Time Stewardship

This is me...15 billion years ago!

(pic taken at the San Diego Zoo)

A Nugget of Truth:
So often, at least I know in my life, I get so caught up in MY life and what I want to do. I get so involved with daily living that I forget the reason why I am here on earth. The Scripture reminds us that we need to be careful during our days to not forget how we are to live our life. There is so much to do here on earth for the LORD and we don't have time to waste the time on ourselves. Don't get me wrong, we still need to follow through with our daily responsibilities; however, we need to be mindful of the time that we have and we need to be good stewards of that time. The days are evil; make the best use of your time! (Eph. 5: 15-17)

Like Little Kids

A Nugget of Truth:

Some kids are so cool. This past week I again had the opportunity to meet a lot of different kids from different backgrounds at Chick-fil-A. I love how little kids look up to those they admire (whether it would be a pastor, teacher, brother, or father). The strongest relationship a young child should have is between him and his father. Kids often imitate what their father does, and some of those characteristics will be with the kid for the rest of his life. Eph. 5:1 tells us to be imitators of God, just like children. We are to "look up to" our heavenly Dad, and we should want to do what he does. Some kids will say, "My dad can do anything, and I want to be like him." As a Christian, my attitude should be, "My Dad can do anything, and I want to be like Him."

Happenings:
The past few days have been hectic...but fun. This past weekend, the orange county team, and my team went out for one of the member’s birthdays to Maggiano's (Italian Restaurant). The food was great; the food was probably the best food I have eaten, (besides my grama's lasagna). Things that are normally the best have a high price associated with them. There were 15 of us that night and our bill came to $641! The way it was set up, everyone had to pay the same amount. My bill after tax and tip was $47. That is a little bit much for me. But it was again, VERY GOOD!!

On Monday, my team (San Diego Team) took the Orange County team to the San Diego Zoo. I'm not much of a zoo guy, but it was pretty cool. My favorite animal there was probably the monkey. I thought it was cool to see the giraffes, elephants, and the tigers too. Later on in the evening, both of the teams went to one of the San Diego beaches. It was pretty cool there. We had a cook out and played some volleyball, and frisbee. The sunset was awesome to say the least (Picture to the top right). Once again, too see more of my pics, go to http://mbbc.facebook.com/photos.php?id=161300239&l=49a32 .

A Nugget of Truth:
Clamor??? Does anyone use this word in their conversational English? I was a little confused at first. From what I understand, “clamor” is like yelling or crying. In the context of this verse it seems that yes, one needs to put off anger and wrath but also the yelling that normally goes along with it. Everyone has been in situations where there is a lot of tension because someone in the room is angry and there had been some yelling. Next time you might be in that situation, tell the person to stop clamoring!

Happenings:
The past few days have been pretty crazy. The highlight of the week so far was today when me and my team went to West Coast Customs (from the show “Pimp My Ride”). Chick-fil-A catered lunch for them and they gave everyone a tour of the shop. To see the pics, go to... http://mbbc.facebook.com/photos.php?id=161300239&l=49a32 .

Anger and Wrath

A Nugget of Truth:
Put Away wrath and anger! Is wrath and anger the same thing? According to Microsoft Word’s dictionary, “wrath” can mean “the vengeance, punishment, or destruction wreaked by somebody in anger.” Obviously it is ok to be angry at some things…like sin (Jesus Christ was angry when he saw the money changers in the Church, and God shows His wrath on the punishment for sin). But put away anger. I know for me this is difficult to do especially if one offends me. I want to do everything I can to make that person’s day miserable and make him/her pay for whatever it may be. But that’s not right! Put what has happened behind you. I think that the book of Proverbs tells us to pray for our enemies. If you pray for your enemies, how can you be angry at them?

Praise of the Day:
Over the past few years I have been praying for this one girl--that she would know Christ in a personal way. This past summer, I had the privilege to have a bible study with this one girl. Toward the end of the Bible study she told me she knew Christ and was saved from sin and hell, but I was not sure if she was just saying that or if it really came to a realization of her sin and a need for a Savior. I gave her a book called Changing into His Image by Jim Berge. I talk to this girl again the other day and she was revved up because she was learning so much on how to live like Christ and how to please Him. You could tell by the reflection in her voice that she truly wanted to forsake her own will and lifestyle and follow her Savior. How AWESOME is that. The Lord is alive and well.

Happenings:
Yesterday was a busy day, but it was a lot of fun as well. My team catered a 250+ business in the area for breakfast and lunch and in the evening we sold food before a high school graduation. We sold a lot of food to say the least, but it was a lot of fun! The major flaw of the event was that I think it was poorly planned and organized, but overall I think the team did an outstanding job.

This is me at S. Truett Cathy's desk in Atlanta, GA.

Bitterness

A Nugget of Truth:
Bitterness=angry and resentful. Resentful=aggrieved and ill-used. The first part of Ephesians 4:31 tells us to put away are bitterness. I know that when I am bitter against something or someone, my life if miserable when I think about the situation. One can not be like Christ and still be angry and resentful. Put off your bitterness. Talk to God about it. Since He does not want you to have it, He will find a way for you to get rid of it :).

Happenings:
Tuesday was the first day that my team and I worked in a Chick-fil-A unit. Tuesday was a blast!! In the evening be had a kids/family night. We had 2 cows during the event, face paintings, and I made balloon animals!! When the event took off I would ask the child, "What color balloon would you like?" then I would ask, "What would you like me to make?" Both questions are bad ones to ask children. I would here request for me to make a whale, dolphin, turtle, cow, rainbow, car, and one girl asked me to make a balloon look like her mommy--none of which I can make...or for that matter would want to make. Then some kids wanted colors that I did not have like black..."I want a black dolphin!!" So I quickly changed my strategy. I realized that swords and dogs were the easiest things to make, so I would pull a balloon out of my pocket (lets say its red), and say to the little boy, "Do you want me to make you a big red sword, it will be so kool!?!?!" The kid loved it and it was easy for me, it also made the line go quicker because they did not need to think about what they wanted to get. Above is a picture of some of the kids and their awesome swords trying to beet up the cow :)

About 1 1/2 hours into the family night I had an opportunity to look up away from the balloons I was working on and I saw a mad house! Every chair was taken, kids screaming, and employees working hard to serve the guest quickly. The whole night was awesome and I am proud of the operator of the store as well as his employees for making the night running smoothly. I also think my team did a great job that night as well!
The picture above is my team leader (Sean) standing next to a team member (Audrey) with our two awesome cows of the night. Sean and Audrey were dressed that way because the whole team was doing a 50's night.

Corrupt Communication

A Nugget of Truth:
Today's nugget of truth is based on Ephesians 4:29. Like previous post, it is very elementary. As Christians we are instructed to have NO corrupt communication. As I'm sitting here I am thinking to myself how basic and simple of a command that is. I am also thinking to myself how often I will be talking to a group of my friends and my conversation with them turns corrupt. It is vitally important that Christians don't forget the importance of keeping their communication clean and remembering to edify other believers to give them grace. Edifying others can be a form of you giving someone grace.

This is from the extensive training that me and my team went under last week. This is my team at the corporate office in California. We were learning how to create balloon animals from a professional...A professional clown, no joke...A clown.

Today was a day at the beech. It was the first sunny day since I have been in S. California. I was amazed by how much fun me and some of my friends could have ridding the waves. I have been to the ocean before, but I have not been where there had been waves like today. The waves would literally through me about 30 yards--it was awesome!

Here are some pics

How would you like to drink this? You are asking yourself right now, "What is that?" My friend, it is my pleasure to inform you that it is 100% pure Wheat Grass Liquid. Basically I paid someone $1.50 to grind up some grass, squeeze the liquid out of it, and put it in a cup. You now ask yourself, "Why?" and I answer, "Because everyone else was!"

This is 9 of the people that are either a part of my team or the Las Angeles team.

Here is how the liquid was produced!

The lady behind the counter would literally cut the grass, and then put it in a machine that would grind it and squeeze the juice out. I must say that it was an experience.

OK, Fine...I'll create one

After many months of being pressured by family and friends to create a blog, I have decided that now is the time to start. This blog is set up to keep in communciation with family and friends. I do plan to put some "nuggets of truth" into most of my blogs; however, I would like to put a disclaimer on my posts which contain biblical truth. I will do my best to interpret the scriptures currectly; however, if you read something that is interpreted incorrectly, don't be all upset; instead, you may kindly send me a friendly email explaining my incorrect interpretation. Also remeber, I will try to keep the nuggets of truth to be "nuggets" of truth, meaning the truth will not be theologically deep, but rather elementary.

I started to record different happening that have occured withing the past few weeks so when I accually set up my blog I would have a "wealth" of information for all 2 or 3 of my readers.

6-3-06
A Nugget of Truth-
Ephesians 4:1- The fact that we are to walk worthy of the calling that God has given us is a truth, but the later part of the verse said that we are to do it HUMBLY (as well as some other things). The point I would like to make is that Paul did not want the church to get “puffed up” because they have a great calling from God, but to understand they have a great calling and at the same time to be humble about it.

Happenings-
Right now I am in Atlanta, GA working for Chick-fil-A. Today there was a ropes and challenge course that mine and other CFA teams went to. It was an ok time. The 3 things that I learn was 1) the importance of integrity in the workplace even if it causes consequences, 2) The importance of learning from your mistakes (i.e. Tomas Edison, and S. T. Cathy), 3) Exploratory Communication


6-5-06
A Nugget of Truth-
Ephesians 4:17-ff- It is clear in this passage that when one accepts Jesus Christ in his/her life, then there should be a change. The Scripture says there is to be a “New Man.” The Scripture is also very clear that in verse 25 of that chapter that a fellow Christian should approach a believer in love if the believer does not live like a “new man” should.

Happenings-
Yesterday was Sunday and it was the first time I attending a contemporary church on a Sunday. The worship time was obvious very different from what I used too and the worship time seemed to be more of a “production” then a “worship service.” I think the people in the congregation are sincere in their worship, but it seems to me that most of them were not singing along with the band, and it just seems to me that the music at the church I attend in Wisconsin [www.brooksidebaptist.org], is much more spirit filled because the people are genuinely singing their heart out to God. However, I must say that the preaching was exceptionally good. The message was based out of the book of Luke where Peter was learning to trust Jesus in his daily living by casting the nets out into the sea during the day time. The message was geared toward Christians and there was an encouraging word to those that have not accepted Christ to do so; however, there WAS NOT a clear presentation of the Gospel during the service.

During the afternoon, I had the privilege to go to Bubba Cathy’s house (Truett’s son’s house) (Truett is the founder of Chick-fil-A). The house was beautiful, and it seems like the house where God is recognized. I did not have the opportunity to meet the family at the house, but while I was there, I saw many bible verses throughout the house. This was a great encouragement to me.

Today was another day at the Corporate Office at CFA (Chick-fil-A). There was a lot of marketing training. I had the privilege to meet the founder of CFA, S. Truett Cathy. Later on in the evening we went to an Atlanta Braves game (Braves Lost). It was tons of fun hanging out with the California teams.

06-06-06
A Nugget of Truth
For the last few years I have had an increase desire to help those who are in need, but sometimes my own desires get in the way and I care more about myself and my needs and wants then others. While I believe it is not unbiblical to think of ones needs or family needs, I think based on Ephesians 4: 28, that every believer has an obligation to help those in need if they have the opportunity to do so. If you do not have the extra income in your budget right now to help others, create an opportunity to help others by cutting out some of your own wants and desires out of your financial budget to give that little extra.

Happenings
Today was another day of training. I was very tired but I had the opportunity to learn a lot about spirit nights, family nights, kids nights, and extreme makeover dinner style at Chick-fil-A. The day was also very motivational. Like I said earlier, I was tired from the start today; however, by the end of the day, I was revved up about serving the Chick-fil-A California Operators this summer and my team is looking forward to the experience as well. Later on in the evening both of the CA teams went out for a nice dinner. It was a good time of fellowship. One thing that I like about this group of teammates is that they all claim to be believers. I always consider it a privilege to talk to other believers about the greatness of God, and how God is at work in my life as well as others. I know that it is an encouragement to me when I hear others talk about their relationship with God, and I hope that I am a blessing to others as well.