by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Awakening the Entrepreneur Within by Michael Gerber shows how ordinary people can create extraordinary companies. Known for his E-myth series, Gerber at age 69, strikes out on a new venture he refers to as the dreaming room. He has been wanting to do this most of his life, and decided he hasn't burned up all his E-cells yet. Here's the process of the Entrepreneur about to "awaken" in you. It all begins in your newly found dreaming room.
To invent a new life out of nothing takes the Five Realities of the Entrepreneur.
Reality #1 An entrepreneur invents.
Reality #2 Entrepreneurs do not buy business opportunities, they create them.
Reality #3 Invention is contagious.
Reality #4 To an entrepreneur, the success of the invention, the business,
is measured by growth.
Reality #5 Everyone possess the ability to be an entrepreneur.
The entrepreneur personality has four dimensions.
The Dreamer
The Thinker
The Storyteller
The Leader
Each are in you and are part of the process of raising up the dream to be reality. It's to invent, conceive, articulate and build a new venture.
The Dreamer and the Dream
The dreamer invents ideas, then creates systems. Everything in a business needs a system to function, grow, thrive. Although at the beginning the dreamer stops, focuses, listens, feels. The awakening comes from this. Logic is not needed, the dreamer defies logic.
The best dreams of the entrepreneur are not personal dreams, but impersonal dreams. Dreams that serve your interests are personal; dreams serving other people's interests are impersonal. They care about creating it because it impacts so many people. They think about "what this will have for people who want to buy it." It's lasting value to the customer.
The personal dream limits one to one's self. The impersonal dream is much larger than one's self and impacts many who share in building it. What matters is the customer and treating them better than anyone else. It's a dream that has meaning for many. What's missing in every business... the system. When you see the system, the dream rolls. It then moves from a dream, to a vision, to a purpose, and mission. Results are then produced.
The Thinker and the Vision
Some fundamentals.
--All businesses require vision. To develop a vision requires a process.
--All visions are both personal and impersonal. A life vision, a business vision.
--Every company is an organization of people, relationships, functions, a flow that can be charted.
--An organization is an organization of systems. All systems merge into one system.
Take the dream apart. Study every detail and put it back together answering "what do I want." Then you re-dream again, and take it apart again... conceiving, creating process, systems and the scalability factor. The ten pillars of the most successful business in the world include the above four plus:
--There is no such thing as customer service, only commitment
--Master money, and everyone in your business must master money.
--Your people are not your business. Your business is your own reality. Your people are themselves, interested in themselves.
--Your business is an idea.
--You know more about your business than anyone else.
--A business must mean something. Never stop asking questions.
Design a business model that transforms itself and grows. Come to grips with your business model including your design, implementation, management (i.e., low cost, easy to enroll, easily accessible). Ask: "How are we going to get this done?" Revisit the "What?" you're getting done, for whom, and why it's important to them.
The Storyteller and the Purpose
The storyteller is the one who sings songs and tells his story to whomever will listen. It's the spirit of the story that grabs the heart of the listener. The story makes the purpose real, shows why the business is important. The story shows why a new company needs invented. The story grows within you and is you.
It's your story and you make it come true. For the story to be told you must tell it. For the risks to be taken, you must risk it. For the journey to be continued, you must continue it. For the mission to be accomplished, you must accomplish it.
The Leader and the Mission
The five essential skills to lead anything... concentration, discrimination, organization, innovation and communication. Everything you do as a leader is documented as a system, implemented as a system. Embrace ideas with your whole being. A business is a hierarchy of three stages.
The lowest is the practice... a self-operating system for lead generation, lead conversion and client fulfillment.
The next level is the business or many practices being tied together with a business management system to monitor, control and improve the operating system.
The third is the enterprise to lead management of the business to greater levels through inspiration, application, coaching and consulting. Then the company grows to multiple enterprises or regions. Most establish a practice but don't build, perfect or replicate what they started. There's wisdom in process... knowledge of the world, what it wants, knowing yourself and what you need, getting results and what you need in order to get them. Then knowing what's next and improving to get there.
You learn to take time to figure out what steps to take and take them one after another... to grow progressively. You learn not to move on until the step you are on is on sure footing. Getting everything under way falls back on your imagination... your energy, your spirit, your passion for your cause. You progressively move from dreaming, to thinking, to storytelling, to leading and missioneering. The old is thrown away. The new starts in your imagination.
More on Awakening the Entrepreneur Within and how to get involved in an exciting social network of entrepreneurs.
http://www.awakeningtheentrepreneur.com/
In The Beginning The Spirit of God created.
The source of all creation is His Spirit.
Nothing existed and Spirit created all things we see now, have seen, will ever see.
It all starts in Spirit, which is first a dream. Spirit gives us a dream then it shows us how to process the dream. Then Spirit empowers everything to release and make the dream into something we see, something that works, that exists.
Ezekiel pointed out that we must let the old go and allow the new to come about. "Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!"
(Ezekiel 18:31, NASB)
This is to put away the old and begin developing the new heart, a new way of looking and doing things. Our efforts are limited. "The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life."
(John 6:63, NLT)
This new heart will then change everything around you and all things will become new and beautiful, fresh like a new spring in a meadow. "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations."
(Ezekiel 36: 25-27, NLT)
The rules of the Spirit are filled with love, joy, peace. It's regulations give freedom, excitement and exhilaration in its process. The old rules wear you out, the new rules give you life... full and filling!
The New Spirit will begin rebuilding a new land for you to live. "I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one—a land of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards."
Ezekiel 37:14; 36:17 NLT)
And this New Spirit, the Spirit of creative power is yours for free... "how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask."
(Luke 11:13, NLT)
He will put it in us and He gives the Spirit "freely" for all who ask. This Spirit is given "freely" without reservation... For those who ask and keep asking.
The more you ask, the more Spirit is given. Spirit is the creator of all things and with Spirit all things are created with the Unlimited resources of Spirit... The Spirit which created the Universe. He doesn't ask us to keep asking because he is a stubborn God, but because He is a generous God and gives more, and more, the more we ask. So keep asking, ask for a lot, of Spirit, and allow the dream to be as Big as Spirit can create, The All-Universe creating Spirit.
The secret is to go into your dreaming room of Spirit, frequently, stay a while. Go into this re-invigorating meadow where fresh Springs of Spirit flow into and then through you and you employ the strategies of the vision that come over you.
The Spirit then goes ahead of you doing the miracles of the vision, mission you are set out to participate in Him to see come into being. The Spirit is the ultimate dreamer in you, the vision maker, the vision fulfiller, the path director and the driving force of the purpose with a mission that keeps you proclaiming jubilantly to all what you are doing.
Spirit-inspired vision is your driving power. It is the Spirit power of God that creates all this of beauty, creates new life, and significance. Then we all know, when we see its exuberance, that the very Spirit of God has done this.
Its significance lances so much beyond us. We know that something greater than us has Created, has dreamed through us and has maneuvered a mission of eternal entries.
And the Spirit of God is coming on us new, the old will pass away,
and He will give us a new heart
and He will give us a new land to live.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Predictably Irrational... Faith, the Irrational Trademark of Spirit
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely points out that our rational methods to evaluate economic and customer responses to the economy are not really rational. We are predictably irrational in how we make choices and function in lifestyle. Ariely specializes in behavioral economics. The way we gather information using controlled methods is based on human behavior being rational. Simply, human behavior is not rational; decisions are irrational, but predictably irrational.
Predictably Irrational proves this point, and continues to provide insight to how we respond to teetering life stimuli.... which is predictably irrational.
The truth about relativity is we do compare things to one another, but we compare what's easily understood and avoid what is not. Our view of our own attractiveness affects our view of attractiveness of others. The more of what we have promotes having more of what we have. So those who have, want more, even when our rational side thinks we have enough.
We anchor ourselves to initial prices. Our first purchase price affects the rest... how we review them. It's not so much supply and demand affecting prices. It's not so much demand as what the price was when we first bought it. Behavioral thinking takes us back to what we once paid for it... our anchor.
Zero cost is still irresistible. If it's free we will try to get it no matter what it costs us. We will buy one and get one free faster than buy two for the price of one. We will get free now, and be willing to pay later. We will pay more for free time. For example we will pay to be a preferred customer so we won't have to wait on the phone, in the line. Make something free and people will run to you.
Social norms are stronger than market norms. Volunteerism is big. We would rather do something for nothing that means something to us than to get paid for it. When we introduce market norms into social norms, we violate social norms and hurt relationships. For example, on a date, when buying dinner (social norm), we will insult our date if we suggest we want something back in return (market norm). The two ideals don't mix. Treating customers using social norms is more powerful; it promotes loyalty.
Courtesy wins over contract. Social rewards strongly motivate behavior... which becomes a predictably irrational factor. The social norm says if your are flexible, concerned, we are willing to pitch in without additional compensation. Social norms applied in business out-market market norms.
When aroused sensuously, we do things we won't do in a normal state when we are rational, in a sound mind. When emotionally or sensuously aroused we become predictably irrational.
Procrastination can be controlled when process is divvied out in small parts, short-term specific deadlines. People who procrastinate will always procrastinate. You can't fix it by trying to change the behavior of procrastination, you must use controls, guides to redirect behavior. Rational approaches don't have an effect because procrastination is based on conditioned behavior. So tools and guidelines are necessary to control behavior patterns. It is good to admit procrastination, get the tools designed to help you. Planners, technology, people assistants... devices that interrupt your conditioned behavior and force you to stop and change course.
If we own it, we think it's worth more. We value it more than other people do. What we have we fall in love with. The more work we put into something, the more we value, feel a sense of attachment to it and ownership of it. What we want and dwell about having, we start putting ownership on it before we actually own it. Ownership is not limited to just material things. It can be ideas, points of view, politics, sports. Ownership increases over time and it is hard to move backwards...downsizing our home, our cars, tools and toys.
Closing doors on options we have is difficult for human behavior to do. We want to keep options open and not close any doors. So we have a tendency to run back and forth to them. It is difficult to break from this behavior and spend time on only that which is really important. This running back and forth to lifestyle, mental options not only takes our time but it wears us out. Doors which we see as tied to our dreams are hard to close. So we're irrationally compulsive to keep these doors open... when we would be better off to shut the one we need to shut.
Expectation creates the result of the expectation. For instance, when expecting a movie will be good, we will find ways to like it and enjoy it. Our expectations, perspective, beliefs can blind us to the truth. A third party can help us see through tainted expectations. Like a placebo, we think the higher priced tastes better, is better than the lower priced. We assume quality is less in lower price. Consider quality, value with price.
Why we are dishonest. Most everyone is dishonest about something. One may not even take a pencil from the office, but will do personal work at night using the office electricity. Honesty is subjective to how a person views honesty. So honesty varies. When given the opportunity, most will cheat. When we think about honesty, like right after reading the 10 Commandments in the Bible, we deter dishonest actions. When removed from these benchmarks, we stray to dishonesty. So an oath, the rules, must be recounted just before temptation. When professional ethics decline, it's hard to get them back. Whatever reminds us of ethical principles needs frequent review.
We have a tendency to cheat more with non-monetary objects, than when dealing with money. When given a chance, people cheat. But when money is tied to cheating, we then justify it to go for the money (i.e., stock option backdating).
We are far less rational in our decision making than standard economic theory assumes. Our irrational behaviors are systematic and predictable. Ariely concludes that "economics would make a lot more sense based on how we actually behave, than on how we should behave."
"What we digest (through our eyes, ears, brain) is not necessarily a true reflection of reality. We are limited to the tools nature gives us, limited by the quality and accuracy of these tools. We need to force ourselves to think differently about our decisions... based on actuality."
http://www.predictablyirrational.com/
So what is faith?
It's predictably irrational.
Faith is what we hope for but have no evidence to support it will happen but we believe it will happen anyway, regardless of circumstances or evidence.
The concept of Spirit is that the very Spirit of God will do things based on faith alone. This requires no evidence or physical rational, proven methods that it will happen. In many cases it may be viewed as impossible according to human, world and physics standards. So faith is what Jesus said is what our lives are based on and it is predictably irrational.
We are saved, brought into His Kingdom by faith...mere belief in Him and turning from our other ways and following His ways. To accept His teachings on faith. And to know everything in our lives are provided by faith.
Just do a keyword search at
http://www.biblegateway.com/
and type in "faith" for Matthew through John. Look at all the applications of faith. If this is not an exhilarating case for faith...! (Caution: you may become overly inspired by just reading the Scriptures that have the word "faith" in them.)
Now try Hebrews. Just look at the references to faith in this letter. Here's just part of it:
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see (will materialize). By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him."
(Hebrews 11: selective verses, NLT)
Then the Hebrew writer continues to list all the anointed ones in the Bible and their walk of faith. He mentions over 20 examples of the most prominent men of God who ever lived that they lived by faith.
It is like ... do we get this picture?
It's all about faith.
It's all about that miracles are manufactured in faith.
It's that all life substance comes from faith.
Do we get this yet?
Is this not predictably irrational, but it is the way that in the world we work miracles, live in love; it's where peace and joy abounds exuberantly.
The Hebrew writer then draws this conclusion:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."
(Hebrews 12:1, NLT)
Don't stop there, keep on reading. It keeps getting better and never stops... forever, our faith promises, its forever. And live exuberantly in faith... the assurance that great things are on the way.
And we can go to the bank on it!
Make your withdraw from the bank today and life in the abundance of love, joy, peace, power through faith... knowing it will happen. So be expectant as it journeys to you.
Now, this is too hard to grasp, to be figured out logically, rationally. But Jesus said, this is the way it is and will be. Those who come to Him by faith, will be received into His kingdom of eternal love, joy, grace, and power. It's all about living by faith and trusting in Him.
How do we understand this?
We can't... only in His Spirit.
As the Apostle Paul said,
"And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, 'Who can know the Lord's thoughts?'"
(I Corinthians 2:12-16, NLT)
We must live in Spirit to understand Spirit, which we really can't understand but accept it through faith. To understand this, and see it work for us, it requires being Spiritual, to operate in Spirit as our main mode of operation. So the only catch is we must give our minds over to Spirit and live in the mind of Christ... a Spirit function. Our thoughts and education are based on rational thinking.
We can analyze and figure things out with our minds.
But Jesus said you can't.
The Apostle Paul says we can't.
So we must learn to trust Spirit, that all things work out through faith, trust in that God's power is working on our behalf.
"My righteous ones will live by faith.
We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
For every child of God defeats this evil world,
and we achieve this victory through our faith."
(Hebrews 10:38,39; 1 John 5:4, NLT)
4spirit@gmail.com
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely points out that our rational methods to evaluate economic and customer responses to the economy are not really rational. We are predictably irrational in how we make choices and function in lifestyle. Ariely specializes in behavioral economics. The way we gather information using controlled methods is based on human behavior being rational. Simply, human behavior is not rational; decisions are irrational, but predictably irrational.
Predictably Irrational proves this point, and continues to provide insight to how we respond to teetering life stimuli.... which is predictably irrational.
The truth about relativity is we do compare things to one another, but we compare what's easily understood and avoid what is not. Our view of our own attractiveness affects our view of attractiveness of others. The more of what we have promotes having more of what we have. So those who have, want more, even when our rational side thinks we have enough.
We anchor ourselves to initial prices. Our first purchase price affects the rest... how we review them. It's not so much supply and demand affecting prices. It's not so much demand as what the price was when we first bought it. Behavioral thinking takes us back to what we once paid for it... our anchor.
Zero cost is still irresistible. If it's free we will try to get it no matter what it costs us. We will buy one and get one free faster than buy two for the price of one. We will get free now, and be willing to pay later. We will pay more for free time. For example we will pay to be a preferred customer so we won't have to wait on the phone, in the line. Make something free and people will run to you.
Social norms are stronger than market norms. Volunteerism is big. We would rather do something for nothing that means something to us than to get paid for it. When we introduce market norms into social norms, we violate social norms and hurt relationships. For example, on a date, when buying dinner (social norm), we will insult our date if we suggest we want something back in return (market norm). The two ideals don't mix. Treating customers using social norms is more powerful; it promotes loyalty.
Courtesy wins over contract. Social rewards strongly motivate behavior... which becomes a predictably irrational factor. The social norm says if your are flexible, concerned, we are willing to pitch in without additional compensation. Social norms applied in business out-market market norms.
When aroused sensuously, we do things we won't do in a normal state when we are rational, in a sound mind. When emotionally or sensuously aroused we become predictably irrational.
Procrastination can be controlled when process is divvied out in small parts, short-term specific deadlines. People who procrastinate will always procrastinate. You can't fix it by trying to change the behavior of procrastination, you must use controls, guides to redirect behavior. Rational approaches don't have an effect because procrastination is based on conditioned behavior. So tools and guidelines are necessary to control behavior patterns. It is good to admit procrastination, get the tools designed to help you. Planners, technology, people assistants... devices that interrupt your conditioned behavior and force you to stop and change course.
If we own it, we think it's worth more. We value it more than other people do. What we have we fall in love with. The more work we put into something, the more we value, feel a sense of attachment to it and ownership of it. What we want and dwell about having, we start putting ownership on it before we actually own it. Ownership is not limited to just material things. It can be ideas, points of view, politics, sports. Ownership increases over time and it is hard to move backwards...downsizing our home, our cars, tools and toys.
Closing doors on options we have is difficult for human behavior to do. We want to keep options open and not close any doors. So we have a tendency to run back and forth to them. It is difficult to break from this behavior and spend time on only that which is really important. This running back and forth to lifestyle, mental options not only takes our time but it wears us out. Doors which we see as tied to our dreams are hard to close. So we're irrationally compulsive to keep these doors open... when we would be better off to shut the one we need to shut.
Expectation creates the result of the expectation. For instance, when expecting a movie will be good, we will find ways to like it and enjoy it. Our expectations, perspective, beliefs can blind us to the truth. A third party can help us see through tainted expectations. Like a placebo, we think the higher priced tastes better, is better than the lower priced. We assume quality is less in lower price. Consider quality, value with price.
Why we are dishonest. Most everyone is dishonest about something. One may not even take a pencil from the office, but will do personal work at night using the office electricity. Honesty is subjective to how a person views honesty. So honesty varies. When given the opportunity, most will cheat. When we think about honesty, like right after reading the 10 Commandments in the Bible, we deter dishonest actions. When removed from these benchmarks, we stray to dishonesty. So an oath, the rules, must be recounted just before temptation. When professional ethics decline, it's hard to get them back. Whatever reminds us of ethical principles needs frequent review.
We have a tendency to cheat more with non-monetary objects, than when dealing with money. When given a chance, people cheat. But when money is tied to cheating, we then justify it to go for the money (i.e., stock option backdating).
We are far less rational in our decision making than standard economic theory assumes. Our irrational behaviors are systematic and predictable. Ariely concludes that "economics would make a lot more sense based on how we actually behave, than on how we should behave."
"What we digest (through our eyes, ears, brain) is not necessarily a true reflection of reality. We are limited to the tools nature gives us, limited by the quality and accuracy of these tools. We need to force ourselves to think differently about our decisions... based on actuality."
http://www.predictablyirrational.com/
So what is faith?
It's predictably irrational.
Faith is what we hope for but have no evidence to support it will happen but we believe it will happen anyway, regardless of circumstances or evidence.
The concept of Spirit is that the very Spirit of God will do things based on faith alone. This requires no evidence or physical rational, proven methods that it will happen. In many cases it may be viewed as impossible according to human, world and physics standards. So faith is what Jesus said is what our lives are based on and it is predictably irrational.
We are saved, brought into His Kingdom by faith...mere belief in Him and turning from our other ways and following His ways. To accept His teachings on faith. And to know everything in our lives are provided by faith.
Just do a keyword search at
http://www.biblegateway.com/
and type in "faith" for Matthew through John. Look at all the applications of faith. If this is not an exhilarating case for faith...! (Caution: you may become overly inspired by just reading the Scriptures that have the word "faith" in them.)
Now try Hebrews. Just look at the references to faith in this letter. Here's just part of it:
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see (will materialize). By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him."
(Hebrews 11: selective verses, NLT)
Then the Hebrew writer continues to list all the anointed ones in the Bible and their walk of faith. He mentions over 20 examples of the most prominent men of God who ever lived that they lived by faith.
It is like ... do we get this picture?
It's all about faith.
It's all about that miracles are manufactured in faith.
It's that all life substance comes from faith.
Do we get this yet?
Is this not predictably irrational, but it is the way that in the world we work miracles, live in love; it's where peace and joy abounds exuberantly.
The Hebrew writer then draws this conclusion:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."
(Hebrews 12:1, NLT)
Don't stop there, keep on reading. It keeps getting better and never stops... forever, our faith promises, its forever. And live exuberantly in faith... the assurance that great things are on the way.
And we can go to the bank on it!
Make your withdraw from the bank today and life in the abundance of love, joy, peace, power through faith... knowing it will happen. So be expectant as it journeys to you.
Now, this is too hard to grasp, to be figured out logically, rationally. But Jesus said, this is the way it is and will be. Those who come to Him by faith, will be received into His kingdom of eternal love, joy, grace, and power. It's all about living by faith and trusting in Him.
How do we understand this?
We can't... only in His Spirit.
As the Apostle Paul said,
"And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, 'Who can know the Lord's thoughts?'"
(I Corinthians 2:12-16, NLT)
We must live in Spirit to understand Spirit, which we really can't understand but accept it through faith. To understand this, and see it work for us, it requires being Spiritual, to operate in Spirit as our main mode of operation. So the only catch is we must give our minds over to Spirit and live in the mind of Christ... a Spirit function. Our thoughts and education are based on rational thinking.
We can analyze and figure things out with our minds.
But Jesus said you can't.
The Apostle Paul says we can't.
So we must learn to trust Spirit, that all things work out through faith, trust in that God's power is working on our behalf.
"My righteous ones will live by faith.
We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
For every child of God defeats this evil world,
and we achieve this victory through our faith."
(Hebrews 10:38,39; 1 John 5:4, NLT)
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Compassionate Samurai... Warrior of the Lamb
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
The Compassionate Samurai by Brian Klemmer is leading lives with boldness to create a world that works for everyone, with no one left out. The Samurai were the feared, and respected warriors of their day. They were known for bravery, honor, personal loyalty. Samurai means "to serve." Klemmer coined the phrase compassionate samurai to reflect someone strong on values, can make anything happen, with a life devoted to service.
Your business, organization, network can excel while living by the compassionate samurai code: commitment, personal responsibility, contribution, focus, honesty, honor, trust, abundance, boldness, and knowledge. With these tools, or ammunition, you can go into the marketplace and wage a great war. Klemmer recommends you focus on one trait every week. The last chapter summaries his key points throughout the book.
Commitment
Say it and begin taking steps. When you put your thoughts into words, it begins moving you toward your goals. Say what you mean, do what you say, and be bold in your promises... that you absolutely commit to keep. Make agreements based on priorities, avoiding trivial matters. You're committed to do more than you can. Your work ethic, dedication, and self confidence contribute to making big agreements and keeping them.
Personal Responsibility
Everything you have and don't have, and ever will have in life is because of the choices you make. Your quality of life or lack of quality of life is the result of your choices. We all have freedom. Our choices increase our freedom, or limit our freedom. No one is your problem. You take responsibility for everything. God is all-powerful. We are responsible to use the power and gifts provided to us.
Contribution
"How can I serve this person, organization, or country." The compassionate samurai gives without thought of personal gain. They are not only contributors but living gifts. They take care of themselves so they can give more to others recognizing the six benefits of giving: it feels good; you give to get; it builds loyalty; it increases your power; giving without recognition increases your power; it increases your spirituality. Giving without recognition causes something supernatural to occur-- you gain influence that's inexplicable. Thinking service before self, give them what they want, not what you want to give them.
Focus
Anchor reality to your visions. Focus turns average talent, small amounts of time, or minimal resources to produce extraordinary results. Focus leverages power.The three challenges of focus are inability to focus, focusing on things that make you ineffective, being unaware of what's around you. Life is full of distractions, so the compassionate samurai learns to not let surroundings distract them. Their focus is on service or contributions, regardless of their circumstances. They stay focused on effective things, forget failures or successes...giving full attention to what's here now. Not being "here now" kills effectiveness and intimacy. Compassionate samurai are focused but still aware of what's going on around them, without letting it impair their focus. It's a 360 degree awareness. Hearing others, taking that in consideration as you present yourself.
Honesty
Say what you mean, mean what you say. You can tell the truth and still not be honest. It's a true picture of yourself or circumstances involved. We are dishonest when we tell something that isn't true, give an illusion of what's not so, not telling what is so, pretending to know. Honesty lets your heart show. Transparent or honest. Honesty has integrity, sincerity while transparent is free of pretense, visible, being understood. Honesty is truthful on our own experiences, and uses diplomacy in respect of others... giving them the right to share feedback or not.
Honor
Hold principles above personal benefit. It's respecting others, not being condescending to others, listening to others, speaking well of others and their organizations. Honor is about respect, but learning to respect yourself as well as others. When you dishonor or belittle others, you make yourself small. Honor sees that everyone wins around you.
Trust
The ability to trust others and themselves with their life. "I love you" is a powerful phrase we should share freely, frequently with those close to us. The same holds true for the phrase, "I trust you." Those who lack trust for themselves, distrust others. So build up your trust for yourself through honor and honesty. Trust is a great personal power. it produces synergistic power in teamwork, builds intimate relationships, releases time freedom and efficiency, makes service stand out, and gives you a feeling of exhilaration. When trust is betrayed, it's very difficult to regain. Trust is built and rebuilt by making commitments and keeping them, making yourself accountable to others.
Abundance
Be willing to pay the price. Before anything happens, it must first happen in your mind. It must take root there. The compassionate samurai realizes that his wholeness and completeness doesn't depend on external circumstances. It's about being connected to God who is infinite. You are complete being connected to Him. Then your thoughts create the right habits that facilitate perpetual wealth. Even when current circumstances may be dire, train your mind to buy into your future reality and continue advancing toward it.
Keys to abundance are giving--practice tithing. Receiving freely, learn to accept graciously and feel you are worthy of it. Learn to say "thank you" and leave it at that when people compliment you. Use systems to create profits. Don't think "I can do this," think "How can I?"
There's no lack; there's more than enough. You are more than enough. Thus, there is an abundant supply of everything you need. Humility is understanding God is the supply not you.
So, the economy, recession, inflation, don't sway you. The compassionate samurai says that if abundance does not seem to exist, I'll have to create it. Take life on.
Boldness
We have courage. But are we displaying it? The compassionate samurai see problems as a set of weights. The more weight (bigger the challenge) the stronger we get when we take the problem on. Pressure is the opportunity to awaken the sleeping beauty of courage inside. Courage is an attitude of confronting danger or your greatest fear. Courage does not deny fear, it recognizes fear as reality, but acts valiantly in spite of it. Practice courage on the day by day opportunities. Climb out on the limb until it breaks, then dust yourself off and do it again.
Keep the potential rewards and benefits before you. Create your support team of lions. Make friends, help them. Leverage your strength. If God is with you, who can be against you. Courage is not an option; it's a way of life. When you are scared and want to back down, then is the time to go faster.
Knowledge
Specialized knowledge provides you the edge. Compassionate samurai pursue excellence, always seeking to surpass their current level. Satisfaction and contentment come when you are where you're supposed to be. When you're aligned to your purpose, things don't matter unless they support that purpose. No matter where you are now, you always have more to learn. Be humble enough to receive instruction even from those you see as less than you. Some of the greatest knowledge you can tap exists right in your circle of influence.
Finishing Strong
Now put the 10 traits of Compassionate Samurai character to work. Re-read each chapter again and again, and use repetition in actions.The idea is to make these qualities automatic. Klemmer has exercises in this chapter to help you do that for each quality.
http://www.klemmer.com/
Jesus had so much of the samurai characteristics. He is gentle, kind, caring. He held children with much tenderness with a preference for them. But He was militant as a warrior to the critical spirit of the Pharisees.
To the one's who hurt, He was kind and gentle, compassionate and used His powers to heal them. To the one's who were arrogant He was cutting as a sword making them aware of their coming demise. As the samurai was so loyal to his superiors, Jesus expressed great loyalties to His Superior, God the Father. He said He would do nothing outside God the Father... completely devoted to His Superior.
Jesus also warned he did not come to bring peace but a sword. He walked the earth in peace, but wickedness would come to an end violently. "Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword." 'I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!' "If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."
(Matthew 10:33-39, NLT)
Our battle on earth is much like the Samurai's. They fought to the end courageously. Committed to fight for what they valued even if it would take them to their death. They knew the risks. Faced their risks, but they faced fear with courage. Jesus in facing the cross was in human fear. He pleaded with God for strength because the human side of him had great fear.
But the strength He drew from the Spirit of God gave Him the edge to carry out the most courageous assignment anyone has ever dared to take on. And without the Spirit of God, He could not have completed His mission which required great perseverance, courage, to overcome unbelievable physical pain, but He held on to complete what God had for Him to do that would change the world, universe forever. Only with the Supernatural Power of the Holy Spirit could He withstand all the pain, conniving and opposition to complete His mission.
As Jesus was privileged to have the Holy Spirit Power, we are too. We have the same privilege to attain the Supernatural Power of Spirit for all we face. The greater the mission, the greater the challenge, the more the Spirit will be poured into you to give you Supernatural Strength. When we seek it, we will attain it. That's why our strength is in prayer, going into the Inner Chamber of God for our Strength in Spirit.
Can we live out our purpose and mission... even if it means death to close relationships, giving up people and circumstance closest to us, even when these reject our mission? Are you so close to God you know what your mission is and you fulfill it even if it means total loss?
But loss of this life and benefits of this life, will eventually have its rewards. The compassionate samurai kept his eyes on the rewards. There are short-term rewards, those that will come eventually on earth, and long-term, those that will come in heaven. All the silver and gold belongs to us, those who follow the Lord as warriors.
"The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies."
(Haggai 2:8, NLT)
Are we warriors in Spirit, God is using in Spirit to defeat the strongholds evil in spirit that surround the universe, that war against us. The gold and silver will be returned to His Servants.
"For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."
(Ephesians 6:11-13, NLT)
We fight these strongholds, but we have the power to destroy them.
Those who fight to the end will.
If we don't quit, we will win.
"The Son of Man... held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death."
(Revelations 1:13,16,18, NLT)
At the final battle we will win.
Jesus will return with a Sword for the final victory
and we will win, forever winners in our faith,
in our loyalty, in our mission for Jesus' Kingdom to come on earth as in Heaven.
"And everyone will hate you because you are my followers.
But the one who endures (perseveres, suffers through) to the end will be saved."
(Mark 13:12-14, NLT)
Fight the Fight now, with the Sword of Spirit. Evil does not like good. But the Good, the Righteousness of God will prevail. We are to fight the fight against evil in the marketplace.
We are called as warriors in the marketplace.
No matter how severe the opposition, if we fight to the end, we will win. Those who endure to the end will win.
If you don't quit, you will win.
It's guaranteed. It's an eternal guarantee.
Victory will come for those who persevere, even to the end. Victories are yours along the way.The way includes a life of Spirit, a life of prayer intercession, in our prayers the Spirit, the Lord all Powerful, fights for us.
As we live a life of living in prayer and constant contact in the Spirit, the Power of Spirit wages our the wars, fights our battles and our victory is guaranteed.
Live in the Power of Spirit.
Don't quit, depend on God's Spirit
and His unmatchable Power and... you will win!
4spirit@gmail.com
The Compassionate Samurai by Brian Klemmer is leading lives with boldness to create a world that works for everyone, with no one left out. The Samurai were the feared, and respected warriors of their day. They were known for bravery, honor, personal loyalty. Samurai means "to serve." Klemmer coined the phrase compassionate samurai to reflect someone strong on values, can make anything happen, with a life devoted to service.
Your business, organization, network can excel while living by the compassionate samurai code: commitment, personal responsibility, contribution, focus, honesty, honor, trust, abundance, boldness, and knowledge. With these tools, or ammunition, you can go into the marketplace and wage a great war. Klemmer recommends you focus on one trait every week. The last chapter summaries his key points throughout the book.
Commitment
Say it and begin taking steps. When you put your thoughts into words, it begins moving you toward your goals. Say what you mean, do what you say, and be bold in your promises... that you absolutely commit to keep. Make agreements based on priorities, avoiding trivial matters. You're committed to do more than you can. Your work ethic, dedication, and self confidence contribute to making big agreements and keeping them.
Personal Responsibility
Everything you have and don't have, and ever will have in life is because of the choices you make. Your quality of life or lack of quality of life is the result of your choices. We all have freedom. Our choices increase our freedom, or limit our freedom. No one is your problem. You take responsibility for everything. God is all-powerful. We are responsible to use the power and gifts provided to us.
Contribution
"How can I serve this person, organization, or country." The compassionate samurai gives without thought of personal gain. They are not only contributors but living gifts. They take care of themselves so they can give more to others recognizing the six benefits of giving: it feels good; you give to get; it builds loyalty; it increases your power; giving without recognition increases your power; it increases your spirituality. Giving without recognition causes something supernatural to occur-- you gain influence that's inexplicable. Thinking service before self, give them what they want, not what you want to give them.
Focus
Anchor reality to your visions. Focus turns average talent, small amounts of time, or minimal resources to produce extraordinary results. Focus leverages power.The three challenges of focus are inability to focus, focusing on things that make you ineffective, being unaware of what's around you. Life is full of distractions, so the compassionate samurai learns to not let surroundings distract them. Their focus is on service or contributions, regardless of their circumstances. They stay focused on effective things, forget failures or successes...giving full attention to what's here now. Not being "here now" kills effectiveness and intimacy. Compassionate samurai are focused but still aware of what's going on around them, without letting it impair their focus. It's a 360 degree awareness. Hearing others, taking that in consideration as you present yourself.
Honesty
Say what you mean, mean what you say. You can tell the truth and still not be honest. It's a true picture of yourself or circumstances involved. We are dishonest when we tell something that isn't true, give an illusion of what's not so, not telling what is so, pretending to know. Honesty lets your heart show. Transparent or honest. Honesty has integrity, sincerity while transparent is free of pretense, visible, being understood. Honesty is truthful on our own experiences, and uses diplomacy in respect of others... giving them the right to share feedback or not.
Honor
Hold principles above personal benefit. It's respecting others, not being condescending to others, listening to others, speaking well of others and their organizations. Honor is about respect, but learning to respect yourself as well as others. When you dishonor or belittle others, you make yourself small. Honor sees that everyone wins around you.
Trust
The ability to trust others and themselves with their life. "I love you" is a powerful phrase we should share freely, frequently with those close to us. The same holds true for the phrase, "I trust you." Those who lack trust for themselves, distrust others. So build up your trust for yourself through honor and honesty. Trust is a great personal power. it produces synergistic power in teamwork, builds intimate relationships, releases time freedom and efficiency, makes service stand out, and gives you a feeling of exhilaration. When trust is betrayed, it's very difficult to regain. Trust is built and rebuilt by making commitments and keeping them, making yourself accountable to others.
Abundance
Be willing to pay the price. Before anything happens, it must first happen in your mind. It must take root there. The compassionate samurai realizes that his wholeness and completeness doesn't depend on external circumstances. It's about being connected to God who is infinite. You are complete being connected to Him. Then your thoughts create the right habits that facilitate perpetual wealth. Even when current circumstances may be dire, train your mind to buy into your future reality and continue advancing toward it.
Keys to abundance are giving--practice tithing. Receiving freely, learn to accept graciously and feel you are worthy of it. Learn to say "thank you" and leave it at that when people compliment you. Use systems to create profits. Don't think "I can do this," think "How can I?"
There's no lack; there's more than enough. You are more than enough. Thus, there is an abundant supply of everything you need. Humility is understanding God is the supply not you.
So, the economy, recession, inflation, don't sway you. The compassionate samurai says that if abundance does not seem to exist, I'll have to create it. Take life on.
Boldness
We have courage. But are we displaying it? The compassionate samurai see problems as a set of weights. The more weight (bigger the challenge) the stronger we get when we take the problem on. Pressure is the opportunity to awaken the sleeping beauty of courage inside. Courage is an attitude of confronting danger or your greatest fear. Courage does not deny fear, it recognizes fear as reality, but acts valiantly in spite of it. Practice courage on the day by day opportunities. Climb out on the limb until it breaks, then dust yourself off and do it again.
Keep the potential rewards and benefits before you. Create your support team of lions. Make friends, help them. Leverage your strength. If God is with you, who can be against you. Courage is not an option; it's a way of life. When you are scared and want to back down, then is the time to go faster.
Knowledge
Specialized knowledge provides you the edge. Compassionate samurai pursue excellence, always seeking to surpass their current level. Satisfaction and contentment come when you are where you're supposed to be. When you're aligned to your purpose, things don't matter unless they support that purpose. No matter where you are now, you always have more to learn. Be humble enough to receive instruction even from those you see as less than you. Some of the greatest knowledge you can tap exists right in your circle of influence.
Finishing Strong
Now put the 10 traits of Compassionate Samurai character to work. Re-read each chapter again and again, and use repetition in actions.The idea is to make these qualities automatic. Klemmer has exercises in this chapter to help you do that for each quality.
http://www.klemmer.com/
Jesus had so much of the samurai characteristics. He is gentle, kind, caring. He held children with much tenderness with a preference for them. But He was militant as a warrior to the critical spirit of the Pharisees.
To the one's who hurt, He was kind and gentle, compassionate and used His powers to heal them. To the one's who were arrogant He was cutting as a sword making them aware of their coming demise. As the samurai was so loyal to his superiors, Jesus expressed great loyalties to His Superior, God the Father. He said He would do nothing outside God the Father... completely devoted to His Superior.
Jesus also warned he did not come to bring peace but a sword. He walked the earth in peace, but wickedness would come to an end violently. "Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword." 'I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!' "If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."
(Matthew 10:33-39, NLT)
Our battle on earth is much like the Samurai's. They fought to the end courageously. Committed to fight for what they valued even if it would take them to their death. They knew the risks. Faced their risks, but they faced fear with courage. Jesus in facing the cross was in human fear. He pleaded with God for strength because the human side of him had great fear.
But the strength He drew from the Spirit of God gave Him the edge to carry out the most courageous assignment anyone has ever dared to take on. And without the Spirit of God, He could not have completed His mission which required great perseverance, courage, to overcome unbelievable physical pain, but He held on to complete what God had for Him to do that would change the world, universe forever. Only with the Supernatural Power of the Holy Spirit could He withstand all the pain, conniving and opposition to complete His mission.
As Jesus was privileged to have the Holy Spirit Power, we are too. We have the same privilege to attain the Supernatural Power of Spirit for all we face. The greater the mission, the greater the challenge, the more the Spirit will be poured into you to give you Supernatural Strength. When we seek it, we will attain it. That's why our strength is in prayer, going into the Inner Chamber of God for our Strength in Spirit.
Can we live out our purpose and mission... even if it means death to close relationships, giving up people and circumstance closest to us, even when these reject our mission? Are you so close to God you know what your mission is and you fulfill it even if it means total loss?
But loss of this life and benefits of this life, will eventually have its rewards. The compassionate samurai kept his eyes on the rewards. There are short-term rewards, those that will come eventually on earth, and long-term, those that will come in heaven. All the silver and gold belongs to us, those who follow the Lord as warriors.
"The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies."
(Haggai 2:8, NLT)
Are we warriors in Spirit, God is using in Spirit to defeat the strongholds evil in spirit that surround the universe, that war against us. The gold and silver will be returned to His Servants.
"For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."
(Ephesians 6:11-13, NLT)
We fight these strongholds, but we have the power to destroy them.
Those who fight to the end will.
If we don't quit, we will win.
"The Son of Man... held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death."
(Revelations 1:13,16,18, NLT)
At the final battle we will win.
Jesus will return with a Sword for the final victory
and we will win, forever winners in our faith,
in our loyalty, in our mission for Jesus' Kingdom to come on earth as in Heaven.
"And everyone will hate you because you are my followers.
But the one who endures (perseveres, suffers through) to the end will be saved."
(Mark 13:12-14, NLT)
Fight the Fight now, with the Sword of Spirit. Evil does not like good. But the Good, the Righteousness of God will prevail. We are to fight the fight against evil in the marketplace.
We are called as warriors in the marketplace.
No matter how severe the opposition, if we fight to the end, we will win. Those who endure to the end will win.
If you don't quit, you will win.
It's guaranteed. It's an eternal guarantee.
Victory will come for those who persevere, even to the end. Victories are yours along the way.The way includes a life of Spirit, a life of prayer intercession, in our prayers the Spirit, the Lord all Powerful, fights for us.
As we live a life of living in prayer and constant contact in the Spirit, the Power of Spirit wages our the wars, fights our battles and our victory is guaranteed.
Live in the Power of Spirit.
Don't quit, depend on God's Spirit
and His unmatchable Power and... you will win!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Become a better you... others become better too
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Become a Better You by Joel Osteen inspires you to build a better you regardless of what's going on around you. Use what is around you to plant the seeds that will lead you to greatness. His theme is that your life may not seem to be the best it can be, but you can become better through it. When you become better, then you will see life become better for you.
God wants you to be what he created you to be. What God created you to be you can be confident He will do His part, so do your part.
Seven Keys open the doors to a better you:
1. Keep pressing forward.
2. Be positive toward yourself.
3. Develop better relationships.
4. Form better habits.
5. Embrace the place where you are.
6. Develop your inner life.
7. Stay passionate about life.
You could easily make these your daily affirmations and prayers. And in prayer ask God to help you in these areas and then affirm these to yourself all day long... trusting God is with you and helping you.
Joel has 31 chapters in Become a Better You. A life changing read would be to read one chapter a day for a month, while committing to make one change a day during this time. Do this again for another month and I see this process with Joel's book to be life transforming. He deals with some critical issues which generally plague our society today. Here's just a brief glimpse of what he highlights in the seven keys.
Keep pressing on.
Move from yesterday. Defeat rejections of the past with new directions for today. Your dreams deserve new beginnings. God promises "New Things" for your life constantly. Avoid people who hold you back, and connect with people who want to move forward with you. Your family history, if dysfunctional, doesn't have to be yours. Tap into God's power. Break the curse of the past and learn to function beyond the dysfunctional. Believe in your generational blessings as a Child of God and discover the destiny God has for you. God had great things for you at birth, your destiny, and in your dreams, your heart's desires, know that God put them there...to be fulfilled.
Be positive toward yourself.
Stop accusing yourself and using your own voice in your head, from your mouth, to put you down. Nothing you have done is too much for God's mercy. Like yourself, God does. Get in line with God's likeness of you. What you send out comes back. So send out good. Use words that bless and build up others. Make your mouth a source of positive declaration.
Be a continuous positive self-talk person and proclaim positive ideas to others. What you say to yourself you become. What you say to others, they become.
Develop Better Relationships.
Be a giver. Give to those who can't give back to you. Give compliments to others. This makes someone's day... God will make yours. Be a peacemaker. Blessed are the peacemakers. Invest in people's emotional bank account... it eventually pays back dividends of greatness. When you meet others needs, God meets yours. Take notice of needs and give to someone you know can't pay you back and do it not desiring for them to pay you back.
Form Better Habits.
Those who get ahead, get there on time... be punctual. It is not so much about breaking habits, but replacing bad habits with good habits. What bad habits are holding you back? What good habits could you put in their place that will move you forward? Choose the habit of happiness. Do not magnify problems, magnify the the Bigness of God over your problems. Overcome criticism by not allowing yourself to take revenge or harbor a bitter revengeful attitude. Don't spend too much time trying to win over you critics. Run your own race. You determine your destiny, your happiness; don't allow your critics to determine it for you.
Train your mind to see good, and to dwell in that Good. Be happy, share happiness, lure others into happiness.
Embrace where you are.
Faith may not deliver you, but it will carry you through problems. When things go wrong, believe in God that it is well with your soul. God is Supernatural, he will help you rise above the natural... Supernaturally.
Stay in peace. A storm may rage around you, but you can choose not to be in the storm. God's sunshine is always above the clouds. Remember the Good. God is always guiding your life. Make lists of the good you have when all seems bad. Then focus on the good you do have. Even when things appear out of control, God continually guides circumstances, while protecting you. So you can be a good influence by how you handle challenging situations.
Develop Your Inner Life.
When you obey, you sow a seed that will grow and rise higher. It doesn't always grow and mature over night. God deals with us individually. To whom much is given, much is required. Think higher, God is preparing you for greater things. When your conscience is clear, we can expect good things. Our self image accepts good things. Deal with root issues. A better you won't stick without cleaning out the roots of our problem. Take responsibility and rise up, do something about it. Pay attention to your conscience. Listen to it and obey its quiet commands... the promptings of the quiet voice in you always coaxing you along.
Stay passionate about life.
Begin now planning for your blessings. Don't quit dreaming; keep the vision in front of you. Believe right now that all things are working out in your favor. Use your faith. Exercise your faith. Make provision for new success of abundance to come into your life. Keep singing your song. Keep smiling from your heart. There's a power in giving a pleasant smile to everyone you see. Give to people the best gift of all, a gift of a cheerful heart.
Have a song (create your own Psalms) in your heart. Get up every morning and expect God to turn your problems around for good. He'll give you Supernatural strength to fly with wings like eagles. Start, prepare to live a blessed life. Always keep the vision in front of you, and don't believe the "never" lies. Speak to yourself and others with the confidence of God's belief in you that it's going to happen, act like its going to happen.
Stay passionate about life, don't dwell on what's wrong, but press on to what's better. Every day's a gift from God. There's no limit to what God can and will someday do in your life. Remember, you eventually attract what you think about all the time. Make your thoughts prayers of faith, of expectancy. Pray the belief and confidence you have in God's power on behalf of your life continually. God's miracle potential and power will respond to your persistent faith in Him. Allow miracles to be the common part of you all the time, then the miracles will be common to our lives everyday.
Become a Better You... as you do, life will become increasing better for you.
Joel Osteen sees his role to give us hope. You can find more hope at:
http://www.joelosteen.com/
In With Christ in the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray encourages the value of persistent prayer. "When the answer to our prayer does not come at once we should combine quiet patience and being joyful as confidence in our persevering prayer. To enable us to do this, we must try to understand the character and conduct of our God and Father towards those who cry day and night to Him: He is long-suffering over them. He will avenge them speedily."The Master uses the word speedily. The blessing is all prepared. The Father is not only willing, but most anxious to give what we ask. His everlasting love burns with His longing desire to reveal itself fully to His beloved and to satisfy their need. God will not delay one moment longer than is absolutely necessary. He will do everything in His power to hasten the answer."
Be expectant...
God's idea is to answer your prayers speedily.
But stay steadfast, enduring, constant in asking...
and expecting.
Andrew Murray.... persevering prayer... the complete chapter:
http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/5bm.10353/5bm.10353.16.htm
And we live in the confidence that His Spirit has the Power to do it, what He Promises to give, "without limit" ..."The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit."
(John 3:31-34, NLT)
What we say, people become and even more so when coming from a boss, a leader... someone of a position of power or respect. Then when we touch a heart, Spiritual Power is transferred through us.
If we do a Jesus Thing and take an active positive approach in our business and with all we work with, we can drastically decrease the need for reprimands.
People will live out the blessings we give, become what we tell them. Sometimes called a "pat on the back" or a "that-a-boy," when done strategically and meaningfully will turn the people and culture mindset around.
Speaking blessing (positive I-believe-in-you tone/comment) with value to that person recognized, and efforts appreciated, is what Jesus recommended.This spiritual power went through His followers to do this.
He spoke, touched them… they excelled. In His Love, Jesus transferred the Power of God's Spirit in to them. Do the same…in faith, in love …you bless your people. Begin creating a new atmosphere in your business culture, with your customers, suppliers. The Power of Spirit goes into that person when you do it in love, so they continually know that you appreciate them for who they are. This actualizes their gifts, and enhances ability to perform at higher levels.
As God created, you create. It's in your hands. Give a blessing to all you meet and begin changing the world today one person at a time. What you sow, you will reap and the blessings will boomerang back to you. What you want, give to others.
(Luke 6:38)
Jesus "Proclaimed" people to do great things.
"I tell you the truth… you will do Greater things than these."
(John 14:12)
"I will give you whatever you ask, using my name."
(John 16:17)
Proclaim freedom to the captive minds and hearts around you…
and you will set them free.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors,
and that the time of the Lord's favor has come."
(Luke 4:18-19)
4spirit@gmail.com
Become a Better You by Joel Osteen inspires you to build a better you regardless of what's going on around you. Use what is around you to plant the seeds that will lead you to greatness. His theme is that your life may not seem to be the best it can be, but you can become better through it. When you become better, then you will see life become better for you.
God wants you to be what he created you to be. What God created you to be you can be confident He will do His part, so do your part.
Seven Keys open the doors to a better you:
1. Keep pressing forward.
2. Be positive toward yourself.
3. Develop better relationships.
4. Form better habits.
5. Embrace the place where you are.
6. Develop your inner life.
7. Stay passionate about life.
You could easily make these your daily affirmations and prayers. And in prayer ask God to help you in these areas and then affirm these to yourself all day long... trusting God is with you and helping you.
Joel has 31 chapters in Become a Better You. A life changing read would be to read one chapter a day for a month, while committing to make one change a day during this time. Do this again for another month and I see this process with Joel's book to be life transforming. He deals with some critical issues which generally plague our society today. Here's just a brief glimpse of what he highlights in the seven keys.
Keep pressing on.
Move from yesterday. Defeat rejections of the past with new directions for today. Your dreams deserve new beginnings. God promises "New Things" for your life constantly. Avoid people who hold you back, and connect with people who want to move forward with you. Your family history, if dysfunctional, doesn't have to be yours. Tap into God's power. Break the curse of the past and learn to function beyond the dysfunctional. Believe in your generational blessings as a Child of God and discover the destiny God has for you. God had great things for you at birth, your destiny, and in your dreams, your heart's desires, know that God put them there...to be fulfilled.
Be positive toward yourself.
Stop accusing yourself and using your own voice in your head, from your mouth, to put you down. Nothing you have done is too much for God's mercy. Like yourself, God does. Get in line with God's likeness of you. What you send out comes back. So send out good. Use words that bless and build up others. Make your mouth a source of positive declaration.
Be a continuous positive self-talk person and proclaim positive ideas to others. What you say to yourself you become. What you say to others, they become.
Develop Better Relationships.
Be a giver. Give to those who can't give back to you. Give compliments to others. This makes someone's day... God will make yours. Be a peacemaker. Blessed are the peacemakers. Invest in people's emotional bank account... it eventually pays back dividends of greatness. When you meet others needs, God meets yours. Take notice of needs and give to someone you know can't pay you back and do it not desiring for them to pay you back.
Form Better Habits.
Those who get ahead, get there on time... be punctual. It is not so much about breaking habits, but replacing bad habits with good habits. What bad habits are holding you back? What good habits could you put in their place that will move you forward? Choose the habit of happiness. Do not magnify problems, magnify the the Bigness of God over your problems. Overcome criticism by not allowing yourself to take revenge or harbor a bitter revengeful attitude. Don't spend too much time trying to win over you critics. Run your own race. You determine your destiny, your happiness; don't allow your critics to determine it for you.
Train your mind to see good, and to dwell in that Good. Be happy, share happiness, lure others into happiness.
Embrace where you are.
Faith may not deliver you, but it will carry you through problems. When things go wrong, believe in God that it is well with your soul. God is Supernatural, he will help you rise above the natural... Supernaturally.
Stay in peace. A storm may rage around you, but you can choose not to be in the storm. God's sunshine is always above the clouds. Remember the Good. God is always guiding your life. Make lists of the good you have when all seems bad. Then focus on the good you do have. Even when things appear out of control, God continually guides circumstances, while protecting you. So you can be a good influence by how you handle challenging situations.
Develop Your Inner Life.
When you obey, you sow a seed that will grow and rise higher. It doesn't always grow and mature over night. God deals with us individually. To whom much is given, much is required. Think higher, God is preparing you for greater things. When your conscience is clear, we can expect good things. Our self image accepts good things. Deal with root issues. A better you won't stick without cleaning out the roots of our problem. Take responsibility and rise up, do something about it. Pay attention to your conscience. Listen to it and obey its quiet commands... the promptings of the quiet voice in you always coaxing you along.
Stay passionate about life.
Begin now planning for your blessings. Don't quit dreaming; keep the vision in front of you. Believe right now that all things are working out in your favor. Use your faith. Exercise your faith. Make provision for new success of abundance to come into your life. Keep singing your song. Keep smiling from your heart. There's a power in giving a pleasant smile to everyone you see. Give to people the best gift of all, a gift of a cheerful heart.
Have a song (create your own Psalms) in your heart. Get up every morning and expect God to turn your problems around for good. He'll give you Supernatural strength to fly with wings like eagles. Start, prepare to live a blessed life. Always keep the vision in front of you, and don't believe the "never" lies. Speak to yourself and others with the confidence of God's belief in you that it's going to happen, act like its going to happen.
Stay passionate about life, don't dwell on what's wrong, but press on to what's better. Every day's a gift from God. There's no limit to what God can and will someday do in your life. Remember, you eventually attract what you think about all the time. Make your thoughts prayers of faith, of expectancy. Pray the belief and confidence you have in God's power on behalf of your life continually. God's miracle potential and power will respond to your persistent faith in Him. Allow miracles to be the common part of you all the time, then the miracles will be common to our lives everyday.
Become a Better You... as you do, life will become increasing better for you.
Joel Osteen sees his role to give us hope. You can find more hope at:
http://www.joelosteen.com/
In With Christ in the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray encourages the value of persistent prayer. "When the answer to our prayer does not come at once we should combine quiet patience and being joyful as confidence in our persevering prayer. To enable us to do this, we must try to understand the character and conduct of our God and Father towards those who cry day and night to Him: He is long-suffering over them. He will avenge them speedily."The Master uses the word speedily. The blessing is all prepared. The Father is not only willing, but most anxious to give what we ask. His everlasting love burns with His longing desire to reveal itself fully to His beloved and to satisfy their need. God will not delay one moment longer than is absolutely necessary. He will do everything in His power to hasten the answer."
Be expectant...
God's idea is to answer your prayers speedily.
But stay steadfast, enduring, constant in asking...
and expecting.
Andrew Murray.... persevering prayer... the complete chapter:
http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/5bm.10353/5bm.10353.16.htm
And we live in the confidence that His Spirit has the Power to do it, what He Promises to give, "without limit" ..."The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit."
(John 3:31-34, NLT)
What we say, people become and even more so when coming from a boss, a leader... someone of a position of power or respect. Then when we touch a heart, Spiritual Power is transferred through us.
If we do a Jesus Thing and take an active positive approach in our business and with all we work with, we can drastically decrease the need for reprimands.
People will live out the blessings we give, become what we tell them. Sometimes called a "pat on the back" or a "that-a-boy," when done strategically and meaningfully will turn the people and culture mindset around.
Speaking blessing (positive I-believe-in-you tone/comment) with value to that person recognized, and efforts appreciated, is what Jesus recommended.This spiritual power went through His followers to do this.
He spoke, touched them… they excelled. In His Love, Jesus transferred the Power of God's Spirit in to them. Do the same…in faith, in love …you bless your people. Begin creating a new atmosphere in your business culture, with your customers, suppliers. The Power of Spirit goes into that person when you do it in love, so they continually know that you appreciate them for who they are. This actualizes their gifts, and enhances ability to perform at higher levels.
As God created, you create. It's in your hands. Give a blessing to all you meet and begin changing the world today one person at a time. What you sow, you will reap and the blessings will boomerang back to you. What you want, give to others.
(Luke 6:38)
Jesus "Proclaimed" people to do great things.
"I tell you the truth… you will do Greater things than these."
(John 14:12)
"I will give you whatever you ask, using my name."
(John 16:17)
Proclaim freedom to the captive minds and hearts around you…
and you will set them free.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors,
and that the time of the Lord's favor has come."
(Luke 4:18-19)
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Speak to Win... Amazingly
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
In Speak to Win, Brian Tracy enlarges the best principles on how to present with power in any situation. It's the greatest power there is. When you can communicate very well, so others get it too, and can get across what's on your mind, what you've learned or experienced, you will rise to the top wherever you are. All great leaders are exceptional speaking communicators.
Tracy reassures us that this is a skill you can learn and become very good at. This is one of Tracy's best skills and he has now written a book about what it takes to be one of best at speaking.
Speak to Win covers small groups, meeting, large and small group presentations.
The art of speaking and rhetoric.The three elements of persuasion.
Logos--words and reasoning in your argument.
Ethos--character, ethics, believability when you speak.
Pathos--emotional content of your messages, which is perhaps the most important.
Planning and preparation made simple. Know your audience. Age and age range, gender, income, education, occupation, family status, their knowledge on your subject, how they think, personal desires. Go deeper into their lifestyle such as what is going on in their business, their environment, who they listen to, specific concerns.
For each point use the PREP Formula.
Your Point of view,
Reasons why,
Examples,
re-affirming your Point of view.
Practice (Tracy lists several methods on how).
Use memory techniques. The more you practice, starting small, the better you become. The key to speaking well is speaking a lot. (Toastmasters is a great place to practice, learn and improve.) Develop self-confidence and mental mastery. Overcoming fear is the biggest speaking roadblock. To increase self confidence, talk about what you strongly believe in, talk from your heart, think of the audience as being on your side, use positive self-talk. ("These guys like me.")
Visualize like a kid imagining great speaking success, go to sleep dreaming of your speech. Emotionalize seeing a pleased group when finished. Do this over and over again and you will actualize what you fantasize?
Also come early, room management is important. Prepare the room ahead of time, so you have time to meet a few people before you begin. Start strong, take charge, be authentic and humble, use humor, tell stories.
Mastering meetings with small groups.
Use meetings for problem solving, information sharing, new product announcements, team building. Be prepared and start with the most important items first... so if you run out of time you have the most important covered.
As a participant, be the first to share, volunteer for responsibilities, prepare before meetings.To be persuasive in a meeting: accept others, express appreciation of other's ideas, compliment others and reveal what you admire about them, share approval by praising others, pay attention to others, be agreeable with others. (Point out what you like about someone else's ideas before suggesting your own.)
Mastering small-group presentations and negotiations.
Negotiations: Start with the end in mind. Remember everything is negotiable. Think like a lawyer by thinking through the other person's case before giving yours. Know the differences between desire and fear. People buy more out of fear of loss, than a desire for a gain.
Law of four: most negotiations require four main issues to be resolved. Find your four and sculpture your presentation around them.
Presentations:
Get them involved. Group solidarity. When your are nice to one person they all feel you are being nice to them. Know the pecking order and make sure you peck in the right order. Invite questions, take a power position. Stand at the head of the table. Determine the next best action. Use visuals: show, tell and ask questions.
In the rest of Speak to Win, Tracy covers how to impress large audiences, learning the tricks of the trade techniques used by master speakers, controlling your space using sound, lighting, temperature, and how to end with a bang. Plus, he adds a bonus chapter on making persuasive sales presentations.
This is vintage Tracy. He packs a lot of quality information into Speaking to Win, dealing with the essential speaking skills and techniques. Tracy has more, including free newsletters and ebooks at:
http://www.briantracy.com/
When Stephen faced the crowd it was said he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Here, a young man, soon to be a martyr, spoke with a boldness which amazed everyone. Peter was given credit after being filled with the Holy Spirit to have great speaking influence. The Apostle Paul was known for his ability to persuade the Jewish leaders to persecute the Christians. But after His conversion experience He spoke with great power, but not of human persuasive abilities. His abilities were of the Supernatural, of Great Power, and that which changed the behavior of those around him.
The Apostle Paul says himself, learning to talk with a new oratory skill... the skill of Spirit...."When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God."
(I Corinthians 2: 1-5, NLT)
We have a power beyond our abilities to speak well. Paul, an educated man, was quite good at expressing a point, and change people's mind. But, in Spirit he found something even Greater.
Andrew Murray enlarges on this theme in the Spirit of Christ.
"Every person must continually be taught by the Spirit how to speak it. And every hearer needs the inward illumination: it is only as he is a Spiritual man, with his life under the rule of the Spirit, that his mind can take in spiritual truth."
"Our preaching was not in man's wisdom, but in the Spirit; that your faith might not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."
"We must learn to fear our own wisdom. 'Trust in the Lord with the whole heart, and lean not to your own understanding.' Paul says, to believers: 'If any man thinks that he is wise, let him become a fool, that he may be wise ' (I Cor.3:18)"
"Reject the spirit of the world which is still in you, with its wisdom and self - confidence; come, in poverty of spirit, to be led by the Spirit that is of God. 'Be not fashioned according to the world,' with its confidence in the flesh, and self, and its wisdom; 'but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, ' It is a transformed, renewed life, that, only wants to know God's perfect will, that will be taught by the Spirit. Cease from your own wisdom; 'God hath revealed them to us by His Spirit.'"
"The crucifixion of self and all its wisdom, the coming in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling, as Paul did, will most assuredly be met from above with the demonstration of the Spirit and of power."
This all comes from time committed in Prayer, entering in Spirit, and listening to Spirit. When the Spirit fills our souls, then the words Spirit gives us are loaded with Power that transforms, revolutionizes, persuades beyond our best human skills.
Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft pointed out in the Body of Christ that Peter prayed for ten days with the disciples, gave a 3-minute speech and 3000 people were converted that day.
Power in Spirit is always preceded by much prayer. Put more work into prayer and your work will produce more. You will see demonstrations of power in what you do, and others will be impressed by it and drawn to the source of the Power, Jesus Himself. God then is Glorified which builds His Kingdom.
People need to walk away being impressed of Spirit, not impressed of you. If they do, the human exceeded the Spiritual, and God's Power was left to be desired. When in Spirit, people are drawn to Spirit, not us. Then they will have His Power too.
Heavenly wisdom and power is so beyond human wisdom and power. With the Holy Spirit, Peter went from being the most ineffective disciple to being one of the model apostles. Jesus knew what the Holy Spirit will do when we take time in prayer, in Spirit, and allow the Holy Spirit to saturate the Situation.
Add to your speaking skills the skill of Spirit and let there then be a demonstration of power in and through whatever you speak.
"For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power."
(1 Cor. 4:20, NLT)
This is the new speech... it may not be verbalized but only in prayer, but in prayer our battles are won. We walk by power, not articulation skills. We have confidence to enter any communication, knowing when we have prepared in Spirit we have a power beyond us, that works beyond anything we can do... that's amazing.
4spirit@gmail.com
In Speak to Win, Brian Tracy enlarges the best principles on how to present with power in any situation. It's the greatest power there is. When you can communicate very well, so others get it too, and can get across what's on your mind, what you've learned or experienced, you will rise to the top wherever you are. All great leaders are exceptional speaking communicators.
Tracy reassures us that this is a skill you can learn and become very good at. This is one of Tracy's best skills and he has now written a book about what it takes to be one of best at speaking.
Speak to Win covers small groups, meeting, large and small group presentations.
The art of speaking and rhetoric.The three elements of persuasion.
Logos--words and reasoning in your argument.
Ethos--character, ethics, believability when you speak.
Pathos--emotional content of your messages, which is perhaps the most important.
Planning and preparation made simple. Know your audience. Age and age range, gender, income, education, occupation, family status, their knowledge on your subject, how they think, personal desires. Go deeper into their lifestyle such as what is going on in their business, their environment, who they listen to, specific concerns.
For each point use the PREP Formula.
Your Point of view,
Reasons why,
Examples,
re-affirming your Point of view.
Practice (Tracy lists several methods on how).
Use memory techniques. The more you practice, starting small, the better you become. The key to speaking well is speaking a lot. (Toastmasters is a great place to practice, learn and improve.) Develop self-confidence and mental mastery. Overcoming fear is the biggest speaking roadblock. To increase self confidence, talk about what you strongly believe in, talk from your heart, think of the audience as being on your side, use positive self-talk. ("These guys like me.")
Visualize like a kid imagining great speaking success, go to sleep dreaming of your speech. Emotionalize seeing a pleased group when finished. Do this over and over again and you will actualize what you fantasize?
Also come early, room management is important. Prepare the room ahead of time, so you have time to meet a few people before you begin. Start strong, take charge, be authentic and humble, use humor, tell stories.
Mastering meetings with small groups.
Use meetings for problem solving, information sharing, new product announcements, team building. Be prepared and start with the most important items first... so if you run out of time you have the most important covered.
As a participant, be the first to share, volunteer for responsibilities, prepare before meetings.To be persuasive in a meeting: accept others, express appreciation of other's ideas, compliment others and reveal what you admire about them, share approval by praising others, pay attention to others, be agreeable with others. (Point out what you like about someone else's ideas before suggesting your own.)
Mastering small-group presentations and negotiations.
Negotiations: Start with the end in mind. Remember everything is negotiable. Think like a lawyer by thinking through the other person's case before giving yours. Know the differences between desire and fear. People buy more out of fear of loss, than a desire for a gain.
Law of four: most negotiations require four main issues to be resolved. Find your four and sculpture your presentation around them.
Presentations:
Get them involved. Group solidarity. When your are nice to one person they all feel you are being nice to them. Know the pecking order and make sure you peck in the right order. Invite questions, take a power position. Stand at the head of the table. Determine the next best action. Use visuals: show, tell and ask questions.
In the rest of Speak to Win, Tracy covers how to impress large audiences, learning the tricks of the trade techniques used by master speakers, controlling your space using sound, lighting, temperature, and how to end with a bang. Plus, he adds a bonus chapter on making persuasive sales presentations.
This is vintage Tracy. He packs a lot of quality information into Speaking to Win, dealing with the essential speaking skills and techniques. Tracy has more, including free newsletters and ebooks at:
http://www.briantracy.com/
When Stephen faced the crowd it was said he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Here, a young man, soon to be a martyr, spoke with a boldness which amazed everyone. Peter was given credit after being filled with the Holy Spirit to have great speaking influence. The Apostle Paul was known for his ability to persuade the Jewish leaders to persecute the Christians. But after His conversion experience He spoke with great power, but not of human persuasive abilities. His abilities were of the Supernatural, of Great Power, and that which changed the behavior of those around him.
The Apostle Paul says himself, learning to talk with a new oratory skill... the skill of Spirit...."When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God."
(I Corinthians 2: 1-5, NLT)
We have a power beyond our abilities to speak well. Paul, an educated man, was quite good at expressing a point, and change people's mind. But, in Spirit he found something even Greater.
Andrew Murray enlarges on this theme in the Spirit of Christ.
"Every person must continually be taught by the Spirit how to speak it. And every hearer needs the inward illumination: it is only as he is a Spiritual man, with his life under the rule of the Spirit, that his mind can take in spiritual truth."
"Our preaching was not in man's wisdom, but in the Spirit; that your faith might not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."
"We must learn to fear our own wisdom. 'Trust in the Lord with the whole heart, and lean not to your own understanding.' Paul says, to believers: 'If any man thinks that he is wise, let him become a fool, that he may be wise ' (I Cor.3:18)"
"Reject the spirit of the world which is still in you, with its wisdom and self - confidence; come, in poverty of spirit, to be led by the Spirit that is of God. 'Be not fashioned according to the world,' with its confidence in the flesh, and self, and its wisdom; 'but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, ' It is a transformed, renewed life, that, only wants to know God's perfect will, that will be taught by the Spirit. Cease from your own wisdom; 'God hath revealed them to us by His Spirit.'"
"The crucifixion of self and all its wisdom, the coming in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling, as Paul did, will most assuredly be met from above with the demonstration of the Spirit and of power."
This all comes from time committed in Prayer, entering in Spirit, and listening to Spirit. When the Spirit fills our souls, then the words Spirit gives us are loaded with Power that transforms, revolutionizes, persuades beyond our best human skills.
Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft pointed out in the Body of Christ that Peter prayed for ten days with the disciples, gave a 3-minute speech and 3000 people were converted that day.
Power in Spirit is always preceded by much prayer. Put more work into prayer and your work will produce more. You will see demonstrations of power in what you do, and others will be impressed by it and drawn to the source of the Power, Jesus Himself. God then is Glorified which builds His Kingdom.
People need to walk away being impressed of Spirit, not impressed of you. If they do, the human exceeded the Spiritual, and God's Power was left to be desired. When in Spirit, people are drawn to Spirit, not us. Then they will have His Power too.
Heavenly wisdom and power is so beyond human wisdom and power. With the Holy Spirit, Peter went from being the most ineffective disciple to being one of the model apostles. Jesus knew what the Holy Spirit will do when we take time in prayer, in Spirit, and allow the Holy Spirit to saturate the Situation.
Add to your speaking skills the skill of Spirit and let there then be a demonstration of power in and through whatever you speak.
"For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power."
(1 Cor. 4:20, NLT)
This is the new speech... it may not be verbalized but only in prayer, but in prayer our battles are won. We walk by power, not articulation skills. We have confidence to enter any communication, knowing when we have prepared in Spirit we have a power beyond us, that works beyond anything we can do... that's amazing.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Dare to Prepare at a Higher Level
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Dare to Prepare by Ronald M. Shapiro...
to make it before you give it.
Preparation gives you a greater sense of control, confidence, and dramatically heightens self-confidence, effectiveness and satisfaction. Shapiro has an eight step process and preparation checklist.
What's your destination. Understand your objectives. What and Why? What do you want to accomplish and why are you doing it? The best work is done with a clear understanding of its purpose, value to you. Clarify, refine and re-define. This brings you to see more clearly your next step, tasks, goals.
Someone, somewhere has probably done this before. Plan with precedents. Be the historian, detective to find who has done something like this. It also provides credibility especially when persuading someone on its importance.This helps you clarify objectives and defining course of action. The force of history behind you gives you power.
What's the forecast? Know the alternatives. Now you look forward to predict outcome options. What alternatives and results could you live with. Consider the positive and negatives of potential outcomes. Multiple outcomes could satisfy your objectives. Know what you could be getting in to and what you will do, with a variety of options.
It's in your best interest to know their interests. Probe and find out their interests. Be interested in them. Link these in your presentation to your objectives.
Look before you leap. Set your strategy. Strategy is simply the steps you take ... one, two, three... to achieve your objectives. You analyze precedents, interests and alternative outcomes. Strategy preparation is a big part of the value of preparation... i.e., don't rush to strategy, prepare. Include the heart, technology, and always relate parts back to the whole. Then after strategy comes your team, timeline, and script.
When the rubber meets the road. Do a timeline. When you create a line (graphs, flow chart) with projected dates lined up alongside key steps or milestones. It catches a sense of importance. Why does a timeline create importance? 1. instills a sense of trajectory into you work. 2. a good source for collaboration. 3. control the course of a project so it isn't controlling you. 4. fleshing out how to accomplish tasks. Timelines help to bring clarity to the preparation process. (The book has several great examples.)
The right parts for the right people. Pick your team. Know your team member's skills and match them to appropriate parts of your game plan. They can help define objectives, ponder precedents, and set strategy. As you move into scripting, the team broadens insight strengthening the script.
What you say and how you say it. Write the script. Write out how events will turn out and its various scenarios. Script questions and potential responses. Note where people may question and prepare response. The Script culminates all the preparation process. Most resist the script and timeline part the most. It is the hardest part, but makes your project concrete. That's why involving the team and making it fun is vital.
Use it to cover "what if's" and how to respond.
Mistakes will be made, preparation develops you in the art of adaptation. Prepare thoroughly and strategically and conquer. Preparation is a craft. "The sheer act of preparing... for a speech, presentation, a negotiation, or team meeting... has brought me amazing satisfaction." Shapiro concludes.
The Preparation Principles Checklist:
Challenges you Face...
Situation Summary Objectives...
Define your goals.
What would you like to accomplish in this transaction or in dealing with this challenge?
Precedents
Transactions or experiences that can influence a model for guidance. What have you or others done to deal with similar situations? What are some examples of results from those situations?
Alternatives
What are the various outcomes you want to consider? To what degree do they satisfy your objectives? What could happen if things don't work out? What are their options if the other party chooses not to work it out with you?
Interests
What objectives or desires does the other side have beyond their stated positions. What do they want... need... that you might be able to address?
Strategy/Next Steps
What is your plan? What steps does it involve? When and how will you probe?
Timeline
Lay out the time period during which you want to accomplish your objectives. When can you be expected to accomplish what steps in the process outlined in your strategy?
Team
Are you doing this alone or with others? What's everyone's role? What do you know about the other side's participants? Biological? Information? Authority? Their personalities?
http://www.daretopreparebook.com/
Here is a Spiritual process on how God fulfills His purposes through us.
Jesus said that
"Every plant not planted by God will be up rooted."
(Matthew 15:13, NLT)
It is so important our plans and processes are grounded in what God is planting through us. That we receive His seed of Spirit, Nurture His seed in His Spirit and garden His seed until it bears fruit through us.
The process of vision fulfillment has this as its process in Spirit.
1. God Gives us the vision. This comes in prayer and spending time soaking in His Secret Place, the Inner Chamber, The Most Holy Place.
2. Then we pray the vision as God has given to us. We again do this in His Most Secret Place.
3. Going again, and continually, in the inner Chamber of Spirit, God then gives the steps or strategy for moving to the vision.
4. As He paves the way, and shows us the way, His strategy, we know He is going before us. This creates a sense of confidence in us. Our faith is stirred and with faith all things are possible. The vision builds in vibrancy and strength in our minds advancing the faith that works miracles.
5. Walking in this confidence, excitement begins to overwhelm us. An excitement walks with all actions and the steps He has directed us to take. All this is a day by day thing. To find the vision in prayer, bathe the vision in prayer, and be given the steps to take through prayer.
Here's the secret to the whole thing:
First, we develop the skill of entering the Most Holy Place, His Inner Chamber where we rest in Spirit in God in His strength, desires, incomprehensible power. We mold into being One in Spirit in God's Spirit.
Second, when we unite with another who does the same, we then live in the unity of Spirit the Bible announces as the ultimate Power of the universe. His creation as One in Him as One, is world changing power. We learn all this in the Inner Chamber.
It all starts in learning the skill of prayer and letting the Spirit teach us the art of prayer, which happens in prayer. We learn the art of prayer by the Spirit, when in prayer. That's what Jesus was saying when He said, "The Spirit will teach you all things."
This is the ultimate preparation. When we prepare in Spirit, we get the vision of God, collaborate in Spirit in igniting the vision, and get Spirit Intelligence on how to take the steps, He has prepared, to execute the vision.
Note:
http://jesusisus.blogspot.com/2005/11/flame-of-spirit.html
Just remember: "Every Plant not Planted by God will be uprooted."
Ignore the power of God and His intimate Spirit working in and with you... you may be rolling out a vision that will tumble down the hill as you try to climb the mountains of attainment without God creating the path up the mountain.This is the day of preparation as the Bible Speaks of. A day is a time of preparation.
Jesus' body was prepared before his burial, before it then rose into life.
Preparation comes before life is again given.
"This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath.
As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body."
(Mark 15:42, 43, NLT)
Paul, the Apostle, said we are to be prepared and know if the time is right or not. "Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not."
(2 Timothy 4:2, NLT)
Knowing these things comes in prayer preparation. Prayer is our preparation. It gives us our steps and insights on what to do next, when to do it, and building of our faith to know we are walking in His Power.
Preparation is constant. As Jesus said to keep oil in your lamps because you don't know when you will need it, need all of it.
Matthew 25:1-13.
Stay in prayer, go to God's Spirit and lean on this every day, learn from this every day. Keep your Spirit full by staying in His Spirit continually and don't let things around you pollute it. Keep pure oil of Spirit in you. It comes each day fresh, strong, and potent, when you go into prayer and clean your vessel. It needs cleaned each day.
Stay prepared. That is entering His Presence Daily and Hearing His Voice, and letting His Word refresh in you. Our preparation in Spirit is vital to a walk in Spirit. It is inconceivable that we would attempt to walk in Spirit without Daily preparing ourselves for the walk. A day is too intricate, with too many unexpectancies.
We don't know and can't control everything. So we need Spirit daily to guide, empower, and handle the difficulties we face... before we face them. The Spirit protects, changes, and re-maneuvers situations according to His will. We have this dynamic going on in our lives when we walk in Spirit.
We walk in Spirit when we Prepare In Spirit
prior to all we face in a day.
You confidently ask what you will and He will give it,
when His Vision is you,
all Powers of God in the Universe are with you.
They are part of you; they are you.
4spirit@gmail.com
Dare to Prepare by Ronald M. Shapiro...
to make it before you give it.
Preparation gives you a greater sense of control, confidence, and dramatically heightens self-confidence, effectiveness and satisfaction. Shapiro has an eight step process and preparation checklist.
What's your destination. Understand your objectives. What and Why? What do you want to accomplish and why are you doing it? The best work is done with a clear understanding of its purpose, value to you. Clarify, refine and re-define. This brings you to see more clearly your next step, tasks, goals.
Someone, somewhere has probably done this before. Plan with precedents. Be the historian, detective to find who has done something like this. It also provides credibility especially when persuading someone on its importance.This helps you clarify objectives and defining course of action. The force of history behind you gives you power.
What's the forecast? Know the alternatives. Now you look forward to predict outcome options. What alternatives and results could you live with. Consider the positive and negatives of potential outcomes. Multiple outcomes could satisfy your objectives. Know what you could be getting in to and what you will do, with a variety of options.
It's in your best interest to know their interests. Probe and find out their interests. Be interested in them. Link these in your presentation to your objectives.
Look before you leap. Set your strategy. Strategy is simply the steps you take ... one, two, three... to achieve your objectives. You analyze precedents, interests and alternative outcomes. Strategy preparation is a big part of the value of preparation... i.e., don't rush to strategy, prepare. Include the heart, technology, and always relate parts back to the whole. Then after strategy comes your team, timeline, and script.
When the rubber meets the road. Do a timeline. When you create a line (graphs, flow chart) with projected dates lined up alongside key steps or milestones. It catches a sense of importance. Why does a timeline create importance? 1. instills a sense of trajectory into you work. 2. a good source for collaboration. 3. control the course of a project so it isn't controlling you. 4. fleshing out how to accomplish tasks. Timelines help to bring clarity to the preparation process. (The book has several great examples.)
The right parts for the right people. Pick your team. Know your team member's skills and match them to appropriate parts of your game plan. They can help define objectives, ponder precedents, and set strategy. As you move into scripting, the team broadens insight strengthening the script.
What you say and how you say it. Write the script. Write out how events will turn out and its various scenarios. Script questions and potential responses. Note where people may question and prepare response. The Script culminates all the preparation process. Most resist the script and timeline part the most. It is the hardest part, but makes your project concrete. That's why involving the team and making it fun is vital.
Use it to cover "what if's" and how to respond.
Mistakes will be made, preparation develops you in the art of adaptation. Prepare thoroughly and strategically and conquer. Preparation is a craft. "The sheer act of preparing... for a speech, presentation, a negotiation, or team meeting... has brought me amazing satisfaction." Shapiro concludes.
The Preparation Principles Checklist:
Challenges you Face...
Situation Summary Objectives...
Define your goals.
What would you like to accomplish in this transaction or in dealing with this challenge?
Precedents
Transactions or experiences that can influence a model for guidance. What have you or others done to deal with similar situations? What are some examples of results from those situations?
Alternatives
What are the various outcomes you want to consider? To what degree do they satisfy your objectives? What could happen if things don't work out? What are their options if the other party chooses not to work it out with you?
Interests
What objectives or desires does the other side have beyond their stated positions. What do they want... need... that you might be able to address?
Strategy/Next Steps
What is your plan? What steps does it involve? When and how will you probe?
Timeline
Lay out the time period during which you want to accomplish your objectives. When can you be expected to accomplish what steps in the process outlined in your strategy?
Team
Are you doing this alone or with others? What's everyone's role? What do you know about the other side's participants? Biological? Information? Authority? Their personalities?
http://www.daretopreparebook.com/
Here is a Spiritual process on how God fulfills His purposes through us.
Jesus said that
"Every plant not planted by God will be up rooted."
(Matthew 15:13, NLT)
It is so important our plans and processes are grounded in what God is planting through us. That we receive His seed of Spirit, Nurture His seed in His Spirit and garden His seed until it bears fruit through us.
The process of vision fulfillment has this as its process in Spirit.
1. God Gives us the vision. This comes in prayer and spending time soaking in His Secret Place, the Inner Chamber, The Most Holy Place.
2. Then we pray the vision as God has given to us. We again do this in His Most Secret Place.
3. Going again, and continually, in the inner Chamber of Spirit, God then gives the steps or strategy for moving to the vision.
4. As He paves the way, and shows us the way, His strategy, we know He is going before us. This creates a sense of confidence in us. Our faith is stirred and with faith all things are possible. The vision builds in vibrancy and strength in our minds advancing the faith that works miracles.
5. Walking in this confidence, excitement begins to overwhelm us. An excitement walks with all actions and the steps He has directed us to take. All this is a day by day thing. To find the vision in prayer, bathe the vision in prayer, and be given the steps to take through prayer.
Here's the secret to the whole thing:
First, we develop the skill of entering the Most Holy Place, His Inner Chamber where we rest in Spirit in God in His strength, desires, incomprehensible power. We mold into being One in Spirit in God's Spirit.
Second, when we unite with another who does the same, we then live in the unity of Spirit the Bible announces as the ultimate Power of the universe. His creation as One in Him as One, is world changing power. We learn all this in the Inner Chamber.
It all starts in learning the skill of prayer and letting the Spirit teach us the art of prayer, which happens in prayer. We learn the art of prayer by the Spirit, when in prayer. That's what Jesus was saying when He said, "The Spirit will teach you all things."
This is the ultimate preparation. When we prepare in Spirit, we get the vision of God, collaborate in Spirit in igniting the vision, and get Spirit Intelligence on how to take the steps, He has prepared, to execute the vision.
Note:
http://jesusisus.blogspot.com/2005/11/flame-of-spirit.html
Just remember: "Every Plant not Planted by God will be uprooted."
Ignore the power of God and His intimate Spirit working in and with you... you may be rolling out a vision that will tumble down the hill as you try to climb the mountains of attainment without God creating the path up the mountain.This is the day of preparation as the Bible Speaks of. A day is a time of preparation.
Jesus' body was prepared before his burial, before it then rose into life.
Preparation comes before life is again given.
"This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath.
As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body."
(Mark 15:42, 43, NLT)
Paul, the Apostle, said we are to be prepared and know if the time is right or not. "Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not."
(2 Timothy 4:2, NLT)
Knowing these things comes in prayer preparation. Prayer is our preparation. It gives us our steps and insights on what to do next, when to do it, and building of our faith to know we are walking in His Power.
Preparation is constant. As Jesus said to keep oil in your lamps because you don't know when you will need it, need all of it.
Matthew 25:1-13.
Stay in prayer, go to God's Spirit and lean on this every day, learn from this every day. Keep your Spirit full by staying in His Spirit continually and don't let things around you pollute it. Keep pure oil of Spirit in you. It comes each day fresh, strong, and potent, when you go into prayer and clean your vessel. It needs cleaned each day.
Stay prepared. That is entering His Presence Daily and Hearing His Voice, and letting His Word refresh in you. Our preparation in Spirit is vital to a walk in Spirit. It is inconceivable that we would attempt to walk in Spirit without Daily preparing ourselves for the walk. A day is too intricate, with too many unexpectancies.
We don't know and can't control everything. So we need Spirit daily to guide, empower, and handle the difficulties we face... before we face them. The Spirit protects, changes, and re-maneuvers situations according to His will. We have this dynamic going on in our lives when we walk in Spirit.
We walk in Spirit when we Prepare In Spirit
prior to all we face in a day.
You confidently ask what you will and He will give it,
when His Vision is you,
all Powers of God in the Universe are with you.
They are part of you; they are you.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Meatball Sundae to New Spiritual Biz Process
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing out of Sync? by Seth Godin.
Seth Godin is one of my favorite authors on marketing and creative resonance in his style. He literally brings a smile to my face with his combined genius and mentally refreshing expressions. In many cases the obvious is not so obvious to us. We have new marketing opportunities and in some cases we are so excited about new technologies we have become specialists in making meatball sundaes... meatballs with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Not too appetizing. So we too are murdering the tastiness of some delightfully tasty media opportunities.
Seth goes into how to make the marketing work with a new look on how to present and prepare the product. It's a new marketing revolution going on. This revolution is putting the right products, with the right approach through transformational organizations. We are thinking transformation in what we are making and how we are making it.
We want shortcuts and Meatball Sundae gives us the fast path to these
14 new marketing trends.
The simple premise for today is...
make what you can sell.
Organizations need to match the medium.
Trend 1. Direct communication and commerce between producers.
Organizations can create products for their customers, instead of
searching for customers for their products. There's a need for speed.
Trend 2. Amplification of the voice of the consumer and independent authorities.
Everyone's your critic, listen, respond, blogs are the voice of the people.
Trend 3. Need for an authentic story as the number of sources increase.
You got to get their story straight.
Trend 4. Extremely short attention span due to clutter. Complex messages rarely get through.
Trend 5. The long tail. Consumers reward providers who offer the most choices... the big hit products are fading.
Trend 6. Outsourcing. Intellectual property based on talent and efficiency.
Trend 7. Google and the dicing of everything.
Google can get you right to the page you want without going to "home's" door first.
Trend 8. Infinite channels of communication. Even newer forms of publishing, communication, interaction coming in this already cluttered world. If you can figure the chaos out, you can thrive. Find the people who care. It's the niches that matter. Build your market from your product with the niches who care.
Trend 9. Direct communication and commerce between consumers and consumers.
As social networks become more powerful, consumers gravitate to each other.
Trend 10. The shifts in scarcity and abundance.
Create and sell something scarce and you earn a profit. What's scarce? Spare time, attention span, trust, trained workers, open space.
Trend 11. The triumph of Big Ideas.
New marketing in a noisy marketplace demands something bigger. It demands ideas that force people to sit up and take notice. It can even be the little things made big like service.
Trend 12. The shift from "how many" to "who."
You can now tell who is hearing (or talking) about your message.
Trend 13. The wealthy are like us.
Trend 14. New gatekeepers, no gatekeepers.
Everyone's approachable...You Tube is for you too.
"Ideas that spread through groups of people are far more powerful than ideas delivered at people."
It's a movement--ideas spreading through a community lead to change.The net makes it easier for a movement to take place.
http://www.sethgodin.com/
George Barna, famous pollster for religious trends, has recently published findings of a survey that has interesting implications on trends in the Spiritual area and business. What has been called the Charismatic movement in our culture appears to be on a significant up swing.
What this apparently indicates is that Supernatural giftings of Spirit are prevalent in everyday life. There is an acceptance and belief that these can be a functional part of our lives. Gifts such as prophecy... where a person hears from God which gives Divine insight into future direction, based on Spiritual insight and not any real-world known knowledge. Gifts of healing... that someone can pray for someone and they can be miraculously healed, beyond what medical science says is possible. Gifts of miracles...that people can pray with faith to a level that events can take place without humanly possible explanations. Gifts of knowledge... some know things without being told, such as a person's true motives or information about others. The gifts of living naturally Supernaturally are becoming more and more into acceptance.
Those who "believe Charismatically" have grown in the last few years from 30% to nearly 40% among religious groups...and still showing momentum in this area.
Note:
http://www.barna.org/
This trend is also overlapping in the business function. That is, if we can hear directly from God, what would this do for our businesses. What if we sought Divine intelligence, Divine assistance that creates Supernatural results... beyond our abilities on a regular basis.
The following is a business operating process that would induce this into reality...using Spiritual Powered process. It is a dramatic shift of the way we think and do business. It also fits the market shift trends being observed by those on the marketing watch today. The Body of Christ model for business (based on Jesus' and Apostle's teachings).
The Spirit-Powered Inner core.
Two or three need to be in close Spiritual harmony. As Jesus had his inner circle, a business core needs established that can have the same close kindred Spirit as Jesus had with His inner core...note when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to the mount of transfiguration. We too, when in close Spirit to each other, create a transfiguring core.
Each of the inner core, need to hold close relationship with the Holy Spirit,
spending personal time in the Inner Chamber of God. This is essential and cannot be bypassed. The depth of this is then reflected in the power when we come together.
To hear the voice of God, each part must be shared with each other...
the spark of God's voice is ignited then. It's here we fall short in living in God's Power in business.The inner relationship core strength is not established and each person falls short in their own responsibility and diligence in entering the Holy Chamber of God.
Joint worship does this. When the core group enters into prophetic worship, that is worship to exalt and to hear from God, when this is employed it brings the group together. The Inner Chamber surrounds the group, the Most Holy Place of His Presence is entered. This is not practiced by very many in business. This is the core, the nuclei of power.
We must first create harmony in our relationships within God's presence
and then wait to hear from God. Unhindered harmony must also exist among each other. If not, it won't work. Silent differences hid in the heart, or not dealt with or remedied, will kill Spirit power. Lack of love, understanding, acceptance, feeling superior, lack of respect, differences kept to each one's self ties Spirit's hands. This is a case for why corporate or group worship is important to do first. Spirit heals, causes differences to be aired and healed. Relationship differences are the biggest culprit of hindering Spirit to move in power. This can't be stressed enough.
This is the key to everything. We must love each other unconditionally. Only Spirit can made this possible. We are incapable of loving... we are superficial. Only Spirit can Love and We are compelled to let Spirit control our whole being and love through us.
Next, note taking of what the Holy Spirit is saying to each person is vital to record what you hear from God. Spoken thoughts should be recorded for all to review what the essence is of God's Spirit speaking to them. In this stage mission and vision is provided to the core group. Vision and mission needs to be recorded and then pondered by the group. Again, this should go back to each to reflect on in the Inner Chamber when they personally enter the most Holy Place.
Then these questions need answered.
What is to be done, and how, and who should do it?
This is what we would call the action steps with the strategy of Spirit as part of it. The Holy Spirit provides a strategic process. In this Strategic process, the specifics come to light (Divinely Inspired) on how to go about it, and why it is important to do it a certain way.
Next is having in place the prayer intercessors, the worshipers inside and the prayer (or faith) warriors to see the battle through. Key gifts to put to work are the prophetic to guide on the process... to give Spiritual insight and Spiritual Intelligence for the mission processes, the task development and task assignments.
We move now to Gift identification, assignment, and mobilization.
Gift training, skill training and process training are essential. One gift is the Healing Gift to be part of the prophetic, intercessory, warriors in prayer. These form a ring around the core group and function in tandem with the core.The gifts for relationship healings and physical, emotional healings are vital. People have many physical and emotional ills that need Divine renovation. Everyone is affected by this limitation "of the flesh" as the Bible calls it... which is the physical body's operation, the mind's neurosis, and personality quirks we all have.
Skill development (in both the naturally needed skills and Spiritual Gifts, along with process) to ignite the Spiritual Gifts in each to perform tasks Supernaturally comes into play. Going back to the core worship and prayer, this is where the gifts are implanted, and then developed for visible manifestation in doing the tasks determined to fulfill the mission, vision coming out of the inner circle meetings.
Then each part (department, area) follows the same pattern....
As the business organization grows each section needs to follow the same process,
of an inner core,
outer ring,
combined worship
and task reviewed and fulfillment.
Along the process, pastors who ministry to people's needs keep a watch and guide the ongoing part of the process. It's management in ministry to occurrences which inevitably arise as the processes are put in motion. As the evangelists proclaim the mission, servers get it done, and task engineers (gifts of administration) keep systems of fulfillment running smoothly, we have completed the Body of Christ system in full operation.
To Review,
the process in a nut shell then is...
core group (two or three one in Spirit... totally)
personal entering the Most Holy Place
Corporate, as a group, enter the Most Holy Place
Vision, mission revelation.
Support of Prophetic, intercessory, warrior, healers in an atmosphere of worship...
group inner chamber involvement.
Note: Andrew Murray, The Spirit of Christ
http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/7764/776424.htm
Task and people assignment.
Identify the talents and Gifts available to fulfill or what God will implant on someone so they can fulfill assigned tasks.
Task skill training and Spirit skill training.
Identify and mobilize the tasks congruent to talent, skill, Spiritual Gifts.
Organize to the strategy given while in the Inner Chamber, The Most Holy Place.
Each segment, department, area, do the same process to complete their tasks within their gift and talent sets.
It is a constant inside-to-out process.
After each action is put in motion, go back to the "inside to out" formation.The repetition of this keeps it alive, fresh, it limits being blind sided and getting stuck in a pattern, when constant innovation is constantly necessary.
Always back to the Inner Chamber personally and as a group daily.
"The Disciples were in prayer constantly; pray without ceasing."
4spirit@gmail.com
Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing out of Sync? by Seth Godin.
Seth Godin is one of my favorite authors on marketing and creative resonance in his style. He literally brings a smile to my face with his combined genius and mentally refreshing expressions. In many cases the obvious is not so obvious to us. We have new marketing opportunities and in some cases we are so excited about new technologies we have become specialists in making meatball sundaes... meatballs with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Not too appetizing. So we too are murdering the tastiness of some delightfully tasty media opportunities.
Seth goes into how to make the marketing work with a new look on how to present and prepare the product. It's a new marketing revolution going on. This revolution is putting the right products, with the right approach through transformational organizations. We are thinking transformation in what we are making and how we are making it.
We want shortcuts and Meatball Sundae gives us the fast path to these
14 new marketing trends.
The simple premise for today is...
make what you can sell.
Organizations need to match the medium.
Trend 1. Direct communication and commerce between producers.
Organizations can create products for their customers, instead of
searching for customers for their products. There's a need for speed.
Trend 2. Amplification of the voice of the consumer and independent authorities.
Everyone's your critic, listen, respond, blogs are the voice of the people.
Trend 3. Need for an authentic story as the number of sources increase.
You got to get their story straight.
Trend 4. Extremely short attention span due to clutter. Complex messages rarely get through.
Trend 5. The long tail. Consumers reward providers who offer the most choices... the big hit products are fading.
Trend 6. Outsourcing. Intellectual property based on talent and efficiency.
Trend 7. Google and the dicing of everything.
Google can get you right to the page you want without going to "home's" door first.
Trend 8. Infinite channels of communication. Even newer forms of publishing, communication, interaction coming in this already cluttered world. If you can figure the chaos out, you can thrive. Find the people who care. It's the niches that matter. Build your market from your product with the niches who care.
Trend 9. Direct communication and commerce between consumers and consumers.
As social networks become more powerful, consumers gravitate to each other.
Trend 10. The shifts in scarcity and abundance.
Create and sell something scarce and you earn a profit. What's scarce? Spare time, attention span, trust, trained workers, open space.
Trend 11. The triumph of Big Ideas.
New marketing in a noisy marketplace demands something bigger. It demands ideas that force people to sit up and take notice. It can even be the little things made big like service.
Trend 12. The shift from "how many" to "who."
You can now tell who is hearing (or talking) about your message.
Trend 13. The wealthy are like us.
Trend 14. New gatekeepers, no gatekeepers.
Everyone's approachable...You Tube is for you too.
"Ideas that spread through groups of people are far more powerful than ideas delivered at people."
It's a movement--ideas spreading through a community lead to change.The net makes it easier for a movement to take place.
http://www.sethgodin.com/
George Barna, famous pollster for religious trends, has recently published findings of a survey that has interesting implications on trends in the Spiritual area and business. What has been called the Charismatic movement in our culture appears to be on a significant up swing.
What this apparently indicates is that Supernatural giftings of Spirit are prevalent in everyday life. There is an acceptance and belief that these can be a functional part of our lives. Gifts such as prophecy... where a person hears from God which gives Divine insight into future direction, based on Spiritual insight and not any real-world known knowledge. Gifts of healing... that someone can pray for someone and they can be miraculously healed, beyond what medical science says is possible. Gifts of miracles...that people can pray with faith to a level that events can take place without humanly possible explanations. Gifts of knowledge... some know things without being told, such as a person's true motives or information about others. The gifts of living naturally Supernaturally are becoming more and more into acceptance.
Those who "believe Charismatically" have grown in the last few years from 30% to nearly 40% among religious groups...and still showing momentum in this area.
Note:
http://www.barna.org/
This trend is also overlapping in the business function. That is, if we can hear directly from God, what would this do for our businesses. What if we sought Divine intelligence, Divine assistance that creates Supernatural results... beyond our abilities on a regular basis.
The following is a business operating process that would induce this into reality...using Spiritual Powered process. It is a dramatic shift of the way we think and do business. It also fits the market shift trends being observed by those on the marketing watch today. The Body of Christ model for business (based on Jesus' and Apostle's teachings).
The Spirit-Powered Inner core.
Two or three need to be in close Spiritual harmony. As Jesus had his inner circle, a business core needs established that can have the same close kindred Spirit as Jesus had with His inner core...note when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to the mount of transfiguration. We too, when in close Spirit to each other, create a transfiguring core.
Each of the inner core, need to hold close relationship with the Holy Spirit,
spending personal time in the Inner Chamber of God. This is essential and cannot be bypassed. The depth of this is then reflected in the power when we come together.
To hear the voice of God, each part must be shared with each other...
the spark of God's voice is ignited then. It's here we fall short in living in God's Power in business.The inner relationship core strength is not established and each person falls short in their own responsibility and diligence in entering the Holy Chamber of God.
Joint worship does this. When the core group enters into prophetic worship, that is worship to exalt and to hear from God, when this is employed it brings the group together. The Inner Chamber surrounds the group, the Most Holy Place of His Presence is entered. This is not practiced by very many in business. This is the core, the nuclei of power.
We must first create harmony in our relationships within God's presence
and then wait to hear from God. Unhindered harmony must also exist among each other. If not, it won't work. Silent differences hid in the heart, or not dealt with or remedied, will kill Spirit power. Lack of love, understanding, acceptance, feeling superior, lack of respect, differences kept to each one's self ties Spirit's hands. This is a case for why corporate or group worship is important to do first. Spirit heals, causes differences to be aired and healed. Relationship differences are the biggest culprit of hindering Spirit to move in power. This can't be stressed enough.
This is the key to everything. We must love each other unconditionally. Only Spirit can made this possible. We are incapable of loving... we are superficial. Only Spirit can Love and We are compelled to let Spirit control our whole being and love through us.
Next, note taking of what the Holy Spirit is saying to each person is vital to record what you hear from God. Spoken thoughts should be recorded for all to review what the essence is of God's Spirit speaking to them. In this stage mission and vision is provided to the core group. Vision and mission needs to be recorded and then pondered by the group. Again, this should go back to each to reflect on in the Inner Chamber when they personally enter the most Holy Place.
Then these questions need answered.
What is to be done, and how, and who should do it?
This is what we would call the action steps with the strategy of Spirit as part of it. The Holy Spirit provides a strategic process. In this Strategic process, the specifics come to light (Divinely Inspired) on how to go about it, and why it is important to do it a certain way.
Next is having in place the prayer intercessors, the worshipers inside and the prayer (or faith) warriors to see the battle through. Key gifts to put to work are the prophetic to guide on the process... to give Spiritual insight and Spiritual Intelligence for the mission processes, the task development and task assignments.
We move now to Gift identification, assignment, and mobilization.
Gift training, skill training and process training are essential. One gift is the Healing Gift to be part of the prophetic, intercessory, warriors in prayer. These form a ring around the core group and function in tandem with the core.The gifts for relationship healings and physical, emotional healings are vital. People have many physical and emotional ills that need Divine renovation. Everyone is affected by this limitation "of the flesh" as the Bible calls it... which is the physical body's operation, the mind's neurosis, and personality quirks we all have.
Skill development (in both the naturally needed skills and Spiritual Gifts, along with process) to ignite the Spiritual Gifts in each to perform tasks Supernaturally comes into play. Going back to the core worship and prayer, this is where the gifts are implanted, and then developed for visible manifestation in doing the tasks determined to fulfill the mission, vision coming out of the inner circle meetings.
Then each part (department, area) follows the same pattern....
As the business organization grows each section needs to follow the same process,
of an inner core,
outer ring,
combined worship
and task reviewed and fulfillment.
Along the process, pastors who ministry to people's needs keep a watch and guide the ongoing part of the process. It's management in ministry to occurrences which inevitably arise as the processes are put in motion. As the evangelists proclaim the mission, servers get it done, and task engineers (gifts of administration) keep systems of fulfillment running smoothly, we have completed the Body of Christ system in full operation.
To Review,
the process in a nut shell then is...
core group (two or three one in Spirit... totally)
personal entering the Most Holy Place
Corporate, as a group, enter the Most Holy Place
Vision, mission revelation.
Support of Prophetic, intercessory, warrior, healers in an atmosphere of worship...
group inner chamber involvement.
Note: Andrew Murray, The Spirit of Christ
http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/7764/776424.htm
Task and people assignment.
Identify the talents and Gifts available to fulfill or what God will implant on someone so they can fulfill assigned tasks.
Task skill training and Spirit skill training.
Identify and mobilize the tasks congruent to talent, skill, Spiritual Gifts.
Organize to the strategy given while in the Inner Chamber, The Most Holy Place.
Each segment, department, area, do the same process to complete their tasks within their gift and talent sets.
It is a constant inside-to-out process.
After each action is put in motion, go back to the "inside to out" formation.The repetition of this keeps it alive, fresh, it limits being blind sided and getting stuck in a pattern, when constant innovation is constantly necessary.
Always back to the Inner Chamber personally and as a group daily.
"The Disciples were in prayer constantly; pray without ceasing."
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