So according to my W-2, I made over 1.7M last year. This was definitely a triple take. Double take, but you do it three times.
If you have been called to make money that you can contribute to the needs of others, then do it to the glory of God. Only remember, as Paul writes in verse 8, to “give generously.” (2 Corinthians 8:1-5)
Happy New Year!
I was back in New Jersey for the weekend to spend time with my parents and celebrate the New Year. Saturday, I rode up to Flushing Queens, NYC to visit my aunt and cousin. Isabel, daughter of 2nd cousin Sean and Pauline is now 3 months old. She is genuinely cute and adorable. They recently moved to a studio in Manhattan and started a lease on a new BMW X3. I was extended an open invitation to visit or crash if I were in the area.
It is typical that while we are in Queens, we do all the grocery shopping needed for the next three months. Saturday, was no exception. It was in fact one the busiest grocery shopping days of the year being Chinese New Year’s eve. Dinner was another adventure. After walking down a back-alley of Queens, we turn into this market place closed off by a plastic strip door, typical of a walk-in freezer. Several small food stands along the left. My mother, who is full of life when it comes to food, started procuring dinner. We left this back-alley eatery with one-of-everything. Beef noodle soup, meats, pastries, and dumplings was subsistence for the evening.
Pray for a Stranger
On my way back home, I stumbled across a raggedy notebook that was discarded on our lawn. Judging by its content, it appeared to be a US History notebook of a male student possibly at the elementary school or high school in the area.
The first page reads.
I have a strong sense of individuality sitting here. That’s putting it politely. I sit alone in a crowded death bed of rotten souls, twenty-somethings wandering, searching for some clarity. We’re all seeking for answers to our biggest questions. Where will I go next? How will I get there? Will I be successful? Will I ever meet someone? Do they even notice? Everyday I return to this dark place. It consumes me until I resist its grips. Pulling me deeper into my corrupted mind.
The writing in this notebook is so reminiscent of the many struggles that I experienced while growing up. I can’t tell from the writings if the author knows Christ, but we can pray for God to work in his life and that he may be filled with the Holy Spirit.
\\WorldView
I was lucky enough to attend the Urbana 2006 missions conference in St Louis over winter break. This five day conference, held at the Edward Jones Dome and numerous hotels in the vicinity, drew over 22,000 people from 144 countries. These five days of intense Bible studies, seminars, and worship service focused on the global mission to serve the poor, fight poverty, and provide in the service of the kingdom. Empowered by the global vision of the Body of Christ, Urbana has challenged my perceptions of this world and brought about an awareness of the reality of global missions through the lens of Christ. Challenged to live life worthy of the calling, and to be true to my identity in Christ. There is so much to process and reflect on. It’s hard to summarize the events and information from this conference.
Put simply, Urbana 06 was really like “drinking water out of the fire hydrant” . . .
www.urbana.org
Ski Trip to Windham kinda sucked. Global warming to blame. However I did get a lot of Urbana reading done.
Dinner at “The Continental – Mid-Town” (www.continentalmidtown.com) with Kelly. Watching Candy Castles on The Food Channel. Enjoyable evening
The words we speak show our character and our spirituality. We are as spiritual as what comes out of our lips. No one can tame the tongue. Not even ourselves as it rests behind teeth, walled in by the mouth.
God has this mysteries ability to speak directly to me, and lately it has been happening often. He tells me exactly what I need to hear, exactly where my mind is at that precise moment. I find his message clear and personal and applicable.
I’ve caught myself relying on myself instead of God. Lead me forward, Father God, into spiritual growth and deeper wisdom. I trust in you and give up everything to be your disciple.
Two Fridays ago (8-04-2006), I went up to York to meet up with Hizzle Vizzle and Dizzle for a concert down in Virginia. “Play! Video Game Symphony” (http://www.play-symphony.com/home.php) Over 6,000 people from the DC area showed up to enjoying pieces from various games: Final Fantasy, Silent Hill, Battlefield 1942, Metal Gear Solid, World of Warcraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and Mario. Ate at an amazing pub/brewery called Sweetwater Tavern in Centreville, Virginia. Great atmosphere. Got back to York at 2am so I just crashed at Dan’s place.
Drove back to NJ from York Saturday(8-05-2006). Dropped off Amir’s computer which I had since last week. Met up with Ted, Wong, and AMIR later in the evening for “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”. I really didn’t have high hopes going into this movie, but I was pleasantly surprised by the hilarity that ensued. Church and lunch with CCNJ.
New Toys
I’ve finally picked up a Garmin StreetPilot c340 GPS Navi for my dad. He needed it more than I did. I’m probably going to get the c510 or c550 once I pay off my bills this month. I’m finally able to justify investing in a SUN workstation for myself for learning purposes. Got an amazing deal on Ebay for a SUN 1000 Workstation. 2GB Ram, 2x 900Mhz SPARC CPU’s, 2x 36GB Fibre Channel drives All for just under $500. One of the parts I bought separately shipped from Israel.
I feel I’ve reached a new milestone as we congratulate newlyweds Greg and Hoda, friend from high school. Saw Caroline for a brief few days, ate at Congee Village Restaurant & Bar (100 Allen Street New York, New York) before sending her off to Boston. Saw The Omen, or as I like to call it, Final Destination meets The Da Vinci Code.
Spent last weekend chilling in York. Had lunch with Yeli Friday evening. Went over to TJ’s for a few drinks for Stewart’s house warming party. Headed over to Wyatt’s to visit his humble abode and finished the evening at Round the Clock Diner with Dan and Hien. Saturday I chilled at Luong’s store. Grabbed lunch with Carlos and Kenndra @ PB. Met up with Linh and her Gangsta Lancaster home-boys. They were pathetic. First they made me wait at the WaWa’s in Lancaster for over an hour. Then they changed their plans up and decided not to go to Club Shampoo, which I’d been looking forward to all week. So, I ended up going myself.. feeling bummed, but had an amazing time. Nearly deaf the following day at church, which made fellowship considerably more challenging.
Went up to UP to visit Nicolas and Chris for July 4th. Got back home around 5:30am and decided to go strait to work so I could leave early and catch up on sleep. This dude was parked at the gas station when I stopped for some water around 4:30am. His lights were on, engine was running. Wasn’t sure if he was breathing
My growing concern over Lisa, an acquaintance from York who is known to be in an abusive relationship with said boyfriend, has been keeping me up at night. I called her cell phone up last week and bf picks up. He asks who was calling and asks me to hold-on. He then precedes to pickup another phone and waits for it to time-out until you get the busy signal. He places her cell phone up to the ear piece as to simulate a dropped call. Not very well executed. So I call her back a few hours later and it rings to her voicemail which is completely full. Close friend of Lisa says she won’t return her calls. I can only hope she’s alright….
Here’s a snap shot of my unleaded petroleum spending over the past 3 years.
May 2006 – $219.35
June 2006 – $230.53
May 2005 – $131.50
June 2005 – $138.00
May 2004 – $69.50
June 2004 – $85.50
Time to get one of those cars that runs on spent frying oil from fast food restaurants.
In 2001, British Petroleum underwent a public relations makeover. Now they say BP stands for Beyond Petroleum. They have also taken major steps in Hydrogen fuel cell technology in the public transportation sector. Exxon? nothing..
