by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Make every minute count.
What if our thoughts were captivated with productive creativity, hope filled thinking all day… every single minute?
This is the underlying theme behind the One Minute Millionaire… an emerging classic for building any individual or group venture. It is what you do mentally, every minute that fosters results. The authors’, Mark Victor Hansen and Robert Allen, say, “The entire process of becoming a millionaire is broken down into bite-sized, one-minute techniques… you can become a millionaire one minute at a time.”
They researched over 100 millionaires to come up with a book of principles, processes and personal systems for anyone to reach this goal. The secret they say is managing principles, patterns, processes common to millionaires. The four areas, they say, where wealth is built include investments, real estate, business, the Internet.
The book is divided into two main sections: The Aha’s… 24 principles or regular patterns of thinking wealth-builders use. And how to effectively use leverage…a cornerstone component… to accomplish excessively more. Leveraging is the art of getting multiple results with one step, doing it constantly, applying it in everything. It’s about strategically using less time and effort to increase results… leveraging everything.
The five components of leverage include collaborating with other’s resources, experience, ideas, time and work.
Leverage takes on six forms…
Mentors, teams, networks, infinite networks, tools and skills, and systems.
So here is their formula… apply the principles(Aha’s) with leverage as your power-train and you are on the road to building massive results.
The six forms of leverage are:
Mentors: They may be people, books, Internet newsletters… information from those who have done it before and share their wisdom and knowledge with you. Mentors give you perspective, proficiency and patience. You benefit from their learning curve.
Teams: Build teams that are diverse in skills, complement each other, function as one and align with each other, with balance in the unit. Teams create supreme ideas and superior power to get bigger things done.
Visionaries, processors, people developers, detail compilers, analytical thinkers all make strong team partners… when functioning as interactive, harmonious cells.
Networks: Some people have influence with many. These contacts, or networking associations, can then bring you in contact with many more. They can be “weak ties”(just acquaintances) who like you, value what you are doing, and will work in concert with you.
Infinite networks: One accord in thinking produces a spiritual factor that goes to work on our dreams, thoughts, ideas. Those who believe with you like this create an “incalculable” extra dimension of power.
“The Spiritual Internet works when a team has a big, purposeful dream and everyone stays positive about its accomplishment.”
Skills and tools: Personal Thinking systems, persuasive, interpersonal relationship skills, writing, talking along with advancing technology spawn a prevailing force to get action and results.
Systems: Use effective people organization, processes, methods, technology to systematize. The secret is to create self-generating systems in all you do. Include both hi-touch and hi-tech.
They espouse this system acronym:
Save-Your-Self-Time-Energy-Money.
Hansen and Allen also point out the value of selling knowledge. They feel everyone has a book in them and everyone has something of value to share that others are interest in.
Today, the blog and Internet systems make this available to everyone.
For more note their web service which has many links to more information.
www.oneminutemillionaire.com
One Minute Miracles
We literally co-create with God in Spirit and all things are possible with the connections this makes. Note Geffry Fields' blog on "Connecting Circuits... they all must flow."
http://jesusisus.blogspot.com/2005/06/connecting-circuits-they-all-must-flow.html
What if minute-by-minute we lived in “Power Thoughts” that could change all things, move matter, and create from nothing. What if we searched out the thousands of “Power Thoughts” in the Bible and integrated them into our thinking one minute at a time. In a single work day that would be around 500 “Power thoughts” with Eternal precedent to change all things, move matter and create from nothing.
Do you think we would start to see Miracles… one minute at a time? There is an Infinite leverage of a Proactive Higher Power... of a Super-Natural kind.
Consider this Spiritual system to mobilize Super-Natural leverage.
Prayer... seek God for His insight and direction.
Revelation... note all inspired ideas that are Divinely communicated.
These are revelations from God's Spirit directly to you.
Obedience... follow through and do what is directed
(even the small stuff is important).
The Cross... be willing to make sacrifices in love to do what you need to do.
Then if we added in a business the prophetically gifted (seers into the future), the spiritual gifted who could tap into Spiritual intelligence, and hear God inspired directives… like Joshua in the Bible.
And even more so make intercessory prayer as a hub of its functions in all things... And make it the hub of all activity in a business.
As a core part of a business/ mission group these characteristics would manifest.
Apostle-like direction... vision of new territory to move in to.
Prophetic voice... hearing what God is saying to you.
Evangelists… advanced skills in influencing others, getting buy-in and persuasion skills.
Healers... those with gifts to heal emotions and our physical bodies.
Teachers... develop people's gifts to their human and Spiritual potential.
Worship... praise to God with music, prayer and intercession that would stir these Super Spiritual giftings up to Ultra-High levels.
Intercessory prayer... interactive in Spirit with Spiritual Intelligence, saturated with Power and an unexplainable depth of Love for others.
When one with God, these naturally, in Spirit, show up. Think on these things...minute by minute. Think on the power of Spirit, ”Power Thoughts” in your life and all the Infinite connections it has.
Live lives of miracle expecting activity, which may come from, at times, the smallest actions... as devised by Spirit. In a Spirit-saturated workplace you have:
Aha's... outstanding principles of Spirit at work.
Leverage... Spirit of the Universe doing incredibly great things.
Mentors... those who hear from Spirit to teach you Greater insights.
Teams... when united as one in Spirit a core of Spiritual Power is formed, Jesus Himself is manifested. …the One who creates everything.
Systems... New, Revelatory Spiritual process, a constant, reforming, re-newing, re-creating of Dynamic Spirit Systems to accomplish things.
Skills and abilities... of a Super-Naturally Gifted level, above human ability. Gifted trainers/coaches ignite the gifts in others.
And endless Networks... tapping into the connections of the Universe, into the Heavenly realms that control all things on earth.
What if we took each day and re-created in Spirit, minute-by-minute,
a new Spiritual synergy in relationships,
expanded into Spiritually-charged networks
and re-designed more effective,
but especially, Spiritual Systems
...can you imagine what would happen.
This is a Super-Natural system of extraordinaire...
a phenomenal lifestyle...
exquisite inner presence of love and joy in Spirit.
“Power thoughts” from the depth of Spirit
producing an endless flow of one-minute miracles every day.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Friday, April 07, 2006
Crazy Busy...Row in Rhythm
By Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
We are so busy;
it is developing into a form of cultural ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) says Edward M. Hallowell author of Crazy Busy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! Strategies for Coping in a World Gone ADD.
We multi-task. We Blackberry. We email and text message. We click, click, click. We go, go, go; faster, faster, faster...but still everything, everyone’s too slow. The whole world is at our fingertips, ear piece, an eye sight away. Basically, we are going crazy with too much, too fast, and all at the same time. What Hallowell calls the F-state (living in a frenzy).
A problem we all seem to be having is a cultural neurosis developing. And what is scary is that we’re accepting it as acceptable lifestyle. It’s a frenzied fast, faster, fastest in stocks to sports, food to fuel, marketing to management. Getting it done now, hurry, hurry, hurry. Stay late, broadband’s too slow, multi-task... in and out, fast food, move on to the next frenzy... so we can get into more frenzy.
Dr. Hallowell has invented several words to describe this. Here's a few.
Screensucking. The wasting time engaging with many screens...computer, TV, video games, blackberries.
Leeches and Lilies... Leeches are people /projects that that waste your time. Lilies make time fulfilling.
Gigaguilt. Fear of missing something or disappointing someone. Details we may over look that we worry about when missed.
Taildogging. Going faster, pushing harder on yourself, children, employees simply for demanding more from everyone around you.
Morning Burst. The time in the morning when most productive, creative, effective, best problem solving time. Your best time.
Frazzing. Multi-tasking ineffectively. In most cases multi-tasking hurts being effective. We do our best doing one thing at a time.
Gemmelsmerch. The force that distracts or steals attention from what you ought to do.
Move from the F-state to the C-state:
F-state: frenzied, flailing, fearful, forgetful, flustered, furious, frantic.
C-state: calm, cool, collected, consistent, concentrated, careful, courteous, coordinated.
Juggling may be fun to watch at a 3-ring circus, but your life doesn't have to be one. It's not productive, nor creates happiness or enjoyably satisfying. So why do we do it?
So much of our psychological needs today seem to require
needing more excitement(fast paced),
needing to be admired for accomplishing much,
or are we busy because we really are afraid to get to know ourselves...who we really are, and find out what we need to work on in ourselves.
Hallowell's solution: Slow down... Take time, find a place to just Think.
Find out what is most important in your life.
Create a system. Find what fulfills. Do what matters most to you and you don't have to do it all. He provides a matrix for consciously, and systematically assessing your use of time and discovering your top fulfillment buttons in your life.
You can manage modern life.
Here's Hallowell's ten key principles.
1.Do what matters to you.
2.Create positive emotional environments
3.Find your rhythm... we all have a rhythm that fits us. Find yours.
4.Invest your time wisely to get maximum return that fulfills you.
5.Don't waste time screensucking.
6.Control sources of gemmelsmerch...solving computer glitches, reading magazines, mail, email, TV, drop ins, flirtations.
7.Delegate. Do what you like to do and are good at. Get others to do the rest. Learn effective interdependence.
8. Slow down.
9.Don't multi-task ineffectively. Give one important item your full attention. Mix mindless with mindful activity.
10.Play. Imaginatively engage with what you are doing.
.... So prioritize, plan, systematize, and execute in a single focus.
Fast is not better, and slow can have its benefits. More is not necessary and less can reduce stress.
Move on to the C-state.
Connect with people/projects that matter the most to you.
Control technology and don't let it control you.
It is your slave not your master.
Cancel some people and organizational activities.
They probably can make it just fine without you.
Create structures and systems in your life
that help you get organized. Define personal priorities.
Care for what you care for most.
You don't have to do everything.
Cultivate your lilies; discard your leeches.
Figure out what you want;
then do it, let the rest go.
Hallowell has a free "help you through this" email service at:
http://www.crazybusylife.com/
Learn to live in rhythm of Spirit.
"Cease striving... know that I am God!"
(Psalm 46: 10 NASB)
"My purposes will be established.
I will accomplish the goals I set."
(Isaiah 46:10 NASB)
"Only I can tell you what is to happen before it happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass. For I do everything I wish."
(Isaiah 46:10 NLT)
So why do we, in a manic like state, rush around so. It is like life depends solely on us.
We need to only get into His Rhythm,
in His Flow in Spirit.
We then will Float in Spirit.
Enter His Presence. He accomplishes great feats there.
“For the Lord goes before you.”
(Isaiah 52:12)
We wait....
Just wait...
Jesus told His disciples to .... wait... and then "when" the Holy Spirit comes you will have Power, above your earthly abilities. My peace I give to you. I do the hard stuff, you just follow Me... Jesus would say.
Soak in His Presence... His all knowing, all places-at-one-time presence, working the world as He plans with his power that accomplishes what He sets out to.
Take time, first to rest, relax, totally recline in His Spirit before you do anything. Enter Spirit’s Sanctuary. Take this time to think on God's Powerful Greatness. Relish in Thought in Great things He is doing on your behalf. Dream on what He has for you… what your role is in His Presence.
Spirit is putting your inspired thoughts in motion at that time. Your images of mind are being carried out by Spirit at that time. It's in this place the earth is moved and changed.
It's here, you have peace, joy and action on your behalf. Serenity is here... a totally confident deeply relaxed state.
In this serenity is where action is activated. Here all the Heavens of the Universe Realms of Spirit Open up for you.
It is yours.
For you.
At your disposal.
And the Power goes to work as you enjoy, rest, reside and float in His Presence.
Get in this Rhythm of Spirit.
It is Floating in the raft on a deep slow river that lets you smell the lilies as you go by.
Wait...
Just wait...
Be still...
and Know...
Be still in Spirit.
Spirit is your master.
Mind and body are slaves to Spirit.
Make them that.
Spirit rests you,
communicates to you,
works on your behalf.
It communicates to mind and body.
Spirit made mind, and body.
It regulates, systematizes mind and body.
Make mind and body slaves to Spirit...
the creative power of the universe.
In Spirit, your mind is renewed. Order is put around you.
You live in a rhythm of Spirit-directed intelligence.
Our body's must rest to heal and refresh.
In Spirit the renewal builds for you.
Let the mind rest too.
Allow only Spirit life to flow in
and out of your mind.
When Spirit orders your life,
It flows with ease
It fulfills
It walks in joy.
“My demands are easy,
my requirements are light.”
Jesus says.
“I do the work for you.
You enjoy the process
of using the natural gifts
I placed in you.”
“I live in you and help you
solve problems. You don't have
to tackle them alone...
“I give you rest. Rest in Me.
The Sabbath was made for you. Rest in Me.”
“I give you a day to rest, refresh, renew
re-vision, re-hope while you rest, I work for you.”
Jesus says.
“Whatever you choose to obey
becomes your master.”
Romans 6:16 (NLT)
Choose to obey Spirit.
Let Spirit be your Master.
4spirit@gmail.com
We are so busy;
it is developing into a form of cultural ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) says Edward M. Hallowell author of Crazy Busy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! Strategies for Coping in a World Gone ADD.
We multi-task. We Blackberry. We email and text message. We click, click, click. We go, go, go; faster, faster, faster...but still everything, everyone’s too slow. The whole world is at our fingertips, ear piece, an eye sight away. Basically, we are going crazy with too much, too fast, and all at the same time. What Hallowell calls the F-state (living in a frenzy).
A problem we all seem to be having is a cultural neurosis developing. And what is scary is that we’re accepting it as acceptable lifestyle. It’s a frenzied fast, faster, fastest in stocks to sports, food to fuel, marketing to management. Getting it done now, hurry, hurry, hurry. Stay late, broadband’s too slow, multi-task... in and out, fast food, move on to the next frenzy... so we can get into more frenzy.
Dr. Hallowell has invented several words to describe this. Here's a few.
Screensucking. The wasting time engaging with many screens...computer, TV, video games, blackberries.
Leeches and Lilies... Leeches are people /projects that that waste your time. Lilies make time fulfilling.
Gigaguilt. Fear of missing something or disappointing someone. Details we may over look that we worry about when missed.
Taildogging. Going faster, pushing harder on yourself, children, employees simply for demanding more from everyone around you.
Morning Burst. The time in the morning when most productive, creative, effective, best problem solving time. Your best time.
Frazzing. Multi-tasking ineffectively. In most cases multi-tasking hurts being effective. We do our best doing one thing at a time.
Gemmelsmerch. The force that distracts or steals attention from what you ought to do.
Move from the F-state to the C-state:
F-state: frenzied, flailing, fearful, forgetful, flustered, furious, frantic.
C-state: calm, cool, collected, consistent, concentrated, careful, courteous, coordinated.
Juggling may be fun to watch at a 3-ring circus, but your life doesn't have to be one. It's not productive, nor creates happiness or enjoyably satisfying. So why do we do it?
So much of our psychological needs today seem to require
needing more excitement(fast paced),
needing to be admired for accomplishing much,
or are we busy because we really are afraid to get to know ourselves...who we really are, and find out what we need to work on in ourselves.
Hallowell's solution: Slow down... Take time, find a place to just Think.
Find out what is most important in your life.
Create a system. Find what fulfills. Do what matters most to you and you don't have to do it all. He provides a matrix for consciously, and systematically assessing your use of time and discovering your top fulfillment buttons in your life.
You can manage modern life.
Here's Hallowell's ten key principles.
1.Do what matters to you.
2.Create positive emotional environments
3.Find your rhythm... we all have a rhythm that fits us. Find yours.
4.Invest your time wisely to get maximum return that fulfills you.
5.Don't waste time screensucking.
6.Control sources of gemmelsmerch...solving computer glitches, reading magazines, mail, email, TV, drop ins, flirtations.
7.Delegate. Do what you like to do and are good at. Get others to do the rest. Learn effective interdependence.
8. Slow down.
9.Don't multi-task ineffectively. Give one important item your full attention. Mix mindless with mindful activity.
10.Play. Imaginatively engage with what you are doing.
.... So prioritize, plan, systematize, and execute in a single focus.
Fast is not better, and slow can have its benefits. More is not necessary and less can reduce stress.
Move on to the C-state.
Connect with people/projects that matter the most to you.
Control technology and don't let it control you.
It is your slave not your master.
Cancel some people and organizational activities.
They probably can make it just fine without you.
Create structures and systems in your life
that help you get organized. Define personal priorities.
Care for what you care for most.
You don't have to do everything.
Cultivate your lilies; discard your leeches.
Figure out what you want;
then do it, let the rest go.
Hallowell has a free "help you through this" email service at:
http://www.crazybusylife.com/
Learn to live in rhythm of Spirit.
"Cease striving... know that I am God!"
(Psalm 46: 10 NASB)
"My purposes will be established.
I will accomplish the goals I set."
(Isaiah 46:10 NASB)
"Only I can tell you what is to happen before it happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass. For I do everything I wish."
(Isaiah 46:10 NLT)
So why do we, in a manic like state, rush around so. It is like life depends solely on us.
We need to only get into His Rhythm,
in His Flow in Spirit.
We then will Float in Spirit.
Enter His Presence. He accomplishes great feats there.
“For the Lord goes before you.”
(Isaiah 52:12)
We wait....
Just wait...
Jesus told His disciples to .... wait... and then "when" the Holy Spirit comes you will have Power, above your earthly abilities. My peace I give to you. I do the hard stuff, you just follow Me... Jesus would say.
Soak in His Presence... His all knowing, all places-at-one-time presence, working the world as He plans with his power that accomplishes what He sets out to.
Take time, first to rest, relax, totally recline in His Spirit before you do anything. Enter Spirit’s Sanctuary. Take this time to think on God's Powerful Greatness. Relish in Thought in Great things He is doing on your behalf. Dream on what He has for you… what your role is in His Presence.
Spirit is putting your inspired thoughts in motion at that time. Your images of mind are being carried out by Spirit at that time. It's in this place the earth is moved and changed.
It's here, you have peace, joy and action on your behalf. Serenity is here... a totally confident deeply relaxed state.
In this serenity is where action is activated. Here all the Heavens of the Universe Realms of Spirit Open up for you.
It is yours.
For you.
At your disposal.
And the Power goes to work as you enjoy, rest, reside and float in His Presence.
Get in this Rhythm of Spirit.
It is Floating in the raft on a deep slow river that lets you smell the lilies as you go by.
Wait...
Just wait...
Be still...
and Know...
Be still in Spirit.
Spirit is your master.
Mind and body are slaves to Spirit.
Make them that.
Spirit rests you,
communicates to you,
works on your behalf.
It communicates to mind and body.
Spirit made mind, and body.
It regulates, systematizes mind and body.
Make mind and body slaves to Spirit...
the creative power of the universe.
In Spirit, your mind is renewed. Order is put around you.
You live in a rhythm of Spirit-directed intelligence.
Our body's must rest to heal and refresh.
In Spirit the renewal builds for you.
Let the mind rest too.
Allow only Spirit life to flow in
and out of your mind.
When Spirit orders your life,
It flows with ease
It fulfills
It walks in joy.
“My demands are easy,
my requirements are light.”
Jesus says.
“I do the work for you.
You enjoy the process
of using the natural gifts
I placed in you.”
“I live in you and help you
solve problems. You don't have
to tackle them alone...
“I give you rest. Rest in Me.
The Sabbath was made for you. Rest in Me.”
“I give you a day to rest, refresh, renew
re-vision, re-hope while you rest, I work for you.”
Jesus says.
“Whatever you choose to obey
becomes your master.”
Romans 6:16 (NLT)
Choose to obey Spirit.
Let Spirit be your Master.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Small Giants... Big Hearts
By Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Small Giants (by Bo Burlingham, editor-at-large for Inc. magazine) opens a window so we can take a glimpse of a new business culture emerging. Burlingham interviewed several of what he calls "small giants." These companies see higher goals for business than just being the biggest, fastest growing, massive market domineering companies.
A new focus is on quality more than size(some have set limits on size but with unlimited standards for quality), building community more than just building the bottom-line, put employees first and customers second(when employees are well cared for they do very well in caring for the customers).
The new word is "intimacy."
Intimacy with the employee team, intimacy with customers and the creation of intimate community among each other. Zingerman’s Deli, Ann Arbor, Michigan is one example of these small giants.
Zingerman’s is in business for the purpose to contribute to the community although they don't use "good" as a clever avenue to business image building. Relationships with their communities overlap with their relationships with their customers and employees.
A phrase they espouse is "enlightened hospitality." Even when disaster strikes, like a waitress spilling water on a customer’s table, the whole serving team jumps in quickly to lighten the mood. They focus on building an intimate relationship with the customer, finding what their personal preferences are and knowing them when they come in each time to eat. It’s more than being nice and friendly, but knowing what the customer "really" likes and doing it.
They practice five core values:
Caring for each other
Caring for guests
Caring for the community
Caring for suppliers
Caring for investors and profitability
(in that order)
And the whole time making the job intensely and expectantly personal. They go beyond having satisfied customers. They work to have “happy” customers.
How do you build intimacy?
It depends on the relationship with each person in charge and employees.
--direct contact
--know who they are and what they do
--spend time together
--sharing important experiences together
--numerous one-on-one personal encounters.
One company leader shared that he looks out over his parking lot and says,
“I feel responsible for all those people out there.” ... “If you want a company that cares, you need people who care, and they need to be motivated by more than money. It takes well-designed, appropriate and value-driven systems, and processes to support and create the kind of cultures we’re all going after.”
Zingerman's has gained much notoriety on how they do business.
So they formed ZingTrain
(http://zingtrain.com/home.php)
that teaches other businesses its ways of doing business.
They persistently preach these cardinal steps to great service.
1. Figure out what the customer wants.
2. Get it for them accurately, politely and enthusiastically
3. Go the extra mile.
Small Giants’ author goes on to point out that he sees a growing, developing trend in business… "a burgeoning international movement to explore the role of Spirituality in work, and of work in Spirituality."
One company, Reell Precision Manufacturing
(Reell is from the German dictionary meaning honesty, dependability, or having authority) purposely expresses Christian perspectives in all they do. They feel responsible to expand each person to their full potential and have their business as an opportunity for each employee to do that.
Note Small Giants’ website:
http://www.smallgiantsbook.com/
What builds people is Spirit.
Spirit created all matter.
All that has ever started, lives and is transformed is by Spirit.
Spirit works in calculated patterns and has certain characteristics of its character, personality, functional dynamics. Jesus outlined many of these in the famous talk He gave on a hill.
(Matthew 5-7)
What if we used Jesus' principles and the Apostle Paul's as our relationship guidelines for building our business culture.
A checklist of normal behavior for building dynamic business culture would look like this:
--Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them.
--Stand on the side of the good.
--Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.
--Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
--Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.
--When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out.
--If people aren't nice, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.
--When others are happy, be happy with them.
--If they are sad, share their sorrow.
--Live in harmony with each other.
--Don't try to act important, but enjoy being around ordinary people.
--And don't think you know it all!
(above from Romans 12: 9-18)
--Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
--Make allowance for each other's faults.
--Forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you forgive others.
--And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.
--And let the peace that comes from Jesus rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace.
--Always be grateful !
(from Colossians 3:12-15)
Be One.
Be one in Love.
Practice love that is "sacrificial Love."
Put others’ interests before yours. Rejoice more in others’ success than yours. Build others up before taking what you think you deserve.
Our behavior in relationships determines the magnitude of Spirit Power we have.
Why did Jesus feel being One, seeing ourselves as One in Spirit, in Community is so important as He prayed in John 17: 21? "My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father--that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us."
This is where the Power is... We, each other as One, and We as One, being One in Spirit with God and Jesus.
This force creates and re-creates all world systems. We can integrate ourselves with each other into this. We can in reality function in World Transforming Power.
The Small Giants are re-thinking the art of business. A New Spirit of business is morphing Spiritual principles in all their business practices.They are business transformational forerunners re-structuring business systems, priorities and business functions in America.
As One in Spirit, in Jesus Spirit, the enacting claim becomes ours...
"for YOU will DO even greater things."
We literally, as One in community within and outside the business, have this phenomenal power of Spirit working with us. We can thrive sensationally, extraordinarily, notably…Super-Naturally.
Live as One.
Apply Spiritually-charged, personal relationship standards to your daily checklist.
The Power of Spirit merges and collaborates with all you do.
Above all, each and everyone be One in Spirit in God, Jesus and all the Power of the Universe partners with you.
4spirit@gmail.com
Small Giants (by Bo Burlingham, editor-at-large for Inc. magazine) opens a window so we can take a glimpse of a new business culture emerging. Burlingham interviewed several of what he calls "small giants." These companies see higher goals for business than just being the biggest, fastest growing, massive market domineering companies.
A new focus is on quality more than size(some have set limits on size but with unlimited standards for quality), building community more than just building the bottom-line, put employees first and customers second(when employees are well cared for they do very well in caring for the customers).
The new word is "intimacy."
Intimacy with the employee team, intimacy with customers and the creation of intimate community among each other. Zingerman’s Deli, Ann Arbor, Michigan is one example of these small giants.
Zingerman’s is in business for the purpose to contribute to the community although they don't use "good" as a clever avenue to business image building. Relationships with their communities overlap with their relationships with their customers and employees.
A phrase they espouse is "enlightened hospitality." Even when disaster strikes, like a waitress spilling water on a customer’s table, the whole serving team jumps in quickly to lighten the mood. They focus on building an intimate relationship with the customer, finding what their personal preferences are and knowing them when they come in each time to eat. It’s more than being nice and friendly, but knowing what the customer "really" likes and doing it.
They practice five core values:
Caring for each other
Caring for guests
Caring for the community
Caring for suppliers
Caring for investors and profitability
(in that order)
And the whole time making the job intensely and expectantly personal. They go beyond having satisfied customers. They work to have “happy” customers.
How do you build intimacy?
It depends on the relationship with each person in charge and employees.
--direct contact
--know who they are and what they do
--spend time together
--sharing important experiences together
--numerous one-on-one personal encounters.
One company leader shared that he looks out over his parking lot and says,
“I feel responsible for all those people out there.” ... “If you want a company that cares, you need people who care, and they need to be motivated by more than money. It takes well-designed, appropriate and value-driven systems, and processes to support and create the kind of cultures we’re all going after.”
Zingerman's has gained much notoriety on how they do business.
So they formed ZingTrain
(http://zingtrain.com/home.php)
that teaches other businesses its ways of doing business.
They persistently preach these cardinal steps to great service.
1. Figure out what the customer wants.
2. Get it for them accurately, politely and enthusiastically
3. Go the extra mile.
Small Giants’ author goes on to point out that he sees a growing, developing trend in business… "a burgeoning international movement to explore the role of Spirituality in work, and of work in Spirituality."
One company, Reell Precision Manufacturing
(Reell is from the German dictionary meaning honesty, dependability, or having authority) purposely expresses Christian perspectives in all they do. They feel responsible to expand each person to their full potential and have their business as an opportunity for each employee to do that.
Note Small Giants’ website:
http://www.smallgiantsbook.com/
What builds people is Spirit.
Spirit created all matter.
All that has ever started, lives and is transformed is by Spirit.
Spirit works in calculated patterns and has certain characteristics of its character, personality, functional dynamics. Jesus outlined many of these in the famous talk He gave on a hill.
(Matthew 5-7)
What if we used Jesus' principles and the Apostle Paul's as our relationship guidelines for building our business culture.
A checklist of normal behavior for building dynamic business culture would look like this:
--Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them.
--Stand on the side of the good.
--Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.
--Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
--Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.
--When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out.
--If people aren't nice, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.
--When others are happy, be happy with them.
--If they are sad, share their sorrow.
--Live in harmony with each other.
--Don't try to act important, but enjoy being around ordinary people.
--And don't think you know it all!
(above from Romans 12: 9-18)
--Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
--Make allowance for each other's faults.
--Forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you forgive others.
--And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.
--And let the peace that comes from Jesus rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace.
--Always be grateful !
(from Colossians 3:12-15)
Be One.
Be one in Love.
Practice love that is "sacrificial Love."
Put others’ interests before yours. Rejoice more in others’ success than yours. Build others up before taking what you think you deserve.
Our behavior in relationships determines the magnitude of Spirit Power we have.
Why did Jesus feel being One, seeing ourselves as One in Spirit, in Community is so important as He prayed in John 17: 21? "My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father--that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us."
This is where the Power is... We, each other as One, and We as One, being One in Spirit with God and Jesus.
This force creates and re-creates all world systems. We can integrate ourselves with each other into this. We can in reality function in World Transforming Power.
The Small Giants are re-thinking the art of business. A New Spirit of business is morphing Spiritual principles in all their business practices.They are business transformational forerunners re-structuring business systems, priorities and business functions in America.
As One in Spirit, in Jesus Spirit, the enacting claim becomes ours...
"for YOU will DO even greater things."
We literally, as One in community within and outside the business, have this phenomenal power of Spirit working with us. We can thrive sensationally, extraordinarily, notably…Super-Naturally.
Live as One.
Apply Spiritually-charged, personal relationship standards to your daily checklist.
The Power of Spirit merges and collaborates with all you do.
Above all, each and everyone be One in Spirit in God, Jesus and all the Power of the Universe partners with you.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Blending Voices... Mind of Jesus Spirit
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
(The 8th Habit, “Blending Voices—Searching for the Third Alternative,”Chapter 10)
One of the most profound concepts in The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey is what he calls finding the Third Alternative. That is combining ideas to create an idea that is better than any one person’s idea. It is getting a consensus from the group that they will work toward building solutions, bigger than any one person. This manifests a distinctive synergy, transformational Third Alternative.
To get there, Covey discusses the following skills that must be in place and functioning in a healthy way in a group.
“Communication is without a doubt the most important skill in life…” This includes reading, writing , speaking and listening. Most of our communication time is listening. Covey notes that no more than 5% of us have had more than two weeks of formal training in how to listen.
Listening has five levels… ignoring, pretend listening (patronizing), selective listening, attentive listening…. But the ideal level is empathic listening… that is listening within the other’s frame of reference.
Perception skills are critical for effective emphatic listening. He outlines four important things to learn about communication through the perception experience.
1. We have to be sincerely open… the foundation for arriving at third alternative solutions.
2. Take into consideration others’ life experiences and allow time to explain “why” they see it that way and what has led to it.
3. There isn’t just one way to interpret something. Each vision needs shared and merged.
4. Most communication breakdowns are products of semantics…how people define words from their experience.
One good listening rule is to use the Indian Talking Stick. It is an artfully carved about 5 feet high stick that Indian chief’s used in discussions. The only one who could speak was the one holding the Talking Stick. And the Talking Stick was not passed on until the person speaking felt understood by everyone else. You explained back to a person what he said until the person with the Talking Stick felt you understand him. When that person was satisfied that you understood him, you were given the Talking Stick. And then, you could take your turn and share your ideas, while holding the Talking Stick.
Over 90% of all communication problems are caused by differences in semantics or perception. What I think you are saying may not be what you mean, based on my experiences in contrast to yours. No one knows the experiences that have brought you to the conclusions you have, unless you explain them. For true understanding this must be sorted out.
According to Covey, to reach third alternatives, ideas better than the combination of each person’s ideas, these two rules apply.
1.Would you be willing to search for a solution that is better than what either one of us have proposed?
2. Would you agree to a simple ground rule: No one can make his or her point until they have restated the other person’s point to his or her satisfaction?
This forces discussion into a group synergy that kindles harmony and ground-breaking ideas higher than any one person of the group. This is a very powerful concept that pushes groups, or any discussion by any number people, to higher resolve and outcomes with exceptional impact.
http://www.stephencovey.com/8thHabit/8thhabit.html
The power of Blending voices was acknowledged at Babel, in the Bible. The people of ancient times wanted to build a tower that reached up to the heavens. And God said because they are one people, one language, “nothing will be impossible for them.” God made man to have great power when united as one voice.
If they worked together as one, all the power of God's created universe was at their disposal and everything they set out to do would be done. God’s Spirit built this system of Spirit in His human creation. Their motives were self-centered, void of respect to God, their creator. So God scrambled their language so they would not be one voice and have unconquerable power.
In Malachi, its says those who feared, respectfully honored, the Lord spoke to each other and God responded to what they were talking about.
To the Corinthians, the Apostle said, “we have the mind of Christ.”
"We" as one unit, have the mind of Christ. As one mind, we are transfigured into the Mind of Jesus Spirit, the Ultimate, Unmatchable Spirit.
Jesus emphatically requested of God that we be One.
"That they be One, just as We are One. I in Them and You in Me, that they may be perfected into One." If all of Jesus Spirit is in "Us" and all of the Spirit of God is in Jesus, we then walk with a huge armory of Power. All of God's world creating Spirit is with us.This is what makes this principle so powerful.
When we are one, we have the mind of Jesus and His Spirit is with us... works on our behalf because it is His mind governing thoughts, directing widespread, prevailing actions. When as One Voice, we come together, taking all we say and blending it with others, we blend into the Mind of Jesus in what we discuss. While on the human level, one voice brings power as noted in Babel.
We see on the Spiritual level even greater Power, which yields unexplainable results by being One voice.
In Jesus Spirit, which is all of God's Spirit, and we as One are all of what Jesus is. This principle brings us astounding possibilities.
Paul the Apostle cautioned, exhorted believers that they avoid, at all costs, being divided over minor issues. As one mind, one voice, you are a complete benefactor of Jesus Spirit. Divided minds, voices kills power potential. The dividing spirits of jealously, bitterness, envy, self-centeredness, pouting just kills Power.
Unifying voices brings us the Very Mind of Jesus Glorified in Heaven. All Powers of Heaven are enacted. So when we meet, if we all share what Spirit is impressing on us, and we synergize all these thoughts, we raise ourselves to the level of Heavenly Power, Jesus Power. We form the mind of Christ. We function then in the Third Heaven. Here all is made, changed, created, wars won, Angels dispatched on our behalf, power manifested in our lives.
Paul the Apostle visited the Third Heaven and He was never the same after that. He saw the arena of Spirit where God, angels and all Spiritual Dynasty existed. (see 2 Corinthians 12)
This is the most gigantic principle in the Scriptures and for us to use in Becoming One in Mind and One in Spirit. By recognizing others’ ideas as God inspired and merging them into One, to a Higher level, into a Third Heaven, the Highest realm of the universe of unmatched Spiritual Force is dispatched.
Blending into God's Voice, and being one in Voice in all your encounters manifests Miraculous Powers.
In all relationships, business and others we can see life transforming power at work. In Spirit of Love, Kindness, Humility and Forgiveness... God's Spirit is thrust into motion in matters we discuss.
Blend to One Voice In Spirit.
The Super-Natural is released with vibrant, vigorous force.
Note: emanna.com Archives, March 15, 2006
http://steward.emanna.com/calendar.cfm
(References: Genesis 11; Malachi 3; 1 Corinthians 1, 2; John 17)
4spirit@gmail.com
(The 8th Habit, “Blending Voices—Searching for the Third Alternative,”Chapter 10)
One of the most profound concepts in The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey is what he calls finding the Third Alternative. That is combining ideas to create an idea that is better than any one person’s idea. It is getting a consensus from the group that they will work toward building solutions, bigger than any one person. This manifests a distinctive synergy, transformational Third Alternative.
To get there, Covey discusses the following skills that must be in place and functioning in a healthy way in a group.
“Communication is without a doubt the most important skill in life…” This includes reading, writing , speaking and listening. Most of our communication time is listening. Covey notes that no more than 5% of us have had more than two weeks of formal training in how to listen.
Listening has five levels… ignoring, pretend listening (patronizing), selective listening, attentive listening…. But the ideal level is empathic listening… that is listening within the other’s frame of reference.
Perception skills are critical for effective emphatic listening. He outlines four important things to learn about communication through the perception experience.
1. We have to be sincerely open… the foundation for arriving at third alternative solutions.
2. Take into consideration others’ life experiences and allow time to explain “why” they see it that way and what has led to it.
3. There isn’t just one way to interpret something. Each vision needs shared and merged.
4. Most communication breakdowns are products of semantics…how people define words from their experience.
One good listening rule is to use the Indian Talking Stick. It is an artfully carved about 5 feet high stick that Indian chief’s used in discussions. The only one who could speak was the one holding the Talking Stick. And the Talking Stick was not passed on until the person speaking felt understood by everyone else. You explained back to a person what he said until the person with the Talking Stick felt you understand him. When that person was satisfied that you understood him, you were given the Talking Stick. And then, you could take your turn and share your ideas, while holding the Talking Stick.
Over 90% of all communication problems are caused by differences in semantics or perception. What I think you are saying may not be what you mean, based on my experiences in contrast to yours. No one knows the experiences that have brought you to the conclusions you have, unless you explain them. For true understanding this must be sorted out.
According to Covey, to reach third alternatives, ideas better than the combination of each person’s ideas, these two rules apply.
1.Would you be willing to search for a solution that is better than what either one of us have proposed?
2. Would you agree to a simple ground rule: No one can make his or her point until they have restated the other person’s point to his or her satisfaction?
This forces discussion into a group synergy that kindles harmony and ground-breaking ideas higher than any one person of the group. This is a very powerful concept that pushes groups, or any discussion by any number people, to higher resolve and outcomes with exceptional impact.
http://www.stephencovey.com/8thHabit/8thhabit.html
The power of Blending voices was acknowledged at Babel, in the Bible. The people of ancient times wanted to build a tower that reached up to the heavens. And God said because they are one people, one language, “nothing will be impossible for them.” God made man to have great power when united as one voice.
If they worked together as one, all the power of God's created universe was at their disposal and everything they set out to do would be done. God’s Spirit built this system of Spirit in His human creation. Their motives were self-centered, void of respect to God, their creator. So God scrambled their language so they would not be one voice and have unconquerable power.
In Malachi, its says those who feared, respectfully honored, the Lord spoke to each other and God responded to what they were talking about.
To the Corinthians, the Apostle said, “we have the mind of Christ.”
"We" as one unit, have the mind of Christ. As one mind, we are transfigured into the Mind of Jesus Spirit, the Ultimate, Unmatchable Spirit.
Jesus emphatically requested of God that we be One.
"That they be One, just as We are One. I in Them and You in Me, that they may be perfected into One." If all of Jesus Spirit is in "Us" and all of the Spirit of God is in Jesus, we then walk with a huge armory of Power. All of God's world creating Spirit is with us.This is what makes this principle so powerful.
When we are one, we have the mind of Jesus and His Spirit is with us... works on our behalf because it is His mind governing thoughts, directing widespread, prevailing actions. When as One Voice, we come together, taking all we say and blending it with others, we blend into the Mind of Jesus in what we discuss. While on the human level, one voice brings power as noted in Babel.
We see on the Spiritual level even greater Power, which yields unexplainable results by being One voice.
In Jesus Spirit, which is all of God's Spirit, and we as One are all of what Jesus is. This principle brings us astounding possibilities.
Paul the Apostle cautioned, exhorted believers that they avoid, at all costs, being divided over minor issues. As one mind, one voice, you are a complete benefactor of Jesus Spirit. Divided minds, voices kills power potential. The dividing spirits of jealously, bitterness, envy, self-centeredness, pouting just kills Power.
Unifying voices brings us the Very Mind of Jesus Glorified in Heaven. All Powers of Heaven are enacted. So when we meet, if we all share what Spirit is impressing on us, and we synergize all these thoughts, we raise ourselves to the level of Heavenly Power, Jesus Power. We form the mind of Christ. We function then in the Third Heaven. Here all is made, changed, created, wars won, Angels dispatched on our behalf, power manifested in our lives.
Paul the Apostle visited the Third Heaven and He was never the same after that. He saw the arena of Spirit where God, angels and all Spiritual Dynasty existed. (see 2 Corinthians 12)
This is the most gigantic principle in the Scriptures and for us to use in Becoming One in Mind and One in Spirit. By recognizing others’ ideas as God inspired and merging them into One, to a Higher level, into a Third Heaven, the Highest realm of the universe of unmatched Spiritual Force is dispatched.
Blending into God's Voice, and being one in Voice in all your encounters manifests Miraculous Powers.
In all relationships, business and others we can see life transforming power at work. In Spirit of Love, Kindness, Humility and Forgiveness... God's Spirit is thrust into motion in matters we discuss.
Blend to One Voice In Spirit.
The Super-Natural is released with vibrant, vigorous force.
Note: emanna.com Archives, March 15, 2006
http://steward.emanna.com/calendar.cfm
(References: Genesis 11; Malachi 3; 1 Corinthians 1, 2; John 17)
Friday, March 10, 2006
Blink: Knowing without Knowing...a Core Spiritual Gift
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Blink: the Power of thinking without thinking by Malcolm Gladwell, writer for the New York Times, is about our abilities in rapid cognition. In just a few seconds we draw conclusions about everyday happenings using a unique ability of our unconscious mind. Since its release Jan. 2005, Blink has stayed on top of business book selling lists.
We all have an internal computer with an adaptive unconscious to quietly process a lot of data quickly… in a “blink” of the eye. Called rapid cognition, a knowing without knowing, we all make snap judgments within limited time and information… and in most cases with a great amount of accuracy.
“The adaptive unconscious does an excellent job sizing up the world warning people of danger, setting goals and initiating action in a sophisticated and efficient manner.”
Blink sets out to prove that “decisions made very quickly can be every bit as good as decisions made cautiously and deliberately.”
There are instances though that may betray us. Why? How can we train ourselves to be good at snap responses.? When should we trust our immediate instincts? Our unconscious processing system is very powerful with potential to create practical skills in rapid cognition. According to Gladwell, this power of knowing happens in the first 2 seconds. It is not a gift for a fortunate few, but an ability we can all cultivate for ourselves.
He lists many case studies to verify his book’s premise.
In war games, it is impractical to take time to analyze rationally when the enemy is pursing you. By the time you complete a calm rational analysis the enemy may have over taken you.
In an experiment several military strategist went up against some New York stock traders… who live a fast-paced rapid cognition decision making lifestyle. With their rapid cognition experience they actually defeated the war specialist in the first war game. In this case rapid knowledge outperformed shrewd analysis.
Although in the second war game, the military learned from the traders, applied the skill of rapid cognition along with their experience skills came back to take the next game.
There are times when wrong snap decisions are made. We call this prejudice.
To overcome prejudice in thinking, it takes retraining and taking in new experiences different from the past to implant new information in the unconscious mind. Like learning to play basketball, to develop rapid cognition requires training, rules, and rehearsal.
Then in real world scenarios we can respond with more refined skill. It gives a case for continued learning and perfecting abilities prior to impelling needs that trigger the rapid cognition process.
For more on Blink note Glidewell’s web link.
http://gladwell.com/blink/index.html
"Knowing:" A Core Spiritual Gift
The apostle Paul in the Bible said he wished we all would prophesy… to predict, reveal things from Divine origin.
Prophecy is much like Blink…to know without knowing. Prophecy works in connection with the universal mind of God, Spirit that is connected to all things.
“The Spirit searches all things” (1 Corinthians 2:10)
and Jesus said that the Spirit would tell us things that are to come. (John 16:13) He promised that we would have His Spirit in us, connected directly to God for living in all the potential of the Spirit.
That is the Spirit that created everything from the beginning, knows all things and orchestrates all things. Our mind works much like an internet Search engine… it searches all parts of stored data in the brain in micro-seconds, in response to everything… as Galdwell points out. The Spirit, since Jesus, was sent to do the same… but this connection is with the whole universe. Spirit knows what people think, their plans and can give us direction related to everything… based on its Infinite Connections.
It is the most powerful attribute of those living in Jesus Spirit, but its visible demonstration of existence is mysteriously not seen around too much. Why? I wonder the same thing. Why? Are we selling ourselves short on what we have available to us. Our society generally does not seem to recognize the possibilities here. Galdwell is on to something in Blink. This leads us to an even higher level… the Spirit Level.
When looking at the New York Times recently, I saw the top 3 books in the “How-to" category were written by Spiritual representatives. The #1 and #3 books by pastors (The Purpose Driven Life and Your Best Life Now). The #2 book was by a psychic-medium (If You Could See What I See). What intrigued me about all this is the interest in “foretelling” the future and the source most are looking into seems to be the psychic world. I will say though that seeing into the future is not an exclusive capability of psychic-mediums.
In the Bible, many prophets are prominent. Here’s a few:
Jeremiah, the prophet, said, quoting the Spirit of God,
“Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will
tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
(Jeremiah 33:3, NASB)
Jesus, the Prophet and Teacher, said, "But when He,
the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;
for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears,
He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and
will disclose it to you.”
(John 16: 13,14, NASB)
Paul, Prophet and Apostle, said, “That your faith would not rest
on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
For to us God revealed them through the Spirit;
for the Spirit searches all things,
even the depths of God.
(1 Corinthians 2: 5, 10, NASB)
We serve a kingdom of Power as Paul says… it’s not about words, knowledge, clever strategies of our minds to do clever things. It is about pure Power.
(see 1 Corinthians 2 and 3).
It’s about Action, Not Talk. Spirit produces above human results… Super Natural results… beyond our ability to really understand exactly how it happens.
Above all, all this is part of us.
The Same Spirit that spoke to Jeremiah, Jesus, Paul IS in Us.
We are all made to prophesy… to see from Spirit what is to come and share with each other. It is ours to cultivate. As Gladwell discovered from "knowing" skills, developing Spiritual knowing requires the same…
belief in them,
training for them,
rules about them
and rehearsal … practice, practice, practice.
Jesus reminded us that it is according to our faith these things happen. Spirit works, when we let it and stay in stride with it. The Supernatural is with us, we have the ability to “know without knowing.” This is an unsung, under-rated, under-used, under-explored powerful dynamic available to us.
As Gladwell gave insight to potential of our mind’s abilities, I say the same of our Spiritual abilities. “It’s not a gift for the fortunate few,
it’s an ability WE ALL CAN cultivate.”
In Spirit, WE ALL have Predictive Intelligence.
This prophetic gift of “knowing without knowing,” advanced rapid cognition or what I call sensing, has worked a lot for me. When considering leading business books in the past, sometimes a new book would seem to jump out at me. Interestingly, more than half of these have ended up on the top ten of business book lists. It’s my rapid cognition skill. I, do though, spend a lot of time reading biz articles and books. So, like Gladwell observed, you build this skill.
More than this is, I know you can learn prophetic skills. I have focused a lot in this area. Through time you become more finely tuned in sensing when the Spirit is prompting, talking to you. The Scriptures very clearly implicate that we all have this potential in Spirit.
“Ask me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets
about what is going to happen.”
(Jeremiah 33:3, NLT)
Think on the impact this would have on our everyday lives, within our business ventures… daily decision-making and problem solving, creating new products and services, advancing into new markets, satisfying real customer interests…. “Spirit Searches all things” and gives you the best course of action.
Predictive Intelligence is a Spiritual Service at our disposal.
Geffry Fields writes more on this on his blog Jesus is Us… “Predictive Intelligence... a Spiritual Arsenal”. Here’s the link:
http://jesusisus.blogspot.com/2005/07/predictive-intelligence-spiritual.html
John, Prophet and Apostle, heard the Spirit say to him:
“Come up here
and I will show you what will happen." (Revelation 4:1,2)
In Spirit, he saw….
In Spirit, you will See what is to come…
4spirit@gmail.com
Blink: the Power of thinking without thinking by Malcolm Gladwell, writer for the New York Times, is about our abilities in rapid cognition. In just a few seconds we draw conclusions about everyday happenings using a unique ability of our unconscious mind. Since its release Jan. 2005, Blink has stayed on top of business book selling lists.
We all have an internal computer with an adaptive unconscious to quietly process a lot of data quickly… in a “blink” of the eye. Called rapid cognition, a knowing without knowing, we all make snap judgments within limited time and information… and in most cases with a great amount of accuracy.
“The adaptive unconscious does an excellent job sizing up the world warning people of danger, setting goals and initiating action in a sophisticated and efficient manner.”
Blink sets out to prove that “decisions made very quickly can be every bit as good as decisions made cautiously and deliberately.”
There are instances though that may betray us. Why? How can we train ourselves to be good at snap responses.? When should we trust our immediate instincts? Our unconscious processing system is very powerful with potential to create practical skills in rapid cognition. According to Gladwell, this power of knowing happens in the first 2 seconds. It is not a gift for a fortunate few, but an ability we can all cultivate for ourselves.
He lists many case studies to verify his book’s premise.
In war games, it is impractical to take time to analyze rationally when the enemy is pursing you. By the time you complete a calm rational analysis the enemy may have over taken you.
In an experiment several military strategist went up against some New York stock traders… who live a fast-paced rapid cognition decision making lifestyle. With their rapid cognition experience they actually defeated the war specialist in the first war game. In this case rapid knowledge outperformed shrewd analysis.
Although in the second war game, the military learned from the traders, applied the skill of rapid cognition along with their experience skills came back to take the next game.
There are times when wrong snap decisions are made. We call this prejudice.
To overcome prejudice in thinking, it takes retraining and taking in new experiences different from the past to implant new information in the unconscious mind. Like learning to play basketball, to develop rapid cognition requires training, rules, and rehearsal.
Then in real world scenarios we can respond with more refined skill. It gives a case for continued learning and perfecting abilities prior to impelling needs that trigger the rapid cognition process.
For more on Blink note Glidewell’s web link.
http://gladwell.com/blink/index.html
"Knowing:" A Core Spiritual Gift
The apostle Paul in the Bible said he wished we all would prophesy… to predict, reveal things from Divine origin.
Prophecy is much like Blink…to know without knowing. Prophecy works in connection with the universal mind of God, Spirit that is connected to all things.
“The Spirit searches all things” (1 Corinthians 2:10)
and Jesus said that the Spirit would tell us things that are to come. (John 16:13) He promised that we would have His Spirit in us, connected directly to God for living in all the potential of the Spirit.
That is the Spirit that created everything from the beginning, knows all things and orchestrates all things. Our mind works much like an internet Search engine… it searches all parts of stored data in the brain in micro-seconds, in response to everything… as Galdwell points out. The Spirit, since Jesus, was sent to do the same… but this connection is with the whole universe. Spirit knows what people think, their plans and can give us direction related to everything… based on its Infinite Connections.
It is the most powerful attribute of those living in Jesus Spirit, but its visible demonstration of existence is mysteriously not seen around too much. Why? I wonder the same thing. Why? Are we selling ourselves short on what we have available to us. Our society generally does not seem to recognize the possibilities here. Galdwell is on to something in Blink. This leads us to an even higher level… the Spirit Level.
When looking at the New York Times recently, I saw the top 3 books in the “How-to" category were written by Spiritual representatives. The #1 and #3 books by pastors (The Purpose Driven Life and Your Best Life Now). The #2 book was by a psychic-medium (If You Could See What I See). What intrigued me about all this is the interest in “foretelling” the future and the source most are looking into seems to be the psychic world. I will say though that seeing into the future is not an exclusive capability of psychic-mediums.
In the Bible, many prophets are prominent. Here’s a few:
Jeremiah, the prophet, said, quoting the Spirit of God,
“Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will
tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
(Jeremiah 33:3, NASB)
Jesus, the Prophet and Teacher, said, "But when He,
the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;
for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears,
He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and
will disclose it to you.”
(John 16: 13,14, NASB)
Paul, Prophet and Apostle, said, “That your faith would not rest
on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
For to us God revealed them through the Spirit;
for the Spirit searches all things,
even the depths of God.
(1 Corinthians 2: 5, 10, NASB)
We serve a kingdom of Power as Paul says… it’s not about words, knowledge, clever strategies of our minds to do clever things. It is about pure Power.
(see 1 Corinthians 2 and 3).
It’s about Action, Not Talk. Spirit produces above human results… Super Natural results… beyond our ability to really understand exactly how it happens.
Above all, all this is part of us.
The Same Spirit that spoke to Jeremiah, Jesus, Paul IS in Us.
We are all made to prophesy… to see from Spirit what is to come and share with each other. It is ours to cultivate. As Gladwell discovered from "knowing" skills, developing Spiritual knowing requires the same…
belief in them,
training for them,
rules about them
and rehearsal … practice, practice, practice.
Jesus reminded us that it is according to our faith these things happen. Spirit works, when we let it and stay in stride with it. The Supernatural is with us, we have the ability to “know without knowing.” This is an unsung, under-rated, under-used, under-explored powerful dynamic available to us.
As Gladwell gave insight to potential of our mind’s abilities, I say the same of our Spiritual abilities. “It’s not a gift for the fortunate few,
it’s an ability WE ALL CAN cultivate.”
In Spirit, WE ALL have Predictive Intelligence.
This prophetic gift of “knowing without knowing,” advanced rapid cognition or what I call sensing, has worked a lot for me. When considering leading business books in the past, sometimes a new book would seem to jump out at me. Interestingly, more than half of these have ended up on the top ten of business book lists. It’s my rapid cognition skill. I, do though, spend a lot of time reading biz articles and books. So, like Gladwell observed, you build this skill.
More than this is, I know you can learn prophetic skills. I have focused a lot in this area. Through time you become more finely tuned in sensing when the Spirit is prompting, talking to you. The Scriptures very clearly implicate that we all have this potential in Spirit.
“Ask me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets
about what is going to happen.”
(Jeremiah 33:3, NLT)
Think on the impact this would have on our everyday lives, within our business ventures… daily decision-making and problem solving, creating new products and services, advancing into new markets, satisfying real customer interests…. “Spirit Searches all things” and gives you the best course of action.
Predictive Intelligence is a Spiritual Service at our disposal.
Geffry Fields writes more on this on his blog Jesus is Us… “Predictive Intelligence... a Spiritual Arsenal”. Here’s the link:
http://jesusisus.blogspot.com/2005/07/predictive-intelligence-spiritual.html
John, Prophet and Apostle, heard the Spirit say to him:
“Come up here
and I will show you what will happen." (Revelation 4:1,2)
In Spirit, he saw….
In Spirit, you will See what is to come…
Friday, March 03, 2006
From Dysfunctional... to Fabulous Power Nuclei
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Our whole world is contaminated with dysfunctional relationships. Families have marriage divorce rates over 50 %, unwed families abound with single parent homes, individuality and looking out for #1 are hero-ized.
No wonder, with all this, it has fostered a dysfunctional worm that is cocooning in the marketplace, businesses and organizations everywhere.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni, deals with how to remove this relational virus while making your business, organization a functional family unit. You can melt down the dysfunctional factors which plague a business to become remarkably functional. This book has stayed on top of the business bestseller lists since its publication. It is fast becoming the “go to” book for business team building… of any size…. from partners to managers and teams they serve.
In a nutshell, here are the five dysfunctions that infect groups:
1. Absence of Trust
"Unwillingness to be vulnerable... not being genuinely open/honest make it impossible to build a foundation for trust."
2. Fear of Conflict
"Without trust there cannot be unfiltered, passionate debate”... fear of conflict creates "veiled discussions and guarded comments."
3. Lack of Commitment
When honest opinions are not aired, genuine buy-in doesn't really happen. Commitment is superficial and political.
4. Avoidance of Accountability
When there is genuine commitment, team members hold each other accountable to "behaviors that seem counter productive to the team."
5. Inattention to Results
Without accountability "team members put their individual needs" ahead of the team's goals.
When there is lack of trust, people don’t share the good and bad about themselves in an honest way. This creates a fear of conflict because the individual in a group feels he may not be accepted for who he is, so an atmosphere of artificial harmony is prevalent. This progresses to a lack of commitment manifesting as each person’s “honest” opinions, ideas are not heard. This then promotes ambiguity and making oneself deliberately vague so one can re-maneuver opinions and protect himself from authentic accountability. An avoidance of accountability grows out of this.
The disease spreads festering low standards. Consequently, an inattention to results surfaces as people become focused on self-survival, personal agendas to preserve status and build ego gratification. Instead of real contribution they fall back to a “Looking out for # 1” mentality and in attitude. Most of what is done then is skewed for self-interest and not for the well-being of the project.
Lencioni takes the reader through storytelling episodes that role play how dysfunction can be resolved by team members sharing history of their lives, personality profiling for understanding, acceptance of ideas, standing up for each other (versus “brown nosing” the boss so to be his shining star), and cultivating a team unit that “keeps each other" accountable.
A great book that would be a superb resource as a group retreat study to create greatness as a highly functional, productive team.
Spiritual dynamics are hidden all throughout
The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team.
Lencioni's website (http://www.tablegroup.com/)
Jesus said there are two great commandments:
love God with all your heart, Soul and mind.
And to love your neighbor as yourself.
(Matthew 22:37)
When love prevails, we know God accepts us as we are and chooses not to “remember” our faults. ” (Hebrews 10:17)
He prefers to accelerate our gifts.
As one in Spirit with others, we have a connection to others as if we are One person, in Spirit... making us the “same” in Spirit. So we naturally treat others as we would treat ourselves.
With God’s love we actually consider others more important than ourselves.
Knowing our "One" connection in Spirit,
we then love others AS ourselves.
Look at the process in the New Testament for building Oneness... Group Unity.
1. Share our weaknesses with each other.
When we share shortcomings, there is a natural tendency for others to build us up. (James 5:16, 2 Corinthians 12:9)
2. Avoid dwelling on others’ faults and shortcomings.
Pray for others so God can heal, help them as we desire to overcome our own shortcomings. (Colossians 3:13)
3. Do not say things that put others down,
but instead continually encourage and inspire others.
When we reaffirm others' abilities they become what we tell them. (This is a powerful group dynamic.) We build group synergy when we practice this in a group. (Hebrews 10:24)
4. Forgive each other and stay committed to each other.
When we love others as ourselves, we see ourselves tied to each other as One (One in Spirit). We support each other’s interests and a group’s interests. (Ephesians 4:32)
5. We use our talents to complement others and contribute our best to the whole project when love, Spirit, and kindness prevail. (Romans 12)
(In Spirit, we are literally part of each other… others are part of us…
we are One.)
The three themes for creating a powerful group, which Spirit can manifest itself beyond our own abilities, are…
humility,
forgiveness,
and giving of what we have for the benefit of others.
(see Colossians 3:5-15)
As an “US,” we manifest power beyond what "one person" can do.
Spiritual math is greater than human math. 1 + 1 = a factor of 10, 100, or 1000. Unity in Spirit enhances our connection to Jesus Spirit. Incredible Universally-connecting power is dispersed. (Matthew 18:19-20)
The secret to true spiritual Power:
Love, interact with, dwell in the Spirit of God, with all your soul, mind, heart.
As your love relationship in Jesus Spirit expands, this Spirit in you attracts, magnetically draws others to you.
As your Spirit becomes One in the Very Spirit of God, your relationships with others automatically deepen, One in Spirit.…the unlimited Universally-expansive Spirit Power joins you.
With this power at our disposal, we can expect phenomenal results, advanced results not common to the-best-of-man’s efforts. Beyond the natural… to be Super Natural.
The Super Natural can be ours now naturally, when Universal Spirit Power ties Us into Spirit with each other.
With just two or three in agreement, same mind, heart and soul,
wrapped into the same heart, mind, soul of God’s World-Creating Spirit,
ALL things are Indeed possible.
Out of this Heart-of-Jesus Spirit world dreams are created;
within this Spirit Extraordinary outcomes are birthed from all things we set our hearts, minds, souls and hands to.
All the Power that Jesus displayed on earth
is released to Us…
when We team in Spirit.
4spirit@gmail.com
Our whole world is contaminated with dysfunctional relationships. Families have marriage divorce rates over 50 %, unwed families abound with single parent homes, individuality and looking out for #1 are hero-ized.
No wonder, with all this, it has fostered a dysfunctional worm that is cocooning in the marketplace, businesses and organizations everywhere.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni, deals with how to remove this relational virus while making your business, organization a functional family unit. You can melt down the dysfunctional factors which plague a business to become remarkably functional. This book has stayed on top of the business bestseller lists since its publication. It is fast becoming the “go to” book for business team building… of any size…. from partners to managers and teams they serve.
In a nutshell, here are the five dysfunctions that infect groups:
1. Absence of Trust
"Unwillingness to be vulnerable... not being genuinely open/honest make it impossible to build a foundation for trust."
2. Fear of Conflict
"Without trust there cannot be unfiltered, passionate debate”... fear of conflict creates "veiled discussions and guarded comments."
3. Lack of Commitment
When honest opinions are not aired, genuine buy-in doesn't really happen. Commitment is superficial and political.
4. Avoidance of Accountability
When there is genuine commitment, team members hold each other accountable to "behaviors that seem counter productive to the team."
5. Inattention to Results
Without accountability "team members put their individual needs" ahead of the team's goals.
When there is lack of trust, people don’t share the good and bad about themselves in an honest way. This creates a fear of conflict because the individual in a group feels he may not be accepted for who he is, so an atmosphere of artificial harmony is prevalent. This progresses to a lack of commitment manifesting as each person’s “honest” opinions, ideas are not heard. This then promotes ambiguity and making oneself deliberately vague so one can re-maneuver opinions and protect himself from authentic accountability. An avoidance of accountability grows out of this.
The disease spreads festering low standards. Consequently, an inattention to results surfaces as people become focused on self-survival, personal agendas to preserve status and build ego gratification. Instead of real contribution they fall back to a “Looking out for # 1” mentality and in attitude. Most of what is done then is skewed for self-interest and not for the well-being of the project.
Lencioni takes the reader through storytelling episodes that role play how dysfunction can be resolved by team members sharing history of their lives, personality profiling for understanding, acceptance of ideas, standing up for each other (versus “brown nosing” the boss so to be his shining star), and cultivating a team unit that “keeps each other" accountable.
A great book that would be a superb resource as a group retreat study to create greatness as a highly functional, productive team.
Spiritual dynamics are hidden all throughout
The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team.
Lencioni's website (http://www.tablegroup.com/)
Jesus said there are two great commandments:
love God with all your heart, Soul and mind.
And to love your neighbor as yourself.
(Matthew 22:37)
When love prevails, we know God accepts us as we are and chooses not to “remember” our faults. ” (Hebrews 10:17)
He prefers to accelerate our gifts.
As one in Spirit with others, we have a connection to others as if we are One person, in Spirit... making us the “same” in Spirit. So we naturally treat others as we would treat ourselves.
With God’s love we actually consider others more important than ourselves.
Knowing our "One" connection in Spirit,
we then love others AS ourselves.
Look at the process in the New Testament for building Oneness... Group Unity.
1. Share our weaknesses with each other.
When we share shortcomings, there is a natural tendency for others to build us up. (James 5:16, 2 Corinthians 12:9)
2. Avoid dwelling on others’ faults and shortcomings.
Pray for others so God can heal, help them as we desire to overcome our own shortcomings. (Colossians 3:13)
3. Do not say things that put others down,
but instead continually encourage and inspire others.
When we reaffirm others' abilities they become what we tell them. (This is a powerful group dynamic.) We build group synergy when we practice this in a group. (Hebrews 10:24)
4. Forgive each other and stay committed to each other.
When we love others as ourselves, we see ourselves tied to each other as One (One in Spirit). We support each other’s interests and a group’s interests. (Ephesians 4:32)
5. We use our talents to complement others and contribute our best to the whole project when love, Spirit, and kindness prevail. (Romans 12)
(In Spirit, we are literally part of each other… others are part of us…
we are One.)
The three themes for creating a powerful group, which Spirit can manifest itself beyond our own abilities, are…
humility,
forgiveness,
and giving of what we have for the benefit of others.
(see Colossians 3:5-15)
As an “US,” we manifest power beyond what "one person" can do.
Spiritual math is greater than human math. 1 + 1 = a factor of 10, 100, or 1000. Unity in Spirit enhances our connection to Jesus Spirit. Incredible Universally-connecting power is dispersed. (Matthew 18:19-20)
The secret to true spiritual Power:
Love, interact with, dwell in the Spirit of God, with all your soul, mind, heart.
As your love relationship in Jesus Spirit expands, this Spirit in you attracts, magnetically draws others to you.
As your Spirit becomes One in the Very Spirit of God, your relationships with others automatically deepen, One in Spirit.…the unlimited Universally-expansive Spirit Power joins you.
With this power at our disposal, we can expect phenomenal results, advanced results not common to the-best-of-man’s efforts. Beyond the natural… to be Super Natural.
The Super Natural can be ours now naturally, when Universal Spirit Power ties Us into Spirit with each other.
With just two or three in agreement, same mind, heart and soul,
wrapped into the same heart, mind, soul of God’s World-Creating Spirit,
ALL things are Indeed possible.
Out of this Heart-of-Jesus Spirit world dreams are created;
within this Spirit Extraordinary outcomes are birthed from all things we set our hearts, minds, souls and hands to.
All the Power that Jesus displayed on earth
is released to Us…
when We team in Spirit.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Lead Like Jesus
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Lead Like Jesus is Ken Blanchard’s latest management book.
This surpasses popular management thought today. It is a radical, transformational theme that will revolutionize any business or group.
It’s theme line “Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of all Time” makes a bold claim. And in all things considered, it is a very appropriate claim. Jesus had to be the greatest leadership Role model. He is the one connected to the Spirit of the Universe which created everything, and still recreates… through you.
According to Blanchard, Lead Like Jesus involves the alignment of 4 leadership domains:
Heart (our motivation): our first choice in leading is whether we are motivated by self-interest or for the benefit of those we are leading.
Head: examines your beliefs and theories about leading and motivating people.
Hands: others see where your heart and head is when your motivations and beliefs affect your actions. You become a performance coach, setting clear goals, observing performance, praising progress and redirection of appropriate behavior.
Habits: how you review your daily commitment as leader to serve rather than be served.
Blanchard goes on to state that “the term leader is mentioned only 6 times in the King James Version of the Bible, while the term servant is mentioned more than 900 times.” So as a leader we cultivate The Heart of a Servant. Which leads to two questions we most ask ourselves: Am I a servant leader? Or am I a self-serving leader?
This reflects your heart's EGO.
Am I Edging God Out;
or am I Exalting God Only?
When we edge God out, we reflect pride and self-promotion in our actions. This is motivated by fear and protecting self. Pride creates separation from God and others, making comparisons and distorting truth.
Exalting God Only shows a Jesus Spirit of Humility and Spirit of confidence which leads through forgiveness and grace… forgiving to the same level God has forgiven you.
To lead like Jesus, we must become like Jesus.
How can we “Become” like Jesus?
In college, I studied drama. When portraying a character, we learned what is called the art of characterization... this is learning how to become the very person we are portraying. The characterization process is very extensive. The goal is to “become” the person you represent as an actor.
To do this effectively, it takes time to learn everything you can about the person. Where he/she came from, how he grew up, what influenced him in life, family, economic history, education, how he handled this, way of thinking, emotional style and make up.... It is learning the very inner existence of the person and programming yourself so you literally “become” that person.
The goal is to know the person so well, live in your mind as that person lived and to actually be that person. When you can reach this level of characterization, the person is presented “as real” through you. One of the arts of living artfully in Jesus Spirit is to do the same with Jesus' life.
How do we effectively make our mind consistent with Jesus Spirit...?
It takes the pondering and living out, as if we are Jesus.
Read the events of Jesus life, as if you were studying Him to portray Him in life. It is an exercise in retraining the mind.
“Be transformed by renewing your mind to the mind of Jesus.” (Romans 12:2)
This is what it takes to live like Jesus. We need to reach this level of being thoroughly familiar with Him. That in all we do it is naturally Jesus.
Try this some day. Read several sections of Jesus' life, role play in your mind/imagination as if you are Jesus, being Jesus, and go out that day and everything you do, pretend you are Jesus in all your interactions. This includes your thinking, your way of talking to people, what you talk about, how you respond and the attitude (thoughts) you carry throughout the day.
Do this for a week... each day reflect on your day, and how each action and decision represents the character of Jesus. Then review it for a week on how you did. What was different; what did you learn; how did you feel?
Go back and study Jesus for a week and then do it another week. This is a life-changing way to line up our mental and thought life with the Jesus Spirit that is trying to line up within you. Like the actor, portray Jesus. But you must “be” Jesus to be real.
Study the life of Jesus with this goal in mind.... to be Jesus.
To be Jesus’ thoughts, manner, ideology, understanding why He did what He did. Beyond that remember what Jesus said, “I will be in you, live in you.”
The Spirit of Jesus lives in you. Allow His Spirit to dominate you, guide and direct all you do. In prayer, like in characterization meditation, reprogram yourself to be the person of Jesus. The Spirit helps us when in prayer. Use prayer as your preparation time to be resurrected into Jesus and Jesus Spirit totally immersed into you. Through Spirit, you have “the mind of Christ.”
(I Corinthians 2:16)
His Spirit implants His Laws in your mind, and in your hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33)
This goes beyond the "what would Jesus do" slogan we hear.
This goes into “Being Jesus.”
His Spirit rebirths “Jesus” in you; old patterns die. His Spirit takes over.
You will “Be” like Him.
You allow all of Him to “Be” in you.
Then in all things you will respond naturally, as Jesus.
Be Jesus....and in Jesus Spirit you are.
4spirit@gmail.com
Lead Like Jesus is Ken Blanchard’s latest management book.
This surpasses popular management thought today. It is a radical, transformational theme that will revolutionize any business or group.
It’s theme line “Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of all Time” makes a bold claim. And in all things considered, it is a very appropriate claim. Jesus had to be the greatest leadership Role model. He is the one connected to the Spirit of the Universe which created everything, and still recreates… through you.
According to Blanchard, Lead Like Jesus involves the alignment of 4 leadership domains:
Heart (our motivation): our first choice in leading is whether we are motivated by self-interest or for the benefit of those we are leading.
Head: examines your beliefs and theories about leading and motivating people.
Hands: others see where your heart and head is when your motivations and beliefs affect your actions. You become a performance coach, setting clear goals, observing performance, praising progress and redirection of appropriate behavior.
Habits: how you review your daily commitment as leader to serve rather than be served.
Blanchard goes on to state that “the term leader is mentioned only 6 times in the King James Version of the Bible, while the term servant is mentioned more than 900 times.” So as a leader we cultivate The Heart of a Servant. Which leads to two questions we most ask ourselves: Am I a servant leader? Or am I a self-serving leader?
This reflects your heart's EGO.
Am I Edging God Out;
or am I Exalting God Only?
When we edge God out, we reflect pride and self-promotion in our actions. This is motivated by fear and protecting self. Pride creates separation from God and others, making comparisons and distorting truth.
Exalting God Only shows a Jesus Spirit of Humility and Spirit of confidence which leads through forgiveness and grace… forgiving to the same level God has forgiven you.
To lead like Jesus, we must become like Jesus.
How can we “Become” like Jesus?
In college, I studied drama. When portraying a character, we learned what is called the art of characterization... this is learning how to become the very person we are portraying. The characterization process is very extensive. The goal is to “become” the person you represent as an actor.
To do this effectively, it takes time to learn everything you can about the person. Where he/she came from, how he grew up, what influenced him in life, family, economic history, education, how he handled this, way of thinking, emotional style and make up.... It is learning the very inner existence of the person and programming yourself so you literally “become” that person.
The goal is to know the person so well, live in your mind as that person lived and to actually be that person. When you can reach this level of characterization, the person is presented “as real” through you. One of the arts of living artfully in Jesus Spirit is to do the same with Jesus' life.
How do we effectively make our mind consistent with Jesus Spirit...?
It takes the pondering and living out, as if we are Jesus.
Read the events of Jesus life, as if you were studying Him to portray Him in life. It is an exercise in retraining the mind.
“Be transformed by renewing your mind to the mind of Jesus.” (Romans 12:2)
This is what it takes to live like Jesus. We need to reach this level of being thoroughly familiar with Him. That in all we do it is naturally Jesus.
Try this some day. Read several sections of Jesus' life, role play in your mind/imagination as if you are Jesus, being Jesus, and go out that day and everything you do, pretend you are Jesus in all your interactions. This includes your thinking, your way of talking to people, what you talk about, how you respond and the attitude (thoughts) you carry throughout the day.
Do this for a week... each day reflect on your day, and how each action and decision represents the character of Jesus. Then review it for a week on how you did. What was different; what did you learn; how did you feel?
Go back and study Jesus for a week and then do it another week. This is a life-changing way to line up our mental and thought life with the Jesus Spirit that is trying to line up within you. Like the actor, portray Jesus. But you must “be” Jesus to be real.
Study the life of Jesus with this goal in mind.... to be Jesus.
To be Jesus’ thoughts, manner, ideology, understanding why He did what He did. Beyond that remember what Jesus said, “I will be in you, live in you.”
The Spirit of Jesus lives in you. Allow His Spirit to dominate you, guide and direct all you do. In prayer, like in characterization meditation, reprogram yourself to be the person of Jesus. The Spirit helps us when in prayer. Use prayer as your preparation time to be resurrected into Jesus and Jesus Spirit totally immersed into you. Through Spirit, you have “the mind of Christ.”
(I Corinthians 2:16)
His Spirit implants His Laws in your mind, and in your hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33)
This goes beyond the "what would Jesus do" slogan we hear.
This goes into “Being Jesus.”
His Spirit rebirths “Jesus” in you; old patterns die. His Spirit takes over.
You will “Be” like Him.
You allow all of Him to “Be” in you.
Then in all things you will respond naturally, as Jesus.
Be Jesus....and in Jesus Spirit you are.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Today Matters... Make Today Count
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
John Maxwell attributes Today Matters’ Daily Dozen as having the most impact on his own effectiveness… making it possible for him to author his many popular books on leadership. He publishes a new book about every year and his latest is … The 360 Degree Leader :developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization.
His theme in Today Matters is “you will never change your life until you change something you do daily."
”When we focus on “preparing” versus “repairing,” we can live very productive lifestyles. “Preparing more” produces fewer “repairing conditions” we all sometimes must deal with. The fewer the repairing activities means the more we can invest in creating what is important. Then results increase… compounding in nature.
Today Matters is a life transforming concept because of its balance and focus on doing something each day on what is important to us.
Brian Tracy, another prominent personal development expert, has said that if we do just one thing daily on something important to us, we will be amazed at what we accomplish. (Note: Time Power)
http://www.briantracy.com/
In Today Matters, John Maxwell shares a 12-point daily plan to follow… the Daily Dozen.
Making the Daily Dozen work for you.
He suggests you rank yourself on the twelve… 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.
Then take the top two areas and improve them. His philosophy is that we improve more in our strengths then trying to improve our weaknesses. So give most attention to strengths.
Of the top half, include # 6 to improve as well.
To make sure you are objective ask a friend who knows you and see if they agree with your ranking order.
He has written a chapter on each area… it would serve a person well to read the related chapter and then spend concentrated time on his/her top two and #6 ranking of the Daily Dozen.
In 60 days, repeat the above process for the second half of your Daily Dozen ranking (that would be a focus on 7, 8, 12)… and then go back to 3, 4, 5... and finally 9,10,11. These 12 areas Maxwell testifies are the secret to his personal record of long-term productivity and the growth of Maximum Impact.
http://maximumimpact.com/
The Maxwell Daily Dozen
(rank 1 to 12, from your strongest on…)
Attitude. Choose and display the right attitude daily.
Priorities. Determine and act on important priorities daily.
Health. Know and follow healthy guidelines daily.
Family. Communicate with and care for family daily.
Thinking. Practice and develop thinking skills daily.
Commitment. Make and keep proper commitments daily.
Finances. Earn and properly manage finances daily.
Faith. Deepen and live out faith daily.
Relationships. Initiate and invest in solid relationships daily.
Generosity. Plan for and model generosity daily.
Values. Embrace and practice good values daily.
Growth. Desire and experience improvements daily.
A person could easily spend a month on each of the above and define what that is for them. Maxwell has additional helps on doing this at Today Matters' website:
www.todaymatters.com
The point is by having a daily focus on areas we see as most important to our lives, and doing one productive move-ahead activity in each area, we will have a highly productive life. Doing this exercise has served him well for constantly advancing his career. Plus, along with this will be more joy, happiness and a sense of fulfillment in our lives. In that we are accomplishing something very important to us.
“Doing” is what matters…
Doing it “every day” is what matters…
Today matters!
As you go through Maxwell’s Daily Dozen answer these questions for each:
What do I really want in this part of my life?
Why is this important to me?…
your reasons are compelling, reflect God’s reasons for giving you life, your God-given gifts, your mission for life?
Do what God wants in light of His Grand Plan for the universe and your role in it. Think in these terms. Then each day will matter.
Take time to reflect and hear His Voice… His Voice is many times the ideas that come to mind that inspire you, give a rise to your spirit as you think on it.
His Voice is exciting… it will excite you.
The Scriptures proclaim… Today is the day of salvation! (Hebrews 4)
Today is the day God has called us to serve him and His interests. Enter His rest, His inner life. There He speaks to us. And tells us great things He has in store for the day.
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great remarkable things you do not even know about yet.” (Jeremiah 33:3)
Do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will have its own share of problems and concerns, but instead focus on today.
(Matthew 6:34)
Do what you can do today
and what you do today is enough.
In Spirit, Jesus will take care of the rest. His Spirit will encircle all areas of concern and keep working them out for us… He speaks to us constantly in all the micro-seconds of our existence. He is a micro-second active Spirit that works aggressively all the time on our behalf.
He voice is tirelessly speaking to us… Listen!
"Today … listen to his voice.
The voice of God’s Spirit is full of living power.” (Heb. 4:8, 12)
Listen to His Voice through His Spirit which coaxes you through your thoughts as you are in His rest. Be calm and rest before Him… Listen!
His voice has Supremacy over the Universe. It is a powerful voice that changes things, and gives you insight on what to do “today.” Each day adds up and grows for you. His voice is forceful, moving the material, transforming hearts of those around you.
The battle is won when He Speaks, do what it prompts to do daily, and at each reckoning moment. It may come quietly, but it is dynamic in action producing great results. “And He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern” each day. (Matt. 6:33, NLT)
Respond to His voice. Follow its nudgings.
Small actions will produce distinctive effects.
His Voice is powerful and all earth moves when It speaks.
Today matters and listen to His voice today.
It will astound you what you will see.
So rest in His Spirit, Listen, Do, and See what happens.
Day by day it adds up.
Today matters… make today count.
4spirit@gmail.com
John Maxwell attributes Today Matters’ Daily Dozen as having the most impact on his own effectiveness… making it possible for him to author his many popular books on leadership. He publishes a new book about every year and his latest is … The 360 Degree Leader :developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization.
His theme in Today Matters is “you will never change your life until you change something you do daily."
”When we focus on “preparing” versus “repairing,” we can live very productive lifestyles. “Preparing more” produces fewer “repairing conditions” we all sometimes must deal with. The fewer the repairing activities means the more we can invest in creating what is important. Then results increase… compounding in nature.
Today Matters is a life transforming concept because of its balance and focus on doing something each day on what is important to us.
Brian Tracy, another prominent personal development expert, has said that if we do just one thing daily on something important to us, we will be amazed at what we accomplish. (Note: Time Power)
http://www.briantracy.com/
In Today Matters, John Maxwell shares a 12-point daily plan to follow… the Daily Dozen.
Making the Daily Dozen work for you.
He suggests you rank yourself on the twelve… 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.
Then take the top two areas and improve them. His philosophy is that we improve more in our strengths then trying to improve our weaknesses. So give most attention to strengths.
Of the top half, include # 6 to improve as well.
To make sure you are objective ask a friend who knows you and see if they agree with your ranking order.
He has written a chapter on each area… it would serve a person well to read the related chapter and then spend concentrated time on his/her top two and #6 ranking of the Daily Dozen.
In 60 days, repeat the above process for the second half of your Daily Dozen ranking (that would be a focus on 7, 8, 12)… and then go back to 3, 4, 5... and finally 9,10,11. These 12 areas Maxwell testifies are the secret to his personal record of long-term productivity and the growth of Maximum Impact.
http://maximumimpact.com/
The Maxwell Daily Dozen
(rank 1 to 12, from your strongest on…)
Attitude. Choose and display the right attitude daily.
Priorities. Determine and act on important priorities daily.
Health. Know and follow healthy guidelines daily.
Family. Communicate with and care for family daily.
Thinking. Practice and develop thinking skills daily.
Commitment. Make and keep proper commitments daily.
Finances. Earn and properly manage finances daily.
Faith. Deepen and live out faith daily.
Relationships. Initiate and invest in solid relationships daily.
Generosity. Plan for and model generosity daily.
Values. Embrace and practice good values daily.
Growth. Desire and experience improvements daily.
A person could easily spend a month on each of the above and define what that is for them. Maxwell has additional helps on doing this at Today Matters' website:
www.todaymatters.com
The point is by having a daily focus on areas we see as most important to our lives, and doing one productive move-ahead activity in each area, we will have a highly productive life. Doing this exercise has served him well for constantly advancing his career. Plus, along with this will be more joy, happiness and a sense of fulfillment in our lives. In that we are accomplishing something very important to us.
“Doing” is what matters…
Doing it “every day” is what matters…
Today matters!
As you go through Maxwell’s Daily Dozen answer these questions for each:
What do I really want in this part of my life?
Why is this important to me?…
your reasons are compelling, reflect God’s reasons for giving you life, your God-given gifts, your mission for life?
Do what God wants in light of His Grand Plan for the universe and your role in it. Think in these terms. Then each day will matter.
Take time to reflect and hear His Voice… His Voice is many times the ideas that come to mind that inspire you, give a rise to your spirit as you think on it.
His Voice is exciting… it will excite you.
The Scriptures proclaim… Today is the day of salvation! (Hebrews 4)
Today is the day God has called us to serve him and His interests. Enter His rest, His inner life. There He speaks to us. And tells us great things He has in store for the day.
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great remarkable things you do not even know about yet.” (Jeremiah 33:3)
Do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will have its own share of problems and concerns, but instead focus on today.
(Matthew 6:34)
Do what you can do today
and what you do today is enough.
In Spirit, Jesus will take care of the rest. His Spirit will encircle all areas of concern and keep working them out for us… He speaks to us constantly in all the micro-seconds of our existence. He is a micro-second active Spirit that works aggressively all the time on our behalf.
He voice is tirelessly speaking to us… Listen!
"Today … listen to his voice.
The voice of God’s Spirit is full of living power.” (Heb. 4:8, 12)
Listen to His Voice through His Spirit which coaxes you through your thoughts as you are in His rest. Be calm and rest before Him… Listen!
His voice has Supremacy over the Universe. It is a powerful voice that changes things, and gives you insight on what to do “today.” Each day adds up and grows for you. His voice is forceful, moving the material, transforming hearts of those around you.
The battle is won when He Speaks, do what it prompts to do daily, and at each reckoning moment. It may come quietly, but it is dynamic in action producing great results. “And He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern” each day. (Matt. 6:33, NLT)
Respond to His voice. Follow its nudgings.
Small actions will produce distinctive effects.
His Voice is powerful and all earth moves when It speaks.
Today matters and listen to His voice today.
It will astound you what you will see.
So rest in His Spirit, Listen, Do, and See what happens.
Day by day it adds up.
Today matters… make today count.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Freakonomics...delightfully Divine Surprises
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
What is so fascinating about this business book is that so many are fascinated with it. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the HiddenSide of Everything has been at the top of best selling book lists for weeks. Author Steven D. Levitt (co-authored with Stephen J. Dubner) has taken economics to an intriguing application. Using economic principles in an unusual way, he found correlations between things that logically may not seem to relate at all.
It is how we look at things that makes a difference and Levitt and taken us down a road to look at things in a curious way. He uses mystery, surprise and intrigue to get his points across… (sounds like a trailer to a movie theme). He says, “tools of economics can be applied to subjects that are more interesting,” i.e., modern life’s way to use incentives, conventional wisdom is often wrong, experts tend to use information to their own advantage.
The book does not carry a central theme throughout but rather a random exploration of a variety of interesting stuff. The authors have given themselves permission to explore any “freakish curiosities” that captured their interests… thus the title "Freakonomics."
Some of the random discovers are...8 glasses of water a day don’t do anything for your health, most crack dealers live with their moms. When researching a crack gang in Chicago, it was found they run “crack” businesses, much like a corporate hierarchy would… big pay at the top and little pay for the foot soldiers. McDonald’s and the crack business have a lot in common. Addictive qualities of the crack business are similar to what draws grandma’s and grandchild to McDonald's every day.
So why would any one want to read this. I wondered the same thing. Out of curiosity I started reading it. It turned out to be fascinating and with a lot of surprises. They take a different look at common events that redirects our perspective on what is going on around us. I found their website to be equally interesting. If you aren’t into books, you will find some of their interesting stuff here:
http://www.freakonomics.com/
We are so fascinated by the mysterious, peculiar, unusual, unexpected. But in these unique views come new answers to things. We would benefit to look at things differently, find new answers…. and many may surprise us.
Jesus delighted in surprises.
Geffry Fields talks about this in his blog, Jesus Is Us, June 25, 2005 " Mystery of Spirit... Supernatural delights in surprises":
http://jesusisus.blogspot.com/2005/06/mystery-of-spirit-supernatural.html
The Spirit is faithful to give us answers, but in unusual ways. The Jesus Spirit comes to us many times in a surprising way.
“We don’t need to know how,
but that He will.”
In the midst of a storm, He came to the one’s He loved, but they thought He was a ghost. (Matthew 14:25-27)
Jesus, after His death, came back to talk with two of His followers along the road (Luke 24:16-17). They weren’t expecting Him there. They didn't even recognize Him although they were looking for Him. He came to them in a way that caught them by surprise.
He entered a room where the door was locked and appeared to His followers again after everyone thought He was dead and gone. Even with the doors locked and presumed inaccessible, Jesus come to those hiding in fear for their lives. (John 20:19)
(Even when we lock Him out, He still finds a way to show up!)
Jesus Spirit continues to do that. He comes to us when we least expect it and in mysterious and unusual ways.
No matter what is going on, look for Jesus to answer your heart’s desires but remember, He may show up in unexpected ways.
He delights to surprise us.
Again, you don’t need to know how He will answer a request you have, solve a problem you have, accomplish an ambitious goal you have, but you just need to know that He will.
Look for Jesus Spirit to appear “unexpectedly” in your life.
So the next time someone throws mud in your face, take another look at what just happened. It may be God’s element of a surprise for you. Jesus put mud in a guy’s eyes so he could see. (John 9:6)
Jesus appears through uncommon circumstances, the unbecoming,
the not-so-prestigious.
Some may say this is freaky, but don’t overlook the unusual as God’s answer for you . If we don’t look at things differently, we may miss the answer He has staring right at us. Look at the common, what is right there, and see where God has His surprise, your answer, veiled right before you.
Be open to His Spiritual creativity, have faith in little things, the peculiar, unexpected… it may be Jesus trying to appear to you in person.
Be delighted, He is coming, Right Now!, to surprise you.
Jesus will come when least expected,
so ALWAYS be expecting Him.
Look for Him in the unusual.
“Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior,
you work in strange and mysterious ways.”
(Isaiah 45:15, NLT)
4spirit@gmail.com
What is so fascinating about this business book is that so many are fascinated with it. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the HiddenSide of Everything has been at the top of best selling book lists for weeks. Author Steven D. Levitt (co-authored with Stephen J. Dubner) has taken economics to an intriguing application. Using economic principles in an unusual way, he found correlations between things that logically may not seem to relate at all.
It is how we look at things that makes a difference and Levitt and taken us down a road to look at things in a curious way. He uses mystery, surprise and intrigue to get his points across… (sounds like a trailer to a movie theme). He says, “tools of economics can be applied to subjects that are more interesting,” i.e., modern life’s way to use incentives, conventional wisdom is often wrong, experts tend to use information to their own advantage.
The book does not carry a central theme throughout but rather a random exploration of a variety of interesting stuff. The authors have given themselves permission to explore any “freakish curiosities” that captured their interests… thus the title "Freakonomics."
Some of the random discovers are...8 glasses of water a day don’t do anything for your health, most crack dealers live with their moms. When researching a crack gang in Chicago, it was found they run “crack” businesses, much like a corporate hierarchy would… big pay at the top and little pay for the foot soldiers. McDonald’s and the crack business have a lot in common. Addictive qualities of the crack business are similar to what draws grandma’s and grandchild to McDonald's every day.
So why would any one want to read this. I wondered the same thing. Out of curiosity I started reading it. It turned out to be fascinating and with a lot of surprises. They take a different look at common events that redirects our perspective on what is going on around us. I found their website to be equally interesting. If you aren’t into books, you will find some of their interesting stuff here:
http://www.freakonomics.com/
We are so fascinated by the mysterious, peculiar, unusual, unexpected. But in these unique views come new answers to things. We would benefit to look at things differently, find new answers…. and many may surprise us.
Jesus delighted in surprises.
Geffry Fields talks about this in his blog, Jesus Is Us, June 25, 2005 " Mystery of Spirit... Supernatural delights in surprises":
http://jesusisus.blogspot.com/2005/06/mystery-of-spirit-supernatural.html
The Spirit is faithful to give us answers, but in unusual ways. The Jesus Spirit comes to us many times in a surprising way.
“We don’t need to know how,
but that He will.”
In the midst of a storm, He came to the one’s He loved, but they thought He was a ghost. (Matthew 14:25-27)
Jesus, after His death, came back to talk with two of His followers along the road (Luke 24:16-17). They weren’t expecting Him there. They didn't even recognize Him although they were looking for Him. He came to them in a way that caught them by surprise.
He entered a room where the door was locked and appeared to His followers again after everyone thought He was dead and gone. Even with the doors locked and presumed inaccessible, Jesus come to those hiding in fear for their lives. (John 20:19)
(Even when we lock Him out, He still finds a way to show up!)
Jesus Spirit continues to do that. He comes to us when we least expect it and in mysterious and unusual ways.
No matter what is going on, look for Jesus to answer your heart’s desires but remember, He may show up in unexpected ways.
He delights to surprise us.
Again, you don’t need to know how He will answer a request you have, solve a problem you have, accomplish an ambitious goal you have, but you just need to know that He will.
Look for Jesus Spirit to appear “unexpectedly” in your life.
So the next time someone throws mud in your face, take another look at what just happened. It may be God’s element of a surprise for you. Jesus put mud in a guy’s eyes so he could see. (John 9:6)
Jesus appears through uncommon circumstances, the unbecoming,
the not-so-prestigious.
Some may say this is freaky, but don’t overlook the unusual as God’s answer for you . If we don’t look at things differently, we may miss the answer He has staring right at us. Look at the common, what is right there, and see where God has His surprise, your answer, veiled right before you.
Be open to His Spiritual creativity, have faith in little things, the peculiar, unexpected… it may be Jesus trying to appear to you in person.
Be delighted, He is coming, Right Now!, to surprise you.
Jesus will come when least expected,
so ALWAYS be expecting Him.
Look for Him in the unusual.
“Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior,
you work in strange and mysterious ways.”
(Isaiah 45:15, NLT)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)