Kickin' Chick-Fil-A Style

I am chillin' at the Chick-Fil-A I work at, and I am suffering the Net due the fact that the Hidden Vally Pwy. store has Free Wif-Fi. Yes I said Free I am so happy, come by and eat some good ol' Chick-Fil-A and surf the web.

It is a Saturday late morning and I am asking myself what is the next big adventure to come. This time of the year I am a bit more melancholy about life, for I reflect on what has taken place and start to look into the darkness of the unknown called 'future'. I am uncertain what 2008 is going to look like, I am not in school at the moment so that constant is not there, I am writng, but really going nowhere. So what am I going to do? Seems that we all have decisions to make, but some ones are not all that fun making. Wouldn't it be rad if we has a Ice Cream Truck that came by our homes that not only sold ice cream and good treats but also had options of what to do next and you buy one for a dollar try it out for a week if ti did not work or suit you you could buy another one from that Ice Cream Truck the next week. Child's thinking, I know, but it would be fun.

The eluding answers for me are employment at a place where I can really grow and be challenged, where will I be living in Cali or somewhere else, and the kicker of all where will I be going for Seminary. To be honest living in Cali is getting to expensive for this low-income person can handle. I know we are to place our trust in God in regards to our provision, but in other places like the Proverbs it says we ought to be about be productive and not be slothful in our daily living. So a question arises where is the balance?

Any who-ti-hoot, I am grateful for a year of great triumphs, one being graduating a 7 year plan of College. Whoot -whoot!!!!! I am the second in my family to have a Bachelors, and the only one of my siblings to have one. So that is a feat in of itself, it only took me until I was 31 to achieve such a goal. I am gaining more control over my lust issues, and why I fall prey to them. My faith in God has grown more this year, maybe not grown but has gotten stronger than in previous years. There has been a lot of good this past year and a bit of not so good moments. All in all I am excited to see what 2008 will bring. If I could make a wish list of things to happen here it is...

1. Have a deeper relation with God through a contemplative life


2. Meet my wife to be and court her


3. Get a job that pays at least $50,000 a yr. (something I will enjoy doing)


4. Get ahead in my finances


5. Go to seminary (hopefully Talbot)


6. Travel more


7. Spend more intentional time with friends and family


8. Explore how to run a coffee business


9. Lose more weight, hopefully get under 200 lbs in 08'


10. Go to more Angels Baseball games


11. Be open for other adventures that come my way

This is what I hope for in 08', maybe you all will be apart of the life with Uncle Mikey....

Are we really so Despondent

I wish this post was one of great insight into how God is molded His Church to be the light unto a dark world, but this is not one of those kind of posts. My heart was troubled last night towards the end of accountability group I am apart of. What perplexed my soul is the apathy towards the Narrative of Jesus' birth into this fallen world. I really do not care on what side on the many lines that have been drawn in the sand of this issue, the birth of Jesus has awoken many discussions that are to numerous to count.
Jesus' birth is of a miraculous conception, and a story of redemption in of itself, pre-crucifixion. Meaning that those within this narrative of Jesus' birth experience trials of disbelief and encounter God's redemptive love. As many follower's of Christ would say that nothing would stop God's plan, I agree, but just think of the stubbornness of Zacharias and the disbelief of Joesph. One did not think God would allow his wife to become pregnant due to her age, one thought to divorce his wife to be in secret. But both men found redemption in their disbelief from holding onto a slight faith that God was going to allow these two babies to be born, one being John the Baptist, the other being Jesus.
I have shared a brief snapshot insight to the narrative story of Jesus' birth, but in today's Church there is apathy towards this magnificent narrative of God's love for his children. Why is this so? Is it that the Church has bought into the consumerism lie of this pretentious holiday? Or is it that the Church has lost the excitement of the waiting for the Messiah to be born? What has caused our young men and women to not care to hear this story again?
You might think it is because they are young and have no sense of tradition? Yeah, I could see that point, but I will raise the level to say it is not that there are not interesting in hearing it, maybe we have been telling the narrative in a way that has aided them to grow despondent to this wonderful narrative. I be one of them for many years. I always look forward to the death and Resurrection more than Christmas, for the sear fact that people were a bit more genuine in their worship of receiving something they did not deserve. Man what would it be like if we treated the birth of Christ in the same manner, and try to utter the words of Simeon, "for my eyes have seen your salvation" (Luke 2:30) And praise God with the same intense vigor as we do with His death and resurrection.
This narrative is the beginning of the virtuous life of our Lord and Savior. WOW!!! I am excited to celebrate Jesus' birth, I am in anticipation for that star to shine brightly, to place myself in the shoes (or sandals) of the Sheppard's, the wise man, even the livestock, or the donkey that carried Mary to Bethlehem. Let us live in a triumphant state for our hope and faith rests in the birth of Jesus.