88 MPH

A quick introduction!

This month we will be talking about stewardship, this topic can be very uncomfortable, mainly because we immediately jump to money, and while money is a part of it and while we will be talking about that eventually. It’s about so much more.

Stewardship: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care

Steward

If we take this definition at face value then it’s about so much more than money. We have been entrusted with some very precious things as individuals.

time

■ noun 1 the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future, regarded as a whole.

■ noun

1 the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future, regarded as a whole.

Soanes, Catherine, and Angus Stevenson, eds. Concise Oxford English dictionary 2004 : n. pag. Print.

talent

■ noun 1 natural aptitude or skill.

1 natural aptitude or skill.

Soanes, Catherine, and Angus Stevenson, eds. Concise Oxford English dictionary 2004 : n. pag. Print.

treasure

■ noun 1 a quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects.

Today we are talking about time.

1 a quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects.

Ephesians 5:15–18 HCSB

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:

How am I a good steward of my time?

Evaluate where your time is going.

Marty has to wake up his dad…(or the tortoise and the hare)

Soanes, Catherine, and Angus Stevenson, eds. Concise Oxford English dictionary 2004 : n. pag. Print.

When we read Pay careful attention then how you walk and then to make the most of the time… it should give us pause.

i. George McFly is an interesting case study. In the movie the man who starts out as the nerd that always gets pushed around becomes something more, but not on his own. Marty has to push the guy who will one day be his dad to stop wasting his time. He has to see himself as more than Biffs punching bag, he has to get out of the places that he feels safe in that are all sewn up, the places where no one will hurt him or bother him. He has to spend time living, noticing, doing. Our lives are the same. He needs a wake up call and Marty gives him one. (video) (expound) We all want to go 88 MPH, God wants us to use the time he's giving instead of trying to change the time we had.

Spend time doing what Jesus did.

Serve others

Looking at Jesus life we find 31 individual healings recorded, and approximately 20 mass healing events are found in the new testament. We also have two different mass feedings, turning water into wine, walking to the disciples on the water to calm them and the storm they were in, as well as waking up and calming the storm that had them terrified. Jesus washing the disciples feet on the night of the Passover, sharing communion with them, and of course giving his life so that we could have the relationship we were designed to have that was broken by sin. Jesus served others. One of my favorite examples though happens to be when he showed the known world how they were supposed too have relationship with God.

Luke 18:15–17 HCSB

Some people were even bringing infants to Him so He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Rest

Mark 6:30–31 HCSB

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

Be filled with the spirit as evidenced by:

A life of worship

Romans 12:1–2 HCSB

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

A life of gratitude

Talk about Marty Zad

1 Thessalonians 5:18 HCSB

Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

A life of putting others first

A Life of putting others first…Mallory Holtman Back in 2008, Sara was a college senior playing for the championship of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball league. In the second inning, she hit her first home run ever — the ball sailed right out of the park. Then, rounding the bases, she realized that she had failed to touch first. So, she turned back. But, through a twist of fate and her knee, she found herself down on the ground with a torn ligament, crawling in agony back to first base. According to the rules, she would have been out if anyone from her team helped her.

That’s when Mallory Holtman — from the other team — stepped up to help. She and her teammate, Liz Wallace, carried Sara around the bases, making sure to tap her left foot on each base. Though Mallory and Liz lost the game that day, they clearly accomplished something more important. (Watch the video: Girls Softball Miracle)

There’s no doubt that this is an extremely emotionally touching story. Mallory and Liz went beyond good sportsmanship. In a moment that really counted, those young women showed good character. And Mallory’s unsolicited offer to help (at a cost to herself) displayed a deep sense of humanity that we all hope (but don’t know) we would show in a similar circumstance.