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Success Story
Mother Theresa said: “I do not pray for success. I ask for faithfulness”.
Out of the need to earn a living and make money I have found God’s will and His measure of Grace, I have also learned that living beyond the means God provides enslaves.
Living beyond one’s means immediately subjects one to work at jobs more linked to meeting debt than carrying out God’s call to win souls or help build His Kingdom.
However, it is in this midst that God equips us to win souls by being a witness to those He puts before us. We explain what God has done in our life; this is what we witness and testify.
Mother Teresa said that God desires us to achieve faith not success.
The inner-directed person sets his own goals or lets God set His goals; in either case the person does not subscribe to the goals of the world and the context in which he lives.
Making the right choices in the beginning brings order and keeps us out of chaos.
When our first decision is wrong then all that follows is as the first decision, wrong disonent and incompatible.
The resulting life is chaos. It is this chaos that was so much a part of my early years and that I yearned to place in order. You might see the quest as a quest for not only ordering my brain, mind, heart but my life, context and circumstances. Architecture seemed the place to begin. If I could only know what makes it all “jell” then maybe I could order it. I bele3ive this was the theme not only of my life but also of the nation and the world. Reordering what has been done wrong and bringing chaos.
I had a lot of bad starts at home, school and neighborhood. So much was wrong. I entered the systems in the wrong direction, with the wrong attitude, poorly equiped and with incompatible, unacceptable and irrelevant vocabulary, ideas, etc.
So how does one overcome this mess?
Answer: ”Seek God’s will”! (Let go, and let God)
Phil4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”.
Virtue does not come from Plato or Aristotle. They analyze but they do not produce.
Paul and the other apostles recognised the overwhelming enemy of self-righteousness and potential for the perception of man-made perfection.
Paul saw this in Macedonia incorporated in Hellenism, Greek and
Roman governments, Latin, Philosophy and literature, Homer, etc.
The man who sees in virtue God and not man have succeeded in following, abiding, and obeying God.
I have tried to ascribe the world’s/man’s best to God so that God and not man be exalted. “See God in all things”!
Definitely there are things man does but the glory goes to God.
There are things that man does but the creation and fruit comes form God.
Discerning the difference and exercising trust in god builds character; God-like character: neither man’s characteristics nor man’s personality traits if indeed we walk by faith and not by sight. I have tried to keep my mind on God’s word, standards and objectives; not man’s. To do this I have had to refocus my perception, mind, analysis, criteria, and vocabulary towards Gods because it is incorruptible, true, and consistent. I trust God and not man. That includes me I do not trust myself. And, I ask others to rather trust God before they trust me.
We usually measure our success on our own perceived measures of what society and our context deems successful. Rarely do we set our own standards and measures and once achieved appreciate our selves.
Even if we do it for a time at some point the overwhelming contest’s standards intrude and get focused back into our lives. At one moment we are focusing upon the spiritual god-like realities when the next the world’s order looms larger that life itself.
The sociological ”other-directed” man measures his success on society criteria (at least his understanding of that criteria-which changes for society to society, context to context, status to status, period to period, relationship to relationship, job to job, etc.
Success simply defined is completing and achieving an objective. The word has become an elixir to hype life and scapegoat any achiever and achievement to others who have not.
It is a social absurdity anyone can claim and compare to those that have not chosen and achieved the same goals. It is man competing with other man not running the race in God’s word against the enemy.
I am reminded about my own competitive urges and those in the world in which I live. I see and measure myself in relationship to other men and women; presant and past. I do not beat them but justify my not doing what they achieved by claiming that it was not my goal or that they have some capability that I do not have. The fact of the matter is that as God gives us each various spiritual gifts, he also makes us to have unique physical and mental characteristics, and he also calls us to do different things.
In Christ are joy, peace and happiness. Christ is the same for all and in Him we can all be one accord free form the enemy who would divide and conquer.
In him we are free from this deceptive elixir. He provides and communicates His grace, and if we receive Him, by manifesting His victory over sin in our life defeating Satan’s attacks reversing our misfortunes.
But it is up to us choose to be what and do what men or God will have us do. I say and sing to God the word’s of the psalmist: ”you are the potter, I am the clay” and celebrating god’s achieving His objective making us in His image and keeping His promises. He is a covenant God.
I have listed the promises and matched them with fulfillment to see the success of my trust in Him. I have insisted in our ministries to hear from believers what God has done in their lives.
They and I have succeeded in meeting god’s commission and commandments to love God and our brother. But what about the New York penthouse apartment, the Bentley, the expense account, the Tudor house in the country, the villa in Amalphi, the ski lodge in St. Moritz, the fashionable cloths, the yacht, jet plane, etc. etc. Oh yes, the human nature is still there!
In Puerto Rico’s La Pearla we were informed by the residents of the there expectations, and symbols of achievements in there gravity built Pepsi cola sign and eggcrate houses. Likewise in South Africa’s SOWETO and India’s Madras. I was unable to convince the US state department that the US did not have the “corner” on “materialism” but suffered under every entities delusion of being the only one, best, or the one with the most. Materialism, worldliness does not have national borders but is the domain and dominion of the deceptions of evil. Evil is inter and multi national. The US state department believers that the USA is the world’s prime peddler. Of course in globalization and world trade but not in propensity. Globalization is only feeding man’s greed, lust and quest for significance and relationships. Our answer is turn men from the world toward God; whether in India, China, USA, France, Africa, etc. In this sense every country is a victim of the same enemy and globalization of consumption and consumerism. The world is a big supermarket and each of is a shopper with a shopping cart. Even online e-commerce sites call its collections of selected products: ”shopping carts”
The world is urbanizing and consuming. It’s becoming more of the world in which I grew up. Church leaders call this one of the “signs of the end times”; I agree! I call it home. It is familiar and enables me to reach out to such sectors and mission effectively. I know the demons and there deceptions. I am able to share how God convicted and saved me. However, as Paul, I have never had the calling to argue and win toward the urbane atheist. I can only befriend and witness. I can only pray that God himself reach these dear friends. I have prayed that God would send others to witness to my people or call me to do so. So far he has not. It is my hope that this work might reverberate with someone. God help me!
Special Calling
I was able to face Saudi Arabians with God’s gift of an urban mind.
I saw things by making metaphors. I saw the Saudi subject, businessman and student as an urban predator.
I saw the world of commerce and related all my urban background to the Saudi context.
The Saudis liked and needed my expertise, knowledge and experience. They knew I could take them form provincial to big city and I did.
I was able to plot, plan, scheme and devise so that there business would grow and develop my background in the would of commerce made me a luge asset in Saudi Arabia.
I assumed we were part of that mind-set. It worked and we were able to sustain our ministries while lifting up the Saudis and helping them prosper.
They in turn helped me with transportation, accommodations, communications, contacts, etc.
I knew the world mind. I found Bedouins to be urban thinkers after all they were the classic trader/merchants. Commerce started here so who was I do judge.
I would listen and learn.
Then I would advise and assists them build and expand their schemes into the west and show them how to contract.
They in turn knew how to double deal and break contracts so as to gets evens greater profits.
And, they knew I knew how to make that work. They were tenacious urban predators. I would tell any potential customer, buyer, and partner “caviat emptor” (buyers beware). They too looked to the law to give structure. But, that’s all, they never have any intention of following the law about trading. It was quite a ride.
God is constantly giving and this is the age of Grace. We do not appreciate and give Him enough thanks! The psalms encourage us to give thanks at all times and in all things. In his letter to the Philippians Paul reminds us what ever we perceive that is good comes from God. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things9 and Peter in chapter two of his first epistle verses 9-10 says: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
I have dedicated my life to the improvement of the quality of life of others by the metaphors I authored or participated in making. Music, poetry, prose, painting, pottery, sculpture, architecture, acting, dance, preaching, interior design and comedy did all of these metaphorically and to provide identity for my self and others. Teaching and managing created bridges for other to identify and relate their lives to bridge their identity to edify and improve there lives.
Even politically I was made metaphors at the NFM civic association, Hispanic Advisory, Leipzig evangelical ministerial association, Laboratories for Metaphoric association, AIG/ME and the German Wine society in Houston. All of these were opportunities to create and exude metahors. Working as architect, manager, teacher, etc were also opportunity to create metaphors.
Successes
• Stretching the dollar over periods when there was no income.
• Finding work in new fields and places
• Remaining flexible and positive
• Ready and able to change and adopt to new circumstances
• Avoiding bankruptcy and scandal
• Never lie or fight to hold job or win contract
• Complete work assignments as requested and keeping realistic view of assignment, context and value of context
• Marriage
• Finding my way in streets where there were no street signs or numbers.
• To create places, which induce people to be, well and live with honor.
Victories
Why all these well developed skills and talents with no apparent profitable use. Over and over God said :”I want you to depend upon me, not yourself” These skills you have earned.
“You are capable, but I provide!. Bless others by giving what I have given you; THE WORD: you did nothing to earn this! It is my gift to you, freely given, give it freely!
Lessons from Work
Speak softly
Give with God’s Grace
Be helpful
Do not be rude
Communicate
Do not be invasive: Do not ask too many questions; do not pry.
Be friendly
Lost Opportunities:
Chrysler Building
Plaza Hotel
Yankee Stadium
Jiffy Lube
Condo in Houston Apartment building
Penthouse of Essex House in NYC
Three story house on bayou in Houston
Buildesign Corp
Arlene’s Father in the liquor Business. This was the material “ship” that came to rescue me but I did not get on the ship. My Aunt Rose had sufficiently convinced me that i needed to educate myself and be responsible for myself. It broke our heart to part. That opportunity, in that way never again presented itself.
See our website:
www.bariefez-barringten.com
Modus Operendi
At some point it seemed that the way to social, business and professional success was to run around by the seat of your pants being irate, giddy, emotional and whimsical. It was this emotionalism which seemed to drive me and other people to say and do things which made things happen.
People laughed, conversed, accepted, became angry, rejected and were entertained.
This madness did not work on my government job, Gulf Oil Job, teaching, government job, Aramco, etc.
While I was capable of doing both, switching from one to another persona, I had to change consciously from one to the other. People took all of this very serious.
There are times I miss the emotional, intuitive and flamboyant persona of “me”.
He was so familiar.
The other is a cold fish.
It is what confronted Dorothy and my family as I grew and matured. Some were attracted while others bored and vanished.
However, in business I've never been fired or relocated because I was unemotional and quiet. Career Formation: (3,370 words)
The first question is why didn’t I choose to go into my father’s business?
The answer to that question is that, unlike many other sons and daughter’s whom I’ve later met in my life as worker, executive and educator, my father did not ask me nor did he present his business as a profession, career or something that could engage me for a life time.
It was rather kept mysterious, dark and from ever I knew about it, precarious, miserable, and dangerous. It was something he did to make a living but was not a thing to pass on or for me to receive. At least it was not presented that way. Perhaps it was he knew how tenuous his business really was and that it was only a passing need in a changing society.
This was all further compounded by his relationship with Lea and his “other” family. I always believed and understood that Lea had, in fact, become Dad’s partner and that what ever profits, and conveyance of worth, value and business would be passed rather to Lea’s children, especially Jackie. Of course this had it s bitter sweet element in that whatever I knew about his business I hated and the sweet was that I was so spoiled, ambitious and motivated that I could go on toward some other profession and away from the business I associated with the worst of mankind and the most horrible kind of service one could provide and to a people that were not only irate and miserable most of the time, but also unappreciative. There also, did not seem to have any future to the business and it was a twenty four-hour hard work.
Growth and maturity have been my choices over fame, fortune and notoriety.
I secretly dreaded being fenced, typecast and limited by man and his accolades. I desired the opportunity to be all that I could be including changing locations, professions and jobs too keep growing.
Pop singers, business ownership, and politics all seemed to require a lifetime commitment to a role and persona, which I believed, was corrupt, flawed and broke. It needed fixing and I saw any opportunity to work as a vehicle toward growing and maturing. I did not want any part of any commitment which type cast, stereotyped or limited my “evolution”, “maturity” and shaping. I had the sense that most professions debilitated and handicaped rather than facilitating and enabling. Particularly public figures, icons, superstars, entertainers, athletes, I really had no hero’s to turn to who were examples of the model person my heart told me I was. I later found out that person was Jesus.
Life started out under stress where I knew “work” was needed to live.
It wasn’t just the money, it was the occupation.
Something to define my time and develop identity. I recall my mother suggesting I talk to my father if I should start doing this or not. He said ok, so long as I kept up with my classes.
The trouble was I had no interest in my classes.
I started work early because I was led to believe I should to be a person. I did not feel like a person at home.
When I worked I felt like a person. It was my way of realizing who I was and being able to present my presence.
I secretly knew that I was still the same old rotten good for nothing stupid kid at school; but, some how that did not mean much in the work place. I thought that I will not beholding to any man nor would I accept welfare. I would not be part of those who do not work. This thought was later developed as those who do not work but get fed by others are actually enslaved. As a child and young man my parents “God helps those who help themselves and not to be enslaved by receiving handouts form any taught me. Earn your keep and living. My mother and father paid me for cleaning the house and my father paid me both cash and the use of a car when I drove for his business. I like the independence and self-reliance that earring my own living gave to me.
I was addicted to employment of what ever skills others could discern and wreak out of me while keeping my well guarded ineptness and proven class room and social failures private.
The workplace and I became frinds at a very early age.
I learned to hide my soul and expose the personas most compatible to context.
I made work my business so that I could earn what I considered the most for each hour spent. Time is money and I learned to minimize the time spent so that I could use the time for my studies at school. Least hours and the most amount of money earned. It wasn’t until we left New York City and I began corporate and companies work that an overall paycheck started to come into focus.
Someone once said we make a living by what we get, but we live by what we give. I’ve aspired to be a great architect because of what I could give because I love to give architecture. Some one once referred to this generosity and grace as “largeness of spirit”. I became my profession because of what filled me, because I was filled I could give:
Pastor
Architect; and Teacher
I believed that service to God should not be played by the same business rules as business and that Architecture should be paid for what I have to give. That what I had been filled in architecture was gained at a great cost and should be compensated for its cost and enjoyed abundantly. Whereas for I received from God in ministry was freely given cost nothing. I rather gained by what I was filled and could always dispense it freely. The two were different. Because I choose to stay out of corporate America, those in corporate America choose not to award me there projects. With the exception of the south, Puerto Rico and Saudi Arabi. there was nothing forthcoming from neither my family nor any organization in Northeast. The “Mona Lisa Smile” syndrome was in the Northeast and not in the southwest. Mike Carroll told me that he and his family knew about the phenomenon but really had no access to these opportunities nor motivated to make these choices. This phenomenon was evidently limited to the New England sates. Mike even mentions to me that several of his relatives who completed Stanford did not engage in the change of life styles, etc.
The second way of answering the same question:” Why didn’t I choose to go into my father’s business?” lies in the same answer to
1. why I choose not to marry Arlene?
2. Insist ON education to have my own skills
3. Achieve license ion architecture
4. Yale for education and not for prestige
5. Not to return to New York City
From 1947 my earliest jobs between ages ten and seventeen:
• deliver newspapers and then the second to My first job was between ages ten and twelve
• Deliver groceries in Washington heights.
• shine shoes on Southern Boulevard, third job at 12 plus
• gofer sweep floors, clean windows, delivery and pick-ups, Forth job at twelve was at Michael Handler (Debrose)
• camp counselor in Cricklewood at age 14, Fifth job
• driving for Dad , Sixth at sixteen was and the
• hanging drapes, Seventh at 17 was for Classic
These were all jobs to take up time and divert me from coping with my inability to study, learn, read, and become the educated person that God intended. What ever talents I exhibited in puppet making, stage building, electronics, construction, design, singing, music, radio announcing were totally missed by the adults around me. While my cousins, friends and the rest of the people my age were learning math, science and humanities I was working at odd jobs.
Generalist vs. Specialist and Professional vs. Minister
Employers look for someone to carry out jobs, tasks, works which make there office and business function. What do want to be when you grow up question is the broad based scope searching moment in time when one starts to narrow down the spectrum of possible careers,
I cannot remember meeting any one who did not have a specific role, job, profession, career, etc. “what do you do”? Implies a commitment to an occupational decision, a business, career and on going life’s central theme. The life of Thomas Andrew Hand Dorsey intrigues me as I consider my own development and changes.
There are many that have found themselves doing a variety of things like Tom Dorsey. The only difference we remember some of Dorsey’s works because Elvis Presley made some of his songs famous, notably ”Precious Lord, take my hand”(1932)
Although, I never patterned my self after any one in particular, the concept of the “Renaissance man” intrigues me.
Born in 1899 and died in 1993, Dorsey was an American gospel musician, born in Villa Rica, Ga.
He began his career as a blues pianist and songwriter. Later he became a church choir director in Chicago and was a co-founder of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses. Widely known as the “father of the gospel song,” he played an important role in the development of African-American gospel music. In his over 1,000 songs Dorsey combined elements of the blues with traditional African-American religious music. His works include the early If You See My Savior and his best-known song, Take My Hand.
Alberto gonzalez-seijo in Puerto Rico observed my ability to shift from discussing the minutest detail to overall concepts.
He noted that this was no surprise since I was an architect.
This to him was the essence of the architect to be micro and macro simultaneously.
It is a sin to not obey and listen to the Holy Spirit’s quickening, urgings and guidance. For each person it is unique and different and should not be construed as a set pattern for all and a lifetime. As we see any one person and context it is as God made it at the moment. It is not cast in concrete and forever. Look at the life of David: shepherd, musician, poet, songwriter, composer of music, dancer, king, counselor, warrior, giant-slayer, etc. Jesus was Carpenter, healer, orator, profet, etc.
I remember hearing with pity how astronauts were in deep depression after not being called to continue to fly; how musician and show business people commit suicide when not being asked to play or perform; how political figures cannot retool them selves; how preachers not leave there church or ministry as called by God because they fear the change; etc.
I always thought of becomming a singer performer, starting a business etc. but believed that I would pre empt God and endanger my ability to listen and the flexibility to go where He would lead. In essence we did not have children for the same reason, god did not call us to do that and if we did we were sure we would not be able to go where he leads. One architect once chastised me for being both a ministers of the gospel and Architect saying I should make up my mind, as he can’t deal with both of me. His business recently failed and he has left town.
• Architecture: I believed that being an architect would insure financial success and stability.
• Interior Decoration
• Interior Design
• Ministry
• Radio Broadcasting
• Art
Creativity
My life of creativity has lived with the difference between control and chaos; discipline and spontainity; and, planned and improvisation. In art, architecture, interior decoration, hanging drapes, disc jockeying, puppeteering, drafting and sketching I have always walked a tightrope but was at my best when I was loose, improvised, sketch and sing my way through. Even my drafting precision is best when left to my whim and whiles of intuition and spontaneity. I can work for many hours continuously and without eating or sleeping. As my art, design and writing is best when I write and not pre-plan nor compose but let God’s spirit guide. When I prepare sermons I plan, compose and make notes. I mark the bible with sticky backs at every page. But, when I preach it all goes away and I am led by the Holy Spirit to preach God’s word based on the research and prayer that has gone before. I pour my heart out in art, design, writing, conversation, and management. It is all the same creativity to me. Even public speaking and managing meetings. It is all-intuitive. I love gypsy and jazz music because it best reflects my spirit. I love open and creative mnemonic conversation, rhetoric, and singing words to make up melodies given from intuition. Rapp, Calypso, street gypsy, folk, and classic chant are like this. I can do this easily. In a Puerto Rico club a performer stood and took any suggestion given by the audience and immediately composed song and rhyme to perform. This is what I can do and to me it is the ultimate in creativity. It is also so tuned into mind and utterances given by God and keeps one’s ego out of the way. I take pleasure in the creative process and enjoy its seconds, moments, hours, and days. At Yale we discussed this issue and I came down strong ON process to which Professor Charles brewer and the class agreed I was abnormal. My products were so prolific and imaginative they could not conceive these done in an unplanned disciplined was and especially not appreciating the process rather than the product. I love the process and the moments I am living within my creation while creating the creation. When it ends I am now separated from it and it has its own life. Others may now possess and experience the creation. Perhaps they may enjoy and relive what I did to create the product. I have enjoyed other creations by other creators who I sensed created in this way but it is very rare. Most that I have known who do create do not have this experience. It is where I live and where I understand craft.
When I went to Saudi I knew how to deal with harshness from USA led Arabs. TCN (third country nationals) were tricky. My work ethic and morality was always surprising and disarming. Having labored in menial jobs for tips and crumbs I knew where they were comming from.
In 'Toward a Sociological Theory of Income Differences' Mark Granovetter says that socioeconomic background affects mental ability; background and ability affect educational attainment; background, ability, and education affect occupational achievement; and all of the preceding variables affect earnings. This particularly resonates with my own experience. God has used these phenomena to His purposes, to win souls and bring comfort to the lost and suffering. God and His will did not guide by a concept, family or father but my career.
Labor is infinitely divisible into homogeneous units, as well-behaved neoclassical commodities are supposed to be. Labor, or course, is not well behaved and comes instead in inconvenient lumps called workers.
I had to leave the class of workers and “be” the class of master, manager, leader, and source of worker’s directions.
I had to behave and beleive differently.
My parents pictured themselves as labor and victums of a system. They had no ability to affect change.
Granovetter says that it is only important to know what the individual brings to the labor market in terms of educational credentials and training, etc. to understand income differences. It is the only thing a person can do who has no other connections, leverage, capital, assets, and ownership.
I believed that I could make a difference if I were to possess these attributes of educational credentials and training.
Granovetter rightly points out that the difficulty is that whether one's investment pays off depends on whether there is demand for what one's acquired skills can produce (characteristics of available jobs) and on whether one will be in a position to help meet that demand (the matching process). And, when I graduated Pratt and Yale demand was down for my skills and profession. It wasn’t until the early nineties that demand increased for these skills. By 1993 I was fifty-six and out of range to learn computer aided design.
I applied for civil service works in the same building I applied and received my FCC forth class broadcaster’s license in about 1955. At my interview I was told that I could apply for the civil service test and after several times I’d probably pass. But, m that did not determine if I’d gets hired. I was told, candidly, that of the many who pass the test few actually get any job assignments the selections are apportioned to people who have inside and special connections, political (Democratic party), Religious (Irish Catholic, etc.) or other very personal connections I had none of that! I simply dropped it. Years later, after several years of employment in KSA i traveled to Heidelberg Germany, fort Abram’s to apply for Core of Engineers, open advertisements and was told much the same the thing. Still not convinced, in 1990 I applied for Lee county government building department employment, and after interviews and applications lost a perfect position because of my age, I was too old; the acceptable candidate has all my qualifications and less but was twenty years my junior. I was so surprised to ten years later be hired by Mr. Robert Stewart after one simple interview.
People who obtain their jobs through personal contacts made more on average than those who obtained their jobs through application process did. On the demand side, there are few jobs for which large numbers of people are not qualified
I believed if I needed to be an honorable man: High Principled with a code of ethics who does the right thing. However, this model is obsolete and irrelevant in the twenty- first century, and particularly in an ever increasingly technical culture.
There were always stirrings with in each company I worked. The question was always, how much are you willing to take to keep the job. Even when I later became the boss it was the same for me and I would convey this sentiment to those under me. The issues may have been political, relationships, behavioral, promises, etc. I never was so interested and I rather loose the job. I never regarded any company or situation so valuable as to it be worth my while to make the efforts. I could get another and always did.
However, I’d always work closely with my supervisor, boss, and employer to find out what was required and to do that, which was needed and requested. I certainly sought to improve my performance and better meet my supervisor and company’s objectives.
Christina and I concluded that those that succeed in cutting edge big business have a killer mentality. Killing themselves, families, and there competitors. They entered a market to gain a share of what has already been provided by another and in some other way. It correlated with those that had fought and won W.W.II. They were conquers and sought victories. It just seemed that we were out of our element as this was not the sort of personality or character that we were made of. With this in mind we embarked on a career supporting these killers and despots in positions well away these instincts. It was only in Saudi where I came so close to these owners and leaders and was really their accomplice. I knew them and there intents and helped them succeed.
Whatever talent I have was given by God to serve his purpose and at His pleasure. Whatever product or good comes from these talents are returned to God for His treasure. I am very grateful for a life of gifts and talents to serve God and bring people to Him.
