Andrew Bennett Jr. Resume

Andrew Bennett Jr.
1109 E. Shelburne Dr.
(309) 824-0565
bennettjrandrew@gmail.com

Distinguished professional with 8+ years’ experience in Human Services, providing thorough and compassionate support for individuals and families. An exceptional ability to build positive relationships and communicate with individuals of varying backgrounds. With an extensive background in leadership, counseling, conflict resolution, and crisis management. Aiming to use my skills to help achieve your organizations initiatives.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Project Oz
Youth Interventionist at NCHS                 August 2015 – Present

· Provides case management for at-risk-youth ages 14-19

· Developed programs to improve student attendance and social/emotional skills
· Supported administration in accomplishing intervention initiatives
· Identified, obtained and connect students/families to a variety of resources and services
· Assist students with job placement by providing a list of employer’s currently hiring and contacting employments sites on the students’ behalf.
· Prepared students for interviews and summer internships by assisting with resume preparations and mock interviews.

Project Oz
Homeless Youth Specialist                        August 2014 – August 2015

• Managed and monitored agencies homeless youth shelter program for youth ages 18-23.
• Provided 24hr Crisis Intervention services for runaway, locked out and homeless youth.
• Collaborate and coordinate with local shelters and service providers
• Assess program participants & assisted in developing educational, vocational, and housing plans
• Participated in several street outreach activities at tent cities, homeless shelters and areas where the homeless population are known to frequent.
• Surpassed State and Federal grant requirements for newly formed shelter program.

Project Oz
Youth Interventionist at PJHS                August 2012 – Augusts 2015
· Counsel students to social, emotional, and academic goals
· Function as liaison and advocate between school leadership, students and their families
· Developed after school mentoring program for at-risk boys in the 6th and 7th grade
· Created after school tutoring program that partnered with local University to assist students with low achievement
· Conducted home & office visits to increase parental involvement
· Worked with Administrative team to function as a liaison between students, families, faculty and staff

City Of Refuge Church

Assistant Pastor                                      August 2003 – Present
· Oversee Worship and Arts ministry, Marriage ministry and Men’s ministry
· Recruited and trained ministry teams to carry out the vision of the ministry
· Developed positive relationships to promote a positive and productive work environment
· Chairman of the Administrative Board responsible for overseeing church fundraisers, special programming and general activities
· Responsible for developing, analyzing and evaluating multiple programs and ministries
· Assist the organizing, and promotion of concerts and conferences, and other special events

McLean County Court Services
Adult Probation Officer                          November 2002 – October 2004
· Provide case management for adults sentenced to a term of probation
· Assist Judge/States Attorneys Office monitoring cases and testifying in court
· Conduct routine home visits and administered mandatory drug screens
· Complete pre-sentence investigation reports
· Responsible for arresting probationers who violated terms of probation Maintained confidential files and records 

EDUCATION
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY                Normal, IL
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Additional Skills
· Conflict Resolution and Mediation
· Problem Solving
· Leadership Experience
· Marriage and Family Counseling experience
· Ability to Build & Maintain Positive Relationships
· Effective Listener
· Experienced in Public Speaking/Presentations
· Ability to Make Sound Judgment on Sensitive Matters
· Excellent Verbal and Written Communication
· Positive Attitude
· Trained in Motivational Interviewing
· Trained in Reality Therapy Choice Theory

 

Afraid? Just Listen!!!

A few months ago, my wife and I took our three children and our two nieces to the park. At some point we all gathered around the swings.  There was only four swings total, two toddler and two regular.  So there we were four kids swinging away, everybody but Levi, my 7 year old.  He was at a good distance away from the swings. 

At some point he called out, "I want a turn on the swings. Let me try." I could since fear in his voice.  Not only did I since it in his voice but I knew what he was feeling.  He's my son and I've been there, right at the place where he found himself.  As a kid I was afraid of everything. I was not a thrill seeker. And so there he was afraid, trying to muster up enough courage to face it.

Now he's on the swings and as I begin to pull him back to start the swinging motion he calls out to me, "Not to high dad."  My response to him is "son, I'm not going to do anything to hurt you or allow you to be hurt." He says okay, all while digging his feet into the ground.  Finally I get one good push in but every time he came back down he dug his feet in the ground.  He was not going.

I was getting frustrated now.  I yelled out, "Levi keep your feet off the ground." He's telling me "I'm not," all the while digging his feet into the ground stopping the momentum.  I guess my frustration came from the fact that I knew the only thing that was stopping him from going higher, from experiencing what he really wanted to experience was fear.   He was preventing himself.

At some point I just told him to get up.  As I walked out of the park I said to myself, "all he had to do was listen." I realized that even though he was afraid he could have still overcame if he would have just listened to my voice and direction in the face of fear. Then it hit me, what's one of the best things you can do when you're afraid.  The answer: listen to directions.

Are you afraid? What do you fear? What is keeping you grounded, keeping your feet digging into the ground? What is stopping you from going higher and gaining momentum? Here's my last question, are you listening? Are you following the directions of your Father?

When afraid, just listen. Listen for His voice.  Listen for His direction. Listen and you'll overcome your fear.  Listen, and you'll go higher. Listen and you'll gain momentum. Listen and that swing set won't be able to stop you.

Afraid??? Just Listen!!!!

REASONS I NEVER LEFT THE CHURCH! Pt. 2

     I remember talking to a young man about the subject of church attendance a while back.  We were discussing the importance and value of coming to church.  That day I made this statement to him, "coming to church does not save you but by all means saved people go to church." I stand by that statement today.  One of the greatest blessings and benefits that we have as people of God is the fellowship of His saints.

     When the saints gather together we find ourselves encouraged, refueled, infused with power, edified, and sometimes corrected and rebuked. When the people of God gather together to honor Him, to worship Him, to give to Him and to hear from him there is no doubt that Jesus joins us.  He is always in the midst of His people.  I have lived this truth over and over my entire life. Consider for a moment Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

     It only takes an elementary understanding to realize that there are certain things in life that simply require a group of people. Briefly lets look at it from a secular perspective. What would a concert, or sporting event, or birthday party be without the gathering of people.  It is undoubtably true that in certain cases the gathering of people creates an atmosphere that causes things to happen that otherwise would not have happened without the group. So as a result it is a desirable thing for most to go to a game, or a concert, or a party. Why? Because it is in these places that they are temporarily able to be entertained, enjoy themselves, forget their issues, release their stress and frustrations.

      So why do people go to church? Saved people go to church to meet God, to seek God, to hear from God, to receive from God, to offer to God, to praise and give thanks to God, to be strengthened, to be healed, to be restored, and among other things, to be obedient to God.  When we faithfully attend and serve in the church we walk in order and when we don't we walk in disobedience. Remember Hebrews 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling (gathering together) of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.

     Church attendance was never optional, not for the early church and not for the church of today.  I understand that there are many churches, pastors, prophets, bishops and such like who are not authentic or God ordained and that blur the lines of the true Church of God.  That reality, however, does not negate the fact that church was established by God through Jesus Christ. Remember just solely going to church doesn't make you saved but by all means saved people go to church.

REASONS I NEVER LEFT THE CHURCH! Pt. 1

Over the past few months I have ran across several articles, blogs, live videos, youtube videos, FB and twitter post where the writer is expressing the reasons why they left the church. Throughout the various post there were some similarities and a few differences.  Most of it centered around church hurt, or church grievances, at times church doctrine or ideology.  However in my observations the message that was told could all be summarized by saying that in someway, shape, or form the church did not meet their expectations.  Ironically many of these individuals while disengaging from the church still maintained that they were spiritually connected to God.
As I sat and read through, or listened to the conversation of these individuals I grew somewhat frustrated with this claim.  I begin to wonder within myself is there ever a good reason to leave the church; and perhaps even more significant is it even possible to be disconnected from the church and still be connected to God.   Really think about it, if you really have a good understanding of who and what the church is, why would you ever leave it. To the contrary, I was able to find several reasons that I, a professing Christian, could never leave the church.
I'll share a few of them with you.

1. The church is established by Christ - The church is not a man made organization that is full of tradition and man made rules and procedures. The church is not COGIC, Apostolic, AME, Baptist, and any other organization that can be listed. The real Church is the organization that Christ established.  Jesus tells Peter in Matthew 16:18".....thou are Peter and upon this rock I will build MY Church. Acts 20:28 tells us that "....the Church of God was purchased with his own blood. And finally Ephesians 5:25 lets us know that Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it.  The reality is that the church was both established an purchased by God through Christ.  Those of us who are a part of the church, who are "the called out," we are literally the property of Christ.  The Bible speaks to us being the body of Christ (Col. 1:24, Eph. 1:22-23, Eph. 5:30, 1 Cor. 12:27).  How is it then that we could even think it's possible that you can leave the church and still be in Christ when the only way to be connected to Christ is through his church which is his body.  It can't be done.

2. The gates of hell shall not prevail -  In Matthew 16:18 it also says that "the gates of hell shall not prevail." against the church.  When we are in, or a part of His church we are kept, we are protected we are safe in him.  Just like the good husband that protects and loves, and cherishes his wife this is the approach that Christ will take with his church.  This example is also given in Ephesians 5:29, concerning Christ and his church.  When you leave the Church you leave the protection afforded to His church.  There is safety in the church. God has given the church the victory of hell.  Why would you leave a place of safety and a place of victory when you know that the only thing outside of it is death and destruction and defeat.

3. The Church is the house of God -  We've all probably heard the phrase that says, "The church is not a building, we are the church." Well that sounds really good but it's only partially true.  In actuality the church is the building where the saints of God gather and come together to seek him, to praise & worship him, & to hear from him.  When Paul is teaching on the order of speaking in tongues in the church he is not speaking to a theoretical or symbolic body.  He is literally speaking to the gathering of worshipers in a place of worship (a building).  See 1 Cor. 14:19, 23.  1 Timothy 3:15 says, "But if I tarry long that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."(see 1 Tim. 3:5) How much more clear can the Word of God be.  The church of the living God is the house of God. The place where the people of God come to learn of him and worship him.  When you leave the house of God you become a runaway. How? When a child leaves the house of their parents without permission they become a runaway.

4. The Church is the pillar and ground of truth - In John 8:32 Jesus told the Jews who believed in him, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." True freedom is derived from the liberation of the truth. Isn't it fitting that God has chosen his church, which is the house of God, to be the pillar and ground of this liberating truth.  The church holds within it's hands the foundation of the truth and it is that that maintains, affirms and supports the truth.  How can you have the truth when you abandon the place, the establishment where truth resides, the church.

So what is the truth. The truth is that it's not okay to leave the church and claim to be godly, connected, christian, or anything of that nature.  The church was established by Christ for his body and his body for the church.  Separating the two is not Biblical and it's not true, it's a lie.

Disclaimer:
There may be some very valid reasons why an individual chooses to leave a particular church. The purpose of this post is not to condemn leaving a church.  I will readily admit that there are several churches, pastors, ministries, organization who neither uphold the truth of God's word nor practice it.  However it is of utmost importance that we give due diligence to finding a house of God that does.  Depending on location that may be difficult but it's not impossible. So in conclusion you may very well need to leave "a" church but don't ever make the decision to leave "the" church. "In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths."

YOU DIRTY DOG! YOU ROTTEN PIG!

ANYBODY CLOSE TO ME OR MY FAMILY WOULD KNOW THAT WE HAD A GERMAN SHEPHERD NAMED REV. REV WAS VERY SWEET TO HIS FAMILY EVEN HARMLESS BUT ALSO VERY PROTECTIVE. WE ALL LOVED HIM SO MUCH. HOWEVER THERE WAS ONE THING THAT HE DID THAT MY EVERYONE AGREED WAS PRETTY DISGUSTING. SIMPLY PUT HE WOULD VOMIT AND THEN GO BACK AND LICK IT UP. AND NO MATTER HOW HUMAN REV WOULD SEEM TO US AT TIMES THIS PROVED THAT HE WAS STILL JUST A REGULAR OLE DIRTY DOG.

I CAN SEE HIM RIGHT NOW, DROOPING HIS HEAD AND GAGGING AS IF HIS STOMACH WAS UPSET. SOMETIMES HE WOULD WALK AROUND AND THROW UP TWO OR THREE TIMES ALL IN SEPARATE PLACES. AS WE WOULD ATTEMPT TO CLEAN UP HIS MESS WE WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT TO HOLD HIM BACK FROM TRYING TO LICK UP WHAT HE HAD JUST VOMITED. IT WAS DISGUSTING. AS A HUMAN THIS WAS HARD TO UNDERSTAND, CERTAINLY WE WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO THE VERY THING THAT MADE US VOMIT? WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT, AT LEAST I WOULDN'T.

NOT SO FAST!

I GUESS I'LL START WITH MYSELF AS IT MAY SEEM SELF RIGHTEOUS OF ME TO POINT THE FINGER. AS I REFLECT ON MY LIFE I SEE PATTERNS OF HOW I RETURNED TO THE SAME OLD DISGUSTING HABITS THAT MADE ME "SICK." THE VERY THING THAT HAD ME BOUND AND BEGGING GOD TO DELIVER ME I WENT RIGHT BACK TO IT. THE SAME THING THAT HAD ME CRYING MY HEART OUT TELLING GOD, "LORD IF YOU HELP ME ONE MORE TIME, I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN," WAS THE FIRST THING THAT I WOULD GO BACK TO NOT SOON AFTER GOD CAME THROUGH FOR ME AGAIN. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT BUT I (AT LEAST MY HABITS) HAD BECOME EQUIVALENT TO A DIRTY DOG.

2ND PETER DEALS WITH THIS IN THE 2ND CHAPTER. IT TALKS ABOUT MEN WHO HAVE KNOWN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND HAVE BEEN DELIVERED FROM SIN BUT TURN AWAY FROM IT TO RETURN TO THE LUST OF THEIR FLESH AND THE POLLUTIONS OF THE WORLD. THE BIBLE GOES ON TO COMPARE THEM TO DOGS THAT RETURN TO THEIR OWN VOMIT AND A PIG THAT HAS BEEN CLEAN BUT GOES RIGHT BACK INTO THE MUD THAT MADE HIM FILTHY. BEING RAISED IN CHURCH ALL MY LIFE I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO TRIED TO KEEP A FOOT IN THE CHURCH AND A FOOT IN THE WORLD. MOST OF THEM WERE UNABLE TO KEEP THAT FOOT IN THE CHURCH BUT OFTENTIMES WERE OVERCOME BY THE WORLD THAT THEY WILLINGLY RETURNED TO.

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WHEN WE BECOME LIKE THIS "OUR LATTER END IS WORSE THAN IN THE BEGINNING. THAT BEING SAID WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT GIVING IN TO OUR CARNAL DESIRES, AND NOT LAYING ASIDE THE SIN WHICH SO EASILY BESETS US. DON'T DECEIVE YOURSELF GOD'S EXPECTATION OF YOU IS THAT IF YOU ARE SAVED THAT YOU DO NOT CONTINUE IN SIN. THE BIBLE IS CLEAR ON THIS. CHECK OUT 1JOHN 3:2-10, ROMANS 6:12, JOHN 5:14, & JOHN 8:11. THERE ARE SO MANY MORE SCRIPTURES TO THIS POINT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY MOST OF US MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND SITUATIONS THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN. IN FACT FOR MANY OF US IT IS BECAUSE OF OUR OWN SINS AND DISOBEDIENCE WHETHER IT WAS AN ACT OF COMMISSION OR OMISSION. THE TRUTH IS MOST OF US CAN SAY "THE ENEMY DIDN'T GET US HERE BUT HE SURE IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHERE WE'VE PLACED OURSELVES." WE MUST BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES BEING LIKE THAT DOG THAT 2PETER SPEAKS OF RETURNING TO THE THING THAT MAKES US SICK. I THINK GOD FOR HIS GRACE AND MERCY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE TO KEEP ME OR YOU. BUT THANK GOD THAT HE "KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER THE GODLY OUT OF TEMPTATION.

PLEASE DON'T BE A DIRTY DOG, OR A ROTTEN PIG. I REMEMBER MY MOM LOVING REV SO MUCH THAT SHE WISHED SHE WOULD SEE HIM AGAIN IN HEAVEN. BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT "ALL DOGS" DON'T GO TO HEAVEN IN FACT NONE OF THEM DO; NOT HUMAN DOGS AND NOT SPIRITUAL DOGS. ACCORDING TO REVELATION 22:14-15 DOGS NEVER MAKE IT INSIDE THE GATES.

WILL YOU?

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE NOW???!

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD PEOPLE SAY THINGS LIKE “LIVE LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW,” “LIVE FREE,” “LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST,” AND FINALLY “YOU ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE TO LIVE.” I’M SURE YOU MOST LIKELY HAVE. HOWEVER HAVE YOU EVER QUESTIONED THESE SAYINGS? HAVE YOU EVER CHALLENGED THE VALIDITY, THE TRUTHFULNESS, & THE ACCURACY OF THIS WAY OF THINKING. WELL I HAVE AND I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THESE SAYINGS ARE THE FURTHEST THING FROM THE TRUTH.

MOST OF THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE USE THESE SAYINGS YOU WILL FIND THAT THEY ARE DEFINDING THE ACTIONS THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN OR MAY SOON PARTAKE IN, OR EITHER THEY ARE ENCOURAGING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS TO LIVE LIFE WITHOUT REGULATION AND WITHOUT RESERVATION. IN OTHER WORDS THEY WILL TELL YOU LIKE THE SONG, “IT’S YOUR THING, DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO, I CAN’T TELL YA WHO TO SOCK IT TO.” THIS THOUGHT PROCESS SAYS THAT YOU SHOULD BE WILLING AND ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU FEEL WHEN YOU FEEL IT AND NO ONE ELSE HAS THE RIGHT TO LORD OR RULE OVER YOUR LIFE. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE YOUR DECISIONS FOR YOU AND TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO. SINCE YOU ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE YOU SHOULD ENJOY IT REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO.

I GUESS IT DOES NOT FRUSTRATE ME SO MUCH THAT NORMAL PEOPLE THINK THIS WAY. IN ALL HONESTY IT SHOULD BE EXPECTED. RATHER IT IS THE FACT THAT CHRISTIAN (SAVED) INDIVIDUALS ARE AFFIRMING THIS BELIEF THAT IS SO FRUSTRATING. THE REASON IT IS DISAPPOINTING IS BECAUSE IT STANDS IN CONTRADICTION AND OPPOSITION OF THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD. BELIEVE IT OR NOT GOD NEVER INTENDED FOR US TO HAVE SO MUCH CONCERN WITH OUR NATURAL CARNAL LIFESTYLE. I DON’T CARE HOW MANY TIMES YOU’VE HEARD IT FROM A PREACHER OR HOW BIG THE PREACHER THAT YOU HEARD IT FROM, IT’ S NOT THE TRUTH.

CHRIST DID NOT DIE FOR YOU TO GET THINGS OR LIVE HOW YOU WANT TO LIVE BUT RATHER ACCORDING TO 1 COR.15:3, ROM. 8:5-6 & JOHN 10:10 CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS SO THAT WE COULD HAVE LIFE IN HIM. CHRIST SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A SIMPLE MECHANISM TO HELP US REACH OUR GOALS AND FULFILL OUR DREAMS. HIS MISSION, HIS PURPOSE IS SO MUCH GREATER THAN THAT. HE NEVER INTENDED FOR US TO BELIEVE THAT WE COULD DO WHAT WE WANT WITH THE LIFE THAT HE GAVE US BUT RATHER AS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST WE MUST SUBMIT OURSELVES, OUR WILL, OUR DESIRE TO THE ONE THAT LOVES US SO. HOW CAN I BE SO SURE OF THIS YOU ASK?

LUKE 9:24 TELLS US THAT “WHOSOEVER WILL SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT: BUT WHOSOEVER WILL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL SAVE IT. IN JOHN 12:25 IT SAYS THAT, HE THAT LOVETH HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT AND HE THAT HATETH HIS LIFE IN THIS WORLD SHALL KEEP IT UNTO LIFE ETERNAL. THE BIBLE IS EXPLICITLY CLEAR THAT THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THEN THE LIFE WE NOW LIVE. IN FACT THIS LIFE IS NOTHING IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, FOR JAMES 4:14 TELLS US THAT OUR LIFE IS JUST AS A VAPOUR WHICH APEARETH FOR A LITTLE TIME AND THEN VANISHETH AWAY.”

THE BIBLE ALSO TEACHES THAT NOTHING THAT WE GAIN ON THIS EARTH, WHETHER POSSESSIONS, RICHES, FAME, TITLES, ESTEEM, WE CAN’T TAKE THEM TO THE NEXT LIFE WITH US. WHAT IS OF MOST IMPORTANCE IS WHERE WILL YOUR SOUL END UP WHEN IT’S ALL SAID AND DONE. WOULDN’T IT BE A TRAGEDY IF YOU WAISTED YOUR SOUL ON TEMPORARY THINGS OF THIS EARTH. BUT THAT’S VERY POSSIBLE IF YOU FOLLOW THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN THIS BLOG.

SO AS FAR AS THAT YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE THING I CONCLUDE WITH THIS. YOU CAN ONLY LIVE ONCE BUT THAT MEANS THAT YOU WILL DIE TWICE. OR YOU CAN DIE ONCE IN CHRIST AND LIVE LIFE ETERNALLY. HERE ARE THE SCRIPTURES TO PROOVE IT:

-MATT. 10:28

-REV. 20:6, 14,

-REV. 21:8

-JOHN 17:3

-MARK 10:28-3

-JOHN 11:26

GOOD AND PLENTY PART 1

IN THE BIBLE THERE IS A FAMILIAR STORY ABOUT THESE THREE FELLA'S WHO WERE GIVEN TALENTS. ONE OF THEM WERE GIVEN 5, THE OTHER 2, AND THE OTHER ONLY 1. OF COURSE YOU KNOW HOW THE REST OF THE STORY GOES. WHEN THE LORD CAME BACK TO SEE HOW HIS INVESTMENT WAS GOING THE ONE WITH 5 HAD GAINED 5 MORE, THE INDIVIDUAL WITH 2 HAD GAINED 2 MORE, AND THE PERSON WITH 1 HID HIS TALENT IN THE EARTH AND DIDN'T EVEN HAVE WHAT HE WAS GIVEN, YET ALONE ADDING ANYTHING TO IT. THIS LAST MAN WAS CONSIDERED AS A WICKED AND SLOTHFUL SERVANT.

MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE READ THESE STORIES IN THE BIBLE WE READ IT WITH A SENSE OF FAMILIARITY. WE OFTEN HAVE HEARD IT SO MUCH THAT WE ALREADY CAN ASSUME THE CONCLUSION AND MESSAGE IN THE STORY. HOWEVER MOST OF THE TIME WE ARE DRAWN MORE TO OUR PERCEIVED MEANING OF THE STORY VERSES THE ACUTAL RELIVANCE OF THE STORY IN OUR LIVES. IN OTHER WORDS WE NEVER SEE HOW OFTEN TIMES MANY OF US ARE LIVING EXAMPLES OF THIS STORY. I'LL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT.

I REMEMBER ONCE AND A YOUNG TEENAGE BOY WATCHING BRIAN MCKNIGHT ON T.V. SINGING AND PLAYING ONE OF HIS SONGS LIVE. I WAS SO AMAZED WITH HIS ABILITY AND SKILL. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT I BEGIN TO COMPARE HIS ABILITY TO MY ABILITY. OBVIOUSLY I FELL SHORT. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT I ALLOWED SELF PITY, INSECURITY, FEAR AND SELFISHNESS TO INFULTRATE MY HEART AND CAUSE ME TO WANT TO QUIT. I HAD LITERALLY SAID IN MY HEART THAT SINCE I HAD ONLY "THIS MUCH" ABILITY AND HE HAS SO MUCH MORE I'M JUST GOING TO BURY MINE AND DO NOTHING WITH IT.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR MANY YEARS THAT SAME ATTITUDE FOLLOWED ME. ALWAYS COMPARING MYSELF TO SOMEONE ELSE AND ALLOWING WHAT THEY HAVE TO DETERMINE WHAT I DO WITH WHAT I HAVE. THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I WOULD SAY, "SINCE I CAN'T SING THAT GOOD GOD, I JUST DON'T WANT TO SING AT ALL." OR "SINCE I CAN'T PLAY THE PIANO THAT WELL GOD I JUST DON'T WANT TO PLAY AT ALL." OBVIOUSLY THIS IS THE WRONG ATTITUDE TO HAVE. FORTUNATELY I HAD PARENTS AND PEOPLE AROUND ME WHO WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO QUIT LIKE I WANTED TO.

GOD IS NOT CONCERNED WITH HOW MUCH YOU START WITH BECAUSE HE GAVE YOU WHAT YOU HAVE RATHER HE IS CONCERNED WITH WHAT YOU DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. HAVE YOU MADE PROGRESS WITH WHAT GOD GAVE YOU? HAVE YOU PRODUCE FRUIT OUT OF THE SEEDS THAT HE HAS PLANTED IN YOUR LIFE; OR HAVE YOU WICKEDLY BEEN MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE AND BURIED YOUR ABILITIES IN THE EARTH. IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN YOU'LL END UP JUST LIKE THAT, BURIED WITH NOTHING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE GREATEST SINGER IN THE WORLD TO BE A GREAT SOPRANO IN THE CHOIR. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE GREATEST SPEAKER IN THE WORLD TO TESTIFY OF THE GOODNESS AND THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE RICHEST PERSON IN THE WORLD TO BE RICH IN GIVING. AT THE END OF THE DAY ALL GOD WANTS YOU TO DO IS TO TAKE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE AND PRODUCE MORE OUT OF IT.

IF GOD GAVE YOU 1 TALENT HE DOESN'T ALWAYS EXPECT TEN BACK BUT HE DOES EXPECT YOU TO GIVE HIM MORE. SO STOP SAYING THAT WHAT YOU HAVE IS NOT ENOUGH. THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE. WHAT YOU HAVE IS GOOD AND PLENTY ENOUGH TO MAKE MORE. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OVER WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU,