I keep hearing....................

............... " It's a great problem to have! "

As most of my close friends know, I have been working with an new electrical contractor since November 2011. Shortly before they hired me, I finished a six month hiring process with Anheuser Busch. 1000 people applied for the job Anheuser offered me. I was one of 25 out of 1000 applicants hired. For part time.

I officially started Anheuser with an orientation in January 2012. After working on the floor, doing my duty.... for three months, I was asked if I was interested in interviewing for a full time position.

?? WHAT ??

I know guys that have been working part time as a "weekender" for 5-10 years! I mean, the shortest period I've ever known someone to work weekends is 2 years!

"Absolutely, I would love to interview for the position."

PIPE DREAM:  70 applicants. 12 positions. Many applicants have been with Busch for over 2 years.

One week later:

I was offered a full time position. I may have set a plant record for weekender to full time status.

• My salary stands to go up $8 an hour.
• Up to 10 weeks vacation a year
• 16 paid holidays
• Option to work as much or as little overtime as I want
• Union Retirement fund separate from 401K
• Great 401K
• Decent Insurance
• Set schedule
• No travel
• Home everyday with my family
• Many, Many discounts and services as an AB employee

NOW.

My current employer is willing to do "Whatever it takes" to keep me.




TO BE CONTINUED...............................................................................................................................

December Men's Breakfast Devotional

Men’s Breakfast Devotional                  
December 10, 2011

I wanted to do a devotional that was Christmas related. But during my thought and meditation, I couldn’t come up with something that wasn’t too cliche for the season.

Also, around the same time, God has really been leaning on my heart about another topic.

(Discouragement) Can be temporary–or it can destroy our life. The choice is ours. If we refuse to deal with discouragement head-on, we are opening the door for it to completely dominate our life. – Dr. Charles Stanley

I’ve been thinking a lot about things that are going on in my life right now and I must confess. There have been many things that have caused me to feel discouraged. Or at the very least, disappointed

Searching the scriptures, looking for encouragement. Looking for promise that this disappointment I was feeling was temporary.  I came across this passage:

ROMANS
(5:1) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; (4) and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; (5) and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (6)  For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Here’s what I got from this passage:
(v1) - I am justified. I am at peace with God. It’s all through His Son Jesus.
(v2) - I am good. I am in God’s grace, on His ‘good side’. I am to rejoice in His Glory.
(v3) - I am to rejoice when I have problems or issues. Stand strong and keep on going.





(v4) - You’ll find out whats in a sponge as soon as you squeeze it. Character will be revealed in tough times. Also, whether or not you have Hope in your heart. Do you really trust God?
(v5) - Hope only in God does not disappoint. Never.
(v6) - We were still helpless? Of course we are. I am today. I can do nothing without God. Also, Yes, Jesus did die at the right time. God’s appointed time. He died for me.

It helped to remind me: All of life’s events whether tiny or humongous; are all by design. We are not supposed to understand it. Yet, have faith and give the glory to God.

So.
If you haven’t noticed yet, this is very similar to one of the points in this weeks CG reading! If I tried to tell you I planned it this way, I’d be lying. But, to think that these all come together by mistake would be just as wrong!

Bottom line. Regardless of what we do, we should do it as if it were for God directly! He’ll work out the kinks for us. Remember what I said before, YOU NEVER KNOW WHATS IN A SPONGE UNTIL YOU SQUEEZE IT. It could be a test.

Disappointments will come and go, but discouragement is a choice that you make. – Dr. Charles Stanley

Question: How do you cope during times of ‘Disappointment’ or discouragement?

Men's Breakfast November 2011

November 2011 Men's Ministry

This month we had a good time of fellowship and as always, FOOD! I send a special thanks to those who were able to make it. To those who couldn't be there, we missed you and hope to see you next month! 

This month I spoke to the men in regards to the F WORD. Hollywood and the the media has been intent in recent times on saturating our minds and mouths with the F WORD.  Jesus Christ has been intent on saturating our hearts with his F WORD for over 2000 years.

FORGIVENESS.

Forgiveness is found in the bible 18 times in 18 verses. Forgive, 61 times in 54 verses. Webster’s Dictionary defines forgiveness this way: The act of granting relief from payment.

Webster also says - The word forgiveness was first noted around the 12 century.We know Jesus has been teaching about it for 2000 Years!

So what does the bible say about it? Let’s look at, what is forgiveness.....

1) What is forgiveness?

Forgiveness is our decision to accept God's grace to let go of the hurt due to wrong doings committed against us and to express this by acts of mercy and love toward the offender.

2) Are there any sins committed against me which I don't have to forgive?

No. The Lord calls us to forgive all sins — even rape, murder, abuse, adultery, etc. We never have the occasion to forgive others for their character, attitude, or motives. We are not to judge these things.

3) When I forgive, am I condoning sin?

No, the Lord forgives all our sins and condones none of them (see Jn 8:11).

4) Must I forgive if the person offending me isn't sorry?

Yes, for-giveness is before-giveness — to give pardon before asked forgiveness or even if never asked forgiveness.

5) Must I forgive if a person continues to hurt me?

Yes. While hanging on the cross, Jesus forgave His enemies even as they continued to spit at Him and blaspheme Him (see Lk 23:34).

6) How do I forgive?

None of us can forgive by our own power. "To err is human, to forgive divine," and we are not divine. However, the Lord promised us His divine power to forgive. Therefore, forgiveness is our decision to accept God's grace to forgive.

7) What if I don't want to forgive?

We should pray and ask the Lord to change our hearts.

8) What if I don't forgive?

1. We "give the devil a chance to work on" us (see Eph 4:27).

2. We are handed over to the torturers (Mt 18:34). These torturers are such things as fear, loneliness, depression, frustration, anxiety, and self-hatred.

3. We cut ourselves off from receiving forgiveness (Mt 6:12, 15), healing (Sir 28:3), prayer (Mk 11:25), worship (Mt 5:23-24), and Christian community.

4. We lose our appetite for prayer, the Scriptures, the Mass, and Christian fellowship. We become spiritually anorexic.

5. If we persist in unforgiveness, we cut ourselves off from God forever and thereby damn ourselves.

9) How do I know if I have forgiven?

Forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision.

Forgiveness is not only praying for those who have hurt us or treating them better. We know if we have made the decision to forgive when we show it in acts of love and mercy to those who have offended us. For example, the father of the prodigal son threw his arms around his son, kissed him, gave him gifts, honored him, and celebrated his return (Lk 15:20-24). By God's grace, we must go and do likewise. Even if the persons we need to forgive have died, we should give love and mercy to their family members.

Right now, decide to accept God's grace to forgive all who have sinned against you in any way. Say: "By God's grace, I decide to forgive ___ for ___." Fill in the blanks and repeat this statement until you have forgiven everyone who has ever offended you. Then thank Jesus forever for the miracle of forgiveness.

During this months lesson, I used several different websites.... During our fellowship we got into a deep discussion about copyright laws. This in mind, lol. I forget which websites I used, but I did gather alot of information from several. So, there you go!

GOD BLESS

- Ken