I was teaching Bethany this morning what Jesus said about servanthood.
While flipping the NT to look for the passage where Jesus washed His disciples' feet (which I finally found in John 13), I was impressed with a sense of how radical and confronting Jesus must have been to the Jews, how He challenged everything they thought they knew about God, and how they tried hard to resist accepting what He said.
I laughed at the parts when the Jews repeatedly said to Jesus, "Tell us plainly if you are the Christ!" and Jesus in exasperation said (as He might have in Singlish), "Tell you already you don't believe, so what for you still ask?"
Isn't that like us too when we refuse to accept what is before us, because to do so would mean giving up cherished beliefs?
Had I been a traditional Jew in the time of Jesus, and had I been brought up to believe the Messiah was still to come, I too might have had difficulty accepting that this miracle maker going around healing the blind and lame and mingling with tax collectors and prostitutes was the Son of God that He claimed to be.
Likewise if someone were to come up to me today and declare himself the Messiah.
What makes someone willing to take another at their word, to the extent of accepting their authority, acknowledging their superior status and being willing to stand or fall with them?
To extrapolate further, how do people come to their respective faiths?
Because of the families and communities they were brought up in, or in spite of them?
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Back To School by Will Craig
The kids are back in school. Are you?
We live in a knowledge-powered economy and if we're not continually upgrading our capabilities we become obsolete. The good news is the educational choices we make at 18 don't need to be hard and fast choices we're stuck with for a lifetime.
You can choose to look at lifelong learning as the homework assignment that never goes away. Or, you can choose to look at it as an essential strategy for living long and living well.
I'm not suggesting you must go to college to gain the necessary knowledge. What college did do for me was make me recognize that organized learning, whether in traditional schools or through condensed courses and teleclasses, would significantly shorten my learning curve.
"Don't let your schooling interfere with your education."- Mark Twain
Had I to do it all over again I might choose a succession of bite-sized learning opportunities in the specific areas of my interest (recognizing those change over time). Short-term, condensed educational programs have become more available and recognized as an efficient way to gain specific expertise in less time without spending your life's savings on a long program.
Learning does not take place in a box we call a classroom or in a hotel conference room. We learn more, we learn better, and we learn faster by doing and being actively involved. How are you upgrading your knowledge and abilities?
Will Craig is President of Coach Training Alliance and co-author of the #1 best-selling coaching self-study course, the Coach Training Accelerator.
We live in a knowledge-powered economy and if we're not continually upgrading our capabilities we become obsolete. The good news is the educational choices we make at 18 don't need to be hard and fast choices we're stuck with for a lifetime.
You can choose to look at lifelong learning as the homework assignment that never goes away. Or, you can choose to look at it as an essential strategy for living long and living well.
I'm not suggesting you must go to college to gain the necessary knowledge. What college did do for me was make me recognize that organized learning, whether in traditional schools or through condensed courses and teleclasses, would significantly shorten my learning curve.
"Don't let your schooling interfere with your education."- Mark Twain
Had I to do it all over again I might choose a succession of bite-sized learning opportunities in the specific areas of my interest (recognizing those change over time). Short-term, condensed educational programs have become more available and recognized as an efficient way to gain specific expertise in less time without spending your life's savings on a long program.
Learning does not take place in a box we call a classroom or in a hotel conference room. We learn more, we learn better, and we learn faster by doing and being actively involved. How are you upgrading your knowledge and abilities?
Will Craig is President of Coach Training Alliance and co-author of the #1 best-selling coaching self-study course, the Coach Training Accelerator.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Take Care of Yourself
Keeping the Balance
"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths" (Etty Hillesum).
It isn't easy to juggle the demands of a career and personal life. For most people, it's an ongoing challenge to reduce stress and maintain harmony in key areas of their life. Here are some ideas to help you find the balance that's best for you (and a good suggestion for your clients):
§ Manage your time. Organise household tasks efficiently. Doing one or two loads of laundry every day rather than saving it all for your day off, and running errands in batches rather than going back and forth several times are good places to begin. A weekly familiar calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, ! sign up for it.
§ Rethink your cleaning standards. An unmade bed or sink of dirty dishes won't impact the quality of your life. Do what needs to be done and let the rest go. If you can afford it, pay someone else to clean your house.
§ Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if it helps.
§ Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music.
§ Unwind after a hectic workday by reading, practicing yoga or taking a bubble bath. Sitting down and watching the news is NOT recommended for relaxation or unwinding as many studies advise the news creates an upward shift in anxiety and stress levels.
§ Get enough sleep. There's nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when you're sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but you can also make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for those mistakes.
§ Bolster your support system. Give yourself the gift of a trusted friend or co-worker to talk with during times of stress and hardship. If you're part of a religious community, take advantage of the support your religious leader can provide. Ensure you have trusted friends and relatives who can assist you when you need to work overtime or travel on your job.
Balance doesn't mean doing everything. Examine your priorities and set boundaries. Be firm in what you can and cannot do. Only you can restore harmony to your lifestyle.
"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths" (Etty Hillesum).
It isn't easy to juggle the demands of a career and personal life. For most people, it's an ongoing challenge to reduce stress and maintain harmony in key areas of their life. Here are some ideas to help you find the balance that's best for you (and a good suggestion for your clients):
§ Manage your time. Organise household tasks efficiently. Doing one or two loads of laundry every day rather than saving it all for your day off, and running errands in batches rather than going back and forth several times are good places to begin. A weekly familiar calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, ! sign up for it.
§ Rethink your cleaning standards. An unmade bed or sink of dirty dishes won't impact the quality of your life. Do what needs to be done and let the rest go. If you can afford it, pay someone else to clean your house.
§ Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if it helps.
§ Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music.
§ Unwind after a hectic workday by reading, practicing yoga or taking a bubble bath. Sitting down and watching the news is NOT recommended for relaxation or unwinding as many studies advise the news creates an upward shift in anxiety and stress levels.
§ Get enough sleep. There's nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when you're sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but you can also make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for those mistakes.
§ Bolster your support system. Give yourself the gift of a trusted friend or co-worker to talk with during times of stress and hardship. If you're part of a religious community, take advantage of the support your religious leader can provide. Ensure you have trusted friends and relatives who can assist you when you need to work overtime or travel on your job.
Balance doesn't mean doing everything. Examine your priorities and set boundaries. Be firm in what you can and cannot do. Only you can restore harmony to your lifestyle.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Music School For Equipping Church Musicians
From Sep 05 to Apr 06, I spent one day a week at Believer Music learning how to be a better worship musician.
Sure I can play the keyboard, but having a formal qualification is no guarantee that one is able to play sensitively during worship time.
After one semester with Believer Music, I signed up without hesitation for another. And another. I was actually looking forward to cell group meetings again, because I had something new to offer. I was excited about playing the keyboard again, because I was approaching the instrument with new skills, a new way of playing, a new mindset. I couldn't wait to share the fruit of my practice sessions with my cell group members and congregation.
The training was fantastic, and it helped to have the same instructor move on with me as I advanced through the levels. My instructor had the sort of competence that commanded instant respect, a passion for teaching, patience for people who found the keyboard a challenge (the class caters to complete beginners, people who have no formal music background), and an attitude of reverence for what we were trying to achieve: a closer walk with God through music.
I'm not alone in my opinion of Believer Music and what it can do for church musicians who aspire to a higher level of excellence. Here are testimonials from others who've passed through their doors.
Sure I can play the keyboard, but having a formal qualification is no guarantee that one is able to play sensitively during worship time.
After one semester with Believer Music, I signed up without hesitation for another. And another. I was actually looking forward to cell group meetings again, because I had something new to offer. I was excited about playing the keyboard again, because I was approaching the instrument with new skills, a new way of playing, a new mindset. I couldn't wait to share the fruit of my practice sessions with my cell group members and congregation.
The training was fantastic, and it helped to have the same instructor move on with me as I advanced through the levels. My instructor had the sort of competence that commanded instant respect, a passion for teaching, patience for people who found the keyboard a challenge (the class caters to complete beginners, people who have no formal music background), and an attitude of reverence for what we were trying to achieve: a closer walk with God through music.
I'm not alone in my opinion of Believer Music and what it can do for church musicians who aspire to a higher level of excellence. Here are testimonials from others who've passed through their doors.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Luck - Not A Matter of Chance
From mX News, 20 Aug 2007
Visiting UK psychologist Richard Wiseman has a scientific explanation for why some people are luckier.
It all comes down to a positive mindset.
Wiseman, author of The Luck Factor and professor at the Uni of Hertfordshire, studied 1000 people who rated themselves exceptionally lucky or unlucky over 8 years.
He found that for the most part, people were making their own luck by the way they were behaving.
Being lucky came down to four principles:
Visiting UK psychologist Richard Wiseman has a scientific explanation for why some people are luckier.
It all comes down to a positive mindset.
Wiseman, author of The Luck Factor and professor at the Uni of Hertfordshire, studied 1000 people who rated themselves exceptionally lucky or unlucky over 8 years.
He found that for the most part, people were making their own luck by the way they were behaving.
Being lucky came down to four principles:
- Lucky people create opportunities
- They listen to hunches
- They expect good fortune
- They cope with bad luck
Note:
None of this will be new to supporters of James Allen's As A Man Thinketh, So Is He school of thought. Ditto for fans of The Secret and other Law of Attraction philosophies. Even the New Testament speaks frequently of the importance of faith and self-belief.
Underneath all these teachings is a recognition of a universal law at work, one that rewards you according to what is foremost in your mind.
The Dawkins Delusion
Richard Dawkins is a New Atheist and author of The God Delusion, in which he describes God as "the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully".
He has given several interviews on YouTube.
In response, someone has come up with a humorous rejoinder, saying there is no such person as Richard Dawkins and that Dawkins himself is a delusion.
Go here for the "interview" with Dr. Terry Tommyrot.
He has given several interviews on YouTube.
In response, someone has come up with a humorous rejoinder, saying there is no such person as Richard Dawkins and that Dawkins himself is a delusion.
Go here for the "interview" with Dr. Terry Tommyrot.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Is a work-from-home business for you?
If working from home is something you've been thinking about, you're not alone.
According to a recent poll, more than 7 in 10 American households are thinking about starting a home-based business.
Chances are, the figures are pretty similar all over the world.
Why do people start a home-based business?
For some, it represents the best of both worlds: bringing in an income while being available for the family.
For others, it's the perfect way to explore a side business while keeping the day job, until you get to the stage where you can dump the day job, fire your boss and stay home.
Whatever your motivation, know that a home-based business is not for everyone.
You have to have a pretty accurate idea of yourself, what you're capable of, where your areas of weakness are, to know if a home-based business would suit you.
Some people need to be around others. For them, the strain of isolation that comes with staying home may just not be worth it.
Some people need to be accountable to an authority figure, or they lapse into ill-discipline and unproductive work habits.
Moms, are you looking for a way to work from home?
This is not about paid surveys, data processing or envelope stuffing.
Neither is it a Get Rich Quick scam.
This is about leveraging the awesome power of the Internet to turn what you know and love doing into a side income.
This is an opportunity that could potentially free you from the constant anxiety about having enough time and money to do the things you love and be with the people you love.
You've nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Why not investigate further, weigh the facts for yourself and see if this is what you've been looking for?
Monday, August 20, 2007
Careers Quiz: Are You Sabotaging Your Career?
ARE YOU SABOTAGING YOUR CAREER?
A QUINTESSENTIAL CAREERS QUIZ
by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
We all know someone like my father. A great man with good intentions -- maybe even a star contributor, someone who takes on extra work and even ventures to the office on the weekend to test out some new ideas -- someone who can definitely list many revenue-enhancing accomplishments on his resume.
Yet, even with all these positives, you know something is not quite right because it's the other folks in your office who get the promotions, big bonuses, or high-profile assignments while you sit by quietly (or not so quietly) steaming.
What gives? An easy target is your boss - maybe s/he is envious of your successes, or maybe s/he is just a bad boss.
Maybe it's your co-workers. Perhaps they are envious ofyou and stabbing you in the back -- or perhaps you have a bit too inflated view of yourself.
The solution?
Take a step backwards away from the situation.
Is it really your boss or co-workers -- or are you sabotaging your own career?
Take our Quintessential Careers Quiz at http://www.quintcareers.com/sabotaging_career_quiz.html and find out!
A QUINTESSENTIAL CAREERS QUIZ
by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
We all know someone like my father. A great man with good intentions -- maybe even a star contributor, someone who takes on extra work and even ventures to the office on the weekend to test out some new ideas -- someone who can definitely list many revenue-enhancing accomplishments on his resume.
Yet, even with all these positives, you know something is not quite right because it's the other folks in your office who get the promotions, big bonuses, or high-profile assignments while you sit by quietly (or not so quietly) steaming.
What gives? An easy target is your boss - maybe s/he is envious of your successes, or maybe s/he is just a bad boss.
Maybe it's your co-workers. Perhaps they are envious ofyou and stabbing you in the back -- or perhaps you have a bit too inflated view of yourself.
The solution?
Take a step backwards away from the situation.
Is it really your boss or co-workers -- or are you sabotaging your own career?
Take our Quintessential Careers Quiz at http://www.quintcareers.com/sabotaging_career_quiz.html and find out!
Volunteer Your Way To A New Career
VOLUNTEERING CAN OPEN DOORS TO A NEW CAREER
by Sharon Reed Abboud
www.QuintCareers.com
Are you considering a career change to a job in the non-profit sector?
Consider volunteering for a non-profit organization as your first step.Volunteering enables the job-seeker to gain valuable professional experience and establish contacts in the new job field. It is an excellent way to make a difference while advancing your own career objectives.
"It is a win-win situation," said Lynn Berger, a NYC-based careercoach,and author of The Savvy Part-Time Professional, How to Land, Create, or Negotiate the Part-time Job of Your Dreams. "You feel good by volunteering and learn about yourself at the same time."
Career changers, recent college grads, and stay-at-home parents transitioning back into a paid career may want to consider volunteeringas a job-search strategy. Volunteering enables you to test out job environments without making a long-term commitment.
Learn more in our full article at:http://www.quintcareers.com/volunteering_to_new_career.html
by Sharon Reed Abboud
www.QuintCareers.com
Are you considering a career change to a job in the non-profit sector?
Consider volunteering for a non-profit organization as your first step.Volunteering enables the job-seeker to gain valuable professional experience and establish contacts in the new job field. It is an excellent way to make a difference while advancing your own career objectives.
"It is a win-win situation," said Lynn Berger, a NYC-based careercoach,and author of The Savvy Part-Time Professional, How to Land, Create, or Negotiate the Part-time Job of Your Dreams. "You feel good by volunteering and learn about yourself at the same time."
Career changers, recent college grads, and stay-at-home parents transitioning back into a paid career may want to consider volunteeringas a job-search strategy. Volunteering enables you to test out job environments without making a long-term commitment.
Learn more in our full article at:http://www.quintcareers.com/volunteering_to_new_career.html
Making A Lateral Career Move: Pros and Cons
FEATURE ARTICLE:
MAKING A LATERAL CAREER MOVE: THE PROS AND CONS
by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
QuintZine
You have been working hard, tracking your accomplishments, and promoting your personal brand within your organization -- all the right moves to obtaining that promotion you know you deserve.
Instead of the promotion, however, your boss calls you in for a chat and tells you that you are being talked about for a lateral positionthatjust opened up, a position with the same or similar title and paygrade but in a different part of the organization.
Or, perhaps it's you who has decided that for whatever reason you will not get promoted within your department -- but you love the organization -- so you are considering a lateral move with what you hope will be more opportunities down the line.
Whatever the reasons for considering a lateral move within your current organization, take a moment to read our full article athttp://www.quintcareers.com/lateral_career_pros-cons.html-- and then take much longer to weigh the pros and cons of applying for or accepting the lateral move.
MAKING A LATERAL CAREER MOVE: THE PROS AND CONS
by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
QuintZine
You have been working hard, tracking your accomplishments, and promoting your personal brand within your organization -- all the right moves to obtaining that promotion you know you deserve.
Instead of the promotion, however, your boss calls you in for a chat and tells you that you are being talked about for a lateral positionthatjust opened up, a position with the same or similar title and paygrade but in a different part of the organization.
Or, perhaps it's you who has decided that for whatever reason you will not get promoted within your department -- but you love the organization -- so you are considering a lateral move with what you hope will be more opportunities down the line.
Whatever the reasons for considering a lateral move within your current organization, take a moment to read our full article athttp://www.quintcareers.com/lateral_career_pros-cons.html-- and then take much longer to weigh the pros and cons of applying for or accepting the lateral move.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
How To Make Decisions Quickly and Easily
I get stressed every time I have to make a decision.
It doesn't matter how mundane or major the decision is. As long as I have to choose, as long as saying yes to A means saying no to B, I'm in trouble.
What should J wear to church today?
What's for dinner?
Should I send Beth to an expensive Christian school or the nearest state school?
Should we live in Suburb A or Suburb B?
Should we buy House A, B or C?
I almost wish I could outsource the whole decision making process. (But then, where would be the fun?)
So I'm pleased someone's designed a decision making tool for indecisive folks like me.
This tool - software actually - lets you do all these things:
1. Ask the right question (very important!)
2. List the possible answers
3. List up to 10 relevant factors that need to be considered
4. Attach a weight to each factor
Result: A bar graph that shows you exactly which answer "won".
You have complete control of the process and can go back and change the input any time until you're 100% satisfied.
I love how simple and effective it is. I love how it "forces" me to decide, just by the exercise of assigning a weight to a factor. I've used it on choice of suburb and choice of house so far.
You can try it out yourself here.
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