Wednesday 21 September 2011
Greg's blog: To Lead Others, First Lead Yourself By Dr. John C....
Greg's blog: To Lead Others, First Lead Yourself By Dr. John C....: A Higher Standard Leading yourself well means that you hold yourself to a higher standard of accountability than others do. Why? Because Go...
To Lead Others, First Lead Yourself By Dr. John C. Maxwell
A Higher Standard
Leading yourself well means that you hold yourself to a higher standard of accountability than others do. Why? Because God holds you responsible not only for your own actions, but also for those of the people you lead. Leadership is a trust, not a right. For that reason, you must “fix” yourself earlier than others may be required to.Thomas J. Watson, the former chairman of IBM, said, “Nothing so conclusively proves a man’s ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself.” Leaders receive very little fanfare for quietly leading themselves well day in and day out. Most people are unaware of the disciplines their leaders practice or the sacrifices they make outside of the spotlight. However, they don’t do it for recognition; they do it for results. What leaders do day-to-day always pays off in the long run. Success or failure isn’t an event, but a process.
The bottom line is that the smallest crowd you will ever lead is you—but it’s the most important one. If you do that well, then you will earn the right to lead even bigger crowds. And on the days that you find it difficult to lead yourself well and you’re tempted to give up, remember the Parable of the Minas. To the servants who managed their affairs well, their master gave them greater leadership responsibilities; He put them in charge of cities (Luke 19:17). What’s more, he told them, “Well done.”
Lead yourself well, and God will reward your faithfulness.
Tuesday 23 August 2011
IGNORING THE WARNINGS
IGNORING THE WARNINGS
Listen to this description of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in northern Ukraine:
"There were two electrical engineers in the control room that night, and the best thing that could be said for what they were doing is they were 'playing around' with the machine. They were performing what the Soviets later described as an unauthorized experiment. They were trying to see how long a turbine would 'free wheel' when they took the power off it.
"Now, taking the power off that kind of a nuclear reactor is a difficult, dangerous thing to do, because these reactors are very unstable in their lower ranges. In order to get the reactor down to that kind of power, where they could perform the test they were interested in performing, they had to override manually six separate computer-driven alarm systems.
"One by one the computers would come up and say, 'Stop! Dangerous! Go no further!' And one by one, rather than shutting off the experiment, they shut off the alarms and kept going. You know the results: nuclear fallout that was recorded all around the world, from the largest industrial accident ever to occur in the world."
This city, which formerly had 55,000 people, is now largely abandoned.
The instructions and warnings in Scripture are just as clear. We ignore them at our own peril, and tragically, at the peril of innocent others.
Listen to this description of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in northern Ukraine:
"There were two electrical engineers in the control room that night, and the best thing that could be said for what they were doing is they were 'playing around' with the machine. They were performing what the Soviets later described as an unauthorized experiment. They were trying to see how long a turbine would 'free wheel' when they took the power off it.
"Now, taking the power off that kind of a nuclear reactor is a difficult, dangerous thing to do, because these reactors are very unstable in their lower ranges. In order to get the reactor down to that kind of power, where they could perform the test they were interested in performing, they had to override manually six separate computer-driven alarm systems.
"One by one the computers would come up and say, 'Stop! Dangerous! Go no further!' And one by one, rather than shutting off the experiment, they shut off the alarms and kept going. You know the results: nuclear fallout that was recorded all around the world, from the largest industrial accident ever to occur in the world."
This city, which formerly had 55,000 people, is now largely abandoned.
The instructions and warnings in Scripture are just as clear. We ignore them at our own peril, and tragically, at the peril of innocent others.
Taken from:
Monday 15 August 2011
Greg's blog: Some inspiration for anxious times from FDR's Inau...
Greg's blog: Some inspiration for anxious times from FDR's Inau...: "This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only ..."
Some inspiration for anxious times from FDR's Inaugural address 1933
This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself——nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.
In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things. Values have shrunken to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income; the means of exchange are frozen in the currents of trade; the withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone.
More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence, and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.
The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths. The measure of the restoration lies in the extent to which we apply social values more noble than mere monetary profit.
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.
FDR’s Inaugural address 1933
Exert from: "The Only Thing We Have to Fear ..." http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear--gary-harrison-sermon-on-anxiety-128162.asp
In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things. Values have shrunken to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income; the means of exchange are frozen in the currents of trade; the withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone.
More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence, and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.
The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths. The measure of the restoration lies in the extent to which we apply social values more noble than mere monetary profit.
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.
FDR’s Inaugural address 1933
Exert from: "The Only Thing We Have to Fear ..." http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear--gary-harrison-sermon-on-anxiety-128162.asp
Friday 5 August 2011
Greg's blog: Illustration on struggles
Greg's blog: Illustration on struggles: "ILLUSTRATION: “Cocoon” The cocoon of the Emperor moth is flask like in shape. To develop into a perfect insect, it must force its way thro..."
Illustration on struggles
ILLUSTRATION: “Cocoon”
The cocoon of the Emperor moth is flask like in shape. To develop into a perfect insect, it must force its way through the neck of the cocoon by hours of intense struggle. Entomologists explain that this pressure to which the moth is subjected is nature’s way of forcing a life giving substance into its wings. Wanting to lesson the seemingly needless trials and struggles of the moth, an observer said, "I’ll lesson the pain and struggles of this helpless creature!" With small scissors he snipped the restraining threads to make the moth’s emergence painless and effortless. The creature never developed wings. For a brief time before its death it simply crawled instead of flying through the air on rainbow colored wings! (By the way.....the struggles of childbirth...i.e., the child squeezing through the birth canal are also a God designed way of forcing liquid out of the newborn’s lungs.)Sorrow, suffering, trials, and tribulations are wisely designed to grow us into Christlikeness. The refining and developing processes are oftentimes slow, but through grace, we emerge triumphant.
http://www.sermoncentral.com/Illustrations/SearchResults.asp?sitesearch=csp-keyword--grace&sscat=illustrations&keyword=grace&ScriptureBookA=&ScriptureVerse=&TopicID=0&since=0&x=56&y=15&Category=
The cocoon of the Emperor moth is flask like in shape. To develop into a perfect insect, it must force its way through the neck of the cocoon by hours of intense struggle. Entomologists explain that this pressure to which the moth is subjected is nature’s way of forcing a life giving substance into its wings. Wanting to lesson the seemingly needless trials and struggles of the moth, an observer said, "I’ll lesson the pain and struggles of this helpless creature!" With small scissors he snipped the restraining threads to make the moth’s emergence painless and effortless. The creature never developed wings. For a brief time before its death it simply crawled instead of flying through the air on rainbow colored wings! (By the way.....the struggles of childbirth...i.e., the child squeezing through the birth canal are also a God designed way of forcing liquid out of the newborn’s lungs.)Sorrow, suffering, trials, and tribulations are wisely designed to grow us into Christlikeness. The refining and developing processes are oftentimes slow, but through grace, we emerge triumphant.
http://www.sermoncentral.com/Illustrations/SearchResults.asp?sitesearch=csp-keyword--grace&sscat=illustrations&keyword=grace&ScriptureBookA=&ScriptureVerse=&TopicID=0&since=0&x=56&y=15&Category=
Wednesday 3 August 2011
Greg's blog: Heavenly Embassy
Greg's blog: Heavenly Embassy: "I recently heard the story about a young married couple. The Groom wanted to do something special for his new Bride so he planned something ..."
Heavenly Embassy
I recently heard the story about a young married couple. The Groom wanted to do something special for his new Bride so he planned something special for her. The plan was – after their reception – he would drive them two hours to a special destination where they would spend a glorious evening together.
So, they got in their car, he set the GPS and away they drove
SEVEN hours later, they reached their destination.
Exhausted, they settled in… and then left on a short errand.
And it took them another hour to find their way back.
What happened?
Their problem was that they depended entirely upon their Navigation GPS to find their way to their destination. And, apparently their system worked off of pre-loaded maps. Unfortunately for them, their destination wasn’t on any of those maps.
Their GPS couldn’t help them, and since they depended entirely on that system they became hopelessly lost and totally without a clue as to where they were headed.
APPLY: Ephesians 2 tells us that God has pre-loaded His GPS with a map that tells you exactly where you and I are and where we’re headed.
Ephesians 2:6 says
“…God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus”
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/heavenly-embassy-jeff-strite-sermon-on-encouragement-159211.asp
So, they got in their car, he set the GPS and away they drove
SEVEN hours later, they reached their destination.
Exhausted, they settled in… and then left on a short errand.
And it took them another hour to find their way back.
What happened?
Their problem was that they depended entirely upon their Navigation GPS to find their way to their destination. And, apparently their system worked off of pre-loaded maps. Unfortunately for them, their destination wasn’t on any of those maps.
Their GPS couldn’t help them, and since they depended entirely on that system they became hopelessly lost and totally without a clue as to where they were headed.
APPLY: Ephesians 2 tells us that God has pre-loaded His GPS with a map that tells you exactly where you and I are and where we’re headed.
Ephesians 2:6 says
“…God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus”
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/heavenly-embassy-jeff-strite-sermon-on-encouragement-159211.asp
Thursday 14 July 2011
How do we treat others? Something to think about
God Hidden in People
Once God promised an elderly lady that he would visit her that day. So she got ready... She scrubbed and cleaned and polished and dusted and put everything in order.
Then she sat down and waited for God to come. Suddenly someone knocked. She raced to the door and quickly pulled it open and what did she see but just a poor beggar standing outside. "No, not today," the lady said, "for heaven's sake get along with you... I am waiting for God to come any minute now... I can't be bothered with you."
The beggar left as hungry as he had come. A bit later there was another knock. The lady opened the door even faster than before. A poor old man stood there. "Sorry," said the lady, "I can't take care of you today."
With that she slammed the door in his face. Quite a bit later someone again knocked at the door.
Again it was a ragged hungry beggar. She sent him off empty-handed and sat down to wait. Evening came on and still there was no sign of God. Finally she went to bed with a heavy heart.
She dreamt that the good Lord had come to her and said, "I came to you three times today and all three times you threw me out."
Then she sat down and waited for God to come. Suddenly someone knocked. She raced to the door and quickly pulled it open and what did she see but just a poor beggar standing outside. "No, not today," the lady said, "for heaven's sake get along with you... I am waiting for God to come any minute now... I can't be bothered with you."
The beggar left as hungry as he had come. A bit later there was another knock. The lady opened the door even faster than before. A poor old man stood there. "Sorry," said the lady, "I can't take care of you today."
With that she slammed the door in his face. Quite a bit later someone again knocked at the door.
Again it was a ragged hungry beggar. She sent him off empty-handed and sat down to wait. Evening came on and still there was no sign of God. Finally she went to bed with a heavy heart.
She dreamt that the good Lord had come to her and said, "I came to you three times today and all three times you threw me out."
There is an old custom in the monasteries of Europe. All guests, all people coming to the door, are treated well, because they believe in the old saying: "When a guest comes, Christ comes."
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