Kurtis the Stockboy

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry-out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand, a distant smile caught his eye - the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road.

Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible. He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly, she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday.

That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us." She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed.

Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought. Then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome. Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - he had a different mindset. That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis.

At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with. A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids. So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl?

Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona, where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals, celebrating Sunday's victory and preparing for the Super Bowl. Kurt Warner quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI and has been the NFL's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player. As great as these accomplishments are, the most important thing he has ever done, according to Kurt himself, was to trust in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

When you check out his website, "First Things First" (based on Matthew 6:33), you will find the following testimony... "I was raised in the church, so faith and God were part of my life, but for me it was just kind of there - there on Sundays and when I was going through a tough time. I always had God as a background, but I never truly accepted Jesus until I was about 25 years old. My arena league teammates, a pastor friend of mine, and my future wife were constantly asking questions about my beliefs, and I began to question where I was and whether I had really put my complete faith in God. Their questions led me to the Truth - that faith is about a relationship, and it's about Jesus. Up to that point, I had never really considered that I struggled for so long and so many things went against me. I was swimming upstream. When I finally gave my life over to God - it was then the joy and happiness came into my life. Now, I realize my role here on Earth is not to throw touchdown passes and win football games, although that is the position and the platform that I have been given. I realize my goal is to win as many people to Jesus as possible. I have an open-door policy, where I'm able to talk about what is most important to me, and obviously, God is #1."

Enjoy the Super Bowl this Sunday. Blessings!

Who Are You?

One of my very first jobs was in a Mexican food restaurant as a busboy. I was 14 years old. The owner of the restaurant was a deacon, church treasurer, and song leader. (It was a small church.) He gave me a job, because my dad was the pastor. Abram was larger than life. He was funny and very spiritual at church. He was a great family man and was a successful businessman. I was very impressed by this man, until…

On my first full day at the restaurant, I got to see the other side of the man. He was a total different person. I quickly saw that everyone at the restaurant hated and feared him. He would go off on the employees. He treated the kitchen staff, all here illegally, like dogs. He would work them 7 days a week, 12-14 hours a day.

Whenever someone from the church came in as a patron, he was again the fun-loving, good Christian man. He continued this double personality for a good while. Soon, others in the church slowly started to see the real man. You see, he couldn’t keep up that façade forever.

I was reminded of that man as I spoke with a friend and he had had a boss just like that. It begs to ask the question, “Who are you?” You can come to church and play the part on Sundays, but what are they saying about you at work? That’s where the real you comes out. You will spend 40 to 60 hours a week at work. Did you know that your coworkers know you better than anyone else does?

We are to be the example to the world. We are to continue to be Christ to our coworkers. The apostle Paul tells us, Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans12:1-2.

This means all of us, whether you are just an employee or the boss. The world is watching you and they want to see if you will walk the walk, not just talk the talk. My prayer for you today is you will reflect Christ at work today. Remember you cannot do it on your own. Ask the Holy Spirit for strength and direction. Stay in His Word.

Blessings!

New Year's Resolutions

Well today is January 15, 2009, which means we are half way thru the month. If you are anything like me, I started mentally writing my New Year’s resolutions back around Thanksgiving. On top of my list was to lose weight. That was going to be by eating better and going to the gym five days a week. I also was going to spend more time in Bible study. I was going to do more things around the house on my “honey-do list”.

Can I confess to you? It will do me a lot good. I’ve been to the gym only three times. I am eating less, but not less enough. My Bible study time is very mediocre. I have not accomplished anything on my honey-do list. I do have one thing I want to say, I was out of town all last week.

All that said, if I fell into the trap I have fallen into in the past, I would be very discouraged. That is exactly what Satan wants me to do. He wants me to just give up. He’s wants me to call myself all kinds of names like: failure, loser, inconsiderate, weak, and many other nasty names.

Fortunately, we serve a graceful and merciful God. He accepts us just as we are. If we are honest with ourselves, we will understand that we will always be failures. I don’t have enough space on this blog to list all my shortcomings. That’s exactly why we need a Savior. If you are a Christian, you need a Savior even more.

I know that under my own power, I am, well, powerless.

I need to lean on Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit that much more. Even the spiritual giant, the Apostle Paul, said, “I know that my selfish desires won't let me do anything that is good. Even when I want to do right, I cannot. Instead of doing what I know is right, I do wrong. And so, if I don't do what I know is right, I am no longer the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them. (Romans 7:18-20)

Again, I want to emphasis to you that we are not in this Christian journey alone. We need all types of help. We need to ask for strength from the Holy Spirit and we need to ask others that are close to us, to keep us accountable.

I promise I will start going to the gym, eating better, spend more time in Bible study, and work on my honey-do list- Tomorrow.

Blessings!