The Magic of Not Knowing

I love serendipity.

I love the magic that happens when you let go and just trust in the right people and opportunities to flow to you.

On Wed, I was due to meet with the rep of a local newspaper to discuss a possible spot in a feature they are doing. Had no idea what it was about or even how he found me but said yes anyway.

So I rock up to Werribee Baptist before 2 pm and no one's there. I chat with the admin lady, who like me works p/t for the church, and start forming a lovely rapport with a lovely individual. Our conversation ends with her inviting me over for a cuppa the next time I'm at work.

I wait another 15 mins, and conclude that said person must be stuck in traffic or lost his way in the rain or maybe in an accident (oh dear!). When I get home, I call and leave a voice message for the person asking if he's okay.

I also decide that I'm going to let go of the outcome of this and not try to chase up on the matter.

Today, I get a call from said rep to find out what happened on Wed. Turns out he went to the Anglican Church on Synnot St and wondered why it was closed! We had a good laugh and right there on the line I felt a warm fuzzy feeling and the beginnings of rapport forming.

We've now made an appointment to meet up next Wed. Same time, same place, and this time he promises to look up the address and have my mobile number with him.

I finally got to ask him The Question: how'd you get my number?

"Oh, from the Council database."

"The Business Directory?"

"Yep, that's the one."

There's a good reason why the Business Development Officer at the Council kept encouraging me to get on the database, and I've emailed to let her know she was right!

Invitation to see Dr John Demartini

What hubby is going for that I'd like to go for if it wasn't on a week night in the city!

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Dr Demartini had a vision to connect with ‘A-List’ celebrities whose work he admired.

Many would be daunted by the idea of meeting personally with these mega-stars. After all, you can’t just call them up for coffee.And they’re highly guarded by ‘gatekeepers’.

But, Dr Demartini wasn’t daunted.

He created a list of the ‘A-Listers’ he wanted to meet. Then he applied his ‘Influence Secrets’ and was able to meet…not one of them… not two of them….or even three of them.

But he personally met every single one of the celebrities on his list.

Some of them even became clients. And these were not ‘B grade stars’. These were people like Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone. He even appeared in a movie with Hugh Jackman.

This is the highest level of influence - to set an intention and make it happen fast.

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Click here to join Dr John Demartini at the Secrets of Influence event - FREE

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Imagine if you could master this skill. You could meet who you want…when you want…and then influence them ethically for ‘win-win’ results…in your health, wealth and relationships.

This sort of skill is rarely taught. And those that have this ‘gift’ often don’t know how to explain how they do it! They just do it.

The good news is Dr John Demartini is going to teach exactly you how to master the magic of influence - step-by-step at the Influence and Leadership Masterclass in your city.

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Click here to join Dr John Demartini at the Secrets of Influence event - FREE

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See you there,

Greg

P.S. Last time Dr John Demartini came to Australia nearly 2000 people flocked to see him. This time could be even bigger as news of his genius spreads.

Grab your FREE Ticket now while there’s still time

Click here to join Dr John Demartini at the Secrets of Influence event - FREE

A Success Formula For The Ethical Individual

I full realize that no wealth or position can long endure, unless built upon truth and justice; therefore, I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects.
I will succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use, the cooperation of other people.
I will induce others to serve me, necause of my willingness to serve others.
I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and cynicism, by developing love for all humanity, because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success.
I will cause others to believe in me, because I will believe in them, and in myself.

From Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

Expanded version of Psalm 121

This is an experiment.

I have a vision of someday creating a ministry aimed at women who are depressed and discouraged. Music will feature hugely in this ministry because it is one of God's gifts to me and I want to use it to sow hope and encouragement.

In the footsteps of the Preacher in Blue Jeans who advocates that we should discover, develop and deliver our talents, I am now at the delivery stage, trying to find ways to get my music out to those who will hear.

Hence this video.

To the techies: I'm not sure if I should adopt a talk-to-the-camera approach like what the pros do on Youtube, as the focus is meant to be on the message and the music. Your thoughts please. :-)

Be Blessed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d1MNHNS-gc

Dreams and Visions

Some gentle nudgings over the past two days...

I would love to use my musical gift to start a healing and encouraging ministry for people who are feeling disheartened, disconnected and alone.

The songs God gave me in Oct 2010 and Feb this year could serve as a starting point. They are intentionally Scripture-based. What better way to nourish and uplift a brother or sister's soul and spirit?

Think of how David ministered to a troubled King Saul with the harp, and how as humans we are naturally wired to respond to music's soothing and healing qualities.

The Reason We Rejoice

Today was a very significant day for the Tan household.

It was our first Good Friday service at SDA, our congregation's spiritual home for the next 52 weeks, and also our first Combined Good Friday Service at Wyndham Leisure and Events Centre.

Being in a tiny room with just one guitarist, one drummer and a keyboardist (me) and rows of chairs - no pews - reminded me of my MYF and VCF days. Really, what more do we need to worship God meaningfully?

At the combined service, I was overwhelmed by the number of people present. All these my brothers and sisters from churches all over Wyndham. People I might have met in the Plaza or at school or on the street but never knew were fellow believers.

I loved the seamlessness of the musos (the mark of true professionals) and the way each pastor spoke masterfully during his allotted time, then made way for the next person.

Each led in his own special way, and each exhibited the sincerity, conviction and authenticity that to me is evidence of God's grace at work in his life.

I was particularly bowled over by the pastor who reminded us that in Australia, there are only two days in the year when Coles, Woolworths and Bunnings are closed: the day Jesus died, and the day He rose again.

Amen to that eternal and unchanging truth!

May all who have yet to say yes have that opportunity to do so before Jesus returns.

Just when I stopped looking...

Last Oct, the Lord rekindled my songwriting ability.

Together, we wrote 2 songs - Do Not Be Anxious and The Song of Peter and John.

Then I got caught up in the dramatic possibilities of Paul's speech to the Athenians in Acts 17.

For days I kept going back to the words:

I see that you're religious
For as I walked around
I even found an altar
To an unknown God

Now what you worship as unknown
I will proclaim to you

The God who made the world and everything in it
is the Lord of heaven and earth
He does not live in temples
He is not served by human hands
For he gives all men life and breath and everything

But I just kept getting stuck. It wouldn't come.

So that's a draft I'll have to get back to at some point.

But here's the great news...

Yesterday (18 Feb 2011), I wrote my 3rd song!

The first draft was done in about 3 hours and is inspired by Psalm 121 and Lionel Richie's Hello.

I've titled it I Lift Up My Eyes.

I got started on it because I was trying to write something meaningful and encouraging for a recently bereaved dear friend.

The first person to hear it live was hubby. His comment: "Ah, the chords are very intricate, very hard for the congregation to sing. This is more of a solo performance."

Point noted.

He also suggested I add a longer intro, so that's what I've done. The vocals are a bit soft though, something to work on. (I never did get the hang of singing from my diaphragm!)

Verse 1:

I lift up my eyes to the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth

Verse 2:

He will not let your foot slip
He who watches over you will not slumber
He who watches Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep

Chorus:

The Lord watches over you
He's your shade at your right hand
The sun will not harm you by day
Nor the moon by night

The Lord will keep you from harm
He will watch over your life
He will watch over your coming and going
From now and forevermore

Back to verses 1 and 2 => Chorus => Repeat chorus

How to expand your territories by Bo Sanchez

From http://bosanchez.ph/5-steps-on-how-to-expand-your-territories/

Key #1:

Believe You’re Bigger

It’s common fact that we only use 10% of our brain’s capacity.

Can you believe that? We’re wasting 90% of what God has given to us!

I believe God has given us more capacities than we think we have.

The ultimate crime is that we belittle ourselves.

We think we’re insects, so we live an insect life, but actually—we’re giants!

Because of this, I believe you can earn a ten times more than whatever you’re earning right now. You can help ten times the number of people you’re helping now. You can serve ten times more than whatever service you’re doing now.

Don’t limit yourself.

You’re bigger than you think you are.

Key #2:

Be Consistent With The Fundamentals

Every morning, I enjoy time with God.

Every morning, I chew on His Word—the Bible.

Every morning, I pray, “Lord, let me love every person I meet today.”

Every morning, I read my life mission, my list of dreams, and my annual goals.

And throughout the day, instead of exposing myself to bad news, I digest good news available around me: I voraciously read inspiring books and listen to inspiring audio talks.

Every night, like a little boy, I kneel beside my bed and thank God for His blessings of that day.

In other words, the reason why I live such an exciting life is because I’m boring.

I’m monotonous.

I’m repetitive.

I do the same basic things again and again and again and again…

I now realize that the reason I can do all those thrilling, exciting, exhilarating stuff is because I do the boring basics every single day of my life. Everyday, I’m grateful. Everyday, I think positive. Everyday, I love. Everyday, I select what I watch, what I read, what I listen to—and stick to what can make me grow. Every single day.

The more I live on planet earth, the more I agree with Jim Rohn when he said that “There’s really nothing mysterious or magical about success. Success is simply the consistent application of fundamentals.”

Be boringly consistent when it comes to the basics.

And in time, you’ll find exciting success knocking at your door.

Key #3:

Focus On Your Core Gift

I have very few talents. Honest!

I don’t know how to cook, how to dance, how to write a computer program, and how to solve the Rubix cube. I don’t know how to do geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. I’m totally lost in chemistry, physics, and biology. I also can’t fix a leaking faucet or do carpentry or repair my car.

But this is what I can do very well: Communicate.

So I focus my entire life on that one thing.

I write well and I speak well. Period.

And I delegate everything to people who are better than I am.

Ask yourself now: What is my core gift?

I have a general rule I follow in my life: I don’t like complicating things just to impress you. So instead of giving you 329 psychological questions filled with scientific babble to discover your core gift (so I could impress you on how intelligent I am), let me just boil it down to 2 very simple questions. Stop reading this book until you answered both of these questions.

· What do you enjoy doing?

· What are you good at

For some of you, it’s technology.

For some of you, it’s teaching.

For some of you, it’s selling stuff.

For some of you, it’s cooking.

For some of you, it’s music.

For some of you, it’s advanced trigonometry. (Yes, I’ve heard there are such strange creatures walking on the face of the earth.)

Key #4:

Build Your Network

My wealth isn’t my money.

My real wealth is my network of friends.

Personally, I don’t think anything great is accomplished without a team.

Even Jesus had a team around him.

A few months ago, I was reading about the interesting world of horse-pulling competitions.

That’s where huge horses the size of elephants pull massive concrete blocks behind them.

Did you know that the grand champion horse could pull the incredible weight of 4,500 pounds? If the average weight of a Filipino is 140 pounds (which happens to be my weight before I eat my breakfast), that means this super horse could carry 32 Filipinos—without wheels! That monster could pull me, my wife, my kids, my parents, my siblings, their spouses, their kids, and all my in-laws combined.

And the second placer horse can pull only slightly lower than the first placer: 4,400 pounds.

That was when the organizers got curious. If these two horses pulled together, how many pounds could they carry? Could they pull 8,900 pounds?

They harnessed both horses and were shocked with the results.

Both horses, when pulling together, carried the mind-blowing weight of 12,000 pounds. That’s 85 Filipinos.

My message? Teams are powerful.

Alone, I can do a lot of things. But with my team, I don’t add but multiply what I can do.

I keep networking. I circulate. I meet people. I build bridges.

So I surround myself with a bunch of people who have impeccable character and fantastic skills. I network with Mentors, Preachers, Administrators, Accountants, Programmers, Lawyers, Financial Wizards, Multi-millionaires, Media Experts, Businessmen, Architects, Engineers, etc…

And everyday, I constantly expand my team.

Key #5:

Create An Autopilot System

Every time I enter into a project, I always do it with a team around me. Never alone. And I choose my team well.

I have a very simple criteria: I choose men and women who are humble (teamplayers) and who are experts in their field. In other words, I search for impeccable character and fantastic skills.

And together, we create a system for the project that’s replicable and duplicable.

In other words, it’s got to run on autopilot without my direct supervision.

Here’s my ideal leader: If I appoint someone to be project head (or organization director or business manager), and after six months, I don’t want him to bother me anymore except for major directional issues. If he still bothers me for tiny matters, I’ve chosen the wrong leader—or I trained him wrongly.

If You Love, The Universe Opens Up To You

Here’s what I’ve learned: Love is limitless! It has no boundaries.

I do what I do because I want to love people.

Each morning, I wake up and ask myself, “How can I bless people today?”

And so I stretch. I go just a teensy bit beyond what I think is my limit—and my capacities expand—because I want to bless the world.

The Preacher In Blue Jeans

Discovered Filipino preacher and entrepreneur Bo Sanchez's blog tonight and haven't been able to stop reading.

I watched the latest video on his Preacher in Blue Jeans site and was fascinated to see his audience was standing throughout his sermon.

He writes so simply, so authentically so powerfully.

And I agree with just about everything he says. He affirms what I already know and believe, and he does it with great conviction, clarity and persuasiveness.

Even though I've never met him, I like him already.

Now that's the power of a truly magnetic personality.

"Misty" (Awesome Youtube Tutorial)

The Second Song

A new song came to me from God yesterday, Wed 13 Oct 2010.

Two songs in one week! What are the odds? But with God, nothing is impossible.

I had started out by setting myself a challenge to write a song around our home group Bible study theme for the week: A Praying Church.

The study verses - Phil. 4:4-9 and Acts 4:23-31.

The Philippians song, Do Not Be Anxious, was written on 11 Oct and finalized on 12 Oct. Videos and story here.

The Acts song is called The Song of Peter and John.

I was so inspired by the courage and eloquence of Peter and John when hauled before the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law.

Their alleged offence: teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

Two uneducated blue-collar types who had been with Jesus and seen Him crucified and resurrected, going out to share boldly with anyone who would listen.

When asked in whose name they preached, they refused to back down even though they had just come out of jail and were being offered the chance to avoid getting on the wrong side of the law again and to stay below the radar.

How many of us today, if asked to pipe down on our personal beliefs and values and to stay low, would dare openly challenge the authorities?

My song is based on two particular verses:
¹²Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

"Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. ²⁰For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

Strong words spoken by strong men.

Enjoy...

Song of Peter and John

Lyrics: Acts 4:12, 19-20

Composer: Serena Low (as given by The Songwriter on 13 Oct 2010)

Verse
Salvation is found in no one else
There is no other name
Under heaven given to men

Salvation is found in no one else
There is no other name
By which we must be saved

Chorus
Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's eyes
To obey man rather than God
For we cannot help
Speaking of what we have seen and heard
There is no other name
There is no other name
By which we're saved

A New Song

It's been 24 years since I last wrote a song.

I was very active in songwriting between Sec 2 and Sec 4 at RGS. Took part in the National Songwriting Competition for Schools and RGS Night, had my own singing group (The Amateurs!) and even won a couple of awards. Writing songs was fun, and a great way to channel some of that adolescent angst.

Then...it stopped in JC. No songs came. The inspiration just dried up. I told myself that God giveth, and God had taken away ('blessed be the Lord' was a bit harder to admit though).

Over the years, I've kept up with the piano at a recreational level, playing for church and for pleasure. I enjoy some Kevin Kern-esque moments and what some friends call tinkling (the ivories).

Then yesterday, it happened.

Just like that, the flow started.

I was reflecting on Philippians 4: 4-9 (because it was the study verse for our group bible study) and wondering if there was a way to put some of the words to music.

And this is what He gave me.

Praise be to God the creator and author of all things good!

DO NOT BE ANXIOUS

Lyrics: Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Music: Serena Low (as given by The Songwriter on 11 Oct 2010)

Verse

Do not be anxious about anything
Do not be anxious but in everything
By prayer and petition
With thanksgiving
Present your requests to God

Chorus

And the peace of God
And the peace of God
That surpasses all understanding
Will keep your hearts
Will keep your minds
In Jesus, in Jesus

Verse

Do not be anxious about anything
Do not be anxious but in everything
By prayer and petition
With thanksgiving
Present your requests to God

Chorus

And the peace of God
And the peace of God
That surpasses all understanding
Will keep your hearts
Will keep your minds
In Jesus, in Jesus

Repeat chorus

Amen

Amen

Amen

Amen

About the song

The song starts on a minor key (to reflect the listener's current discouraged state), builds up energy at the bridge (when the writer suggests how we can handle our anxieties), then rings out triumphantly in a major key at the chorus, loops back to the verse and chorus, repeats the chorus and ends in a four-fold Amen inspired by the ending of Benediction (The Lord Whom We Love) as sung by Budak Pantai (my fave SG acapella group) on their Budakumentary album.

Here's the short version, which was the fruit of the first day's work...



And here's the full version, which was created today!

He's not like us (Thank God)

He accepts you at your worst
He is hoping for the best
Jesus loves you
Jesus loves you

He will never ever leave you
He will never forsake you
Jesus loves you
Jesus loves you

He is proud of who you are
He has faith in who you'll become
He's not like us
He loves you just because

Brokenhearted
Do you want your healing?
Oh trust again
There is love in His right hand

Introduction to Godly Play

In Sat, I attended Refresh 2010 on Sat with 8 others from my church.

Refresh 2010 is a children's ministry workshop for CRE teachers, playgroup coordinators and Sunday School teachers, and an opportunity to pick up great ideas for faith activities in schools, homes and churches.

The organizers this year were our brothers and sisters from Barrabool Hills Baptist Church, Highton. The church is set in the beautiful hills near Queens Park and Barwon River in a new estate with the most stunning views I've seen in my time in VIC.




I chose the following as my electives:

• Introducing Godly Play: because the title intrigued me. What does it mean to play in a godly way?
  
• Engaging All Ages in Worship: because I have often wondered how to heal the disconnect between Sunday School and the regular worship service which seems to be too long and boring for the young ones
  
• Using Music with Children: because I love music and believe it can be used in so many ways to pass on the faith e.g. Scripture memory through Steve Green's Hide 'em In Your Heart songs
  

The one most significant takeaway for me was the Godly Play workshop. Godly Play is a Montessori teaching that has been used in faith environments with great success by Jerome Berryman. He has written a number of books on the subject. Our presenter was Christine Rowntree, a dignified, arty-looking lady who immediately gave me the assurance that she knew her subject intimately. She moved in a slow, graceful, intentional way that suggested she was in charge of her surroundings, not the other way round. Wow.

What drew me and inspired me about Godly Play:

• the quiet, contemplative way it is conducted, so different from the sometimes rowdy atmosphere in Sunday School, when you have to struggle to keep the attention of the kids
• how it draws observers into the story with simple props (a golden gift box with wooden or felt figures representing people and objects in the story) and a powerful narrative,
  
• how it effectively engages all ages from preschoolers up to Grades 5 and 6 and all personality types, and
  
• how non-judgmental it is. There are no right or wrong answers, only "wondering questions" which the child can choose to answer (or not), and in the way that most speaks to his heart.
  

It strikes me as a method of sacred storytelling that engages not only the head, but also the heart - and helps the wisdom and the lesson stay there and take root.

I can't wait to talk it through with my fellow Sunday School teachers and to have a go at it myself. I can already see myself doing it.

Here's a You Tube video to help you understand how Godly Play is presented.

I Feel Strong When...

I have been devouring Marcus Buckingham's strengths-based books and raving about them to readers of my careers website.

One of the activities he recommends in Go Put Your Strengths to Work: 6 Powerful Steps to Achieve Outstanding Performance is called a Strength Statement Card.

It's a great way to capture, clarify and confirm your strengths.

For instance, one of his strength statements says: "I feel strong when...I present, but only to a large group of people, on a subject I know a lot about, when I'm completely prepared, and when I know my presentation will further a mission."

The statement may mean nothing to anyone who reads it, but it means a lot to the creator, because it tells him exactly what makes him excel at his work.

Just yesterday, I had an extraordinary moment of strength while chatting with a friend's cousin. The cousin is here on holiday from Sg, and I soon discovered we had plenty in common. That made it easy to strike up a conversation.

Legal background.
Gave up full-time work to focus on her child's education and wellbeing.
Accustomed to Sg lifestyle of ready support from extended family and domestic help.
Struggling with the Big Decision:
Should she or should she not give up her comfortable Sg lifestyle to migrate to Aus?
What if things don't work out?
What if she can't get a job in Aus?

I sensed an immediate connection and a strong sense that she was bursting to tell someone all those things. And I happened to be there at the right place and the right time.

Synchronicity.

We chatted a bit and I shared my two cents' worth. What I particularly remember is a moment when I said (and I don't even know why I said it, and it certainly wasn't a sentiment I had ever expressed before) - "Singaporeans will thrive anywhere in the world. We've got a lot of positive traits and a good work ethic" etc etc.

My conversation partner said she was glad to hear me say all that.

Today, I heard from my friend that after talking to me, her cousin (who has held Aus PR for the past 15 years but has continually put off uprooting) is now a little more receptive to the idea of migrating to Aus.

How does that make me feel?

I guess you could say it makes me smile. :-)

Not because the outcome of her cousin's decision making makes a difference to me. It is after all a huge decision that she must arrive at and persuade herself of when she has made it. But simply because it confirmed what I'd already sensed while talking with her: there is a power that shines forth when I speak my truth from my heart.

So if I can distill down that act and the feeling into a strength statement, it would look like this (in very rough form):

I feel strong when...
I talk with someone who is contemplating or seeking change in her way of living, and I offer a thought, a personal truth or my perspective in a way that powerfully moves her to make a decision and to move forward and begin to live according to her new choices.

When You Feel Demotivated

This fantastic extract came to me on a day when I was feeling a bit low in spirits and questioning my credibility as a coach...

From the Coaching Compass newsletter

Remember why you started on the path that you have chosen for yourself. Even if you are not quite to the point you want to be, enjoy your daily progress. Honor and even celebrate where you are right now. If you do not have fun with the steps you take forward, what is the point of continuing?

You will not be 100% complete with a goal if, at one time, you did not finish the first 25% of it. Embrace the plateaus of accomplishment. These can be natural resting spots. Do not confuse your current location on the path with your intended destination. This will only cause unnecessary stress because you are not there yet.

Keep moving in the direction of goals, and enjoy the journey. You will be there before you know it!

What Gets You Fired Up?

Was having a dialogue with someone about what fires her up and she said something really interesting.

She was talking about how she doesn't mind house chores BUT if the house is in a sad state and needing a lot of work to get it up to decent standard, she would be less motivated to clean it than if it were already in acceptable condition and all she had to do was continue maintaining it.

It takes less effort to maintain than to start again.

I guess the same principle applies to how motivated we feel about the projects we take on and the goals we set ourselves.

So the big question is...

If you are currently not in a good place in your career, how do you get to a place where you are ready, willing and able to commit to making that positive decision or critical next step that will take your career closer to your dream?

The Work

I was introduced to the work of Byron Katie by life coach David Wood, whose coaching resources have helped me.

Byron Katie helps people end their suffering (her phrase, not mine) by asking three piercing questions when someone says they have a problem. It might be how they feel about themselves; money anxiety; pain of rejection; loss of a loved one.

E.g. "There's something wrong with me."

BK. "Is that true?"

BK. "How do you know it's true?"

BK. "Who would you be without that thought?"

Then she gets the person to do a "turnaround" by saying to themselves the reverse of the thought that's plaguing them.

In the above example, it would be "There's something right with me."

Then she asks you to prove it with examples of how you have done things right.

Maybe you have great friends.
Maybe you ARE a great friend.
You have the perfect body for you.
You have a great laugh.
You are a great teacher.

Check out some of the videos of interviews she has done with people.
Self
Money
Pressure
Fear of the future

Working Student Gets To Speak With Obama

Rick Warren and the Presidential Inauguration

One of the most powerful influences on my personal development has just delivered the invocation for the Presidential inauguration.

I love the way he ended his prayer.

"I pray this in the name of the One who changed my life."

This was followed by the names of Jesus in different languages.

Watch the video of Dr Rick Warren's prayer for the nation.