought my innocent and blameless father to dust . . . all for the purpose of using me as political cannon fodder. Mark my words Mr. Pedroza: karma will visit you. Soon. And she will carry the sickle of revenge and indigniation.