blue letter bible concordances (Greek and Hebrew word studies), commentaries, dictionary aids, word searches, passage searches, audio bibles, devotionals, video teachings and multiple translations.
Study light dictionaries, commentaries, concordances, etc
Cross walks- illustrations, and bible searching tool
BST great for easy research including a large reference library
Bible Gateway great for key word and passage searches.
Christian Classics Library has all kinds references. Read books from the church fathers , bible study or look up classic commentary on specific bible passages.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
We are limited
There is only so much we can do. We have a capacity, a range. We need to choose where we put our time.
/ can't do
/ can do ok
{ can do well
\ can do ok
\ can't do
We have a spectrum unique to ourselves. Some narrow and focused others wider and shallower some both. In Christ we can do all things. Do the things that Christ would do.
/ can't do
/ can do ok
{ can do well
\ can do ok
\ can't do
We have a spectrum unique to ourselves. Some narrow and focused others wider and shallower some both. In Christ we can do all things. Do the things that Christ would do.
France frenchy info
hey, here are some websites for buses in and around Aix
http://www.infotelo.com/
You can put in a destination like aix to barcelona (spelled dif) and it will give you an itinerary.
http://transports.agglo-paysdaix.fr
The Aix buses
French Lessons- good and inexpensive -ASTI
French Info- Great if you are new to France- Where to go and what you need to get started. Bank account, Caf, Health insurance, etc.
Caf The "APL" (Caisse Allocations Familiales) is where you would apply for social help including the APL which helps to pay your rent and depends on your incomes.
135, chemin Roger Martin
13088 Aix-en-Provence cedex 2
Tél : 0 820 25 13 10
In a different office is the French Social Security or the Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie (CPCAM) called "SECU. This pays 70% of medical expenses and what else?
In Aix:
UGE 031 Mansard
Av du 8 Mai Immeuble Le Mansard Quart Encagnane 13097 AIX EN PROVENCE CEDEX 2
#
UGE 030 Saint Donat
9 chemin de Saint Donat 13627 AIX EN PROVENCE CEDEX 1
Cell Phones:
Bouygues which is a french telecom company. 35-37 euros a month- 300 minutes with the ability to call to the US with those minutes. All incoming calls to our phones are free for us. I also have like 20 sms messages per month. And i believe i also have a roll over plan so any minutes not used roll over to the next month. It has worked for us and coverage has been excellent in Aix.
French to English food dictionary
http://www.beyond.fr/food/english-french-food-dictionary-1.html
http://www.infotelo.com/
You can put in a destination like aix to barcelona (spelled dif) and it will give you an itinerary.
http://transports.agglo-paysdaix.fr
The Aix buses
French Lessons- good and inexpensive -ASTI
French Info- Great if you are new to France- Where to go and what you need to get started. Bank account, Caf, Health insurance, etc.
Caf The "APL" (Caisse Allocations Familiales) is where you would apply for social help including the APL which helps to pay your rent and depends on your incomes.
135, chemin Roger Martin
13088 Aix-en-Provence cedex 2
Tél : 0 820 25 13 10
In a different office is the French Social Security or the Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie (CPCAM) called "SECU. This pays 70% of medical expenses and what else?
In Aix:
UGE 031 Mansard
Av du 8 Mai Immeuble Le Mansard Quart Encagnane 13097 AIX EN PROVENCE CEDEX 2
#
UGE 030 Saint Donat
9 chemin de Saint Donat 13627 AIX EN PROVENCE CEDEX 1
Cell Phones:
Bouygues which is a french telecom company. 35-37 euros a month- 300 minutes with the ability to call to the US with those minutes. All incoming calls to our phones are free for us. I also have like 20 sms messages per month. And i believe i also have a roll over plan so any minutes not used roll over to the next month. It has worked for us and coverage has been excellent in Aix.
French to English food dictionary
http://www.beyond.fr/food/english-french-food-dictionary-1.html
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Stages to Spiritual Maturity-- McWilliams
Soul Care- Developmental stage 1
1) acknowledging that God exists- You need something bigger than yourselves.
We put on personas instead of changing the person. It is an exterior behavior. AA- steps make us go through a development. In AA they acknowledge that God is there. Does addiction and emptiness come from a root of not acknowledging God and not acknowledging that God loves them.
God’s Grace is sufficient- God loves us and that’s enough. So we strive.
-We think:
1) we are too bad to be love. “if you really knew me, if you really see my heart, you wouldn’t love me. If we are abused by our caretakers/parents we think the reason they treat us bad is because we deserve it and if you knew me like they did you would mistreat me too.
-Without faith it is impossible to please God-
2)if I please God than I will have his love
3) I’m too good to be love. I don’t need it. Independence. I’m in charge.
Q2 Is God Good? Are we looking at things on the outside?
God sees our good, holy spirit. We also have a soul- heart mind will- then behavior – then world- World is in the power of the evil one. I have a choice to believe God or the world.
Usually there is a deep sense of need, but we are moving from being worthless to being worthy. We put a big place on self esteem and having someone feel worthy. We are fighting our independence ever since we left the garden.
Before we get through the first stage we are run by fear like little kids.
Stage two is usually discipleship but we see that as the end when it is just stage two.
Soul Care 2
Circle- 1-3 is behavior. Human doing. You are being pushed. Motivation can be fear, comparison, competition, guilt. Striving. We hold on to a life that can not bring life. Behavioral change will not drive the change your soul longs for. 1-3 are like chaff in wheat. It is necessary for the wheat to grow but we must at one point you must clean up 1-3. In here peace is the absence of conflict.
4-6 is human being. You are being drawn. Motivation. Cease striving. If you loose your life for my sake you get it back.
We can’t make this leap based on experiences. Experience causes us to believe that we are in an impossible situation. Trust over doing. How do react if our experience does not line up with what we expect. We have been faithful, why is God doing this??
We need to know what God is doing and why in order to trust Him and that is backwards.
Inner growth and maturity takes place here. Here peace loves anxiety.
We don’t start here unless we believe God is absolutely good.
We don’t naturally jump into 4-6.
We need to create an environment around ours and other people’s 4-6.
We can’t create a program for 4-6. We each have
4) Inward- Grief starts the process. We have to give up the dream that 1-3 will bring us life. Applying ideas to our lives.
Motivators are Hope and wholeness.
We would rather be right than forgiven. Forgiven is in 4 ,right is in 3. Grace traffics in 4. It is not an excuse,
Disarm shame, fear, guilt, hurt, pride. Some people call it the dark night of the soul. Not a good name for it.
Exploring unresolved psychological and theological
5) Healing- healing is necessary for our souls. 5 you start outward again. The power is the power of purpose. Our calling is to Jesus not a place or an action or talent. We need to be independent from our circumstances. Powered by purpose. If our purpose is to further the kingdom why can’t we yield to something bigger than us. We are also to bow to marriage and not have marriage bow to us.
Surrender, submit, slave,
We move from being worthy to being unworthy. Gratefulness.
Soul Care 3
Day 4
In the garden we wanted to be independent. That will try to get in the way. We are moving from independence to dependence on God.
In 1-3 people are relational but not making deep connections.
In 6- the characteristics we want- don’t just put them on. Be surprised when you find them in yourself.
1- most people can’t get past if we are truly loved.
2- outside in, push, bind- by sight
6- Learning how to love- inside out, by faith not sight
Jn 14- we don’t have to strive to know the Spirit. God is present, call to our awareness His presence.
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
We need to know what He said first to be reminded of it. Your obedience needs to come on basis of relationship. At one point we need to let go and trust.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. (1-3)
The Spirit will convict the world. We need to learn to be a draw. Let the Spirit convict the world.
The Spirit of God will guide us with all the truth.
Job- not about suffering, about trust. We need to gain the confidence that God is able to care for us.
We are most like God in how we think and least like God in what we can do.
We have this well spring of things inside of us just waiting to get out.
I will give you life and you can experience joy in the midst of a fallen world.
Soul Care 4
6th is learning how to Love. Power by wisdom
Motivation is peace (Jesus will be our peace)
Compassion
Contentment
Open hand- All is God
Calmness,
humor- the ability to laugh at yourself is the most unmistakable behavioral characteristic of humility, confront issues with out anger,
joy- a perspective i.e. death, you face blindside issues (the believer does not have a dark side, we have a blind side. We are trying to redeem (1tim4:4) and not get rid of. They can be good. You can’t see your own but.
Heal addictions. We think God breaks us like Misery but that is not how he operates. We don’t have anything that we shouldn’t be put into the light.
Compassion
Love
Boundaries- love waits, not controlling, depends on the other person to move forward. We can’t compromise our souls for someone else. (God is not a child abuser; he won’t make us do things that are bad for us)
5th is what most people call transformation. Power by purpose
Motivator- to empower others. Submit surrender. Leads with other people.
God is good. Uncompromisingly the center. Relying totally on the goodness of God. We know God already knows all that is in our souls.
Wholeness. We don’t serve in order to gain something. We serve because we have been served and God’s grace is sufficient. Empathy-- (the ability to identify, understand the other person; a quality of being) (technology is harder to show empathy) (will give you more substance in relationships, messier relationships) becomes the focus. We have others in mind. A calmness to people in this area. No striving. Quiet waters run deep.
4 Start to know that I breath my last breath because God is pleased to do so.
None of these steps come naturally.
Ego is removed in 4-6 You are still not confident and don’t believe we are truly loved by God.
No one is in just one stage. We move all the time. Like manna it rots the next day. Need our daily bread.
90% of how people are chosen for a job is chosen based on what we can see on the outside and not character based.
Disciplines- We sometimes pick up the disciplines on the 2-3 side and want them as a vehicle to push us through the others. Should do 1 thing to us.. help us pre-decide in any given situation. (I think to create space for God to move too) Legalism reigns here.
We will never be in a circumstance where we cannot love.
The transformative change comes from the Spirit of God working in us.
1) acknowledging that God exists- You need something bigger than yourselves.
We put on personas instead of changing the person. It is an exterior behavior. AA- steps make us go through a development. In AA they acknowledge that God is there. Does addiction and emptiness come from a root of not acknowledging God and not acknowledging that God loves them.
God’s Grace is sufficient- God loves us and that’s enough. So we strive.
-We think:
1) we are too bad to be love. “if you really knew me, if you really see my heart, you wouldn’t love me. If we are abused by our caretakers/parents we think the reason they treat us bad is because we deserve it and if you knew me like they did you would mistreat me too.
-Without faith it is impossible to please God-
2)if I please God than I will have his love
3) I’m too good to be love. I don’t need it. Independence. I’m in charge.
Q2 Is God Good? Are we looking at things on the outside?
God sees our good, holy spirit. We also have a soul- heart mind will- then behavior – then world- World is in the power of the evil one. I have a choice to believe God or the world.
Usually there is a deep sense of need, but we are moving from being worthless to being worthy. We put a big place on self esteem and having someone feel worthy. We are fighting our independence ever since we left the garden.
Before we get through the first stage we are run by fear like little kids.
Stage two is usually discipleship but we see that as the end when it is just stage two.
Soul Care 2
Circle- 1-3 is behavior. Human doing. You are being pushed. Motivation can be fear, comparison, competition, guilt. Striving. We hold on to a life that can not bring life. Behavioral change will not drive the change your soul longs for. 1-3 are like chaff in wheat. It is necessary for the wheat to grow but we must at one point you must clean up 1-3. In here peace is the absence of conflict.
4-6 is human being. You are being drawn. Motivation. Cease striving. If you loose your life for my sake you get it back.
We can’t make this leap based on experiences. Experience causes us to believe that we are in an impossible situation. Trust over doing. How do react if our experience does not line up with what we expect. We have been faithful, why is God doing this??
We need to know what God is doing and why in order to trust Him and that is backwards.
Inner growth and maturity takes place here. Here peace loves anxiety.
We don’t start here unless we believe God is absolutely good.
We don’t naturally jump into 4-6.
We need to create an environment around ours and other people’s 4-6.
We can’t create a program for 4-6. We each have
4) Inward- Grief starts the process. We have to give up the dream that 1-3 will bring us life. Applying ideas to our lives.
Motivators are Hope and wholeness.
We would rather be right than forgiven. Forgiven is in 4 ,right is in 3. Grace traffics in 4. It is not an excuse,
Disarm shame, fear, guilt, hurt, pride. Some people call it the dark night of the soul. Not a good name for it.
Exploring unresolved psychological and theological
5) Healing- healing is necessary for our souls. 5 you start outward again. The power is the power of purpose. Our calling is to Jesus not a place or an action or talent. We need to be independent from our circumstances. Powered by purpose. If our purpose is to further the kingdom why can’t we yield to something bigger than us. We are also to bow to marriage and not have marriage bow to us.
Surrender, submit, slave,
We move from being worthy to being unworthy. Gratefulness.
Soul Care 3
Day 4
In the garden we wanted to be independent. That will try to get in the way. We are moving from independence to dependence on God.
In 1-3 people are relational but not making deep connections.
In 6- the characteristics we want- don’t just put them on. Be surprised when you find them in yourself.
1- most people can’t get past if we are truly loved.
2- outside in, push, bind- by sight
6- Learning how to love- inside out, by faith not sight
Jn 14- we don’t have to strive to know the Spirit. God is present, call to our awareness His presence.
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
We need to know what He said first to be reminded of it. Your obedience needs to come on basis of relationship. At one point we need to let go and trust.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. (1-3)
The Spirit will convict the world. We need to learn to be a draw. Let the Spirit convict the world.
The Spirit of God will guide us with all the truth.
Job- not about suffering, about trust. We need to gain the confidence that God is able to care for us.
We are most like God in how we think and least like God in what we can do.
We have this well spring of things inside of us just waiting to get out.
I will give you life and you can experience joy in the midst of a fallen world.
Soul Care 4
6th is learning how to Love. Power by wisdom
Motivation is peace (Jesus will be our peace)
Compassion
Contentment
Open hand- All is God
Calmness,
humor- the ability to laugh at yourself is the most unmistakable behavioral characteristic of humility, confront issues with out anger,
joy- a perspective i.e. death, you face blindside issues (the believer does not have a dark side, we have a blind side. We are trying to redeem (1tim4:4) and not get rid of. They can be good. You can’t see your own but.
Heal addictions. We think God breaks us like Misery but that is not how he operates. We don’t have anything that we shouldn’t be put into the light.
Compassion
Love
Boundaries- love waits, not controlling, depends on the other person to move forward. We can’t compromise our souls for someone else. (God is not a child abuser; he won’t make us do things that are bad for us)
5th is what most people call transformation. Power by purpose
Motivator- to empower others. Submit surrender. Leads with other people.
God is good. Uncompromisingly the center. Relying totally on the goodness of God. We know God already knows all that is in our souls.
Wholeness. We don’t serve in order to gain something. We serve because we have been served and God’s grace is sufficient. Empathy-- (the ability to identify, understand the other person; a quality of being) (technology is harder to show empathy) (will give you more substance in relationships, messier relationships) becomes the focus. We have others in mind. A calmness to people in this area. No striving. Quiet waters run deep.
4 Start to know that I breath my last breath because God is pleased to do so.
None of these steps come naturally.
Ego is removed in 4-6 You are still not confident and don’t believe we are truly loved by God.
No one is in just one stage. We move all the time. Like manna it rots the next day. Need our daily bread.
90% of how people are chosen for a job is chosen based on what we can see on the outside and not character based.
Disciplines- We sometimes pick up the disciplines on the 2-3 side and want them as a vehicle to push us through the others. Should do 1 thing to us.. help us pre-decide in any given situation. (I think to create space for God to move too) Legalism reigns here.
We will never be in a circumstance where we cannot love.
The transformative change comes from the Spirit of God working in us.
Free personality tests
Lotus of Control
Machiavelli Personality Test about it
Self Esteem Test also
Self-Monitoring Test
Self Disclosure Test also
Risk Taking Test
Team Roles
Type-A Personality Test
Creative Problem Solving
Time Management
Brain Type Test
Myers-Briggs Jung Typology Test also
Emotional IQ also
Leadership Style
The Big Five Personality Test
another myers briggs
Machiavelli Personality Test about it
Self Esteem Test also
Self-Monitoring Test
Self Disclosure Test also
Risk Taking Test
Team Roles
Type-A Personality Test
Creative Problem Solving
Time Management
Brain Type Test
Myers-Briggs Jung Typology Test also
Emotional IQ also
Leadership Style
The Big Five Personality Test
another myers briggs
Wealth, Well-being, and the New American Dream
Does money buy happiness? Not! Ah, but would a little more money make us a little happier? Many of us smirk and nod. There is, we believe, some connection between fiscal fitness and feeling fantastic. Most of us tell Gallup that, yes, we would like to be rich. Three in four entering American collegians—nearly double the 1970 proportion—now consider it “very important” or “essential” that they become “very well off financially.” Money matters.It’s the old American dream: life, liberty, and the purchase of happiness. “Of course money buys happiness,” writes Andrew Tobias. Wouldn’t anyone be happier with the indulgences promised by the magazine sweepstakes: a 40 foot yacht, deluxe motor home, private housekeeper? Anyone who has seen Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous knows as much. “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness isn’t spending it right,” proclaimed a Lexus ad.Well, are rich people happier? Researchers have found that in poor countries, such as Bangladesh, being relatively well off does make for greater well-being. We need food, rest, shelter, social contact.But a surprising fact of life is that in countries where nearly everyone can afford life’s necessities, increasing affluence matters surprisingly little. The correlation between income and happiness is “surprisingly weak,” observed University of Michigan researcher Ronald Inglehart in one 16-nation study of 170,000 people. Once comfortable, more money provides diminishing returns. The second piece of pie, or the second $100,000, never tastes as good as the first.Even lottery winners and the Forbes’ 100 wealthiest Americans (when surveyed by University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diener) have expressed only slightly greater happiness than the average American. Making it big brings temporary joy. But in the long run wealth is like health: Its utter absence can breed misery, but having it doesn’t guarantee happiness. Happiness seems less a matter of getting what we want than of wanting what we have.Has our happiness, however, floated upward with the rising economic tide? In 1957, when economist John Galbraith was about to describe the United States as the Affluent Society, Americans’ per person income, expressed in today’s dollars, was $8700. Today it is $20,000. Compared to 1957, we are now “the doubly affluent society”—with double what money buys. We have twice as many cars per person. We eat out two and a half times as often. In the late 1950s, few Americans had dishwashers, clothes dryers, or air conditioning; today, most do.So, believing that a little more money would make us a little happier and that it’s very important to be very well off, are we indeed now–after four decades of rising affluence--happier? We are not. Since 1957, the number of Americans who say they are “very happy” has declined from 35 to 32 percent. Meanwhile, the divorce rate has doubled, the teen suicide rate has nearly tripled, the violent crime rate has nearly quadrupled (even after the recent decline), and more people than ever (especially teens and young adults) are depressed.I call this soaring wealth and shrinking spirit “the American paradox.” More than ever, we have big houses and broken homes, high incomes and low morale, secured rights and diminished civility. We excel at making a living but often fail at making a life. We celebrate our prosperity but yearn for purpose. We cherish our freedoms but long for connection. In an age of plenty, we feel spiritual hunger.These facts of life explode a bombshell underneath our society’s materialism: Economic growth has provided no boost to human morale. When it comes to psychological well-being, it is not the economy, stupid.We know it, sort of. Princeton sociologist Robert Wuthnow reports that 89 percent of people say “our society is much too materialistic.” Other people are too materialistic, that is. For 84 percent also wished they had more money, and 78 percent said is was “very or fairly important” to have “a beautiful home, a new car and other nice things.” One has to wonder, what’s the point? “Why,” wondered the prophet Isaiah, “do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” What’s the point of accumulating stacks of unplayed CD’s, closets full of seldom worn clothes, garages with luxury cars—all purchased in a vain quest for an elusive joy? And what’s the point of leaving significant inherited wealth to one’s heirs, as if it could buy them happiness, when that wealth could do so much good in a hurting world?As we enter the new millennium more and more people are asking such questions. A new American dream is taking shape. Having secured our human rights and achieved affluence, we now long for connection and purpose. We seek better balance between our needs for independence and attachment, liberty and civility, me-thinking and we-thinking. Such transformation in consciousness has happened before, and it could happen again.
-by David Myers
Typically market health measures such as GDP and GNP have been used as a measure of successful policy. However, although on average richer nations tend to be happier than poorer nations, beyond an average GDP/capita of about $15,000 (most of the world's nations have less than this), studies indicate the average income in a nation makes little difference to the average self-reported happiness. Others criticize this, pointing out that since life expectancy has continued to increase in nations wealthier than this, often attributed partly to economic growth allowing for factors such as better health care, Happy Life Years have continued to increase. It has been argued that happiness measures could be used not as a replacement for more traditional measures but as a supplement.
Recently, Layard has shifted his attention to the study of what has since come to be known as Happiness economics. This branch of economic analysis starts from the argument that income is a bad approximation for happiness. Based on modern happiness research, he cites three factors that economists fail to take into consideration:
· Social comparisons: In contrast to what traditional economics predicts, happiness is derived from relative income as well as from absolute income. That is, if everyone gains purchasing power, some may still turn out unhappier if their position compared to others is worse. This effect may not turn economic growth into a zero sum game entirely, but it will likely diminish the benefits people draw from their hard work. In an economy where not only companies, but individuals are constantly forced to compete with each other, life and work are experienced as a rat race.
· Adaptation: As people get used to higher income levels, their idea of a sufficient income grows with their income. If they fail to anticipate that effect, they will invest more time for work than is good for their happiness.
· Changing Tastes: Economists assume that individual preferences are constant, when in fact such preferences are not fixed but increasingly mutable, shifting constantly according to the latest trends and cultural norms. In turn, the relative values of one's accumulated possessions are subject to depreciation, ultimately having a negative effect on happiness.
Success and how people define and pursue it can destroy personal health, ruin marriages and create feelings of loneliness and isolation. It not a beneficial instinct for executives and soccer moms alike to "multitask." Multitasking usually involves skimming the surface of the incoming data, picking out the relevant details, and moving on to the next stream. You’re paying attention, but only partially. That lets you cast a wider net, but it also runs the risk of keeping you from really studying the fish. Find happiness in the "now." What is needed is a contentment in the present circumstances. Emphasize shared, collective values (rather than a "me-first" attitude) and remind yourself that money does not equal happiness. Stop striving and start thriving.
-by David Myers
Typically market health measures such as GDP and GNP have been used as a measure of successful policy. However, although on average richer nations tend to be happier than poorer nations, beyond an average GDP/capita of about $15,000 (most of the world's nations have less than this), studies indicate the average income in a nation makes little difference to the average self-reported happiness. Others criticize this, pointing out that since life expectancy has continued to increase in nations wealthier than this, often attributed partly to economic growth allowing for factors such as better health care, Happy Life Years have continued to increase. It has been argued that happiness measures could be used not as a replacement for more traditional measures but as a supplement.
Recently, Layard has shifted his attention to the study of what has since come to be known as Happiness economics. This branch of economic analysis starts from the argument that income is a bad approximation for happiness. Based on modern happiness research, he cites three factors that economists fail to take into consideration:
· Social comparisons: In contrast to what traditional economics predicts, happiness is derived from relative income as well as from absolute income. That is, if everyone gains purchasing power, some may still turn out unhappier if their position compared to others is worse. This effect may not turn economic growth into a zero sum game entirely, but it will likely diminish the benefits people draw from their hard work. In an economy where not only companies, but individuals are constantly forced to compete with each other, life and work are experienced as a rat race.
· Adaptation: As people get used to higher income levels, their idea of a sufficient income grows with their income. If they fail to anticipate that effect, they will invest more time for work than is good for their happiness.
· Changing Tastes: Economists assume that individual preferences are constant, when in fact such preferences are not fixed but increasingly mutable, shifting constantly according to the latest trends and cultural norms. In turn, the relative values of one's accumulated possessions are subject to depreciation, ultimately having a negative effect on happiness.
Success and how people define and pursue it can destroy personal health, ruin marriages and create feelings of loneliness and isolation. It not a beneficial instinct for executives and soccer moms alike to "multitask." Multitasking usually involves skimming the surface of the incoming data, picking out the relevant details, and moving on to the next stream. You’re paying attention, but only partially. That lets you cast a wider net, but it also runs the risk of keeping you from really studying the fish. Find happiness in the "now." What is needed is a contentment in the present circumstances. Emphasize shared, collective values (rather than a "me-first" attitude) and remind yourself that money does not equal happiness. Stop striving and start thriving.
Being Fully Present and The Paradox of Choice - contentment in decision making and why we need time management
Lately I have been benefiting from the rich expression that many people seem to be picking up on. It is an idea that will enrich our lives and is necessary for contentment, satisfaction, and well being in a fast paced world of almost unlimited options.
Be fully present.
It is a simple phrase but it runs deep. It is about paying attention. It is about being content in the present circumstances.. It is about letting go. It is about living the lives we are truly in.
But why are we so often consumed by our favorite electronic device or thinking about great ideas we could do some other time? How often are we truly present in the time and place we are in? We live in the age where so much is geared towards saving time, efficiency, and getting through whatever it is we are doing fast. We just want to get it done and move on. But most of the time we have already mentally moved on and are already thinking about our next project, new ideas for another time, other commitments, or appointments we have later in the day.
We call this multitasking. Multitasking usually involves skimming the surface of the incoming data, picking out the relevant details, and moving on to the next stream. You’re paying attention, but only partially. That lets you cast a wider net, but it also runs the risk of keeping you from really studying the fish. “One should rarely multitask and should instead devote full attention to completing a very small set of defined goals.” --Barry Schwartz
We become a mind divided instead of being fully present and this has statistically been proven to have a negative effect on our welfare. Absent-minded memory failures occur when one is distracted with issues or concerns, and he/she is unable to focus on things needed to remember.
As Henri Nouwen put it, “The trouble is, as soon as you sit and become quiet, you think, Oh, I forgot this. I should call my friend. Later on I'm going to see him. Your inner life is like a banana tree filled with monkeys jumping up and down.”
It is difficult to stay content in our present circumstances when we have so many choices. The average grocery store has over 30,000 different items. (285 varieties of cookies, 75 iced teas, 175 salad dressings, 40 toothpastes 600 kinds of coffee and more than 400 brands of shampoo.) In the US there was a 3x increase in brands on grocery shelves in the 1990’s. It is not just a quantitative change. Now there are also whole new domains of life where people used to have no options and now they have significant options. Phones (was just the phone company and one phone), healthcare (we choose and not the doctor now. We choose through advertisements how to make the choice of all the different drugs), physical appearance (no part of body that can’t be altered. How we look is now ‘a matter of choice’ and if we are unattractive ‘it’s your fault’.), work (we can now work all the time, even if we don’t say yes we still are thinking about it), pensions, when to have kids and start a family (no default), our identity (who do I want to be today? We can reinvent ourselves on a daily basis. We encourage people to redefine themselves and transform),
What this means is that young people spend an enormous amount of time thinking about things that were non-decisions 30 years ago. They are growing up in a world where there is much greater choice. Unfortunate consequence is an increased restlessness and lack of contentment.
The more choices we have the worse we feel about the decision we make. Any choices that are not perfect it is easy to imagine that the alternative would have been perfect and the more alternatives there are the easier to imagine this. How can we be content when the grass could be so green? We expect perfection.
The consumerist society we live in moves us to be more self focused and dissatisfied.
Choices make us less contented with the place we are in. If we are able to choose from only two cereals we will probably be content with the one that we picked, knowing it is better than the other, but if we choose from two hundred cereals than we will probably not be content with that cereal because we will think “how could this be the best one?” If we always have the choice of listening to music or playing video games how much harder is it to be content without them?
If reside ourselves to be “fully present” in our current circumstances instead of thinking of all of the other stuff we could or should be doing right now we will be more content and find more satisfaction in all of the things we do instead of moving from one thing to the next without ever really enjoying any of them.
How do we keep this flood of ideas and possibilities from ruling over us? I once thought that the more freedom I had the happier I’d be but the truth is that there is a limit to the amount of freedom that is good for us. We need boundaries. We unknowingly crave boundaries. We need to set limits on ourselves so that we can focus on what is important. We are limited. If we do not set boundaries we will do what is the most urgent but not necessarily what is the most important. We often don’t know our own limitations, especially in our youth. We try to do more than we can. The result is partial or surface completion of many things instead of a depth and fullness that can only be achieved with focused attention and setting boundaries. We need commitment so that we will not always be wondering if this is the right place for us.
We need to write down the open loop or obsession or task, thus getting the monkeys out of our brains and into a trusted place.
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear… do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
“It's not easy to sit and trust that in solitude God will speak to you— not as a magical voice but that he will let you know something gradually over the years. And in that word from God you will find the inner place from which to live your life.
Solitude is where spiritual ministry begins. That's where Jesus listened to God. That's where we listen to God.
Sometimes I think of life as a big wagon wheel with many spokes. In the middle is the hub. Often in ministry, it looks like we are running around the rim trying to reach everybody. But God says, "Start in the hub; live in the hub. Then you will be connected with all the spokes, and you won't have to run so fast."
Human beings and not human doings
Present-
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want
Be fully present.
It is a simple phrase but it runs deep. It is about paying attention. It is about being content in the present circumstances.. It is about letting go. It is about living the lives we are truly in.
But why are we so often consumed by our favorite electronic device or thinking about great ideas we could do some other time? How often are we truly present in the time and place we are in? We live in the age where so much is geared towards saving time, efficiency, and getting through whatever it is we are doing fast. We just want to get it done and move on. But most of the time we have already mentally moved on and are already thinking about our next project, new ideas for another time, other commitments, or appointments we have later in the day.
We call this multitasking. Multitasking usually involves skimming the surface of the incoming data, picking out the relevant details, and moving on to the next stream. You’re paying attention, but only partially. That lets you cast a wider net, but it also runs the risk of keeping you from really studying the fish. “One should rarely multitask and should instead devote full attention to completing a very small set of defined goals.” --Barry Schwartz
We become a mind divided instead of being fully present and this has statistically been proven to have a negative effect on our welfare. Absent-minded memory failures occur when one is distracted with issues or concerns, and he/she is unable to focus on things needed to remember.
As Henri Nouwen put it, “The trouble is, as soon as you sit and become quiet, you think, Oh, I forgot this. I should call my friend. Later on I'm going to see him. Your inner life is like a banana tree filled with monkeys jumping up and down.”
It is difficult to stay content in our present circumstances when we have so many choices. The average grocery store has over 30,000 different items. (285 varieties of cookies, 75 iced teas, 175 salad dressings, 40 toothpastes 600 kinds of coffee and more than 400 brands of shampoo.) In the US there was a 3x increase in brands on grocery shelves in the 1990’s. It is not just a quantitative change. Now there are also whole new domains of life where people used to have no options and now they have significant options. Phones (was just the phone company and one phone), healthcare (we choose and not the doctor now. We choose through advertisements how to make the choice of all the different drugs), physical appearance (no part of body that can’t be altered. How we look is now ‘a matter of choice’ and if we are unattractive ‘it’s your fault’.), work (we can now work all the time, even if we don’t say yes we still are thinking about it), pensions, when to have kids and start a family (no default), our identity (who do I want to be today? We can reinvent ourselves on a daily basis. We encourage people to redefine themselves and transform),
What this means is that young people spend an enormous amount of time thinking about things that were non-decisions 30 years ago. They are growing up in a world where there is much greater choice. Unfortunate consequence is an increased restlessness and lack of contentment.
The more choices we have the worse we feel about the decision we make. Any choices that are not perfect it is easy to imagine that the alternative would have been perfect and the more alternatives there are the easier to imagine this. How can we be content when the grass could be so green? We expect perfection.
The consumerist society we live in moves us to be more self focused and dissatisfied.
Choices make us less contented with the place we are in. If we are able to choose from only two cereals we will probably be content with the one that we picked, knowing it is better than the other, but if we choose from two hundred cereals than we will probably not be content with that cereal because we will think “how could this be the best one?” If we always have the choice of listening to music or playing video games how much harder is it to be content without them?
If reside ourselves to be “fully present” in our current circumstances instead of thinking of all of the other stuff we could or should be doing right now we will be more content and find more satisfaction in all of the things we do instead of moving from one thing to the next without ever really enjoying any of them.
How do we keep this flood of ideas and possibilities from ruling over us? I once thought that the more freedom I had the happier I’d be but the truth is that there is a limit to the amount of freedom that is good for us. We need boundaries. We unknowingly crave boundaries. We need to set limits on ourselves so that we can focus on what is important. We are limited. If we do not set boundaries we will do what is the most urgent but not necessarily what is the most important. We often don’t know our own limitations, especially in our youth. We try to do more than we can. The result is partial or surface completion of many things instead of a depth and fullness that can only be achieved with focused attention and setting boundaries. We need commitment so that we will not always be wondering if this is the right place for us.
We need to write down the open loop or obsession or task, thus getting the monkeys out of our brains and into a trusted place.
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear… do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
“It's not easy to sit and trust that in solitude God will speak to you— not as a magical voice but that he will let you know something gradually over the years. And in that word from God you will find the inner place from which to live your life.
Solitude is where spiritual ministry begins. That's where Jesus listened to God. That's where we listen to God.
Sometimes I think of life as a big wagon wheel with many spokes. In the middle is the hub. Often in ministry, it looks like we are running around the rim trying to reach everybody. But God says, "Start in the hub; live in the hub. Then you will be connected with all the spokes, and you won't have to run so fast."
Human beings and not human doings
Present-
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want
Todays World Views and Religions
Believe in Spirit
Paganism/ Occult
Monotheism
Pantheism
Don't believe in Spirit
Materialism- Empirical
Existentialism
Humanism
Particles and Progress
Paganism/ Occult
Monotheism
Pantheism
Don't believe in Spirit
Materialism- Empirical
Existentialism
Humanism
Particles and Progress
The Power of Ideas
Dallas Willard wrote powerfully about the way ideas, seemingly powerless and abstract in the world's perspective, shape, change and influence the world we live in. They lead to actions. They go beyond us. It's how movements happen. It's big, strong, powerful. It may not be an instant reaction but they seep through like yeast in the dough- good or bad. They are the mustard seed that grows to great heights.
"The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little esle. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back." -- The Divine Conspiracy.
"French novelist, Paul Bourget, describes the 'egghead' existence of a noted philosopher and psychologist: seeming lost in things 'merely academic' living an humdrum life. Three times a week he had visits from scholars and students. He lived and existence of and inoffensive, scholarly man who, in the words of his houskeeper, 'wouldn't hurt a fly.'
Then one day he was summoned to a criminal inquest concerning a brilliant young man who had been his student and had climbed those four flights of stairs to drink in illuminating and liberating discussions. In prison awaiting trial for murder, this young disciple had written an account of what he had done and of how those liberating doctrines enthusiastically discussed in the abstract had wordd out in actual practice.
World and individual events ride upon the waters of an ideational sea.
The killing fields of Cambodia come from philosophical discussions in Paris.
The ideas of people in current leadership positions are always those they took in during their youth." --D.C.
As Greg Boyd explains in "Waking up to Revolting Beauty" (above). Take every thought captive to Christ.
In order to have faith we must first have an idea. Something abstract. Then we can use our imaginations to make it vivid.
"The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little esle. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back." -- The Divine Conspiracy.
"French novelist, Paul Bourget, describes the 'egghead' existence of a noted philosopher and psychologist: seeming lost in things 'merely academic' living an humdrum life. Three times a week he had visits from scholars and students. He lived and existence of and inoffensive, scholarly man who, in the words of his houskeeper, 'wouldn't hurt a fly.'
Then one day he was summoned to a criminal inquest concerning a brilliant young man who had been his student and had climbed those four flights of stairs to drink in illuminating and liberating discussions. In prison awaiting trial for murder, this young disciple had written an account of what he had done and of how those liberating doctrines enthusiastically discussed in the abstract had wordd out in actual practice.
World and individual events ride upon the waters of an ideational sea.
The killing fields of Cambodia come from philosophical discussions in Paris.
The ideas of people in current leadership positions are always those they took in during their youth." --D.C.
As Greg Boyd explains in "Waking up to Revolting Beauty" (above). Take every thought captive to Christ.
In order to have faith we must first have an idea. Something abstract. Then we can use our imaginations to make it vivid.
Judgment, the opposite of love
In judgment (according to Boyd) is what happened in the garden. Is this the outcome of pride? The tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We are to ascribe unsurpassable worth to others at cost to ourselves- agape love.
In judgment we ascribe worth to ourselves at the cost of others. "At least I'm not like that." A critic separates between good and bad. When we are critical of other people we judge them as good or bad. Separates people.
Accountability is good. We discern. It distinguishes between things. It is not judgment.
When we judge we take our sins and minimize them and maximize other sins as worse. Jesus says in Matthew 7- don't look at other people's sin, look at your own first. And Paul says consider ourselves the wost of sinners. Not to make us feel bad since there is no condemnation in Christ but to have look first at our own sin and not judge others as worse for their sin.
What are our brains saying when we see other people? Do we judgment about eating and clothes and salvation etc.. Did God appoint us to judge everyone or to agree with God that each person we see was worth Jesus dying for. They are that valuable to God. He ascribes great worth to each person. We are all made in His image. And the perspective of God is truth. See their unsurpassable worth even while they are still sinners. They could not have more worth than they have right now. Bless each one we see. In the our Father.. forgive us as we forgive those who sin against us. We want to be forgiven as someone who Christ died for. We need to see others a someone who Christ died for and paid for. Jesus didn't say as some other sin against us but he made no exclusions.
In judgment we ascribe worth to ourselves at the cost of others. "At least I'm not like that." A critic separates between good and bad. When we are critical of other people we judge them as good or bad. Separates people.
Accountability is good. We discern. It distinguishes between things. It is not judgment.
When we judge we take our sins and minimize them and maximize other sins as worse. Jesus says in Matthew 7- don't look at other people's sin, look at your own first. And Paul says consider ourselves the wost of sinners. Not to make us feel bad since there is no condemnation in Christ but to have look first at our own sin and not judge others as worse for their sin.
What are our brains saying when we see other people? Do we judgment about eating and clothes and salvation etc.. Did God appoint us to judge everyone or to agree with God that each person we see was worth Jesus dying for. They are that valuable to God. He ascribes great worth to each person. We are all made in His image. And the perspective of God is truth. See their unsurpassable worth even while they are still sinners. They could not have more worth than they have right now. Bless each one we see. In the our Father.. forgive us as we forgive those who sin against us. We want to be forgiven as someone who Christ died for. We need to see others a someone who Christ died for and paid for. Jesus didn't say as some other sin against us but he made no exclusions.
Connect 08 Audio links- Boyd, Hirsch, Morris, Jones, McWilliams
WELCOME to CONNECT 2008
[audio] Waking Up to Revolting Beauty - Greg Boyd
[audio] Obstacles to Living in the Kingdom - Deb Hirsch
[audio] Revolting Against the Patterns of This World - Greg Boyd
[audio] Revolting Against the Powers - Greg Boyd
[audio] Revolting Against Deception - Greg Boyd
[audio] Shortcuts Cause Erosion - Hud McWilliams
[audio] Revolting Against Christendom - Greg Boyd
[audio] This Generation - Darrin Jones
[audio] 40 Years and Beyond - Linus Morris
Categories: podcasts
[audio] Waking Up to Revolting Beauty - Greg Boyd
[audio] Obstacles to Living in the Kingdom - Deb Hirsch
[audio] Revolting Against the Patterns of This World - Greg Boyd
[audio] Revolting Against the Powers - Greg Boyd
[audio] Revolting Against Deception - Greg Boyd
[audio] Shortcuts Cause Erosion - Hud McWilliams
[audio] Revolting Against Christendom - Greg Boyd
[audio] This Generation - Darrin Jones
[audio] 40 Years and Beyond - Linus Morris
Categories: podcasts
The Power of our Imaginations
Our ideas and imaginations steer our lives.
We sometimes know what is true but still have anxiety. Because our brains don't think with information. We think with visualization and imagination. We think by replicating our physical experiences on the inside. (They now have neurological studies that prove this.) When we think of what color car we drive we don't just think of a word we visualize the car and see the color.
We don't just remember the things from the past, such abusive past and tragedies, by seeing information about them, that wouldn't effect us, we re-enter the experience.
We go through it all over again with the emotional component included. The story we run in our head is ran with color and sound and emotion. The story we believe we are in shapes the way we view ourselves and what we believe our identity is.
Our imagination determines how we will anticipate the future and helps to steer the direction we will take. We can know all the truth in the world but if the story we are running in our head is full of lies we have believed from the world and from negative experiences than what we will experience is that.
This is where illustration powerfulness comes from. They are vivid.
Spend time as a spiritual discipline imagining it, seeing it, experiencing it. Ask what do I look like when I am living out the truth that I am filled with the Spirit of God. Imagine yourself in the situation that is most scary and gives you the most anxiety responding, responding not as you always have done in the past with fear, but responding in a way that manifests the kingdom.
These vivid visualizations and the ability to do this is a gift from God. We can have our inner sanctuary there and meet with God. God can take spiritual truths and impact our lives with it.
What story are we living in? We can have idea and not live by those ideas but instead live in another story. Or we can embrace those ideas and breathe life into them with meditation of what they might look like. We can live out those ideas.
We sometimes know what is true but still have anxiety. Because our brains don't think with information. We think with visualization and imagination. We think by replicating our physical experiences on the inside. (They now have neurological studies that prove this.) When we think of what color car we drive we don't just think of a word we visualize the car and see the color.
We don't just remember the things from the past, such abusive past and tragedies, by seeing information about them, that wouldn't effect us, we re-enter the experience.
We go through it all over again with the emotional component included. The story we run in our head is ran with color and sound and emotion. The story we believe we are in shapes the way we view ourselves and what we believe our identity is.
Our imagination determines how we will anticipate the future and helps to steer the direction we will take. We can know all the truth in the world but if the story we are running in our head is full of lies we have believed from the world and from negative experiences than what we will experience is that.
This is where illustration powerfulness comes from. They are vivid.
Spend time as a spiritual discipline imagining it, seeing it, experiencing it. Ask what do I look like when I am living out the truth that I am filled with the Spirit of God. Imagine yourself in the situation that is most scary and gives you the most anxiety responding, responding not as you always have done in the past with fear, but responding in a way that manifests the kingdom.
These vivid visualizations and the ability to do this is a gift from God. We can have our inner sanctuary there and meet with God. God can take spiritual truths and impact our lives with it.
What story are we living in? We can have idea and not live by those ideas but instead live in another story. Or we can embrace those ideas and breathe life into them with meditation of what they might look like. We can live out those ideas.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Good new web sites
Last.fm Lets you create your own radio station and exposes us to new artists that are similar to the ones we like. Create your profile (Hoovinci is mine) and then Go to listen
Mozy.com Back up up to 2 gigs of photos, video, etc. for free.
www.factcheck.org "The Annenberg Political Fact Check, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, is an independent, nonpartisan effort to cut through the routine spin and dissembling of politicians and other public figures. Staff writers check speeches, TV ads, news releases and other public statements for accuracy, and provide clarification and context." -Time
Guttmacher.org -Respected Statistics on sexual issues- depressing and startling. 45,000,000 abortions a year. Is it a life? If it is that is the worst thing in the history of the world. I don't think I am willing to chance that.
www.webmd.com
Economic Articles
Mozy.com Back up up to 2 gigs of photos, video, etc. for free.
www.factcheck.org "The Annenberg Political Fact Check, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, is an independent, nonpartisan effort to cut through the routine spin and dissembling of politicians and other public figures. Staff writers check speeches, TV ads, news releases and other public statements for accuracy, and provide clarification and context." -Time
Guttmacher.org -Respected Statistics on sexual issues- depressing and startling. 45,000,000 abortions a year. Is it a life? If it is that is the worst thing in the history of the world. I don't think I am willing to chance that.
www.webmd.com
Economic Articles
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Career Guidance Aids
www.collegeboard.com
http://www.careerkey.org/asp/your_personality/take_test.asp for $10
Personality: - http://www.personalitypage.com/careers.html
http://www.rocketcareer.com/ab1/onemorestep.php - interesting - did the test and came up with very high on ‘creative & free form” but then they suggested construction ! So may be a starting point…..
http://www.devry.edu/whydevry/career-services/assessment.jsp
Human Metrics Web Site www.humanmetrics.com
Tap into this site — at no cost — to take advantage of thought-provoking assessments that can provide insight into your skills, aptitudes, interests, strengths, etc.
College911 www.college911.com
As the name suggests, this assessment provides valuable and immediate help in determining specific colleges and programs of study well suited to you. No fee required.
Career Colleges.com www.careercolleges.com
Learn more about yourself through this career assessment tool, designed to reveal your personality, aptitudes and interests, and career fields that best correlate to them. No fee required.
www.keirsey.com – can take the test and get short report on traits/orientation before having to pay.
http://teens.tulsalibrary.org/collegeandcareers/choosing_career.htm
http://www.educationplanner.com/education_planner/default.asp?sponsor=2859
ask.com has good information
General Websites
America's Career InfoNet - http://www.acinet.org/explore/view.aspx?pageID=4
From the U.S. Department of Labor, this website is a resource for making informed career
decisions to support a demand-driven workforce investment system. It answers questions about the fastest growing occupations and what occupations have the most job openings.
BLS Career Information
Get information about careers you might like based on your favorite subjects in school. Specific occupations are suggested with specific entry requirements, pay scales, future job outlook, and additional sources of information.
Professional and Related Occupations
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition
Career Guide to Industries
The Career Guide to Industries provides information on available careers by industry, including the nature of the industry, working conditions, employment, occupations in the industry, training and advancement, earnings and benefits, employment outlook, and lists of organizations that can provide additional information.
Career Voyages
From the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education, this Web site tailored for teens and young adults "features detailed information about the fastest growing industries and occupations, the skills and education required to prepare for them, job openings by area, and wages, licensing requirements and growth rates for numerous occupations." It also includes information about "on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs for skilled trades, and two-year professional degree programs at community colleges."
The Fun Works
Explore careers in the arts, music, sports, science, technology, medicine, and engineering suited to your personal interests. Quizzes, games, and puzzles provide a glimpse of the jobs, and information about necessary education, typical salaries, and the nature of the work.
Jobsmart-Specific Career Information
If you're looking for career information, even on unusual ones, this is the place to start. This site answers questions such as What kind of training or education is required? What can you earn? What kind of environment will you work in? What's hot? What's not?
Occupational Outlook Handbook
See how much demand there is for the jobs that you're interested in. Find out details about the education & training you need and what kind of work the jobs involve.
Riley Guide To Internet Job Searching
This site provides one of the best overall guides to using the Web for your job search. It does not post jobs nor resumes, review resumes, or forward them to others on your behalf.
Studentjobs.gov
Federal government employment opportunities for high school and college students. Search options include employment type (for example, summer employment or internship), geographic location, and salary. Includes profiles of government agencies with job listings in the database, as well as links to agencies that aren't required to post listings in the database. Also offers options to create a profile to receive job matches by e-mail, submit a resume or get noticed by potential employers.
Salaries Payscale.com
http://www.careerkey.org/asp/your_personality/take_test.asp for $10
Personality: - http://www.personalitypage.com/careers.html
http://www.rocketcareer.com/ab1/onemorestep.php - interesting - did the test and came up with very high on ‘creative & free form” but then they suggested construction ! So may be a starting point…..
http://www.devry.edu/whydevry/career-services/assessment.jsp
Human Metrics Web Site www.humanmetrics.com
Tap into this site — at no cost — to take advantage of thought-provoking assessments that can provide insight into your skills, aptitudes, interests, strengths, etc.
College911 www.college911.com
As the name suggests, this assessment provides valuable and immediate help in determining specific colleges and programs of study well suited to you. No fee required.
Career Colleges.com www.careercolleges.com
Learn more about yourself through this career assessment tool, designed to reveal your personality, aptitudes and interests, and career fields that best correlate to them. No fee required.
www.keirsey.com – can take the test and get short report on traits/orientation before having to pay.
http://teens.tulsalibrary.org/collegeandcareers/choosing_career.htm
http://www.educationplanner.com/education_planner/default.asp?sponsor=2859
ask.com has good information
General Websites
America's Career InfoNet - http://www.acinet.org/explore/view.aspx?pageID=4
From the U.S. Department of Labor, this website is a resource for making informed career
decisions to support a demand-driven workforce investment system. It answers questions about the fastest growing occupations and what occupations have the most job openings.
BLS Career Information
Get information about careers you might like based on your favorite subjects in school. Specific occupations are suggested with specific entry requirements, pay scales, future job outlook, and additional sources of information.
Professional and Related Occupations
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition
Career Guide to Industries
The Career Guide to Industries provides information on available careers by industry, including the nature of the industry, working conditions, employment, occupations in the industry, training and advancement, earnings and benefits, employment outlook, and lists of organizations that can provide additional information.
Career Voyages
From the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education, this Web site tailored for teens and young adults "features detailed information about the fastest growing industries and occupations, the skills and education required to prepare for them, job openings by area, and wages, licensing requirements and growth rates for numerous occupations." It also includes information about "on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs for skilled trades, and two-year professional degree programs at community colleges."
The Fun Works
Explore careers in the arts, music, sports, science, technology, medicine, and engineering suited to your personal interests. Quizzes, games, and puzzles provide a glimpse of the jobs, and information about necessary education, typical salaries, and the nature of the work.
Jobsmart-Specific Career Information
If you're looking for career information, even on unusual ones, this is the place to start. This site answers questions such as What kind of training or education is required? What can you earn? What kind of environment will you work in? What's hot? What's not?
Occupational Outlook Handbook
See how much demand there is for the jobs that you're interested in. Find out details about the education & training you need and what kind of work the jobs involve.
Riley Guide To Internet Job Searching
This site provides one of the best overall guides to using the Web for your job search. It does not post jobs nor resumes, review resumes, or forward them to others on your behalf.
Studentjobs.gov
Federal government employment opportunities for high school and college students. Search options include employment type (for example, summer employment or internship), geographic location, and salary. Includes profiles of government agencies with job listings in the database, as well as links to agencies that aren't required to post listings in the database. Also offers options to create a profile to receive job matches by e-mail, submit a resume or get noticed by potential employers.
Salaries Payscale.com
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Team Building Questions
Love Languages- How can we love you?
Who do you let under your rock? Vital friends and levels to relationship.
Direction of the Church
-How can we be sustainable?
-How can we give away and empower leaders
-How can we resource leaders?
-What training can we offer to leaders?
What is the good news for the French?
-What are they lacking most?
-What are they asking for and hoping for?
-What would be different if France were living as the kingdom of God?
Where is God moving in France?
How can we empower others to restore all things to Christ through their own sphere of life and expertise
How are we a church?
How are we a team?
We are a movement towards______?
What are our values?
How can we operate in God's will and in our gifting?
Does our ministry(ies) fit with our purposes, values, movement?
If we planted from scratch, what roles would we play?
How are our current actions matching our future vision?
Who do you let under your rock? Vital friends and levels to relationship.
Direction of the Church
-How can we be sustainable?
-How can we give away and empower leaders
-How can we resource leaders?
-What training can we offer to leaders?
What is the good news for the French?
-What are they lacking most?
-What are they asking for and hoping for?
-What would be different if France were living as the kingdom of God?
Where is God moving in France?
How can we empower others to restore all things to Christ through their own sphere of life and expertise
How are we a church?
How are we a team?
We are a movement towards______?
What are our values?
How can we operate in God's will and in our gifting?
Does our ministry(ies) fit with our purposes, values, movement?
If we planted from scratch, what roles would we play?
How are our current actions matching our future vision?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Do I like parties?
I should. And I usually do. But I don't get excited about the idea of going.
Insecurities about what the party will look like. "I will be unnoticed." "It will be all surface conversation."
It's not usually like that. I laugh and learn about people.
I can't learn guitar at a party normally. I don't usually pray with people at a party. Most people don't like to talk about their work. Those are things for coffee times or for "meetings." Parties are for relaxing and letting go and not normally to grow.
Am I wrong about these things?
Insecurities about what the party will look like. "I will be unnoticed." "It will be all surface conversation."
It's not usually like that. I laugh and learn about people.
I can't learn guitar at a party normally. I don't usually pray with people at a party. Most people don't like to talk about their work. Those are things for coffee times or for "meetings." Parties are for relaxing and letting go and not normally to grow.
Am I wrong about these things?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The names of God
Elohim- The Creator Revelation 4:11
El Elyon- The God Most High Isaiah 46: 9-10
El Roi- The God Who Sees Prov 5:21
El Shaddai- The All-Sufficient One John 4:14
Adonai- The Lord Romans 6:16
Jehovah- The Self-Existent One Isaiah 43:10-11
Jehovah-jireh- The Lord Will Provide Philip 4:19
Jehovah-rapha- The Lord Who Heals 2Cor 4:7,16
Jehovah-nissi- The Lord My Banner Psalm 60:4-5
Jehovah-shalom- The Lord Is Peace John 16:33
Jehovah-saboath- The Lord of Hosts Isaiah 14:24
Jehovah-raah- The Lord My Shepherd Pslam 95:6-7
Jehovah-tsidkenu- The Lord Our Righteousness Micah 7: 8-9
Jehovah-shammah- The Lord Is There Psalm 73: 25-26
Jehovah-mekoddishkem- The Lord Who Sanctifies You- Ex19:2-6, Ex 31:12-13, 15-17, 1Peter 1:16, 1peter 2:9, Heb 10:10-14, John 17:15-19, 1Thess 4:3-8, 2Peter 1:4, Heb 9:22, Romans 6:4, 8:2-4.
"It is the Lord who redeemed us and it is the Lord who sanctifies us. Who is the one doing the sanctification? Who is the one making us holy? It's not you, it's not me, its nota set of rules and laws, it is the Lord! Now the word sanctify can also be translated holy. It means 'set apart, consecrated, or separated unto God.'
God says "Be holy, because I am holy" but you say, "But, God, I have tried and tried! I've worked so hard to be holy, and I can't be! I'm so discouraged and defeated!' And the Lord wants to say back to you 'Hear me, My child. I am Jehovah-Mekoddishkem. I am the Lord who sanctifies you. I am the Lord who makes you holy. Enter into my rest.' The sabbath rest of the old testament is a picture of the eternal rest you and I are given after we receive the Lord Jesus Christ. That rest is a sign. God wants to show us that salvation comes through resting in Him.
We can not obtain salvation through our own efforts, no matter how honest and zealous and sincere those efforts may be. Salvation is of the Lord. By the same token, we cannot obtain holiness through our own efforts- no matter how hard we agonize and weep and labor. You don't become holy by striving to be holy. You are make holy by God; therefore, you live a holy life in response to what He has already accomplished. The Christian life is not what you do or don't do to make yourself holy. You do not sanctify yourself! It is only in Him that you find holiness and sanctification. Resting in God reminds us that we are 'a holy race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peope for God's own possession.'
How does God sanctify us?
By the one perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. 'And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.'
By giving us the truth of His word.
'My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify (Greek hagiazo- set apart for sacred use or make holy also in verse 19) them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. (19)For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. (Maybe this is not about change)
By calling us and enabling us to walk in purity.
'It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.'
By providing us with His own precious promises.
'Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.'
The death of Christ provides for our redemption, for 'without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness' of sins. The resurrection of Christ provides us with the ability to walk in newness of life through the gift of the Holy Spirit who sets us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 6:4, 8:2-4)." --Kay Arthur, The Peace and Power of Knowing God's Name
The sunflower, not because it looks like the sun but because it follows the sun. Wherever the sun goes it follows.
El Elyon- The God Most High Isaiah 46: 9-10
El Roi- The God Who Sees Prov 5:21
El Shaddai- The All-Sufficient One John 4:14
Adonai- The Lord Romans 6:16
Jehovah- The Self-Existent One Isaiah 43:10-11
Jehovah-jireh- The Lord Will Provide Philip 4:19
Jehovah-rapha- The Lord Who Heals 2Cor 4:7,16
Jehovah-nissi- The Lord My Banner Psalm 60:4-5
Jehovah-shalom- The Lord Is Peace John 16:33
Jehovah-saboath- The Lord of Hosts Isaiah 14:24
Jehovah-raah- The Lord My Shepherd Pslam 95:6-7
Jehovah-tsidkenu- The Lord Our Righteousness Micah 7: 8-9
Jehovah-shammah- The Lord Is There Psalm 73: 25-26
Jehovah-mekoddishkem- The Lord Who Sanctifies You- Ex19:2-6, Ex 31:12-13, 15-17, 1Peter 1:16, 1peter 2:9, Heb 10:10-14, John 17:15-19, 1Thess 4:3-8, 2Peter 1:4, Heb 9:22, Romans 6:4, 8:2-4.
"It is the Lord who redeemed us and it is the Lord who sanctifies us. Who is the one doing the sanctification? Who is the one making us holy? It's not you, it's not me, its nota set of rules and laws, it is the Lord! Now the word sanctify can also be translated holy. It means 'set apart, consecrated, or separated unto God.'
God says "Be holy, because I am holy" but you say, "But, God, I have tried and tried! I've worked so hard to be holy, and I can't be! I'm so discouraged and defeated!' And the Lord wants to say back to you 'Hear me, My child. I am Jehovah-Mekoddishkem. I am the Lord who sanctifies you. I am the Lord who makes you holy. Enter into my rest.' The sabbath rest of the old testament is a picture of the eternal rest you and I are given after we receive the Lord Jesus Christ. That rest is a sign. God wants to show us that salvation comes through resting in Him.
We can not obtain salvation through our own efforts, no matter how honest and zealous and sincere those efforts may be. Salvation is of the Lord. By the same token, we cannot obtain holiness through our own efforts- no matter how hard we agonize and weep and labor. You don't become holy by striving to be holy. You are make holy by God; therefore, you live a holy life in response to what He has already accomplished. The Christian life is not what you do or don't do to make yourself holy. You do not sanctify yourself! It is only in Him that you find holiness and sanctification. Resting in God reminds us that we are 'a holy race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peope for God's own possession.'
How does God sanctify us?
By the one perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. 'And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.'
By giving us the truth of His word.
'My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify (Greek hagiazo- set apart for sacred use or make holy also in verse 19) them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. (19)For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. (Maybe this is not about change)
By calling us and enabling us to walk in purity.
'It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.'
By providing us with His own precious promises.
'Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.'
The death of Christ provides for our redemption, for 'without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness' of sins. The resurrection of Christ provides us with the ability to walk in newness of life through the gift of the Holy Spirit who sets us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 6:4, 8:2-4)." --Kay Arthur, The Peace and Power of Knowing God's Name
The sunflower, not because it looks like the sun but because it follows the sun. Wherever the sun goes it follows.
How are we team(/ how are we church)?
All the definitions of team that I looked up seemed to focus around a common goal. A movement in the same direction, a harnessing together, a common side, togetherness in work.
The idea of team always seems to be a group working together for a common goal. They move in the same direction like a group of animals "harnessed/yoked to the same vehicle."
Can a team look like a sun with many radius? are several teams together still considered a team?
Team means that we are all on one side. We need to remember who and what we are we teaming against. Team rejoices in team victories.
Team is a "cooperative effort". It requires conflict and cooperation.
The kingdom of God and heaven are battling against the kingdom of darkness. We are on Christ's team.
Church. One body. Unity. Love.
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
"I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:23
Church is a people united in Christ's love for one another and the world.
The idea of team always seems to be a group working together for a common goal. They move in the same direction like a group of animals "harnessed/yoked to the same vehicle."
Can a team look like a sun with many radius? are several teams together still considered a team?
Team means that we are all on one side. We need to remember who and what we are we teaming against. Team rejoices in team victories.
Team is a "cooperative effort". It requires conflict and cooperation.
The kingdom of God and heaven are battling against the kingdom of darkness. We are on Christ's team.
Church. One body. Unity. Love.
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
"I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:23
Church is a people united in Christ's love for one another and the world.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Church?
1x per month of "attractional" normal church service. Lots of quick connections and a place where people can make new connections and for the whole body to come together. This is a great place for seekers who are just being introduced into the community, for people who just want to listen and blend into the crowd, and for the whole community come together and get taught.
1x Question asking. Groups of 12-15 people ask questions and the community around the big table all chips in to open up the question askers to new understanding. Maybe a time at the end where 'stumper' questions can be brought up and the elders or a group can share what we believe on the subject.
1x prayer For individuals and the community. This is where we make our stand. This is where the battle lies. We need to appeal to God.
1x Celebration/rest- A picnic or game night or whatever you consider rest.
5th sunday becomes solitude time with the LORD
This saves on Sunday prep times and allows some of the teaching to be spread to the small groups. It is decentralizing in the pastoral focus but still coming together. All but the first could be done in one central place or in many local places. This allows the church to spread outside of the church building's radius and makes it much less important to own a building.
How do ideas flow and how does God's movement grow? Not through me but through us.
We can help to make "receipes and not rules" by giving purposes behind small groups and ways to be trained. We can give suggested resources and suggested ways to grow. We can empower and encourage and love and give away what we are helping to build.
1x Question asking. Groups of 12-15 people ask questions and the community around the big table all chips in to open up the question askers to new understanding. Maybe a time at the end where 'stumper' questions can be brought up and the elders or a group can share what we believe on the subject.
1x prayer For individuals and the community. This is where we make our stand. This is where the battle lies. We need to appeal to God.
1x Celebration/rest- A picnic or game night or whatever you consider rest.
5th sunday becomes solitude time with the LORD
This saves on Sunday prep times and allows some of the teaching to be spread to the small groups. It is decentralizing in the pastoral focus but still coming together. All but the first could be done in one central place or in many local places. This allows the church to spread outside of the church building's radius and makes it much less important to own a building.
How do ideas flow and how does God's movement grow? Not through me but through us.
We can help to make "receipes and not rules" by giving purposes behind small groups and ways to be trained. We can give suggested resources and suggested ways to grow. We can empower and encourage and love and give away what we are helping to build.
Body Language
High status and low. What am I saying with my body? Am I saying that you are important, I want to listen.. am I conveying with my body the way my heart feels or that my mind's interest.
Maybe I need to move God's love from my head and heart to my body.
Maybe I need to move God's love from my head and heart to my body.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Who wants to be a life coach?
Ever since the modern area and the industrial revolution we have been compartmentalizing. Parts of our selves, roles, jobs. We have specialists. This makes for more production and more specific skills and giftings. How far is too far?
We have doctors, nutritionists, and fitness experts who work on the body
And counselors and psychologists who specialize in soul work
And ministers who's expertise relies in the soul.
All these are connected. How can we integrate them?
What will the future of the church look like? Maybe there will be many people who do one or two things well shepherding a lot of people instead of few people shepherding a specific group in everything. Instead of the pastor being the counselor for his church there would be a professional counselor for several churches. Already we see this emerging with the mega churches where one teacher teaches the equivalent of many churches.
But what about the other areas of life that are not always a part of the churches role. Financial planning, nutrition, environmental awareness, dating, time management, etc.. Will there be a bigger place for these things in the church?
Maybe the church leadership of tomorrow will look more like the life coaches of today.
Coach U inc.
North Star
We have doctors, nutritionists, and fitness experts who work on the body
And counselors and psychologists who specialize in soul work
And ministers who's expertise relies in the soul.
All these are connected. How can we integrate them?
What will the future of the church look like? Maybe there will be many people who do one or two things well shepherding a lot of people instead of few people shepherding a specific group in everything. Instead of the pastor being the counselor for his church there would be a professional counselor for several churches. Already we see this emerging with the mega churches where one teacher teaches the equivalent of many churches.
But what about the other areas of life that are not always a part of the churches role. Financial planning, nutrition, environmental awareness, dating, time management, etc.. Will there be a bigger place for these things in the church?
Maybe the church leadership of tomorrow will look more like the life coaches of today.
Coach U inc.
North Star
How important are values?
What core values are:
An enduring belief, an [often] unwritten assumption and a preferred choice
“a set of general guiding principles; not to be confused with specific cultural or operational practices; [and] not to be compromised for financial gain or short-term expediency.”
They are non-negotiable, the essence of a person’s identity reflecting the lifestyle of Christ.
Do we have values God may need to reform?
As we grow in our love for God and for His Word, we are challenged to recognize and let God heal our corrupt or unhealthy values. Just by living in the world we pick up worldly values.
What are some of my “dark-side orientations” that compel me to wrongly value or over-value certain things?(e.g. of corrupt values: I value keeping up appearances; I value being right; I value always winning; I value over-indulging myself through eating, TV, alcohol…)
Disarming our corrupt values…
Choose to ask for and seriously consider feedback from others who know us or who have observed us over time;
Choose to appropriately self-disclose our issues within proper safe relationships (and get prayer);
Choose to trust GOD for help!!!
If I have core values…how do I discover them?
Clarifying Your Core Values
Answering the following questions will help to identify implicit values and move you towards formulating an explicit values statement…
1. What activities do you consider of greatest worth?
2. When your mind is in neutral, what do you usually think about?
3. When you lead, what needs to take place for you to be satisfied?
4. The qualities of character you most admire and desire for God to shape into your life are...
5. The actions or qualities in others that really frustrate or annoy you – even if you don’t know why.
EX. Adam's Values:
1) My relationship with God- This has to stay as a priority for me
over my work, my wife and everything else. It effects every
relationship I have and the purpose behind every day.
2) My role as a husband- I feel that this is second only to God.
Tasha is the only other person that I have made a life long vow to. I
never made a vow to my job or any other person..
3) Lasting growth and transformation- I have a need to be constantly
learning new things and asking questions in order to learn to live
better. The questions that I at one time tried to suppress are now
the catalyst for new growth and knowledge.
4) Love- I value love above all other things. This takes on so many
forms and looks different from and to anyone but it is what gives
value to life. I feel like if I were able to receive God's love, love
him back and love others that I would lead a good life.
5) Abiding in Christ- I have come to realize the unmatched importance
of the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. The attachment to Christ
in me and me in Him is the only thing that will produce the fruit of
change and love and closeness to God. Eternal life is to know God.
6) Grace- I know that the only way that I can stay in relationship
with God is through grace. I need it every day and I thank God for it.
7) Theology- It is difficult for me to stay interested in things that
are only theoretical but I see theology as something that is a
foundation for the way we live our lives. Good theology leads to good
changes and bad theology leads to bad change. It is also a way that
we get to know God and his ways better.
8) Authenticity- If something is not real it doesn't last. I hate
shame, pride, and fear based motivations because their roots are false
they don't produce any fruit.
9) Unity- I have a difficult time seeing people left behind, not
included, or not given the opportunities other people are. I love the
shared Spirit of Christ that bonds us all. I think that unity is
something that is worth fighting for.
10) Enjoying Life- I feel like God has given us life and life to the
full and wants us to enjoy our work, our food, and the wonderful
people and things that he created for us to love.
An enduring belief, an [often] unwritten assumption and a preferred choice
“a set of general guiding principles; not to be confused with specific cultural or operational practices; [and] not to be compromised for financial gain or short-term expediency.”
They are non-negotiable, the essence of a person’s identity reflecting the lifestyle of Christ.
Do we have values God may need to reform?
As we grow in our love for God and for His Word, we are challenged to recognize and let God heal our corrupt or unhealthy values. Just by living in the world we pick up worldly values.
What are some of my “dark-side orientations” that compel me to wrongly value or over-value certain things?(e.g. of corrupt values: I value keeping up appearances; I value being right; I value always winning; I value over-indulging myself through eating, TV, alcohol…)
Disarming our corrupt values…
Choose to ask for and seriously consider feedback from others who know us or who have observed us over time;
Choose to appropriately self-disclose our issues within proper safe relationships (and get prayer);
Choose to trust GOD for help!!!
If I have core values…how do I discover them?
Clarifying Your Core Values
Answering the following questions will help to identify implicit values and move you towards formulating an explicit values statement…
1. What activities do you consider of greatest worth?
2. When your mind is in neutral, what do you usually think about?
3. When you lead, what needs to take place for you to be satisfied?
4. The qualities of character you most admire and desire for God to shape into your life are...
5. The actions or qualities in others that really frustrate or annoy you – even if you don’t know why.
EX. Adam's Values:
1) My relationship with God- This has to stay as a priority for me
over my work, my wife and everything else. It effects every
relationship I have and the purpose behind every day.
2) My role as a husband- I feel that this is second only to God.
Tasha is the only other person that I have made a life long vow to. I
never made a vow to my job or any other person..
3) Lasting growth and transformation- I have a need to be constantly
learning new things and asking questions in order to learn to live
better. The questions that I at one time tried to suppress are now
the catalyst for new growth and knowledge.
4) Love- I value love above all other things. This takes on so many
forms and looks different from and to anyone but it is what gives
value to life. I feel like if I were able to receive God's love, love
him back and love others that I would lead a good life.
5) Abiding in Christ- I have come to realize the unmatched importance
of the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. The attachment to Christ
in me and me in Him is the only thing that will produce the fruit of
change and love and closeness to God. Eternal life is to know God.
6) Grace- I know that the only way that I can stay in relationship
with God is through grace. I need it every day and I thank God for it.
7) Theology- It is difficult for me to stay interested in things that
are only theoretical but I see theology as something that is a
foundation for the way we live our lives. Good theology leads to good
changes and bad theology leads to bad change. It is also a way that
we get to know God and his ways better.
8) Authenticity- If something is not real it doesn't last. I hate
shame, pride, and fear based motivations because their roots are false
they don't produce any fruit.
9) Unity- I have a difficult time seeing people left behind, not
included, or not given the opportunities other people are. I love the
shared Spirit of Christ that bonds us all. I think that unity is
something that is worth fighting for.
10) Enjoying Life- I feel like God has given us life and life to the
full and wants us to enjoy our work, our food, and the wonderful
people and things that he created for us to love.
What love language are you?
Understanding the way the we give and receive love can be one of the most important things we can learn about ourselves.. but how many times have we considered the ways the those around us give and receive love?
The truth is that we may be expressing our love to someone in one way when they are looking for different things to know the they are loved. And often people are showing us love in ways that we see as insignificant but others see as a chance to show how much they care.
Here are the 5 Love Languages that Gary Chapman chose. I feel that love languages go way beyond this but this is a good way to start and to put some vocabulary to help us express ways we are impacting people and the way we are being impacted.
Words of Affirmation
Mark Twain once said “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” Verbal appreciation speaks powerfully to persons whose primary Love Language is “Words of Affirmation.” Simple statements, such as, “You look great in that suit,” or “You must be the best baker in the world! I love your oatmeal cookies,” are sometimes all a person needs to hear to feel loved.
Aside from verbal compliments, another way to communicate through “Words of Affirmation” is to offer encouragement. Here are some examples: reinforcing a difficult decision; calling attention to progress made on a current project; acknowledging a person’s unique perspective on an important topic. If a loved one listens for “Words of Affirmation,” offering encouragement will help him or her to overcome insecurities and develop greater confidence.
Quality Time
Quality time is more than mere proximity. It’s about focusing all your energy on your mate. A husband watching sports while talking to his wife is NOT quality time. Unless all of your attention is focused on your mate, even an intimate dinner for two can come and go without a minute of quality time being shared.
Quality conversation is very important in a healthy relationship. It involves sharing experiences, thoughts, feelings and desires in a friendly, uninterrupted context. A good mate will not only listen, but offer advice and respond to assure their mate they are truly listening. Many mates don’t expect you to solve their problems. They need a sympathetic listener.
An important aspect of quality conversation is self-revelation. In order for you to communicate with your mate, you must also be in tune with your inner emotions. It is only when you understand your emotions and inner feelings will you then be able to share quality conversation, and quality time with your mate.
Quality activities are a very important part of quality time. Many mates feel most loved when they spend physical time together, doing activities that they love to do. Spending time together will bring a couple closer, and, in the years to come, will fill up a memory bank that you can reminisce about in the future.
Whether it’s sitting on the couch and having a brief conversation or playing together in a tennis league, quality time is a love language that is shared by many. Setting aside focused time with your mate will ensure a happy marriage.
Receiving Gifts
Some mates respond well to visual symbols of love. If you speak this love language, you are more likely to treasure any gift as an expression of love and devotion. People who speak this love language often feel that a lack of gifts represents a lack of love from their mate. Luckily, this love language is one of the easiest to learn.
If you want to become an effective gift giver, many mates will have to learn to change their attitude about money. If you are naturally a spender, you will have no trouble buying gifts for your mate. However, a person who is used to investing and saving their money may have a tough time adjusting to the concept of spending money as an expression of love. These people must understand that you are investing the money not in gifts, but in deepening your relationship with your mate.
The gift of self is an important symbol of love. Sometimes all your mate desires is for someone to be there for them, going through the same trials and experiencing the same things. Your body can become a very powerful physical symbol of love.
These gifts need not to come every day, or even every week. They don’t even need to cost a lot of money. Free, frequent, expensive, or rare, if your mate relates to the language of receiving gifts, any visible sign of your love will leave them feeling happy and secure in your relationship.
Acts of Service
Sometimes simple chores around the house can be an undeniable expression of love. Even simple things like laundry and taking out the trash require some form of planning, time, effort, and energy. Just as Jesus demonstrated when he washed the feet of his disciples, doing humble chores can be a very powerful expression of love and devotion to your mate.
Very often, both pairs in a couple will speak to the Acts of Service Language. However, it is very important to understand what acts of service your mate most appreciates. Even though couples are helping each other around the house, couples will still fight because the are unknowingly communicating with each other in two different dialects. For example, a wife may spend her day washing the cars and walking the dog, but if her husband feels that laundry and dishes are a superior necessity, he may feel unloved, despite the fact that his wife did many other chores throughout the day. It is important to learn your mate’s dialect and work hard to understand what acts of service will show your love.
It is important to do these acts of service out of love and not obligation. A mate who does chores and helps out around the house out of guilt or fear will inevitably not be speaking a language of love, but a language of resentment. It’s important to perform these acts out of the kindness of your heart.
Demonstrating the acts of service can mean stepping out of the stereotypes. Acts of service require both mates to humble themselves into doing some chores and services that aren’t usually expected from their gender. However, these little sacrifices will mean the world to your mate, and will ensure a happy relationship.
Physical Touch
Many mates feel the most loved when they receive physical contact from their partner. For a mate who speaks this love language loudly, physical touch can make or break the relationship.
Sexual intercourse makes many mates feel secure and loved in a marriage. However, it is only one dialect of physical touch. Many parts of the body are extremely sensitive to stimulation. It is important to discover how your partner not only physically responds but also psychologically responds to these touches.
It is important to learn how your mate speaks the physical touch language. Some touches are irritating and uncomfortable for your mate. Take the time to learn the touches your mate likes. They can be big acts, such as back massages or lovemaking, or little acts such as touches on the cheek or a hand on the shoulder. It’s important to learn how your mate responds to touch. That is how you will make the most of this love language.
All marriages will experience crisis. In these cases, physical touch is very important. In a crisis situation, a hug can communicate an immense amount of love for that person. A person whose primary love language is physical touch would much rather have you hold them and be silent than offer any advice.
It is important to remember that this love language is different for everyone. What type of touch makes you feel secure is not necessarily what will make your partner happy. It is important to learn each other’s dialects. That way you can make the most of your hugging, kissing, and other physical contacts.
The truth is that we may be expressing our love to someone in one way when they are looking for different things to know the they are loved. And often people are showing us love in ways that we see as insignificant but others see as a chance to show how much they care.
Here are the 5 Love Languages that Gary Chapman chose. I feel that love languages go way beyond this but this is a good way to start and to put some vocabulary to help us express ways we are impacting people and the way we are being impacted.
Words of Affirmation
Mark Twain once said “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” Verbal appreciation speaks powerfully to persons whose primary Love Language is “Words of Affirmation.” Simple statements, such as, “You look great in that suit,” or “You must be the best baker in the world! I love your oatmeal cookies,” are sometimes all a person needs to hear to feel loved.
Aside from verbal compliments, another way to communicate through “Words of Affirmation” is to offer encouragement. Here are some examples: reinforcing a difficult decision; calling attention to progress made on a current project; acknowledging a person’s unique perspective on an important topic. If a loved one listens for “Words of Affirmation,” offering encouragement will help him or her to overcome insecurities and develop greater confidence.
Quality Time
Quality time is more than mere proximity. It’s about focusing all your energy on your mate. A husband watching sports while talking to his wife is NOT quality time. Unless all of your attention is focused on your mate, even an intimate dinner for two can come and go without a minute of quality time being shared.
Quality conversation is very important in a healthy relationship. It involves sharing experiences, thoughts, feelings and desires in a friendly, uninterrupted context. A good mate will not only listen, but offer advice and respond to assure their mate they are truly listening. Many mates don’t expect you to solve their problems. They need a sympathetic listener.
An important aspect of quality conversation is self-revelation. In order for you to communicate with your mate, you must also be in tune with your inner emotions. It is only when you understand your emotions and inner feelings will you then be able to share quality conversation, and quality time with your mate.
Quality activities are a very important part of quality time. Many mates feel most loved when they spend physical time together, doing activities that they love to do. Spending time together will bring a couple closer, and, in the years to come, will fill up a memory bank that you can reminisce about in the future.
Whether it’s sitting on the couch and having a brief conversation or playing together in a tennis league, quality time is a love language that is shared by many. Setting aside focused time with your mate will ensure a happy marriage.
Receiving Gifts
Some mates respond well to visual symbols of love. If you speak this love language, you are more likely to treasure any gift as an expression of love and devotion. People who speak this love language often feel that a lack of gifts represents a lack of love from their mate. Luckily, this love language is one of the easiest to learn.
If you want to become an effective gift giver, many mates will have to learn to change their attitude about money. If you are naturally a spender, you will have no trouble buying gifts for your mate. However, a person who is used to investing and saving their money may have a tough time adjusting to the concept of spending money as an expression of love. These people must understand that you are investing the money not in gifts, but in deepening your relationship with your mate.
The gift of self is an important symbol of love. Sometimes all your mate desires is for someone to be there for them, going through the same trials and experiencing the same things. Your body can become a very powerful physical symbol of love.
These gifts need not to come every day, or even every week. They don’t even need to cost a lot of money. Free, frequent, expensive, or rare, if your mate relates to the language of receiving gifts, any visible sign of your love will leave them feeling happy and secure in your relationship.
Acts of Service
Sometimes simple chores around the house can be an undeniable expression of love. Even simple things like laundry and taking out the trash require some form of planning, time, effort, and energy. Just as Jesus demonstrated when he washed the feet of his disciples, doing humble chores can be a very powerful expression of love and devotion to your mate.
Very often, both pairs in a couple will speak to the Acts of Service Language. However, it is very important to understand what acts of service your mate most appreciates. Even though couples are helping each other around the house, couples will still fight because the are unknowingly communicating with each other in two different dialects. For example, a wife may spend her day washing the cars and walking the dog, but if her husband feels that laundry and dishes are a superior necessity, he may feel unloved, despite the fact that his wife did many other chores throughout the day. It is important to learn your mate’s dialect and work hard to understand what acts of service will show your love.
It is important to do these acts of service out of love and not obligation. A mate who does chores and helps out around the house out of guilt or fear will inevitably not be speaking a language of love, but a language of resentment. It’s important to perform these acts out of the kindness of your heart.
Demonstrating the acts of service can mean stepping out of the stereotypes. Acts of service require both mates to humble themselves into doing some chores and services that aren’t usually expected from their gender. However, these little sacrifices will mean the world to your mate, and will ensure a happy relationship.
Physical Touch
Many mates feel the most loved when they receive physical contact from their partner. For a mate who speaks this love language loudly, physical touch can make or break the relationship.
Sexual intercourse makes many mates feel secure and loved in a marriage. However, it is only one dialect of physical touch. Many parts of the body are extremely sensitive to stimulation. It is important to discover how your partner not only physically responds but also psychologically responds to these touches.
It is important to learn how your mate speaks the physical touch language. Some touches are irritating and uncomfortable for your mate. Take the time to learn the touches your mate likes. They can be big acts, such as back massages or lovemaking, or little acts such as touches on the cheek or a hand on the shoulder. It’s important to learn how your mate responds to touch. That is how you will make the most of this love language.
All marriages will experience crisis. In these cases, physical touch is very important. In a crisis situation, a hug can communicate an immense amount of love for that person. A person whose primary love language is physical touch would much rather have you hold them and be silent than offer any advice.
It is important to remember that this love language is different for everyone. What type of touch makes you feel secure is not necessarily what will make your partner happy. It is important to learn each other’s dialects. That way you can make the most of your hugging, kissing, and other physical contacts.
Time Line- Gaining Perspective
What a timeline can do for me:
A time line can help orient us and give us a better sense of direction toward our destination
A timeline can help me FOCUS in on KEY ASPECTS of my development:
1. BOUNDARIES (MAJOR TRANSITIONS, PARADIGM SHIFTS)in my life
2. CRITICAL INCIDENTS (UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES THAT ARE FORMATIVE)
3. INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE (VALUES OFTEN ARE IMPRESSED UPON US IN THIS WAY
4. KEY LESSONS LEARNED
Note: Making a visually explicit map of my life history also enables me to better explain myself to others – to help them understand me and my journey with God to date.
The timeline helps me LABEL developmental stages of my life.
A timeline allows me to continue to REFLECT on my life and to LIFE-SCHEDULE.
Each person is unique. God shapes each of us over an entire lifetime for unique purposes. He has a plan (calling or purpose) for our lives. And He has created each of us in the hope that we will seek to discover and live-out that special life-course which He Himself has prepared in advance for us.
Coming to understand the way God is attempting to orchestrate our lives involves a process of self- discovery. This process is aided by personal reflection, prayer and processing with other mature leaders. It is also helped along by comparing how God generally works in developing Christian leaders over a lifetime.
Getting Started with Your Life-Map, the “Post-it Note” Way
Brainstorm the significant people, events and circumstances and life lessons that have shaped your life.
* Think back to your earliest memories and work your way to the present.
* As images and thoughts come to mind, record these on posts- it notes
* Only one item per note, using one word or a short phrase to describe the actual event
* Place the notes on the table in front of you, in no particular order
* This is simply BRAINSTORMING, so don’t explain, feel guilty, or get hung up on details
Arange according to time and category. Be creative!
1. BOUNDARIES (MAJOR TRANSITIONS, PARADIGM SHIFTS)in my life
2. CRITICAL INCIDENTS (UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES THAT ARE FORMATIVE)
3. INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE (VALUES OFTEN ARE IMPRESSED UPON US IN THIS WAY
4. KEY LESSONS LEARNED
A time line can help orient us and give us a better sense of direction toward our destination
A timeline can help me FOCUS in on KEY ASPECTS of my development:
1. BOUNDARIES (MAJOR TRANSITIONS, PARADIGM SHIFTS)in my life
2. CRITICAL INCIDENTS (UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES THAT ARE FORMATIVE)
3. INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE (VALUES OFTEN ARE IMPRESSED UPON US IN THIS WAY
4. KEY LESSONS LEARNED
Note: Making a visually explicit map of my life history also enables me to better explain myself to others – to help them understand me and my journey with God to date.
The timeline helps me LABEL developmental stages of my life.
A timeline allows me to continue to REFLECT on my life and to LIFE-SCHEDULE.
Each person is unique. God shapes each of us over an entire lifetime for unique purposes. He has a plan (calling or purpose) for our lives. And He has created each of us in the hope that we will seek to discover and live-out that special life-course which He Himself has prepared in advance for us.
Coming to understand the way God is attempting to orchestrate our lives involves a process of self- discovery. This process is aided by personal reflection, prayer and processing with other mature leaders. It is also helped along by comparing how God generally works in developing Christian leaders over a lifetime.
Getting Started with Your Life-Map, the “Post-it Note” Way
Brainstorm the significant people, events and circumstances and life lessons that have shaped your life.
* Think back to your earliest memories and work your way to the present.
* As images and thoughts come to mind, record these on posts- it notes
* Only one item per note, using one word or a short phrase to describe the actual event
* Place the notes on the table in front of you, in no particular order
* This is simply BRAINSTORMING, so don’t explain, feel guilty, or get hung up on details
Arange according to time and category. Be creative!
1. BOUNDARIES (MAJOR TRANSITIONS, PARADIGM SHIFTS)in my life
2. CRITICAL INCIDENTS (UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES THAT ARE FORMATIVE)
3. INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE (VALUES OFTEN ARE IMPRESSED UPON US IN THIS WAY
4. KEY LESSONS LEARNED
Connecting with God
Sacred Pathways- Discover your soul's path to God-
to take the test -
and to see what the results mean
to take the test -
and to see what the results mean
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