According to H. G. Bosch, the newspaper cartoonist H. T. Webster once amused himself by sending telegrams to 20 of his acquaintances whom he selected at random. Each message contained just one word: “Congratulations.” As far as Webster knew, not one of his friends had done anything special for which to be complimented. Yet, each person was so flattered that he immediately wrote Webster a letter of thanks. All 20 of his friends assumed they had done something worthy of a congratulatory telegram!

Surprising? I think not. Whereas pride can be defined as an excessively high opinion of oneself; arrogance is the state or quality of being overly convinced of one’s own importance. From a Christian perspective, arrogance is man’s inflated belief in his own abilities that interferes with his recognition of the grace of God. In other words, we cannot see God, or experience God for we are too focused on ourselves.

In a sense, arrogance is like a weed that grows amid the beautiful roses and yet, it believes itself to be far more pleasing to the eye. The arrogant person enjoys being paramount and awards himself a high degree of importance. But arrogance is deadly and an enemy to the soul. It is an outward expression of an inward flaw. A bloated ego is the most serious obstacle to submission to God. It is the enemy within that prevents us from accepting God’s omnipotence and absolute authority. Consequently, it is our own arrogance that stands between us and redemption into God’s kingdom.

I am reminded of Jesus’ prayer for Peter. Remember, at a certain point during the Last Supper, Jesus focused His entire attention on Simon? He tells him, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.” Luke 22:31-32a. (NIV).

This is significant because Simon had become arrogant. He had gotten beside himself; self assured and over confident. He had become boastful and big headed. He exuded an air of superiority and certainty about himself. He thought he knew who he was and what he was about. He had become conceited and no one could tell him anything.

Simon had soared to great heights. He was the chief spokesman for the twelve, water walker, rock man, one of Jesus’ inner circle, and prominent figure at the transfiguration. To himself, he was somebody. Simon was so inculcated with a sense of his own special importance that he even went so far as to assume he knew more about Jesus’ mission than Jesus Himself.

This is why prayer is so important to the Christian life. We need prayer to overcome Satan. Satan got a hold of Simon and carried him on a hurricane ride through hell. He poisoned Simon’s spirit and confused his mind and made him betray the most important person ever to come into his life.

Arrogance is one of many tools used by Satan. If we are not careful, he will use this tool to wreck our system of values, paralyze our spirit and ruin our capacity to reason. He can dull our conscience and transform our home from a place of peace and love to a wasteland of disturbance and discord. And, sometimes, for our own good God has to let Satan shake us and sift us for a time.

So whoever you are, regardless of how high you think you may be escalating spiritually, watch out, be cautious, don’t indulge the enemy, and pray for humility. While you are climbing Jacob’s ladder to spiritual heights, watch your footing. Because I have learned that even the roads to spiritual heights are paved with ice.

SIDEBAR NOTE: Winston Churchill once had a very arrogant cabinet member. When this person left the room one day, Churchill turned to the rest of his cabinet and said, “There, but for the grace of God goes God!”

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.

You are welcome to visit AMEN Ministries: Your Soul’s Service Station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded Stop & Shop Mini Mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library.

Blessings to all!

Life is Change. Growth is Optional. Choose Wisely

I recently saw these words on the bumper of the car in front of me in traffic. Every now and then, wisdom seems to jump out at you from the most unextected places.

Life is change

“Everything must change” - George Benson

All of life is about change. Yet we act so surprised when change comes our way. Wether it’s change that we seek out or change that seeks us out, life is full of change.

Growth is optional

“Ch-ch-ch-changes, tryin’ to face the strain.” - David Bowie

While change is inevitable, growth and adapting to change is not.

It’s a decision and a choice.

I’ve worked with people who had change thrust at them years ago and they had not grown a bit since then. The changes might as well have occured just hte day before. On the other hand, I’ve worked with people who had change thrust at them and not chose to grow and adapt, they even found ways to make it work for them.

Choose wisely

“You have chosen wisely.” from the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

There is a wonderflu scene toward the end of the last Indiana Jones movie. Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones must pick the correct goblet from dozens, under the wathcful eye of the knight hwo has protected it for hundresnm of years. After carefully choosing and drinking of the right cup, the knight turns to Jones and says “you have chosen wisely.”

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.

“…one of the marks of a paradigm shift is that what used to be considered peripheral, moves to center stage.” (Thomas Kuhn)

What Thomas Kuhn is talking about, in the quote above, is a perfect example of the major paradigm shift that has occurred in the peoples relationship to WORK. A paradigm can be defined as a commonly held belief . When I was growing up in the Midwest it was a paradigm (a commonly held belief) that the road to a happy life was to:
get a good education, get a good job with a big corporation
keep your nose clean retire in 20 to 30 years with a secure income for life.

That belief in corporate America’s willingness and/or ability to “take-care” of us, is no longer valid. Anyone still holding on to that old paradigm is headed for great disappointment and failure.

The only person you can depend on to take care of you in future years is the person you look at in the mirror in the morning….YOU! No government, no company or benevolent corporation (now there’s an oxymoron) is going to be there for you.

Major underlying shifts have been occurring in the economy of America and the world. Corporate downsizing, layoffs, offshore production, government realignments, shifts from a manufacturing/hard industry economy to an information and service systems economy with all the accompanying displacement in the work force, NAFTA, WTO… the list goes on and on.

All of these trends form a checklist of reasons for you to be taking ACTION today to assure your own financial well- being and security.

I am 61 years old….I do not expect Social Security to be around when I need it. The agency may be there (impossible to kill a bloated federal bureaucracy) but it will bear no resemblance to the agency that has provided for our parents. The benefits to us will be a fraction of what it should be… filled with means testing, qualifiers, etc. that did not exist in previous years….and will not provide even a bare subsistence income.

With all bleak forecasts, however, come the seeds of opportunity… this forecast is no different. The opportunity is the dramatic adaptability of the human animal. Seeing these major paradigm shifts, they have come to the realization that if they are to have a secure future for themselves, their family and loved ones, they must TAKE POSITIVE ACTION.

Everywhere we turn, we see vibrant new business opportunities emerging. Bright, educated, motivated people, are beginning to discover the ABSOLUTE NEED to start a business of their own and make the necessary investment of time, energy, and money into something that is financially lucrative, morally upright, and gives positive benefits to society as a whole.

As a network marketing distributor you are in a unique position, through your marketing efforts, to secure your own financial future, perform a morally positive service, and strengthen the values that are the foundation of our nation.

Network marketing distributors are given the RIGHT to pursue the above stated benefits. I believe you also have the RESPONSIBILITY to work hard and diligently towards the achieving of these benefits. You have the responsibility to yourself, your family, and your country.

You are much more than just a product/service based network marketing company…..you represent a CAUSE! It is our stated goal— our RESPONSIBILITY— to provide for the increased well-being of everyone in the world… as our time and talents allow.

The next time you look upon the face of a anyone that is not protected with your products and services, ask yourself this question:

“Am I living up to my responsibilities?”

If I may be so bold as to paraphrase John F. Kennedy…..

“Ask not what Network Marketing can do for you…. Ask what you can do for all mankind… through the entrepreneurial vehicle of Network Marketing!”

GOOD ENROLLING AND GOOD SELLING !

(C) Copyright 2005… Thom Reece is the creator of MaxxMLM.com [ http://www.MaxxMLM.com ] a major portal and training site for the network marketing industry . Thom can be reached by email at: thomATe-comprofits.com

Recently someone asked me, “What coaching tools do you use?”

“Tools?” I asked, bewildered. “I avoid tests and assessments.”

“No,” she explained. “Listening skills?”

Well, I suppose I listen — but I mostly listen to my own intuition. And I encourage clients to do the same.

Since I derive most of my life lessons from reading murder mysteries, I am reminded of a recent book by Marcia Muller: Listen to the silence. The heroine, Sharon McCone, turns her prodigious investigative talent to researching her own background. As she interviews family members, her significant other, also a heavy-duty detective, says, “Listen to the silence.”

He meant, “When someone answers a question, don’t just listen to what’s said. Listen for the pauses, the silences in what they say.”

As I listen to clients, I’ve decided that we need to listen to the messages sent by our bodies, our friends and family, and what some would call “the universe” — our environment. As business people, we need to listen to our customers. We need to listen with great skepticism to advice.

While this idea may seem a little woo-wooish, here’s an example. One day I received an email from a web designer who had landed on my website.

“You need help, desperately,” she said. “Everything’s wrong!”

Something didn’t feel right about the message. Intuition works with knowledge, and I’ve learned to be skeptical of unsolicited guidance or advice. “You get what you pay for” tends to be all too true. So I thanked her politely and continued with business as usual. And I listened to clients who weren’t web designers but who did like the site.

One day I applied for an affiliate program with a noted web designer — someone who’s often chosen to serve as a judge for web awards and contests.

“Interesting site,” she said.

“Gee,” I said, “everybody loves my site except designers and marketers.”

“Ignore them,” she said. “Your site’s just fine. I should know.”

This validation (vindication?) is rare, but reminded me that the best support systems encourage us to listen to our own world — not their words. If you’re researching a new career, and you get only negative messages, you need to pay attention.

Considering a move to a new location and find yourself feeling like, “I don’t belong here?” Going to a big job interview and feeling that everything you say is coming out all wrong? Well, there’s a reason.

There are times to heed well-meaning, unsolicited advice. When Tony Soprano says, “This game isn’t for you,” pay attention. When the police officer says, “Slow it down,” that’s a good idea too. But most of the time, listen for subtle messages from whatever crosses your path.

That’s your own intuitive code. And don’t let any words get in the way of the real message.

Learn to crack your own intuitive code.

For help with your next move, download Making the Big Move.

About The Author

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.

“Ten secrets of mastering a major life change” mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com

Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294

Q: I was wondering if you could recommend any books on motivation and change that are fun to read and that aren’t all rah rah, if you know what I mean. Could there even be such a thing as a book that’s like a novel or short story that’s about motivation?

Your question is very well-timed. I’ve recently been reading, for about the hundreth time, one of my favorite books. “Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah” by Richard Bach, is the story of what happens one summer when a barnstorming bi-plane pilot meets another barnstormer who is a bit of an advanced human being.

The book is full of qoutes about change, motivation and living a life well-lived.

I thought I’d share a few of my favorite qoutes from the book, and how they can be applied in our lives.

Gotta start with my favorite:

“Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.”

This has been said in many different ways by others:

As a man thinketh, so is he - Proverbs

Whether you believe you can or believe you can’t, you are right - Henry Ford

One of the many things I challenge my clients with is to spend just one day paying attention to how many of their own limitations they argue for each day. It’s truly amazing to me how often we argue for our limitations. In a way, it negative advertising in our own brains. Watch out for words such as “I can’t”, “I could never”, “I don’t have what it takes”, etc.

Ket strategy: Use Tony Robbins approach, “If I can’t, then I MUST!” It can change your life.

“Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t.”

I see so many people who seem to go through life in a kind of dazed trance. Each one of us has a unique purpose for being here. The happiest people I know are the ones who seem to have found that purpose. It gets them up early and keeps them up late and fills their days with a zest for life. Even when they are tired, it’s a “good tired.”

Key strategy: As Stephen Covey, aurhor of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People stresses, write your own personal mission statement. It helps you in getting clear on why you are here.

“You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however.”

Somehow during the process of becoming an adult, we begin to drop our dreams and wishes for our lives. Big mistake. Dreams, wishes and goals are part of what keeps us alive and vibrant at any age. Our dreams and wishes can be our road map to a life well lived.

It does take focus, determination and just plain work. While it’s not always easy, I have found that it is always worth it. Remember, faith moves mountains. And you better bring a shovel.

Key strategy: Make a goals and dreams list. At the top of a sheet of paper write “If I knew I couldn’t fail, I would……………” Then let your imagination go and don’t stop until you have filled up the paper.

“There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in it’s hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts.”

Problems. No one likes ‘em, and we all have ‘em. And since we all have them, we may as well learn something from them, perhaps even make them work to our advantage. Remember that success comes from good judgement, good judgement comes from experience, and experiences comes from successfully handling the problems that come our way.

Key strategy: Install the belief that the only way a problem can beat you is if you don’t learn something from it.

Now that you’ve gotten a taste of Illusions, I highly recommend you go get a copy for yourself. And while you’re at it, pick me one up too, mine’s getting pretty worn out.

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.

1 - Take A Tour of the Great Outdoors

Consider a hike in the mountains, a stroll beside the river, a run along the beach, a jog through the park or a walk around the city.

2 - Soak Up Your Surroundings like a New Sponge

3 - Read, Read, Read

In our society, our daily lives can be very taxing.

We know that David did much to stabilize the Kingdom of Israel. He fought a long series of wars to make Israel secure. He surrounded Israel with client kingdoms that at the very least were peaceful in their foreign relations towards him and Israel’s God. But the one thing that David wanted to do more than anything else was to establish a permanent Temple on Mount Zion for the present and future use of the Lord God Almighty. He desired building a house for God where He alone might be honored and worshipped. David did not want to go to his final rest until the house of God was built. But, this hope was to be fulfilled by another, his son Solomon.

And so it is with us. After we have taken care of our private business; after we have gone about our worldly affairs with our envies and jealousies, our complaints and dissatisfactions, we find no time left to build a house for God. But the real tragedy of existence is not in its shortness, but rather, it is in its incompleteness. The Old Testament as well as the New Testament seems to be overloaded with great individuals with incomplete lives. Their hopes were not realized, their plans not perfected, their vision not actualized.

Abraham left the land of Ur to receive an inheritance of a country but he died not owning a single yard of land in Canaan except a grave. Jacob cherished the same hope but he died a stranger in a strange land.

Moses inherited the same glorious purpose. His vision, coupled with the inspiration from the burning bush, led him to establish Israel in their promised land in Canaan. This was the task for when he gave his life. Moses trained himself for a work for 40 years. He succeeded in converting a ravel of slaves into a nation of prestige and dignity. He succeeded in taking the Israelites across the Red Sea and away from the slavery of Egypt and away from Pharaoh’s army. He succeeded in seeing them through difficult times. He took them to the edge of the Promised Land. But by a mandate from God, he never saw them settled there. Moses could not enter into the Promised Land. He died and was buried in an unknown grave somewhere in the land of Moab. He missed his aim. He never accomplished his purpose, he never finished his business.

So it was with John the Baptist, the martyr Stephen, the apostle Paul, John Kennedy, John Kennedy Jr. They have all joined with countless others, the gallant march with God’s greats who went to their glory with their work undone, their business unfinished, their dreams unfulfilled, and their lives incomplete.

This suggests to me that we do not have time for a lot of petty, useless, senseless engagements. We need to stop wasting so much time in pettiness, trivialities and foolishness because in the midst of our wasted time in the insignificant, Mother Nature goes on about her business. Our clay houses fall to pieces but the sun goes right on shining. A man’s body disintegrates but the moon continues to glow, the birds keep on singing and Father Time keeps on ticking.

TICK - TOCK

Tick tock,
Time winding down
Giving way to,
Eternity.

Tick tock,
Time submitting
To the command of,
Infinity.

Tick tock,
Time, sweet time
Acquiescing to,
Perpetuity.

Tick tock,
Our appointed
Destiny
Draws nigh.

Tick tock,
Time running out.
Prepare!
Evermore cometh.

Tick tock
Tick tock

Tick tock

In the scrolls of history, there is only one Man who was able to accomplish everything He set out to do. He was King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He came forth into this world with a dying garment on. He was the root of Jesse and the seed of Abraham.

- It was Jesus and Jesus alone, in a death robe at Calvary’s cross, who could look at a dying sin-sick world and declare, “It is finished.”

- It was Jesus and Jesus alone, who could look at the men under the cross, fighting and gambling for His clothes and cry out, “It is finished.”

- It was Jesus and Jesus alone, who could look His enemies in the face. Those who had ridiculed Him and criticized Him and tried to find something wrong with Him. Those who planned and plotted and schemed and connived against Him every chance they got; He looked at them and said, “It is finished.”

- It was Jesus and Jesus alone, whose life was played out to the end.

- It was Jesus and Jesus alone, who could say without fear of contradiction, “It is finished.”

The business for which He came to this earth was now finished. The battle had been won and from that point on, the wicked ceased from troubling and the weary One was now at rest.

But for the rest of us, it is never finished. Death creeps in on us before we get to do all the things we want to do. Watch what you do with your time.

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.

You are welcome to visit AMEN Ministries: Your Soul’s Service Station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library.

Blessings to all!

Yesterday, I went above and beyond the call of duty for community service.

Thanks to me, not one black fly within a five-mile radius of my home went to bed hungry last night, and because of my loyal patronage and recurring need for calamine lotion, my pharmacist can now put his youngest through college.

All in a day’s work.

Some people may think I’m crazy for spending hours on end in my back yard, but the truth be told, I have answered many pressing questions, made many exciting discoveries, and received amazing creative insights, all while enjoying the solitude of my urban oasis.

It is in this beautiful refuge I have set the stage for my most rewarding successes.

When faced with difficult challenges or when stuck and unable to move forward, I head for the flower gardens with a spade in hand. On many occasions, I have spent up to eight hours crawling on my hands and knees pulling weeds, digging holes, and relocating plants.

Sometimes I just sit on a mound of soil and watch nature’s creatures play out their lives in front of me.

I have come out of these “sessions” with solutions to my problems, fully composed newsletter articles, new and exciting business ideas and incredible positive energy.

Often within hours of leaving my back yard, I receive an unexpected phone call or e-mail from someone who provides just what I need to progress to the next level in my business or personal development.

The back yard provides an opportunity to quiet the mind and connect with a higher power. While digging in the soil, watching the chipmunks chase each other around the yard, and smelling the fragrant flowers, I reflect on where I am and where I want to be.

I set an intention to create the future I seek and share it with each plant and blade of grass I touch.

Silencing the mind and emerging yourself in nature is mandatory to personal and professional growth. It also provides a powerful conduit between you and the universal source that permeates all life and connects us all.

These quiet times provide the perfect opportunity for you to ask yourself how satisfied you are with your current reality and decide on what you would like to create.

Laurie works with small and home-based business owners who want to grow or build their business without sacrificing quality of life. She is the author of numerous articles and a bi-weekly newsletter, “The Heart of Living.”

To subscribe to her free newsletter and learn more about coaching, visit http://www.wheretheheartis-lifecoaching.com

This week is Part Four of our five part series on The Season’s of Life.

In Part One of the series we discussed:

a) That life is about constant, predictable patterns of change.

b) For all of us, the only constant factor is our feelings and attitudes toward life.

c) We as human beings have the power of attitude and that attitude determines choice, and choice determines results.

In Part Two of our series we discussed:

a) Life and business are like the changing seasons.

b) You cannot change the seasons, but you can change yourself.

c) A major lesson in life to learn is how to handle the winters.

d) Winter time allows you to get stronger, wiser, better. The winters won’t change, but you can.

In Part Three of our series we discussed:

a) Spring is the season for entering the fertile fields of life with seed, knowledge, commitment, and a determined effort.

b) It is the promise of spring that as we sow, so shall we also reap, that for every disciplined human effort we will receive a multiple reward.

c) There are just a handful of springs that have been handed to each of us. Don’t just let the seasons pass by.

This week we will talk about the third major lesson in life to learn; how to nourish and protect your crops all summer. Sure enough, as soon as you’ve planted, the busy bugs and noxious weeds are out to take things over. Here is the next bit of truth: they will take it, unless you prevent it.

There are two key phrases to consider with the third major lesson. The first is “all good will be attacked.” Don’t press me for a reason. I was not in on some of the early decisions, so I don’t know why. I just know that it’s true. Let reality be your best beginning. Every garden will be invaded.

The second phrase is “all values must be defended.” Social values, political values, friendship values, business values - all must be defended. Every garden must be tended all summer. If you don’t develop this skill, you’ll never wind up with anything of value.

But for those who make diligent efforts to plant, protect, and preserve there are not enough birds, bugs, or other obstacles to destroy all the efforts of last spring.

(Next week we will talk about fall, the time of harvesting the fruits from our springtime labor.)

To Your Success,

Jim Rohn

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