Hey, this is Brett, and this 2021 Toyota Tundra Crew Max Short Box is stock number 12506Z. We are here at Summit Automotive in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Your new and used light-duty truck headquarters. This 2021 Toyota Tundra Crew Max has the 5.7L V8 engine. This truck has been fully safety and inspected by our service shop as a fresh oil and filter change. All the fluids have been checked and topped off, and this truck is 100% ready to go. We're going to go inside under the hood, started up underneath the truck in this video. Silver Sky Metallic is the color, and we shoot all of our videos in 1080p, 60 frames per second. So, if you have HD capabilities on your computer, tablet, smartphone, or television, I highly recommend turning them on right now because it is your best way to check out the quality, condition, and options of the truck before seeing it in person. If you like the video and like how we do things here at Summit Auto in the upper right-hand part of the screen today, subscribe button, click that, and then click the bell notifications. You'll get updates on the videos we do each and every day here at Summit Auto. That goes to our YouTube channel, so click that. 20-inch painted and polished aluminum rims, and it has Bridgestone Duler Lens-O-Tires. These are P275-55R20s, and they have, I'd say, 80-90% of the tread left on them. Front fender is in excellent condition, I didn't see any dents or dings on there. It does come with the LED headlamps, LED running lights, and LED fog lamps. We'll turn all of those on at the end of the video here so you can see it all lit up. The grille is in very nice condition, and the hood is in excellent shape as well. No dents or dings on there. The passenger side front fender is in excellent condition too, and the passenger side rim no scuffs or scrapes. As you go down this side of the truck, take note of how clean the body is, how reflective and mirror-like that paint is. We take these HD videos, so if you are far away or even if you're close by and just cannot make the trip down but you're still interested in purchasing the vehicle, you can see the truck, hear the truck, and have confidence in the vehicle that you're looking at before you even get here so that when you do get here there's absolutely no surprises, and you can make a smart and informed buying decision from wherever you're at. And if this video helps you make that decision, let your salesman know that you saw the video that it was helpful and that Brett sent you. Back rim is in excellent condition as well, and the back tires have just as much tread as the front tires. Frame and underbody is in excellent shape, which you'd expect on the 2021, but you always want to make sure. Very nice and clean. Comes with the factory step bars, and the lower rockers all look really good as well. Coming around to the back of the vehicle, rear bumpers in great shape, no dents or dings. It does have a full towing package, which includes the receiver hitch four-pin and seven-pin wiring. Tailgate is in excellent condition as well, has a locking tailgate. This one has a kind of a color-matched low-pro Truxedo tonneau cover. I've never seen a gray Truxedo tonneau cover. That's pretty cool. It has a shock down assist tailgate, so it's never going to slam on you. It has the drop-in bed liner, and if that is in very nice, clean condition. Shuts nice and solidly and easily. And as you go down the driver's side, just as clean as that passenger side, no dents or dings on the box. Looks really good. And this back rim is in excellent shape as well, no scuffs or scrapes. Down the rest of this side of the truck looks really good. Does have the heated power mirrors inside. The limited package gives you the gray leather interior. There are no rips or tears on the seats. They are in excellent shape. Three all-weather formats. This is for your mirror control, power slide down rear window, power windows, power locks, power mirrors. You get the nice leather bolsters on the doors. Little hop inside. Check out the miles, radio, and everything that this truck has to offer on the interior. Let's see if we can get this too. Got the digital spinometer there. We'll just start it up. There you go. See this one has 5,353 miles on it. Instrument cluster is very nice and clean. Comes with the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Information center controls on the right, audio and Bluetooth controls on the left. Forward collision warning, lane departure warning. Your cruise control is there as well. And just to give you a little bit better look, the dimmer. You got all your trip buttons there as well. Comes with the factory navigation system. Also has AM, FM, and Sirius XM radio capabilities. This is a touch screen as well. You have Bluetooth there. This is also rear. Backup camera shows up, and that's working nicely.  You get the nice wood-grain trim on the dash there. Passenger side format and seat are in excellent condition, and those seats are actually two-tone. The headliner is absolutely perfect as well. Get map lights up here, SOS buttons, and home link buttons for your garage door security systems and lighting systems. We'll take a quick look at the back seats, and then we will start it up and take a look under the hood. Back seats are just as clean as the front seats. No rips or tears back here. Just as the latch, child safety system for any child car seat too may have power slide-down rear window. These seats are in excellent shape. Once again, smells very clean inside this truck. I don't think it's ever been smoked in. It comes with a set of factory carpet formats. In addition to those all-weathers, you get the rail tie-downs back here as well for the box, and the carpeting is very nice and clean. The locks on the back doors, bottoms of the doors all look really good. Really like those step bars. I would personally like to thank you for checking out the video today, and hopefully from this HD video, you'll be able to verify the quality and condition of this vehicle all the way around inside and out. There are those LED headlamps. Under the hood, you have the 5.7-liter V8 engine. Engine bay is very clean, runs very smooth. Once again, this truck has been fully-safetyed and inspected by our service shop as a fresh oil and filter change. All the fluids have been checked and topped off, and this truck is 100 percent ready to go. There's your emissions sticker. This truck is just about as perfect as you can get. I would highly recommend it from a quality and condition standpoint. To see more pictures of this truck, or one rather 450 new and used cars, trucks, SUVs, minivans, Wranglers, halftones, recoder tons, one-tons, you name it. You've got to go to that website right there, www.SummitAuto.com. Full pictures and descriptions of every single vehicle from two locations, all at SummitAuto.com. If you'd like to check out more HD videos, you can go to YouTube.com. Remember to like, subscribe, and share on this video and all the videos that you see there. Click the bell notifications. We get updates every time we do videos here at Summit Auto. In fact, in a second, you will see a link to subscribe to our YouTube channel, the upper left, a link to more Tundra videos like this one, the upper right, a link to this vehicle on our website on the lower left, and a link to one of our latest YouTube videos on the lower right. Click those. Check us out. We're going to help you with this ultra clean like new 2021 Toyota Tundra Crew Max Short Box Limited in Silver Sky Metallic. Thanks again for checking out the video. Remember to like, subscribe, and share.


begin with telling us your name and where you're from. My name is Stephanie Haynes and I'm from Pasco. And Stephanie, can you please tell us your amazing testimony that you have for us tonight? Well, um, in December of 2014, I made the decision to rededicate my life to God and, um, I, um, like most reborn, born again Christians, I wanted to make church a priority, um, and be consistent. And, um, I did well at first and, um, then I just felt like there was times where it was a big struggle for me to, to get to church. And, um, so, um, basically, um, it just felt like every time I would try to come to church, uh, something would come over me. I felt like, um, anything and everything that could have happened happened. Um, and so by the time I actually got to church, I was like a mental breakdown and one of the days that I came, um, my mentor, uh, she told me, wow, you look like you're, uh, anxious often and you're, and you're restless and I kind of thought to myself like, well, yeah, if you only knew what I went through just to get here, you would understand. Um, but I really, uh, just started to think about that, over the months time and, and I started thinking about areas of my life where I was anxious and felt restless and stuff. And, um, I remembered that, um, I had like trouble sleeping at night that, um, that I would struggle with like torment, torment and tormenting thoughts of just things of the past and stuff and, um, how it really affected my life. And I started really putting a lot of thought into that and, and realizing what a problem it was and, um, just other areas too. Um, I, you know, just easily angered or, or feeling anxious and stuff. Um, so bad that I would have to just take sleeping pills just to get any kind of relief and that's just not any way to live. And, um, so, um, so after you, your mentor was telling you that, you know, there was this restlessness and you started to examine your life and notice that there was anxiety and fear and that you even noticed that at night you were in torment. You had to take sleeping pills because you couldn't sleep. Is that correct? Yes. And then, um, basically from there it just got, it got worse, you know, months down the road, um, one day out of nowhere. Uh, I started having these intrusive thoughts that I couldn't control. Like they're just out of nowhere, um, thoughts that I knew were not coming from myself, thoughts that, um, just not the way that I think and they just made me feel terrible. They were, they controlled my, controlled me and how did it affect your day? What, how did it impact you? Well, I felt like paralyzed. I didn't feel like I couldn't even be around anybody like so bad that I was like, I can't even be around my kids. I'm having these thoughts that are just insane. They're not even from me. I know they're not from me. So I, uh, that night, because it happened to start towards the night and that night I, I, uh, I was like, well, I'm going to try everything I can do and everything that I did would not work. And, um, so I was like, oh, I know I'll just take a sleeping pill. That'll help and it'll be gone in the morning. So sure enough, I did that. And the next morning it came and it came on like even worse and I was like, what is going on? Like this is insane. And, um, so I battled with it all day long and, uh, finally worked up enough courage to text my mentor and say, um, I really need prayer. I don't know what's going on, but whatever's going on, it needs to end tonight. And, um, so I got ahold of her and, um, she came over that night and, uh, we prayed and, um, I believe that I was delivered. Um, I knew God was delivering me from the impression and, um, yeah, I, the next, the next morning I woke up and, um, and I slept like a baby that night too. No sleeping pills. And, uh, I felt recharged. I felt like a new person. I, I, um, I even read two books in two days, which anyone who knows me knows that I am not a reader. So that was proof that I was delivered. And, um, uh, that night I remembered too, when we were talking, she had said, um, that don't be, um, surprised or worried. You know, those thoughts might come back, but they're no longer in you. They're no longer a part of you. Um, and you'll have to fight, fight them off if they come. And, um, so, you know, I didn't have that experience at first. Everything was really good. And then a couple days went by and those thoughts were starting to knock at my door again. And I, and I was like, Oh no, I like recognize it right away. And I had to rebuke those thoughts and fight. And, um, they'd go. And then they come back and I just kept fighting and fighting. But the difference was this time I was stronger. And this prayer, when you believe that you receive deliverance, this has been a few months. Can you tell us the changes that you saw other than the fact that you read two books immediately, you no longer take sleeping pills? Is that correct? You can sleep peacefully. Yeah. Um, I noticed in the last four months, um, I've been consistent. It feels so good. And, um, I used to make excuses, any excuse I could find an excuse. And now there's no excuse. I want to be here. I want to help other people that might suffer with the same things that I went through. Um, and I hope that my testimony touches other people so that they, they know that there's hope for them. And, uh, before we finish off, can you just tell us one last thing is that, was there anything else that you noticed about the way you saw or perceived things? Um, I noticed a couple days or a few days or a week or so after my deliverance, I started, just things started changing. Things were, you know, God was talking to me, I feel like, and, um, I, uh, my thoughts on even just drinking and stuff, um, changed. I, like, whereas before, if I had, I felt like if there was a, um, situation where I couldn't be at a drinking event or something, um, that no longer was a part of me, I, I felt like it, yeah, a different perspective of it. And so it changed a lot for me. Amen. Come on, give a hand of thought. And those, those that are here and those that maybe are watching on live stream, maybe they are dealing with intrusive thoughts or anxiety or heaviness. What type of advice would you want to give to them tonight? Um, I'd say don't underestimate the power of prayer and, um, or home groups that, that while you can, um, receive, uh, or gain wisdom from your home group, you can also receive freedom. So, um, and freedom, you can't underestimate that, it feels so good and I'm here to testify that.


So we have oil coming up. I just want to take a quick look at the contract quite a run that we've had coming off of yesterday at $58 you get the August contracts it in a 59 44 I just wanted to take a peek at maybe some of the options that are available in here because now I don't know this whenever these contracts move so far Basel and Daydex they reset these contracts and We might be away from where these provide because realistically you'd want about 49 50 To be a contract that you'd have upward and downward exposure from where you're paying very little Intrinsic value the tens of guns Yes crude oil the August contract we're sitting in for 59 45 and so 59 So what I say 49 excuse me 59 50 would be a price that would look for where you're right next to it We've just moved so much So I'd taken a peek at it You know you always have options in here that you'd be able to purchase But realistically these price points as in you'd have exposure either from $59 or 59 75 So you're just away from you know, we've gotten such a move in oil Pretty remarkable even 57 50 early yesterday Sitting at 59 50 and we'll get those inventories. We'll see that reaction in the market when Basel I come back in three minutes folks Welcome back folks. I'm Tommy O'Brien joined by Basel Chapman this morning We got markets higher across the board SMB had peaked its head above 3,000 back under that level brief briefly jumping back to oil and we'll get the numbers as they come in Basel I'm still trying to pull them up But nonetheless you're getting an acceleration to higher prices in crude as we're now at 59 77 Guessing we might have missed that a little bit to the downside in terms of the available supply in crude for Inventories in the market spiking a bit on those numbers as I look for them and maybe we'll get them Maybe they got them in the den But either way interested because it's gonna be 60 point 28 I was wondering if it go to 60 point 29 to make the D and then maybe pull back. Yeah. Hey, it could do it man I mean, this is and yet API. I'm not even sure we can pull those up as well But it's been it's been nothing but upward action to the tune of almost two dollars 58 up to we just and it's pulling back a bit, but you got crude 59 77 was the high we're back right at 59 57 jumping back to petroleum real quick Basel The number that came in was a draw of 9.5 million barrels And the estimate was only for a draw of about 3 million barrels I chuckle a little bit because oil shaking that off and actually now lower now There's a lot that goes into those numbers in terms of demand refineries unit utilization But nonetheless, we saw a draw of 9.5 million barrels for the week The forecast was only draw three and you're sitting right now at 59 38


How English Teachers Can Manage a Cultural Sensitive Class Today there is an increasing diversity not only in schools but also in other business aspects due to the result of globalization which in general dictates that we must develop more understanding of culture in order to exert true understanding among diverse populations which I believe is the base for maintaining a cultural sensitive class. But before I go in details, it vital to understand the true meaning of culture, sensitivity, and culture sensitivity combined. What is a culture? Culture can be defined as the social behavior and norms found in human societies. It is more considered a central concept in anthropology which includes a range of phenomena that are transmitted through social learning in human societies. In simple terms, we can define culture as the way of life certain groups of people live encompassing language, art, religion, rituals, clothing, cooking, etc. What is cultural sensitivity? Now that we understand the meaning of culture, what about being sensitive to culture? Being culture sensitive simply means one's understanding that culture exists with the consideration that there are differences and similarities between groups of people. At this point, try to reflect what culture is, differences and similarities towards a multicultural class, and pose a question. For example, a class of 25 students, whereby 5 are from India, 6 are from Japan, 5 are from South Africa, 4 are from USA and 5 from Thailand, all these students have different beliefs, religions, dressing codes, music, and even the pronunciations. If you were a teacher how would you handle such a class? In consideration of today's globalization point of view, a multicultural class can be very important but the problem arises from how teachers or school administration is going to handle the issue of culture within students. However, there are many ways through which such a class can be managed. Approaches to manage a culturally sensitive class Equality, treat all students equally as much as possible without the recognition of some students and neglect of others during class activities Student background recognition, in case you happen to discuss one's background, for example, religion. If you discuss Islam, make sure you also discuss others like Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. Class materials, make sure you provide enough book about different cultures, even though they are not in class but stocked in the library. Ask students to bring any cultural items or picture to class so that you can discuss them openly, in case you discuss the difference. Make sure you also discuss the similarities. This will help students feel they are the same at a certain point in respect for each other. Use cultural pictures, paintings or other art pieces as class decorations. This helps students feel recognized and have a sense of belonging, being welcomed within their hearts. Learning your students, remember every culture has its own way of doing things, for example, some students right starting from the right hand side, others from the left, therefore knowing your students will help you as a teacher make the students realize their goals. Activities that bring cultural recognition, these activities can be asking students to write family stories and share with the class. Use of ball games whereby a ball is thrown to a student and that students speak about his or her culture, then throws the ball to another student and so on, asking students about cultural heritages, learning experiences, etc. Establish a positive rapport with each student or cultural group by asking about their culture and letting them what you like about their culture. I experienced this when I was studying in India and teachers would ask about our culture during the one-on-one drilling slash viva voice, sometimes group drilling. Other teachers also can use this as a technique not only for establishing rapport but also for studying students' needs and aims. Every good thing must also have a bad side, it can also be noted that a teacher will most likely be able to experience some advantages and disadvantages of a multicultural class and the English teaching system among which may include the following. Advantages of teaching a multicultural class helps in creating a critical thinking class. Students have no common language other than English. Both students and teachers get exposure to a variety of experience. Students have more exposure to the English language, L2, promotes acceptance and tolerance among students, promotes the creation of international networks, globalization, disadvantages of teaching a multicultural class, different backgrounds which make it difficult to study each individual. Each of these students due to their background has different needs, therefore, teachers skip some lessons in order to meet the needs of all students. There can always be a communication problem between teachers and families due to language barriers. Students have no common learning difficulties meaning the teacher has to take time to analyze each student's difficulties. Will you try your best to teach a culturally diverse TSL group? For I have enlisted some of the ways in which a teacher can manage a multicultural class. I, therefore, conclude by saying that multiculturalism cannot be taught by the use of coursebook or textbook based on a particular group, however there are many more ways of dealing with cultural differences in class in supplement to what I discussed above and not all teachers can teach a multicultural class. These teachers must be having certain skills such as, motivational skills, caring ability, most important factor. This is also cited in hospitality industry which is also a multicultural industry during caring for guests, excellent communication skills and awareness of social and cultural beliefs and norms. Speak with an ITTT advisor today to put together your personal plan for teaching English abroad. Send us an email or call us toll free at 1-800-490-0531 to speak with an ITTT advisor today.


Well, here we are in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. This is a chapter that is just referred to normally as the love chapter, and we obviously know why. As we begin, let me read to you 1 Corinthians 13 and we'll get into our study. Paul writes, though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I've become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal, and though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains but have not love, I'm nothing. Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy, love does not parade itself, does not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, does not provoke, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails, but whether there are prophecies they will fail, whether there are tongues they will cease, whether there is knowledge it will vanish away, for we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love. So a friend of mine is speaking to his son, his son's a little boy at the time and says to his son, I love you so much. Little boy looks at his daddy and says, and I love you so much daddy. He says, but son, I just love you so much. And the little boy looking back says, and I love you so much dad. I really, really love you dad. I love you so much. And then the little boy stops for a moment and looks at his dad and says, dad, what is love? That's a great question, isn't it? What is love? In 1 Corinthians chapter 13 the apostle Paul gives to us some insight into that which we speak so freely about. He speaks concerning what love is. When you study your Bible, the Bible's simplest revelation of God is that God is love. When you read the writings of the apostle John, you will actually find that John in his writings give to us what are called three definitive statements concerning God. When you look at the Gospel of John chapter 4 verse 24, for example, he says God is spirit. When you look at 1 John chapter 1 verse 5 he says God is light. When you look at 1 John chapter 4 verse 8 he says God is love. So God is spirit, 1 John 1, 5, God is light, 1 John 4, 8, God is love. That's what God is. And so God is love and His children who are made in His image are also to love. So love for God and love for one another is the identifying characteristic of somebody who actually follows Jesus Christ. And as I was mentioning today because it seems that on occasion somebody who doesn't know the Lord may encounter somebody who professes to know the Lord. And that encounter is not always the best encounter, leaving the best impression. Sometimes people will say, I can handle Jesus, but I can't handle those who claim to follow Him. And part of the reason that may very well be so is because sometimes we simply do not reflect what He really is. Because love really is, according to Scripture, the mark of a believer. It's our birthmark. And God's love is a fruit that actually identifies us as a follower of Jesus Christ. In 1 John 4, 16 John said we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love and He who dwells in love dwells in God and God in Him. So the new life that we have in Jesus Christ has one chief characteristic and that would be the love of God. A great preacher of another time, a man by the name of Charles Spurgeon once said this. Spurgeon said if there is one subject more than another upon which I wish ever to speak, it is the love of Christ. But if there is one that quite baffles me and makes me go back from this platform utterly ashamed of my poor, feeble words, it is this subject. This love of Christ is the most amazing thing under heaven itself. The love of God, the love of Christ. And so one of the characteristics of love is that it reveals itself and it reveals itself in actions. Our first lessons in life that we have are not those that are necessarily given in words. The first lessons that we have are the lessons that we observe. We watch and we learn by behavior. Children learn by behavior. I have a granddaughter. Her name is Stella. Stella is five months old now. And Marie had her in my office in between services today. And she basically at five months takes over the office. She just does. I mean she commands my total attention. And she'll be there laying in her grandma's arms. And I have to come and sit next to her. And then I have to bite her. I have to bite her face. I just have to. It's just something about baby's faces. And I don't smother her with kisses, but I certainly don't stop kissing her. And I love that little baby. There's just something about her. There's just something about being next to her. And interestingly enough, at five months, she's beginning to recognize voices and starting to recognize faces a bit. And just last week, she was being held by Marie. And Stella was going to sleep. But then she heard my voice coming over the TV set because Marie was in my office holding her during church services.  She starts looking at the TV. And she starts listening to the voice of her grandfather. And I know that over time, she's going to know how deeply she's loved, even though she won't even know what that word means or be able to enunciate it, probably for a couple of years. Your first lessons that you have are not necessarily lessons that are given to you verbally. You see, it's easy for us to come into church and to hear verbal lessons. But the lessons all of us have learned that have gone into our character that's made us up are not necessarily all the lessons we've heard where our parents lectured us about certain things or our school teachers lectured us about certain things, gave us information. The first lessons that we learned were the lessons we observed. We watched. We had perhaps a dad who said, I love you and then treated us unkindly. We had a father who said, I love your mother who didn't treat her the way that a man should treat a woman. And so you get the word love mixed up because he says he loves her, he says he loves me, and this is how he acts. And that's what messes a lot of people up when it comes to such a subject as love. Love is revealed in actions. The lessons we learn, the first lessons are those given by action. So we learn what love is by watching others. We watch them as they live and we watch them as they give. And then we define those words by their behaviors. It's interesting how the Lord Jesus Christ, when he was ministering to his disciples, it's recorded in John chapter 13, how that it says that Jesus loved his own and he loved them to the uttermost. He loved them to the end. And when you look at that passage, it's stating Jesus loved them to the very end, to the full extent. And what he did is he demonstrated to them what the full extent of his love is that same night that he got up and washed their feet. He ministered to them with action, but John has to tell us that he loved his own to the end. He loved them to the uttermost. He demonstrated what love is, even though he knew that all things had been delivered into his hand and he was the master of all. Still the master of all gets up and washes the feet of his disciples. What is he doing? He's teaching them that the greatest in the kingdom is a servant of all, and the minister is one who loves. Jesus loved his disciples and showed them what it is. The heart of love. The heart of love is revealed in God sending his son, Jesus Christ, to die on our behalf. Romans chapter five verse eight says, God demonstrates his own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. So love is demonstrated once again in sacrifice and love is intended to do good to others. That's why in Romans 1310, it says love does no harm to a neighbor therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. The most famous scripture in the New Testament is John 316, a scripture that speaks concerning God so loving the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. And when you read that scripture it reveals at least three basic things about God to us in the love of God.  It also reveals that he loved us so much that he gave. He didn't leave us helpless but he rescued us and there was a purpose in it. He came with the purpose of keeping us from perishing. So love, the love of God is one that rescues and is a one that keeps us from going to hell. So if God loves us in such a manner, the Bible teaches if God loved us like that we ought to love one another. His kind of love is to be the airmark of our life if we're truly Christians. And God commands us to love one another. First Peter chapter one verse 22 says, now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers love one another deeply from the heart. Not in a superficial kind of way where, hey bro I love you man but with a deep sincere love for one another. That's what God has called us to. As I've been mentioning recently, God's love does not always characterize the church and it doesn't always characterize ministry. We're already noticing that in the church of Corinth, a very active church. As we've been going through Corinthians here, we have seen that the Corinthian church had an understanding of salvation. They had an understanding of the person of Jesus and we know that the gifts of the spirit were flowing. Yet with all of this, they were lacking in their love for one another. So it's very possible to be very active yet very unloving simultaneously. That's because activity can replace devotion and the Corinthian church was slowly leaving its first love. Now how had that happened? Well the church had gotten sidetracked and it forgot its first call, the first call was to love. It's interesting how that chapter 13 is sandwiched between Paul's teachings on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In chapter 12 verse 31, Paul had written, yet I show you a more excellent way. So the more excellent way that he's speaking about is the way that God has planned for the gifts of the spirit to operate. So having a spiritual gift or holding an office doesn't evidence spiritual maturity. There are people who can be called pastor or elder or deacon or deaconess. They can be called the head of a ministry in a church but that does not necessarily mean that they're really spiritually mature. When your church first begins, I've said this to my men in meetings in the past and I've shared this with those who are gonna go out and plant a church. When your church first begins, those whom you have to draw from to help to begin ministries are not always the most spiritually mature people. I can say that from experience. You know, being 30 years old, one month short of 31 when this church began, I can speak with experience on that. The guys and ladies around me were younger than I. There were some older ones but most of them were younger than me overwhelmingly and many of them were fairly new believers. Yet we still need to have a variety of ministries that are performed. And so what you do is you look for those who evidence the most maturity in the group but that doesn't necessarily mean that they're real mature yet because it takes time to mature. And sometimes church ministries have those who are called leaders who are not really spiritually mature yet. So you can be a leader in a church and still not be spiritually mature. At least not to the degree that one day you will be. So it's easy to be holding an office and not necessarily being mature. I was an assistant pastor at the age of 29 to a man who was 22 who was the senior pastor. A 22 year old senior pastor with a 29 year old assistant pastor. And I guarantee you at 22 he wasn't a very mature man. So you can hold a position but it doesn't necessarily mean that you are spiritually mature. You can also exercise gifts of the spirit and still have a lacking in spiritual maturity. So you can be a fairly new believer and have the gift of tongues or whatever be able to have a word of knowledge or something like that. But that doesn't mean that you're necessarily the most mature person in the church. So it's possible to hold an office. It's possible to minister the gifts of the spirit and yet not have spiritual maturity. And so having a gift or holding an office doesn't evidence spiritual maturity but having a love from God evidences a position of abiding in Jesus Christ. And so when I look now as I've grown older and gained more experience in ministry one of the things that the Lord has brought me back to especially recently when it comes to asking people to come alongside and to do ministry one of the things I look for is a maturity in their love of God and a maturity in their love for people because great damage is done by those who don't love the Lord deeply and those who don't love people very much. I've said this too often and it bears repetition here. I can still remember somebody who says I just love ministry. I love ministry, they said to me. It's people I can't stand. And so I said, amen, Marie, that's true. No, I said but there's some, there are people who think that way. I love being in the ministry but I just don't like people very much. You'll never be an adequate minister until you learn to love and you have to learn to love God first and you learn to love him daily. It's an ongoing process and then you learn to love others the way that God loves and it takes some time. How do you do that? You abide in the Lord. In John 15 verses four and five Jesus said, abide in me and I in you as a branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine. No more can you accept you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He that abides in me and I in him the same brings forth much fruit for without me you can do nothing. In Galatians 5, 22 and 23 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. Abiding in Christ produces the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit is one word that is accompanied by eight words defining that one word. What is the fruit of the Spirit love? And then it's revealed in a variety of aspects of love. And so the Corinthian believers were not walking in the love of God. As we've seen they were selfish, they were self-willed and the love of God was not present among them. That's why Paul begins this chapter, chapter 13 in the way that he does. He begins by using various gifts as example and what he's pointing out in the first few verses is the gifts that he mentions can be misused to gain people's attention. He speaks concerning the gift of tongues and prophecy. He spoke of wisdom and knowledge. He speaks of faith, even sacrificial giving. Sacrificial giving is actually a gift and can be a gift of the Holy Spirit because Romans chapter 12 has a list of the gifts and in verse eight he speaks concerning one who has this gift of giving and he says the one who gives let him give with liberality or generosity. So he's speaking concerning tongues, prophecy, wisdom, knowledge, faith, giving. He even speaks concerning martyrdom. Martyrdom can be a way of gaining attention and so what he's saying here is though I am a gifted believer if I do not have love I have nothing. If I do not have a copy I have nothing at all. So he says verse one though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels but have not love I've become as a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. Those things make sounds but they're lifeless. Though I have the gift of prophecy understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains but have not love I'm nothing. Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor though I give my body to be burned which is martyrdom but have not love it profits me nothing. None of these things as amazing as they may be in terms of gifts and sacrifice he's saying none of those things matter without the one thing that matters the most and that is love. So though I'm gifted if I don't have love I have nothing. That love he speaks about is the word agape. Agape is one of the rarest words in ancient Greek but it's the most common in the New Testament. Agape is unlike friendship. There's a Greek word that is used to define friendship it's the word phileo. It speaks of a fellowship friendship kind of love. Agape is not identical to phileo. It's not the same as store jay it's not the same as eros eros is where we get the word erotic from. It speaks about physical love. Agape is different. Agape is that self-giving sacrificial kind of love it's called the God kind of love. It's that giving with no expectation of receiving in return. It's the kind of thing that Jesus did when he demonstrated the full extent of his love in service and ultimately demonstrated his love by dying on a cross. It's how he took our place on that cross he died for us because in reality the soul that's in it shall die yet Jesus Christ what he does is he replaces us he takes our place on that cross and in doing so demonstrates what love really is it's sacrificial. In 1st John 4 9 through 11 it says and this was manifested the love of God toward us because that God sent his only begotten son into the world that we might live through him here in his love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins beloved if God so loved us we had also to love one another. So love he begins to speak concerning what love is in verse four what is love? Well love is defined as a pattern for church life. This is what's supposed to be the life of the body. Remember in chapter 12 he had been speaking concerning though there may be many members yet there's one body. So this isn't for just certain people in the church who have this quality or this ability. It isn't for the super spiritual saints those that are remarkably different that you look at and say oh man what a wonderful person that is. This is for all of us. It's the remark of every believer. When I first got saved coming out of the background that I came out of which was self centered selfishness and it took many years for the Lord to purge all of that for me and it's still there. I shouldn't say all of that. It's taken years for him to purge the little that he has purged. But I had a friend. I had a friend by the name of George Adams and George and I knew each other when he and I were young. I think George is a year younger than I and so George was probably about 19 when he gave his heart to Christ and I knew George when he was around 18, 19 right in that age. That's when I came to know him. He used to hang around at a friend of mine's house and at Bill's house and that's how I got to know George and George as I knew him was you know an 18, 19 year old kid meaning the life you know the world pretty much revolved around him as it did all the rest of us. We were so narcissistic. We were so into ourselves. Even though as hippies we like to talk about loving one another and what this world needs is love and all of that. We really didn't love the way that we should have because love was a word that you use with one another to basically gain an advantage over somebody else and so I would say I love you man but that was just another way of saying and I'd like you to give me something to drink or I'd like some dope or whatever. It was just a word that you use to get what you wanted and it was in vogue and everybody was talking about it. It was real cool to be a hippie and it was real cool to walk around saying peace and love and all of that but there was no sincerity in any of that because anybody who's and I know I've got a number of people here who came out of that scene who came out of the drug scene and all you know that that is a lifestyle of taking. It's not a lifestyle of giving. You know we used to have a phrase that we'd use we'd give them a joint or whatever and we'd say first one is free. And it's just another way of saying you're gonna end up paying for this later on but I'll turn you on for the first time for free but you will end up paying. The first one is free. So there was never really this mentality of just doing something out of the goodness of our hearts that did not exist and George was kind of like the rest of us he was that way. And so what happened in the life of George I saw him in a certain way and then he's different. There's a change that's dramatic. It was not just a small change. It was huge and he cared and he talked warmly and he was nice and he wasn't asking for things and he's wanting to give more than to receive and I started seeing this and he had the most tremendous impact on my salvation because I saw a radical transformation in this young man's life. He's the guy who would witness to me and share with me about the love of Christ that I would listen to. There were a few others who were trying to do that before I got saved but I would look at them and I'd say you haven't changed an awful lot. You got no credibility with me because when you're in the world and you're like I was you're just very quick to not trust anybody and so the guys that were saying oh I love your bro and this and that I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him but George was different. There was sincerity. There was something real about him. There was something different and I began to listen to him. So he would on occasion when I'd show up at the house talk to me about God. He'd talk to me about Jesus and he'd share with me about the love of Christ and he was the one person who had my ear. I would listen to him because I saw changes in him. He was the guy when I would walk into the house and you walk in you know there's this how you guys doing kind of thing. He would walk up to me and hug me and it was very uncomfortable for me. I didn't really like men hugging me. If he was a chick I'd have been good with that but a guy I don't know. You know I did not really like that and yet there was something inside of me that responded to the warmth, the kindness and the genuineness. There was something different about this guy. So he would do that, he'd hug me. You know I love you man. And I'd look at him you know and I'd good you know what am I supposed to say and I don't love you but that's nice for you to say that I appreciate that. But he would do that and it was the little things like that that I started encountering with guys like George that started making the difference. It wasn't their arguments. It wasn't their wisdom. It wasn't their experience in Bible studies. It wasn't their ability to string some scriptures together to show me what a sinner I was. It was can I give you something to eat? Are you thirsty? How you doing? It was a sincere concern for me that I wasn't used to. I wasn't used to people being nice just to be nice. And it caught me completely off guard. I didn't know it was the love of Christ. I didn't know it was the mark of a believer. He couldn't explain it to me. He tried to, I love you because Jesus man has changed my life. He tried to explain it but he really did care about me. He still to this day cares about me. 42 years after giving my heart to Christ. He wrote me on December 24th and he says it's coming near your time of your spiritual birthday David. Thinking of you, love you man. He's been doing that for 42 years. Letting me know that he still thinks of me, that we're still friends, he still loves me. That's George Adams. And I'm telling you, that's the mark of a believer. A sincere love that comes from God. You can give your body to be burned as a martyr. You can speak words of wisdom and have words of knowledge. You can prophesy. You can do all of those things. But if you have not love, he says you're nothing.  It just makes noise but there's no life in it. And that's what you're becoming if there's not love within you. And so that's the mark of a believer. What is love? Well, he starts to tell us concerning love. He starts to give to us some insight in verse four. He tells us what love is all about. In verse four he says love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy. Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up. Does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Then he says love never fails. So it begins to give us some aspects of love. What is love? Well, it's the pattern for church life. It's what we all ought to be like. And so first he says, well, love suffers long. When it says love suffers long, that's another way of saying it's long-tempered. It does not react to those who continually are getting under your skin. It's long-suffering. How long am I gonna suffer with this? It's long-suffering. And sometimes it may be a long time. Lord God, when are you gonna remove this from me? And the Lord may say, I'm not. You're gonna have it for a long time. It's like when Paul prays so that this thorn in the flesh may be removed from him. And there are commentators who believe that the thorn in the flesh was not a spiritual warfare in the sense of a demonic attack, but very well could have been a member of the church that was just an irritation to him constantly. He has a torture stake. What he's speaking about is not just the thorn is not just something like you see on the rose bush. It's a stake. It's a full-on stake that's been jammed into his side and is causing pain constantly. And he says, three times I asked God to remove it and three times God said no. So what have I learned to do? He said, I've learned to embrace the thorn. I've learned that in my weakness and then I've been made strong because the Lord has a way of working through this. He has a way of doing something, perfecting something in me, making me more dependent on him. Love is long-suffering. Any parent knows that word well. You have a baby. You're either the father or the mom, you have a baby. And the baby as long as it can't walk and talk is cool. Then they drive and everything's different.  And you begin to wonder what happened? And whereas at one time it was easy to put up with the things that they do, sometimes you begin to pray, God I know that children are a gift from you but is it possible to return this one? And what do you do guys? You hold on, don't you? And doesn't it? Don't you go through some deep things? Don't you learn some deep lessons? You do.  You learn an awful lot about yourself when you're married. You even begin to learn a lot about yourself when you're single or dating. You begin to learn things about others, how you respond to them at all. And one of the things you'll discover over time is that love holds on. Love is long-suffering. Love is willing to put up and endure these things over time because that's the quality of love. I mean when you look at God, look at he's been long-suffering with us. How old were you when you got saved? I was 20. He was long-suffering for 20 years as I ran in rebellion against him. Long-suffering, God is long-suffering. He waits and there's suffering involved but he doesn't react quickly and we learn not to react quickly to those people who may push certain buttons in our life. So love suffers long. Secondly, he says love is kind. The word kind speaks of a goodness in action. It speaks of someone being gracious to other people. It speaks of people who are generous. Kindness is one of those attributes of love that I highly admire.  She just is and she would argue with me and say she's not but she is. She's an amazingly kind, gentle woman and I've seen that kind of love in her. She has been, I get emotional, forgive me, here we go. Stop it, okay. She has been so kind to me for so many years. I have seen kindness in action. I know what it is and I admire it. When I meet men who have this aspect in their life, they're kind men, I am just, my heart is drawn towards that man. I love men who have a kindness.  He's just a gentle, spirited man. He's got a kindness about him. Mike McIntosh is a very kind man. Randy Walls is a very kind man. So I count these men as my friends and I admire them because of their gentleness of spirit because they're not running around puffing their chest out, trying to be tough and mean the baddest guy in town anymore. They are just kind individuals. Love is kind. When people would bring babies to the Lord Jesus Christ, you see kindness in action where he would take them up in his arms and he would hold them and he would bless them. And everybody knows that the children are, well, they can be messy, they could spit up on you. You know, they can grab your beard and start pulling on it.   And I say, that's what I want. I wanna be a man who's kind. Well, that's because love is kind. It has that quality of gentleness. He says, love does not envy. Love is the kind of attribute within you that when someone is blessed, you're actually blessed along with them.  Love isn't like that. Love is able to rejoice when something good happens to somebody else and they join in the party with them and they rejoice alongside of them because of the goodness that had happened to them. It isn't envious. So the son who has been rebellious against the father, that prodigal, goes out and lives a life that brings, it brings shame to the father and causes heartache to all who love him. When he's recovered, he comes home and his father puts a ring on him, puts a robe around him, puts sandals on his feet, slaughters the fatted calf, has a party for him, and then the older brother sees this taking place and then actually berates the father. How is it that this one who's done so much to bring shame on this family?  I don't want to be like the elder brother. I don't want to begrudge somebody because God has been merciful to them. Love does not envy. He goes on to say, love does not parade itself. Love is not constantly seeking attention. It's not puffed up. It's not arrogant. It's not self-important. It doesn't have this attitude of, I am so important, I have arrived. John the Baptist, great example. John was six months or so older than his cousin Jesus. John goes out, preparing the way for the one who's to come after him, Jesus. And even points about, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His men began to be upset because the one whom you baptize is now baptizing others and more are following him.  I've already told you, I must decrease, but he must increase. That's love. I need to take the back seat. I don't need the attention. I don't need to be known. It's been said that the most beautiful sound on anybody's ear is the sound of their own name on somebody else's lips. There's that sense of needing attention. Love doesn't parade itself, is not puffed up, is not seeking that. You're not the person who comes in who has to be the center of attention at all times where people have to listen to your voice. There are some I've encountered over the years who are uncomfortable with silence and so they feel the silence with the sound of their own voice. They have to talk.  If there's conversation going and conversation stops for a moment, first thing they need to do is jump in because they're gonna get uncomfortable with the sound of silence. Well, love doesn't seek its own. It's not pushing to be in the front. It's not parading itself. It's not self-important. He goes on in verse five and he says, "'Love does not behave rudely. "'It doesn't have poor manners. "'It doesn't treat people impolitely. "'It doesn't give flippant answers "'when people ask a question. "'Love is not argumentative with people. "'They're just putting down the clerks "'and the waitresses and husband or wife "'or even berating their children. "'Doesn't speak rudely and act rudely to them.'" I was sharing with you about my Philosophy 101 class about this gentleman in the class who used to interrupt the professor. I mentioned this just recently last week. You know, brother, now do you remember the story? I didn't finish it. There are a lot of stories that are unfinished. That was one of them. Brother, about two or three weeks after I received that love note from my schoolmate who was seated next to me, once again, our friend in the class raised his hand and interrupted the teacher. You have to get this into perspective. The teacher was maybe three feet away or even closer. It's in a classroom. He would lecture in the front of the class with little space between him and the students.   And so it would distract the teacher.  And then he'd ask his question. He did it every class. And so I mentioned I'd sit in the back and just fold my arms and say, here we go. And then he'd ask some question and then the teacher'd answer. One day, he did it. A couple of weeks or so after I'd received that note. Oh, brother!   He couldn't take it. I'm serious. I'm not your brother! I had veins were coming out of the side of his neck. They popped. He was upset. I felt so sorry for this young man.  Stop calling me that! Anyway, I'll keep going with the Bible. No, the class was silent. And that poor guy, I didn't know him. I didn't know him, though he was my brother. No, I didn't know him. But man, I thought, oh man, that. I was a young believer at the time. And I knew that's not how you treat people. Even if they irritate you, you don't do that. The next week, I mean, it got silent. The professor kept lecturing. Everybody was kind of like, whoa, let's get out of here as soon as we can before he yells at us, that kind of thing.  He clamps his hand over his mouth with both hands. I'm sorry, the professor, oh no, that's okay. You're my brother, we're brothers in the Lord. He was so guilty for the whole week. You know that he was doing that. How did I do that? How unkind I am? It was his opportunity to repent in front of the whole class, you know? So, love does not behave rudely. I've seen it, I've done it. Have you ever been rude? I've done it, I've done it. God forgive me. Rude-ness, that's not love. Being point blank, speaking your mind, that's not loving. And I've been that way. I have been that way.  By not saying things kindly. I've had years of trying to learn to say things with kindness. The home I came from was pretty upfront. On your mind, you just say it. We didn't fight each other.  It was just, it's not rude, it's resultless. That's the way we are. It's just that was the way we were. See, we took what we were used to and used as a standard and it was the wrong standard. I had to get into the word and God started teaching me just like I'm speaking right now. You don't have to get rude with people. You don't have to be abrupt with people. You don't have to be cutting with people.  Be kind. Why do you speak like that? Why do you say what's on your mind?  Why do you have to do that so much?  They've given so many pieces out, they don't even have it.  Be kind. He says in verse five, love doesn't seek its own. It's not selfish. It's not self-centered. It's not narcissistic. Love is prepared to give up for the sake of others even what it is entitled to. So it's not always seeking to be pleased. Love is actually willing to give, that which may be their own, but they're more than willing to share it with somebody else. Love, he says in verse five, is not provoked. Love is not thin-skinned. Doesn't get angry easily. Love isn't always fighting for their rights. He says in verse five, love thinks no evil. When he says, thinks no evil, that word think literally speaks of cataloging. Love does not keep lists. It doesn't catalog people's slights. There are those who do, by habit, keep a list in their mind of things that have been said to them by those who have hurt them and then they can bring it up in a moment's notice about, oh, you said this. And I haven't forgotten when you said this to me. When did I say that to you? In 1973, it was April 4th at 6 o'clock. There are people, some of you were raised by people like that, or perhaps some of you have close friends who are like that. You said this to me. When did I say that to you? You said it to me five years ago and I haven't forgotten. You're kidding me. I had somebody approach me at a pastor's conference years ago now who said, I've been angry at you. And he's a pastor. And I said, Pastor Chuck, I'm sorry. No, he said, I've been angry at you for what you said to me. And I said, what did I say to you? And he shares it with me. And he'd been angry at that time. I think he had said something like five years. I said, did I say something to you like that? I am so sorry. I didn't realize I did. I'm sorry. But I'm also sorry for you in another way. And he says, in what way? I said that you have carried this for five years. You could have released it a long time ago, but you didn't. You've been carrying it for five years? I said, that must be a very heavy burden for you to carry, for you to feel obligated to come and tell me how angry I made you five years ago. That really is something I'm sorry for on two levels. One is I hurt your feelings, but two, that you didn't release it. Forgive me. There are those who do catalog things they never forget. And sometimes, sadly, they're the same people who are imagining that people are saying things about them or doing things to them. Any of you ever hear somebody say, don't give me that look? And you go, what look? Don't give me that look. What look are you talking about? I know that look, that I don't care about you look. And what you were thinking about when you gave that look was, boy, I'm hungry. I'd like to go home and get a burger.  And they're just hypersensitive. So we just need to learn some things. Don't keep a list. It's just not worth it. He goes on and he says, love doesn't rejoice in iniquity. Love doesn't justify things that are done that are wrong. What does it do? Well, in verse 6, love rejoices in the truth. Love does not compromise. It walks a straight line and rejoices in things that are true. Love bears all things. When he says it bears all things, love supports. Love protects. Love covers. Proverbs 10.12 says, hatred stirs up stripes. That love covers all sins. Proverbs 17, verse 9, he who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. So love supports. Sometimes I've had people approach me who've wanted to gossip to me about another pastor or somebody that we may both know. And my response is normally the same. I'm not to receive an accusation against an elder, but by the mouth of two witnesses who are eyewitnesses and seeing that you're coming up sharing with me your grief or your grievance against this pastor, my recommendation, scripturally to you, is for you to go and speak to the pastor and let them know how you feel. And I normally will say, what's your name? And they'll say, put into a master. No, they'll say Bill. Bill what? Bill Jones. All right, Bill. You came out of such and so church? Yeah. I'm going to call your pastor and I'm going to let him know I spoke to Bill Jones and that Bill Jones is going to come and speak to him about a grievance that he has. And so I'm going to ask you to do that this week because I'll be calling him at the end of the week. That way you can get these things settled because when you come and start sharing with me grievances you have about somebody else, I can't do anything to help you. And all you're going to continue to do is to carry this grievance and it's going to become a burden. You're going to be bitter and it's going to destroy the fabric of the love of Christ is supposed to keep us together. So you have the responsibility to take your problem to the one you have the problem with not to bring that problem to me. You know, in my earlier days before I learned not to be rude I still remember pointing at my ears when somebody did that once and I said, do you see these? These are called ears, not trash cans. And I really don't want to receive trash about somebody. What you really need to do is you really need to go and speak to them because that's how these things get resolved. But when you go out and begin to share with everybody else to get them to take your side you're dividing the body of Christ and God according to Proverbs chapter six has a hatred for those who so discord in the body. So you don't want to be under God's anger. You want to be walking straight with him. So that's why we speak the truth in love. That's why we want things to be done properly. And that's why I will support a brother or a sister especially if somebody is making a false accusation against them and encourage people to do the right thing. He goes on to say love believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. Believes all things is not suspicious. If it's going to make it air at all it'll be on the side of grace. Hopes all things. Well even if somebody is proven to be untrustworthy love still wants them to be recovered. Endures all things. It stands against all opposition, holds fast and then he says love never fails. Love lasts. It's the one thing that lasts for eternity. Finally he says whether there are prophecies they'll fail. Whether there are tongues they'll cease. Whether there is knowledge it'll vanish away. For we know in part we prophesy in part but when that which is perfect has come then that which is in part will be done away. The gifts of the spirit are operating while we're here on the face of the earth. But when the Lord Jesus Christ returns those gifts that we have now here on earth are not necessary in the way that they've been necessary prior to his return. There are those who will point to the scripture and they'll say that verse 10 is in reference to the Bible and they'll say that's why the gifts of the Holy Spirit are no longer in operation but the problem is that's not what the scripture's saying. This is speaking about the one who's going to come who is perfect who's going to bring all things to completion which is Jesus Christ. When you're in heaven you're going to be knowing even as you are known. There's going to be a perfection there. The gifts of the spirit as they operate here on the face of the earth are temporary. He says in verse 11, when I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child I became a man I put away childish things. Now we see in a mirror dimly that then face to face now I know in part then I shall know just as I also am known. I've had people ask in the past this one question I've had this more than once and that is when we're in heaven are we going to know our loved ones who have gone to the Lord before us? Well we know people and will we recognize them? And the answer is obviously yes. We know in part now but then we'll know everything. So in heaven when we're together in heaven which is something that's rather cool to think about just for a moment when we're in heaven together we'll know each other and recognize each other. You may be thinking will I look identical to how I am right now? And I say, unless you Jesus, no. We'll have a perfect body. No glasses, no white beard, it'll be great. But we will know each other there's no doubt about it. What about those who've gone before you that you've never met? Like my mom tells me my grandfather for example her daddy was a believer. She gave me his Bible and well marked Bible what my grandfather had.  Apparently my grandmother, her mama who died when my mom was 10 months old. Apparently her mama, my grandmother was a believer also. So one of these days when I go to heaven I will meet my grandfather and my grandmother and I will know them and I will know them. I have a baby, Marie and I had a pregnancy that we lost through a miscarriage and one of these days I will meet my child in heaven. See and for me that gives me great joy and great hope. And I will know you and you will know me and you know the apostle Paul. There are people who say oh I'm gonna go and find the apostle Paul I'm gonna stand in line to see him and I say that's so cool, please do. That way the line is shorter for Jesus. And I can go hang with him, that's a good thing. So now abide faith, hope, love, these three but the greatest of these is love.


and here we are here we are ladies and gentlemen the last day of 2018 what a year what a year we have had but before we start the new year it's time to get down on paper and yes film for all of you my 2019 running goals which frankly begins stretching on my living room floor loosen it up loosen it up okay quick shout out to all the new subscribers everything if you if you subscribed in the last week and you think of it say hello down in the comments I'd love to say hello back and it's just amazing I'm blown away by all the new people that are joining every single day well just so you know I've been on a two-week break from running taken two weeks completely off just to let the body recover from a big year in 2018 which we're gonna talk about in a minute and that means folks on January 1st I get to start running again I can't I cannot wait and it means I get to start filming my runs again for you so we survived the two-week break here on YouTube I'm not I wasn't sure how it would quite go down as far as just the overall viability of the video quality how does that sound how does that sound so we made it and all right see you in the shed running goals or running goals running goals I don't know about you all but I love the new year I love the new year it's a fresh start and I know it's just like connected to the calendar and how the calendar was set up centuries ago but it's just like it's a fresh start to our lives and I realize New Year's resolutions very rarely stick with people like it's you know they often fall by the wayside but I must say I set five goals in 2018 upper right hand corner we talked about that last week and by the way thank you everyone that chimed into that vlog and shared about your running goals for 2018 well now we get to look to the future but I don't know I just get I get pumped up for the new year so before we dive into the new year I don't know if you all listen I don't I'm not saying I know I bring this up a lot I'm not saying you have to be on Strava but I appreciate many of the tools that are built into the Strava app and in case you don't know what it is it's an app on your phone that allows you to track your running and that's like the basic premise behind Strava and you can connect with other runners literally around the world and other running groups and so every year Strava is genius marketing but they produce a little mini one-minute and 50-second video recapping your year in running so we haven't connected in Strava you know the drill down below let's do it but let's roll the tape on the Strava Rewind Rewind of two thousand in ATV too shabby not too shabby we will take it I so I don't often set running goals like for mileage in an annual year it gets really like I mark it out and you know how I how we talked about yesterday I have a range of mileage that I like to shoot for but you know injuries pop up plantar fasciitis in 2018 so it's all about having goals but also being realistic and not being afraid to be flexible I don't often set mileage goals but that was pretty neat 2600 miles not too bad we'll take it for a calendar year what I'm really excited about more so is living in Colorado we have the Rocky Mountains here so that's a bonus I I love if you've been watching a while you know I love the uphill mountain running it's kind of my niche and I enjoy it and I'm kind of good at it so this year 2018 325,000 vertical feet not too shabby like that's that's a lot like it's it's quite a bit I think it's a hundred and 25,000 vertical feet more than 2017 so my goal though one oh so I set five goals running goals in 2018 I only met one of the goals I missed four of the goals I only met one of them the one that I met was winning a race one of them that I missed in 2018 was reaching 400,000 vertical feet of climbing in my running so it is what it is I can't go back and rewrite the books now this is the last day of 2018 and it's time to look to the future every year I set running goals and the reason I do that is to hold myself accountable and to be able to physically go back yes the book inside remember that paper book that I showed you yesterday with my mileage basically I will write out my goals and therefore I will be able to go back and not look at it every day sometimes not even every week but just maybe two three maybe four times a month and just review the goals for 2019 so after I share them with you tonight I'm gonna go inside write them out and this year so last year I had five goals this year I decided on six goals not for no you know special reason other than there's a couple extra there's one extra goal this year that I want to hit and for you it's all about that discernment and figuring out like oh man I want one goal in 2019 I want ten goals in 2019 depending on what your personality is like and just who you are and how you respond to challenges and goals all right let's dive in I've got them written out here goal number one plyometrics plyometrics what are plyometrics basically it's to improve your running form so I was getting very tired at the end of some of my 50k races in 2018 and I believe that if I would have been a little stronger and a little more resolute in my running form I would have been able to maintain my speed just a little bit further in those 50k races and then I am beyond excited to make one two maybe even three videos all about my plyometrics routine for you guys I'll probably be in the first two to three weeks of January so stay tuned for that plyometrics working on running form oh beyond excited for that okay goal number two since I did not get it and this is a carryover from 2018 400,000 vertical feet I want to hit it I want to get it it's just I was 75,000 feet short in 2018 so I'm gonna carry it over I think it's realistic I know what it takes now and I was I was you know that's a lot of I missed it by quite a bit but I think it's within shot for 2019 running goals 400,000 vertical feet of climbing which also means 400,000 vertical feet of descent and again in the summer I live in the mountains well I don't live in the mountains but I run in the mountains a lot and goal number three is directly connected to number two it really they feed off of each other goal number three I want to I want to set two more FKT's on 14ers in Colorado what is for what is a 14er in Colorado we have 54 mountains that rise above 14,000 feet of elevation so we call them 14ers and basically I set two FKT's and what is an FKT that's an acronym for fastest known time fastest known time so basically through Strava I can see the fastest times from the trailhead to the top of the mountain and back down for all the people who have basically ran up the mountain as fast as possible and back down and I was able to snag to this this past summer Mount Beerstat and Graze Peak and so next year 2019 I'm thinking Mount Albert and maybe Longs Peak as like the two mountains to go after so that is goal number three for 2019 that'll happen in the summer and goal number four start the running group in Denver so if you live in Denver start a running group and on Strava which by the way I'm trying to think of a good name if you have any ideas comment below so I want to start a running group here in Denver where we we can meet up I don't know how often yet but where we meet up and we go running but in addition I want to connect with all of you around the world through Strava so stay tuned for the running group that is goal number four for 2019 goal number five goal number five I want to this is a carryover again from 2018 win another race I like I like it that that's that was a good incentive for me to train hard in 2018 so that's gonna be another one I was able to pull it off once in 2018 and I want to try it again in 2019 we'll see we'll see you gotta stay humble right gotta stay hungry it's not just about winning but it helps me stay hungry fair enough fair enough alright and goal number six goal number six which we're definitely gonna talk about at the live stream Tuesday January 1st 6 p.m. Mountain time here on YouTube I want to race a road marathon at sea level my first ever that is goal number six you knew that was coming so that is my last goal for 2019 and where it's gonna happen when it is gonna happen I don't know yet ex for sure for sure I have some ideas and feelers out there that I'm just waiting to hear back on those are my running goals for 2019 and what's beautiful is that now I have record of saying this to you I can go back maybe once a quarter you know at the end of my first training block and just check in rewatch this video and just see how I'm doing on moving toward those goals and you can help keep me accountable because you're listening to them right now and of course yes the keyword is goals and that question of the day what are your running goals for 2019 and now listen I want to make a direct invitation to all of you out there who maybe have never commented and that's okay but I would just encourage you to think about this question because it's so exciting because in a year from now 365 days we can go back watch this video and more importantly go down read the comments and see oh yeah met that goal oh boy definitely did not meet that goal and see like wait a minute okay how am I gonna get ready for 2020 and change things up a little bit I know that's thinking way down the road but and with goals like it could be connected to PRs to eating to your racing calendar to your training schedule to your overall mental health to your work life fitness balance to you know you're connecting with other runners like there's so many different avenues your running shoes there's so many different avenues you could take for sharing your running goals for 2019 and if you need a couple days to think about this perfect like take a day or two think about your running goals for 2019 and then comment down below in a couple days just so we can have record of it and yes I will help you know do my best to keep you accountable to your goals you know that's why I'm here sharing videos on YouTube is to hopefully inspire you to strive strive for the heights baby strive for the heights whatever that might look like in your life and I wish I could of course shake your hand through this camera but I can't so the best we can do is communicate down in the comments I appreciate it and love you guys thanks for hitting that keyword thanks for being here and for being you on YouTube fair enough all right whoo January 1st coming right up oh baby seek beauty work hard oh you got me and love each other see you tomorrow


What are you doing Subbu? I'm buying vegetables. But this is not a vegetable. Capsicum. This is a fruit. Fine, I'll buy ladies finger then. This is also not a vegetable. But just because I'm a physics teacher you will say anything. This is a fruit. Botanically fruits are mature ovaries which contain seeds and vegetables are the vegetative part of the plant such as roots, stems and leaves. Hello, apples are fruits only no? No, it's a false fruit. False fruit? Why? Because the edible part of these fruits are not ovaries. It's the thalamus. Anu, then what is this? It's neither a fruit nor a vegetable. If you know what is this then comment below.


If you want to resign before the extended period of one year finishes or expires, that means you need to pay some amount of money to your employer for the remaining months of what you call your residence permit and that is what it is. That is why to some extent, to all situations, when they are renewing your residence permit, your employer will ask your consent. You will sign on that paper to give your employer consent meaning that once you tend to resign before the one year or before your residence permit finishes or expires, then you will have to pay charges or you will have to pay some amount of money to your employer as what you call compensation. So you need to be very careful for that case. If you are not going to renew, if you don't want to renew your contract, you have to state it immediately that I don't want to renew my contract, you have to let your employer know. Otherwise, if he renews your contract and he renews your employee residence permit, that means you will have to pay charges in case you have to resign and the full one year of what you call the residence permit has not expired.


Good morning Marvel squad But I'm gonna glow up gym check gym body check. So my highest weight. I ever was was 209 disregard the hair on my chest, you know didn't shave. I'm usually like 205 But this morning I weighed myself. We want to show you guys his progress 198 That's awesome. And I had a long weekend. So I was kind of over the 200s, but that's awesome We haven't been super like steady at the gym because we've been so freakin busy But we have been making sure since we haven't been at the gym as much as that our diet is on its best behavior Like we are on a calorie deficit, right? Yeah, so we're tracking our calories and where did you put that on? I'm like Superman. I'm like Oh my god, but yeah, we're on a calorie deficit even though I mean this works in my calorie I just have to make sure I don't go over my sugar level with 2023. We're sticking to our fitness and health I'm on a calorie set where I lose half a pound a week. But the thing is I have so much muscle now She's just that no my weight up. I think I've lost two pounds, which I really don't have to lose a lot of weight I just want to we're both doing awesome. We're both doing awesome. Oh and you know and 2023 is the year to make changes Now get out silent and I know I'm going outside and say I look pasty I'm right now, but I've been getting actually really dark.  I don't know my forehead's dry everything's dry. Yeah, his lips are dry Oh crusty dusty.  I feel like we don't argue enough. I feel like our relationship is too good to be true So why not start some arguments today for not just me, but you oh Why was that so cheesy but so good at the same time? I hope all y'all are smiling right now I hope all y'all right now give this video a huge thumbs up and comment down below Team bill because I don't care if you're team Mariah. Throw me some support in this video I'm taking one for the team because you know what I mean dude. I need to stop rhyming But anyways, y'all know what's going on. Let's get it wish me luck and enjoy the rest of this freaking video We got a lot going on today. I'm also picking up her newly sized wedding band.   Oh my god. How's your tan going in our broken pool cage still yet to be fixed Marvel squad Thank you hurricane Ian for that.  Why'd you do that? Huh? What did I do?   I already let him out today too.  Hi So Marvel squad we literally screwed up me and Mariah, okay, this was not just me just realized today is our six-year anniversary Six years of dating today March 22nd is when we're filming this I know we're posting it on the 24th, but today is our six-year anniversary And we didn't remember until literally who brought it up. You didn't oh you remember first Okay, but you still you kind of forgot because it's the day, but come on give me an official This is our official first kiss of being six years dating and now we're engaged And Marba squad Hey guys, so um literally I didn't I didn't I didn't I didn't it's a bug Anyways, I did I did it by the way This is the last year that we won't be husband and wife on our anniversary because this time next year We will be husband and wife husband and wife. It's crazy. How did I get so lucky? Look at this baddie do a little spin Like what I see might need to be see some of that tonight So we just got our pedicures done today, it's funny because Mariah had pedicures planned today And we didn't even realize that it was gonna be the same day as our anniversary like I feel like we've just been so busy In our heads like and we've been planning so much We had a weekend where I was away and you were alone and then we're going out this next weekend coming up So it's like it's just super crazy We really need to set reminders because like this is a day like I feel like It is very special six years like we're never gonna have another six years No, I know we won't that's like what's crazy.  There's the spice you got like an amame. This is probably our favorite thing here besides the sushi We can eat this all day She tastes good I love you guys this girl is so cute. I swear like she's the cutest girl All right you guys we just made it home Hi, I'm stuffed. We had so much sushi. It's not the camera. I can't hold it I'm laying down upside down. What do you mean you're tilted so I can't hold it like this and like turn it to you So run them through your dinner because I know you wanted it so bad today. How was it? I eat the whole roll. I eat that so best to probably get like five minutes, right? You did I so I was focused on giving her. Mmm. I was focused on giving her one Actually, I don't want to spit on the camera No I know isn't this terrible No, I was just doing it as a joke, but it wasn't a prank for a video Come back Maybe this is a test for our marriage Maybe I don't know if I want to marry her yet She has to prove to me that she is going to be here through thick and thin because I'm not going to dedicate my whole life To someone that doesn't deserve it How does that make any what it does it? I don't even know what I was saying, but baby can I tell you something?  I had this video planned for like the past week. Okay, Marvel Squad I did not know today. It was gonna fall on our six-year anniversary. So I mean hands up to the best prankster in the world if we can't get enough team bill comments in the chat I'm never doing a prank again guys.  I will make sure that we keep up with good pranks Come here, give me a kiss for a little and don't wipe it Okay, I won't if you wipe it.  I know she will she deserves the world guys I hope you enjoyed this video make sure you do the huge thumbs up and also wish us I would say Mariah, but this is I guess an us thing wish us a happy anniversary right now the first 50 people to go on our instagrams and follow us and comment down on our post that you follow us We're gonna make sure but comment down that you came for this YouTube video We are going to shout out in our next YouTube video. I'm telling you right now. It's gonna happen. So make sure to go ahead What are you doing rubbing your legs my nicely pedicured legs?  What's the first word? And you have ten All right, love you guys No, this is off camera. No, I know it's not yes, it is come here No Baby's kissing