Wednesday's Word of the Week - Make a Choice

Maybe your past isn’t much to brag about. Maybe you’ve seen raw evil—and now you have to make a choice. Do you rise above the past and make a difference? Or do you remain controlled by the past and make excuses?

Healthy bodies. Sharp minds. But retired dreams. Back and forth they rock in the chair of regret. Lean closely and you’ll hear them.

If only I’d been born somewhere else. . .

If only I’d been treated fairly. . .

If only I’d had more opportunities. . .if only. . .

Put down the scrapbook of your life and pick up the Bible. Read Jesus’ words in John 3:6: “Human life comes from human parents but spiritual life comes from the Spirit.”

God has not left you adrift on a sea of heredity. You have a choice in the path you take.

Choose well!

From Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

Toolbox Tuesday - Name Badges

18. Wear Branded Name Badges

I know it sounds incredibly simplistic, but the simple act of wearing a branded name badge can spark conversation about your organisation. You never know who you might meet and how they may be able to help. A branded name badge is the easiest introduction you can give.

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Worth Saving

No one believed in people more than Jesus did. He saw something in Peter worth developing, in the adulterous woman worth forgiving, and in John worth harnessing.

He saw something in the thief on the cross, and what he saw was worth saving. And in the life of a wild-eyed, bloodthirsty extremist, He saw the apostle of grace. He believed in Saul.

Don’t give up on your Saul. When others write him off, give him another chance. Stay strong. Call him brother. Call her sister. It’s too soon to throw in the towel. Talk to your Saul about Jesus, and pray.

God is at work behind the scenes. And remember this: God never sends you where he hasn’t already been. By the time you reach your Saul, who knows what you’ll find.

God used Saul, who became Paul, to touch the world.

Has God given you a Saul?

From Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

Toolbox Tuesday - Events Websites

17. Use Events Websites

There are literally hundreds of websites which will promote your event free of charge – all you have to do is submit the details. Depending on the site, you can list anything from fundraisers through to conferences, weekly programmes or one off community events. Listing your events can take time, but it is worth it. Perhaps you can find a volunteer to take regular responsibility for this task?

Useful Events Websites
The following websites offer opportunities for community groups to promote themselves and their events. Most of the sites can help you out in more than one way – so browse through the list and see what each site can offer you.

www.exult.co.nz
www.community.net.nz
www.webhealth.co.nz
www.newzealandnz.co.nz
www.maori.org.nz
www.yourevents.co.nz
www.communityconnect.co.nz
www.nzlive.co.nz
www.eventfinder.co.nz
www.sportevent.co.nz
www.te.co.nz/community/events
www.motorsportevent.co.nz
www.fourcorners.co.nz
www.viewchristchurch.co.nz
www.bethere.co.nz (Canterbury Region)
www.wellingtonnz.com/events
www.wotzon.com
www.feelinggreat.co.nz (Wellington Region)
www.gisbornenz.com/events (Gisborne / East Coast Region)
www.hamiltonevents.co.nz
www.eastlandnz.com/events
www.ashburtondistrictevents.co.nz
www.viewdunedin.co.nz

Most local councils also offer Event Calendars and links through to local community groups. To
find your local council website visit www.localcouncils.govt.nz

Motivation Monday - Priorities

I always say to God 'If you going to tell me something, tell me more than once - so I get the message'.  Even though I've heard it many times before, and read and/or demonstrated it to my pioneer girls before, the below bit of wisdom has come at me a few ways the last week or so.  In our GB newsrap mag, then a colleague emails it to me.  What made me really think about it was a colleague who passed away too soon, taken just before he retired, before he went on an advanture in a caravan that he and his wife had always wanted to do.

God.  Thanks.  I got it.  Loud and clear.  Priorities.  Going to get it sorted!


"When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers:

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.The students laughed..

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.. The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend."

Anonymous

Wednesdays Word of the Week - To Know the Heart of the Pilot

Three passengers share a row of seats in an airplane. As the plane is taxiing for takeoff, their conversation turns to the topic of the airplane pilot.

Stunningly, passenger 'A' doesn't believe one exists. 'No one flies the plane. We are guided by a computer system in the terminal. This plane is an occupied drone. Why should I believe otherwise? The cockpit door is closed. Who can know? There is no pilot.'

Passenger 'B' disagrees. 'Oh, there is a pilot. Someone sits at the controls of the plane. But, once we take off, he takes a nap. He gets the plane in the air and then goes to sleep.'

The third passenger is shocked by what she hears. 'You don't know what you are talking about. First, there is a pilot. Second, the pilot is alert, competent and kind. I know; he is my husband. He is seasoned and sensitive and has every intention of a successful flight. We are in good hands.'

Three passengers. Three opinions. A plane with no pilot. A plane with a disengaged pilot. A plane with a seasoned and concerned pilot. Fast forward a few minutes. Turbulence shakes the plane like popcorn in a paper bag. Will the three passengers experience the flight in the same way? Of the three travelers, which is most prone to stay calm?

Nothing is more important than the right view of God. Nothing. I've seen the wealthy and highly educated crumple like cowards at the face of death. I've seen the simple and humble take their final breath with a smile and a song. The difference? They knew the Pilot.

You need to know the heart of the pilot. That is why the story of Jesus is in the Bible. He is the only picture of God ever taken. To know Jesus, is to know God. To know God is to know: this flight gets bumpy, but the Pilot? He knows how to get us home.

Max Lucado

Toolbox Tuesday - Become the Expert

16. Become the Expert

The media are always looking for ‘experts’ to comment on different stories, and if you’re working in the non-profit sector you are an expert on something! Think about what your organisation does and the area you feel comfortable commenting on, and then let your local media know. Whenever they have a story on your topic, you could be called to comment. It’s a great way to get publicity without having to come up with the press release.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - part 7

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have--you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual. Here are some examples of activities:

Physical:                  Beneficial eating, exercising, and resting
Social/Emotional:     Making social and meaningful connections with others
Mental:                    Learning, reading, writing, and teaching
Spiritual:                 Spending time in nature, expanding spiritual self through meditation, music, art, prayer, or service

As you renew yourself in each of the four areas, you create growth and change in your life. Sharpen the Saw keeps you fresh so you can continue to practice the other six habits. You increase your capacity to produce and handle the challenges around you. Without this renewal, the body becomes weak, the mind mechanical, the emotions raw, the spirit insensitive, and the person selfish. Not a pretty picture, is it?

Feeling good doesn't just happen. Living a life in balance means taking the necessary time to renew yourself. It's all up to you. You can renew yourself through relaxation. Or you can totally burn yourself out by overdoing everything. You can pamper yourself mentally and spiritually. Or you can go through life oblivious to your well-being. You can experience vibrant energy. Or you can procrastinate and miss out on the benefits of good health and exercise. You can revitalize yourself and face a new day in peace and harmony. Or you can wake up in the morning full of apathy because your get-up-and-go has got-up-and-gone. Just remember that every day provides a new opportunity for renewal--a new opportunity to recharge yourself instead of hitting the wall. All it takes is the desire, knowledge, and skill.

by Stephen Covey

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - part 6

Habit 6: Synergize

To put it simply, synergy means "two heads are better than one." Synergize is the habit of creative cooperation. It is teamwork, open-mindedness, and the adventure of finding new solutions to old problems. But it doesn't just happen on its own. It's a process, and through that process, people bring all their personal experience and expertise to the table. Together, they can produce far better results that they could individually. Synergy lets us discover jointly things we are much less likely to discover by ourselves. It is the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. One plus one equals three, or six, or sixty--you name it.

When people begin to interact together genuinely, and they're open to each other's influence, they begin to gain new insight. The capability of inventing new approaches is increased exponentially because of differences.

Valuing differences is what really drives synergy. Do you truly value the mental, emotional, and psychological differences among people? Or do you wish everyone would just agree with you so you could all get along? Many people mistake uniformity for unity; sameness for oneness. One word--boring! Differences should be seen as strengths, not weaknesses. They add zest to life.

by Stephen Covey

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - part 5

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

Communication is the most important skill in life. You spend years learning how to read and write, and years learning how to speak. But what about listening? What training have you had that enables you to listen so you really, deeply understand another human being? Probably none, right?

If you're like most people, you probably seek first to be understood; you want to get your point across. And in doing so, you may ignore the other person completely, pretend that you're listening, selectively hear only certain parts of the conversation or attentively focus on only the words being said, but miss the meaning entirely. So why does this happen? Because most people listen with the intent to reply, not to understand. You listen to yourself as you prepare in your mind what you are going to say, the questions you are going to ask, etc. You filter everything you hear through your life experiences, your frame of reference. You check what you hear against your autobiography and see how it measures up. And consequently, you decide prematurely what the other person means before he/she finishes communicating. Do any of the following sound familiar?

"Oh, I know just how you feel. I felt the same way." "I had that same thing happen to me." "Let me tell you what I did in a similar situation."

Because you so often listen autobiographically, you tend to respond in one of four ways:

Evaluating:     You judge and then either agree or disagree.
Probing:          You ask questions from your own frame of reference.
Advising:         You give counsel, advice, and solutions to problems.
Interpreting:   You analyze others' motives and behaviors based on your own experiences.

You might be saying, "Hey, now wait a minute. I'm just trying to relate to the person by drawing on my own experiences. Is that so bad?" In some situations, autobiographical responses may be appropriate, such as when another person specifically asks for help from your point of view or when there is already a very high level of trust in the relationship.

by Stephen Covey

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - part 4

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

 

Think Win-Win isn't about being nice, nor is it a quick-fix technique. It is a character-based code for human interaction and collaboration.

 

Most of us learn to base our self-worth on comparisons and competition. We think about succeeding in terms of someone else failing--that is, if I win, you lose; or if you win, I lose. Life becomes a zero-sum game. There is only so much pie to go around, and if you get a big piece, there is less for me; it's not fair, and I'm going to make sure you don't get anymore. We all play the game, but how much fun is it really?

 

Win-win sees life as a cooperative arena, not a competitive one. Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying. We both get to eat the pie, and it tastes pretty darn good!

A person or organization that approaches conflicts with a win-win attitude possesses three vital character traits:

1. Integrity: sticking with your true feelings, values, and commitments
2. Maturity: expressing your ideas and feelings with courage and consideration for the ideas and feelings of others
3. Abundance Mentality: believing there is plenty for everyone

Many people think in terms of either/or: either you're nice or you're tough. Win-win requires that you be both. It is a balancing act between courage and consideration. To go for win-win, you not only have to be empathic, but you also have to be confident. You not only have to be considerate and sensitive, you also have to be brave. To do that--to achieve that balance between courage and consideration--is the essence of real maturity and is fundamental to win-win.

by Stephen Covey

 

Wednesdays Word of the Week - Always Praying

Early Christians were urged by the apostle Paul to 'pray without ceasing.' In Romans 12:12, Paul said: 'always be prayerful'. And in Ephesians 6:18, to 'pray at all times and on every occasion.'

Unceasing prayer may sound complicated, but it needn't be!

As you stand in line to register your car, think, 'Thank you, Lord, for being here.' In the grocery store as you shop. As you load the dishwasher, worship your Maker.

Brother Lawrence was a well-known saint who called himself the 'lord of pots and pans.' He wrote: 'The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.'

Though a rookie in the League of Unceasing Prayer, I sure enjoy the result! I think you will too.

From 'Come Thirsty' by Max Lucado

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - part 3

Habit 3: Put First Things First

To live a more balanced existence, you have to recognize that not doing everything that comes along is okay. There's no need to overextend yourself. All it takes is realizing that it's all right to say no when necessary and then focus on your highest priorities.

Habit 1 says, "You're in charge. You're the creator." Being proactive is about choice. Habit 2 is the first, or mental, creation. Beginning with the End in Mind is about vision. Habit 3 is the second creation, the physical creation. This habit is where Habits 1 and 2 come together. It happens day in and day out, moment-by-moment. It deals with many of the questions addressed in the field of time management. But that's not all it's about. Habit 3 is about life management as well--your purpose, values, roles, and priorities. What are "first things?" First things are those things you, personally, find of most worth. If you put first things first, you are organizing and managing time and events according to the personal priorities you established in Habit 2.

by Stephen Covey

Toolbox Tuesday - Window Display

15. Make a Window Display

If you are lucky enough to have an office with a window frontage and heavy foot traffic, make sure you use the space to promote what you do. If you’re like most non-profits and lack that luxury, approach local retailers and ask if you could use their window as a showcase from time-to-time. (You’ll get the most Yes’s from businesses who share the same target market as your organisation.)

When creating your display, keep in mind the one key message you are trying to get across and keep it simple.  Are you looking for volunteers, promoting a new programme, trying to sell tickets to an event, or something else?  Remember, when it comes to displays, often less is more.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - part 2

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

So, what do you want to be when you grow up? That question may appear a little trite, but think about it for a moment. Are you--right now--who you want to be, what you dreamed you'd be, doing what you always wanted to do? Be honest. Sometimes people find themselves achieving victories that are empty--successes that have come at the expense of things that were far more valuable to them. If your ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step you take gets you to the wrong place faster.

Habit 2 is based on imagination--the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation follows the mental, just as a building follows a blueprint. If you don't make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life, then you empower other people and circumstances to shape you and your life by default. It's about connecting again with your own uniqueness and then defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill yourself. Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen.

One of the best ways to incorporate Habit 2 into your life is to develop a Personal Mission Statement. It focuses on what you want to be and do. It is your plan for success. It reaffirms who you are, puts your goals in focus, and moves your ideas into the real world. Your mission statement makes you the leader of your own life. You create your own destiny and secure the future you envision.

by Stephen Covey

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - part 1

Habit 1 : Be Proactive

Habit 1 : Be Proactive Your life doesn't just "happen." Whether you know it or not, it is carefully designed by you. The choices, after all, are yours. You choose happiness. You choose sadness. You choose decisiveness. You choose ambivalence. You choose success. You choose failure. You choose courage. You choose fear. Just remember that every moment, every situation, provides a new choice. And in doing so, it gives you a perfect opportunity to do things differently to produce more positive results.

Habit 1: Be Proactive is about taking responsibility for your life. You can't keep blaming everything on your parents or grandparents. Proactive people recognize that they are "response-able." They don't blame genetics, circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. They know they choose their behavior. Reactive people, on the other hand, are often affected by their physical environment. They find external sources to blame for their behavior. If the weather is good, they feel good. If it isn't, it affects their attitude and performance, and they blame the weather. All of these external forces act as stimuli that we respond to. Between the stimulus and the response is your greatest power--you have the freedom to choose your response. One of the most important things you choose is what you say. Your language is a good indicator of how you see yourself. A proactive person uses proactive language--I can, I will, I prefer, etc. A reactive person uses reactive language--I can't, I have to, if only. Reactive people believe they are not responsible for what they say and do--they have no choice.

Instead of reacting to or worrying about conditions over which they have little or no control, proactive people focus their time and energy on things they can control. The problems, challenges, and opportunities we face fall into two areas--Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence.

Proactive people focus their efforts on their Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about: health, children, problems at work. Reactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern--things over which they have little or no control: the national debt, terrorism, the weather. Gaining an awareness of the areas in which we expend our energies in is a giant step in becoming proactive.

by Stephen Covey

Wedesdays Word of the Week - Acknowledge His Presence

Do you desire power for your life? It'll come as Romans 12:18 instructs: 'As you do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.'

It'll also come as you pray!

For ten days Jesus' disciples prayed. Ten days of prayer plus a few minutes of preaching led to three thousand saved souls.

We're prone to pray for a few minutes and then preach for ten days! Not the apostles. They lingered in Jesus' presence. They never left the place of prayer.

Sound burdensome? Are you wondering, my business needs attention, my children need dinner, my bills need paying. How can I stay in one place of prayer?

Do this. Change your definition of prayer. Think of it less as an activity for God and more as an awareness of God.

Acknowledge His presence everywhere you go!

From 'Come Thirsty' by Max Lucado

Toolbox Tuesday - Blog

14. Blog

A blog is like an online journal and gives people a chance to see the human side of your organisation. You don’t have to write pages about what you had for breakfast, (although some people do), it is more an opportunity to share knowledge and resources, promote upcoming programmes or events, comment on social issues and find out how others view your organisation. The more informative and interesting your blog is, the more people will check back to see what you’re up to.

You can add a blog page to your own website, or use any one of the blogging sites on the net. I recommend www.blogger.com or www.wordpress.com