Spirtual Gifts Inventory

For our small group we were asked to take a spiritual gifts survey. Since we are a fairly new group it would be good to know where we have gifts and how to better use them. So, I took mine last night, its a 98 page questionnaire that asks you how you feel about certain statements and if it is true about you. Then it asks you to add up your score and choose the top 3 numbers, and those are your top 3 areas of giftedness.

Here are mine (and a short description of each), and I was a tad surprised, but the more I think about it, the more I might tend to agree:

Teaching (19 points) - Like to research mounds of information and then simplify, help to apply to lives of listeners. Unlike prophesy not just interested in conviction but also instruction. Spiritually gifted teachers appeal to the will as well as the mind. Has a thirst for knowledge, a thirst for God's will and word, they are focused on changing lives with the Word, burdened to help people understand truth, usually like groups, feel "if only the people understood-they would obey because it makes sense".

Craftsmanship (18 points) - Excellent detail oriented, hands-on kinds of people. Handy with tools and usually have the tools. Derive a sense of fulfillment through seeing tangible resources made available to the ministries.

Administration (16 points) - Observers of systems and strategies; then they want to execute the best procedures, organized and efficient. They are the ones who take responsibility for attaining the goals articulated by the leaders--once the goal is set they set the procedures to reach them.

Its funny because my top 2 "gifts" are things I don't feel very adequate in. Administration, I can handle that, but teaching and craftsmanship? I wonder though, the more I think about those 2 things, are a teacher and a craftsman ever satisfied with their work, or are they always reminded of what they did wrong along the way, striving for mistake elimination?

Sometimes I can work on a project and have put a lot of time and effort in, but some part of me always harps on the the things I did wrong so that I can do better next time. Next time your at our house, ask me about the backsplash tiling job, or the wiring for the under cabinet lights, oh, and the 3 ceiling fans I just hung, all look great (so I am told) but all the errors scream at me.

just a little insight for a change...

5/29/2008 (Thu) - Run

Beautiful day for a quick run! Went out and felt good. I will say, I thought I was running a bit faster than I did so I was a tad disappointed but it was faster than last time I ran the same route. Guess I am slowly getting out of shape (or, good shape at least).

Run: Temperature was 66, sunny and beautiful
1.75 Miles
14:03 Minutes - 8:02 mile avg
Total Miles 2008: 107.41 Miles

May 23, 2008 - Philly Segway Tour (VIDEO)

3 minute video compilation of our segway tour in Philly. I'll just say, riding the Segway was awesome! They are very touch and weight sensitive. We had a blast!

Stay tuned to the end for some free styling on both of our parts!

5/25/2008 (Sun) - Run

So we have been meaning to use the girls up the street for babysitting for a long time. This week I got a revelation and an excuse to try them out as a bit of meet and greet, get to know us and Ryan. We had them come over after Ryan's nap to meet us, then they would stay and play with Ryan while Natalia and I went for a run together! Something we haven't done together since the grand old days of living in Hoboken!

We had a nice run, thought it was fairly warm. We went at Natalia pace since I knew we'd both be comfortable and hey we made it. Natalia is becoming quite the runner, though I do think she missed her music stream via my iPod shuffle. She had to put up with my conversation though instead!

Run: Temperature was 77, sunny and a tad warm
3.30 Miles
34:18 Minutes - 10:24 mile avg
Total Miles 2008: 105.66 Miles

By the way, the babysitters did great and worked out and we are excited to have them, AND so close by!

5/21/2008 (Wed) - Run

Got a quick run in at lunch time on Wednesday. Glad I got it in, but my shin pains seems to be creeping back into the picture. Probably not a good sign at all. I am thinking I am going to have to suck it up and get x-rayed if I want to continue running. Right now, the pain is not noticeable when I am not going up and down stairs though (or running for that matter).

Run: Temperature was 60, sunny and beautiful
1.75 Miles
14:11Minutes - 8:06 mile avg

Total Miles 2008: 102.36 Miles

Natalia's 5K - Kennett Run Sat 5/17/2008

#429 came in and kicked some butt. After an 5 year hiatus from running at all let alone a 5K race, Natalia did great. Her training routine was strict, 3 days a week, increasing little by little.

Saturday was the culmination of that, and she finished with flying colors, in a time of 30:33. She was pretty happy with her time!

As with most runners, one race ends, we wonder what is next. She seems to be carefully considering her options, but for this one, congratulations honey!

5/13/2008 (Tues) - Run

My last run as a 30 year old! ;)

Didn't get a second run in last week but decided to pick up the pieces and run again today. It was a beautiful lunch time run. Just a short one, I am still testing out my legs. The good news is, the shins feel great so far. I only hope that trend continues. This run puts me over 100 miles for 2008! Only about 28 miles short of the total miles I ran all of last year...

On another note, Natalia will be running the Kennett Run (5K) on Saturday. She has been training for the last 7 or so weeks and has been doing awesome. Perhaps she has keyed into a new passion? After Kennett, she has her target set for a 5K in August.

Run: Temperature was 63, sunny and beautiful
1.50 Miles
11:10Minutes - 7:27 mile avg

Total Miles 2008: 100.61 Miles

Rest in Peace with Jesus Grandad

Grandad (John Beley) spent his last few weeks in a tough place, and he was called home, probably with great joy, on Tuesday May 6, 2008. He left behind quite a legacy, one I am sure that many men could not match, considering my dad has 16 grandchildren of his own, and my dad had 3 brothers and 1 sister to add to those numbers. Here is Grandad's obituary, courtesy Beaver County Times:


John Beley, 89, of Fair Oaks, died Tuesday, May 6, 2008, in Pristine Pines Retirement Village, Franklin Park.

Born July 4, 1918, in Findleyville, Pa., a son of the late Martin and Kathryn Mazurek Beley, he was a retired draftsman for American Bridge Corporation with 44 years of service and a former auditor for Fair Oaks. He was a member of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Ambridge. He was an avid gardener, golfer, and bowler, and enjoyed making homemade wine. He showed a strong interest in his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He served his country in the United States Navy during World War II.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Beley; a brother, Theodore Beley, and a sister, Ann Ling.

Surviving are four sons and daughters-in-law, John and Debra Beley of Avondale, Pa.; William and Rebecca Beley of Fair Oaks; James and Pauline Beley of Economy, and David and Diana Beley of Economy; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Jo and Rick Oliver of Liberty Township, OH; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Helyn Swobe of Sewickley, and Mary Tani of West Palm Beach, FL.

Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. until time of Panachida Service at 7:30 p.m. in the JOHN SYKA FUNERAL HOME INC., 833 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge. Translation of the body will follow to St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Family and friends will meet Saturday at 9:45 a.m. at the church where a funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in Economy Cemetery.

Members of the Beaver County Special Unit will meet Saturday at 11 a.m. at the cemetery to provide full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Delaware Valley Chapter, 2004 Stroul Road, Suite 208, Broomall, Pa. 19008.

5/6/2008 (Tues) - Run

Its been over 8 weeks since my last run. My shins felt good before I went, I gave them plenty of time to heal and the pains have been gone for about 3 weeks now. Its actually been really nice, though I am just sitting around getting out of shape and blubbery.

It was a beautiful day and things went WELL. Felt no pain and didn't push myself at all. I am happy with my time because I know I could have run a lot faster. I'll run again at some time later in the week but the shins are still feeling great.

Run: Temperature was 71, sunny and beautiful
1.50 Miles
11:41 Minutes - 7:48 mile avg

Total Miles 2008: 99.11 Miles