March ongoing, Malcom Mariners vs Moulton Hawks -- THE RECYCLING CHALLENGE IS STILL ON!

The Recycling Competition between the mighty Malcom Mariners versus the Moulton Hawks is still under way! So save, collect and bring in your CRV (California Redemption Value) aluminum cans every Monday and your CRV plastic bottles every Wednesday! Drop-off points are located adjacent to the carpool thoroughfare, and near the front-office/library portico as well as on campus. Our aim is to load up that recycling bin--often referred to as the big, beige bin--before Moulton Elementary fills theirs! It means big cash for our schools, a big cleanup for our earth, but most important: Malcom Pride is on the line! ...Okay, so maybe that's not the most important benefit, but competing in the first-ever intra-school recycling challenge has its merit. It's US versus THEM, people! Go MARINERS!

March FAMILY Restaurant NIGHT: Please help Malcom make up the difference and order dinner from Family Restaurant Night. We have 3 options a month. The first Thursday of every month is Baja Fresh Night. The second Thursday is Domino's Pizza Night is our third dinner of the month which changes monthly! Join us for Family Restaurant Night at Ball Park Pizza with your friends and family this month on February 18th! Do something for the school that does so much for your kids. Check the PTA website for flyers and further information.

PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS CHALLENGE/FITNESS VOYAGE

All Malcom students will be participating in the Presidential Fitness Challenge on March 24th and 26th. Students will receive a Malcom Mariner for recording their training each day for January, February, and March on the Fitness Voyage log. You can download your Fitness Voyage logs from Malcom School and PTA websites. Please check out the Presidential Fitness website it describes the events and lists the qualifying standards www.presidentschallenge.org.

Thanks,
Jennifer Brisbin

________________________________________

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile are actively assisting in relief efforts and determining how the LDS Church can be of most assistance in the wake of one of the most powerful earthquakes of the last century. With over half a million Latter-day Saints living in the country, the LDS Church has a substantial presence in Chile.

Local leaders and members began relief efforts shortly after the quake distributing food and water already located in Concepción. Early reports indicate that one LDS Church member has died (this is a correction from a previous report that stated three LDS Church members were presumed dead).

LDS Church leaders have identified that food, water, tents, blankets, hygiene kits and sleeping mats are needed to assist people in the affected region. Representatives of the LDS Church in Chile have been in contact with the country’s Interior Ministry to determine how the LDS Church can most appropriately assist in relief efforts. Emergency response personnel at LDS Church headquarters are poised to provide assistance as appropriate.

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile delivered six tons of food from local bishops' storehouses to the city of Talca on 2 March to help meet needs in several cities north of Concepción. A second shipment of 20 tons of food is expected to reach Concepción on 3 March. Two additional shipments of food have been sent to affected areas to the south of Concepción.

“While any loss of life and destruction of great magnitude is a tragedy, we don’t anticipate that the situation in Chile will be nearly as devastating as what we’ve seen in Haiti,” said Lynn Samsel, director of emergency response for the LDS Church.

Most Latter-day Saint meetinghouses in Chile fared well in the quake, though many are filled with dust. At least three meetinghouses suffered extensive structural damage, and another was severely flooded. A house that also served as a meetinghouse was swept away in the tsunami triggered by the earthquake.

Contact has been made with all missionaries. All are reported safe and many are assisting in relief efforts. Missionaries who are unable to return to their apartments are staying with members or in meetinghouses. While communication has been somewhat unreliable for local Church leaders, they have had their best success communicating through text messages.

The epicenter of the magnitude 8.8 earthquake was located off the central coast of Chile, causing significant damage in the nearby cities of Santiago and Concepción.

The shaking lasted about three minutes, buckling highways and snapping utility lines. Transportation, communication and electrical power were severed across much of the country. Chilean officials have confirmed more than 720 people died in the earthquake, with more confirmed casualties expected in the coming days.

An estimated two million Chileans have been affected by the earthquake, with at least 500,000 homes sustaining considerable damage. Dozens of aftershocks, some registering as high as 6.9 on the Richter scale, continued to rattle the region over the weekend.

Those wishing to donate to the LDS Church Humanitarian Aid Fund can do so here. Resources from the LDS Church Humanitarian Aid Fund make it possible for the LDS Church to conduct humanitarian activities all over the world. One hundred percent of all contributions are used to help the needy.

Humanitarian Aid Fund

The generous donations by individuals, corporations, and foundations to the LDS Church's Humanitarian Aid Fund make it possible for the LDS Church to conduct humanitarian activities all over the world. These activities bless the lives of millions of men, women, and children. One hundred percent of all contributions are used to help the needy—the LDS Church uses other funds to cover administrative expenses.

You can donate to the Humanitarian Aid Fund in several ways:

Through local units of the LDS Church. Donation slips are used for the collection of LDS Church contributions, including tithing and fast offerings, and can be obtained from a bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On this donation slip, there is a category entitled "Humanitarian Aid."

By mailing donations to:
Humanitarian Services
50 East North Temple Street, Floor 7
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-6890

Online through LDS Philantrophies. Should you desire your contribution to be used for a particular program, you may do so on this Web site. However, not indicating a particular program gives the LDS Church flexibility to use your contribution where it is most urgently needed.

ldsphilanthropies@ldschurch.org

EXHIBITS, WORKSHOPS AND SPEAKERS
Event held at:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
310 Avenida Vista Montana, San Clemente, CA 92672

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:35–36, 40

Stay for one workshop or for the entire day.
See the schedules section to customize
your learning experience.

Casual Dress

Enjoy a day full of instruction, encouragement, ideas, and resources to help you, your family, and friends become more self-reliant so that you are better prepared to serve others.

•Humanitarian services
•Social and emotional strength
•Education and literacy
•Employment
•Emergency response communications
•Physical health
•Personal and family finances
•Food storage

FREE ADMISSION TO EVERYONE
FREE FOOD
FREE CHILDCARE

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH “This Is Not the Life I Ordered!”9AM & Noon, Room 111
Getting free from the discouragement and despair that comes from looking back, and trusting that you can move forward from wherever you are.
Anne Arnold

Strangling Your Husband Is Not An Option — Ten Do’s & Don’ts of Marriage9AM & Noon, Chapel
We will discuss the unique role of being a spouse with specific helps on what to do and on what not to do as you work to strengthen your marriage.
Merrilee Boyack

Get Control of “I’m so Busy, I don’t have time for that!”10AM & 1PM, Chapel
We will analyze how to use our time and how to add new learning and risk
taking into our lives. There will be specific emphasis on choices and trying new directions.
We will discuss conscious direction in our lives.
Merrilee Boyack

“Help! My child has died her hair green!”9AM & Noon, Room 112 (Primary)
How do we resolve these “values” collisions? How can we create a home environment where our children want to embrace our values? What do we do when they don’t?
Kathryn Humberstone

FOOD STORAGE Store What You Eat and Eat What You Store 10AM & 1PM, Room 107
For the past 30 years, Kathryn has had a rotating year’s supply of food that is based on her family’s traditional eating habits. All the food is purchased at the local market and rotated in a simple way. You can have your own plan that truly becomes a “no brainer”.
Kathryn Humberstone

Living on Your Food Storage 11AM & Noon, Room 107
Jill offers practical tips from personal experience on the importance of a family food supply and how to thrive during times of emergency or need. Come receive ideas and sample proven recipes.
Jill Lutz

EMERGENCY RESPONSE What to do when the phones don’t work!10AM, 11AM, 2PM, Room 108
Amateur Radio has been around since before World War I and provided needed communications when nothing else worked. Learn what it takes to obtain your own FCC amateur radio license and be able to talk on the air to other radio operators - both in times of emergencies and for fun.
David White

FINANCE Family Dollars and Sense 11AM, Room 109A (Relief Society)
Elder Sorensen draws on his vast experience as a businessman, a church leader, and head of a busy family to give practical advice on how to get your financial house in order to better allow you to be of service to others.
Elder David E. Sorensen

Wealthy on Any Income 9AM & Noon, Room 109A (Relief Society)
In this fun and informative seminar, Greg Stapley, successful businessman and self-described tightwad, will divulge the time-honored and closely-guarded secrets of financial independence and success. Learn how to escape the twin treadmills of debt and doubt for a life of peace and prosperity.
Greg Stapley

“I’m responsible for an elderly parent, what now?!”10AM & 1PM, Room 109A (Relief Society)
What to expect as family members age, and how to care for them. There will also be some handouts about how to access Medicare or Medicaid, and other critical resources for the elderly population.
Nanci Wilson

All Things Insurance 11AM & 2PM, Room 112 (Primary)
Let’s talk about 10 ways to better understand our Insurance Needs and how to make informed decisions on how to spend our Insurance Dollars!
Barbara Smith

Why You Need Estate Planning NOW 2PM, Room 109A (Relief Society)
Whether your nest egg is tiny or significant, learn how properly structuring your estate planning now will preserve your assets and save your survivors untold time, expense and frustration upon your impairment or death.
Arlin P. Neser

Tips To Improve Your Financial Situation Today10AM & 1PM, Room 112 (Primary)
Practical advice you can apply today to improve your financial situation and teach your children about managing finances as they prepare for the future.
Michael Johnston

PHYSICAL HEALTH My Kind of Healthy: Finding Physical Health for Maximum Happiness 10AM & 1PM, Room 111
Empowering people to be self-sufficient in taking care of their body. 7 easy steps to feel like your best self.
Dr. Brad Powell

Scary moles, Melanoma, and other skin cancers — Detection and Prevention 11AM & 2PM, Room 111
Learn how to lead an active lifestyle while still protecting your skin from the effects of cancer and aging. Also, learn how to detect skin irregularities now that could lead to problems in the future.
Dr. Luke Bingham

Seed to Plate — Grow Your Own Food for Better Nutrition 10AM & 1PM, Room 105
In this class you will learn the secrets to thriving physically through garden-based meals that will help you and your family avoid the pitfalls of fast food. Recipes included!
Kimberly Phelan-Dalley — Chef

Karen Mallard — Registered Dietician
EDUCATION Paying for Higher Education — Be Ready!9AM, Room 105
Financing higher education is part of the process of higher educational attainment. The class will discuss saving for, getting scholarships for, and borrowing money for eduation past high school.
Jan Schiefelbine

Earlier Literacy Noon, Room 105
Literacy opens doors to progress and prosperity across a lifetime. This class will provide specific guidance showing how to teach reading skills to young children in the home at an earlier age.
Verla Sorensen

Getting In — How to ready students for acceptance by CES colleges and universities11AM, Room 105
Acceptance to LDS educational institutions is more competitive than ever. Learn how a student can plan ahead to stand out from the crowd in the application process. Also, learn about enjoying the CES experience in non-LDS institutions across the country.
Russ Greiner

Music lessons — How to Get Your Children to Practice Without Resorting to Violence11AM & 2PM, Chapel
All parents, even those without a musical background, can become partners with their children in developing musical abilities and personal discipline through effective daily practice. Help your child avoid the regret, “If only my parents hadn’t let me quit!”
Barbara Bell

EMPLOYMENT Recession-Proofing Your Job, Building Your Resume, & Successful Interviewing TechniquesThree 20-minute presentations repeated continuously throughout the day,
Chapel Overflow
Professionals from LDS Employment Services will show you where you can find the resources to help optimize your resume, how to improve your job prospects through networking, and will review the powerful new LDS Employment website that directs you to the best job opportunities available.

WORKSHOPS PRESENTED IN SPANISH — EN ESPAÑOLAprende estrategias divertidas para enseñar las bases del evangelio a tu familiaNoon, High Council Room
La enseñanza del evangelio a nuestros hijos ayuda a crear un cimiento solido para obtener felicidad y dirección en sus vidas. En esta clase aprenderemos algunas estrategias e ideas que nos ayuden a crear una Noche de Hogar divertida y dinámica para nuestros hijos.
Isa Reichner
Juntos contra el derrame cerebral1PM, High Council Room
Hablamos de los puntos pricipales sobre las causas, síntomas y como podemos evitar el derrame cerebral por medio de una alimentación sana, ejercicio e información médica.
Lilia Elizabeth Gallardo
La economía familiar2PM, High Council Room
Principios básicos del plan de Bienestar de la Iglesia, aplicado a las necesidades de los miembros de habla Hispana.
Gilberto Arteaga
Como bendecir la vida de sus hijos por medio de la educación3PM, High Council Room
La educación a nivel universitaria está disponible a cualquiera. La clave es aprovechar de las oportunidades. La educación universitaria para sus hijos viene a los que se entran en el sistema con fuerza y ahinco. Como puede usted asegurar que la educación será la bendición que debería de ser.
Don Sedgwick

For More information call: 949.433.2839

Event held at:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
310 Avenida Vista Montana, San Clemente, CA 92672

By Gene Siciliano

Growth and profitability. Most entrepreneurs would consider these to be the Holy Grail of business ownership. So it¡¦s not too surprising that many participants in the financial workshops I lead are surprised when I tell them that instant profits and rapid growth aren¡¦t always a cause for celebration.

¡§How can this be?¡¨ you might be wondering. The best way to explain it is to tell the story of the Wonder Widget Company. Haven¡¦t heard of them? Well, this is a fictitious company I made up to help me explain business financial concepts in an easy-to-understand way.

A Hot New Launch

Wonder Widget Co. launched last year with $100,000 in cash and the hottest new product in its market, the amazing Wonder Widget. It was so hot that the owners had sales and profits the very first month of operations. So they quickly leased and outfitted a factory, production equipment and furnishings (all with minimal initial cash outlay), bought materials, hired workers, and manufactured and shipped widgets. Then they mailed invoices totaling $50,000 to customers in the first month. Amazing!

They paid their bills as they came due and collected from customers in the normal course of doing business. Meanwhile, sales continued to grow, increasing by $50,000 every month with no decline in margins and no serious competition, and profits climbed without a pause.

But a strange thing happened on the way to the bank: The owners were shocked to find that they didn¡¦t have enough cash to pay their bills. Soon, they couldn¡¦t buy any more raw materials to manufacture Wonder Widgets or make their payroll. Instantly profitable Wonder Widget Co. was insolvent six months after they opened the doors.

On the surface, it¡¦s hard to see how something like this could happen to a profitable and growing business. But when you dig a little deeper, it becomes clear that there¡¦s a whole lot more to running a successful business than just profits and growth¡Xnamely, cash flow.

The Cash Flow Cycle

Understanding what happened to Wonder Widget Co. starts by understanding what¡¦s known as the cash flow cycle. This is the time lag that exists between when cash is paid out by the business for things like equipment, raw materials and salaries and when accounts receivable are collected. In manufacturing, the cycle usually consists of converting cash into raw materials, finished goods, receivables, and then back to cash again.

At the beginning of the cash flow cycle, nearly every business starts out with¡Xyou guessed it¡Xcash. But from that point on, the central purpose of the business is to convert that cash into other kinds of assets or to leverage or extend it with liabilities, and ultimately to turn it back into cash again¡Xbut this time, more cash than the business started with. This process continues indefinitely and simultaneously throughout the life of a business.

When the company started up, its first activities revolved around setup¡Xrenting facilities, getting phones and utilities installed, etc. At the same time, it was purchasing assets so it could start operations. These included office equipment, computers and the like. Of course, the company also needed employees to answer phones, run the office, and produce and sell Wonder Widgets. The owners financed some of these costs, but obtained credit via bank loans to cover most of them.

With all this in place, the company was ready to begin production, or the manufacture of Wonder Widgets. Unfortunately, the process consumed even more cash: wages, taxes, sales and marketing, more raw materials, and so on. In fact, this is the period of greatest cash consumption for most companies, as they are in full production mode but no cash is coming in yet.

Finally, Wonder Widgets was ready to sell its products and begin the process of recovering all the cash it has been spending (or investing) in the business. However, while sales were brisk, they were made on ¡§net-30¡¨ day terms, which means the company won¡¦t actually receive cash from these sales for another 30 to 45 days, at least.

To add to the challenge, growing sales means the company had to buy more raw materials than they did the first time around. Since they were selling more each month than the prior month, they needed to not only replace inventories consumed but also buy additional goods to satisfy their growing sales demand. Purchases can actually exceed sales in such a fast-growing environment.

Collections are the final step in the process. While this might seem like a minor activity in comparison to production or sales, it¡¦s actually the most critical task in making every other step pay off. Unfortunately, it¡¦s the step that many businesses, including Wonder Widgets, neglect¡Xand that leads to their ultimate demise.

Don¡¦t Give It Away

Are you starting to see how Wonder Widgets failed despite having strong profits and sales right out of the gate? Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese Restaurants, put it this way: A sale is a gift to the customer until the money is in the bank. This final step is the one that turns the entire effort¡Xsetup, purchasing assets, hiring employees, obtaining credit, and producing and selling products¡Xback into cash again.

At this point, the answers to some important questions will begin to surface, like: Did the company ultimately make a profit on its business activities? Did it plan adequately for the working capital it would need to finance the cash flow cycle in it¡¦s entirety? As the Wonder Widget story makes clear, answering ¡§yes¡¨ to just the first question isn¡¦t enough to ensure business survival. There are three key takeaways from this story:

1. Fast growth is a double-edge sword. Fast-growing companies need more working capital than those growing more slowly or not at all. When incoming cash flow is delayed while fixed costs continue and paydays come every week, there¡¦s a limit to how long a company can operate comfortably, even if it¡¦s profitable.

2. Cash flow needs must be forecasted months in advance. This is especially critical during the early months of a startup. And cash flow results must be tracked separately from profits.

3. Business goes with the flow. The health of a business depends on the health of its cash flow. As Wonder Widget Co. makes clear, more businesses fail due to a lack of cash flow than a lack of profits.

Gene Siciliano, CMC, CPA, is an author, speaker and financial consultant who works with CEOs and managers to achieve greater financial success in a dramatically changing economy. As ¡§Your CFO For Rent¡¨„¥ and president of Western Management Associates, Gene has spent more than 23 years helping his clients build financial strength and shareholder value through applied knowledge and process improvement. His best selling book, ¡§Finance for Non-Financial Managers,¡¨ (McGraw-Hill, 2003) is available in bookstores and online. More information and free articles are available at www.GeneSiciliano.com.

YEEHAW!

Let's kick up our heels for our Teachers at CVES: "The Best in the West!"

Tuesday, bring a pirty flower for yer Teacher.

Wednesday, dust off yer hats, spit & polish them boots & grab yer bandana for a day of dressin' in yer best western wear! The Staff'll be mosin' down for a hoedown hosted by the PTA.

Thursday, bring in yer school supply fer yer Teacher.

PTA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING - Please join us for the CVES PTA General Membership meeting, Tuesday, March 9th at 9:00am in the MPR.
Come join other parents and learn how you can enrich your child’s education and school experience by becoming a part of Canyon Vista’s PTA!
Come hear the latest information about: Fundraising monies,
where your PTA dollars are being used, and information for fundraising to replace our outdated computers. We hope to see you there!
SMOOTHIES – Don’t forget to send your croc money to school for a smoothie on Thursday. The cost is $4.00 for a 20oz. smoothie available in two delicious flavors! Look for our car hop service at the fire lane in front of school. Weather Permitting!
SHOW YOUR CROC SPIRIT! – Don’t forget that Fridays are spirit wear day. Wear your favorite CVES item to show your croc spirit! If you don’t have spirit wear or just need something new – stop by the office and see Trish Fitterer!
PENNIES FOR PATEINTS - Canyon Vista is participating in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients program which raises funds to find cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research for patient services. From March 1 to March 12, our school's students and our friends and family can assist in collecting as much spare change as possible to help the Society cure blood cancers and provide services to patients and their families. All you have to do is collect coins and dollar bills and put them in your classrooms collection box. The top fundraising classroom will win a prize for the classroom and maybe the for the school. While pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters certainly add up, we know that more must be done to find cures and help patients. FUNDRAISING GOAL: $1,200. EVERY PENNY COUNTS!!!!!!!!!!! If you have any questions, please contact Larisa Owen at lowen@cffutures.org .

NEW CVES PTA TOOLBAR-Search and earn money for CVES!
We have something new and exciting we'd like to share with you! It's the new Canyon Vista Elementary School PTA toolbar - once added to IE or Firefox, each time you shop at more than 1,300 stores (from Amazon to Zazzle!) a percentage of your purchase will automatically be donated toCanyon Vista Elementary School PTA - at no cost to you (and you may even save money as the toolbar provides coupons and deals as well!). The toolbar also has a search box and each time you search the Internet, about a penny is donated to Canyon Vista Elementary School PTA.http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/canyon-vista-elementary-school-pta

And please pass this along to all of your friends. The two minutes it takes to add this toolbar to your browser can make a lifetime of difference!

Get the toolbar NOW! http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/canyon-vista-elementary-school-pta

Diane Peters
Attendance Clerk

Special Savory Hot Pie Tasting ~ Save 20%!
Spring Supper Club Sign-up Incentives:
Save $15 to $30 plus get a Savory Hot Pie Order FREE!
(Mission Viejo / Laguna Hills)

How does it work?

Supper Club is the best way to save money on your entrees every month ~ especially if you already buy at least 6 entrees from us!

Simply pick a plan that works for you!
SAVE $1.95 to $4.45 per Entree!
6, 12 , 18 or 24 entree plans
• Six regular entree plans as low as $13.00 per entree each plus ONE FREE SIDE each month!
• Twelve regular entree plans as low as $12.50 per entree each plus TWO FREE SIDES each month!
• Eighteen regular entree plans as low as $12.00 per entree plus THREE FREE SIDES each month!
• Twenty-four regular entree plans as low as $11.50 per entree plus FOUR FREE SIDES each month!
This is a tremendous 18% to 32% savings versus our retail Grab n' Go prices!
• Simply sign up for a once-a-month payment, and get all your meals at a great discount!
• Select from over 25 different entrees every month!
• Guaranteed FREE assembly!
• Your choice: Pick-up or Grab n' Go!
• Get your meals when YOU want throughout the month!
• Ability to "freeze" your membership!
• Ability to upgrade or downgrade at anytime!
• Low one-time registration fee of only $10!

SPECIAL SIGN-UP INCENTIVES END ON THURSDAY, MARCH 31st, SO HURRY IN!

Special Tasting ~ Savory Hot Pies!

Tuesday, March 9th
2:00 - 6:00pm

20% OFF ALL SAVORY HOT PIE PURCHASES
(3 hot pies per order ~ limit 3 orders per customer)

You're going to love these easy, delicious hot pies for a savory lunch, snack or dinner.

Chicken and Mushroom Savory Hot Pies (3 per order) - With shredded chicken mixed in light mushroom cream sauce, the Chicken and Mushroom Pie is a great meal.
Chicken Curry Savory Hot Pies (3 per order) - Inspired by Indian curry, the Chicken Curry has a hint of spiciness that will take you into a world full of flavor.
Spinach Feta with Basil Cream Savory Hot Pies (3 per order)- Fresh spinach with feta cheese, mixed with a little basil infused cream. The Spinach Feta pie is our signature American vegetarian dish.
Steak 'N Guinness Savory Hot Pies (3 per order)- Our sirloin steak is seared with carrots and peas along with aromatics and then it bathes in Guinness beer. The process creates a subtle stout taste for the pie. This pie reminds everyone of home.

Get
Six Meals for Only $63!*
* When you sign-up for a 12-Month, 6-Entree Supper Club Plan

Plus get our new Hot Pies as a special gift
(a $12.95 additional value)

Save up to $25 and lock-in our best pricing!

We expect that our Supper Club pricing will be going up soon, so don't miss out.


Parmesan Chicken with Creamy Sage Sauce

Sign-up before March 31st, and you will receive a FREE Savory Hot Pie order plus a special discount off your first month's membership:

$15 Off a 6-Entree Plan
$20 Off a 12-Entree Plan
$25 Off an 18-Entree Plan
$30 Off a 24-Entree Plan

Lastly, we want you to be 100% satisfied with your Supper Club program and are pleased to provide you with a limited obligation Trial Month period.

Conveniently Located to Serve All of South OC!

Super Suppers - South OC
Open 7 Days a Week!
Regular Business Hours
Mon - Fri 10am - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm
(next to Starbucks & WineWorks)

26342 Oso Parkway, Suite 102
Mission Viejo, 92691
949.348.1122

www.ssMissionViejoca.com
Owner: Laura Panichi
Team: Eric, Kim, Jamie & Lisa

Third Sunday of Lent
Exodus 3:1-15 First Corinthians 10:1-12 Luke 13:1-9

Stuff happens. In answer to the question: ‘Why did this happen to me, to my family, to my mom, my dad, my friends???’ Because stuff can happen. Cancer can happen; it is but another disease that afflicts us. People trip, fall and hurt themselves because we can become clumsy or tangled up in our own feet. No curse of God, no punishment for bad choices. While we strive to always connect the dots and figure out a ‘cause and result’ scenario for things….most things in life simply occur because they can.

Of course, if we embrace risky behavior we should not surprised when our choices reap bad consequences. If we smoke, why would we be surprised if we develop lung cancer? If we cheat on our spouse, why are we surprised that our marriage falls apart and our kids don’t want to speak to us? If we lie on our resume, why are we surprised when we are later fired from the position we obtained with deceit? If we play soccer or football, should we be surprised if we get a concussion or fall and break an arm or ankle? These things are nothing more than the ‘acceptable risk’ that we have presumably embraced….but they should not be perceived as the ‘hand of God’ or punishment from God. Stuff happens. How we deal with it, now that is a whole different story!

In today’s Gospel Jesus paints this same picture in referencing the poor souls killed in a falling tower (shades of Haiti!!!), they did not die because of any sinful actions on their part, they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. BUT, Jesus encourages people to become thoughtful and pro-active in their life choices, lest we stumble into behavior and selections that will have natural consequences that may cause much grief and suffering. Jesus describes a patient God the Father as the owner of a non-fruit bearing fig tree, with which he has become irritated and disappointed. Please note it is the ‘gardener’ (Jesus) who speaks on behalf of the wayward tree, urging patience, offering additional chances for fruit to be borne.

As we approach the mid-way point, where have all our life-choices led us? Have our financial investments brought us wholeness and peace? Is our life productive, generating loving relationships and contributing to the overall wellbeing of our society? Have we perhaps fallen into disrepair? Have we lost our way, abandoned the effort to live lives of value and integrity? Have we turned from the face of Jesus and no longer consider our relationship with him but only what we want…and to get whatever it is that we decide we should posses? In any case, remember, stuff happens….but sometimes we enter into risky behavior from which more dark stuff can happen than if we had chosen our paths more carefully. Not to worry though, Lent keeps on coming….because God is patient and next week will once again speak to our hearts and seek change, fruit and transformation!

As Winter begins to loosen its grip and Spring creeps closer, remember, you are loved! FKB