Y Saturday, August 01, 2009Y
1:07 pm
Embrace it. Accept it. Don’t resist it. Change is not only a part of life; change is a necessary part of God’s strategy. To use us to change the world, he alters our assignments. Gideon: from farmer to general; Mary: from peasant girl to the mother of Christ; Paul: from local rabbi to world evangelist. God transitioned Joseph from a baby brother to an Egyptian prince. He changed David from a a shepherd to a king. Peter wanted to fish the Sea of Galilee. God called him to lead the first church. God makes reassignments.But, someone might ask, what about the tragic changes God permits? Some seasons make no sense…do such moments serve a purpose?
They do if we see them from an eternal perspective. What makes no sense in this lie will make perfect sense in the next. I have proof: you in the womb.
I know you don’t remember this prenatal season, so let me remind you what happened during it. Every gestation day equipped you for your earthly life. Your bones solidified, your eyes developed, the umbilical cord transported nutrients into your growing frame…for what reason? So you might remain enwombed? Quite the contrary. Womb time equipped you for earth time, suited you up for your postpartum existence.
Some prenatal features went unused before birth. You grew a nose but didn’t breathe. Eyes developed, but could you see? Your tongue, toenails, and crop of hair served no function in your mother’s belly. But aren’t you glad you have them now?
Certain chapters in this life seem so unnecessary, like nostrils on the preborn. Suffering. Loneliness. Disease. Holocausts. Martyrdom. Monsoons. If we assume this world exists just for pregrave happiness, these atrocities disqualify it from doing so. But what if this earth is the womb? Might these challenges, severe as they may be, serve to prepare us, equip us for the world to come? As Paul wrote, “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing” (2 Cor. 4:17 CEV).
Y Tuesday, April 28, 2009Y
12:20 am
play restaurant city...its a nice game!!! =)
Y Saturday, March 28, 2009Y
12:31 am
Offering msg: We need to boycott the recession!!! Its funny how believe in the law of gravity but yet do not believe in the law of sowing. Gotta believe that the more we give, God is going to pour down his blessings over our lives. "the wealth of the wicked shall be transferred to the righteous", so right now there are currently people who are working for us!!!! They are thinking that they are amassing wealth for themselves, yet only to discover a change of events will allow us to reap the fruits of their labour...wow!!!Sermon:
Joel 3:9-10
9 Proclaim this among the nations:
“ Prepare for war!
Wake up the mighty men,
Let all the men of war draw near,
Let them come up.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
And your pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’”
Been so encouraged after listening to the Men's conference. The church have been so used to being the bride, that the men seems to feel emasculated when they go to church. Imagine a man's head(Christ) with a female body(us, Christians), lol!!! Thats why, Pst Phil says that the worship songs in his church have more "hair"(that means more masculine), lol. David was able to synthesis worship with giant killing. Goliath brought out the giant-slayer in David. No Goliath, no giant killing by David. Problems are to awaken the men in us. Statistics have shown that most suicides in Australia are by men. If only they would have overcame their problems and awaken the men in them.
Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, but he used the word of God as His sword. really need to go on the offensive. Pst Phil talked about how the spirit of condemnation/guilt attacks him. One time, he locked the windows and doors of his room, and started screaming/shouting against the devil, holding on to God's word...hell really trembled and shook on that day.
Sometimes we believe what the newspapers about the church say rather than standing by the church pastors. People have no problems standing up for Jesus, but yet have problems standing up for the man God chooses.
The problem most men face is loneliness. Got to be more accountable to another man. We are really stronger together. Sometimes we find ourselves in the pit, like David, facing a giant (the lion), got to slay the giant and be a problem-solver.
Y Thursday, February 26, 2009Y
2:01 pm
Vincent Van Gogh failed as an art dealer, flunked his entrance exam to theology school, and was fired by the church after an ill-fated attempt at missionary work. In fact, during his life, he seldom experienced anything other than failure as an artist. Although a single painting by Van Gogh would fetch in excess of $100 million today, in his lifetime Van Gogh sold only one painting, four months prior to his death.Before developing his theory of relativity, Albert Einstein encountered academic failure. One headmaster expelled Einstein from school and another teacher predicted that he would never amount to anything. Einstein even failed his entrance exam into college.
Prior to dazzling the world with his athletic skill, Michael Jordan was cut from his sophomore basketball team. Even though he captured six championships, during his professional career, Jordan missed over 12,000 shots, lost nearly 400 games, and failed to make more than 25 would-be game-winning baskets.
Failure didn't stop Vincent Van Gogh from painting, Albert Einstein from theorizing, or Michael Jordan from playing basketball, but it has paralyzed countless leaders and prevented them from reaching their potential.
At some point, all great achievers are tempted to believe they are failures. But in spite of that, they persevere. In the face of adversity, shortcomings, and rejection, they hold onto self-believe and refuse to see themselves as failures. Here are seven abilities of achievers that enable them to rebound from failure and keep moving forward.
Seven Principles for Failing Forward
Reject Rejection
Achievers who persevere do not base their self-worth on their performance. On the contrary, they have a healthy self-image that's not dictated by external events. When they fall short, rather than labeling themselves a failure, they learn from mistakes in their judgment or behavior.
Don't Point Fingers
When people fail, they're often tempted to blame others for their lack of success. By pointing fingers, they sink into a victim mentality and cede their fate to outsiders. When playing the blame game, people rob themselves of learning from their failures and alienate others by refusing to take responsibility for mistakes.
See Failure as Temporary
People who personalize failure see a problem as a hole they're permanently stuck in, whereas achievers see any predicament as temporary. One mindset wallows in failure, the other looks forward to success. By putting mistakes into perspective, achievers are able to see failure as a momentary event, not a symptom of a lifelong epidemic.
Set Realistic Expectations
Unrealistic goals doom people to failure. For instance, if a person hasn't exercised for five years, then making it to a gym twice a week may be a better goal than running in next month's marathon. Also, some people insensibly expect to be perfect. Everyone fails, so expect setbacks and emotionally prepare to deal with them.
Focus on Strengths
Don't invest time shoring up non-character flaws at the exclusion of investing in your strengths. People operating from a position of strength enjoy a far lower rate of failure than those laboring in areas of weakness. You're built to give your talents to the world; be diligent about finding expressions for them in your career.
Vary Approaches to Achievement
In the Psychology of Achievement, Brian Tracy writes about four millionaires who made their fortunes by age 35. On average, these achievers were involved in 17 businesses before they finding the one that took them to the top. They kept trying and changing until they found something that worked.
Bounce Back
Rehashing missteps and blunders for too long sabotages concentration and eats away at self-confidence. When dealing with failure, achievers have short memories. They quickly forget the negative emotions of setbacks and press forward resiliently. While taking pause to learn from failures, achievers realize that the past cannot be altered.
Summary
I believe it's nearly impossible for any person to believe he or she is a failure and move forward at the same time. For those who have been downsized, let go, or bankrupted, the temptation may be to internalize failure. My hope is that anyone who has suffered setbacks recently will be able to separate life's unfortunate events from their self-worth. Failure, like death and taxes, will happen. Your response to failure holds the key to your future.
1:51 pm
There are two ways to tell the truth. The 'give them a piece of your mind' style, which only drives the wedge deeper. Or the Bible way: "Speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15 NIV), which resolves conflict and strengthens relationships. Suppose a couple is fighting because he's habitually late. How can she speak "the truth in love" and get her message heard? Here's a five-step process that's effective in marriage, friendship or work.She could say to him: (1) "I feel frustrated." No blame, no attack; just an honest expression of her own emotion. (2) "When you are late." No judging, name-calling or labelling; just a concrete description of his action. (3) "It seems to say to me that my time is not really important to you." No moralising; just honestly sharing her feelings. (4) "Please try to be on time, or call and let me know when you'll be here." Instead of focusing on past actions he can't change, she's telling him what she'd like him to do differently next time. (5) "Would you be willing to do that for me?" No demanding or taking for granted; just asking for consideration and cooperation. When he agrees, they have a 'contract'. She thanks him sincerely and rewards every effort he makes to keep his word. She has effectively realigned the couple by making him her ally, not her enemy, and redefined the focus as a shared one, not something she 'does to him!' The Bible says we can "walk together" when we have "agreed" to do so (Amos 3:3 NIV).
Y Wednesday, February 25, 2009Y
2:29 pm
What a statement of trust! Whatever you want me to have is all I want. Some days the plate runs over. God keeps bringing out more food and we keep loosening our belt. A promotion. A privilege. A friendship. A gift. A lifetime of grace. An eternity of joy. There are times when we literally push ourselves back from the table, amazed at God’s kindness. “You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup fills with blessing” (Ps. 23:5 MSG).And then there are those days when, well, when we have to eat our broccoli. Our daily bread could be tears or sorrow or discipline. Our portion may include adversity as well as opportunity.
This verse was on my mind last night during family devotions. I called my daughters to the table and set a plate in front of each. In the center of the table I placed a collection of food: some fruit, some raw vegetables and some Oreo cookies. “Every day,” I explained, “God prepares for us a plate of experiences. What kind of plate do you most enjoy?”
The answer was easy. Sara put three cookies on her plate. Some days are like that, aren’t they? Some days are “three cookie days.” Many are not. Sometimes our plate has nothing but vegetables—twenty-four hours of celery, carrots, and squash. Apparently God knows we need some strength, and though the portion may be hard to swallow, isn’t it for our own good? Most days, however, have a bit of it all. Vegetables, which are healthy but dull. Fruit, which tastes better and we enjoy. And even an Oreo, which does little for our nutrition, but a lot for our attitude.
All are important and all are from God.
The next time your plate has more broccoli than apple pie, remember who prepared the meal. And the next time your plate has a portion you find hard to swallow, talk to God about it. Jesus did. In the garden of Gethsemane his Father handed him a cup of suffering so sour, so vile, that Jesus handed it back to heaven. “My Father,” he prayed, “if it is possible may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39).
Even Jesus was given a portion he found hard to swallow. But with God’s help, he did. And with God’s help, you can too.
Great House of God From
The Great House of God
© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001) Max Lucado
Y Thursday, February 19, 2009Y
7:20 pm
Regardless of the current circumstances or the state of the economy, the laws of wealth remain solid and unbreakable. You see, while the masses are driven by fear and are hoarding like the proverbial “sky is falling,” a few know what it takes to create more wealth than ever before. I believe you are one of those few.When it comes to laws, we know that they work all the time. It may not seem like they do for the moment, but when the dust settles, one thing always remains true – the laws of life!
So here are the 5 Laws of Wealth Creation:
1. The Law of Giving – The more generous you are, the more generous life will be to you. What you are willing to let go of will always return in multiplied fashion to your life..
2. The Law of Value – When you add more value, you will always earn more money. It may take time, but continue to add more value to those you serve (your clients, your employees, your boss) and soon money will follow.
3. The Law of Compound Interest – Remember, money will always grow exponentially over time if you invest it wisely. Don’t rush this process. The longer you allow your money to grow, the more it will!
4. The Law of Problem Solving – The problems you solve determine the rewards you receive. What problems are you solving? The garbage man may make $25 per hour while the lawyer makes $150 per hour. They solve two different problems.
5. The Law of Attraction – Never forget… You attract WHO you are, not WHAT you desire.
If you put these laws into action, you will soon create the wealth you desire! Enjoy!
2:02 pm
By Dr. John C. MaxwellIn the early years of my career, I did not have a correct view of life. I approached life as if it were a slot machine. I wanted to put as little as possible into it, and I always hoped to hit the jackpot. I'm embarrassed to say that I often had a similar approach in my interaction with people. I was more focused on what people could do for me than what I could do for them. As a result, I would try to make relational "withdrawals" without ever having made any deposits. Needless to say, I was not very successful.
As I matured, I begin to place a higher value on people. As I made this transition, I noticed a fascinating development: the more I gave to relationships, the more I seemed to gain from relationships. In my book, Winning With People, I named this phenomenon The Boomerang Principle. What you put into relationships has a way of coming back to you.
During my time in leadership, I've noticed that people fall into three broad categories with regards to how they view relationships.
1) Takers
Takers receive and never give. They are the people in life who have a me-first mentality. They try to extract as much as they can from the relationships in their lives, and they rarely, if ever, consider giving back.
2) Traders
Traders receive and then give. Traders will only send you a Christmas card, if you've mailed one to them. They picture relationships as an equation in need of balance. If someone helps them, they feel a debt of gratitude. If they aid another person, they expect a favor in return.
3) Investors
Investors give and then receive. These are the people who give purely for the joy of giving. They add value to others, not as part of a cold calculation, but as a habit. Although doing so may not earn them an instant return, in the long run they reap the gratitude and goodwill of those they have helped.
Investment Strategies for Relationships
Instead of viewing relationships as a slot machine, picture them like the stock market. To get rich, make regular deposits in people over an extended period of time. At first, you may feel like the value of what you're putting in isn't worth the investment. However, like the stock market, in the long run, you'll reap dividends and earn rewards.
1) Think "Others First"
Human nature tends to focus us on personal needs, but investing in relationships requires us to prioritize others. Instead of self-advancement, think others-enhancement. Like a responsible investor, resist the temptation to "time" the relational market, using someone only for short-term gain. That's a strategy doomed to fail. On the contrary, make a habit of adding value in relationships and trust that the long-term results will be in your favor.
2) Focus on the Investment, Not the Return
If you've ever purchased stocks personally, then you know the agony of watching the vicissitudes of the market. Like a roller coaster, your portfolio climbs up one day only to lurch down the next day. Instead of agonizing over returns, a shrewd investor focuses on making the investment. The same principle holds true in relationships. Don't expect specific and immediate benefit from your relational inputs. Through time, you'll be taken care of as long as you're willing to invest.
3) Make Educated Investments
Not all investments yield the same interest, and not all relationships produce the same reward. As a leader, make investing in others a general principle, but be deliberate about putting energy into low-risk, high-reward relationships. Seek out talented people with teachable dispositions, and offer your relational capital to those who will make the most of it.
4) Initiate the investment
A stockbroker won't hack into your bank account and invest money on your behalf. You have to be willing to take the first step. Don't be stingy with your relational investments, giving only to those who've first given to you. Rather, take responsibility for setting the tone of adding value in your relationships.
Y Friday, January 30, 2009Y
2:44 pm
When the Holy Spirit controls our lives He will produce... kindness, goodness... gentleness.Galatians 5:22-23 TLB
Approachable people exhibit the following characteristics:
(1) Personal warmth - they truly like people. In an old Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown says, "I love mankind, it's just people I can't stand." Hello! It's not enough to love people in theory, you have to generate personal warmth toward those you meet each day.
(2) Their moods are consistent. Have you ever worked with someone whose moods were constantly up and down? You never knew how they'd be. In contrast, approachable people are even-keeled and predictable. They're basically the same way every time you see them.
(3) Sensitivity toward people's feelings. Although approachable people are emotionally steady, that doesn't mean they expect others to be that way. They recognise that good people have bad days; consequently they tune their moods to the feelings of others and quickly adjust how they relate to them.
(4) Understanding of human weakness, and exposure of their own. Novelist Ed Howes said, "Express a mean opinion of yourself occasionally, it will show your friends that you know how to tell the truth." Approachable people are honest about their abilities - and shortcomings. They embrace the old proverb which says: "Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused." And because they can admit their own faults, they don't have a problem allowing other people to have faults as well.
(5) The ability to forgive and ask for forgiveness. Author David Augsburger wrote, "Since nothing… we attempt (Isaiah) ever without error, and nothing we achieve without some measure of the finitude and fallibility we call humanness, we are saved by forgiveness."