Be Responsible

Image by Umang Dutt via Flickr

It is quite common for people to generalize when they speak without being situation or condition-specific. Often time following such words is feeling of guilt in those who are not mature.

I once had an opportunity to share somewhere on "Understanding the Will of God'. To do a measure of justice to a thought I discovered in the context of Ps. 103, I quickly pass a few comment on "he satisfied my mouth with good things ...." I explained how there is the possibility of being satiated with the abundance that God can supply and how this suggest his willingness to meet our need.

I made reference to times in the past where many have been taught to think short of abundance and how on the other hand many make judgments based on the sphere of their experience. For instance, a preacher once spoke against what on earth one will do with the ownership of four to five cars. 'it is sheer wastefulness" he declared, "and madness". I did not know this until someone reacted against the statement in the previous paragraph. While I took care not to know who made the statement, I made bold to state that the statement cannot be generalized as situations in life are diverse.

A man who is blessed to be on the board of multiple companies might be fortunate to have official vehicles from all. His status commanded it without him having need to spend money buying any of them. You cannot judge him for sheer madness. A man who is not too outgoing and that has a few wears reserved for special functions and occasions cannot be judged to be hoarding materials if he has not touched some of the specials in six months.

A man who knows the secret place of prayer to make his need known to God cannot be subjected to common judgment as the one who has desires with the skill to transverse around to garner support to be able to acquire what is bigger than his size.

Before you start to make doctrine of non-universals, make the decision to take responsibility for your life.

Living by Comparison is Foolish

Those who feel bigger and better are stupid.
Those who get intimidated and feel smaller, 'stupider' (a la George Orwell).

Don't forgive me if you think its harsh or hard.
Apostle Paul taught me that years back (2 Cor. 10.12-15).
I am only impressed with someone's size the first day I met him.
Thereafter I see the God who is bigger than that size, accomplishment, or
wealth;
Who can also do greater through weaker vessels.

Don't you get angry with me now
Unless if that size is what your life is all about
And unless you are fond of covering up your inadequacy and insecurity with
the consolation you find in smaller sizes.

Get a life;
Live the life;
Face your direction;
Win your crown.

Are you still there.

Thanks.

Synergy Creates Energy

Living by comparison is fatal vision, for always there will be those who appear better off and worse off than ourselves at any given moment. In truth, there is no such distinction as superior and subordinate. We all have unique talents that will blossom and flourish when nurtured.

In past decades, there was a more "look out for No. 1" and "don't bring in people who might want your job" style of leadership. You generally would hire those people who would do as they were told and who wouldn't challenge your ideas or authority. This type of thinking led to bulging bureaucracies and mediocre middle management that accomplished little. This mindset also created a scarcity mentality that there wasn't enough to go around: so don't share ideas, don't brainstorm with others who might steal your concepts, and above all, don't help your co-workers or employees succeed. We have seen that this approach clearly will not work in the global marketplace of the knowledge age.

Today the challenge is to establish networks, strategic alliances, synergistic relationships, and ad hoc teams to solve problems and help everyone accomplish their goals. You now look for those people who are not satisfied with the status quo, who are striving for excellence and have talents and abilities that you don't.

This requires that you "check your ego at the door" and that you don't get intimidated by others who may have different talents or strengths than you do. This is what synergy is all about. As we value the differences and look at truly working together, one plus one really can equal three or even more.

This week, focus on "working with others" rather than competing against others."

Courtesy: Denis Waitley.

Leadership Lessons

In a recent article for Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox newsletter, Senate Chaplain Barry Black wrote: "During my lifetime, I learned far more about leadership from faithful people working behind the scenes than from those who were more prominent. Here are a few of the lessons I learned.

Expect events to shape destinies. One of my earliest leadership lessons was that events, more than ability, often catapult people into positions of prominence. Shakespeare captured this notion when he said, "Be not afraid of greatness. Some men are born great, others achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Without the Civil War, we may have never known the wonderful greatness of many notable Americans. Without World War II, names like Patton, Marshall, and MacArthur might be historical footnotes. Without Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on that bus, we probably wouldn't have a national holiday honoring Dr. King. Events often provide the critical variables for effective leadership.

Expect leaders to have different talents. I learned early that leaders come in many forms with many styles and abilities. Some are quiet, and others almost bombastic. Some are eloquent while others express themselves with difficulty. The five presidents mentioned at the beginning of this chapter had their individual strengths and weaknesses. Nonetheless, each made a substantive difference. Most successful leaders, however, have one thing in common: they mobilize people to achieve shared objectives.

Don't run from the possibility of failure. I learned that most effective leaders are willing to fail. They seem to sense that it is better to attempt something great and fail than to not try at all. Time and again, I've seen strong leaders who possessed the courage to fall and get up repeatedly.

Be humbly hospitable. Luther Palmer was the headmaster at the boarding high school that I attended. He was the exact opposite of the stereotypically remote, distant principal. Instead, he invited students home for dinner and got to know them one-on-one. He kept an eye on students who aspired to the Gospel ministry, and set up instructional periods with key preachers who visited our school. Though a busy administrator, he took the time to teach a class called "Facing Life," which was a requirement for all students. In this way, he came to know most of us in a very personal way."

(Adapted from Black's biography From the Hood to the Hill. To learn more about the book, click here (http://www.crosswalkmail.com/xbdjvsdbjgjtdcbmtplqntkndstchllcgrdnvvmdbjhhbsr_ycbfvqqsgbcg.html).)

IAT Boluwatise
www.SaintsAwakening.ning.com
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Choose Your Friends Wisely!

Friendship is by choice.

The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases the level of your mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people. As you grow in life, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will prefer you to stay where they are. Friends, who won't help you to climb, will always
want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream.

Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you.

Consider these words.

Never receive counsel from unproductive people.

Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed at anything are always the first to tell you how.

Not everyone has a right to speak into your life. You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person.

Don't follow anyone who's not going anywhere. With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it.

Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life.

Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships.

If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.

"A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is
really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses."

The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely
associate - for the good and the bad. Be not mistaken.

This is applicable to family as well as friends.

Yes...do love, appreciate and be thankful
for your family, for they will always be your family no matter what.

Just know that they are human first and though they are family to you, they may be a friend to someone else and will fit somewhere in the criteria above.

"In Prosperity Our Friends Know Us. In Adversity We Know Our Friends."

"Never make someone a priority when you are only an option for them."

"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude." Colin Powell

"Those who walk with the wise, will become wise but the companion of fools will be destroyed"

"Do not be deceived evil communication will always corrupt good manners"

Choose your friends wisely!