Victorious Insights For Living

Laughter Power

2008-04-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

I guess laughter and joy is good for your health and helps a person live longer.

http://ririanproject.com/2007/10/26/10-benefits-of-laughter-and-how-to-use-it/

Confirms the scripture:"A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing..."(Proverbs 17)

I guess being 'grim' really isn't that good for you after all.

As the study suggests, instead eating that box of chocolates, just go ahead and smile... :) If you are going to have a box of chocolates, at least smile. :)

Have a happy, joyful day...

You are the best.

Listen To Your Intution

2008-01-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

"The only real valuable thing is intution. " - Albert Einstein

This is a pretty cool article about listening to your intuition:

http://www.lynnrobinson.com/art_getahead.html

It seems women tend to be a little more trained or have a stronger tendency of listening to their intuition. I guess the business world is catching on, because a majority of the small businesses these days are being started by women. Anyway, pretty cool article that reminds you to trust your gut. It can open to the door to great blessing as well as save you years of grief. I think we've all experienced this first hand at some point. Thank God when you get the ‘green light’ from within and thank God when you get the ‘red light’. It’s for your benefit and gives you an ‘edge’.

You are the best...

True Career Success

2008-01-01T17:14:00.000-08:00

One of the principles Steven Covey teaches about is the habit of personal leadership. There is a difference between "leadership"and "management". Leadership tends to be about "direction" and "vision". Management tends to be about "implementation" of that vision. You need both to be successful.

In his book, the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he states that the manager tends to excel at climbing the ladder of success, while the leader determines if the ladder is leaning against the right wall. In this day and age, we need more then ever to determine if the "ladder is leaning against the right wall". In some case, it may just be a case of making an "adjustment", that will produce great success. This applies to the direction of our careers, as well as our lives in general.

Here are a few links that give some great ideas on enhancing you career:

http://www.48days.com/

http://www.5patterns.com/

http://lifeatwork.portfoliocms.com/Brix?pageID=9

Managing Your Career

The sites are chock full of ideas and strategies of how to pro-actively manage your career and take your career to the next level. The articles in the sites help you to think beyond the 'day-to-day grind' and think about where you are going.

Becoming A Person of Vision
A man or woman with a vision and a plan and a strategy to get there is a powerful thing...As it says in the proverbs:

"It's better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day. Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel." - Proverbs 24:6 (MSG)

Excercize wise, personal leadership and take an intelligent look at were you want to go, seems to be the message of this proverb. For instance, what are your dreams? What is your vision? What are your strengths and gifts? What are you innately good at...or even great at? What are you passionate about? What are you best at? How can you leverage your gifts and talents and be well compensated for it? What's pulling at your heart? What causes you to come 'alive' on the inside? What is your mission and purpose in life? What is "bearing fruit" ? These are "intelligent" questions you can ask yourself to determine the 'direction' of you career and life.

Think & Act Strategically
After taking an intelligent, prayerful look at where you want to go, utilize strategic planning where your career is concerned. Be strategic in your thinking. Implement your vision with management by objective principles. What key, pro-active strategic steps can you take to get you from where you currently are to where you want to go with your life? Perhaps it is a "timing issue" or a need for more education or developing some new thinking or attitudinal skills. Perhaps you need to 'take life by the horns', if you will, by being more aggressive about marketing yourself to not only your current employer but to the larger market in general. Perhaps it might boil down to viewing yourself in a new way and giving yourself "permission" to go after your dreams.

Jack Canfield in his book"Success Principles: How to Get From Where You are to Where You Want To Be" gives the account of how he noticed a teller at a bank who had just started. The teller wore clothes that looked more like a manager, and even though he was a teller and did his job with excellence, he "acted" more like a manger. He was "acting the part" of the job he was believing for. He began to think, act, talk, dress, plan, educate himself, and live like the leader he knew he was called to be. Later on when Jack Canfield visited the bank, the teller was no longer a teller, but a manager. He 'acted the part' and eventually literally became "the part" he was playing. He determined to see himself in a new way and over time became that person he saw in his vision. This principle could apply not only toward developing a career more in line with your God-given gifts and strengths, but also developing a side business or any dream you have.

What key qualities and qualifications will you need for the position you are believing for or the new level you are dreaming about? Take the time to "think it through" and then "follow through".

Go For It
Here's a good rule of thumb for "getting moving" after you have thought it through. It will help you transition from 'thinking it through' to 'following through' and avoid the trap of the 'paralysis of analysis':

Think about it
Pray about it
Talk about it
Make plans and due your 'due diligence'
Make an executive decision (on way or another).
Take action and adjust as you go - trusting the law of serendipity will work to your advantage.

Remember that it's what you learn in the process of going after your dreams and the person you become as a result of pursuing your dreams, that has the most value. As the saying goes: success isn't just a destination, but a journey. Receive the 'call' and embark on your 'heroes journey'.

Good Counsel - Hangin' With Eagles
As the proverb states, to win, you need alot of 'good counsel'. Choose your friends, advisors and counsel wisely. You will notice the proverbs says "good counsel". There is good counsel and there is bad counsel. Choose good counsel. Don't tell your dreams to non-dreamers. Surround yourself with people who believe in your dreams, as well as people who are operating at a higher level then yourself. Enlist the help of 'experienced champions' in your field of endevour who believe in you and your dreams and can help mentor you to the next level. The power of "associates" is in incredible - for good or bad. Don't hang out with "crabs" who will keep you in the bucket of mediocrity. Hang out with eagles, who will help you soar to new heights of excellence. This principle not only applies in terms of your career, but every area of your life.

This doesn't mean surround yourself with 'yes' men. But surround yourself with credible, wise men and women who not only encourage you to follow your dreams, but have wisdom and experience of how to get there. Your associates and 'counsel of adviosrs' could include people you know, as well as resources such as books, tapes, videos, magazines, and online learning. For instance, as I sought to learn more about leadership, I bought a number of John C. Maxwell books. I've never met him, personally, but his books and tapes have provided awesome counsel and insights that would have otherwise taken me years to learn on my own. In the area of leadership, I consider him part of my 'counsel of advisors', even though I've never met him before. It's been a story of accelerated learning and "increase by association".

There is, indeed, safety in a 'multitude of counsel'.

Words to think about and live by.

You are the best. :)

Emotional Maturity

2007-12-10T19:12:00.000-08:00

This is a Criteria of Emotional Maturity that came out a number of years ago by William C. Menninger, MD. It still holds up. Gives you something to shoot for and a sense of how you are progressing.

The Criteria of Emotional Maturity

The ability to deal constructively with reality

The capacity to adapt to change

A relative freedom from symptoms that are produced by tensions and anxieties

The capacity to find more satisfaction in giving than receiving

The capacity to relate to other people in a consistent manner with mutual satisfaction and helpfulness

The capacity to sublimate, to redirect one's instinctive hostile energy into creative and constructive outlets

The capacity to love

Pretty amazing list. Worth thinking about and meditating on.

Jesus said:

"Be peferfect, therefore, as your Father is perfect". - Matthew 5:48

He wasn't necessarily refering to being a 'perfect' person in the way we may define perfection. In other words, He wasn't referring to being 'flaweless". He was refering to being 'mature and complete' as the Father is mature and complete. One of the draws of Jesus (and still is) is His emotional maturity and wholeness and His willingness to accept you as you are, recognizing your flaws, while helping you to continue to improve and grow on your journey of life. He is "Mr. EQ", if you will. He came that you: "...may have and enjoy life and have it in abundance, to the full - till it overflows". (John 10:10)

There is a beauty and joy that comes with growth and maturity, even though it's a process. You may have to 'get up one more time' and 'go to the well one more time' and 'keep on keeping on' - but it's worth the effort.

Remember, the glory isn't in the falling, it's in the rising. :) Be a Micah 7:8 person:

"Though I have fallen, I will rise". - Micah 7:8

If you fall down, get back up and keep moving forward in faith. Your victory is ahead of you, not behind you.

Enjoy the journey of growth and maturity and becoming a "true" adult.

"...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6

There truly is a "pearl of great price" within you that is waiting to be revealed.

You are the best.

Power of Written Goals

2007-12-04T08:24:00.000-08:00

“In my practice as a psychiatrist, I have found that helping people develop personal goals has proved to be the most effective way to help them to cope with problems.”

- Ari Kiev, MD, author of “A Strategy for Daily Living.”

This is a neat link about the power of written goals:

http://www.thinkarete.com/wisdom/works/notes/1434/

The thinkarete.com sight is also pretty cool. I've always enjoyed philosophical-type people, with a bent toward action. I read a book recently by John C. Maxwell called "Thinking For A Change". He said "Think like a man of action" and "act like a man of thought". In other words, "think it through and then follow through." I thought that was great advice. Be a "thinking man's action hero". And that applies to both men and women.

Writing Goals: A Big Key To Sucess
Writing your goals down is a huge key to success. Writing your goals downs helps to clarify and develop your vision, as well as unleash commitment. It also helps to keep you focused on the path you have CHOSEN.

The word CHOSEN is a big word, because to many people spend there lives "reacting" rather then being pro-active. Ultimately, the path to living a life of destiny, if you will, is to live an "intentional" pro-active life based on your choices. When you begin to establish goals, it forces you to think out what you want in life. When you begin to determine "what you want" for your life and the person you truly want to become and then begin taking steps in that direction, things begin to happen. You're life begins to have a "life of it's own" and the manifestation of the dream has the potential to be bigger then the dream itself.

Becoming A Person Of Fulfilled Destiny
If you don't have established goals for your life (and established plans), you could end up living out somebody else's goals, as nothing happens in a vacuum. There is nothing wrong with helping other to achieve there goals, but you need to also establish your own goals and be determined to fulfill your God-given destiny and live your dreams.

When you begin to put down your dreams on paper and then develop plans, you have taken a huge step in the direction of being a person of fulfilled destiny and vision.

A Few Ideas
Here are a few areas you can establish goals this coming year:

1) Spiritual
2) Family
3) Health
4) Relationship
5) Academic
6) Career/Business
7) Financial
8) Investing
9) Fun & Recreational

Some examples of goals could be as wide and varied as:

* taking a continuing education course
* set up a savings account or a retirement account
* learning a new computer application
* buying some land or real estate
* be debt-free
* lose 10 pounds
* keeping in a greater contact with family
* turning a hobby into a side-business
* spending more time in prayer
* listen to leadership tapes
* take a trip to Hawaii
* read a chapter a day in the bible
* etc....

There More You Put Into It, The More You Get Out Of It
Whether your goals are big or small, the key is to start. As it says in the scriptures: “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you–and even more." (Mark 4) Another way of putting it, is the more you put into something, the more you'll get out of it...and more will be added to you. That's a picture of the exponential curve. You'll find as you're faithful to but your vision down on paper and start moving in the direction of your dreams, more will be added to you and a wonderful thing called "momentum" will kick into operation. Like the development of a muscle, your vision and goals will expand and increase over time and you're life will have greater focus and impact.

God bless you as you pursue your God-given dreams and vision. You are the best...

Stick To Your Guns, Trust Your Gut

2007-11-11T14:08:00.000-08:00

"The intellect has little to do on the road to discovery. There comes a leap in consciousness, call it intuition or what you will, and the solution comes to you, and you don't know how or why." - Albert Einstein

This is an interesting article on how simplifying an issue can help you make better decisions:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1711859,00.html

I think when you listen to the voice of your spirit (or your intuition) it helps to identify key issues in a decision.

We sometimes over-complicate issues which leads to "paralysis of analysis".

This doesn't mean to not evaluate the facts and your options. However, I believe the article suggesting take a 'gut check' along with using conscious decision making.

I read this account of Michael Jordan taking a cruise on Warren Buffet's yacht. Warren Buffett at the time was the richest man on the planet and considered the greatest investor who ever lived. Basically you had on board the greatest basketball player who ever lived with the greatest investor. Michael Jordan asked Warren Buffet what was the key to his success as an investor and businessman. Waren said to "trust your gut". Michael said he thought that was a good idea.

Pretty intriguing interaction!

Both have obviously been extraordinarily diligent at their crafts and have majored on and developed their unique God-given gifts and strengths. They do what they love. However, that extra dimension of listening to their intuition has also helped to catupult them to the "top of the top" of their respected fields.

Enjoy the article and along with doing your "due diligence"...trust your gut.

Be open to listening to that "still, small voice" . Don't be surprised if it takes you to a higher level in life.

You are the best..

25 Breakout Jobs

2007-09-24T22:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of 25 breakout jobs:

breakoutjobs

Be open to thinking "outside the box" where your career is concerned. For instance, a fitness trainer may make around $25,000 a year working at a gym, but may be able to charge a $100 an hour as a consultant. This type of dynamic may not always be in play, but you can evaluate your options thinking creatively and in faith. In some cases you may have a better "fit" in a large corporate context. In other cases, you may be better suited as an "intrapenuer":

http://www.intrapreneur.com/

Intrapreneuship
An "intrapreneur" is somebody with an entraprenuerial spirit in a corporate context. If you are a "creative-type" and have a knack for business you may fall under this category. Companies like 3M and Nordstroms are basically "intrapreneurial" driven companies. They put a high emphasis on you thinking like an entrepreneur while working at their companies and reward you accordingly. There are companies that function that way. When your values and gifts match the company you are working it, you will tend to "thrive" rathen then just survive. It helps when you have found "your people". :)

monster.com
http://www.creativehotlist.com/index.asp
http://www.dice.com/
http://www.salary.com/
http://www.careerbuilder.com/

If you are an "intraprenuer" you are extremely valuable to your company as you will tend to add enormous value. As Ryamond Smith of Bell Atlantic Corporation once remarked:

"Taking the safe road, doing your job, and not making any waves may not get you fired (right away, at least), but it sure won't do much for your career or your company over the long haul. We're not dumb. We know that administrators are easy to find and cheap to keep. Leaders - risk takers - are in very short supply. And ones with vision are pure gold."

Words to think about and live by! Be a leader, where ever you are!

Others are more at peace being an entrepreneur and building their own business. Even in that case, it worth evaluating what type of busines you would want to build.

http://emyth.com /
http://www.liveoutloud.com/
http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/

Do you have a "business system" or are you "the system"? Things to consider. :)

Many "entrepreneurs" got their starts as "intrapreneurs" and then eventually branched out into their own business. They were faithful over another man's business and eventually got their own. (Luke 16) That was there natural progression and flow.

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

Do Your Own Thinking
In the information age, I believe you have to think a little more like a "free agent", and do your own thinking. This doesn't mean be a "rebel". Definantly be thankful for whatever job you currently have, be loyal and add-value, but be open to thinking creatively and never let go of your dreams.

The Quite Revolution
Evaluate your options. Perhaps there is a calling there to work at a job and have a side biz. Or have a job and start learning about investing. Embrace the genius of the "And". :) You may be the type where both do "equally well" and you have the best of both worlds.

"Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well." (Ecclesiastes 11:6)

If the dream of having your own business burns inside you, you can start a side business while you still have your day job with the intent of turning it into a full-time business. By using this strategy - called 'straddling' - you can 'learning to earn' and develop the requisite business skills and mindset while you have your current job. Once you've built your side business up to the point where it supports you financially, you can then transition to doing the side biz full-time. This is one strategy to consider if you're not quit ready to make the plunge to a full-time business, but sense you're called to have your own business. This strategy could also apply in the arena of investing or any other dream you may have. Like a catipillar transforming into a butterfly, you can embark on a "quite revolution" that eventually transitions into a full-time thing.

Be Savvy and Creative
With this in mind, learn to be "savvy", in a positive sense, where your life and career are concerned and give yourself "permission" to succeed and go after your dreams. Jesus talked about this positive "savviness" in the parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:1). Jesus didn't praise the manager for being "crooked", but for being "shrewd" and thinking creatively:

"Now here's a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way--but for what is right--using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior." (Luke 16: 8 - 10 MSG)

With this in mind, be savvy, use your imagination and embrace an innovative spirit. Discover your particular God-given 'edge' and 'niche' and be open to orthodox and unorthodox strategies in the pursuit of your God-given destiny. (2 Samuel 5:17-25) Be "opportunity-minded" and look for 'angles' and have some God-given 'wits' about you to see and seize opportunities. Who knows? You're adversity might actually be an opportunity. Your 'crazy idea' might be the door to a huge breakthrough. You might be closer to 'breaking out' then you realize.

Write The Vision
Did you know that Brian Tracey says that the average person receives three to four million-dollar ideas a year? Imagine that...With that in mind, here is a 'street-smart' idea, 'free of charge': carry a notepad around with you to capture your ideas. Writing one's ideas down is a timeless principle that does wonders in a person life and future. When you write down your goals, ideas, dreams, visions and plans you are actually 'documenting your future'.

"Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time." (Habakkuk 2:2-3 MSG)

It's Time To Live Again
Make a commitment today to 'live, really live' and not complacently get by on good behavior.

This is the right time. Indeed, we may well be transitioning over to an "age of creativity":

"Increasingly, the new core competence is creativity -- the right-brain stuff that smart companies are now harnessing to generate top-line growth. The game is changing. It isn't just about math and science anymore. It's about creativity, imagination, and, above all, innovation." (Get Creative! How to build innovative companies, Business Week Online)

It's time to innovate and upgrade! :)

innovate

Keep growing, learning and loving life!

You are the best....

Choosing God's Best For Your Life

2007-07-08T12:39:00.000-07:00

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God." -Philippians 1: 9 - 11

Part of codependent behavior is it tends to settle for "good" rather then the "best". Settling for "good" usually has it's roots in fear of hurting people, i.e. the fear of man, which has it's roots in the fear of death - abandoment, being left alone, feeling rejected, "getting hurt again".

Good vs The Best
When you are in the middle of settling for "good" over the "best", there is usually an "unease" that comes with it. You find yourself acting out previous programing of "rationalizing" your decision for fear of hurting peoples feelings or having your own feelings hurt. But deep down you are crying out.

Don't ignore the heart cry of your spirit! Something isn't right. You could be choosing "good" over "the best". When you are violating your own conscience: "good" is actually not "good" at all. "Good" comes with a price!

Choose The Best
Make a quality decision to choose the best. You'll find it will liberate your spirit (your inner being) to start looking for God's best in your life. Decree and declare: "I choose the best. I choose God's best. God's best is mine. " The book of Job says:

"You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God's favor] shall shine upon your ways" (Job 22: 28)

When you decide and decree that you will choose God's best for your life, the light of God's favor will shine on the path of God's best for your life. Opportunites, ideas, insights, relationships, serendipous events, and resources will begin to emerge. Situations will begin to accomodate themselves on your behalf. You will still have to make decisions and perservere on that path, but the path will begin to open up.

The Path To The Best
Will there be confrontations along the path to the best? Possibly. Your decision to go from "good to great" and "better to best" will not only shake up your own comfort zone, but peoples comfort zones around you.

Obviously, be wise and treat people with love and respect and don't in haste "throw out the baby with the bathwater". Keep a balanced perspective on this quest for the best. Look for underlying patterns, themes, root causes and 'key issues' while being decisive. Read the lines and read between the lines. As the scripture says:

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty" (Proverbs 21:5)

Let peace be your guide. As the late Edwin Louise Cole so wisely put it:

Children feel, act and then think
Men feel, think, and then act.
Leaders think, act and then feel...Feelings follow action."

Great advice and worth meditating on: think...act....feel. I might add that along with doing your 'due diligence', let peace be the 'umpire' of your heart . (Colossians 3:15)

Be Cerebral and Spiritual
This is a picture of a person who is living a pro-active, intentional life. They 'think it through' with the intent of 'following through', while listening to their gut. They are cerebral and spiritual with an intent of taking some kind of action - even if their decision is to take action now, take no action, or take action at a later time. They are a blend of being both sharp-minded and soft-hearted. They are focused and determined, yet flexible and open to a better approach. They are what John C. Maxwell calls: 'velvet covered bricks': having the capacity to be 'tough, but tender'. A person who functions this way tends to end up 'calling the shots', because most people don't like to have to think, don't want the risks that are associated with being a decision maker, and don't have the patience to quite down to listen to their intuition. As Hitler said:

"How lucky it is for rulers that men do not think!" - Adolf Hitler

Wow! Motivates you to start thinking!

When a person engages in this type of intentional, creative thinking and allows time for the Holy Spirit to start to clarify the plan of God for their lives, it opens the door for Divine direction, strategies, plans and "divinely directed decisions". When a person develops the habit of being an intentional thinker, while developing their 'leadership intuition' and capacity for 'divinely directed decisions', it produces higher results! They tend to be highly effective people rather then just busy, and major on high leverage activities that produce high leverage results. They make genuine progress...

Methods of Operation: Tranquility
You might be thinking at this point: "I like what you are saying, but how do I go about this process of 'intentional think'?" Great question! One method of engaging in this process of thinking, is to find a good 'thinking spot' that brings you peace and stirs up your creativity. The place could be a favorite 'thinking chair', a home office, or even a place like a coffee shop. Whatever place stimulates you and gives you a sense of peace and tranquility is a good 'spot'. It can literally be anywhere, so long as it's your place to get stirred up again.

I tend to like Starbucks. Usually when I'm reading a stimulating book and taking notes and meditating on new ideas, my creativity gets stirred up and I start to get a sense of 'direction' or a way to improve upon something I'm currently doing. I also start to sense things that don't fit into the overall vision for my life and are worth 'moving on' from. Alot of the 'why's' of why I should do something or 'why' I should move on from something are brought to the surface. In other cases, I may not always be able to intellectually put my finger on exactly why I should do something or why I should stop doing something, but I sense it at an etheral level.

This process can also come through prayer or spending time in Scriptures to sharpen your mind, refresh your spirit, and expand your vision.

When you find your 'spot', it's wise to bring a pad of paper and pen to jot down notes and ideas. There is power in the written word and putting your ideas down on paper is great method of forming direction, fleshing out ideas and committing to some kind of action.

Let Go Of The Lesser To Embrace The Best
That said, determine to choose God's best for your life - being aware that there may be some boundry setting excercizes and 'executive decisions' along the way. There will be occassions when, after honestly analyzing a situation and seeking wisdom, you will have to let go of the 'lesser' to embrace the 'best'.

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (John 15:2)

This can come in the form of a bold new course or simply some kind of 'adjustment' that will help you improve from 'good to great' and 'better to best' in some area of your life. It will be worth the decision, however, because it comes with the most valuable asset you can have....peace.

You are the best.

*******

Click here for additional "Freedom to Choose God's Best" meditations.

Your Inner Leader and Rapid Progress

2007-07-06T15:44:00.000-07:00

One things I've notice of late is that there is a difference between "leadership" and "management". You need both to be successful. I've found that leadership tends to be about "direction" and "vision", whereas management tends to be about "implementing" that direction. Leadership tends to deal with 'intagibles' - people, progress, improvement, timing, atmosphere, momentem, etc. Management tends to major on tangibles - maintenance of systems and structures.

An example of the difference between the two could be found in the operation of a ship. In the operation of a ship, the leader sets the course for the ships direction, while the manager steers the ship based on the coordinates set by the leader. The manager "manages the decision" set by the leader. They both play vital roles of the success of an organization and an individuals life.

Leadership: The Magnetic Stone That Guides
As Eric Garnerx, a management consultant, stated:

"The word ‘leadership’ comes from the Old English word ‘lad’ for a ‘course’. A ‘lode’ is a vein that leads or guides to ore; a lodestone is a magnetic stone that guides; the lode-star is the name for the star that guides sailors, the Pole star. The word ‘management’ comes from the Latin word ‘manus’, the hand, from which we also get ‘maintenance’ and ‘mainstay’. Leadership guides by setting a ship’s course. Management keeps a hand on the tiller."

I found a lot of times I would try using management techniques to answer leadership questions and wonder why I wasn't making the kind of progress I knew was available to me. I would find myself just "working harder", trying to make it work...doing the same things over and over and wondering why things hadn't changed.

I found that as I got in touch with my inner leader, then the direction would come and I would make wiser, savvier choices. After that I would implement the direction using "management by object" - i.e. breaking the project down into smaller parts until the objective was met - and then I would make better progress. That combination of Divine Direction (leadership) and Diligent Application of the Direction (management by objective) in God's timing would produce "rapid progress". (Ezra 5:8)

"The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction. " Ezra 5:8

The Ladder of Success
I was reading in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, that the manager excels at "climbing the ladder of success", where as the leader determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall. Sometimes, the direction comes as an "adjustment".

An example of that in the bible, was when Peter went out fishing and was working all day and didn't catch anything. Jesus was standing at the shore and told him to "throw your net on the right side of the boat".

"He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"

"No," they answered.

He said, "Throw your net on the RIGHT SIDE of the boat and you will find some."

When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish."

John 21:5-7

When Peter made the adjustment, he went from catching nothing all day to having a "net-breaking, boat-sinking load". He experienced a huge breakthrough! Peter was in the right place, doing all the right things, he just needed "Direction" through the form of an 'adjustment'. The 'direction' he received set him up for great success. I think in these last days, we will need to get in touch with our inner leader, even more to receive Direction from Jesus and promptly obeying.

Our Inner Leader
Our inner leader is our spirit man whom God speaks with "Face to face". The bible calls our spirits, "the candle of the Lord".

"The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly." -Proverbs 20:27

Another way of putting it, is our spirit's are the Lord's "lightbulb".

Ever had a situation where something just "dawned on you" and suddenly the answer came to you? The path got clear when before it was hazy. Your "lightbulb" turned on. :) In other cases, it may come:

As form of a "knowing" or a settled peace...You sense an inner warmth about going in a particular direction or a "A velvet glow" in your spirit.
In other cases, it just 'clicked'.
You may even sense an "urging" to go in a particular direction or, in other cases, a lack of peace when you think about doing some endevour.
You may get a 'check in your spirit' when you are going in the wrong direction which can range from a feeling of 'deadness' in your spirit or even 'alarm bells'.
"Something about it just didn't feel right...something was stopping me" People may have asked you "how did you know?". You may have found yourself saying, "I don't know...I just knew".

The "knower" was your inner leader at work in contact with the influence of the Ultimate Leader...The Spirit of Jesus. You made a decision under the right kind of influence. :)

In these these last days, we will have to honor our inner leader more and more, in order get proper "direction" and make whatever 'adjustments' we need to make in order to achieve all that God has for us.

"He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." - Mark 4:21-23

Whether the direction comes in the form of an adjustment or a settled peace to 'keep on keeping on', when we follow that direction, we will eat the "good of the land". (Isaiah 1:19)

As it says in the scriptures:

"In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success." - Proverbs 3:6

Here is a confession you can make along those lines:

"Holy Spirit I ask You to lead and guide me on the path You have for me and into all truth. Thank You for showing me things to come. I am a magnet for God's Divine Direction, which I know will lead to great success."

You are the best.

Time and Chance

2007-04-22T20:55:00.000-07:00

Here’s a cool scripture that I believe is appropriate for the present moment.

“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. “ Ecc 9:11

The word time means a ‘fit or proper time, an opportunity’. The word chance means ‘occurrence, happening, chance, incident, event’.

It’s basically a marked kairos moment in time when time and opportunity meet. It can catapult you on your ‘race’ years forward. Instead of going from a to b (chronos time) it can take you from a to g and beyond. The scripture meantions a ‘race’, a battle, bread, riches, and favor. Kairos time – when time and chance meet – is part of God plan for you to finish your race, win the battle, receive bread, obtain riches, and flow in great levels of His favor.

God richly bless you and may ‘time and chance’ meet for you and bring you into great levels of His glory and favor and riches…May you seize the God-given opportunies and ‘open doors’ that God supplies for you.

My Testimony

2007-01-03T15:54:00.000-08:00

I got saved about 12 years ago. I wasn't raised in a Christian home, but always believed that there was a Creator or a Great Spirit.

The Search Begins...
I had different periods of hunger for God. When I was 21, I began to search for God. Being Native American (Tlingit-Winnebago), I began to pray to the Creator. I didn't know to pray in the Name of Jesus, but sought God through the Indian way. The Creator whom I prayed to seemed distant, like a dim bulb in the sky. I prayed, but seemingly nothing happened. Later I realized that God had indeed heard me and responded to my prayers.

An Uneasy Awareness

After I graduated from college I moved to Washingto DC for an internship. My life of sin and lack of integrity began to catch up with me and I began to feel a sense of hopelessness and burden of despair that I couldn't seem to lose. When I looked at my eyes in the mirror they looked haughtened and old. I never felt so alone, but the aloneness helped me to realize that inside, I was truly empty.

A Defining Moment

My uncle miraculously got a job in Virginia. We talked quite a bit. One night he told me I needed Jesus Christ. An intense battle was waged for my soul. The Presence and Power of God was in the room, nudging at my heart. My mind said: "No! We don't need religion", but my heart said: "Yes! I need Jesus!" After hours of wrestingly with the question, my heart won. I said "Yes. I want God in my life". When I said "Yes" a heavy burden lifted and a sense of hope and peace invaded my inner man.

A New Beginning

When I awoke the next day my eyes looked alive and new. I felt cleansed and new. When I prayed, the Creator no longer seemed like a dim bulb in the sky. His Presence and Power invaded my life. He was now nearer then anything I had ever experienced and realized He loved me with a love that passes all understanding.

Gratitude

Since that time, I've had ups and downs in life, but I wouldn't trade my worst day with Jesus for my best day without him.

JESUS TRULY IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE! HE TRULY MAKES DREAMS COME TRUE!

God bless.... - MM

Being Street-smart and Book-smart

2007-01-01T16:59:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting article about the benefits of being street-smart as well as book smart in business and life:

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/Departments/elearning/?article=booksmarts

I think the best is to be both. Be both book-smart and a little "Omar-like" - ala "The Wire". Omar is sort of a 'street genius". :) Here are a few of his 'street smart' qualities that can be gleaned from him. He is:

Extremely shrewd and strategic in his thinking
Found his niche
Innovative
Flexible and 'open-source' in his strategies. Open to new ideas and approaches.
Travels 'light'
Has a certain code of conduct, ethics and protocol
He is generous in his world
Believes he is blessed and is confident
Puts together great teams that at times are even cross-cultural. Generally isn't prejudiced.
Comes up with creative plans and is a bold risk taker when necessary.
Plays to win
Understands the power of words. Confesses that he is 'blessed'.
Listens to his intuition.
Surrounds himself with wise counsel, but ultimately casts the 'deciding vote'.
Studies the terrain and looks for opportunities. Excellent reader of situations, people, and trends. Has a sense of timing and seizes opportunities....Opportunity-minded
Does his homework and takes notes
Effective negociator at times
Underlying joy is the secret of his strength.
He is resilient and 'glories in tribulation'. Full of faith, optimism and is patience - thriving in a challenging environment. Has a knack for turning negatives into positives.
Uses the 80/20 principle to his advantage. Ultimately, a 'can do' kind of guy.
Has mastered aspects of his 'game' and keeps improving.

He is sort of an "MJ" of the streets.

Obviously don't be street-smart for the purpose of crime, but for doing what's right.

Have the 'spirit of Daniel':

"God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in both books and life." Daniel 1:17

In other words, they were book-smart and life-smart. God can help you to be both.

Read the lines and read between the lines.

Enjoy...

Dispersionist View of Native America

2006-10-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty interesting article which kind of explained a lot to me in terms of the history of Native Americans and the western hemisphere. I guess the Smithsonian had an "isolationist" view of Native Americans, in that they believed there wasn't much contact between Native Americans and the rest of the world before the arrival of Columbus. This concept was so strong that the Smithsonian didn't believe there was much contact between Native American tribes and people's themselves.

It Didn't Quite Click
Something about this concept always rang hollow for me in my thinking. The fact that people are made in the image of God and were commanded to be fruitful and multiply means that there is something in the spirit of man that needs to dynamically expand and seek out new territories, horizons and interact with others.

Dispersion
The other theory that unfortunately didn't prevail in the study of Native American's and the western hemisphere was the theory of "dispersion" or "diffusion". The theory of "dispersion" suggests that there was a lot of dynamic contact between Native Americans and people from other parts of the world before the arrival of Columbus. I tend to believe this.

Why Not Go For The Gold?
I believe the "isolationist" concept of Native American history has tended to hold alot of Native American's back from fulfilling their God-give destiny, because the study of Native American's tends to be in the past tense and presented in a "static" context. You'll notice that the reservation system has somewhat of an "isolationist" element to it. When you realize your history is fluid and dynamic, rather than static, I believe it helps to free you up to go after your God-given destiny, try new things, and fulfill your potential.

Anyway, enjoy the link...

http://www.onelight.com/hollow/giant/canyon.html

No matter what your race, gender or background...you are free to pursue your destiny...with passion. :)

* Note - I am strong believer in Native American tribal sovereignty and aboriginal claims to their lands. The theory of dispersion is not intended to be used to justify abrogating aboriginal claims to their lands or the ability of Native American tribes and people to control their destiny. That said, the theory of dispersion, taken appropriately, is extremely evocative and seems to flow in line with a wide variety of Native American oral traditions, legends and history, especially stories of migration and emergence. Peace...

Hero's Journey

2006-10-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

This is a free e-book on the "Hero's Journey" made famous by Joseph Campbell:

http://www.alvinsoon.com/lifecoachesblog/wp-content/files/theherosjourney.pdf

Most movies are based on the Hero's Journey pattern as well as most mythology.

I think the hero's journey pattern is somewhat symbolic of the path that we are called to walk and our destiny. It's like the journey is inscribed on our hearts.

Something within cries out for significance and the 'freedom to live'.

Enjoy and receive your personal 'call to adventure'....whatever it might be at this time.

The geniuses behind the geniuses

2006-08-25T14:15:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting link about the "the geniuses behind the geniuses":

http://www.livescience.com/history/060123_genius_behind.html

I guess who you 'hang with' really does make a difference.

What did Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Roy Firestone all share in common? They were friends and actually neighbors. Pretty amazing stuff.

Shows the veracity of the scripture that:

"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." Proverbs 13:20

Associates are 'subtle, but powerful'. :) Make sure to hang with the wise and you'll grow wise.

Enjoy...

Rich Kid, Smart Kid

2006-08-15T17:58:00.000-07:00

This is a great online game to teach about how to make assets work for you:

http://www.richkidsmartkid.com/

Here is the sight for "Rich Dad, Poor Dad":

http://www.richdad.com

Here are some amazing articles from the site:

http://www.richdad.com/catalog_resources/articles/

Be enriched and blessed! You are the best.

Happiness

2006-07-29T00:32:00.000-07:00

This is a neat article about Happiness. I guess, happiness tends to be highest among Latin Americans and Americans.

happiness

I think when you determine to enjoy your life, your level of happiness goes up. Take some time to smell the roses. :O)

Some other ways to increase your happiness include:

Associate with other happy people
Major on your strengths, not your weaknesses
Think big and play to win, rather then playing "not to lose"
Have goals and focus on what you desire...not what you don't want and "who's to blame".
Be a blessing
Count your blessings - An attitude of gratitude will lift your altitude in life.
Forgive...including yourself.
Learn to love yourself and like yourself.
Learn the art of boundry setting - Use "Yes" and "No" with wisdom
Excercise
Celebrate when you achieve your goals and when you are making progress toward your goals.
Find your purpose and be a person of vision. Being a person of vision will cause you to flourish in life. A lack of vision will cause you to 'cast of restraint'. Be a person of vision.
Laugh. They say that as part of a positive health regime you need to laugh around 15 minutes a day. The average adult laughs very little. It's hard to be happy, when you carry a 'grim' contenance and it's not good for your health.

When you get in God's presence it produces happiness. As King David so powerfully declared:

"Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place."

1 Chronicles 16:27

The Presence of God is a place of glory and honor, as well as strength and gladness.... It's a place of Happiness.

Religion can sometimes burn you out, but Jesus will lift you up. :)

Here is another link on "Positive Psychology" that really gaining momentum in this nation and throughout the world:

http://www.authentichappiness.org/

Have a great day and celebrate life! :)

You are the best.

The 11th Element

2006-07-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

This is is a pretty interesting site:

http://www.buildbiztips.com/lessons/lesson1.html

I read aspects of the book called "The 11th Element" . Some of it's kind of "new agey", but I think he's onto something. I think his message is about getting in touch with your spirit and being aware that there is an invisible spiritual realm.

He states that there is an invisible "spiritual internet" that people can tap into. He also discusses getting in touch with your "Inner CEO", which I believe is another way of describing your "inner man", "spirit man", intuition or your conscience. His grandfather used this concept to build the company Man Power, Inc. The concept relates to the idea of 6 degrees of seperation, but in a spiritual sense.

I tend to believe this is true. If you've been on job you've probably noticed some invisible "synergy" going on that's has a theme. People start thinking the same thing, even without discussing it and in seperate sections of the organization. It's intriguing.

This is an interesting link as well:

millionairemind
http://www.secretsofthemillionairemind.com/

He declares that we subconsciouly all have a financial blueprint that we operate within. It's kind of like an unconsciouse thermostat that sets the climate for our financial life. If you can upgrade your underling financial blueprint, you will begin to see financial increase manifest in your life. It's based on the concept that your inner life eventually manifests in your outer life. It all starts within...

I think what he's talks about is renewing the "spirit of your mind". The spirit of your mind is your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind tends to govern things without you realizing it. In some cases it can be a great friend and in other cases it needs to be "renewed" with God's Word. God's promises can renew the spirit of your mind and bring you out of sickness into health, poverty into wealth, defeat into victory. Meditation in God's Word is one of the keys to "renewing the spirit of your mind". (Psalm 1).

Begin to see yourself in a new way and envision a bigger future.

This is a great book along those line to stir up your vision:

http://bookstore.joelosteen.com/ProdBlockDetails.aspx?id=1477

Enjoy...

Effective Communication

2006-06-03T17:10:00.000-07:00

What this world needs more of is effective communication! Here is a great link on communication.

http://www.mediate.com/articles/aphis.cfm

Enjoy...

Career Tips

2006-06-03T17:07:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty interesting article on career tips. It was written to a 20 something crowd, but I believe it still applies to those over and under the 20-something zone. It's fun when you start to "wise up" to things. :) It sometimes takes awhile. Enjoy.

http://www.careerjournal.com/columnists/perspective/20050512-fmp.html

Enjoy...

Regarding Employment And Meaninglessness

2006-04-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing message that was sent via email. I don't know who wrote it, but it's packed with wisdom about handing issues on the job and remembering that regardless of the situation, you are a person of true purpose and a destiny.... Let the healing balm of this word touch you in a special way. You are the best.

Regarding Employment & Meaningless
Regarding employment and meaninglessness: I think one way to counteract the meaninglessness is to think about what you appreciate. Your own home, your dogs, your car, that you have a job that at least for now you are contributing your insights to. You have friends to communicate with and you have an outlet now and then with theater. These areas and there are more are indications of your identity. They indicate the ideas, joy, humor, insight, compassion that you bring with you -- this is also your employment. Your very qualities are the employment and they're available wherever you go, and where you those qualities are needed.

Thoughts On The Next Phase
I think if you feel you are ready for something that affirms more of yourself, of your employment, this is very good.

Listen: Just having a legitimate desire for something better for yourself and more meaningful for you to do is enough for now. Keep mindful of that desire, know it's there, access it in thought, let it bloom. Just by doing this you will be contributing to the moment when the next phase is apparent. Think about this, and then take comfort in it and take it with you to your job. By taking your gratitude for what I mentioned at first, and your quiet desire for a better employment affirmation, to your job: you will regain your essential perspective. Your essential perspective keeps things balanced.

See It Differently
Reacting to the personality of others is reflexive: so counteract that with seeing others who might bother you as perhaps victimized by what they do that bothers you, and be nice to them in a quiet way; also look to see what is good in them.

You're there because what you have to offer is needed now so do your task at hand and put personalities on the backburner. Think of them as not your concern. Be pleasant and cooperative.

Let Your Higher Self Shine Through
Approaching it thus you keep your better presence affirmed, a presence that you already know has no business mucking around in areas that will define a lesser you. That way you can be there without being touched. And remember all the while you stay in your uprightness you will be maintaining your purpose and that purpose is therefore preparing itself for what is approaching it for a mutual need connection that will happen gracefully.

Don't splam your thought into anything else but the obvious good you see and are doing and willing to do. Don't worry about how or when or what it will be: just nurture quietly and gratefully your willingness and desire for something more substantial and affirmative. That's all.

Benefits Of Peace

2006-03-27T22:28:00.000-08:00

It looks like science has finally found a link between stress and aging:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20394-2004Nov29.html

You can now see the wisdom of the scripture to:

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7

After casting your anxiety on the Lord, make sure to embrace His peace. There is a wonderful promise for doing so:

"A heart at peace gives life to the body."
Proverbs 14:30

These scriptures were written thousands of years ago. God is always ahead of the curve!

Another stress relief is to seek to simplify your life.

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/84/98249.htm?z=1623_00000_0000_ep_03

It may require not only thinking over your 'to do list', but also evaluate creating a "stop doing list".

According to the 80/20 principle many of our activities produce little or no results. According to the 80/20 principle, around 20% of our activies produce 80% of our results. The key is to evaluate the activities that are actually "producing fruit" and major on them. The non-productive activies can be "pruned out" of our lives or delegated. Certain things are not necessarily "wrong", they are just non-productive and unprofitable. The bible calls these things "unnecessary weights" that slow us down in our particular "race".

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. " Hebrews 12:1

With spring upon us, it might be worth doing some spring cleaning, as well. As Americans we tend to have a lot of "stuff" (books we haven't read for years, clutter, old clothes, etc.) that can be "shown the door" at this point. :) The excess "stuff" can get in the way of simplifying our lives.

This is a good rule of thumb for "stuff" that's lost it's meaning: give it away, throw it away or file it. This is all a much better approach then the 'piling method', made famous by Oscar Madison. :) With the rise of eBay and other online auctions, if you have the time, you can also sell it. Turn your 'trash into cash'. :) Who knows, learning to deal wisely with your stuff might be the door to a side-biz. There are also Ebay drop-off centers now that can sell your stuff for you.

I believe by getting rid of the excess "stuff" it opens the door for "new things". I believe it's also a therapeutic process that in some respect 'unclutters' your mind and aids in the process of going after your dreams. As Jesus said:

"And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. "

Luke 5:37-39

Best success as you move toward a more peaceful, simplified, yet effective life.

You are the best. :)

Job Trends

2006-02-21T16:10:00.000-08:00

This is a great article on various job trends:

http://hr.blr.com/display.cfm/id/17243

According to a survey done by Careerbuilder.com and Aol.com, the top five skills hiring managers say will be most critical to their businesses and most attractive in potential candidates in 2006 are:

Customer service,
Critical-thinking (problem-solving and decision- making),
Technology proficiency,
Ability to improve productivity,
and Team-building and motivation.

These are all fairly, constant timeless skills that tend not to go away. I have noticed that customer service is a big one, not only for individuals, but also companies. You can have two companies with similar technical proficiency and a similiar product, but the one with the better customer service wins everytime.

This lines up with the wisdom of the scriptures. Jesus said:

"The greatest among you will be your servant." Matthew 23:11

Jesus, the Master Carpenter, preached "customer service", over 2,000 years ago. The message just won't go away. :)

I believe spirit behind the message is: when you "sow success" into other peoples lives you will reap success. What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.

How's you're customers service? To your employeer? To your family? To your employees? To those in your sphere of influence?

Do you desire greatness?

The seeds of greatness are in you.

I believe as you sow good seeds into other people's lives and you will begin to see greatness manifest in your own life.

Customer service tends to be one of those "rubber hits the road issues", however it's one of the door to greatness...and it will give you that added edge that distinguishes from other "companies".

You are the best.

Optimists Live Longer

2006-02-13T18:49:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting article, that shows that optimists tend to live
longer:

http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/041101_optimist_heart.html

Pretty cool.

I guess it goes to show that a:

"A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing.."
Proverbs 17:22

Enjoy...

Depressed...Take A Hike

2006-01-23T18:31:00.000-08:00

This is a cool article on the emotional benefits of exercise:

http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/060123_walk_health.html

Those endorphins usually do a pretty good job of warding off that "sky is falling" feeling. :)

Happy hiking...

You are the best.

The Dying Art of Thinking

2006-01-16T11:48:00.000-08:00

This is a cool article called "The Dying Art of Thinking"

http://www.rzim.org/publications/jttran.php?seqid=2

Becoming a good thinker is one of the greatest disciplines you can develop and an ever increasing asset.

Hitler said:

"What luck for rulers, that men do not think"

Wow!

On the other hand, wise King Solomon said:

"It's better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day." Proverbs 24: 5

Continue to invest in developing into a good thinker and see the kind of impact it will make. John C. Maxwell in his book "Thinking For a Change" list 11 types of thinking worth developing:

Seeing the Wisdom of Big-Picture Thinking
Unleashing the Potential of Focused Thinking
Discovering the Joy of Creative Thinking
Recognizing the Importance of Realistic Thinking
Releasing the Power of Strategic Thinking
Feeling the Energy of Possibility Thinking
Embracing the Lessons of Reflective Thinking
Questioning the Acceptance of Popular Thinking
Encouraging the Participation of Shared Thinking
Experiencing the Satisfaction of Unselfish Thinking
Enjoying the Return of Bottom-Line Thinking

Give yourself "permission" to think. In today's frenetic, instant gratification society, thinking tends to be treated like a waste of time. However growing into becoming a good thinker will improve your life, if not revolutionize it.

When you improve your thinking you improve your life.

You are the best.

Free - Acres of Diamonds

2005-12-15T00:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a free copy of the classic "Acres of Diamonds":

http://www.48days.com/newsletter/Acres%20of%20Diamonds%20--%20Dan%20Miller.pdf

I got it from a great site called:

http://www.48days.com

Enjoy and discover your "Acres of Diamonds"!

You are the best.

Creative Age

2005-11-30T14:57:00.000-08:00

This is a cool article on creativity and innovation:

innovationarticle

It used to be viewed as a "side issue", but looks like it's transitioning to being a "mainline" issue.

If you look at Starbucks, they have been extremely innovative and it's paid off well for them. One of the things they do, as they view there employees, customers, and vendors they work with from more of a "win/win" partnership perspective. They've used "soft skills" to their advantage.

Here's another great link:

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/

These days you got to think more and more "outside the box" to be "ahead of the curve". I guess, the "odd ball" won. :)

Big Hairy Audacious Goals

2005-11-27T01:08:00.000-08:00

Jim Collins, in his book "Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies", states that one of the things that separates enduringly great companies from mediocre companies are "BHAG's". This is the acroynm for "Big Hairy Audacious Goals". As stated in the article, " "Set Yourself, Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals", some of the characteristics of a "BHAG" include:

"* BHAG's must be clear and compelling. There must be a clear target, so that everyone will know when it is reached. It has to be energizing and highly focused, so that it requires little or no explanation. People "get it" and it "clicks". For example, Henry Ford set the goal of democratizing the automobile - putting it within reach of the working man and woman.

* BHAG's must take people out of their normal comfort zone. They will thrive on the feeling that theirs is a heroic effort. BHAG's are like scaling a mighty mountain in faith. Only then will they inspire a degree of commitment. Queen Victoria once said, "We are not interested in the possibility of defeat." And neither are those who commit to BHAG's. "

* BHAG's reflect core values and purpose. For instance, Sony's BHAG to become "the company most known for changing the worldwide poor-quality image of Japanese products" was completely consistent with it's core values and purpose as a company: to elevate the nation and culture of Japan.

"When John F. Kennedy made a commitment that the United States would put a man on the moon before the end of the decade, he was setting a risky BHAG. "

Some other examples of famous BHAG's set by companies include:

Boeing, which bet its future on the 747 jetliner in the 1960s
IBM, which made a similarly sizable gamble on the 360 mainframe computer around the same time
Starbucks current BHAG to be the #1 Brand in the world.

These BHAG's were based on what these companies discovered to be their core area of greatness. Their BHAG's where based more on a honest, yet confident UNDERSTANDING of their core greatness, rather then BRAVADO. Their core area of greatness, called a "Hedge Hog Concept", included:

1) what they could be potentially the best in the world at,
2) what they were passionate about, and
3) what drove their economic engine.

A good BHAG rooted in their core area of greatness, would cause them to stretch in their pursuit of greatness.

Finding Your HedgeHog Concept
At a personal level, a "Hedgehog Concept", might be something you were born to do, something that you wake up excited about, and you're getting paid to do it ("you mean I get paid to do this?").

In terms of our own life, the concept of transitioning to your "core area of greatness" or finding you're personal 'Hedgehog Concept' is a big paradigm shift. So many people have settled for "core competence" rather then by faith going after their "core area of greatness". It is similar to "Michael Jordan playing baseball". Michael Jordan was at best "OK" at baseball, but he was the "best of all time" at basketball. Many people today, are living lives in the minor leagues of their "core competency", when they have "big league talent" in the area of their "core greatness".

I believe the Creator has given us all gifts, talents, abilities, and a unique calling. That calling and purpose is where we will find our core greatness. Steve Covey, in his recent book, "The 8th Habit" describes it as discovery your "Voice". As we align Big Hairy Audacious Goals to our area of core greatness, I believe it will positively effect not only our own lives but those around us.

We are all "geniuses at something". By finding your core greatness and then developing BHAG's around it, it not only unleashes your potential, but also inspires those around you to unleash their own. As Nelson Manedla read at his inaguration"

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Inaugural Speech-Nelson Mandela

Three questions you can ask yourself to help find your core greatness are:

What am I deeply passionate about?
What am I are genetically encoded for -- what activities do I feel I was just "made to do"? What activities stir up a sense of destiny in me?
What makes economic sense -- what can I make a living at?

These three questions I believe will help get you on the path of finding your "Core Greatness". As you prayfully consider these questions, take notes and look for patterns and themes. I believe a story will begin to emerge. Certain things that come "naturally" to you and, at times, seem almost easy, for other people are extremely difficult. That's the quiet voice of your gifting speaking to you.

Be Focused, Yet Flexible
As you go through this process, I believe, it's also a good idea to be remain flexible, try out different things and be open to change - as your calling may require a diversity of skills and experiences. In other words, be "focused, yet flexible". Set powerful goals for yourself, but be flexible and enjoy the journey of your life. Like a 3M R & D lab, you may have to "try alot of things and see what works". As the late Edwin Louise Cole said:

"Life is lived on levels and arrived at in stages."

The discovery of one's destiny is a process. Enjoy the journey. For instance, even though Michael Jordan wasn't that great at baseball, I believe it served a purpose of stirring up a hunger in him to comeback to his true passion, basketball..."for the love of the game". :)

Go ahead and think it through (find your core area of greatness) and then follow through (develop personal 'BHAGs') and see what an impact it will make! "Write the vision" and aim high! Break your goals down into smaller components and celebrate as you make progress. Even if you have to take "baby steps", for awhile, take the first step. Enjoy the process and the journey. Life is to fun not to have any fun.

You truly are the best and deserve the best! :)

Learned Optimism

2005-11-23T17:36:00.000-08:00

"An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist a calamity in every opportunity."-- Winston Churchill

This is an interesting article called "Learned Optimism":

http://www.thinkarete.com/wisdom/works/notes/1429/

I have had a desire to be more of an optimists on a consistent basis.

The dictionary defines optimism as: "A tendency to expect the best possible outcome or dwell on the most hopeful aspects of a situation"

It also defines it as: "The belief that the universe is improving and that good will ultimately triumph over evil."

If you look in the bible most of the great biblical figures were 'eternal optimist'. The greatest optimist of all being Jesus Himself.

There were also those that started out with more of a pessimistic outlook, but over time God transformed them into eternal optimists. Moses was a prime example of that.

I believe that some people, because of their temperaments are more prone to optimism. However, the good news is it's a learned trait. It boils down to a habit, a daily choice, and an outlook.

If you struggle with pessimism here is a good scripture to meditate on:

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." Psalm 23:6

It helped me and I'm sure it will help you.

Embracing an "attitude of gratitude" also enhances an optimistic outlook. An attitude of gratitude will increase your altitude in life. Make everyday "thankgiving day". There is true power in 'counting your blessings'. What you focus on increase and expands.

Attitude is a small thing that has a huge impact in life. Chose to have a positive one.

You are the best.

Finding Your Niche

2005-11-20T15:11:00.000-08:00

One of the common characteristics of millionaires, studied in "Millionaire Next Door" is they generally found a "niche" in a business they loved:

"The millionaires in his survey tend to have started businesses, and have built their wealth by finding a profitable niche. They tend to love what they do and are motivated by building the business, not by building wealth."

The word "niche" is defined in the dictionary as:

A situation or activity specially suited to a person's interests, abilities, or nature.. (found her niche in life).
A special area of demand for a product or service

When you put the two together you have the potential for a "profitable niche". Sometimes your gift or your product can create a 'demand.' As it says in the books of proverbs:

"A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. "
(Proverbs 18:16)

King Solomon also said:

"As goods increase, so do those who consume them. "
(Ecclesiastes 5:11)

Words to consider.

Time to find your "Core Greatness", whether on a job, business, investing, self-employement, etc. or a combination of a number of them. Don't be afraid to "market what you got".

"Somebody" wants what God put in you.

Actually 'alot of people' do...:)

Your are the best.

Overcoming "Self-Defeating" Behavior

2005-11-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting article on "self-defeating" behavior.

overcomingselfdefeatingbehavior

http://www.markgoulston.com/articles/

An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist a calamity in every opportunity.-- Winston Churchill

When one door closes another door opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us.-- Alexander Graham Bell

I make the most of all that comes, and the least of all that goes.-- Sara Teasdale

Enjoy and have a great day…

Wisdom - The Key to Victory

2005-11-15T18:28:00.000-08:00

This is a "victory pattern" I've found brings manifest victory and glory in one's life if applied. I got this pattern from man by the name of Edwin Louis Cole, who passed on a couple years ago. I was blessed by his messages and teaching. Though he has passed on, the victory pattern remains. Here it is:

Wisdom
Strategy
Victory
Glory

The pattern is: ask God for wisdom and He will give you a strategy. If you act on or "obey" the strategy then you will experience victory which will manifest in Glory. I believe this is part of how were are to go from one degree of "glory to the next degree of glory". I have followed this pattern of success and it really works.

I like what the Proverbs say:

"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than rubies;
nothing can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor."
Proverbs 3: 13 - 16

Have a great, glorious day: flowing in wisdom, strategy, victory, and glory!

You are the best.

Victory Poem

2005-10-18T13:04:00.000-07:00

This is a great inspirational quote. Enjoy and live in victory!

The Victor
If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you like to win but think you can't,

It's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost.

For out in the world we find

Success begins with a fellow's will.

It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are out classed, you are.

You've got to think high to rise.

You've got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win the prize.

Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man.

But sooner or later, the man who wins

Is the man who thinks he can.

May you be filled with wisdom and inspiration as you pursue your God-give dreams, vision and destiny! Don't ever quit on your dreams the Creator put in your heart.

You are best!

Habits Of The Wealthy

2005-09-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article that is called "Habits Of the Wealthy". Very intriguing. Whether your desire is to be a millionaire or not, I believe the application of these principles would be "life enriching":

Earned Money vs. Easy Money
Easy money usually comes from inheritance or luck, such as winning the lottery. The track record of people who get their money through the lottery or other windfalls is usually very different from those who created their wealth themselves or who planned for an expected inheritance. Lottery winners are often a sorry lot; more than 90 percent use up their winnings within 10 years -- some go through their money in weeks or months. But there are some consistent patterns among those people who earn or plan to inherit their money, and these five strategies may be worth emulating.

Avoid The Earn-to-Spend Mentality
Michael LeBoeuf, author of Finding the Millionaire in You, points out that to increase wealth, it's essential to emulate millionaires who view money as something to save and invest, rather than income to spend. Many wealthy people live quite simply, he points out, choosing less pretentious homes than they could theoretically afford and opting for financial independence over material showmanship.

Focus
LeBoeuf also counsels resisting the impulse to be scattered in your efforts and interests. "Winners focus; losers spray," he warns. And goals that are clearly written down are easier to keep in focus.

Do Whatever Is Necessary to Meet Your Goal
People who earn their millions are able not only to focus, but to persevere in the pursuit of their goals. One single mom entrepreneur, Melissa Clark-Reynolds, started her first business, a health and safety consultancy, when she had a young son. En route to her goal of being a millionaire by age 35, Clarke-Reynolds and her son ate lots of pizza, did homework late at night and often slept at the office. She is now a chief executive mentor for Empower New Zealand, a global business consulting firm headquartered in London.

Take Calculated Risks
Perhaps it goes without saying, but you have to take strategic risks to earn and grow money. And a little rebelliousness seems to help too. One interesting study found a majority of male millionaire entrepreneurs had been in trouble with school authorities or the police during their adolescence.

Be Generous
And why doesn't it surprise us that millionaires are often very generous? Sometimes it's for the tax breaks, obviously, but often it's not. One Jewish Swiss millionaire, for instance, flew to Israel to give $5,000 in cash to a waiter at a Jerusalem café who foiled a Palestinian suicide bombing. Among the most generous of millionaires are those from North America, who are, according to a Merrill Lynch Cap-Gemini report, two to five times more likely to give to causes they value than their European counterparts.

These five millionaire habits are a pretty good prescription for living happily, whether or not the money follows. But LeBoeuf insists it's not so unusual to be a millionaire, noting that one in 14 households has a net worth of $1 million. And are the folks in those households happy? Yes, says professor Andrew Oswald of the University of Warwick, UK. After studying more than 9,000 people over eight years, Oswald concluded that people who come into money are happier. The happiest among them, he further says, seem to be "highly educated, well-paid women who have jobs." And how much money does the professor say it takes to be happy? "About $1 million, give or take a little."

7 Principles of Eagles

2005-07-27T00:13:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing article by Dr. Myles Munroe about eagles and what we can learn from them.

May you soar on wings of eagles. Remember: you can't be sour if you want to soar. :)

1. Eagles fly alone at a high altitude and do not mix with sparrows or other smaller birds like geese. Birds of a feather flock together. No other bird goes to the height of the eagle. Eagles fly alone. Never in a flock. Even when Moses (Old Testament) went to commune with God on the mountain, he left the crowd at the foothills. Stay away from sparrows and ravens. Eagles fly alone

2. Eagles have strong vision, which focuses up to 5 kilometres from the air. When an eagle sites prey- even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it. Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed.

3. Eagles do not eat dead things. He feeds on fresh prey. Vultures eat dead animals but not eagles. Steer clear of outdated and old information. Do your research well, always.

4. The Eagle is the only bird that loves the storm. When clouds gather, the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the wings of the storm to rise and is pushed up higher. Once it finds the wing of the storm,the eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar the clouds and glide. This gives the eagle an opportunity to rest its wings. In the meantime all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees. We can use the storms of our lives (obstacles,trouble, etc) to rise to greater heights. Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably.

5. The Eagle tests before it trusts. When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate, she flies down to earth with the male purusing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her. Once she has reached a height high enough for her, she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls, the faster he chases until he reaches it and has to catch it before it falls to the ground, then bring it back to the female eagle.The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a much higher altitude pursued by the male, until she perceives it high enough, and then drops the twig for the male to chase. This goes on for hours,with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of picking the twig which shows commitment, then and only then, will she allow him to mate with her! Whether in private life or in business, one should test commitment of people intended for partnership.

6. Eagles prepare for training. When about to lay eggs, the female and male eagle identify a place very high on a cliff where no predators can reach; the male flies to earth and picks thorns and lays them on the crevice of the cliff, then flies to earth again to collect twigs which he lays in the intended nest. He flies back to earth picks thorns and lays them on top of the twigs. He flies back to earth and picks soft grass to cover the thorns, and then flies back to pick rugs to put on the grass.When this first layering is complete, the male eagle runs back to earth and picks more thorns, lays them on the nest; runs back toget grass and rugs and lays them on top of the thorns, then plucks his feathers to complete the nest. The thorns on the outside of the nest protect it from possible intruders. Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. She lays the eggs and protects them; he builds the nest and hunts. The people who love us do not let us languish in sloth but push us hard to grow and prosper. Even in their seemingly bad actions they have good intentions for us.

7. Eagles find a place of renewal. When the Eagle grows old, his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should. When he feels weak and about to die, he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there, he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, then he can come out. We occasionally need to shed off old habits & items that burden us and add no value to our lives.

Dr. Myles Munroe can also be seen on streaminfaith.com.

2005-07-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

Additional "Freedom to Choose God's Best" meditations:

Philippians 1: 9 - 11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.

Isaiah 48:17

This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."

Job 22:28

You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God's favor] shall shine upon your ways.

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

Romans 8:14

…because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Matthew 5:37

Let your Yes be simply Yes, and your No be simply No; anything more than that comes from the evil one

Matthew 5:37

Just say "yes' and "no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Isaiah 1:19
If you are willing and obedient you will eat the best from the land...

Proverbs 16:32

Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

Proverbs 21:5
The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one [that is] hasty only to want.

Proverbs 16:10

Divinely directed decisions are on the lips of the king; his mouth should not transgress in judgment.

Romans 8:32

If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]

Romans 8:37

Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.

Psalm 118:6

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Hebrews 13:6

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

Achieving Your Dreams

2005-07-05T12:48:00.000-07:00

Alot of times we have big dreams and visions, but aren't sure how to get there. One thing you can do is break your dream down into smaller goals. By doing so, you'll be taking one step of faith at a time rather then trying to achieve the vision all at once. Everytime you reach a goal, celebrate. By doing so, you'll be "enjoying where you are to where you are going". I believe this actually aids in the process of achieving your dreams, because you are not only focused on achieving your goals, but also enjoying the journey of your life. As the old adage goes: "success isn't just a destination, but a journey".

Enjoy the journey. You are the best.

Jerry Maguire - My Take

2005-07-02T00:33:00.000-07:00

I thought Jerry Maguire was an amazing movie and had tons of biblical principles in it. One of the principles that come to mind was that in order to "find your life" you have to "lose your life". Jesus said that in terms of following Him. In order for Jerry to live his dream and operate in his new found faith in his destiny, he had to literally lose his previous shallow existence as a sports agent, (with all the trappings) in order to find his new life as a person of meaning and destiny.

This is often the case when people come to Christ. Many of the old relationships and trappings of the past fall away as they embark on their new destiny following Jesus on a path of significance.

The other biblical parallels include some of the Characters. I believe that Jerry's agent-mentor - Dicky Fox - represented the Father God. The agent was played by an older Jewish man. He was brimming with positive life truths and insights. He existed in a different dimension (Jerry's Past), but He was forever there for him with words of encouragements and grace such as - "Roll with the punches, tomorrow is a new day." The Word of the Father didn't return void, but accomplished what it said it would do. The bible says to "Enter boldly into the throne of Grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Whenever we are facing life's difficulties and things look impossible we can go to the Father and find mercy and grace from a loving God and ultimately solutions to life's troubles. There are always "answer awaiting in the Presence of God."

The Cuba Gooding Character - Rod Tidwell - represented Jesus as he kept his word and stuck by Jerry in times of adversity. Jesus is called "The friend that sticks closer than a brother" and "The Brother born for adversity". When Jerry's life fell apart, Rod stuck by him through thick and thin, until they finally got their breakthrough. This is like Jesus who always sticks with you, even with times get rough. Jesus is called in the old testament "The Lord of the Breakthrough." During times of adversity, Jesus will stick with you and see you through to your breakthrough. Even if the world forsakes you...He never will.

Jerry's wife - Dorothy Boyd - represented the Holy Spirit as she represented the tenderness, compassion, and comfort of God. The Holy Spirit is called the "Comforter" and the "Helper". Like the Holy Spirit, she was there for support and help and never stopped "believing" in Jerry even when he was having trouble believing in himself. She was also like the Holy Spirit, in that she "completed him". When the Holy Spirit comes and takes up residence in our hearts, He takes away our emptiness and aloneness and fills us to overflowing with Himself.

Dorothy was also like the Holy Spirit, in that she desired to know Jerry intimately. The work of the Holy Spirit is to transition one out of the drudgery of religion, and bring one into an intimate relationship and fellowship with God. It's not of enough to know about God, but to actually know Him intimately and for us to share our hearts with Him. As Dicky Fox said: "The key to this business is personal relationships". That was the heart of Dorothy with Jerry, and the heart of God to us.

The final character that represented a biblical theme was Jerry's adopted son, Ray. Ray represented "child-like faith". Jesus said:

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 18: 3-4

Throughout the movie, Jerry had to continue to change and learn a new way of thinking and seeing the world in order to operate effectively in his new life of significance. The word "repent" in the Bible means "to let go of the low way and embrace the high way". The word "penthouse" is rooted in the word "repent". Ray's innocence and child-like humility helped Jerry to let go of the "low way" of his previous "all-about-me" existence to embrace the "high way" of a life worth living.

One definition of insanity is to continue to do the same things over and over and expect things to change. Jerry realized that for him to have the life he'd never had before, he would have to do some thing he'd never done before and, as a result, become the man he had never been before. This required a child-like faith and embracing change.

The last principle that came to mind was the principle of perserverance. Jerry and his new friends and covenant partners - though tempted to quit when all hell broke loose and things seemed to be going from bad to worse - stuck it out in faith till the end. They lived by the adage: "Don't grow weary in well-doing, for in due season you shall reap if you don't lose your courage and relax and faint". Ultimately, by not quitting, being loyal to each other, developing closeness and compassion for one another, and being open to change, over time they eventually saw the "Goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" and partook of the "higher life" the Jesus promises to those who follow Him. A good land that is filled not only with success and victory, but significance, depth, and most importantly love.

80/20 Principle

2005-06-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

This is a great link on the 80/20 Principle:

http://www.the8020principle.com/Html/HotTopics.htm#top

It will change your life, when applied. It will inspire you to transition from focusing your efforts on the "trivial many" and focus on the "vital few".

Power of Laughter

2005-06-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

This is a great link on the medicinal power of laughter:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7120909/

Seems to prove the veracity of the scripture:

"A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing" (Proverbs 17:22)

Keep smiling, laughing and loving life! :)

Secrets of Prosperous People

2005-04-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

This is a great link on "Secrets of Prosperous People":

http://www.oneminutemillionaire.com/articles/7secrets.asp

Here is another great link on "Tools For Financial Success":

http://www.kcm.org/studycenter/finances/index.php

Reminds me of the old adage: "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach him how to fish and he'll eat forever".

May you prosper and be in health just as your soul prospers. (3 John 2)

Keep on growing, learning and loving life!

You are the best.

Carrot & Banana Power

2005-03-18T22:19:00.000-08:00

I guess "Buggs" was on to something:

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1276845.html?menu=

In the meantime, it's time once again to go "banana's over banana's"

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=7

The link below is a great health site that also incorporates a spiritual view:

http://www.drcherry.org/

Pretty amazing stuff.

Have fun and keep loving life. :)

Cussin' Ain't Good For Ya'

2005-03-18T12:34:00.000-08:00

I always had a feeling that cussin' wasn't good for you.

This appears to verify that idea:

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1146030.html?menu=news.scienceanddiscovery

Confirms the scripture that "life and death are in the power of the tongue". (Proverbs 18)

Words have power...for good or bad.

Speak life...

Investing Basics

2005-03-18T12:20:00.000-08:00

This is a great link on investing basics:

http://www.fool.com/school/13steps/13steps.htm?source=InvAg

As it says in the proverbs:

"He who gathers money little by little makes it grow".

Learning to put the "law of use" and compounding interest to work on your finances, brings increase over time.

http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2004/commentary04123101.htm

Learn to "make your money work for you".

Enjoy...:)

Streaming Faith

2005-03-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

This is a great site to build your faith and starve your doubts:

http://www.streamingfaith.com/

Faith causes dreams to come true!

You are the best.

The Passion Of The Christ - One Dude's View

2005-03-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

I went and saw The Passion of the Christ last night. It was an extraordinary movie. It was really beyond a movie and more of an experience. I would call it an experience with the love of Christ. If you ever had any questions about God's love for you personally, this movie would answer those questions.

The words that blazed out at me during this movie was what Jesus said:

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

The love of God really is the most powerful force in the universe. It surpasses human understanding. God doesn't love you for anything you do, He loves just because He loves you. He loves you, because He is love. The movie takes you to a whole new level of understanding of the love of Christ and the price that God was willing to pay through Jesus Christ to have a relationship with you.

I know that there has been controversy around this movie, but that was to be expected. Jesus Christ is and always will be the most controversial figure in history. Anytime you have a movie that is based on the Gospels, there is going to be controversy. Was the movie anti-semitic? From my experience with the movie, no. This is the most Jewish version of the gospels and the most Jewish version of Jesus I have ever seen.

The question was not who killed Jesus...but why He died. Jesus laid down His life willing on our behalf. Was it violent? Yes it was, but not in the sense that the critics portray. Jesus bore a violent death for us to take away our sins through His precious, shed blood so we could enter back into right standing with the Father. He died in order for us to have a relationship with Him. Jesus paid the ultimate price for that, but it was driven by love, not hate. He died willing out of love and obedience to the Father God. I believe when you see the movie that will become clear. As the scripture says:

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us." 1 John 3:16

God's love for us is so extraordinary is hard to put into words at times. The love of God is the greatest thing that anybody can ever experience. This movie is an encounter with the Love of God, not as a concept but as a Person. And that Person is Jesus Christ. Check out the movie. It will be well worth the investment. God loves you and so do I.

Managing Your Career

2005-02-16T20:35:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple neat links on "Managing Your Career"

http://www.48days.com/

Managing Your Career

The sites are chock full of ideas and strategies of how to pro-actively manage your career and take your career to the next level. The articles in the sites help you to think beyond the 'day-to-day grind' and think about where you are going.

A man or woman with a plan and a strategy to get there is a powerful thing...

As it says in the proverbs:

"Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel."
Proverbs 24:6 (MSG)

Be a strategic planner where your career is concerned and also get as much 'good counsel' as you can get seems to be the message of this proverb. This principle not only applies in terms of your career, but every area of your life.

Words to think about and live by. :)