On the road to becoming a millionare.....or something!

Right now your probably thinking I have lost it. Why on Earth would I want to become a millionare?? Apart from the obvious reasons to have a ton of money and be able to afford what I want right?? I mean, come on, it's the American Dream. Well, believe it or not...it's to prove a point. A point to me and a point to others. If you look at today's economy, the chances of me doing this is probably non existent. For me, it's not about greed. Yes, the Bible says the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. However, I believe the Bible also says this about money: Matthew 25:13-30
13 “Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. 14 For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work270 and gained five more. 17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. 18 But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it. 19 After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 The one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’ 23 His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered, ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? 27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! 28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. 29 For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
I get the feeling that we are to be good stewards of our money and possessions. I may never make it, but I'm setting it as a goal of mine to do the best with what I have. If I start making money, I plan on helping others get their finances straight. Now, i'm not saying I will pay off their debt for them..but I would help them learn how to save and budget. I believe God calls some to be kings and some to be prophets. I'm not saying i'm a king...but that doesn't mean I have to be poor. Any thoughts on this?

And the rest will follow.....

As I sit here thinking about the upcoming New Year, it's hard to believe 2011 is about to close out. Christmas is about 2 weeks away and i'm not sure what I think about that. This year's Christmas has the possibility to be a good one..but it may not. I've made some changes to my life starting with a budget..and I wish that was going better than it is. Living within your means can be tough..but rewarding. It's always those "uh-oh" moments that get you. My car had to have a $550 repair and I'm still recovering from it. Anyways, things will get better..i've never been so excited about paying off debt. I'm also starting to realize that I'm responsible for most, if not all of my debt. Not the economy, not the bank, not the not having a job for over a year...me. It's that simple. So I've been in alot of thought lately about the future. I wish I know all of the answers..but I don't. One of the things that I've been feeling for quite awhile is that I need to stop for awhile, and just regroup, refocus, and quite simply..reconnect with God. I remember the days of being able to feel God's nudges and leadings. I've been so busy doing..which there's nothing wrong with that. However, there's a time just to stop and sit. I really want to go into the future knowing where my life is heading. I got some ideas and they are big ones. So, as many of you know, I work with the youth at Youth United at Riverside Community Church. I've been doing that for I think over 3 years now. I felt a few weeks ago that one of the things I needed to do was to step back from YU and re-evaluate things. So with that, next wednesday will be the last YU for the year. During the Christmas break I will be praying and seeking direction. I really believe God will show me the way to go. I'm not sure exactly if or when I will be coming back. I just know I need to back away. In the book of Isaiah, it is written: Isaiah 30:21
21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

I have to believe that He will be leading the way, directing my footsteps. I must say, I'm ready for something new. It's been a rough couple of years, and I need some change. So with that...I'm going to seek God.....And the rest will follow......
The Messenjah

Are my best days behind me?

I've been asking myself alot of tough questions lately. The kind of questions that reading a book or quoting a favorite scripture doesn't necessarily answer. This past Sunday at church, Pastor John King challenged the older generation to not give into the mindset that once you reach a certain age and retire, the only thing left to do is die. I've seen people who once they retire, it all goes down hill. Your probably asking yourself...why am I of all people talking about retirement and dying when I'm only 33? That's a really good question.
I've done alot in life already. However, I've recently hit a place that leaves me asking the question...Are my best days behind me? There's alot going on in my life right now. I recently completed all my class work for ISOM(Illinois School of  Ministry), up until the second level. I have an internship still to do as well as all of the interviews and big exam. Now, I know..why would I get this far and start thinking that nothing is going to happen with this? Right now, I feel like I need to be here near my parents to help out with things while my dad is recovering. (Please continue to pray that he does) I do not know how long this will be. It's hard for me to think about moving away with this going on. I feel like I've hit a place where i've done everything I can do where I am at. In order me to do something new, it's going to take me jumping to another level or something.
I'm 33 and i'm not getting any younger. The fountain of youth has not been found and last i checked there's no such thing as reverse aging cream. My point is, all my life, I've had the dream of getting married, having kids, going into ministry, traveling, going on adventures that I know only God could make happen and I feel like that dream is dead or dying. Everytime I try to proceed with my calling, I feel like i take 2 steps back.  I know that ministry is still in my blood. I know this, because I like to dig into the Bible and teach. When I see ministries teaching false and bad doctrine/theology, it makes me boil inside. It's not about me being right, it's more about the church being misrepresented by crazy nut jobs. My heart is for the church. It's for the church to shine and become an agent of change and be all she can be. See, I love the Bible. I want to see it taught right and the truth made known. The word is suppose to be a well spring of life that changes people. My fear is that the church is becoming something that relies more on experiences than Biblical truth. The scary part is that what most people would call real because they "feel" this way or that way, I can get the same feelings from watching the movie "UP." This is heading into another blog I could start to write..so I will head back into where I was going. I don't want to be someone who chases the miraculous and has encounters with the Holy Spirit and feels all tingly inside...but yet doesn't bare the "fruit" of the Holy Spirit. I've heard enough about glory bumps and miracles..If the Holy Spirit isn't changing people into people who display love, joy, peace, self-control, kindness etc..then what's really going on? Wasn't it Paul who said..You can have tongues, PROPHECY, etc..but if not love..hmmm. What was Paul saying?  Anyways, I want to see the real church shine. I guess what I'm saying is, I know what's in me. I know where I've been....but the question is...where am I going? I am wrestling with this. See, I could just throw up a scripture and feel all great...but I'm wrestling with God in all of this. I want to walk away from this knowing that i'm somehow different, somehow at a new place. Jacob wrestled with God and came away with a new name. I'm wrestling and don't intend on looking the same when i'm done. However, I'm not sure what's ahead.