Life on The Raw Side

Recently I went to Atlanta for a short getaway. Make no mistake Atlanta is a world class city. Its downtown is the pride of the SouthEast and always excites me. Its attractions are many and varied,. You can go to the Opera or professional baseball, ride MARTA or enjoy the sights of Stone Park with the family.

However, there is another side of Atlanta, like any other city. Yet the problem of homelessness hit me squarely  between the eyes as I was  driving around downtown Atlanta!  You could not hardly ignore it. You saw them EVERWHERE!  Around the  MARTA stations, around the State Capitol, on adjoining streets, sleeping on park benches, in parks,  even on the steps of a church!   I almost went over there and tried to wake the fellow, but I though,t hey he needs his sleep...(maybe he had to wander the streets at night to keep from getting mugged. maybe the exhaustion of never having a place to settle just took its toll.

I was there once,  Yes yours truly was once homeless for a few weeks. I knew what it  meant to wander the streets and to try to find a place to bed down for the night. I also know how it felt several times, at the mission, "Sorry we dont have anymore room"  The sheer frustration of not having your private space at the mission and the fight to keep a good attidude.  I remember  going to the soup kitchen  thinking  I  hope I dont see anybody I know!  I mean it was embarassing  and humiliating to go through this.. but I  go through it!

To often our first impulse is to brush off beggars and panhandlers with a cold eye or shoulder or turn up our nose indignantly at their approach! Not everyone is a bum on  the street, or a worthless tramp:all it takes is the collapse of  your family support structure and some bad choices..  AND THERE YOU ARE!!

I am not trying to besmirch Atlanta's sterling reputation. I also know of course, that there are many programs  there to assist the needy. The problem was so overwhelming  I just had to write about it.  This is where the rubber hits the road, where the  friction of RAW UNCUT UNCENSORED LIFE HITS YOU. and you find yourself at crossroads.  You'd rather turn away..

What will you do?

How will i react?   and how will i respond?

Society preys on the homeless, groups of teenagers in cities will engage in "wildings" just to get their kicks, they beat up even kill defenseless homeless people.. Others make fun of them or just turn away in disgust. I wonder what our Lord would have done. I doubt that he would have copped our responses.

Our response ought to be one of love and compassion.  Am I saying give them a handout every time they ask for one? no, am i saying shake hands with everyone on the street and make them your best friend? of course not.. What I am saying there are ways that you and I can get involved with homeless indirectly or directly.

I have volunteered with the local soup kitchen, and yes taken the time to talk with some of them afterwards.  You can volunteer for Habit for Humanity, a organization that builds houses for the lower tier of society. When we respond with love and compassion, we  imitate Jesus who regularly mingled with publican and sinners.

Matt 25:31-46  talks about the  Judgement day, and he expressly  refers to the poor and tells his disciples "I was poor and you fed me, I was thirsty... they asked how when?  When you did to the least of these, you did it unto me!"  That was Christ's attitude.. how you treat the least of these is how you treat me.Im sure that rattle a few cages!  This is a paridigm shift that cuts against all that we know. We shun, and God says love, we avoid and God says. give to the least of these.

Christ spoke to the rich man, and asked him to go sell all that he had and give to the poor and come and follow Him., What a  demanding request, such that the man was not willing to do it!

The Son of Man did not have  a regular place to lay his head. I hope our response to the homeless  mirrors the Christ like spirit. For someday He will be asking you, "What have you done to the least of these, you also did to me!"

http://www.jesuscentral.com/ji/life-of-jesus-modern/jesus-poor.php


 Above some more food for thought!

BEING SPIRITUALLY AWARE AND MENTALLY PRESENT..

 It is always interesting to find out what interests people.. what holds their attention.  The attention shifts from celebrity to celebrity, event to event, or fad to fad, trend to trend.  Sure that can be interesting..but I wonder what God  thinks about Christians who dont spare a scant 15 minutes with him a week. They never crack their Bible except when they go to church..

On the other hand, most go through life never really reflecting on things,   THEY ALLOW OTHERS TO DO THEIR  THINKING FOR THEM, THEY BECOME RIVETED TO THE  TV AND ALLOW THE NETWORKS AND GROUP THINK TO DOMINATE THEIR MIND.

They have a limited circle of friends who all agree with just about anything they say. never challenge their thinking or really expand their horizons. God forbid!    The real   AHA MOMENTS occur when you have been challenged and your mind has time to process  what  you  have learned.

Another thing that I have noticed, is that people are afraid to be alone. They think that somehow its a waste of time, or that it make them nervous.  There is nothing wrong with being alone, in fact  our mind actually have time to work when were not  SO BOMBARDED BY STIMULI.

ITS ALMOST LIKE WERE COMFORTABLE WITH NOISE, AND DONT WANT GOD OR OUR  MIND TO SPEAK TO US!!

This blog is all about cutting a different path.   I am learning to  look not just at what happened but at the deeper meaning of it, drill down  with news events, personl happenings, and occassions from a perspective that may not be mainstream.

Being mentally  present is something that most people also struggle with their either thinking about what just happened, or whats going to happen, WHAT HAPPENED TO NOW??

Someone wisely said,  " The future is here and now, so be completely in the present, for your life in your future is what happening right now, and what you do with it"


I hope you will folllow me, and subscribe to my  posts, provide helpful feedback and  share you own writing or blogs if possible.  Thanks again and I look forward to ride together.

I will be addding Twitter and FB plug ins and other features so stay tuned!

DID YOU EVER FEEL LIKE GOD MIGHT AS WELL BE A MILLION MILES AWAY?

Did you parent ever tell you? Hey you live by faith not by your feelings?  I would feel chastised when I  would bring up this issue  of GOd being so distant?  Its one thing to quote  Bible  verses, it quite another to EXPERIENCE  God Jehovah  God in your life.. and  know that you cant explain it away?

Hagar felt this way.. you remember Hagar, the poor servant girl of Sarah and Abraham. She was hired to serve the family,but through no fault of her own, treated badly by Sarah. Sarah , if you remember the story was childless and unable to bear chldren,. SO Abraham slept with  Hagar, Sarah was do distraught with her situation, that she felt compelled to run away.

I wonder how it must felt, Hagar an Egyptian was considered less than a Israelite, a lower class if you will.  Out in the Judean desert, stars all around, she looked to God for help.  She named her first born Ishmauel,  and had an experience with God. I dont know if it was an appearance, a theophany or an angel, all we know.. is that she called that place. "El Roi"  meaning the God who sees me.

Wow what a wonderful name. In our study of Gods names, none is more endearing, than El  Roi.  What a comforting thought..  To some it might be suffocating to think of God is looking over my shoulder, but I look at it differently.  The omnipresence of God is everywhere.  " the  eyes of the Lord are everywhere, beholding the evil and the good"  Ps. 120 says that He is a God ' that neither slumbers nor sleeps."

We long for a more intimate experience with God, as the  Israelites had,.. and God  wants to reveal himself to us.   Enjoy this link at the bottom, that furthers expands this theme!

Its not wrong not want to feel God or experience Him. Its what the great men  of God wanted this, just read the Psalms!

Jehovah El Roi, He is the God that sees, and has  NOT  FORGOTTEN YOU!

http://airmiles.wordpress.com/2007/06/18/praying-the-names-of-god-el-roi/

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

We are looking at the names of God. There are many names that mean a great many things, for instance:  David means "man after God's own heart" and Emmanuel, means "God with us."

Jesus the  Author and Finisher of our Faith.  Heb 12;2,3

When we  name our kids, we try to give them something thats meaningful.  The names of God are like facets of the perfect diamond. The more you show it, the more the sun reflects the brilliance of that light!

In this world of turbulence and change, there are few things that we can count on!  Death and taxes, NO!.. more than that! Jesus not only is  God,but doesnt change!   He is the author and finisher of our faith.  We dont serve a dead person,  (Mohammed) Islam, Hindu, or some other religion.  We serve a risen Saviour!

MISSION ACCOMPISHED!  I dont know if you remember Peter Graves is the TV series Mission Impossible, but Jesus started  a movement when he went to the Cross, and  will finished it when he comes in Glory to Judge the world!  He is the Alpha and Omega the Begining and the End!  I am glad that He left the portals of glory to become as man.

I recently watched Tom Cruise in Ghost Protcol, the whole movie built toward a climax.. Tom was tasked with stopping a nuclear attack on America. Among his feats was playing Spiderman on the Burj Tower, in Dubai!  He was suspended from cables a thousand feet in the air, this tower was about 2700 feet high!.. Time after time, he was thwarted in catching the evil nemesis, Kurt Hendricks,(Soviet nuclear scientist)  but he persisted. With the help of his team,  he was able to thwart the nuclear missile and avert diaster.

A Greater tragedy was avoided at Calvary. When Christ uttered, 'It is Finished" and the battle was over. Galatians 2:15 says that Christ triumped over the forces of evil by by making an open spectacle of them at the Resurrection.

The  TAKEWAWAY:

We  already have declared  victory:  John says, Greater is  He that is in you, than he that is in the world! This victory should carry over into  our spiritual lives and our  personal and careers.  He accomplished the ULTIMATE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, and made it possible for every man and woman to spend eternity with Him.

WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO WE CAN FINISH!

A rebuke to me and many people.  You are known by what you finish and how well you finish.!

We have been  tasked with the greatest mission of all, not to save the world from nuclear disaster but to play a role in  saving the  world,sharing the gospel of the good news of salvation. Let us not fail to do this!

Read  Heb 12:2,3

GOD THE ALMIGHTY!

GOD ALMIGHTY

 What do we think of when we think of the word Almighty?   GOd is referred to as the Almighty Isaiah 9:6 and Psalm 24:8.  I think of the sun and its massive size and awesome power. In fact awesome doesnt even come close to describing the power of the sun.

Recently I viewed a program by NOVA on the sun. The sun and its core that is the nuclear reactions deep inside its core produce the energy that powers our universe.  Many thousands earth could fit into the sun, the heat near the  sun is millions of degrees.

Even the solar flares that produce solar waves that hit the earth  reach speads of 5 million miles an hour. Whoa, thats is incredibly fast and not only that, the earth shield has for the most part absorbed this sun impact on us. The incredible burst of energy  from the sun are so powerful that is God hadnt designed a natural shield, the ozone layer to protect, it  would fry us in short order!

One  partially burst of the suns flares could melt out infrastructure and put us in the Dark Ages, for months, even years!

Thank God  its placed 93 million miles away!

God is so Mighty and yet so genius that he designed the sun, which in itself is a mindboggling feat. He keeps the sun in its orbit, (imagine if it it flew out or orbit)??! He designed the earth to be protected and the planets to stay in perfect alignment!   Without Gods powerful hand at work, holding all things together, there would be no  civilized world as we know it!

It always amazes me at these so called educated people that try to imagine a world without God. It all happened by chance.. when all around them life is teeming with evidence of design, right under their own nose!

I love the song..

Praise to the Lord the  Almighty the King of Creation

All my soul praise Him for he is thy health and salvation

and so on..

COLOSSIANS 1:17   tells us "He is  before all things, and by Him all things consist"

God is the bonding agent, the creator, and the sustainer of this Universe we live in. THis gives me pause and a reason to glorify and worship Him. Whenever we get a 'little big for our britches" just remember that "HE KNOWS OUR FRAME AND REMEMBERS WE AR BUT DUST"

The very atoms, that power the nuclear energy of the sun, are present in us and our own energy cycles!

GOD THE ALMIGHTY, gives us every reason to love and serve Him, but He doesnt force us. Im glad I have Hin on my side!

Here here you are guys and gals. the link to NOVA and their awesome lineup of programs. I hope youll stop to reflect on God the Almighty!


http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/search/results/?q=sun&x=0&y=0

SNAP SHOT OF SUCCESS

I enjoyed reading about Les Brown a former accountant with an investment firm out of West Palm Beach Fla.. who just may be on the threshold of a nice NFL career. Whats more interesting, is that it almost didnt happen!!

Les Brown was a college dropout who decided to take a longshot by attempting the near impossible! (becoming a NFL player)  Being an accountant is a respected profession, businesses have a dire need for them.  Here was this  young man in his early 20s who had the  dream.. if you looked at him,  you would have said,  "hmm not your typical accountant."   

John had a dream, to play in the NFL. Now granted many young  men do, but John had the raw athletic ability. However John did not even play college ball, however his brother was an offensive tackle for the Cougars of BYU, but  John never played organized ball.  The clock was ticking on his dream, so he asked his brother to arrange a tryout at the PRO day workouts onthe BYU campus. Who did this guy think he was? After all only a small fraction of DIV 1 schools produce NFL roster players.

First shockwave, his workouts...He vertical jumped 39 inches and his 40 times was at 4.4. great for anybody, but phenomenal for a guy in  a 6 foot 4, 255 pound frame!!.. Enter  Brian Gaines, director of  player personnel for the Miami Dolphins.  Brian had offered Les  a tryout with the Dolphins in South  Florida.. 

To prepare for the opportunity, he  quit his job (normal security) to prepare for the workout at a 3 week pro facility in Hawai, with Ikei. After wowing the Dolphins, he signed a  minimum contract with a small signing bonus. Wow, did  you just read what I wrote??

An accountant chases a dream..despite not playing college football and drops a secure career with Huntsman Capital, in a prestigous business!  That my friends, is a perfect example of the American dream in a nutshell. That is the power to change your destiny by sailing your boat in another direction.

Lets see if we can review this:

He overcame doubt and fear and took action.

He saw an opportunity and thought he had a chance.

He acted on that opportunity, but preparing himself. he put himself in the best position to win!

he worked the angles, His brother had pull with BYU that allowed him the workout to get his name out there!

Now the fact that his brother played college football helped of course, The fact that maybe his father who runs Huntsman Capital had strings to pull with Steve Young, who is a managing partner helped, sure it did! We all need some help and some luck.

Lessons we can learn from Les.

One for some dreams it is not too late, You can go after them now!

Two you have to prepare yourself for that dream and train hard!

You have tute your own horn, no meek and mild here. If he didnt where would Les be today?.. back in that office,as a bean counter.

You cant listen to your friends, well meaning as they may be.  They told Les, as you can imagine.!  Les you screwing up a good career in your fathers business! Use some good sense.

Ironically today many of todays great businesses are the result of that very thing. The very naysayers of today benefit from the Googles, Starbucks, and the Amazons of the world!

For a interesting sidelight take a look at Forbes business site and you will find a mulitplicity of business success from every quarter. Take a look at your paper, our local paper features one almost every week. Heres to you Les Brown!!http://www.wpbf.com/news/sports/Accountant-Les-Brown-signs-contract-with-Miami-Dolphins/-/8789130/11238434/-/c0d07sz/-/index.html
                                                                                                                                                   

The Happy Until Trap..

Did  you have every that empty feeling that something is still missing?  You wonder hey, I have more than most or i have accomplished more this year than ever. .. but still have that empty feeling?  It seems that the whole of the human race is plagued with never ending search for happiness!  Youve heard it before pinging of the walls of your mind, Oh ill be happy when this happens or until that happens. Then it dawns on you, that day will never happen, until you realize that your happiness is witin you!

The secret, if you want to call it that, is that happiness lies within ourselves, and not anything outside of ourselves.. Wow most people dont get that I mean really get that until they are advanced in years!

The Bible has something to say about this, As a man thinketh in his heart so is he..  We are the source of most of our unhappiness.



Its as if we havent explored every planet of our imagination, traversed the universe, and conquered kingdoms. The story is told of young Alexander the Great, when he conquered all the known world, he sat down and wept.. for there were no more kingdoms to conquer.

We dont have that problem, it seems that we expect so much from life and ourselves, that we cant be content with the simple things of life.   Have you ever read about or talked to somebody who had done it all and achieved at a very high level and still said SOMETHING WAS MISSING? HUH?

Gretchen Rubin was a lawyer  clerking for Sandra Day O'Connor,  former justice  at the Supreme Court, who had a epiphany one day while riding a cross town bus in NY?  She had graduated from Yale, an Ivy Leaguer, but realized " Hey what about my happiness  anyway? "  She then realized that she was on the track, and decided that she wanted to write for a living.  Savvy in social media, she has gained quite a following with her NY times best seller, The Happiness Project.

http://gretchenrubin.com/about/about.html

She goes on a  journey to discover  all about that search for happiness. I cant even begin to go into all of it, but I will leave you with a quote from Robert Louis Stevenson, and the link to her great project that I have found wonderfully helpful.  This is another gem that you can use, share, and more importantly integrate into your daily life!

http://www.happiness-project.com/

Also another tool, that I hope you wont skim over, but will use. The Happiness Tool Box.

http://www.happinessprojecttoolbox.com/

The Happy Until Trap, is a cruel hoax perpetuated by the world and our consumer society. Its really quite simple..

Let me leave you with the words of Stevenson. "to forget  one's self is to be happy!"

VIP ACESS-- FIVE MEANINGS OF EASTER.

Hello friends, recently we have been talking about the FIVE MEANINGS OF EASTER  and how
especially how they're  important to the life of the Christian.  All of the Christendom swings on one event the resurrection of Jesus Christ!  Today we have that assurance, as Peter says that "hope that fades not away."  Paul also says, "we have that sure foundation."

There are not many things that are an absolute certainty in this world.   This is one of them!  The first meaning we covered was that we have eternal life!  Christ conquered death and the forces of evil at the Cross and made life after death a reality. 

The second meaning I want to share, is the fact that we have VIP ACESS to God!  What an awesome thought and  privilege for the believer. In  Matt 27:51  the veil of the Temple was rent from top to bottom, This was done and could only be done by God as a fulfillment of prophecy capping the end of the Age of Law and the start of the Age of Grace.

Wow no more do we have to go before a priest as a mediator between God and us.  Heb 4:25 says that we " may boldy come before the throne of Grace and ask for help."

If you wanted to talk to  Gov Nikki Haley the governor of SC, could you just drop in at any old time?  If you wanted to talk to Jack Welch could you do that?  How about President Obama? Obviously you know the answer! It would take weeks maybe months of planning to even get considered for an appt with anyone of this individuals, and that is if you have a shared interest that would benefit both parties!

How much of a chance do you  have with Mayor Knox White? My point is that you have unfettered access to the God of this Universe!  Life gets tough but you know that Jesus is always with you if you are a Christian, and he is nigh even if you arent!
 
The veil of the temple was appx  60 feet high and 30 feet wide and interwoven a rich tapestry. No one was permitted into that sanctuary except for the high priest.. and then only one time a year.

God wants us to approach Him as a  little child, with a spirit of expecation and boldness. Let us boldy come before Him,,  We no longer have the barriers to Him that once existed,  We have  FREE UNFETTERED ACCESS TO GOD.  HALLELUAH!

 Ephesians 2:14 says that he has broken down the wall.. and brought peace!  You dont need a  VIP pass or a VIP status to get an audience with Him.

Tomorrow we will talk about the third meaning of Easter, We can be overcomers, because of  the Resurrection!

FIVE MEANINGS OF EASTER (Mission Possible-Eternal Life)

FIVE MEANINGS OF EASTER, IN THE NEXT WEEK I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FIVE MEANINGS OF EASTER.

To most people Easter is, a time to get dressed to go to church. its a time for some to go on  Easter egg hunts, for others it something  that the Christians celebrate, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Its not like most people havent heard multiple sermons on this topic. 

Why is it that most people yawn and become bored with the most earth shattering in human history? The story of Godman who became human to accomplish a mission set forth by his Heavenly Father. How can this be?  The Lord of the Universe came down on a mission to forever set us free, and WE YAWN AND REACH FOR THE REMOTE!!



FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE THEY HAD A REASON TO BELIEVE. IN THE GOSPELS THERE WAS A RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, OT SAINTS WALKED INTO JERUSALEM AND SPREAD THE NEWS!!

TALK ABOUT A TOWN IN A UPROAR!

Man would I  like to have read the Jerusalem Post that day!

THE FIRST MEANING THAT I WANT TO BROACH IS   JESUS CONQUERED DEATH AND SIN, HE MADE ETERNAL LIFE A REALITY! THIS IS NOT ALL THERE IS.. THERE IS SOMETHING MORE. IF THIS WERE ALL THERE IS, THAN BEHAVING IN A TOTALLY SELFISH WAY WOULD BE UNDERSTANDABLE.  After all, there wouldnt be a judgement day!  Because He arose from the dead on the third day as He had prophesied, dozens of implications rain forth for all believers.

Today we have been become disconnected from our faith, it is a mental rote exercise, rather than a living breathing dynamic reality!

He gave us the power to live the Christian life!

He gave us a reason to live beyond the mundanery of everyday life.

There is a reason for all our struggles as we will soon find out!

Paul said it best. "And if Christ be not risen, then we are of all men most miserable!"

Our suffering has a nobility to it because Christ bore our sins and suffered setting a pattern for us.

We can overcome, We are overcomers by the blood of the Lamb!

Hebrews 4:15 tell us that we have VIP access to God.. we can come boldly before God for grace to help in time of need!

Harry Houdini once though he could conquer death and the masses gathered... no cigar. It didnt happen, Harry is still in the grave.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Houdini

Harry was beset with mediums and charlattans that were constantly trying to vie for  the spotlight. It was said he wanted  to believe in the spirit world, but the chicanery of these spiritualist made him want to  expose them, which he often did.

Harry decided to tell his wife to contact him after death. He wanted to prove or disprove that LIFE AFTER DEATH  was possible.  Unfortunately he wasnt able to prove anything because he is still dead. No contacts were ever made.  He couldnt conquer death, but Christ did!  There is a grave for every leader, religious leader, and potentate, but not one for the Son of God.

The grand meaning for us, is that we have a divine purpose to fulfill, a BROADER PURPOSE AND A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.  

  Revel in the fact of our Risen Saviour!  Stay tuned for the next release:

He is not here for He is risen as He said.!!!

Read  I Co 15 for further insight.   Our second meaning of Easter is the fact that we can be Overcomers..  Stay tuned!

Take FIve

The wisdom of Solomon is legendary.. He was  as we say,   WAY AHEAD OF HIS TIME! One day two women came to him  to settle a dispute over who owned a newborn infant..  Conventional wisdom would have destroyed child,because one might never have guessed whose child it was, (they had no DNA testing..back then. Solomon knew the power of human emotion and the maternal instinct. When he called for the execution of the child..the real mother came forward, and sought for life of the child, even if it were given to another!

I  have started a project that has always fascinated me, GUIDING PRINCIPLES. A  QUICK DEVOTIONAL THAT NO ONLY GIVES A PROVERB A  DAY, BUT ALSO SHARES A QUICK ON THE GO TIP OR PRINCIPLE TO USE FOR THE DAY ( OR IN ALL OF LIFE)

Today we are awash in information, and the internet keeps multiplying it every day!  The Bible gives us time tested and generational truth that will outlast all generations.. these insights are by no means new, but perhaps I can give  them a slightly different angle, if not humorous angle!  I hope they are a blessing to you. I will write a few, but the bulk of my writings will result in my work and podcast which  I hope to turn out later this year. Stay tune!

Proverbs 19:11  "A persons wisdom yields patience,but it is one's glory to overlook an offense"

Wow theres that word again Patience! Who wants it? after all everybody seems in a hurry!  Get to the bottom line before I lose patience and get there first! Right here couched in this verse is one of wisdom's greatest secrets.

* the more wise a person is the more patient he becomes.

* while many stew and hold grudges, being bitter over the hurts of  the past or present.. it is very good to overlook an offense!

            * that crazy driver that leered at you and cut you off

            * that lunatic at work that drove you up a wall

             * rude and inconsiderate people are everywhere, It doesnt mean you
               have to lose it!

The Bible also says that "Anger rests in the bosom of fools"   A fool uttereth all his mind but a wise man keepeth his tongue.."  so forth and so on.. I think you get the point here.. Take five is a very good piece of advice.  Because if you didnt notice, it isnt hard to lets someonelse ruin your day!

So and so tells you off or a jerk stirs your emotions and before you know it, you are already to blow a gasket. A day that was once promising is now starting to turn a totally different hue!

Guiding Principle:  Take  five and learn patience..Pick your battles wisely and dont fester over real or perceived hurts..Its a much better use of your time and limited energy!

http://www.nfl.com/combine



EVERY SPRING THERE IS A ANNUATE RITE, THE RITE OF THE FOOTBALL gods.. The most extensive evaluation of talent on the planet is underway in Indianapolis.  Players are weighed measured and tested in every way imaginable.  Even psychological tests are given to determine a players response to stress and pressure. Why?

BIG MONEY. EACH PLAYER THAT IS DRAFTED IS GOING TO MAKE A NICE SIX FIGURE INCOME, MOST IN THE MID TO HIGH SIX FIGURE INCOME, AND THE TOP FEW FRANCHISE PLAYERS WILL COMMAND ONES WELL INTO THE SEVEN  FIGURES OR MORE.

Competition is brutal and the stakes  are high, but did you know that there is an even higher game, with much higher stakes.. but you wouldnt know it by the way most Christians act!!??

God is looking for leaders, people with vision and the willingness to obey the leading of the Lord.  The hearts and minds of the masses are at stake, and their eternal destiny is the prize. Leaders that are willing to stand up unashamed for the cause of Christ are few and far between. Most people would rather be comfortable in their lives than be stretched  IN A CAUSE MUCH GREATER THAN THEIR OWN!

Ezekiel 22:30 says that  "God is looking for a man to stand in the gap" so God wouldnt have to destroy their land.  God is looking for leaders and brave fearless souls to proclaim the good message of the gospel!

No you wont earn a seven figure paycheck, but you will earn a much greater reward,  here and in heaven. The assurance that you are enrolled in a cause FAR GREATER THAN YOURSELF. A cause that will outlast you.. and one that you will see one day in heaven. We are in the people business, the business of bringing people to the Saviour!

Daniel says " They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firnament, and those that turn many to righteoussnes as the stars forever and ever.'  Daniel 12:3

The Ants Mighty Message

I once watched a documentary on ants and their amazing ability to build and rebuild underground. Ants are tireless workers: all you have to do is to knock  a ant hill over and you will see the worker ants rush out and get to work! 


* they can push or carry two or three times their weight

* they work from dawn to dusk without complaint

*they have a unselfish committment to the welfare of their community.. you dont see Mr Ant going on STRIKE because the conditions are too bad.

*can construct ant hills and towers several thousand feet high (in their perspective)

* there are different ants for different roles, there is the queen ant which produces new life, the soldier ant which chases away intruders,  the worker which carries on the dirty work of rthe colony.

*they can survive in almost any weather, for they tunnel underground

* they store away food as Solomon said in preparation for the hard times.  A saving principle can be found here as Joseph did during the seven years of famine, Life has its bust and boom cycles, the wise person will set aside accordingly.    You certainly dont see the ant spend all his substance and then go wander around during lean times, wondering where his next meal is coming from!

Hmm from a very humble creature we find multiple lessons, we can learn.  In a society hell bent on entertaining itself 24/7, we learn a better way. Work, is honorable and noble no matter what it is.

The Bible says in Col 3:23  "Whatsoever you do do all to the glory of God"  God sanctified work back in Gen 3 and set it up as a way to a fulfilling and meaningful life. Its interesting when we people feel tired and miserable (unless theyre sleep deprived) working helps to lift you spirits. Work no matter what it is God smiles upon it...  Yet today it seems that people will to go to great lengths to avoid it.

What I wanted to stress was the concept of teamwork. Ants are the ultimate teamplayers. One ant  cant do much, but the whole colony, thats a different story. God has set up the church and community to help people to synergize their efforts.

Somebody once sagely observed that "There is no limit to what can be done, if no one cares who gets the credit"   My Dad ince told me that the best therapy  in the world is work. Sitting around talking about your problems can be depressing, tackling your problems by working is the best therapy going!

Look to the ant.. consider her ways and be wise.

Create the State you Want! Intro to Anchoring

Have you ever tried to talk to someone and they almost forgot what you said right away?  Do you find yourself stuck in states that are unproductive and cant produce that "flow state? "

How about Monday morning or a weather change  that gets you down? How about a stressful day that things keep piling on top of you and you want to scream!!  Have you ever spoken in front of a group and wanted to be memorable  no matter what age group you are speaking to?

Does this sounds like a pipe dream to you? Actually its not.. NLP has been around since the 60's but it has been made popular namely by a guy named TonyRobbins. Now before you criticize him for the New Age thinking and the fire walks he does, you might want to check out why he is able to achieve outstanding results and breakthroughs for people, celebrities, and companies.

Why would I want to learn anchoring? .. and by that mean a basic working definition of it and how it might benefit you. I dont pretend to have a certification or to have experience in this field, but I do know that this is a proven change technology, that all open minded people investigate.  Lets start out with a basic working  concept of anchoring.

Basic anchoring involves in essence, the elicitation of a strong congruent experience of a desired state, whilst using some notable stimulus (touch, word, sight) at the time this is most fully realized. In many cases, repetition of the stimulus will re associate and restore the experience of the state.

Whether we know it or not we see anchoring going on a basic level all the time, just check out the commericals on TV or adv print,. Remember the Bud Lite commericals, many regardless of their preference for beer can still remember a couple because of  BL effective ad campaigns,. Why do you think they stick in your mind so well? Do you remember the BL frog commercial?  Two frogs were  carrying on a  conversation, I dont remember the conversation but I do remember the commercial from years ago. We all laughed at it. but anchoring was a big part of that. Bl fused a memorable figure a cute frog with funny dialogue and wa la it stuck in your mind.  Every wonder why you remember a certain song? its because you associate images or memories good or bad when you think of the song.

Anchoring helps to create a desire state of  mind, and implant that in your mind.  For example Robbins uses a fist to summon up the state of strong emotions..if you want to experience a rush of strong positive emotions, or a productive state when giving a presentation.. then you need to learn how to use your mind.

People are moved most by strong images and if you can create a strong image in their minds before giving a presentation, youll be able to create a strong finish.

Ie..if you were doing a fund raiser and wanted to access people emotions, you would need to create a strong image.. World Hunger in peoples minds.. and walk them through the emotions of being there, touch taste smell hear etc, to tie them into that in their minds.

If I was talking to a sports banquet I might use a  Fourth and Goal or Ninth inning two outs analogy to summon up the importance of my talk. I would put people in tha  picture to elicit the emotional response that I want. Just facts isnt going to cut it!   

Hollywood is a  master of anchoring..they have a hook and then a image to reel you in, and then youre off in a sensory trip to movie land. Each movie that comes out has a  trailer and its not just to give you a preview of the movie,, its also to test the market to see how  many clicks they get.

For example  Titanic or Jurassic Park or your favorite romantic or action movie all have specfic anchors that plave an indelible impression in your mind.

Assignment: Go to your movie collection and see if you can pull out those anchors that made your favorite movie(s) riveting.  This is a new area of development for me and there is so much to learn, however learning this concept and NLP in general cannot help but improve not only your life but your effectiveness as a working professional or even in full time Christian service.

Good followup link, lots of stuff here.  We can cover this as you wish, or as I attain the necesary certification to understand it.  Anchors away!!

http://www.nlpworld.co.uk/glossary/a/anchoring

Whether its the Monday morning blues or handling nervousness before a preformance, we have to power to change our minds and our experiences through RESOURCEFUL STATES.

 

As a mind thinketh in his heart so is he!

For all  those who follow.. Ill send you  a free download of the audio book As a man thinketh by James Allen just as a way of saying thank you.. if you havent received it email me at  skoon64@yahoo.com.   I promise you i will keep your info private, Thanks.

COMMUNICATION PART THREE

LEARNING TO LISTEN FOR SOMEBODY'S DOMINANT MODALITY. WE HAVE COVERED SO FAR TWO DOMINANT MODALITIES, THE VISUAL AND THE AUDITORY.

TO RECAP,  VISUAL ARE THE ONES THAT TALK FAST AND POINT A LOT  AND GESTURE WHILE THEY TALK. TO  CONNECT WITH THEM, YOU NEED TO DO ALOT OF THE SAME WITH THEM. IF YOURE AN AUDITORY OR KINESTHETIC THEN YOU WONT CLICK WITH THEM, THEY LL IMPATIENTLY WAIT FOR YOU TO FINISH.

THE AUDITORIES LOVE TO HEAR, AND ARE SLOWER  AND SMOOTHER IN COMMJNICATION. THEY USE A LOT OF THE HEARING CUE WORDS WHEN TALKING .. LIKE  ..THIS IS NOT SOUNDING RIGHT TO ME.. OR RINGS LIKE A BELL..

TODAY WE WILL FOCUS ON KINESTHETIC, THE FEELING ORIENTED BUNCH..

O
OK, WE ROLL ON TO THE TOUCHY FEELY ONES, THAT KINESTHETICS, SOUNDS LIKE A BAND RIGHT? THESE PEOPLE THAT MOVE REALLY SLOWLY, AND SEEM TO FEEL AND BREATHE MORE DEEPLY THAN OTHERS. IN FACT YOU CAN SEE THEM AS THEY PROCESS THINGS MORE SLOWLY..IT MIGHT GET ON YOUR NERVES IF YOU ARE AN V OR A..YOU MIGHT GET IMPATIENT AND WANT TO RUSH THINGS..BUT FOR THEM ITS AN EXPERIENCE.  

YOU HAVE TO GIVE THESE GUYS UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE THEIR SENSE OF PERSONAL SPACE IS LESS THAN OTHERS, SO THEY MIGHT STAND CLOSER TO YOU..THAN YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH..LOL

THEY ALSO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON " HOW THEY FEEL"  IT DRIVES AUDITORY AND VISUALS CRAZY.. BUT THAT IS HOW THEY ARE.  THEY ARE VERY MUCH IN TOUCH WITH THEIR FEELINGS, SOUNDS LIKE WOMEN RIGHT,  HAH, ACTUALLY THESE ALL ARE GOD GIVEN TRAITS, AND NO ONE IS BETTER THAN ANOTHER JUST DIFFERENT.

EXERCISE THIS WEEK, IS TO PRACTICE AS I WILL TALKING TO PEOPLE AND FIND OUT THEIR REPRESENTATION STYLE IF YOU CAN.. THIS IS KEY TO BECOMING MORE ADEPT AT HELPING CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOUR AND HELPING THEM INTERNALIZE KEY INFORMATION.  IMAGINE IF YOU WERE ABLE TO TURN A SITUATION AROUND AND CLICK WITH SOMEONE WHO YOU PREVIOUSLY CLASHED OR DID NOT GET??


ALSO CHECK OUT GLORIA'S LINK FOR SOME GREAT INFO. SEE YOU SOON!


http://ezinearticles.com/?NLP---Preferred-Learning-and-Communication-Styles---Kinesthetic-and-Auditory-Digital&id=1519224

LEARNING TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE (PART TWO)

LEARNING TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE IS A LIFE LONG PROCESS, THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE THAT YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND. DONT WORRY THEIR IS HOPE, WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOURE TALKING TO A BRICK WALL OR THAT OTHER DENSE PERSON IS NOT GETTING IT, SWITCH GEARS AND TALK IN THEIR THEIR LANGUAGE, WHAT? YOU SAY,, READ ON..



HOWEVER  JUST LIKE A INTERPRETER  INTERPETS   OR DECODES A LANGUAGE TO SOMEONEELSE IN THEIR MOTHER TONGUE, SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND ANOTHER LANGUAGE MOST FAMILIAR TO THEM. EACH PERSON HAS A  SPECI FIC  WAY TO  SEE THEIR WORLD,BUT IT CAN BOILED DOWN TO THREE MODALITIES


VISUAL:  t They look at their world primarily through the visual mode.  They tend to use their hands a lot and point, they are good artists, they use words," i see, thats clear, it appears to me"
a lot. I know this is a very short description of visuals, but  it lets you know..how they are thinking. If you talked to a visual and you were an auditory,  the message would not come across as clearly as if you were also a visual, or talking in their "preferred language"

For example if you were going to talk to a visual and you were a  car salesman, would you not talk to that person in their preferred language?.  IE   You see this sporty roadster has  a new look with a
new design complete with new modified hood and body design (show them) take them around and SHOW THEM the new features, the new onboard satlellite system... the rich leather interior,  show them the value for the money they are spending, in figures and features THIS WILL COMMUNICATE FAR BETTER THAN MERELY TELLING THEM..  SEE THE GLAZE OVER THER EYES AS YOU KEEP TELLING THEM.??!!

.

Just talking about it, isnt going to move them, SHOW THEM. YOUVE HEARD THE OLD ADAGE SHOW AND TELL, WELL THAT DOESNT WORK FOR EVERY BODY BUT IT SURE WORKS FOR THE VISUAL.



if youare talking to someone and explaining  something that they have to understand or youre trying to onvey tothem, listen closely to their language, and if its visual (many are)  THINGS WILLGO MUCH SMOOTHER FOR YOU..


NEXT WEEK WE WILL LOOK AT AUDITORIES AND HOW THEY PROCESS THEIR WORLD. IF YOU WANT TO BE A BETTER COMMUNICATOR, YOU MUST TO LEARN HOW OTHER PEOPLE PROCESS THEIR WORLD..

http://www.nlpok.com/Basic_NLP_for_Everyday.html

tHIS

n

SHRUG IT OFF

 We all have had experiences where someone has mistreated us or acted rudely.  CAN YOU FEEL IT THE INDIGNATION RISING IN YOU, THE IRRESTIBLE IMPULSE TO CLOBBER SOMEONE WHO HAS WRONGED OR EVEN GOT IN YOUR FACE, AND DARED YOU TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT??

I was entering a gas station, and turning right and I noticed a young man in dark clothing  coming up on the sidewalk I stopped and he stopped  .. Presumably I was going to turn in, but he motioned for me to turn in first. I did, and a torrent of expletives you God..... open your GD eyes..!!  Wow he burned my ears as I drove past,

Part of me wanted to go back there, and say listen you low life, get a life and stop ,..,, around. I shrugged it off and laughed to myself and pumped gas. 

I reflected on peoples responses and how today it seems peoples anger is riding just underneath the surface, ready to boil over at the first opportunity! This young fellow's anger sure was..

Another time i was riding in town and another car pulled out in front of me to get going the other way,, he did pull into the median but it was blocking my progress going the other way.  I had the rightof way and could have told him so, in words or gestures.  he then sat there for a moment calculating my reaction.. I had none, He went on..

Now the thing is I could have  screamed my offense and got into a confrontation. I kept my cool rode it out and moved on.  Did I feel like it?  Of course!

Proverbs tells us that Anger rests in the bosom of fools. A fool cannot control his anger,  and so on.

Lets keep it under control.. if we get angry over these things, Think what will happen when the real provocation comes on!!

LEARNING TO LET GO!

I was reflecting upon  the last few months and the events in my life. The emotional turmoil of dating, the rush of trying to succeed in business, and the sometimes CRUSHING DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN EXPECTATIONS ARE NOT MET.   We try to shrug it off but the feeling persists that what we think is reasonable never really turns out in real life form.

Contrast that with the PMA, " Whatever the mind can conceive it can achieve"  This sounds like you can somehow bring into existence an outcome, simply by your thoughts and a formula.  Gurus  talk about visualization and thinking what you want into existence, the reality is that much of what happens in  life is unintended. 

I have been in the dating scene for some time. and inevitably  you will run across some person that you like and want to build a relationship with, but that person will surprise you.  What you expected might be one thing.. however what you get may be something else.

The X factor always plays a role..and of course Father Murphy also intrudes. The X factor may be that person past, and what they havent  told you. The X factor is business might be the question or fact that you  neglected to find out about the customer. The X factor may be a host of other things that you cant account for.

When you set your heart upon something, or expect something that is not in the established order of things, you inevitably set yourself up for disappointment. This is why some of the most disallusioned people in the world have a lot of stuff and the things that are coveted by others, (Tiger Woods, Billy Joel)  yet are not content.

The Bible is so dead on when it says.." Contentment with godliness is great gain.."  I may not be allthat godly but  being content is a sure path to peace.  Guy Finley has a number of good things to say about this, because he delves deeply into an issue and brings insights that most people never think about,

http://www.bing.com/search?q=Learnign%20to%20let%20go%20finley&FORM=HPNTLB&PC=HPNTDF&QS=n


Finley reminds us that tomorrow will come and the sun will rise, and we will still be alone with ourself. We cannot control a lot of things, however we can control our attidude. By Learning to Let Go we progress on our journey to maturity so that nothing really shakes us.

People will stun you, events may powerdrive you into the mat of life.  Your recovery will depend on your faith in yourself and your God.

Next blog entryI want to talk about learning to be happy even when your world is turned upside down, and how to turn disappointment into opportunity.

BIG BROTHER BIG SISTER


Last night ihad a wonderful opportunity to attend  a meet and greet with Big Brothers and Sisters of Greenvile County.Meeting the CEO Terry Hype, Derrick and lamont Sullivan reinforced the good work we are doing and the work that still needs to be done.

Despite having nearly 250 big brothers and sisters there are scores of children that have no mentor.  Derrick is a fun guy to work with because he always keeps it positive and interesting.

A touching moment came when the Big Brother of the Year for the Sate of South Carolina came and spoke along with his little (mentee) and the mother. To see him  tear up and  tell stories of the good times spendwith his little brother made it  all worthwhile.  They had spend nearly9 years together and the effects on that young man was obvious.  He was confident well spoken and happy.

Doing well in school was only one benefit of the program, the humor and the camaderie that you develop with the family is key as well. The kid got it right when he said,  "School work comes first girls can come later."  We all cracked up at that, his timing was even better.

When we pay it forward to others, we never know the payback we will receive down the road,, However the fruit of our labor of love will resound from years to come. in the dreams and aspirations of others we influence. Yes we can make a difference.

I encourage you to look into this organization and see if you can make the time for some deserving guy or gal.

No man or woman stands so tall as when they stoop to help a child

LEARNING TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE

HAVE YOU EVER SCRATCHED YOUR HEAD AND WONDERED  TRYNG TO  UNDERSTAND PEOPLE?  HAVE YOU OFTEN WONDERED WHY PEOPLE DO THE THINGS THEY DO. OR HOW THEYRE WIRED?

WELL i dont offer a complete primer on that and no one does, however no one does, however the understanding of a few basic truths about peoples psychology will  help you immensely. Lets get a few things out in the open:


FIRST WE ALL CLASH WITH SOME PEOPLE, THEY DEFINITELY DONT GET US AND WE DONT GET THEM.

PEOPLE HAVE  THEIR OWN WAY OF UNDERSTANDING THEIR WORLD, IF WE CANT GET INSIDE OF THAT MEME OR MODALITY, THEN WE WONT UNDERSTAND THEM.

 THIRD THERE IS  A SYSTEM THAT WE CAN EMPLOY TO BEGIN TO ASSIST WITH THAT PROCESS OF FILTERING A PERSON MAIN METHOD OF UNDERSTANDING  THEIR WORLD. 




NOTE: THIS IS NOT A COMPREHENSIVE WORK SUPPORTED BY OWN RESEARCH BUT MATERIAL THAT I WAS INTRODUCED THAT HAS STARTED TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND  OTHERS.  I HAVE ENCLOSED SOME HELPS AND SOURCE MATERIAL BELOW..  BUT I AM A BABE IN THE WOODS WHEN IT COMES TO LIVING THIS.

The basics are the fact that we are either peole oriented or task oriented. According to the DISC model there are four personality  types:


DOMINANT

INFLUENCING

SUPPORTIVE

CAUTIOUS

WE ALL ARE A COMBINATION OF EACH HOWEVER WE ALL HAVE A DOMINANT MODALITY. MORE ON THAT LATER. BY UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER OR THAT PERSON THAT WE CAN SEEM TO, WE CAN START HEADED DOWN THAT ROAD.

Here is that link

http://www.personalityinsights.com/#


More to come. enjoy the free four step quiz  thats available on the site

Touching the Sky, (On Top of the World)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Petit


It was a hot sultry day in August 1974 that one brave Frenchman attempted what had never been attempted before, a high wire act across the World Trade Center. It was  not once but eight times! Most of us would be aghast at the thought of walking to the top and leaning over the edge..

I have never been a big fan of open heights, I can inside of a skyscraper go up in the elevator and ride to the top.. but getting out of even a lighthouse and looking out over the edge makes me a little queasy Reading his story is nothing short of audacious and mind blowing when you consider and read what he had to do to accomplish the feat. While you read the link pause and refresh these points as they apply to your life, I gained an inspiration imagining audacious goals.

One this process took years.  It was not an overnite thing, He had meticulous plans from getting inside the building and partnering with several inside people.

     He needed the help of inside people to accomplish this, without the work of those who could help him, the impossible could not have been pulled  off. It took him 6 years of sizing up this project before he started.


  What seem impossible can be pulled off with meticulous planning.  Oceans eleven heist comes to mind, casino caper.


Philippe stepped into his dream visualized his dream, felt it smelled it,  walked in it, well before it actually happened.

When you engage your senses and continually imagine something, it makes it more likely to happen. Sure we cant all be champion tightrope walkers, but we each have something burning inside of us,,, that can be tapped!

In today's culture its the same hum drum get an education get a job mentality..Dreams are sometimes discouraged as nonsense, and some are, but we are programmed to be a slave to a clock and work, rather designing a life of our dreams. We all need  others that encourage and help us along the way, and most of all take it one step at a time, for this mountain ( the World Trade Ctr) was conquered by sheer unrelenting persistence and planning.

In no way am I discouraging a career and a job, but sometimes we have to let our inner child and launch out and take risks, to prove to oursselves that we can do more.

 Find your TOP OF THE WORLD!