tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48313915679062990462024-03-28T13:27:17.105+05:30L3Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-42644946033235486502019-02-20T13:05:00.002+05:302019-02-20T13:05:55.768+05:30Crossroads<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Let
me start by wishing all of you a very happy new year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It
feels good at the beginning of the New Year because you get to start afresh.
It’s like you’ve hit the reset button and get to start anew. For most of us we
know where we’ve to get to: like we know we have to lose a few kilos, we might
want to write a book this year etc. That’s where we want to see ourselves. But
the question arises as to whether we are doing the right things as we work our way
up to get to our final destination? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A
couple of months ago, we were in Bangalore. Driving in that city is insane
especially when you’re managing traffic, making sure no one is too close to
scratch your car and keeping one eye on the GPS so that you don’t get lost! The
place where we had to get to was 30 minutes away. In the middle of a heavy
traffic junction, at crossroads, while I was looking at the GPS trying to
decide on which turn to take, someone calls me up right at that point! I lost
track of the GPS, we made a wrong turn and ultimately took us 45 minutes to
reach the same place!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">You
see till the phone call came in, I was completely dependent on the GPS to get
me where I wanted to go. For the span of 2-3 minutes during the call and just
before the GPS came back on, I was completely clueless and uncertain about the
turn I had to take. I ended up making the wrong turn. As a result of my wrong
decision, it cost me time to get to the place I wanted to go.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">When
we are unclear about what to do or in a place of uncertainty it can stop us
from getting where we want to go and if we are not careful we might never get
to where we wanted to go in the first place! Uncertainty has this way of
clouding us and making everything seem hazy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In
his book, “The Next Generation Leader”, Andy Stanley writes, “</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have learned
that my enemy is not uncertainty. It is not even my responsibility to remove
the uncertainty. It is my responsibility to bring clarity into the midst of the
uncertainty.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">So
as we head out into this New Year, with all the goals and resolutions in place,
here’s what we can try to do if we are at crossroads in our lives:</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Don’t hit the panic button.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Panic mode leads to frenzy! If we
hit the panic button then it’ll not only cloud our judgment but it’ll also
impair our ability to see things in the right perspective. So stay calm, it’s
not the end of the world!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Talk to close people about fears.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This is probably one of the best
things to do at this point. Being able to open up and share how you are feeling
with someone however requires great courage and trustworthiness. It helps in easing
the pressure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Stay still and do not hurry into
making any decisions you will regret later.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">One of the worst things to do is
to rush into making a decision at this point. Some do so because they don’t
want to handle the pressure. But doing so can lead us to making the wrong
decision and thereby regret.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Enjoy the present moment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We can get so consumed by what
can happen tomorrow that we miss the present. Look around at the things present
and learn to appreciate what’s already there. Not only does it relieve the
pressure but it also clears the mind and therefore helps in making better decisions.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-71965568737792097962018-07-05T17:26:00.001+05:302018-07-26T15:07:58.543+05:30The Small Group Leader<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0CVI778rY4/Wz3-C9rfccI/AAAAAAAAUiA/z_5puRSeBY0ioHnroHNe7EKcJj93HXcIwCLcBGAs/s1600/istock_000005321114xsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0CVI778rY4/Wz3-C9rfccI/AAAAAAAAUiA/z_5puRSeBY0ioHnroHNe7EKcJj93HXcIwCLcBGAs/s1600/istock_000005321114xsmall.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Leadership at any level can be challenging
but fulfilling at the same time. Being a small group leader is no different. There
are challenges that will surface from time to time but there is a sense of </span>fulfillment<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> as we trust God and overcome each of them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In this post, we will take a look at the
small group leader. What I’ve seen and experienced over the years is that the
vitality of any small group is largely dependent on the small group leader to what
he or she does. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I specifically want to </span>emphasize<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> on what
he or she ‘does’ and not what he or she ‘is’. I don’t believe that a small
group will thrive because of the personality of the leader. It has nothing to
do with it. You can have a vibrant leader and still see a group fail while you
can have a quiet leader and see a thriving group. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While it has nothing to do with what the
leader is, it has everything to do with what the leader does. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In this post, I’ve highlighted some of
the frequent questions I’ve been regularly asked:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Why
me?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jT-Wu_RGOo/Wz3_OePmnsI/AAAAAAAAUiI/uQbXSG95BVA9MBMByi41WVwKYvXTgPFXwCLcBGAs/s1600/rsz_featured_image-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1130" height="152" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jT-Wu_RGOo/Wz3_OePmnsI/AAAAAAAAUiI/uQbXSG95BVA9MBMByi41WVwKYvXTgPFXwCLcBGAs/s320/rsz_featured_image-002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Some struggle with this question: ‘Why
me? There are others who are more qualified, better able and more knowledgeable
than me.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve asked this too when my youth leader
handed me my first responsibility. ‘Insecurity’, ‘fear’, and ‘not good enough’
were the thoughts racing through my head. But like everyone else I moved
forward. At some point we’ve to come to terms with the fact that this
opportunity was given to us by God. God entrusted this role not because we were
qualified but because He saw the passion we had in our hearts. Nehemiah wasn’t
a qualified engineer to rebuild the wall and neither was Peter a learned
scholar but they saw God do great things through them because they stepped out
in faith. We may not have the ‘experience’ or ‘know the Bible enough’ to lead
the small group but when we step out in faith, He will work through us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We must not doubt our role as a small
group leader. God has placed us there for a purpose and He will use us to </span>fulfill<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> that purpose. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Why
small groups?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is really an ownership question.
There are many who are handed down the responsibility to start a cell group
because the pastor or the leader has asked them to. Many of us start that way
but if we continue to do it because they’ve asked us to then at some point the
small group will fail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I remember the time when we were asked
to step into the youth ministry. At the time, I had no burden for the youth and
we were involved with the families. I took time out to spend with God and He
gave me the vision of Nehemiah and said that just like Nehemiah was sent to
rebuild the broken down wall, He was going to send broken people and use us to
rebuild their lives. Over the years, we’ve seen many broken lives being built
up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It was a vision that God had planted in
our hearts that enabled us to take up the ministry. There had been challenges
and difficulties that brought us to the verge of quitting but it was this
vision that </span>fueled<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> us to keep going despite the odds. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is why it’s important to have a
personal vision from God for the small groups. When there are insurmountable
challenges that tempt us to quit, it is that personal God given vision that
will propel us to move forward.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How
do you select the next leaders?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the most common mistakes people
make in selecting the next potential leader for their small groups is by handing
out responsibilities in the small group and seeing who does it well. It’s a
good way to start although building up leaders is not simply handing out
responsibilities. Some of them simply take up responsibility because they are
given.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">In selecting the next potential leader,
it’s important to look out for those who are committed. They may not always be
the most vibrant or exuberant person in your group. One reason people stop
coming to a small group is because of leader himself/herself fails to show up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">It’s also important to look for those
people whose heart is in the small group. These are people whom you might’ve
been after to just get to attend the small group but overtime they’ve been
coming. Now they are here not because they have to but because they want to.
They take up their own initiative to do things within the group. There is a
heart migration that has happened. Those are the ones capable of being the next
leaders for the small group.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How
do you sustain and take the group to a new level?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Although there are many practical steps
to do so, it’s important to focus on two key elements that can serve as a
foundation for sustaining and taking the group to a new level</span></div>
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<b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Prayer:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">It’s the root foundation for any small
group ministry. We’ve to pray for each of our cell group members. Jesus prayed
one whole night before he selected his 12 disciples. Jesus called people who
really seemed like they didn't have potential. Prayer can propel our groups to
the next level when we pray. If we don't pray for each person, then who will?
We need to pray for each of them because then the Holy Spirit will do wonders
in their heart. Prayers bring miracles in the group that we could never do or imagine.</span></div>
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<b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Relationships:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">While prayer might draw people into our
small groups, it’s our personal relationship with them that will keep them
coming back. The question I always ask myself is, “Do I know at least 4 people
in my group personally?” By that I mean have I taken time out apart from
meeting at the small group, to meet them individually and get to know them?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When we meet them personally we need to
make sure that our conversations don’t remain superficial. These conversations
don’t happen overnight. It takes lots of time. It mainly requires us to be
vulnerable. By sharing our experiences, we set up a spiritual atmosphere that
is conducive for a healthy relationship. These people could potentially end up
being people that we remain in close contact the rest of our lives ---- As
leaders we need to take the initiative for these conversations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We’ve to be alert to people’s reactions
and questions. Talk about how God is working in our lives. Speak good things. Our
conversations should have a spiritual aspect to it as well. Avoid gossiping,
cribbing and talking about unwanted things. Set the ground for a fruitful
relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">We might get hurt in the process; but
the truth is that even Jesus was betrayed by His friends. The worst that can
happen is that the relationship might end. But if we are willing to trust God
and take that step of faith then it might pave the way for great friendships.
That should be a chance that we are willing to take.</span></div>
<br /></div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-44388161446828046942018-06-06T08:09:00.000+05:302018-06-06T08:09:55.881+05:30Trusting People, Trusting God.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">People
trust in many different things, sometimes without even thinking about it. We
trust that the chair will hold us up when we sit down on it. We trust that
water will come out of the faucet when we need a drink of water. We trust that
the sun will rise in the morning and the list goes on and on. </span></div>
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Many of you even trust your lives to things that have the possibility to fail.
For example, how many of you have ever driven over a bridge, flown in an
airplane or been operated on by a doctor? Some of you may even risk your
lives and trust in certain material things just to have fun! Pull out the rope
and continue, many people go mountain climbing, trusting their lives, in ropes
like this. Other people jump out of perfectly good airplanes and trust their
lives to a parachute. I think you get the idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">It’s easy to talk about trusting
things, but I guess the most difficult part is to talk about trusting people. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">How many of us here find it difficult to trust other people?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">There’s this quote I saw recently
that said:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Two reasons why we won’t trust
people:</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We don’t know them<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We know them<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">I don’t agree with both of them. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">The first one: you go to a doctor, you trust the doctor, you trust the
prescription even though you might be seeing the doctor for the first time.
Then you take the prescription to a pharmacy, you don’t know the people who are
giving you the medicines but you trust them that they are giving you the right
medicines anyway!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">The second one: That’s pride and
judgment right there. You think you know them enough not to give them a chance
or you’ve given them a chance but they’ve messed it up. Now this is a little
tricky and if you are not careful, you can end up losing great relationships
over time. Why? Because people change and just because they’ve messed up once
or even more than once doesn’t mean that they can’t do it right ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">But here’s the problem with both
the statements:<b> both the statements are focused on the other person</b>. When we
say we find it difficult to trust someone, we tend to think that it’s because
of that person. In other words, what we are really doing is that we are
‘passing the buck’ rather the responsibility. We are saying that my reason to
trust you is based on your actions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the core, when you
think about it, trusting others becomes difficult not because of them, it’s
because of us. <b>We don't trust people not because they have a problem, it's because we have one.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">We can choose not to trust people but the truth is that life is a maze rather a journey that requires us to trust people whether we like it or not. We can get lost in the maze and not have a breakthrough if we refuse to trust people. If we decide not to trust them then the good news is that they can't hurt us but the bad news is that they can't help us!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Basic trust does
not mean the ability to believe or trust one another. It is the capacity to
hold your heart open to others. </b>Basic trust is having an open heart. It is when you
risk being vulnerable, even when it hurts you to stay open and not close
your spirit. Basic trust is when you are able to move beyond the weaknesses in
others, receive God’s healing touch one moment at a time, and not run away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So how do you
keep an open heart that is vulnerable to getting hurt? It’s only possible when
we put our trust in God and don’t depend on our own understanding about what’s
happening! <b>Because now it’s not about them anymore, it’s not even about us,
it’s about Him.</b> Trusting in God helps us to overlook weaknesses in others and
trust them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When John had to
get a haircut, he wouldn’t allow at first because he was always so scared. So
he would always want me to get him on my lap. He would sit on my lap and
allowed the barber to cut the hair. Now, I get it:he doesn’t know the barber
and so why does he have to trust him right? But now
he’s not looking at the barber, he’s not looking at the scissors or the
machine; he’s looking at me, his father. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">See, here’s
what’s so important to understand: we need other people in our lives and the
only way we can move out rather forward in our lives is when we are willing to
trust them. It’s not easy to trust them, true...but it’s easier to trust a God
who will never let us down.When our eyes are on Him, we surrender
everything to Him and as a result when we trust Him, it becomes easier to trust in
other people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Trust in the
Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, Acknowledge
Him in all your ways and He will direct your paths. That’s a promise! That He
will direct our paths so we don’t have to try and trust someone again, we
remain confident because He is with us and no matter what happens we know that
He has things under control.<b>When I put my trust in God, then it's no longer about the other person, it's no longer about me, it's about Him.</b> So now I can put my trust in people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Trusting in God
is letting go of our control and surrendering to Him. When we are no longer in
control and let Him take over then it becomes easier to trust people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br />
<i>'An excerpt of the talk given at Plug In on 03/06/18'</i></div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-68404779868438183222017-08-08T07:20:00.003+05:302017-08-08T07:20:37.876+05:30A Friend Indeed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(From Plug In 06/08/2017)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Good evening everyone! I hope all of you
are having a great time! It’s so good to come back again this month and see all
of you!</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4IG-DqtJ0Uo/WYkWOaoHg8I/AAAAAAAAHd8/-xiklH-55JsCiMG4blS09HrvWFFaCRRDgCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4IG-DqtJ0Uo/WYkWOaoHg8I/AAAAAAAAHd8/-xiklH-55JsCiMG4blS09HrvWFFaCRRDgCLcBGAs/s320/Slide1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Happy Friendship day! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was looking online for the history or
the origin for this day but there’s no specific origin as such. Some say that
Hallmark cards put up a day like that initially and there were many who
criticized it because they thought the company was doing it just to promote
their cards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Friends’; how many of us can say that
we have friends? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I remember this one friend of mine, he
was so panicky! We all have those kinds right? They are worried about
everything and anything! It was in midst of our exams and we had just finished
one and getting ready to write the next one. SO we are all sitting in the
canteen and going through the final things to revise (in my case, learning for
the first time too!) and then all of a sudden he starts about or not if he
would pass yesterday’s exam. I told him, “ Yeah you will don’t worry about it.”
“Yes, but still, I don’t know if I will pass.” Was his reply and I kept
reminding him and trying to encourage him that he would pass. He was so worried
that he wouldn’t stop. Finally he asked me again after a few minutes (I think
for the tenth time or something) “Do you really think I will pass?” I look at
him, pause for a while and then with all seriousness told him, “No, man I think
you won’t make it. You are going to fail.” I mean what else could I do, I was
so irritated and he wasn’t letting me study. He kept quiet after that! Long
story short: he failed that paper!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Friends! We can love them and hate them
at the same time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have seen that there are different
categories of friends. I have them in my life and then I am sure all of us have
friends in these different categories and you’ll understand them as I go
through them:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:
Surface Friendships:</span></b></div>
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<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s just on a surface level friendship.
I think you all know what I mean. There’s nothing more than just hi or a bye.
You know these people but they are just your hi and bye friends. You meet them
in your college; you meet them here if you’ve been coming here regularly. You
know some of their names, you know what they are studying for, and you might
even know where they live. But they remain at the surface and go no more than a
simple hi or a bye. “Hi, how are you doing?” “Great to see you, we should meet
up sometime.” What really messes these people up is when you ask them when? And
then they’d be like, “What when? No, bye.” Indirectly they are telling you;
let’s just keep it this way. We like it like this. In other words they don’t
really mean it when they say we should catch up sometime. I am sure as I’m
speaking some faces are coming into your minds right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:
Structured Friendships:</span></b></div>
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<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">These are friendships that we encounter
continually. WE meet them at college every day. We meet them at work every day.
We get together simply because there’s a reason that we are there in the same
place at the same time. We are not together because of each other but because
of the function that we are there. It’s structured. We do things together but
nothing more than that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:
Solid and Secure Friendships:</span></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5aZ_ae7Mqkg/WYkWdCy0GKI/AAAAAAAAHeI/Kd2MHS8Jyak2GUSOr6kCfhAY_Moepz6wgCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5aZ_ae7Mqkg/WYkWdCy0GKI/AAAAAAAAHeI/Kd2MHS8Jyak2GUSOr6kCfhAY_Moepz6wgCLcBGAs/s200/Slide4.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is taking friendships to a whole
new level. IT’s not surface level and neither is it structured. It’s built on
commitment and based on unconditional love. It’s not on a convenience level but
it’s based on deep commitment to each other that no matter what we will get it
going. These are the kind of friends that will stick it out for you. They are
close to you. They know you inside out and even though they know your good
things, they also know your bad side and still want to stick with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the type of friendships that I
want to focus on today. We call them close friends sometimes. These are the
types of friends that we constantly want to be with. Sometimes we get so close
that we call them ‘best friends’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now, let me ask all of us this question,
how many of us can say that we have a best friend? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You see, I find it surprising because my
generation did not go by without having a best friend. You ask anyone of the
older generation; it is very rarely that someone would say that they did not
have a best friend. There was a survey that was taken to find out </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">among</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> people to see how many of them had a best friend and the survey results that
were posted said that 1 out of every 5 people did not have a best friend. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
survey also went on to state that ever since the advent of social media like
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc people prefer to remain lonely and glued to
their social media than ever before. What’s interesting though what I’ve found
is that people want to have more friends on these social websites! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There are
people who are ready to be friends on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> so that they can
get more likes for their posts! I think I would like to categorize them as the
Social Media Friendships. Think about this: every time you post a picture on Facebook
or Instagram, do you login back just a few seconds later to find out how many
likes you got on it? Every time you post a status update on </span></span><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">Whatsapp</a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, don’t you
look to see how many people have viewed it? The more the better you feel don’t
you? It’s ironical because you want
friends at the same time you don’t want friends that are close to you!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The truth is that every one of us has friends
who fall into any one of those categories that I just mentioned; it’s just that
we haven’t allowed many of them to get close to us. I’ve known so many people
today who don’t get close to people and neither do they allow people to get
close to them because of one word: <b>Trust.</b></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3eZAjHw7oU/WYkWiMRnhEI/AAAAAAAAHeM/fQjn3AaH4Do9NakKjWPxa9RX4gOH21QbwCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3eZAjHw7oU/WYkWiMRnhEI/AAAAAAAAHeM/fQjn3AaH4Do9NakKjWPxa9RX4gOH21QbwCLcBGAs/s200/Slide5.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Too many people have broken trust today
with people because of what they said or what they did that caused hurt and
pain in the process. SO they are close to no one today so that people can’t
hurt them anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s what I’ve found about not getting
close to people. The good news is that they can’t hurt you; the bad news is
that they can’t help you either. Living life, rarely does a day go by without
needing to take help from other people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How can being close to someone be
helpful? They say that the wealthiest man that ever lived in this world was King
Solomon. They say that not only was he the wealthiest but also the wisest man
who ever lived. He wrote a book called Proverbs and there are 4 things he
mentions about close friendships about why they are important and how helpful
close friends can be:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:
Few friends are true friends</span></b></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Proverbs
18:24, “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like
family.”</span></b></div>
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</div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What does that mean? These close friends
are the ones who will stick with you. When we go through a crisis, they are the
ones who are always going to be there with you. Someone once said that your
real friends are the ones who will be with you when you are going through
difficult times in your life.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k2ry1YiVGg4/WYkWreOndbI/AAAAAAAAHeQ/rqkERmmA-AIK2m_94F1vrbN20sREUEpZQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k2ry1YiVGg4/WYkWreOndbI/AAAAAAAAHeQ/rqkERmmA-AIK2m_94F1vrbN20sREUEpZQCEwYBhgL/s200/Slide6.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:
Friends will speak the truth to you<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Proverbs
27:6, “The wounds from a friend are worth it; kisses from an enemy do you in.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Honestly, we don’t like it do we? We
don’t like our friends who come and tell us the truth. But we all know that
even if we don’t like it, that is what will keep us guarded and on the right
track. Let me tell you this: my best friend is my wife Anu. Man, can she speak
the truth! Every time I do a talk, there might be many others who come up and
say that it was great and all that but when I come home, I get it straight from
my wife who tells me exactly what was good and what was not. Why do I need to
hear that? Because that’s what helps me to get better!</span></div>
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</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:
Friends refresh us</span></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I_8wNho1Z5k/WYkXJQVTWTI/AAAAAAAAHeY/zvwnrkDCjakLH3GBhVxes-AaykPj0TSnwCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I_8wNho1Z5k/WYkXJQVTWTI/AAAAAAAAHeY/zvwnrkDCjakLH3GBhVxes-AaykPj0TSnwCLcBGAs/s200/Slide10.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Proverbs
27:9, “….a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Isn’t that true? When we are worn out
and tired and discouraged, who else but close friends who can refresh us during
those times?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me ask this question now. How many
of us want to have a best friend? How many of us would like friends like this:
a friend that refreshes us, speaks the truth to us? We all want them don’t we?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But here’s the thing. It’s not about how
much we want in a person as much as who we are as a person. In other words, the
people around us will only be as good as close as we really are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Many young people come to me all the
time asking questions about marriage and all. They come and tell me that they
have these lists and about how they are praying for the right partner. I smile
right through all of it and at the end of it all I ask a simple question. You
have quite a good list there, but let me ask you this question: Do you have all
those qualities that you have mentioned in your list? Or if the guy or girl you
are praying for, if they have a list, do you think you would fit or match up to
all the qualities on their list? Often times, they stare at me surprised. It
would seem like they just went to another planet when they heard that! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So when we say that we want a best
friend, here’s my take: Do you have it in you to be a best friend to someone?
How do you become a good friend?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:
Being the right person</span></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hiLrAUfMCZ4/WYkXgTEhGpI/AAAAAAAAHeg/3DT6pwhOLYk2wIozZi1uTZ8cDtNLiH3dwCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hiLrAUfMCZ4/WYkXgTEhGpI/AAAAAAAAHeg/3DT6pwhOLYk2wIozZi1uTZ8cDtNLiH3dwCLcBGAs/s200/Slide12.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It doesn’t start with the other people.
It starts with me. I am not going to wait for the other person to change; I am
going to see that I will. There was a marriage conference once where a renowned
speaker was talking to the couples with his wife. Towards the end of the
marriage conference, they opened up for Q&A and one of the ladies in the
conference asked the wife of the speaker, “Does he (that is her husband
pointing to the speaker) make you happy?” There was utter silence till the wife
replied, “No, he does not.” There was utter surprise all over the hall. Even
the speaker was looking totally surprised at his wife’s reply. Then she said,
“I realized that in the first six months of my marriage that he would never
make me happy. He was always doing this or that and I would get upset. It came
to a point till I realized that he could never make me happy. It’s not that he
wouldn’t but it’s just that he couldn’t. The only person who could make me
happy was myself. The moment I realized that then my husband has added
immeasurably to my happiness.” The speaker was so relieved! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What was the wife saying? You’ve to be
the right person. In other words, you’ve to take the initiative to be the right
one. It doesn’t start with fixing the other person; you’ve to start with
yourself. Too often we wait for others to come around us and start, what would
happen if we would make that start? What if I could add to someone else’s life,
what if I could make someone’s life a little better?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:
Committing Time and Energy:</span></b></div>
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<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">IT’s going to take time and we are going
to have to set aside that time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This coming December, me and Anu will be
celebrating our tenth marriage anniversary. I heard this before getting married
and I decided I would do what I knew to commit to that. Someone said that
marriages are like a garden, if it should continue to have fresh flowers, then
we must continue to tend it and water it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Every year, I make it a point, to
surprise her either on her birthday or on our anniversary. I have done some
crazy stuff and some simple things but make sure do it to make it memorable. She
says I never surprise her but I think I do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Being close friends does not come in a
day. It takes us to sacrifice our time and requires us to put energy or effort
into making sure it blooms up over time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:
It requires us to trust them:</span></b></div>
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<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I know this is probably the most
difficult but this is what it takes to build a strong foundation. Someone said
that trust is the foundation of all friendships. Trust is the glue that holds
two people together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you’ve ever had friends at all, then
you know what I am about to say is true. It doesn’t take long for someone to
break their trust with us. A very long time ago, I had gone into a complete
shell. I didn’t trust anyone. Every person I had trusted had broken it. So I
didn’t want to go into that process of getting hurt again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I read this statement off a book and I made
it my life definition of trust. To me trusting people means allowing them to
fail you. <b>Trusting people means allowing
them to fail you.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ij9ODNqUdsk/WYkXuXHPn2I/AAAAAAAAHes/MPfcI3mhp0EoXqcfHK4qk9iDHAnCLEWGwCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ij9ODNqUdsk/WYkXuXHPn2I/AAAAAAAAHes/MPfcI3mhp0EoXqcfHK4qk9iDHAnCLEWGwCLcBGAs/s200/Slide15.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">No one is perfect and when we realize
that and we are still willing to take that initiative knowing that they might as
well fail us one day gives us a better chance to trust them. They will fail us
anyway, so I might as well trust them rather than risk living my life all
alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I later realized that there was someone
who did this first. He did it before me and therefore I can do it too. His name
is Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus took an initiative to connect and
get close to us. This is what He said<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">John
15:13-15, “13 There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's
friends. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in
his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father
told me.”</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4-9NVudSOb4/WYkXzK00BXI/AAAAAAAAHew/Qd6SuOrSn1MID88HcU_9no_ysEHJI0sZgCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4-9NVudSOb4/WYkXzK00BXI/AAAAAAAAHew/Qd6SuOrSn1MID88HcU_9no_ysEHJI0sZgCLcBGAs/s200/Slide16.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b> <o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">No matter how many times we’ve failed,
He’s still willing to trust us. He’s still willing to give us great things even
though he knows that we are weak and that we can easily fail Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2
Corinthians 4:7, “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we
ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.”</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVVMIPegnrc/WYkX3lD1s7I/AAAAAAAAHe0/PRU4WLcpZcwT5ppayZgKP-K2Y0vUx-N3QCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVVMIPegnrc/WYkX3lD1s7I/AAAAAAAAHe0/PRU4WLcpZcwT5ppayZgKP-K2Y0vUx-N3QCLcBGAs/s200/Slide17.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We are fragile clay jars that can break
easily. Yet He was willing to pour out Himself, His treasure into weak jars
like us that can break.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Think about this: If we have lakhs or
crores of money, wouldn’t we want to keep it in a place where it’s safe, a
place that won’t break?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That’s how we look at people isn’t it?
When we share our deepest secrets with them, we expect them not to break. But
Jesus was ready to trust us because He trusted God His Father. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One thing I’ve learnt over the years is
that it becomes easier to trust people knowing that we can trust in Jesus
because even if people fail me, which will surely happen, I can trust Him who
can never fail me. It doesn’t mean that I stop trusting people, because as much
as I need Jesus, I need them as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today as I close, Jesus is calling us His
friends. Would we be willing to call Him our friend as well? When we can call
Him friend and place our trust in Him, it becomes easier for us to trust the
people He has placed around us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-82307311563895298302017-07-25T09:03:00.000+05:302018-06-06T07:34:26.614+05:30It is enough!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I want to read a story that I just read
recently. There was a church service that was going on. All of a sudden there
was a bolt of lightning and after the smoke cleared there was Satan himself
standing at the pulpit. Everyone got scared and started running out of the hall
except for an old woman who was sitting calmly. Satan looks at the woman
surprised and asks her, “Aren’t you scared of me?” The woman replies, “Not at
all.” Satan asks her, “How come?” She replied, “How can I be scared of you?
I’ve been married to your brother for the last 30 years!”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7P5A6PP7_DY/WXa1gjC46cI/AAAAAAAAHZU/pq1eC_5SDlgJw2sZa7JhE1kNC0czEdgsQCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7P5A6PP7_DY/WXa1gjC46cI/AAAAAAAAHZU/pq1eC_5SDlgJw2sZa7JhE1kNC0czEdgsQCLcBGAs/s320/Slide3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Are we ready? Turn to the person next to
you and tell him or her that you’re ready! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I want to start by reading the text
today and then we will pray.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R96iQTgKt-I/WXa1aSbR_9I/AAAAAAAAHZQ/NEwYkRZfMGglHrjgyj-3XzB3PkpDO86OQCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R96iQTgKt-I/WXa1aSbR_9I/AAAAAAAAHZQ/NEwYkRZfMGglHrjgyj-3XzB3PkpDO86OQCLcBGAs/s200/Slide1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1
Kings 19:1-4, “1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had
executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to
Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make
your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." 3 And
when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which
belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's
journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he
prayed that he might die, and said, "<u>It is enough</u>! Now, Lord, take
my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vb4u5hNLHm0/WXa1oJEsMtI/AAAAAAAAHZY/hz9ar1UqyxcsHMkY8cgEKj44dmfW2p_AwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vb4u5hNLHm0/WXa1oJEsMtI/AAAAAAAAHZY/hz9ar1UqyxcsHMkY8cgEKj44dmfW2p_AwCEwYBhgL/s200/Slide2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have titled today’s message as <b>“It is enough”.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Elijah was a great prophet. When we read
about his story, we know that he is the one who appeared before King Ahab who
was king of Israel at the time and declared that there would be no rain. Ahab
and his wife Jezebel were wicked and did not walk in the ways of the Lord. The
next three years there was no rain. There was also a severe famine where the
Lord miraculously provided for Elijah first sending ravens and then from a
widow. Elijah goes back to Ahab and takes all of them to Mount Carmel and in
front of the king and all the Israelites calls down fire from heaven and burns
up all the offering. He even kills 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah. Then he
calls upon the Lord and the Lord even sent rain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a man who experienced great
things from God and did great things for God but now he’s come to a place where
he’s depressed. Just as the nation of Israel is coming out of a drought, he is
entering into one. IT’s not a drought which someone can see. IT is something
internal which many of us are living in where no one can see it. Here’s where we
pick up reading about Elijah, he is in that place where internally he’s broken
down and feels that he can’t go forward anymore. He tells the Lord that it’s
enough!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Have we ever been in a place where we’ve
told the Lord that it is enough? That you can’t take it anymore? We’ve been at
the same thing for so long but now we’ve come into that place where we just
feel that we don’t have the strength to fight through it anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now the traditional interpretation is
that Elijah ran away because he was afraid. There are some translations that
read that way too. But Elijah was a courageous man and if we were to speak on
his courage then that would be another message by in itself. Elijah wasn’t
afraid to call all the people onto the mountain and challenge all the prophets
of Baal. He wasn’t afraid to go to Ahab and tell him that it won’t rain. He
wasn’t afraid to kill 850 false prophets! So now when Jezebel tells him that
she’s going to kill him, he gets afraid and just runs? He runs so much that he
collapses and asks God to take his life? No, there has to be something more. If
Elijah has to tell God that it is enough then I am thinking maybe there is
something more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Disappointment</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JgfQvFwuXtE/WXa15mEUt-I/AAAAAAAAHZc/5Xl2h3d-x_gCW7r6GGkg1xv5JGlrH8lkgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JgfQvFwuXtE/WXa15mEUt-I/AAAAAAAAHZc/5Xl2h3d-x_gCW7r6GGkg1xv5JGlrH8lkgCEwYBhgL/s320/Slide4.JPG" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Usually when we talk about
disappointment, we talk about the disappointment of defeat. We would’ve
expected Elijah to run of course if he had stood upon Mt. Carmel and God didn’t
show up. If God had not shown up there on Mt. Carmel then his disappointment
would’ve made sense because his faith would’ve been shaken up and he would not
really know what to do. We would run if we were standing up in front of the
false prophets of Baal and taunting them that our God would do something and
that theirs wouldn’t then yes, we would run. IT’s understandable for us to go
through disappointment when we pray all that we can and as hard as we can and
God doesn’t do what we want Him to do for us. We become disappointed with God.
We become disappointed with life as a whole. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But some of the most disappointed people
today are not the ones who haven’t seen results. They are not the ones whose
prayers God did not answer. If we look, God has answered all of their prayers.
IT’s just that something didn’t match. Let me see if I can explain this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now, I know I might offend some on what
I am just about to say especially from the young people. I know I am going to
break the hearts of some. In fact, some of the young people are going to go out
from here and say that what I am saying is absolutely wrong. But here’s what I
want to say. I am a BIG believer in arranged marriages. I am not against love
marriages but it’s just that I prefer arranged maybe because my marriage was an
arranged one. I met my wife Anu just twice before marriage. Yes, that’s right,
just twice. One was for the first time in what you would call a traditional
pennu kannal and one was for our engagement. That’s it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Surveys say that arranged marriages last
longer than love marriages. They say that love marriages have a higher ratio of
divorce compared to arranged marriages. They believe the number one reason is
because of this one word: ‘<b>Expectation’.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2ZoRA4a_C0/WXa2AFBN4LI/AAAAAAAAHZg/Q6mhTCmOW8c2Oj8o3LdrTSpuzkjLaGiiACEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2ZoRA4a_C0/WXa2AFBN4LI/AAAAAAAAHZg/Q6mhTCmOW8c2Oj8o3LdrTSpuzkjLaGiiACEwYBhgL/s320/Slide5.JPG" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">People who get married in arranged
marriages have generally lower expectations from each other compared to love
marriages whose expectations from each other are very high. So there are
couples who have been in love for years together and then finally get married. Then
they are shocked to find out that the person they thought they knew for years
together is not the same person after marriage! Here’s what I’ve heard from
some: “I never knew this part of that person existed!” In arranged marriages
however, because they don’t know each other that well, they go into the
marriage not expecting too much. The bar on their expectations is much lower
because they go into it not knowing what to really expect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s a truth about disappointments! <b>Disappointment is the gap between
expectation and reality.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhy1QKOi_DE/WXa2HE3HwlI/AAAAAAAAHZk/TjeJD3gtJrIwaYToIHTWVokWJSDpIf5LQCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhy1QKOi_DE/WXa2HE3HwlI/AAAAAAAAHZk/TjeJD3gtJrIwaYToIHTWVokWJSDpIf5LQCLcBGAs/s320/Slide6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There is a certain expectation we all
have about various things in our lives but reality turns out to be quite
another and what we are left is or with is in between that gap with our
disappointment!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So here’s a question for all of us
today: What are you expecting? Turn to someone and ask them that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That’s what happened to John the
Baptist. You see, Jesus compares John the Baptist to Elijah and both John and
Elijah had one thing in common. Both had an idea of what the kingdom of God
looked like but when God starting establishing it, it happened in a way that
they were not expecting. John was doing all these great things for God, asking
people to repent and turn from their ways. John got arrested and was in prison.
Meanwhile Jesus was out there preaching the Kingdom. John was not expecting to
be in prison. He was not expecting it to be this way. Maybe he was asking God
that why he was there? He was doing what God had asked him to do and still he
ends up being in prison. We know that disobedience to God can lead us to bad
places but sometimes obedience can do so too! He was hurting and from prison
sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus whether Jesus was the One to expect or
whether they should expect someone else.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p5VReaSC9JM/WXa5hOXngcI/AAAAAAAAHZw/hzrQd_l4W8UqrAHb0njhVro5jDzcK2tBACEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p5VReaSC9JM/WXa5hOXngcI/AAAAAAAAHZw/hzrQd_l4W8UqrAHb0njhVro5jDzcK2tBACEwYBhgL/s200/Slide7.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Matthew
11:2-6, “2 John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of
what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples 3 to ask, "Are you the One
we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?" 4 Jesus told them,
"Go back and tell John what's going on: 5 The blind see, The lame walk,
Lepers are cleansed, The deaf hear, The dead are raised, The wretched of the
earth learn that God is on their side. 6 "<u>Is this what you were
expecting?</u> Then count yourselves most blessed!" (The Message)</span></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBRVe0F_OyU/WXa5oTQ_74I/AAAAAAAAHZ0/CWjXpVuglhk5XZzuxuDEARaMzPNGQx2-ACLcBGAs/s1600/Slide8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBRVe0F_OyU/WXa5oTQ_74I/AAAAAAAAHZ0/CWjXpVuglhk5XZzuxuDEARaMzPNGQx2-ACLcBGAs/s200/Slide8.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That’s good right? Jesus is asking
John’s disciples to look at what’s going on now. Yes, John obeyed God and now
all of these things are happening. But John was not expecting this. He was
expecting the judgment of God to fall upon all those who didn’t listen! He was
preaching repentance and therefore expected judgment on those who didn’t. But
now in verse 5, the wretched are learning that God is on their side! John is
disappointed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Isn’t it true that many times we expect
God to do something for us but He does things in a way that we don’t expect? Then
we get disappointed. God is working but because we want Him to do things our
way we get disappointed. We get disappointed with God and disappointed with
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Coming back to the story of Elijah, Elijah
was disappointed. Three years he was
running, waiting on </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">God to give the Word to release the rain. He thought that
after the powerful Mt. Carmel victory that the people would repent and turn
back to God. It didn’t happen. Then he thought that when the rain came and the
drought was over, the nation would atleast now turn back to God. Nothing
happened and nothing changed. When it was finally proven to be true that He is
God, then the nation’s heart will be turned back. You see because Elijah’s goal
was never rain, it was repentance. So when Jezebel who was running the nation,
sent word that he would die, I believe that Elijah’s fear was not that he would
die, but that nothing would change. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s not difficult to do certain things
when you know that results will follow. When we study for our exams and give it
our all expecting that we will get good results but somehow when the results
comes, we find that we’ve failed, it gets difficult. When we go to work every
day, do things that are more than expected at our workplace and find that our
salaries are still the same, we get disappointed. When we’ve done all that we
know how to raise up our children and find that they are still not right and
doing all the wrong things; we even think as to who taught them this? We get
disappointed! When we’ve prayed for healing and find that the medical reports
are still the same, we get disappointed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And Elijah said it’s enough! I’m done,
I’m out, and I can’t anymore! But take a look at what God does!</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GR0ehoQ0MjE/WXa5vkplcuI/AAAAAAAAHZ4/nabZ0rYbm_8Y0Xz4girGixm_o4_bipLnQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GR0ehoQ0MjE/WXa5vkplcuI/AAAAAAAAHZ4/nabZ0rYbm_8Y0Xz4girGixm_o4_bipLnQCEwYBhgL/s200/Slide9.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1
Kings 19:4-8, “4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and
came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and
said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my
fathers!" 5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel
touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat." 6 Then he looked, and
there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and
drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came back the second
time, and touched him, and said, "Arise and eat, because the journey is
too great for you." 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the
strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain
of God. NKJV</span></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vmZpSvle_v4/WXa6Ea_3iYI/AAAAAAAAHZ8/jtmh-4UhVT4o_xVZVwcr2K1Ju5U7xJ4owCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vmZpSvle_v4/WXa6Ea_3iYI/AAAAAAAAHZ8/jtmh-4UhVT4o_xVZVwcr2K1Ju5U7xJ4owCLcBGAs/s200/Slide10.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Until this point in the story, Elijah
only went to places where God had asked him to go and God provided for him
everywhere he went. God sent ravens to feed him in the brook. He gets a widow
to feed him. Here he is now running away and not in a place where God has asked
him to be in and God still provides for him here. Isn’t it amazing to know that
sometimes we may not be doing what God has asked us to do but He cares for us
so much and loves us so much that even in those moments and those places, He
cares enough to provide for us? Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Opposition</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7W91SohOIk/WXa6J27-MpI/AAAAAAAAHaA/QCiGQohN8ZM9BmD5H-Y8ZrFzsVuKX73twCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7W91SohOIk/WXa6J27-MpI/AAAAAAAAHaA/QCiGQohN8ZM9BmD5H-Y8ZrFzsVuKX73twCLcBGAs/s320/Slide11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Elijah had to face a lot of opposition.
I mean he had opposition from the king, and then he had opposition from the
prophets of Baal. But I don’t think any of that got him down so much that he
said it’s enough. He took on all that opposition and that’s why I think even
Jezebel’s threat wasn’t really much of a threat! I think what broke his heart
was when the opposition came from a place he least expected it to come from! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1
Kings 19:9-10, “9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that
place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him,
"What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 So he said, "I have been
very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; <u>for the children of Israel have
forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with
the sword.</u> I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." NKJV</span></b></div>
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</div>
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<b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sMQY5KfxJ5o/WXa6S5bqriI/AAAAAAAAHaI/cksMsYQUX1A40SukFEAEnxdPyhc3gMYFgCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sMQY5KfxJ5o/WXa6S5bqriI/AAAAAAAAHaI/cksMsYQUX1A40SukFEAEnxdPyhc3gMYFgCLcBGAs/s200/Slide13.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DqsA3vpXlYE/WXa6OSkiriI/AAAAAAAAHaE/0Ns8wt3j8zIDHl4ed2E2nglR6O6YA86wgCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DqsA3vpXlYE/WXa6OSkiriI/AAAAAAAAHaE/0Ns8wt3j8zIDHl4ed2E2nglR6O6YA86wgCLcBGAs/s200/Slide12.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Elijah’s response tells us why he said
it was enough for him. HE was saying that I’ve done all of my responsibility!
I’ve been zealous for you! I’ve done all that You’ve asked me to but these
people, the Israelites! Notice he’s
already separated himself from his own people. Elijah was an Israelite too! You
know how sometimes, married people complain about the children, “See what your
son is doing! See what your daughter is doing!” Elijah says they tore down your
altars, killed your prophets and now they are trying to kill me too!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s alright to fight with an opponent
that is not of you. But what do you when the opposition comes from your own.
See that’s how the enemy operates! He knows that it’s easy for the church to
stand up and fight against opposition that comes from the outside. But what
will the church do when the opposition comes from the inside. He creates
division inside the church so that the church will not be able to stand when
the attack comes from inside. That’s the easiest way to break through
opposition. So he brings in un forgiveness, jealousy, bitterness etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A few days ago, we had a discussion on
our youth whatsapp group on forgiveness where I asked them a question as to when
would we be most hurt? Would we be hurt by some random bus conductor who shouts
as us or some professor who scolds us whom we barely know? Or would we be hurt
by someone who is very close to us, whom we thought was on our side? The
obvious answer was the ones who were close. This is also why it is most
difficult to forgive them because we never expected them to hurt us of all the
people!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I expected to have to fight Jezebel, I
expected to have to fight those who didn’t believe in God what I didn’t expect
was to fight the inner me. That’s how the enemy is breaking down marriages
today. He won’t come and attack a marriage through various trials because in
trials the husband and wife will mostly stick together and will make them only
stronger! He will attack by bringing in division amongst the husband and wife
because then they can’t stand up strong! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Elijah is hurt. He doesn’t have the strength
to fight his own people. So he says that it is enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">God provides food for him and in its
strength he goes as far as the mountain of God and gets into a cave. That’s
where we all go isn’t it? We don’t want to meet anyone and we don’t want to
talk to anyone and here is God who comes looking for him because He doesn’t
want him to be there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But here’s how God has been working
right through out and I don’t know if Elijah was even aware of it. God gives
him enough food that he can keep going till he reaches the mountain of God and
what do you expect to find on the mountain of God: The presence of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">God doesn’t want him to end his life
after coming this far. See this is the thing about this cave. It’s in the
mountain of God where Elijah is in now. It’s in the presence of God where
Elijah is in now. That is why God asked him a strategic question as to where
are you Elijah…because I believe God wanted him to notice where he had reached.
God wanted him in His presence because that’s where the change was going to
come.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8-iOx31hh6M/WXa6d3nl24I/AAAAAAAAHaM/5p9M-vpKv5MQSDFx4_yZ_wBUAkea7AJVwCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8-iOx31hh6M/WXa6d3nl24I/AAAAAAAAHaM/5p9M-vpKv5MQSDFx4_yZ_wBUAkea7AJVwCLcBGAs/s200/Slide14.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1
Kings 19:11-12, “11 Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain
before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong
wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but
the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord
was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was
not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The still small voice was that of the
Lord. Suddenly Elijah is back in the place where he is supposed to be. That’s
in the presence of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You see, many times we go through life’s
situations and difficult circumstances and are disappointed and have lots of
opposition that we have to face. So we think that it’s impossible and that we
have no strength and we are wondering how things will ever work out. We wonder
what we can do to get out of this place where we are. We wonder if anything can
be done. But that’s just the problem. We are so consumed by us that our focus
is on the problems and what we can do about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is what the enemy wants us to do.
He wants us to lift our eyes off God and shift our eyes on to ourselves and our
problems!</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ijvnjD2WO_A/WXa6j5qP1sI/AAAAAAAAHaQ/t8LUckJkgKkBzOqc0DFX2A458m_MDk_mACEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ijvnjD2WO_A/WXa6j5qP1sI/AAAAAAAAHaQ/t8LUckJkgKkBzOqc0DFX2A458m_MDk_mACEwYBhgL/s320/Slide15.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But God wants us to run back into His
presence. That is where everything changes. Because when we are in God’s
presence, our focus is no longer on us, our focus is no longer on the problems
that we are facing, and our focus is shifted back on to the Creator who made
us. Our focus is back on God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They say that the number 1 disease that
used to exist a few years ago was myocardial infarction that is your regular
heart attack. But since the last 5 years or so it has been replaced with
something else. Do you know what that is? It is <b>Depression. </b>People who are depressed have a sense of hopelessness
and are very negative towards life. They feel like their life is useless and
many times feel like ending their lives. </span></div>
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</div>
<br /><o:p></o:p>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me put up those faces on the screen
and let’s see if we can recognize them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb5o30NbvI0/WXa6th4pTGI/AAAAAAAAHaU/erw0bsachvk5ytKnZQMe5IbeaqpwH86NQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb5o30NbvI0/WXa6th4pTGI/AAAAAAAAHaU/erw0bsachvk5ytKnZQMe5IbeaqpwH86NQCEwYBhgL/s200/Slide16.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">US president Abraham Lincoln was
probably one of the greatest presidents ever lived. He was responsible largely
for abolishing slavery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Actress Angelina Jolie is probably one of
the most accomplished actresses today. She has many hit movies to her name and
was cited as Hollywood’s highest paid actresses.</span></div>
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</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KHQeNhT8fPU/WXa6yz8YqyI/AAAAAAAAHaY/Y2WkSbGMuWcNIbYbpidZy9JGEuWqRWFgwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KHQeNhT8fPU/WXa6yz8YqyI/AAAAAAAAHaY/Y2WkSbGMuWcNIbYbpidZy9JGEuWqRWFgwCEwYBhgL/s200/Slide17.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Prince of Preachers’ Charles Spurgeon
is a man who has been dead for over 100 years is still one of the revered
preachers who ever lived in England. He reversed the course of history for the
church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Each of these three people, well known
in their own fields had one thing in common. Each of them suffered from
depression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Abraham Lincoln was known for removing
slavery and yet he suffered from depression. There was a movie that was based
on his life. You should see it, when you know more about Lincoln’s wife; you
will know why he suffered from depression!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vnUa-qRHYWw/WXa7A8xMiAI/AAAAAAAAHac/RY8pyUdLnlsK-s9To99WxUfB2lV6dAdcgCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vnUa-qRHYWw/WXa7A8xMiAI/AAAAAAAAHac/RY8pyUdLnlsK-s9To99WxUfB2lV6dAdcgCLcBGAs/s200/Slide18.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Charles Spurgeon the great preacher was
preaching one day in his church which had over 6000 people. One day a man from
the balcony screamed, “Fire!” and in midst of the panic and people running, 4
people were trampled over and died. The mind of this young gifted preacher
broke and Spurgeon went into depression. Over the next several weeks, the
elders and the members of the church prayed round the clock for their pastor
until the peace of God came over him. He walked back into the pulpit with the
double portion anointing and shook the world with his preaching. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The number one reason for depression is
thinking about yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That is why God doesn’t want us focused
on ourselves. He doesn’t want us to be focused on our problems. He wants us to
focus in on Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is why worship is so important. We
have these worship sessions every month so that we can come into His presence
and focus in on Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s what it says about Jesus in Isaiah
61:3, <b>“3 To console those who mourn in
Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, <u>The
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;</u> That they may be called
trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be
glorified." NKJV</b></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-smH6XwNVMjk/WXa7Fska-9I/AAAAAAAAHag/7TvRRPOcCJwUC0x29WsTD5P1CpwXBX46QCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-smH6XwNVMjk/WXa7Fska-9I/AAAAAAAAHag/7TvRRPOcCJwUC0x29WsTD5P1CpwXBX46QCLcBGAs/s200/Slide19.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hear this: He gives us the garment of
praise for the spirit of heaviness. He gives us a garment of praise for the
spirit of depression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Heaviness or depression is not an
emotion. It’s a spirit. We’ve heard of the fact that God has not given us a
spirit of fear, fear is not an emotion, and it’s a spirit. If we treat fear as
an emotion, we’ll never overcome it. It’s a spirit that attacks our emotions. The
only way to overcome the spirit of fear is to take authority over it and cast
it out. Fear comes so that we end up making a wrong decision. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The enemy doesn’t
want us to make faith based decisions but fear based ones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Depression comes to swallow us in a
blanket of self and negativity. God has given us a garment of praise for the
spirit of depression. This means that I don’t come with it every day; I have to
consciously make a choice to wear that garment.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">God is enthroned on the praises of His
people. God and the devil cannot co-exist together. When we are facing a lot of
problems and all we can think of is ourselves and our problems, we need to lift
our focus off ourselves and put on the garment of praise. We have to praise Him
in the midst of our problems. We are not praising Him for our problems but we
are praising Him in the midst of it. When we start praising Him, the spirit of
heaviness leaves us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Listen to what David says here. <b>Psalms 16:8-9, “8 <u>I have set the Lord
always before me</u>; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. 9
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in
hope. NKJV</b></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtaFR_543P0/WXa7Lu-vFhI/AAAAAAAAHak/s-MxU6PuuCEW0rav7XxLo41Yr_jlwRVHgCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtaFR_543P0/WXa7Lu-vFhI/AAAAAAAAHak/s-MxU6PuuCEW0rav7XxLo41Yr_jlwRVHgCLcBGAs/s200/Slide20.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">David is saying that he has made a
conscious choice to set the Lord before Him and therefore his heart is glad.
What I do in the midst of my problems, I keep thinking about Him. If I think
about me and my problems then I get depressed. When I put on the garment of
praise, I begin to praise Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">David says in <b>Psalms 34:1-3, “1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall
continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The
humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 <u>Oh, magnify the Lord with me</u>, And
let us exalt His name together. NKJV<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What is David saying here? When we
praise Him, does God get any bigger? No, He doesn’t. When we worship, we
magnify the Lord. He gets bigger in us. When we use a magnifying glass, the
object doesn’t increase in size, it increases in size to us. That’s what
happens when we worship. God gets bigger to us.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9wbdc2sCnvk/WXa7RqmZ0UI/AAAAAAAAHao/9X1TAJibvjwI3i8djmexLpEkRTnHkWbaACLcBGAs/s1600/Slide21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9wbdc2sCnvk/WXa7RqmZ0UI/AAAAAAAAHao/9X1TAJibvjwI3i8djmexLpEkRTnHkWbaACLcBGAs/s200/Slide21.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When we don’t worship, God becomes
smaller in us and our problems becomes bigger and we become obsessed with
ourselves. This is why it’s so important to worship the Lord in midst of our
problems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Elijah finally focused in on God. It’s
not that his problems had been solved. But his perspective changed. God told
him to go back to the place of his calling and he went back with a renewed
strength and passion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today as we leave, I want each of us to
ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us. Whatever are the problems that are there,
whatever are the disappointments that we are carrying today, whatever are the
oppositions we are facing today, let’s not let the enemy to swallow us in
depression but let’s wear the garment of praise and magnify Him in our lives!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-3752773631990635532017-07-11T08:55:00.000+05:302017-07-11T08:55:40.436+05:30Learning to Love Ourselves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Many people today struggle with trying to build relationships with others. Too often it can be because they have a very poor relationship with themselves. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h9xQQ7zDoBc/WWREdsgjHHI/AAAAAAAAHQ4/Om0CJIMdlH0ZOooVVMtT0K9YddHRectWgCLcBGAs/s1600/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="1000" height="187" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h9xQQ7zDoBc/WWREdsgjHHI/AAAAAAAAHQ4/Om0CJIMdlH0ZOooVVMtT0K9YddHRectWgCLcBGAs/s320/download.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Matthew 19:19 says that you are to love your neighbor as yourself. But loving yourself sometimes can be the most difficult thing to do because we can have a very negative view of ourselves.</div>
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<div>
If we don't like ourselves, it's for sure we won't like other people. </div>
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<div>
So how do we change the way we look at ourselves. I want to focus on one aspect which has helped me tremendously in the past. </div>
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Proverbs 18:21 says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. In other words, what you confess is what you will become.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J6t0-CJRW3I/WWREs-pVFHI/AAAAAAAAHQ8/Kq47URxhHlMYxLd33QqbUJsp5yv4GcsjQCLcBGAs/s1600/2b627cfe14c5624e3316460355810982--tea-time-coffee-time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J6t0-CJRW3I/WWREs-pVFHI/AAAAAAAAHQ8/Kq47URxhHlMYxLd33QqbUJsp5yv4GcsjQCLcBGAs/s320/2b627cfe14c5624e3316460355810982--tea-time-coffee-time.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I believe that when we confess what God says about us from the Word of God, we become that over a period of time. Below I have enlisted a few confessions that we can all make over ourselves:</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I am special.</li>
<li>I am loved.</li>
<li>I am unique.</li>
<li>I am a child of God.</li>
<li>I am created in His image.</li>
<li>I am fearfully and wonderfully made.</li>
<li>I am created a little lower than the angels.</li>
<li>I am born an original and not a cheap copy.</li>
<li>I am a child of the King, the royal blood of heaven is in my veins.</li>
<li>I am a victor in Christ Jesus and not a victim.</li>
<li>I am a winner.</li>
<li>I am the chosen one in Christ Jesus.</li>
<li>I am not a mistake.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-9447732598416408922017-07-05T08:08:00.000+05:302017-07-05T08:08:21.113+05:30It's all about perspective!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(From Plug In 02/07/17)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Good evening everyone! Today unlike
other Plug In meetings, we thought of having something different. We are going
to have a small little activity after which I will be giving a summary towards
the end of it all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So as you all are seated in groups, each
of you will be handed a blank sheet of paper and a pen. We want you to write
what you think about this one word that we are going to put up on the screen. You
could write anything about the word. There’s no right or wrong to it. Just
write down what you think about the word. We will give you 3 minutes to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s the word: <b>RELATIONSHIPS<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Your time starts now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now that you have written what you
think, here’s what we are going to do. We want you to discuss within your teams
about the things that you’ve written down and at the end of 5 minutes, we want
you to summarize the whole thing and we want your team leader to come forward
and speak about what you’ve discussed in regard to the same topic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So what did you guys think about it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I am kind of hoping that all of you
learnt and were reminded of a few things you already knew about relationships
today!</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tEULHUADTNc/WVxNVwr1ruI/AAAAAAAAHM8/SEAMHX6tZUgWvZEqtzKcJg4FqureWZLIgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="572" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tEULHUADTNc/WVxNVwr1ruI/AAAAAAAAHM8/SEAMHX6tZUgWvZEqtzKcJg4FqureWZLIgCEwYBhgL/s200/Picture1.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now, what I am going to do is not give
another summary to all of what was already spoken. But what I want to do for
the next 10 minutes or so is to draw your attention to something else that all
of you were working on right throughout this whole activity! It’s another word
and that is what I want to talk about. The word is <b>‘perspective’ </b></span></div>
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</div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">When each of you was asked to write
about relationships, each of you wrote based on your own perspective about what
you thought about relationships. When you were discussing with each other you
got to learn about each other’s perspective on the same topic and when we had
the leaders come up and share here you got a wider perspective on the same
topic. You see, as we kept expanding the perspective about the same topic, we
got to learn a lot more than what we already knew about this one topic. You see
it’s all about one’s perspective!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How many of you can see two women in
this picture?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OBNltWEkWPw/WVxNvbo-2LI/AAAAAAAAHNA/vmCnVvOD0SgD4WOKfNbz0hDILzKAPn5-gCLcBGAs/s1600/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="1118" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OBNltWEkWPw/WVxNvbo-2LI/AAAAAAAAHNA/vmCnVvOD0SgD4WOKfNbz0hDILzKAPn5-gCLcBGAs/s200/Picture2.png" width="198" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You see, there are two women in one picture. It's all about perspective!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me share this story with you that I
read recently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Once there was a young couple who moved into a new neighborhood; The
next morning, while they were having breakfast, the young woman noticed her
neighbor hanging the washed clothes in her backyard, through her window. “<i>That
laundry is not very clean</i>”, she said to her husband, “<i>She doesn’t even
know how to wash clothes properly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap</i>”.
To this, her husband looked out the window, but remained silent and continued
with his breakfast.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">This went on to become repetitive and every time her neighbor stepped
out to hang her clothes out, this young woman made similar complaints about the
clothes and sighed that she needed better detergent or put in more effort.
About a month later, one day, this woman was surprised to see a nice clean line
of clothes wrung out to dry in her neighbor’s backyard.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Looking at that, she exclaimed to her husband saying: “<i>Look! She has
finally learned how to wash properly. I wonder who taught her this</i>.” Her
husband replied back saying, “<i>I got up early this morning and cleaned our
windows! You see, it wasn’t the clothes that were dirty all along, but rather
our own windows!!</i>” leaving his wife embarrassed and at loss of words…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z7I5aFz5zlA/WVxPOt9GMWI/AAAAAAAAHNI/Kp2Yrcwa0r01BQyBmWFXuu5cTMEkWUWkACEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z7I5aFz5zlA/WVxPOt9GMWI/AAAAAAAAHNI/Kp2Yrcwa0r01BQyBmWFXuu5cTMEkWUWkACEwYBhgL/s200/Slide3.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There’s just one thing that I want to
emphasize on today and that is: <b>Your
success in any area of your life is dependent on your perspective.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From just the activity today, we already
learnt this much about perspective. You can have your own perspective. But our
perspective can give only so much rather a limited idea on anything or
situation. I am not saying that our individual perspective has to be wrong but
I will say that our individual perspective can be incomplete. Like for instance
the picture of the women. Some of us could see just one woman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But it changes when we have a collective
perspective. When we have a collective perspective that is when we learn to
listen to what others think about the same thing or situation, our perspective
increases rather we begin to see things a little more differently. So there are
two types of perspective in this world, one is our own and one is a collective
that is a group perspective. Now we know that the group is wider than our own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There’s this fact that I’ve learnt about
one’s perspective. <b>Our perspective is
based on our past experiences. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nO8YkIJi0NI/WVxPhFy8VZI/AAAAAAAAHNM/a1IAj-OsIukl1TGUq5mOjVPHaRN0HQmZQCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nO8YkIJi0NI/WVxPhFy8VZI/AAAAAAAAHNM/a1IAj-OsIukl1TGUq5mOjVPHaRN0HQmZQCLcBGAs/s200/Slide4.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">T</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">hink about why some of you wrote about
relationships the way you did. Didn’t some of you write it based on your past
experiences good or bad? What you wrote about relationships was based on what
you had experienced before. Now, that can be flawed or incomplete without
having to listen to others. A collective perspective changed or rather added on
to our individual perspective. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There’s a story in the bible that
illustrates this so well. We all know
the story of Moses. Whether you are a Christian or not today, the movies have
captured in part a bit about Moses’ life on how he was a prince of Egypt and
how he led the people of Israel out of Egypt and parted the waters of the Red
Sea. Here’s the thing to that story: God told Moses to bring the people out of
Egypt because He told them that HE was taking them into the Promised Land, a
land where they would be free, a land where there was enough and more for them
in fact it was called a land that was overflowing with milk and honey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So they had been walking in the desert
for 40 years and it was when they were somewhere in the outskirts of Canaan
that was the Promised Land that God tells Moses</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--edSgnFnFaY/WVxP7DHmF7I/AAAAAAAAHNQ/JeTPgN2n6HwNkAGUd-WuXrpto-eNwOZkwCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--edSgnFnFaY/WVxP7DHmF7I/AAAAAAAAHNQ/JeTPgN2n6HwNkAGUd-WuXrpto-eNwOZkwCLcBGAs/s200/Slide5.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Numbers
13:1-2, “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Send men to spy out the
land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Numbers
13:17-20, “17 When Moses sent them off to scout out Canaan, he said, "Go
up through the Negev and then into the hill country. 18 <u>Look the land over,
see what it is like</u>. Assess the people: Are they strong or weak? Are there
few or many? 19 Observe the land: Is it pleasant or harsh? Describe the towns
where they live: Are they open camps or fortified with walls? 20 And the soil:
Is it fertile or barren? Are there forests? And try to bring back a sample of
the produce that grows there — this is the season for the first ripe
grapes."</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9YFOUgnxxLE/WVxQBD1fmAI/AAAAAAAAHNU/w0OQPUHfB4olaY2cz1Xo7uPY8yqpt2YxgCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9YFOUgnxxLE/WVxQBD1fmAI/AAAAAAAAHNU/w0OQPUHfB4olaY2cz1Xo7uPY8yqpt2YxgCLcBGAs/s200/Slide6.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b> <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The only thing that Moses and even God
asked the spies to do was to see and to look at the land that God was giving to
them. So they go and they brought back the report and this is what it says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Numbers
13:25-28, “25 After forty days of scouting out the land, they returned home. 26
They presented themselves before Moses and Aaron and the whole congregation of
the People of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They reported to the
whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 Then they told the
story of their trip: "We went to the land to which you sent us and, oh! It
does flow with milk and honey! Just look at this fruit! 28 The only thing is
that the people who live there are fierce, their cities are huge and well
fortified. Worse yet, we saw descendants of the giant Anak.</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RQ9gV-o2S3k/WVxQG-z6MnI/AAAAAAAAHNY/hZftAVAz9R8SWSgXzQCDAgjcY4ElOcG8ACLcBGAs/s1600/Slide7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RQ9gV-o2S3k/WVxQG-z6MnI/AAAAAAAAHNY/hZftAVAz9R8SWSgXzQCDAgjcY4ElOcG8ACLcBGAs/s200/Slide7.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b> <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Numbers
13:30-33, “30 Caleb interrupted, called for silence before Moses and said,
"Let's go up and take the land — now. We can do it." 31 But the
others said, "We can't attack those people; they're way stronger than we
are." 32 They spread scary rumors among the People of Israel. They said,
"We scouted out the land from one end to the other — it's a land that
swallows people whole. Everybody we saw was huge. 33 Why, we even saw the
Nephilim giants (the Anak giants come from the Nephilim). Alongside them we
felt like grasshoppers. And they looked down on us as if we were
grasshoppers."</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KeWwIaj8QhI/WVxQOt7itDI/AAAAAAAAHNc/Zs2M5IVtBeU4wLCHDvBMj9nwD0VvdEhAgCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KeWwIaj8QhI/WVxQOt7itDI/AAAAAAAAHNc/Zs2M5IVtBeU4wLCHDvBMj9nwD0VvdEhAgCLcBGAs/s200/Slide8.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b> <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amongst the twelve that went up there,
ten of the spies had just one opinion, they saw that everything was good but
when they saw the giants that were there in the land, according to their
perspective or rather based on what they saw, they felt that they couldn’t
overcome and take possession of the land. Let me ask the question why. Do you
know why they had such a perspective? It was because of the way they saw
themselves. Here’s another fact about perspective:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our
perspective is based on the way we see ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The ten spies here saw themselves as
weak and they compared themselves to the giants saying that they were like
grasshoppers in their enemy’s eyes. I wonder why grasshoppers! But many times
the way we see different situations and different matters is largely reflective
of the way we see ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Joshua and Caleb had a different
perspective of the whole situation. They felt that they could take possession.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bz2fyUcEvH4/WVxQWGn_0yI/AAAAAAAAHNg/WuvNgLfWK6QUGwaQPJlmpzm05zR6NKxyQCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bz2fyUcEvH4/WVxQWGn_0yI/AAAAAAAAHNg/WuvNgLfWK6QUGwaQPJlmpzm05zR6NKxyQCLcBGAs/s200/Slide9.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You see having your own perspective is
one thing. But if having a collective perspective is better then there is a
third perspective that I want to focus in on. Why did Joshua and Caleb have a
different perspective? Why was it important? We saw one person’s own
perspective. We saw what a difference a collective perspective could make and
now we see what’s called as a God perspective!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Numbers
14:6-9, “6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, members of the
scouting party, ripped their clothes 7 and addressed the assembled People of
Israel: "The land we walked through and scouted out is a very good land —
very good indeed. 8 If God is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land,
a land that flows, as they say, with milk and honey. And he'll give it to us. 9
Just don't rebel against God! And don't be afraid of those people. Why, we'll
have them for lunch! They have no protection and God is on our side. Don't be
afraid of them!"</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QuUtYCT5eic/WVxQfsCInmI/AAAAAAAAHNk/JK30f10RPO0fLo_TKcoGOlOljgo5SUVcgCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QuUtYCT5eic/WVxQfsCInmI/AAAAAAAAHNk/JK30f10RPO0fLo_TKcoGOlOljgo5SUVcgCLcBGAs/s200/Slide10.JPG" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b> <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Probably the most important perspective
that we should always pay attention is to what God perspective on any has given
situation or matter. Because that is the total complete perspective and that is
what will truly bring success in our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The people of Israel eventually did
cross over into the Promised Land but those who did not believe ever made it.
They never saw the Promised Land because of the wrong perspective!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I want to close with this thought today.
Maybe you are a Christian and maybe you are not but I know this to be true that
your success in any area of your life is dependent on your perspective about
it. It’s important not to be limited to your own because it is never complete!
We need a larger perspective which is why it is important to talk to others who
know about the area much better than we do and most importantly what I would
say brings true success is when we decide to look at it from God’s perspective
because again sometimes like in this story, even a collective perspective can
be wrong and not bring success.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QF0_x04Dp2k/WVxQmEj0ypI/AAAAAAAAHNo/TnaneI5VgHoLSbSZw1qZW2JJAU0uP2RJQCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QF0_x04Dp2k/WVxQmEj0ypI/AAAAAAAAHNo/TnaneI5VgHoLSbSZw1qZW2JJAU0uP2RJQCLcBGAs/s320/Slide11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you want to come into a relationship
with this God so that you can have His perspective then it’s important to
believe in His Son Jesus Christ whom He sent so that we can have a relationship
with Him. When we have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ
then we can begin to have the God perspective as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-90068566325463725932017-03-31T16:18:00.001+05:302017-04-22T22:04:29.482+05:30A Faithful Father<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is a story
that was recently forwarded to me. I haven’t been able to confirm if this is a
true story but the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_Armenian_earthquake" target="_blank">earthquake in Armenia</a> in the year 1988 was a true event that
killed over 30,000 people in less than 4 minutes. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tNxg2WpATVI/WN4xGry-5oI/AAAAAAAAGXg/KvXUtnoWFYQR-RC9ox4Mi7ItlBXyNeywgCLcB/s1600/FATHER-AND-SON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tNxg2WpATVI/WN4xGry-5oI/AAAAAAAAGXg/KvXUtnoWFYQR-RC9ox4Mi7ItlBXyNeywgCLcB/s320/FATHER-AND-SON.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“A couple Samuel
and Danielle sent their young son, Armand, off to school. Samuel squatted
before his son and looked him in the eye, “Have a good day at school, and
remember, no matter what, I’ll always be there for you.” They hugged and the
boy ran off to school.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hours later, a
powerful earthquake rocked the area. In the midst of the pandemonium, Samuel
and Danielle tried to discover what happened to their son but they couldn’t get
any information. The radio announced that there were thousands of casualties. Samuel
then grabbed his coat and headed for the school. When he reached the area, what
he saw brought tears to his eyes. Armand’s school was a pile of debris and
other parents were standing around crying.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2017/04/18/midweek-curated-indian-blogger-posts" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LKqUrkslw-g/WPuEpzx5YDI/AAAAAAAAGjU/qoW0rCEKSd0lS7Lb4ia0bMldUDbqF1RlwCLcB/s1600/ttp_email.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Samuel found the
place where Armand’s classroom used to be and began pulling a broken beam off
the pile of rubble. He then grabbed a rock and put it to the side, and then
grabbed another one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of the
parents looking on asked, “What are you doing?” “Digging for my son,” Samuel
answered. The man then said, “You’re just going to make things worse! The
building is unstable,” and tried to pull Samuel away from his work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Samuel kept
working. As time wore on, one by one, the other parents left. Then a worker
tried to pull Samuel away from the rubble. Samuel looked at him and said, “Wont
you help me?” The worker left and Samuel kept digging.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All through the
night and into the next day, Samuel continued digging. Parents placed flowers
and pictures of their children on the ruins. But Samuel just kept working. He
picked up a beam and pushed it out of the way when he heard a faint cry, “Help!
Help!” Samuel listened but didn’t hear anything again. Then he heard a muffled
voice, “Papa?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Samuel began to
dig furiously. Finally he could see his son. “Come on out, son!” he said with
relief.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“No,” Armand
said. “Let the other kids come out first because I know you’ll get me.” Child
after child emerged until finally little Armand appeared. Samuel took him in
his arms and Armand said, “I told the other kids not to worry because you told
me that you’d always be there for me!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fourteen
children were saved that day because one father was faithful.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Being the father
of a 3 year old son, this story really got me thinking and I asked myself the
question: “If it were my son in that rubble, would I be standing and crying
over the fact that all was gone or would I have been a faithful father like
Samuel?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That begets the
question: <b>Do we still have faithful
fathers in this generation?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Faithfulness is
a virtue that seems to be slowing diminishing in our societies today; fathers
who are present and involved with their children are on a much faster decline.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bRMMuF6f-jo/WN4xg-iziKI/AAAAAAAAGXk/rusk0yZYtwwFV4RgrZkegE5MExEna0hMACLcB/s1600/father-son-walking-featured-w740x490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bRMMuF6f-jo/WN4xg-iziKI/AAAAAAAAGXk/rusk0yZYtwwFV4RgrZkegE5MExEna0hMACLcB/s320/father-son-walking-featured-w740x490.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Today many
couples are caught up with their own issues and have no time for their
children. Divorce is on the increase even as we speak. Some are in the process
whilst others are contemplating it. I personally believe that if we pay
attention to our children then we can be responsible for building healthier
societies in the time to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“<a href="http://www.williampollack.com/bio.html" target="_blank">Dr. William Pollock</a>, Harvard psychologist and author of <a href="http://www.amazon.in/Real-Boys-Rescuing-Myths-Boyhood/dp/0805061835" target="_blank">Real Boys</a> concludes that divorce is
difficult for children of both sexes but it is devastating for males. He says
the basic problem is the lack of discipline and supervision in the father’s
absence and his unavailability to teach what it means to be a man. Pollock also
believes fathers are crucial in helping boys to manage their emotions. </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Without the guidance and direction of a
father, a boy’s frustration often leads to varieties of violence and other anti
social behaviour.</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">” – Taken from <a href="http://www.amazon.in/Bringing-up-Boys-James-Dobson/dp/084235266X/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1490956276&sr=1-1&keywords=bringing+up+boys" target="_blank">‘Bringing up boys’</a> by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dobson" target="_blank">Dr. James Dobson</a></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Where
are our fathers?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If we take our
roles of being fathers seriously, that is we give guidance and direction, then
our children can grow securely and in turn influence other children in the
process.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That’s what
Samuel did. He was faithful to digging out his own son and in the process saved
13 other children. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are those
times when I am too busy or too drained out after work that I have no time or
the mood to sit down to spend time with my son. When I come back home after a
long day, I usually know what I want. I want my hot cup of tea and snacks while
I spend some time watching a few reruns. I would want to sit on my computer
spend time looking through social websites or even play a game. I might meet a
few friends if I am up to it. I would want to spend time with my wife asking
her how her day went, have dinner and then hit the bed!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I began to think
about what my son would feel growing up? Will he have memories of me as a
father who was absent or as a father who had no time at all for him? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I agree it’s not
an easy thing simply because the demands as a professional and a husband
sometimes seem to take priority over the demands of being a father. But I also
know that I don’t want my son growing up feeling insecure or not accepted
because he didn’t have me present with him helping him to manage his emotions.
So how do I do that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I bottled it
down to two words: Priority and sacrifice.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_RzIXIcBwpY/WN4yGfR1tBI/AAAAAAAAGXw/82hew2h5p8khV_D1R4o5r128vy-U8aKjwCEw/s1600/father-and-son-playing-catch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_RzIXIcBwpY/WN4yGfR1tBI/AAAAAAAAGXw/82hew2h5p8khV_D1R4o5r128vy-U8aKjwCEw/s320/father-and-son-playing-catch.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Priority:
<i>We need to make our children a priority.</i></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our schedules
are often based on things that matter to us most or on things that are
important. The first thing I did was to put it down on my schedule. I decided
to make sure that I was at home with my son in the evenings for at least 4 days
of the week. So on my calendar, I wrote down ‘home’. I would not arrange to
meet anyone on those days and make sure that I was at home with my son and with
my family. One day or sometimes two out of the 4, we would go out together as a
family.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sacrifice:
<i>We need to sacrifice those things we are
pursuing that are not that important.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am the type of
person that does not want to simply lie around doing nothing. I always want to
be doing something even in the midst of nothing! I used to be an avid computer
gamer. I would play games or sometimes even watch some old reruns. But I
decided to sacrifice those things I loved to do because I knew they were not
important. I decided to find new things that I could do with my son and enjoy
it. The latest one that we engage in is sitting down and coloring the coloring
books! Recently I picked up Tinkle comics and was reading it out to him with
the pictures. He loved it.</span></span></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think when we
men as fathers make our children a priority and sacrifice the things that we
are pursuing that are not important in the long haul; then we become faithful
fathers. As a result in the process we have children that are secure and
healthier emotionally. The role that we play as fathers is important and it’s
time we stepped up to it.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Update 03/04/2017:</i></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just saw this video on Instagram that really captures the essence of this whole post!</span></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw_BHp0jnzcrelkday0fBAKVgcJyc34iqYhUiie2ScyzN1Dc9N1-mDoMb9gnurVkyFrJKjyq-t-MCS8WXP11Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-21823208293722278172017-02-07T08:29:00.003+05:302017-02-07T08:29:56.613+05:30Happy 3rd Birthday!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hey all!<br />
<br />
This is my first post in a very long while! Planning to come back and be a regular here again!<br />
<br />
Today is my son John's 3rd birthday! I had already posted earlier on how he is a miracle baby for us and the video testimony we shared at our church here.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vX678i8DyK0/WJk3kJDzghI/AAAAAAAAGG0/WJM5DGKxttQ-7GIgyzC9HLWUzW4Sel8lQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vX678i8DyK0/WJk3kJDzghI/AAAAAAAAGG0/WJM5DGKxttQ-7GIgyzC9HLWUzW4Sel8lQCLcB/s320/DSC_0029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This last year, I managed to connect with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/writerGitanjali" target="_blank">Gitanjali Banerjee</a> who founded the website <a href="http://infertilitydost.com/" target="_blank">Infertility Dost</a> meant for helping couples who were trying to have a child with the various treatment options they could go through.<br />
<br />
She asked if it was possible to do a write up of our story to put up on her website. I agreed and in midst of a heavy packed schedule, managed to write it and it was posted on their website.<br />
<br />
What was surprising was that the post turned out to be the most read on the website and was shared on facebook with a lot of people.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4wsCJTlMVtc/WJk1wOJTwyI/AAAAAAAAGGk/1biZ6ZdrbJIcYp2uTJV6Pt9FX8qk35XugCLcB/s1600/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4wsCJTlMVtc/WJk1wOJTwyI/AAAAAAAAGGk/1biZ6ZdrbJIcYp2uTJV6Pt9FX8qk35XugCLcB/s320/image.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tXqJ7w0Mpo/WJk1zONMIZI/AAAAAAAAGGs/q4PiKxMd8QQoqMw4_j6eCnVFuhI0AVVWQCEw/s1600/image%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tXqJ7w0Mpo/WJk1zONMIZI/AAAAAAAAGGs/q4PiKxMd8QQoqMw4_j6eCnVFuhI0AVVWQCEw/s320/image%2B%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I think it's amazing to know that even for those who don't have hope, there is still hope in Jesus.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Even today, when we look at our son, he is a reminder to us that God still works miracles!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Here is a link to the post! </div>
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<a href="http://infertilitydost.com/true-stories/fight-infertility-with-faith-says-no-to-ivf" target="_blank">Fighting infertility with faith!</a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1tXqJ7w0Mpo/WJk1zONMIZI/AAAAAAAAGGo/ZibjIlus7qUbRmE0wqEQNu-FWtjd2Ta8gCLcB/s1600/image%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1tXqJ7w0Mpo/WJk1zONMIZI/AAAAAAAAGGo/ZibjIlus7qUbRmE0wqEQNu-FWtjd2Ta8gCLcB/s1600/image%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-38629458688042147432016-06-18T07:12:00.000+05:302016-06-18T07:12:16.190+05:30Doing Your Fears!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Not so long ago,
I had a patient in my clinic of around 7-8 years of age. He seemed fine as he
sat down on the dental chair to get examined. But as soon as I got to start
with my treatment procedure, he panicked and pushed my hands away. He jumped
off the chair and stood near the door. His mom who was standing nearby tried
coaxing him to get the treatment done; but he was too scared to let me touch
him. I asked the mother, “Why is he so scared? Has he been to some other dentist
before?” And she replied, “Yes, doctor. When he was much younger, we had been
to a dentist who forcefully treated him because he was scared and there was a
bit of blood too. He has never allowed treatment from any dentist ever since!”</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oTwA5W_yA6g/V2Qdg85TEzI/AAAAAAAADFU/bzogtNrG9ckZd6CAisG2kuUpw6--p_jKgCLcB/s1600/good_bad_experience_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="89" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oTwA5W_yA6g/V2Qdg85TEzI/AAAAAAAADFU/bzogtNrG9ckZd6CAisG2kuUpw6--p_jKgCLcB/s320/good_bad_experience_logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve seen many patients
who are this way. They don’t allow treatment because they’ve had a bad
experience earlier. As a result, they try to make do without treatment which
overtime finally results in very poor oral hygiene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What causes them
to back out? They had a bad experience which led to fear.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fear is
something we’ve all struggled with at some point in our lives. </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Everyone
has had some or the other fears. For example, <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/peter-the-great-9542228" target="_blank">Peter the Great</a>, the tsar of
Russia had a fear of crossing bridges: when he had to cross, he would tremble
and cry. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/caesar_julius.shtml" target="_blank">Julius Caesar</a> had a fear of thunder: every time there was thunder he
would run into a cave till it was over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the
early days of the <a href="http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression" target="_blank">Great Depression, </a><a href="http://www.biography.com/people/franklin-d-roosevelt-9463381" target="_blank">President Franklin D. Roosevelt</a> said in his
Inaugural Address, <i>"The only thing
we have to fear is fear itself."</i></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v8vcnFD3evI/V2QeVTWNKfI/AAAAAAAADFg/2aGyHYkhABUndIB-WxunMVYWnMRPEK6_ACLcB/s1600/11424487-fear-spelled-with-dice-letters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v8vcnFD3evI/V2QeVTWNKfI/AAAAAAAADFg/2aGyHYkhABUndIB-WxunMVYWnMRPEK6_ACLcB/s200/11424487-fear-spelled-with-dice-letters.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Everyone has
fears: some of them are crazy fears while some are justified. There are
different kinds of fears too but what really is of concern is of the fear that
comes from bad experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We have all been
in situations where we’ve experienced failure, pain, sorrow or hurts. For some
of us, we carry some of these situations in our hearts and minds and the fear
of going through it again has us paralysed in our tracks. We call them ‘bad
experiences’ and tell ourselves, “Never again!”</span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Isn’t it true
that in life, one or two bad experiences creates a sense of distrust, fear and
holds us back from <b>moving</b> forward in
that direction? The end result might be fulfilling
but fear keeps us from even thinking towards it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Leadership
Expert and author <a href="http://www.johnmaxwell.com/" target="_blank">John Maxwell</a> says, “Seldom do we do the thing that we fear,
so we seldom discover whether or not our projection of disaster was accurate.
In fact, when we don’t do the things that we are afraid of, we breathe a sigh of
relief as though it actually would have taken place. “That was a close one!” we
say, even though we never actually got close to anything but a string of our
own negative thoughts.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Too often we put
together our bad experiences with negative assumptions of what might have been
or could’ve taken place. <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>Bad Experiences with negative assumptions is a
terrible combination!</b></span> </span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sure, it’s
happened once. That doesn’t mean that it has to happen again. We want to assume
that it will. We are not willing to take the risk that it won’t. We even forget
why we started out on attempting it in the first place. Perhaps the only reason
we ventured down that path was because we knew that there was something
worthwhile and fulfilling at the end of it. But now we want to give it up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But what if the
stakes were much higher and the end result was a worthy pursuit despite all the
bad experiences we’ve had? What would happen if we were to muster courage and
decide to go ahead despite the fears that we have?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uzc5PCeEqtI/V2QfeHCpe6I/AAAAAAAADFs/RMIB-zB9FtQErJVkSVwqq6g4flqtK-WhACLcB/s1600/Opportunity-ahead-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uzc5PCeEqtI/V2QfeHCpe6I/AAAAAAAADFs/RMIB-zB9FtQErJVkSVwqq6g4flqtK-WhACLcB/s200/Opportunity-ahead-sign.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In his book,
“<a href="http://www.amazon.in/Next-Generation-Leader-Essentials-Future/dp/1590525396?ie=UTF8&qid=&ref_=tmm_hrd_swatch_0&sr=" target="_blank">The Next Generation Leader</a>” <a href="http://www.andystanley.com/" target="_blank">Andy Stanley</a> writes, “Courage is the willingness
to strap on your fear and move ahead.....<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>wherever there is fear, there is
opportunity.”</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Think about
those opportunities we’ve lost possibly because fear held us back. Could we
have missed out on some of the best in our lives because we held on to fear? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I believe that
if we could <b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">replace the thoughts of fear in our minds with the thoughts of
opportunity</span></b> then it would change our perspective giving us the courage to move
forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the beginning
of this year, I had a complete health check up done and most of my levels were
border line. I still remember sitting at the doctor’s office that day thinking
to myself that if I don’t put money into exercise now, I would have to put
money into medicines later on! At that time, many of my friends were getting
into cycling and so I decided to get into it too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was quite fun
in the beginning. I enjoyed cycling early mornings and needless to say, I began
to lose weight in the first couple of weeks. Everything went well till
something happened that one day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One morning as I
was cycling on my usual route, a stray dog from across the street started
barking and began to run towards me. At first, I didn’t panic as such but then
two other dogs came out of nowhere and followed suit. Then almost immediately
from ahead another two dogs on hearing the other dogs joined in. Before I knew
it, I had 5 dogs all around my cycle! I didn’t know what to do; whether to stop
or to keep cycling. They kept barking at me. I just kept cycling however and
after around 200 meters they stopped and went their way. It was quite a
harrowing experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For the next few
weeks I completely avoided that route. The very thought of what happened that
day kept playing on my mind. My friends kept telling me that you just have to stop
and then they will stop; that if I kept cycling they would continue chasing. It
took me a while but I decided that I wanted to overcome the fear of dogs so
that I could continue to cycle without developing a mental block. I took the
route again and this time two dogs came by. But I just stopped and looked at
them. Surprisingly they stopped as well and went their way. I was relieved!
This happened for a few days and I finally overcame my fear of dogs!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_YC5Ate2_U/V2SmktGQkHI/AAAAAAAADGA/M2tOaB7iVG4PCnFwHO1t_oOycQKoyRg4gCLcB/s1600/PhotoGrid_1466184424114%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_YC5Ate2_U/V2SmktGQkHI/AAAAAAAADGA/M2tOaB7iVG4PCnFwHO1t_oOycQKoyRg4gCLcB/s320/PhotoGrid_1466184424114%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A few months
later, there was an event that they called ‘<a href="http://www.audaxindia.org/" target="_blank">brevet</a>’. It was a long distance
200km endurance run cycling event. What stood out about this event was that for
the first time it was going to be on all night. I decided to go and for a
moment I began to think of the dogs that could come charging at you at night.
But it didn’t create fear in me anymore. I took part in the event and completed
it! It was probably one of the best experiences I’ve ever had cycling!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When I look back
at it today, I don’t know if I would’ve even considered the event at all if I
hadn’t overcome my fear of dogs. But everything changed when I decided to go
ahead and face my fears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Have you had a
bad experience that has developed into fear? Would you be willing to risk that
fear to move forward? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-78684589208037001302016-05-12T07:08:00.000+05:302016-05-12T07:08:56.824+05:30Relate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In our day to day lives, the one thing that seems inevitable is our meeting with people. There is
not a single day perhaps in all of our lives where we can say that we did not
have to interact with somebody!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They bring us
the most joy and yet bring us the most pain. They help us to go forward in life
while at the same time they can be the biggest stumbling block. Yet, somehow we
cannot do without our relationships. Deep inside every person is the need to
relate and be with somebody. Whilst this remains a great need, many still
struggle to maintain and sustain healthy relationships.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3dsrnaSYqo/VzPb9CGGAoI/AAAAAAAADD0/JfC_2e9D2c07Z4P8xL1rIM9xJY2V7X8tgCLcB/s1600/love-relations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3dsrnaSYqo/VzPb9CGGAoI/AAAAAAAADD0/JfC_2e9D2c07Z4P8xL1rIM9xJY2V7X8tgCLcB/s320/love-relations.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For this post, I
have included the excerpts of a talk I gave recently:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“............I
was reading about this survey that they took on which they asked the people
what they would like for other people to say to them. What was the favourite
phrase they loved to hear from others? These are the top six:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dinner is Served.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Keep the Change.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">All is forgiven.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve missed you.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You’ve lost weight.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I love you.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me ask a
little more personal question: How many of you want to hear someone tell you
that they love you? Now, there’s no need to blush now! Some of you guys are
sitting airtight here! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How many of us
here have been in love? Maybe some of us here are in a relationship and maybe
some of us here are considering one but one thing I know for sure is that it
really sets our worlds on fire to know that there is someone that truly loves
us or admires us!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When I got into
my first year at college, we had this guy that was probably one of the most
innocent and naive guys you could’ve ever met! Every batch has one of them!
Every batch has a smart-aleck guy who does all the mischief and a naive guy who
normally gets to be the butt of all the jokes. So some of the guys including
the smart-aleck in the hostel decided to play a prank on him and decided to
write a letter to him from a girl saying that she had a crush on him. Of course
we had the old fashioned snail mail (letters)! There were no emails, no mobiles
and definitely no whatsapp! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Needless to say,
this friend of ours kept quiet about the letter and just kept reading it. We
sent one, and then sent another and he finally shared about it to one of his
roommates. We even got him to believe that the girl was in our class but didn’t
reveal her identity. He never shared it with anyone else. Once in a while all
of us would get together in his room and try to get it out of him but he was
one tough nut! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Finally we had
an idea! He had a moustache. So we decided to send him a new letter where the
girl asks him to shave his moustache off. We all waited eagerly for him to
receive the letter. One day went by after he read it, two days went by but he wasn’t
shaving his moustache! Finally after almost a week, he asked his roommate about
his moustache and if he would look good if he took it off! By now all of the
hostel guys in our batch knew about the letter! So the roommate pretended to be
casual about it and said that he didn’t know and asked him to try it out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Another week
went by and that Sunday morning, I will never forget, we were all just getting
up from our sleep when one of the guys literally ran into every room announcing
that he had taken his moustache off! And we were like, “Ah! Finally he did it!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That morning we
were all in his room and kept asking him why till he couldn’t take it anymore
and admitted that there was this girl! Of course even then we didn’t admit that
we were the ones sending the letter! The smart aleck guy was writing the letter
one day and the naive guy happened to walk into his room and found out about
the letter! And with that the prank came to an end! He took it fine...and we
all had a laugh about it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When I still
think about the whole thing, one thing stands clear: <b>Everyone wants to be loved.</b></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i8RvmlxZkWo/VzPdexGhKEI/AAAAAAAADEI/FF3IRLcLZ-kwklb3IMyQQKIsSG86hnDHwCLcB/s1600/20064-I-Love-To-Be-Loved.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i8RvmlxZkWo/VzPdexGhKEI/AAAAAAAADEI/FF3IRLcLZ-kwklb3IMyQQKIsSG86hnDHwCLcB/s320/20064-I-Love-To-Be-Loved.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I am sure
everyone of us at some point, have had people come up to us and say that this
guy or girl likes us and there would be shivers of excitement run through our
hearts! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Everyone wants
to be loved, there’s no doubt about it. Even the angriest, most violent people
want someone to love them. They want someone who would accept them the way they
are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Someone made
this statement and I think it’s quite true:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Your
relationships are only as healthy as you are.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In other words,
if we are to take and evaluate the health of every relationship that we have
today, it’s only going to as strong as we are. If we are warm, loving and affectionate
then we will have strong relationships with those around us but if we are
always angry, grumpy and constantly have a bad attitude then I’ll guarantee
that we won’t have a strong relationship with anyone!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2q0VH3QaxvU/VzPcZddcR4I/AAAAAAAADD4/OwAe3OetEkEgvnQFSDRD-u91VYpAcbzqACLcB/s1600/relate.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2q0VH3QaxvU/VzPcZddcR4I/AAAAAAAADD4/OwAe3OetEkEgvnQFSDRD-u91VYpAcbzqACLcB/s320/relate.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I mean think
about this: would we go and share bad news with someone who is short tempered
especially if it concerns them? No, of course not! Primary reason being we
wouldn’t know how that person would take it. So we keep quiet and don’t bring
it up. In due course of time, there would be many things that would pile up eventually
making the relationship unhealthy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Everyone wants
to be loved but your relationships are only going to be as healthy as you are..........”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When someone
struggles in his/her relationship, the focus often ends up on the wrongs of the
other person involved. They are quick to chalk up all the negatives as to why
the relationship is not working and point fingers. While
their arguments may be valid, very rarely do they look into themselves and see
if there’s something for them to change. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When a person
begins to look inside himself/herself and makes an attempt to change, the
relationships around them begin to change as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A relationship
goes through a struggle when one is not willing to change or adapt. But when we
r</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ealize that every relationship we have has the potential to help us change and
become more mature that is when we begin to grow. That helps us to look inside
and change rather than point fingers.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So what do you think? Have your
relationships helped you to change or mature? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-37025551950892842742016-03-24T20:43:00.000+05:302016-03-24T20:43:22.919+05:30Taking Your Place<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hey all! As we
head into the Easter weekend, I am wishing all of you a very happy one! Below
are the excerpts of a talk I had given this last month!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xLJiIhHMMms/VvQDDf5E-vI/AAAAAAAAC_o/kslw6zLC7Hsr3uYTrJLpvA0m8bLAjPHfw/s1600/img_mouseover3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xLJiIhHMMms/VvQDDf5E-vI/AAAAAAAAC_o/kslw6zLC7Hsr3uYTrJLpvA0m8bLAjPHfw/s320/img_mouseover3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“If you are a
Christian or it’s just that you have hung around a few Christian friends, you
would’ve noticed that they have two main festivals they celebrate right through
the year. One of course is Christmas, which is the day that Jesus was born and
the other is this one Easter. Now this might be a little difficult to believe
but this is the day that Jesus who was crucified and buried on a Friday rose
from the dead! It’s sometimes referred to as Resurrection Sunday because they
believe that Jesus was resurrected from the dead.</span></div>
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</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now before we
get into what I want to talk about today, I want to ask a question:</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What
would you do if you had to take punishment for something you didn’t do?</span></b></div>
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</div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I remember this
incident that happened when I was in my first standard. This one day the
teacher had asked us to get new pencils to start writing in our books. We four
friends were seated together and all of us had brand new pencils with the
eraser on the top end! We took it out in class and one of my friends (he was
the leader of our gang!) looked at me and simply bit the eraser off the pencil.
I stared in disbelief because I had no idea that one could do that. He got
excited and started talking to all of us about what he did. I asked my friend
the pencil to see it closely and was looking at it when before I knew, my
teacher came up to me and asked to stand up. I stood up with the pencil which
had no rubber at the end. She said, “Why are you talking in class?” Then she
saw the pencil in my hand and said, “Look at what you’ve done! You chewed off
the rubber off this new pencil!” I replied to it saying, “No, madam! I didn’t
talk, I was just asking him to show his pencil and this is not my pencil this
is his!” And I looked around at my friend who by now had taken my new pencil
and was pretending that it was his. The teacher looked at him then back at me
and said, “He’s got his own. Now you have started to lie also!” I stared in
utter disbelief again with nothing to say and then she said, “You stand up on
the table as a punishment. You are distracting others.” I said almost
immediately in response, “I didn’t do anything wrong!” To which she replied,
“You are talking in class, distracting the others also and say that you didn’t do
anything wrong.” I looked at my gang of friends and all of them were seemingly
doing their work! I felt like I had taken punishment for something I had not
done! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Why would I want to take
punishment for something I had not done!<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iH2FQxVCfqc/VvQCm-2t23I/AAAAAAAAC_g/TVkKljrojFoFFnNPA98R7Uj71VOD_wxnw/s1600/BLog%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iH2FQxVCfqc/VvQCm-2t23I/AAAAAAAAC_g/TVkKljrojFoFFnNPA98R7Uj71VOD_wxnw/s320/BLog%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fast forward a
few years, I think I was in the sixth or seventh standard. There was this guy
in my class who wanted to be my friend. I didn’t like him all that much but he
was always around trying to seek my attention and I would try and keep him at a
distance. I’ll never forget he would get me a lot of free stuff- small toys and
chocolates etc. Despite me telling him not to, he just wouldn’t stop. There was
this one time when I got really late to class. The teacher was already in and I
was at the door waiting to get in. She scolds me saying, “You can stand outside
the class since you are late.” Both of us were facing each other and that’s
when this friend of mine stood up and said, “Teacher, he’s late because of me.”
Both of us looked at him and I was wondering in my mind as to what was he doing?
The teacher also surprised looked at him and asked why. To be honest with you,
I don’t remember the story he made up but all I remember is that as soon as he
said it I kept thinking there’s no way the teacher was going to accept that.
But she looked at me and then back at him and said, “Well, someone has to take
the punishment and since you say you are responsible then you take it.” He
looked like he was fine and then she asked him to get his diary. I was shocked
when the teacher asked for the diary because you see back then if the teacher
wrote a red letter note in your diary then you would have to take it back to
your parents and get it signed. That was the worst punishment that anyone could
get because then the news would get home. My friend without any change on his
face gave the teacher his diary and she wrote a red letter note. As soon as
class got over, I went over and asked him, “Why did you do that? Now you have
to get the signature from your parents.” He replied, “That’s okay Danny. After
all, what are friends for?” Let me tell you, I couldn’t sleep that night. The
only picture that kept running in my mind was what could have been happening at
his home. His angry parents yelling at him and getting it badly for something
he didn’t do. The next day of course I got into class and just ran to meet him
as soon as he came in. I asked him as to what happened. He smiled back at me
and said it again, “It’s alright Danny, after all what are friends for?” We
became very close friends after that day because <b>he took the punishment for me. </b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>He took the punishment for something he
hadn’t done.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why
would anyone take up punishment for something they didn’t do? </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My friend here
took the punishment for me even though he had done nothing wrong because he
wanted to be my friend. He wanted to get close to me. To this day I can’t
figure out why he did it. I hadn’t done anything for him that I could remember.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You see, when we
look at life, as we grow up, it doesn’t become about who chewed the rubber or
who came late to class anymore. As we grow the things that we did wrong grows
even more. We do more than what we used to do when we were little kids. We get
into all sort of wrong addictions and relationships, we have lied and cheated,
and we’ve stolen and done things that cannot be spoken about. It leaves us feeling
guilty, condemned, and ashamed. We wish we had never done those things in the
first place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MNRCzCVh8wY/VvQB9EmGIxI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/rSqMoRVGcaURINFgowSgFdQHCT23fhdzQ/s1600/blog%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MNRCzCVh8wY/VvQB9EmGIxI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/rSqMoRVGcaURINFgowSgFdQHCT23fhdzQ/s320/blog%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But the sad truth
is that at the end of the day, we know that <b>someone ought to take the punishment.</b> Someone’s got to pay the
price. Then there are those who decide to pay the price themselves. Some people
throw money away thinking that maybe that could make it right. There are those
who try to make right by doing more wrongs. But we all know that it’s not the
answer. That no matter how much money we put in or how many more wrongs we do
to make one wrong right, we will always be left with that guilt and
condemnation feeling. <b><u>The final resort is suicide. </u></b>Majority of the suicide
cases that are reported are due to feeling of hopelessness or that inability to
live with what they’ve done or that they did not make the mark. Again only a
few are willing to commit suicide, but then out of every 10 people you talk to,
around 8 to 9 of them would have at least considered suicide once or twice in
their lifetime!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But here’s a
thought: What if someone were ready to take up the punishment for the wrongs
that we did? What if someone were willing to pay the price? What if we didn’t
have to pay the price and never had to live with the feeling of guilt and
condemnation that came along with it? But instead we could receive forgiveness
and grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Who is this person that would take up the punishment?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">His name is
Jesus and He is God’s own Son: God’s only Son. It says that God piled all
of our wrongs on Him because of which we are in the right today.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5GYHkIPTA-w/VvQCcKvscZI/AAAAAAAAC_c/mLJA1KrMZrgDm2GHijixzIBngZ3NSnQxQ/s1600/blog%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5GYHkIPTA-w/VvQCcKvscZI/AAAAAAAAC_c/mLJA1KrMZrgDm2GHijixzIBngZ3NSnQxQ/s320/blog%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But why did He
do it? Why would anyone want to take up punishment for something they didn’t
do?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Because He loved
us; because He wanted to have a relationship with us; He wanted to become close
friends with us. The question lies as to would we want to?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I want to close
with this story of my two year old son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I love
babysitting John when Anu’s got work. This one time I took him down below our
flat to play. There’s this ditch between the compound walls of our flat
building and the next. So whilst we were down playing, John noticed this
completely weathered out ball in one corner. It looked quite dirty, so I didn’t
want him picking it up but his attention was on it and once a two year old
catches their attention on anything, you better have a good alternative to
distract. I couldn’t do anything to distract him so I let him pick the ball and
we went over to the compound wall. I told him to throw it into the ditch which
he playfully did. Then for the next few minutes we kept looking at it and then
that was over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A few days later
Anu takes John down and this time there were the neighbourhood kids of his age
that were playing with him. One of the neighbour boys had a ball that he was
playing with. As they were playing, John picks it up, heads over to the ditch
and threw the ball in without any hesitation. Everyone was surprised and had no
idea why he did that! (I wonder to this day why!) But Anu scolded him for doing
so since that was not his ball. Then John felt bad and by what Anu said, he had
this sort of guilty feeling all over him. He pushed Anu to see if there were
any means to get the ball back. He tried walking all the way to the end of the
wall but there was no way he could get the ball back. Then Anu suggested to him
that we could give one of his balls. Surprisingly John was ready to do that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So they went up
to the flat, picked out one his balls and headed down. Then without having
anyone to tell or nudge him, much to everyone’s surprise, John went to this boy
and gave him the ball. The boy was overjoyed and John was very happy that he
was able to do it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now here’s the
thing: John had done something wrong and he couldn’t fix it by himself and the
only way to make the wrong right was by giving him a new ball. John of course
couldn’t pay for a new ball himself. But get this: <b><u>his father paid for it, the full price.</u></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I paid the full
price for it, he was able to make his wrong right and go on without carrying
the feeling of guilt or condemnation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is what
Easter is all about. God, our Father paid the full price for every wrong we
ever did. Our wrongs have been made right and we can stand with a clean slate
without having any feelings of guilt or condemnation because it’s all been
taken care of. Would we be ready to get close to this Jesus?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Happy
Easter!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-54797292661465262262016-02-29T07:58:00.000+05:302016-02-29T07:58:41.662+05:30This is our story<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VCDaUUHbijg/VtOo6eTkgzI/AAAAAAAAC88/2qY29ANTmfg/s1600/DSC_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VCDaUUHbijg/VtOo6eTkgzI/AAAAAAAAC88/2qY29ANTmfg/s320/DSC_0125.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our son John
completed two years on the 7</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> of this month. Words are not enough
to express our emotions! It’s been quite an amazing experience and we are sure
it will continue to be in the years to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I don’t intend
to write out much in this post. In all essence, I would say this is more a
video blog: a vlog!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Those closest to
us know that we got John only after 6 years into our marriage. I had medical problems
and so did Anu. Everything in medical science told us about all the
difficulties to conceive a child. It was a journey of faith and I still
remember there were many times when we almost gave up hope and never thought we
would see our own child. But we believed and our faith was rewarded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PAWLU8VUJeI/VtOn9eCJcOI/AAAAAAAAC80/DDUpg85Pn-g/s1600/4ce6e90cdf02211938effa70a72494a7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PAWLU8VUJeI/VtOn9eCJcOI/AAAAAAAAC80/DDUpg85Pn-g/s200/4ce6e90cdf02211938effa70a72494a7.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Right through
the past two years, we’ve have been asked many times to share the story of what
we went through before John came about.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The video below
is a recorded testimony of what we went through and more importantly our faith.
So check it out and be encouraged!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tE_QcUEblGI/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tE_QcUEblGI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-6633813273835283702016-01-19T16:16:00.001+05:302016-01-26T13:02:37.741+05:30The One Thing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="line-height: 1.2;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy New Year! </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="line-height: 1.2;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
</div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;">
</b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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</div>
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</div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While many of you reading this post have already set up goals for this coming year, I am kinda hoping that this post would help trigger that extra beat into doing whatever it is that you are looking forward to attain this coming year. You might be excited and all pumped up to go forth. I wish you all the best in accomplishing your goals and dreams this year.</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;">
</b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However I do know there are those people who are not really excited about this year. They are not looking forward to anything really. They say, “This is just another year, so what?”</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;">
</b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But there are also those who are not excited about this coming year simply because the year that has gone by was quite eventful. They had to experience a lot of bad things which has left them hurtful and are still grieving due to the pain that was caused.</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;">
</b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will never forget this. It was a couple of years ago when some of us guys were together and were just reminiscing the year that had gone by. Each of us was taking turns to share about some of the good things that had happened to us individually. It came finally to one friend who sat up and began to speak about how bad a year it had been for him and his family. They had to go abroad for his work purpose and there they were alone. The wife was carrying during the time. She went through an abortion and what was worse was that since they didn’t know anyone, there was no one around to support and encourage them through that crisis. The whole incident had left them devastated.</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;">
</b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By far, I think the death of a loved one has to be the most painful experience anyone can ever go through. It causes wounds that will only go away over a period of time if one would allow the healing to take place.</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;">
</b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of us can fit into either one or two of these categories. Going into this New Year our attitudes could be of excitement, complacency or that of a defeated mindset. </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;">
</b>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5C1FYjcidk8/VpyArcctfUI/AAAAAAAAC5w/YEYC9cJBwO4/s1600/bigstock-Change-6084877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5C1FYjcidk8/VpyArcctfUI/AAAAAAAAC5w/YEYC9cJBwO4/s320/bigstock-Change-6084877.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Either way, there’s this one thing I am sure every one of us can expect at the end of this year. That one thing is in this one word; “CHANGE”.</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;">
</b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Former US President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy" target="_blank">John F. Kennedy</a> once said, “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” </span><span id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b><br />
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
</b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we live out our lives every day, here’s what I know: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">change is inevitable</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. We can’t avoid it neither run away from it. If we were to look back maybe at the year that has gone by or even a few years back, we know for sure we were not the same people then. Something has changed: We’ve changed</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><br />
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<a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2016/01/23/spicy-saturday-picks-january-23-2016-indian-bloggers-weekend-blogs-posts" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ppbdew2FDvY/VqcfvrpR9_I/AAAAAAAAC6o/R1LWR5hiVNw/s1600/spicysaturday.jpg" title="http://blog.blogadda.com/2016/01/23/spicy-saturday-picks-january-23-2016-indian-bloggers-weekend-blogs-posts" /></a><b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
</div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;">
</b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is no denying that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">change is and will always</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> be a part of our lives. We can either choose to accept it or try and push it away.</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;">
</b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Change normally happens in either one of the two ways: </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7b8aed00-4cf8-e7cc-c186-d52127cf6bde" style="font-weight: normal;">
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intentional Change</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we identify an area we want to change in our lives, we figure out what we can try and do best to bring about that desired change. Say for example we want to lose weight; the first thing we would do is to get into some rhythm of exercise and in course change our diet. We become intentional about the change we want to see.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imposed Change</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></div>
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</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life has a way of throwing darts at us unexpectedly. There are situations or circumstances that crop up in life that forces us to change. It could be the death of a loved one, financial difficulties or even relationship breakups. We find ourselves in a place where we have no choice but to change.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Someone once said that change equals growth. The more we open and welcome change into our lives, the more we will grow and become the best we can ever be. We will never have to be stuck in a rut.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author and Pastor <a href="http://danreiland.com/about-dan/" target="_blank">Dan Reiland </a>writes, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Life is a process of change, yet many of us have a false expectation that we'll one day "arrive" and never have to change again. That's true in a sense, but that arrival doesn't occur until we reach heaven. Here on earth, we need to stay open to adaptation and growth.”</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVLkh7O2RS4/VprmaU8qrdI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/nohf-ZoY5kU/s1600/fresh%2Bstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVLkh7O2RS4/VprmaU8qrdI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/nohf-ZoY5kU/s320/fresh%2Bstart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have always looked forward to a New Year. The reason being I believe a New Year helps us to reset and start from the beginning no matter what has gone by. I remember vividly whilst playing video games, if I wasn’t playing well, losing out or was stuck at a level then I would just go and reset or restart the game. It gave me a chance to play the level again and this time around, not only was I better prepared for the challenges ahead but also changed the way I played from before. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went in playing with a changed perspective.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I remember getting through those levels with much better scores the second time around.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we go forward into this New Year, whether or not we have established goals for ourselves, we should keep in mind that we will change regardless. The question is whether we want to be intentional about it or allow life to impose changes on us. The choice is ours to make.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being intentional about change requires us to answer these two questions:</span></div>
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<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What areas do we want to change in?</span></div>
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<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What small steps can be taken </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">now</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to see that change in time to come?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think if we could answer these two questions and follow through with what needs to be done, we can see the changes that we desire to see. It could be in becoming better relationally or managing finances better or even the physical aspect like doing exercises. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For me personally there are two things I want to see changed in me by the end of this year. I am looking to build more self control in an area that I think I am addicted to. The second is in becoming healthier. I recently did a complete physical check up and the results were not up to the mark! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am hoping that by the time you finish reading this, you would have already identified maybe one or two areas in your life that you want to be intentional to change this year. I just want to wish you all the best to seeing that change happen!</span></div>
</b></div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-37711047675225886092015-12-23T06:46:00.000+05:302016-04-10T14:57:00.498+05:30The Cry of a Father<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I got off the
bus and started walking towards the flat. My bag hung over my shoulders and
swayed as I walked. I was tired and very hungry. The only thought in my mind however
was the reaction he would have when he met me. What would he say? What would he
do? Thoughts ran through my mind. But I wanted to meet him no matter what and my hope was that he would too. My heart paced faster as I drew near the door to the
flat. I rung the door bell. Minutes ticked by and not before long, I
heard his footsteps approach the door. He began to shout loudly. We were on
either side of the door. It was just a moment of time before someone opened the
door and we would come face to face. The door opened. He pulled the door back
impatiently with force and ran towards me. I was already on my knees with my
arms open. This was the moment I had been waiting for. This was perhaps what he
was waiting for too! He came running into my arms and smilingly said, “Papa!” I
hugged him as closely as I could. He was my one and a half year old son, John.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hello everyone! With
Christmas and New Year at the horizon, I am sure everyone is quite busy! I know
of a lot of young people bogged down with their exams and then there are those
who are busy holiday shopping for their loved ones!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For me, the end
of the year as festive as it can get is a great time to sit and look back at
the year that has gone by. This has been an amazing year especially with John
being such an active part of our lives. We also got to go abroad which was a
first timer for my wife Anu. It was the first time she actually even got to fly!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But what has
really been amazing about this year to me personally has been about my learning
steps in becoming a father to my son. I know it’s just the beginning of an
amazing journey. With almost two years into it, I must say it has been a
beautiful experience! There have been those picture perfect moments which you
wouldn’t forget and also those messed up times that you wished you had a
do over! But I have enjoyed being a dad and even as I write this now, </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">I am
falling deeper in love with my son and much more to the role of a father!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There’s this
great book I picked up a few months ago and I would definitely recommend this
to you. It’s called <a href="http://www.amazon.in/Bringing-Up-Boys-Shaping-Generation/dp/1414391331/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1450803584&sr=8-3" target="_blank">“Bringing up Boys”</a> by <a href="http://www.drjamesdobson.org/" target="_blank">Dr. James Dobson</a>. I must say, I still
haven’t been able to put it down! I think I have reread some of the chapters
over and over again because it’s just that good! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What I’ve found
after going through the book and my own experience in meeting and talking to
quite a few people is that our role as men to be fathers is the most important
second to being husbands. Sadly, our society has not given much importance on
that role. It is least spoken about and rarely applauded today. There is a lot
of emphasis on being successful in careers and jobs but sadly none on being a
successful father.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><i>Yet, one of the
cries of many people today, both young and old is for a father/ father figure.</i></span></span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> People
are on the lookout for that someone who would accept and understand them for who
they are. They want someone who would believe and bring out the best in them. They
are on the constant lookout for acceptance and affirmation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">With Christmas
coming this week, I’ve been bombarded with a lot of messages and forwards about
how we shouldn’t take Christ out of Christmas and how Santa has nothing to do
with Christmas etc. While I do agree with most, I think there’s a lot more that
Christmas really brings to us.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I hadn’t really
realized this myself till this year. I believe </span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Christmas is the cry of a Father to be united with His children.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Galatians
4:4-7, <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">“4
But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, <span style="color: blue;">God sent his Son, born
among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might
redeem</span> those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">5
Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">6
You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children
because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa!
Father!" <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">7
Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you
are not a slave, but a child?</span> </span><span style="font-size: large;">And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with
complete access to the inheritance. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">(from
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson.
All rights reserved.)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yes, Christmas
is all about Jesus. But </span><b><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><i>Christmas is more
about a Father who wants to be with us and us with Him. </i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: underline;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s amazing to
think that all of us undoubtedly yearn for a father/ father figure and here is
God waiting to become just that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When we do
realize that there is a Father waiting for us who loves us and accepts us for
the way we are, we become more secure and confident than ever before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He is the One
who can accept and understand us for the way we are. He believes and wants to
bring out the best in us. But will we yield to Him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As most of you
head out this season and into the next year awaiting for what life is going to
bring, my prayer is that you would go into it with the realization that you
don’t have to face it alone but that there is a Father who wants to go with
you. That’s what Christmas is all about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
here’s wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-33863541484937681952015-11-06T06:57:00.001+05:302015-11-13T20:50:02.577+05:30The Day I Switched Off my Whatsapp!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Social Media is
probably one of the most important communicative tools present out there today.
Not a minute goes by without someone going ‘online’. Thanks to its growing
demand and competition, we have many platforms <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">to voice out our opinions</span> today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I am known
among those close to me </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit;">to</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">
take my sabbatical on Fridays. Being privileged to own my own clinic, I am
allowed to take off from work and focus solely on spending time at home with </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit;">my</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> family. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit;">Last</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> week however, I
decided to take it a step further. I decided to go offline completely for just
that one day. What I wasn’t really prepared for was to switch off my whatsapp
along with it!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the day
progressed, the temptation to go online and see if there were unread messages
kept increasing. I would spend time with my son and my wife and yet after a few
hours I would want to go back and check it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I did go online
two to three times during the day to see if there were any personalized
messages and I even took time to reply to those. I stayed away from groups but
I could see <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">the</span> messages
were piling up.</span><br />
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<a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2015/11/10/tangy-tuesday-picks-10-november-2015" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4ICk2xVxD4w/VkX_XlM8vyI/AAAAAAAAC1s/Gh3xfUYANhM/s1600/tangytuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Needless to say
before I went to bed that night, I opened it up to find 250 messages from over
18 conversations!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I replied to
whatever was necessary but it got me thinking. I realized that being online was
a part of my life and that I couldn’t really stay away from it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a world today
where many businesses and meetings takes place over social media than face to
face, switching off in an online world would seem impossible! Everything
happens online today. We book our tickets online, we buy things online (veggies
included!), we pay our bills online, we even read newspapers online! Imagine how
many deals would not take place if <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">go</span> offline? Only when we pause and think about it do we realize how
dependent have we actually become <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">to</span> the online world! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">Here’s
one maybe we’ve never thought about: we prefer to talk/ chat/ communicate
online! </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Earlier simple texting
would do. With the advent of emoticons however, online communication seems to
have gone to a whole new level. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One would have
to ask though: Are our <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">voices
heard</span> anymore when we come face to face with an individual?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We love to take
selfies and <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">pose with</span>
people we meet or socialize with, we take pictures and flash it on Facebook,
Instagram, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">and</span>
Twitter etc. We can spend hours chatting with people online. It would make it
seem like we are very social. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But are we
really that social? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aVH_HVL7x3c/VjsxIAyXnAI/AAAAAAAAC0w/psi4VDCEpUs/s1600/social-life-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aVH_HVL7x3c/VjsxIAyXnAI/AAAAAAAAC0w/psi4VDCEpUs/s320/social-life-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">For instance, I </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: inherit;">know those</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> people who can
chat online more than talk! They can text you many things online and hold up
the conversation for long but won’t say much when you sit with them over
coffee.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-IN">Most of the studies on communication as a whole
states that body language accounts for more than the words we speak. I think
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Smith" target="_blank">Will Smith </a>in the movie '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitch_(film)" target="_blank">Hitch</a>' summed it up perfectly when he said, “</span><i><span lang="EN-IN">Sixty percent of
all human communication is nonverbal, body language; thirty percent is your
tone. So that means that ninety percent of what you're saying ain't coming out
of your mouth.”</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If the words
we’re saying only accounts for ten percent of our communication, you begin to think
if real communication could ever take place online? </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></span>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">Can today’s online platforms actually replace old school, sitting
across the table conversations?</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Director of
Communications <a href="https://www.facebook.com/donna.whitten" target="_blank">Donna Whitten </a>from <a href="http://12stone.com/" target="_blank">12 Stone Church</a> writes, “<i>Social media is the modern-day watering hole.
It's where people gather to talk about their day, show a photo or share a joke,
a news item or a bit of wisdom.<span style="color: purple;"> </span></i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;">People
crave connections these days and while not a replacement for true community,
social media is a great opportunity to create conversations.”</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So that would
mean that while communication on a whole couldn’t take place via social media,
we can at least use it to create conversations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Creating and building
up conversations can help in connecting with people to a certain level. So how
do we create conversations online? Donna suggests two ways:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1)<u> <b>Ask questions</b>. </u></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">People love to weigh in,
comment and give their opinion. The responses are a valuable insight into the
people in your sphere of influence. A prompt and conversational response tells
people you care and that you're listening- that makes it personal.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
2) <b><u>Equip people to share.</u></b><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: inherit;">People
love to post videos, songs, quotes, pictures- you name it. You put tools like
that in their hands and they are going to share them. These tools help in
creating conversations with people.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Honestly, I do
not know if real relationships can work online. While connections can happen
online, I still believe you would have to go offline to take your connections
to a real relationship.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">So here’s what I
want to ask you: </span><br />
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">Would you be willing to
switch off your whatsapp for a day? Could you go offline for a few hours
without having the urge to go back on?</span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">You could ask:
Why should I?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">That’s a legit
and a very valid question. After writing down the pros of social media, we
wouldn’t want to switch it off!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I did it for a
day and if you would ask me, would I switch it off again? My answer to that is<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">I would!</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Why? Because the
first time I did it, </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">life happened.</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMjn4_py1mg/VjtzRmL85kI/AAAAAAAAC1E/zUa0eC8Nuw0/s1600/FotorCreated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMjn4_py1mg/VjtzRmL85kI/AAAAAAAAC1E/zUa0eC8Nuw0/s400/FotorCreated.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Call me old
school but I think there are some things in life that the online media can’t
replace, well at least for now!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The day I switched off my whatsapp, I went out with my family to the beach. We played in the water, we built sand castles, we played ball and even
flew a kite and had pani puri! I know I wouldn’t want to miss those things no
matter what!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Was all of that
worth it going offline for a day? Oh yes, absolutely!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-65628608170520862752015-09-23T07:16:00.000+05:302015-11-06T11:50:23.195+05:30Writing and Creating Audiences<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve been writing
since the year 2010 and that is when I created this blog. But I didn’t have
much of a clue on the “how to” of a blog so I went researching other blogs and
that is when I stumbled on my friend and former college mate’s blog. By the
time I stumbled onto his blog he was already making huge strides in his
writing. I contacted him and managed to sit down with him and asked him on
various aspects of the blog. This was in the year 2012. I asked him if he could
give me in writing on the things we had spoken and he did. I have been wanting
to publish this on my blog ever since and it’s only now that I could come
around to do it. He’s been a mentor and a great inspiration to me in the field
of blogging!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xUxN5omMHGg/VgDZwp1PeBI/AAAAAAAACy4/AW14CbYxRFo/s1600/FotorCreated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xUxN5omMHGg/VgDZwp1PeBI/AAAAAAAACy4/AW14CbYxRFo/s320/FotorCreated.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This blogger is a well-known celebrity in the blogger circles and in the short story genre. One of his
latest blogs went viral all over the world and got featured on many leading
newspapers and TV channels. His blog was also picked out as the top creative
blogs in India last year and was also nominated this year. He is none other than my good friend and doctor
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pythoroshan?fref=ts&ref=br_tf" target="_blank">Roshan Radhakrishan</a>. He writes at </span><a href="http://godyears.net/" style="font-family: inherit;">Godyears.net</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. He also has several short
stories that have been published in several books. Without further delay, I
want to turn this post over to my very
good friend, Radha.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Every genre brings
with it a unique set of problems to solve for the narrator. Horror requires
that you evoke a sense of dread and impending danger upon your reader, if not
your protagonist himself. Romance requires that the reader care for the
characters within the story. </span>Humor<span style="font-family: inherit;"> needs to take into account verbal jousts
alongside slapstick moments which can only be imagined by the reader. All of
this requires time as we, the readers, get to know the characters and worry for
their safety or well being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That is why I love
short stories. They challenge the very concept of time available. Suddenly, you
don't have 60,000 words to make people care. You don't have time to describe
the palettes of nature or devote pages to the melancholy streets within the
world you create, stuck with a limit of 2000 odd words. Yet so many masters of
prose got it write - be it <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._Henry" target="_blank">O Henry</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Archer" target="_blank">Jeffrey Archer </a>or even <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffery_Deaver" target="_blank">Jeffrey Deaver </a>and
even ol' <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King" target="_blank">Stephen King </a>who loves to weave his yarns slowly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Personally, I always
found that writing stories for a blog brings its own challenges. For me,
scrolling down (and down and down!) endlessly takes away from the joy of
reading as opposed to the feel of turning a page of a book and getting a feel
of moving forward. I imagine many feel the same way. So how do you strike that
balance? How do you tell a short story within a blog and yet manage to hold the
readers attention?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is how I do it
and I personally recommend it since it seems to work for me. I would love to
hear your opinions on the same as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For the sake of making
it concise, I will try to make it into points...</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="file:///C:/Users/00003636/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif" v:shapes="_x0000_i1025" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br clear="all" />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><u>Writing short stories</u> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3ROo_j5aAsM/VgDZ7HbBZXI/AAAAAAAACzA/pV7O7zB_FkE/s1600/PRpeople.blog_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3ROo_j5aAsM/VgDZ7HbBZXI/AAAAAAAACzA/pV7O7zB_FkE/s200/PRpeople.blog_.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">1. Have a set
theme in your head - action / comedy / romance / life lesson. Don't try to go
for everything at once - leave that to Bollywood.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Don't
overcrowd a short story with too many characters. Just use the number you
need. </span><br />
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. In general,
look to keep short stories down to 1500-1800 words.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. If you feel
your story is going longer and longer and you </span>don't<span style="font-family: inherit;"> want to cut down on the
words, you always have the option of splitting it into two parts with a catchy
ending at the end of part one.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Have a key
protagonist - do you want to tell your story as a narrator or as the
protagonist himself ? Decide that first.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Don't publish
your story as soon as you finish writing. Go, have a break... go out for dinner
and get a good nights sleep. Revisit what you wrote the next day. Is there
anything you want to change after reading it again?</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. Ideas can come
about anywhere and you may not always have a laptop handy. With apps like </span><a href="https://evernote.com/" target="_blank">Evernote</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, you can quickly type down the gist of your ideas and develop them
later at leisure.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">8. Short stories
allow you the element of surprise which i love - you can lead the reader one
way, then turn it around with a few words at the end.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">9. You don’t have
to describe the trees and leaves and buildings... just the things that
matter. </span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">10. Write the way you think... it
is your originality that will matter- how you interpret the world around you or
the world you create.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Creating an Audience</u></span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Go right now
and make free accounts linking your blog in </span><a href="http://www.indiblogger.in/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Indiblogger</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, </span><a href="http://www.blogadda.com/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Blogadda</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, etc. Always add your posts link after you've written a </span>new post<span style="font-family: inherit;">... it will give others the chance to read your blog. They have regular
contests as well which are quite easy... take part in them.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Your map
viewer in your blog shows you the last 10 results... do you get monthly
statistics... if not, may I suggest </span><a href="http://histats.com/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">histats.com</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. You get good looking counters and you can
view not just your daily views, but see where they come from, which post they
liked to read... this is for every day of the year as long as you keep it and
its free.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Visit other blogs.
Comment on those you like. Read other people's comments. If you agree with their
opinions, click them and check their blogs... most blogs have a </span>Facebook<span style="font-family: inherit;"> or
google LIKE button... Click it for those you like. They will come to see who
you are.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Add a Google
or </span>Facebook<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Like button to your own site.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tcojkAdMwsw/VgDaBd6P0nI/AAAAAAAACzM/LtrXGPCi9SY/s1600/keep-calm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tcojkAdMwsw/VgDaBd6P0nI/AAAAAAAACzM/LtrXGPCi9SY/s200/keep-calm.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Don't despair
if you don't see many people coming to your blog... to build anything takes
time.. We all started from zero. No use comparing. Accept what your strength is
and write to that.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. In your
sidebar, add a column for links to your </span>favorite<span style="font-family: inherit;"> articles... as you write
more, you can </span>categorize<span style="font-family: inherit;"> them ( fiction, life, love, life as a doc )
People may come for one article, but they'll stay to read the others.... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. This is
nothing more crucial than point number 3 again because I sincerely believe it is the
most important... go to others blogs, comment on them... only then will they
know you exist. for e.g. : start with my site. go and see the people I read...
take a random link from there and go there.. read their articles.. if you like
their views, comment... see who they read, who responds to them... randomly
click on any of them... read --> comment --> click like where applicable
--> click on random friend....</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-28666199844327635852015-08-19T09:45:00.000+05:302015-11-13T20:53:30.922+05:30Overcoming Chronic Failure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hello there!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s been a
little over a year since I got in here to post. Busy.... hectic....etc, etc is
what I have been in the last one year managing my now one year old son, family,
work etc. After the A-Z challenge last year, to be frank I had become so
lethargic to writing; I couldn’t even imagine bringing myself to write again.
But it’s not easy to ditch something you love doing and although I often
thought of writing every month, I would procrastinate and push it to next month.
I want to thank all of you who sent me emails and texts asking me to write
again. It definitely did prompt me to start writing! I have a guest blog which
has been pending for over one year now and I will be getting it posted in the
upcoming posts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Have you ever
experienced chronic failure in life? Are there mistakes that you keep repeating
over and over again? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I am not talking
about failing in life. We have all failed in life in certain things. Many of us
have picked up the broken pieces and learnt to move on from there.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What I am
talking about is failing constantly in certain areas of our lives. Say for
example in areas like: </span><br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Money</span>-
We keep losing money and find ourselves often plunging in debt. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Jobs
</span>– We can’t seem to keep a job and find ourselves changing jobs frequently.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Relationships</span>-
We constantly keep getting into the wrong relationships.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Emotional
decisions</span>- We constantly keep making decisions out of our emotions without
rationally thinking it through.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let me tell you what happened to me
recently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have mentioned
many times about the staff that works with me in my clinic. She’s been working
with me for over 8 years now. She’s good but gets a bit absent minded at times.
I often have to remind her about her work. As I recall, it was over a month ago
that I got really angry and frustrated with her because she had become very
sloppy and absent minded in her work. It began on a Thursday, where I shouted
at her for things she had forgotten. She repeated the same thing on Saturday
and Monday. I was so furious that I didn’t bother asking her why she had forgotten
but just kept yelling at her repeatedly. Yet, she wouldn’t say a word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IwhW3zbjh6M/VdGrwEvoFDI/AAAAAAAACxI/J8pbfpeuNy4/s1600/depressed-3d-man-freedigital-photos-dot-net.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IwhW3zbjh6M/VdGrwEvoFDI/AAAAAAAACxI/J8pbfpeuNy4/s200/depressed-3d-man-freedigital-photos-dot-net.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By Wednesday, I
was really frustrated with her. I told my wife Anu about it and she asked me
why I wasn’t considering firing her. It was hard to fire her as she was one of
the most trustworthy people I had ever met. I remember sitting in the bus that
morning on my way to work, wondering what had gone wrong with her. I began
reflecting on the past 8 years that we had worked together. That’s when it hit
me that this was not the first time I had become frustrated with her at work. I
remembered all those other times the reason she became sloppy was because
something would have been bothering her at home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2015/09/01/tangy-tuesday-picks-august-31-2015" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ICk2xVxD4w/VkX_XlM8vyI/AAAAAAAAC1w/y1V7XgGyZU8/s1600/tangytuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You see, she is a single mother, a widow who had been raising up her only son and also caring for her ailing
parents. She normally got sloppy at work because there were bigger
issues happening at home. I realized the reason for my frustration was not her
but me. I knew the solution to this problem and yet kept repeating the same
mistake again. Had I taken things in perspective and asked her if there was
something wrong, I wouldn’t have had to go through all this frustration. I
decided to apologize to her and ask how things were at home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">That morning as
soon as she came to work, I called her to my office and said, “I don’t know if
you noticed, I have been shouting at you since the past three days, I want to
say that I am sorry.” She said, “It’s alright. I thought you might have been
having problems at home. That’s why you were shouting.” I said, “No, things are
absolutely fine at home. How are things at your home?” It was like she had been
waiting for this question for the past three days! When she started talking
about all the problems at home, it was like a dam breaking and waters gushing!
As soon as she finished describing her problems, it was like a huge load had
been lifted off her. She was back to being active at work again! It wasn’t like
I did anything to help her; there wasn’t much I could do really. All she needed
was someone to listen to what she was going through and that made all the
difference.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cb93brKrPNw/VdGqY0bJq6I/AAAAAAAACw8/BFEeZWe9wss/s1600/Failure-is-success-if-we-learn-from-it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cb93brKrPNw/VdGqY0bJq6I/AAAAAAAACw8/BFEeZWe9wss/s320/Failure-is-success-if-we-learn-from-it.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We all make mistakes. None of us are perfect and so we are
prone to make them. The issue never was in making a mistake; it is when we make
the same mistakes repeatedly and don’t learn from it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The important thing is to learn from
you failures. What caused that failure? What can I do so that I won’t fail
again? You can be sure that there will always be a next time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbert_Hubbard" target="_blank">Elbert Hubbard</a> once said, "A
failure is a man who has blundered but is not capable of cashing in on the
experience."</span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">If this is true then the opposite of this statement is also true: </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">"A success is a man who has blundered but is capable of cashing in on the experience." </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">Take any successful person today and their lives will tell stories of the times they've not only failed but also how they saw and used that failure as a lesson to become successful.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So how do we
learn from the mistakes we make?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b><u>Stop
and evaluate.</u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />If
we’re doing something that seems to be failing repeatedly then we must stop
doing it. We need to take time out and evaluate. The results are going to be
the same if we keep doing it the same way. We need to stop and find out the reason
why we are failing.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b><u>Seek
counsel.</u></b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />The
best way around a repeated problem is to get outside help. Sometimes we get
blinded by what seems the norm to us. It may be difficult to figure out what’s
wrong. Seeking counsel is an excellent way to see things that seem invisible
and find new ways of doing things that brings results.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b><u>Do
things differently.</u></b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />Author
and Pastor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Groeschel" target="_blank">Craig Groeschel </a>puts it this way, “If we keep doing what we’ve always
done, then we will keep getting what we have always got.”</span></li>
</ol>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c3mDXWQ_ijo/VdGp6wJI-SI/AAAAAAAACw0/ma9wTHpFrYU/s1600/bigstock-try-fail-try-again-till-succ-72686704-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c3mDXWQ_ijo/VdGp6wJI-SI/AAAAAAAACw0/ma9wTHpFrYU/s320/bigstock-try-fail-try-again-till-succ-72686704-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The temptation
often is to go back to doing things as in the past. Many times we become secure
with the way things were done earlier even though it yields little or no
results. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">We need to courageously break away from the status quo and do things
differently.</span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-32680773676905886112014-05-09T20:04:00.001+05:302014-05-09T20:04:25.307+05:30A to Z Reflections...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want<span style="font-size: small;"> to start to with
just one word from last month...WOW! </span>It has been<span style="font-size: small;"> one of the most eventful months in my life as a
blogger! I smile at myself with a little pat on the back as I look back and
realize that I’ve been able to join all those who finished the race from the A-Z
of posting everyday </span>while<span style="font-size: small;">
managing to comment on every other blog!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UMPtWs-Hp0Y/U2y3-iZeTdI/AAAAAAAABx8/q32NSMIQ1LI/s1600/A-to-Z+Reflection+%255B2014%255D2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UMPtWs-Hp0Y/U2y3-iZeTdI/AAAAAAAABx8/q32NSMIQ1LI/s1600/A-to-Z+Reflection+%255B2014%255D2.jpg" height="152" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you've been a
regular here, you would know that I am not a regular blogger. I think I have
managed to maintain around 9 posts in a year since the past 3 years. <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Never once</span> did I think I
would be able to write everyday for a whole month that too at a single stretch!
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I heard
about this challenge for the first time, there was something inside me that
made me want <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">to take it up</span>.
It came almost immediately to write on relationships as that <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">was</span> something I had been
learning to <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">build in</span>
my own life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
Challenges I had to face in the A-Z Challenge:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The question of
writing 26 posts alone was a major challenge. I had never written more than 9
posts in a year; this was almost close to impossible!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I first
started in on the challenge, I had decided to start writing it a month before
so that I wouldn't have to face the pressure of writing every day. So I listed
out 26 values I had to write on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With the huge
number of patients in the clinic and the laughter and the cries of my precious
new born at home, I conveniently kept <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">postponing writing</span> out the posts for each value.
This kept happening till the last week of March. Then reality hit me! I
scrambled for time as I managed to finish writing A-C by the first week of
April!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I couldn't write
at home so I squeezed time in the clinic to finish writing for that first week
and then the next thing <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I
know</span>: my laptop decided to dump me after 6 long years of being together!
Apparently the monitor and the motherboard had died! With it my hopes of
writing in the clinic were also gone. It was then I came so close to deciding I
was going to quit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But then the old
adage: ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’ was definitely imminent in me. I
decided to write in the early morning hours when everyone was asleep. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By this time, I
had already reached on writing the required post of the day. There were days
when I thought I wouldn't be able to write anything at all. But I <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">managed</span> to write a single
post everyday in the month of April. I managed to help my wife look after my
son too!</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CMXE5p1vJX0/U2zmwjYtslI/AAAAAAAAByI/kZiOKZ12EMo/s1600/thank+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CMXE5p1vJX0/U2zmwjYtslI/AAAAAAAAByI/kZiOKZ12EMo/s1600/thank+you.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">to take</span> this time to
thank everyone who’s been involved! </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A big one goes to my wife, Anu! In midst of
everything, she would take time to read every single blog and make edits as and
when necessary before posting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My sister: Hilda
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">who</span> made this whole
blog possible. Sitting through all the codes, finding the right pictures for
the content; she’s the one responsible for the whole new look of the blog as
well!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My good friend:
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/maya.das.75" target="_blank">Maya</a>, who sat through reading every single post editing the grammatical errors
right through.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you to all
the organizers on the A-Z team... This must have been the month in which not
only did I write but also read quite a lot! Reading is so crucial to writing! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, a big
thank YOU! It was you who read all the posts and left such encouraging
comments. Some of those comments truly made my day! Note: I still haven’t been
able to reply to all of those, I will be doing so in the coming weeks!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Special thanks to
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/11142098428026084994" target="_blank">Corinne</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/+ShilpaGarg/posts" target="_blank">Shilpa</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251" target="_blank">Sreeja</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/+CarolGraham/posts" target="_blank">Carol</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/+CristinaTblog/posts" target="_blank">Cristina</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/105292599880483363576/posts" target="_blank">Eli</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/+LoniTownsend/posts" target="_blank">Loni</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/+CarrieAnneFoster/posts" target="_blank">Carrie</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113429646036089569052/posts" target="_blank">Beloo</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/05337531041006701719" target="_blank">Suzy</a>,
<a href="https://plus.google.com/104222190446593782021/posts" target="_blank">Sunila</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113363490821447478853/posts" target="_blank">Sushree</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/+ShailajaV/posts" target="_blank">ShailajaV</a>, <a href="http://proactiveindian.com/" target="_blank">Proactive Indian</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/103023066196107609898/posts" target="_blank">Guilie</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/17818499080695379994" target="_blank">Nisha</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/114159571523744564849/posts" target="_blank">UshaMenon</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/101497263745198601495/posts" target="_blank">Srilakshmi</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/+JayantaTewari/posts" target="_blank">Jayanta</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/105445198898692701271/posts" target="_blank">Kathy </a>and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/03869011550287421537" target="_blank">BK Chowla</a>.</span></span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-21996380122072329172014-04-30T20:37:00.000+05:302014-04-30T20:37:18.780+05:30Z for Zeal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHj2md7HCwk/U2ENVXwSgfI/AAAAAAAABdM/lT1KPDiVc_U/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHj2md7HCwk/U2ENVXwSgfI/AAAAAAAABdM/lT1KPDiVc_U/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">With $50
in his pocket, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dustin_Hoffman" target="_blank">Dustin Hoffman</a> headed to New York, hoping to find work as an
actor. Inexperienced and unknown, Hoffman struggled to find employment. Acting
gigs were not paying his bills, so he worked an assortment of odd jobs to stay afloat,
including typing for the Yellow Pages, stringing together Hawaiian leis, and
checking coats at a local theater.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Undaunted
by sparse opportunities, Hoffman clung to his passion. He took whatever acting
jobs would come his way, always hoping to be discovered. Each time he acted,
even in humble roles, he added to his experience and fanned the flame of his
passion.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ltNt8WrxBnw/U2ENe2eNycI/AAAAAAAABdQ/1h7vMEDKOyg/s1600/560-geronimo_hackman_duvall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ltNt8WrxBnw/U2ENe2eNycI/AAAAAAAABdQ/1h7vMEDKOyg/s1600/560-geronimo_hackman_duvall.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hoffman’s
passion stayed sharp because of the company he kept. Two of his best friends
were fellow “starving artists,” also trying to make a break as actors. Their
names? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Hackman" target="_blank">Gene Hackman</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Duvall" target="_blank">Robert Duvall. </a>Together, Hoffman, Duvall, and Hackman
supported one another, validated each other’s dreams, and shared the ups and
downs of life as aspiring actors.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Acting
was the common passion that all three of them shared. As a result, their
relationship grew much stronger. Despite the struggles they had to go through, it
was their zeal for acting that kept them together and kept them going forward.
People often tend to distance themselves when they don’t share a common
passion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"><b>Z-Zeal</b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">T</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ake any
two people who share a strong relationship with each other and you will find
that both of them share a common passion; something that they are both zealous
about. It is often what cements that relationship.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Everyone
has a dream; something that they are passionate about; something that drives
them from within. The truth is that some pursue it whilst others give it up. In
order for us to develop a strong relationship with any one, the key is in
finding what their dreams/passions are and being able to relate to it. When we
find it, we enter their heart. The more we help them pursue their dreams and
visions, the deeper we take the relationship.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">You can
know a lot about a person and still not understand him. More information isn’t
always the answer. To really understand people, you must know what they want,
and that requires you to go beyond the head and consider the heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HH3I8nanUg/U2EQfxOcu8I/AAAAAAAABdc/AAafj0aPhcE/s1600/large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HH3I8nanUg/U2EQfxOcu8I/AAAAAAAABdc/AAafj0aPhcE/s1600/large.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Take Away Principle:</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">In order
for us to develop a strong relationship with anyone, the key is in finding
what their dreams/passions are and being able to relate to it. The more we help
them pursue their dreams and visions, the deeper we take the relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Tips on finding a person’s zeal:</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Accept that people are different and may not share
the same passions as we do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Ask good questions. What makes them happy? What
makes them sad? What gets them excited? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Don't make assumptions about people based on their
background, profession, race, or gender. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Be genuinely interested in them and support them if
you relate to their passions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-75126066295464698872014-04-29T21:07:00.000+05:302014-04-29T21:09:06.277+05:30Y for You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this entire
series, we’ve been looking at various values that one ought to possess in order
to build strong lasting relationships with people. Now, we must remember that just
by practicing these values may not help in building strong relationships with
everyone. But it will help us understand and connect with others better and as
a result understand ourselves.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What’s important
is not how other people relate to us, what’s important is how we relate to
others. We can’t control other people’s actions and reactions but we can
control ours. We can’t determine how they feel about us but we can determine
how we feel about them. The most important person in any relationship is you.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Y-YOU</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-283pofi1hiI/U1_FYDahE6I/AAAAAAAABag/86P5upfEaa0/s1600/you-are-beautiful-learn-to-accept-yourself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-283pofi1hiI/U1_FYDahE6I/AAAAAAAABag/86P5upfEaa0/s1600/you-are-beautiful-learn-to-accept-yourself.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is why it
is very important to accept yourself for who you are. We cannot build strong
relationships with others if we don’t have a strong relationship with
ourselves. Every one of us has insecurities and issues that we wish we could change
about ourselves. Sometimes we allow these insecurities/ issues to get the
better of us and we feel insignificant and worthless in the eyes of others. Often
times it undermines our ability to reach our highest potential.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like any Marine,
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Winkler" target="_blank">Scott Winkler</a> travelled to Iraq knowing that danger was part of the equation.
However, he never suspected to find it lurking in the back of a supply truck.
While unloading a fifty-pound box, Scott’s leg became caught in a strap, and he
collapsed to the sand, landing on his back with his torso grotesquely contorted
and his knees facing the earth. Surgery could not repair the damage, leaving
the young man paralyzed. Initially experiencing bouts of depression, Scott
finally reached a place where he said, “Enough is enough.” Unwilling to stay on
life’s sidelines, he began training for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralympic_Games" target="_blank">Paralympics</a>. Within two years, he
held the world record in the adaptive shot put and took part in the Beijing Paralympic
Games. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was
nothing Scott could do to change his condition. However he refused to let a tragic
accident define him. He believed that he could still achieve despite his
disability and that made him a success. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is
important is coming to terms with who we are. When we do that, we are able to
focus on our strengths and develop them enabling us to become secure in
ourselves. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YyhB8cKPQuI/U1_G5FShMfI/AAAAAAAABao/ALWe6Pk35Qk/s1600/be-yourself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YyhB8cKPQuI/U1_G5FShMfI/AAAAAAAABao/ALWe6Pk35Qk/s1600/be-yourself.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Take
Away Principle:</span> </span></b><span lang="EN-IN">We cannot build strong relationships with others
until we’ve built a strong relationship with ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Tips
on building yourself:</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-IN">1. </span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Understand
that you are unique.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-IN">2. </span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Increase
your value by trying to fix those things which are within your power to change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-IN">3. </span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Do
not allow circumstances or situations to define you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-IN">4. </span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Come
to terms with your weaknesses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-IN">5. </span><!--[endif]--></span><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Work
on your strengths and develop them. </span> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com78tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-30126687688372004042014-04-28T20:01:00.001+05:302014-04-28T20:03:39.339+05:30X for Xerox<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A
relationship is like a bridge that connects two people to each other. A bridge
cannot exist if the points are not strong in themselves. All the previous 23
values we’ve been looking at how to build strong relationships with others.
This post and the next is how we build ourselves. Building ourselves helps us
in building strong relationships with others. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">“For many
years Monterey, a California coast town, was a pelican's paradise. As the
fishermen cleaned their fish, they flung the offal to the pelicans. The birds
grew fat, lazy, and contented. Eventually, however the offal was utilized, and
there were no longer snacks for the pelicans. When the change came the pelicans
made no effort to fish for themselves. They waited around and grew gaunt and
thin. Many starved to death. They had forgotten how to fish for themselves. The
problem was solved by importing new pelicans from the south, birds accustomed
to foraging for themselves. They were placed among their starving cousins, and
the newcomers immediately started catching fish. Before long, the hungry
pelicans followed suit, and the famine was ended.” – Taken from </span><i><span style="background-color: white;">Bits & Pieces</span></i><span style="background-color: white;">, June 23, 1994, p. 17.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>X-Xerox</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently I
got into conversation with someone who regularly read my blogs. They told me
that the values that I have been writing are great but found some of them quite
difficult to implement. I simply told them to find someone who does it well and
Xerox it from them.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rDh0B9PsgJ8/U15hroJz5wI/AAAAAAAABaA/0iVit-h7Erg/s1600/bigstock-Father-And-Son-Shaving-Togethe-23875547-Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rDh0B9PsgJ8/U15hroJz5wI/AAAAAAAABaA/0iVit-h7Erg/s1600/bigstock-Father-And-Son-Shaving-Togethe-23875547-Small.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Irish
writer and poet <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wilde" target="_blank">Oscar Wilde</a><span style="font-size: small;"> once said, “Education is an admirable thing, but it
is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be
taught.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nothing
worth knowing can be taught but it definitely can be caught. When we find
people who excel in certain values in their lives and look and model them,
overtime those values become a part of us.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If we were to evaluate every area of our lives,
some of the best things we do today are as a result of learning it from someone
who did it well. We build stronger relationships with others when we relate to
those who are good at building relationships. When we identify the area that we
are weak at and find and model someone who’s good at it; overtime we become
good at it.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Too many people attribute their poor behavior to
others around them: “I did it because I've seen him/her do it.” “If he/she can
do and get away with it then why can't I?” “He/she did the same, you </span>didn't<span style="font-size: small;"> tell them anything!” Sounds familiar? We have often said these as kids, haven't we?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In his book, “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Next-Generation-Leader-Essentials-Future/dp/1590525396" target="_blank">The Next Generation Leader</a><span style="font-size: small;">”, Andy
Stanley writes, “</span>We have a tendency to
measure ourselves against people around us. They become our point of reference.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is why we need someone who is good at the
values we want to develop: so that our references are always worthy of
emulating from.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pl_WUAiofg0/U15kkCw2eiI/AAAAAAAABaM/cV62QpW9uO8/s1600/F0037504-Mother_and_daughter_cooking-SPL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pl_WUAiofg0/U15kkCw2eiI/AAAAAAAABaM/cV62QpW9uO8/s1600/F0037504-Mother_and_daughter_cooking-SPL.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Take Away
Principle</span><span style="font-size: small;">: </span></span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">If there
are values that we find difficult to incorporate into our lives, we need to
find someone who is good at it and model from them.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Tips
on Xeroxing:</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">Identify
those values that we find difficult to implement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">2.
<!--[endif]-->Find
someone who does it well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">3.
<!--[endif]-->Ask
them if they would take time to teach you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">4.
<!--[endif]-->Spend
time with them watching and learning how and when they do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">5.
<!--[endif]-->Emulate
them and slowly make those values a part of you.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-86293743024605455332014-04-26T18:52:00.000+05:302014-04-26T18:52:38.262+05:30W for Words<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">French journalist and
politician <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_de_Girardin" target="_blank">Emile de Girardin</a> once said on the power of words: Well chosen words
have stopped armies, changed defeat into victory, & saved empires. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HT_CuPnD-0Y/U1uxMhtMB0I/AAAAAAAABZo/0zjkJwp3L1Q/s1600/213655-words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HT_CuPnD-0Y/U1uxMhtMB0I/AAAAAAAABZo/0zjkJwp3L1Q/s1600/213655-words.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A
few years ago, we got together with a few couples and were sharing on the power
of words. Almost all of us could remember the strong hurtful words that were
spoken either by our teachers, our parents and some of them our close friends. What
was more interesting was that most of us had done things in our lives to
disprove some of the things that were spoken about us.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>W-Words</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Isn't<span style="font-size: small;"> it true that </span>we've</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> often loved to
be around those people who have always spoken words of affirmation and appreciation? We choose to be around those people simply because we feel more
valued in their presence. It gives us security and boosts our morale to pursue
the things that we've been into even more.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Words have the power to hurt or heal a
person. We cannot </span>underestimate</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> the impact that our words have on an
individual. Words have the power to
shape lives especially in children. Positive words make them secure whereas if
they have been abused, they grow up becoming insecure. Words can make or break
a person. As a result, they can make or break a relationship in the long run.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Appreciating people always appreciates
them as individuals and therefore appreciates the relationship. Affirming
people always affirms them as individuals and therefore affirms the
relationship.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Psychologist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James" target="_blank">William James</a> has said, <span style="font-size: small;">"In every person from the cradle to the
grave, there is a deep craving to be appreciated."</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Appreciation always brings out the best in people.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> And when that appreciation is coupled
with acceptance, love and encouragement, the bond between the people grow and
it creates a strong relationship.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKQ8gqdLR74/U1uynMjYt-I/AAAAAAAABZw/I2xmjoRCDMU/s1600/blogger-image--1382635871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKQ8gqdLR74/U1uynMjYt-I/AAAAAAAABZw/I2xmjoRCDMU/s1600/blogger-image--1382635871.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Take
Away Principle:</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Words
have the power to make or break an individual. Positive words can make a person
secure and therefore even securing the relationship. <span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Tips
on speaking affirmation and appreciation:</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Take note of what everyone is doing.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Always observe and watch what everyone
is doing. It helps us to find key moments where appreciation can be truly
given.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. <!--[endif]--><i>Appreciate sincerely.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When giving appreciation, never give it
for the sake of giving, but mean every word that is said. Let it come from the
heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. <!--[endif]--><i>Appreciate specifically.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't appreciate generally. But
specifically point out what was it that they did that made the difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. <!--[endif]--><i>Appreciate privately.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do take time to appreciate privately.
Let them know personally what it meant for them to contribute to the event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: middle;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. <!--[endif]--><i>Appreciate publically.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Appreciating privately encourages people
but appreciating </span>publicly<span style="font-size: small;"> affirms them.</span></span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><i>Both are necessary. </i>Always take time to appreciate
them in front of others.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-2891667745230894822014-04-25T16:55:00.000+05:302014-04-25T19:31:46.264+05:30V for Value<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Director <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Darabont" target="_blank">Frank Darabont</a> of the film, “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120689/" target="_blank">The Green Mile</a>” talks about how Academy Award winner <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hanks" target="_blank">Tom Hanks</a> helped <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Clarke_Duncan" target="_blank">Michael Duncan</a> to achieve his best- </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Fifteen, twenty years from
now what I will remember about filming the Green Mile; it was one thing and I will never forget
this: As we were shooting, the camera is on Michael Duncan first, I realized I
was getting distracted by Hanks. He was delivering an academy award winning performance
off the camera for Michael Duncan; to give him every possible thing he needs or
can use to deliver the best possible performance. He wanted Michael to do so
well and look so good. I will never forget that.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_rlaKs6cfUw/U1pFzquiOlI/AAAAAAAABX0/GCXq5EJzVMw/s1600/greenmile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_rlaKs6cfUw/U1pFzquiOlI/AAAAAAAABX0/GCXq5EJzVMw/s1600/greenmile.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 1999, Michael
Clarke Duncan was nominated for an academy award as Best Actor in a
supporting role category. Thus kick-started his career and so did their
relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At Michael
Clarke’s funeral in 2012, Tom Hanks was one of the first stars to pay tribute
to him. He said, “<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">'He was magic. He
was a big love of man, and his passing leaves us stunned.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tom Hanks like
so many other actors could have been the first to bail out on Duncan. Instead
he offered to help and it obviously paid off. Tom Hanks added immense value to
Duncan thereby enabling him to become successful. They shared a close
relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>V-Value</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When people
think about us, do they say to themselves, "My life is better because of
that person"? Their response probably answers the question of
whether we are adding value to them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many people end
up being discouraged and dissatisfied because they haven’t been able to achieve
their dreams yet. When we enter with the mindset of adding value to them and
help them achieve their dreams, the relationship that we have with that
individual goes to a higher level. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we add
value to someone, we make their lives more valuable. It elevates them from
where they are and the more higher they go, the higher we go. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.ziglar.com/" target="_blank">Zig Ziglar</a> says,
"You can get everything in life you want if you help enough other people
get what they want." </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we approach
any individual with the mindset of adding value to them in whatever way we can,
not only do they become successful but so do we. Adding value is always
a win-win situation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cKlJUUMhDBE/U1pGAJ_-HuI/AAAAAAAABX8/gC7J7BcJ-y0/s1600/8485a12e8c8a9b649206b330ccc82b09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cKlJUUMhDBE/U1pGAJ_-HuI/AAAAAAAABX8/gC7J7BcJ-y0/s1600/8485a12e8c8a9b649206b330ccc82b09.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Take
Away Principle: </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;">Adding value is a win-win situation. When we add
value to someone, we make their lives more valuable hence making our
relationship more valuable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Tips
on adding value:</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">1. Make
yourself more valuable. You can only make them valuable if you’re valuable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">2. Find
out what they value you for and work on making it better.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">3. Sincerely
listen to them. Ask the question: what’s their dream and help them achieve it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">4. Accompany
them on their journey and in turn they will accompany you.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4831391567906299046.post-2189018476507311242014-04-24T16:00:00.000+05:302014-04-24T16:00:21.187+05:30U for Understanding<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-IN"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/585.John_Steinbeck">John
Steinbeck</a></span></span><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #181818;"> once said, “Try to understand men. If you
understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never
leads to hate and almost always leads to love.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #181818;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DA0sS3iCkCQ/U1jbRFgtfbI/AAAAAAAABXg/i7GQnyoP9KQ/s1600/calvin+misunderstood2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DA0sS3iCkCQ/U1jbRFgtfbI/AAAAAAAABXg/i7GQnyoP9KQ/s1600/calvin+misunderstood2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do
you feel when you are misunderstood? Few things are more difficult to live with
than being misunderstood. Sometimes it’s downright unbearable. We carry
feelings of loneliness, frustration, disappointment and eventually resentment.
How many times have we made the statement, “Only if he/she really understood
me.”?</span></span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">U-Understanding</span></span></h2>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Damien" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Father Damien</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">
was a priest who became famous for his willingness to serve lepers. He moved to
Kalawao, a village on the island of Molokai in Hawaii that had been quarantined
to serve as a leper colony. For sixteen years he lived in their midst. He
learned to speak their language. He bandaged their wounds, embraced the bodies
no one else would touch, preached to hearts that would otherwise have been left
alone. He organized schools, bands, and choirs. He built homes so that the
lepers could have shelter. He built two thousand coffins by hand so that when
they died, they could be buried with dignity. Slowly, it was said, Kalawao
became a place to live rather than a place to die, for Father Damien offered
hope.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Father Damien
was not careful about keeping his distance. He did nothing to separate himself
from his people. He dipped his fingers in the pot bowl along with the patients.
He shared his pipe. He did not always wash his hands after bandaging open
sores. He got close. For this, the people loved him.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then one day he
stood up and began his sermon with two words: “We lepers.....”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The key
for a strong connection in any relationship is in understanding the <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">other</span> person.
Understanding him/her helps us to know them better. We actually form a bridge
into their world getting to know what’s on their heart and mind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In his
book, “<a href="https://www.johnmaxwell.com/store/products/Becoming-a-Person-of-Influence-%5BPaperback%5D.html" target="_blank">Becoming a Person of Influence</a>”, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Maxwell" target="_blank">Dr. John Maxwell</a> says, “To understand
the mind of a person, look at what he has achieved and to understand the heart
of a person, look at what he dreams of becoming.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Understanding
someone is like opening a door and finding something new. The thing about
people is that when you open one door and discover something you will <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">soon find</span> that there is
another door to open. Understanding people is a lifelong process.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xx8jyTO0fO0/U1ik6JQc1SI/AAAAAAAABXM/nOxXEv2d0yc/s1600/59075-Misunderstanding3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xx8jyTO0fO0/U1ik6JQc1SI/AAAAAAAABXM/nOxXEv2d0yc/s1600/59075-Misunderstanding3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Take
Away Principle:</span></span></b><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-IN">Taking time to understand people helps us to form a
bridge into their world enabling us to from a stronger connection in our
relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Tips
on understanding:</span></span></b></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">1. To
understand someone, focus on their needs.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">2. Remember that each person
is</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;"> different.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">3. Take time to understand their backgrounds.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">4. Learn about their past.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">5. Assess their personality.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Danny Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03226205771618621587noreply@blogger.com7