Forwarded Messages

An expert wood carver sat on his front porch, sipping lemonade and enjoying the view one spring afternoon. Around him on the porch sat his various creations. A friend of the carver's stopped by got a quick visit and was surprised to see the artisan relaxing. "It's only 1:30 in the afternoon," he observed,  "a little early for a break, isn't it?"

Wayne Dyer wrote a book that he believed was important and much needed by a lot of people. Upon completing his book, he began to search for a publisher. All his search brought him were rejection slips. Not one publisher saw any market for Dyer's work. Discouraged but undaunted, he dipped into his own pocket and published the book himself. Then, he took to the roads to peddle it. He'd arrange appearances on local talk shows around the country, then stuff his car full of books and tell area booksellers he was going to be on the radio or TV the next day - and that he would provide them books to meed the demand created by his appearance. He did this for two years, selling a few books at a time.

"In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" In his book, Life Changes, James Hefley writes about Barry Luppin who was just twenty-six when a rare nerve disease sent him into the world of silence. Unable to pursue the law career he had planned, he drifted aimlessly for eight years bemoaning his deafness. Then he determined, in his own words, to "put my chin up and fight." He learned to lip read and went into the auto leasing business. The business prospered into a multi-million-dollar enterprise.

DO NOT GO WHERE THE PATH MAY LEAD; GO INSTEAD WHERE THERE IS NO PATH, AND LEAVE A TRAIL...  (Thank you Dhes Handumon for the photo) Some years ago, a large American shoe manufacturer sent two of its sales reps to different parts of the Australian outback. The company hoped it could drum up some business among the Aborigines. It was risky venture, but the firm realized how many new customers could be gained if the venture was successful.

In the early 1900s Marian dreamed of becoming a concert singer. But she knew that because her skin was different color than that of the majority, she would be at a disadvantage. Marian's dream was buoyed by her mother, who had a patient trust in God. Marian recalled, "Mother's religion made her believe that she would receive what was right for her to have if she was conscientious in her faith. If it did not come, it was because He had not considered it right for her. We grew in this atmosphere of faith that she created. We believed as she did because we wanted the same kind of haven in the time of storm."

In 1970, Wally started baking chocolate chip cookies for his friends. He used a recipe and process passed down by his Aunt Della. For five years, he made cookies and gave away every batch - even though folks told him that his cookies were so good that he should sell them. But to Wally, the cookies were just sideline. His major goal was to be a big-time show business manager. One day, a friend told Wally that she knew someone who could put up the money for a cookie - making business. That comment sparked Wally's thinking. He talked to some of his friends -- people like Jeff Wall, Helen Reddy and Marvin Gaye - and convinced them to put up some money.

     Abilities are like tax deductions ---   we either use them, or we lose them.   Imagine receiving a gift from wealthy person who is renowned for his taste in selecting perfect and valuable presents for everyone on his list. Wouldn't this be a gift you would be eager to open? Sadly, many people have been given gifts from the perfect Giver, but they never bother to open them or use them for their intended purpose. God has given each of us abilities. And He never makes a mistake. His gifts are never the wrong size or style or inappropriate in any way. No one has ever needed to return a gift from God. If we open these heaven-sent gifts, we can use them in a way that will benefit others and bring glory to our Creator. Do you know what your true gift are? Are you using them? Or are they lying dormant, gathering dust? If so, it;s time to tear into that aging wrapper paper. Putting your God-given talents to work is one of the most satisfying things you can do...

Our world loves " bigness ."  Large , economy-sized boxes of detergent. Supersized meals. Big screen TVs. Vehicles with extra leg room, extra head room and vast storage space. The bigger -is-better phenomenon affects the workpalce too. Associates vie for the biggest office, the heftiest raise, the longest service record. About the only thing we want small is our lap top computers - but even then, we want them to have large memory capacity and multitude of special features. Our God is certainly capable of big feats . He partted the Red Sea. He created the universe in less than a week. But it's better not to measure our business success by how much money we earn. God isn't interested in the size of your salary. He's interested in your life and the small but faithful steps you take toward Him. Remember, a little obedience and faithfulness makes a big difference to God. In the end, it's not the size of your paycheck that matters - it's the ...

After winning the grueling Tour de France in 1999, cyclist Lance Armstrong went on to repeat the feat in the year 2000. Armstrong won both these races and a score of others after battling cancer, a cancer so devastating that it had spread throughout his body, even to his brain. After his remarkable victory in the 1999 Tour de France, Armstrong said that he wouldn't have been able to win if not for the cancer! The drive, the perseverance, and the courage that he developed while battling his internal enemy made him strong enough to ride faster and harder - and with more determination - than all of his opponents.

COURAGE is fear that has said its prayers. An auto racer who set the world speed record. A fighter pilot who recorded the most aerial - combat victories against the Germans in World War 1. A man who survived a plane crash and spent twenty-two days on raft in the Pacific Ocean. What do these three have in have in common? They are all the same person: Eddie Rickenbacker. When Eddie was twelve, his father died. So Eddie quit school to become the family breadwinner, doing whatever he had to do to help the family survive. As a teen, he started working as a race car mechanic. By the time he was twenty - two, he, himself, was racing. Two years later, he set the world speed record at Daytona.

Let's see if you can relate... My assistant is out sick today. The printer's out of toner. My car is in the shop again, So I'm forced to drive a loner. Two new software programs to learn, But the verbiage makes me dizzy. I've tried to call up tech support, But their line is always busy. The repairman's torn the copier apart, So my report will be quite late. With people swooping in like flies, How can I concentrate? The telephone rings endlessly. There's gossip in the hall. My candy dish is empty now. And a salesman's come to call. Sometimes I'd like to chuck it all. Trade this madness in for boredom. But the kids needs braces, clothes, and shoes. And how else can I afford them? * That day is lost in which one has not laugh.  Do not live to work... instead, work to live. ---o0o--- Humans are born with two eyes, but with one tongue, in order that they should see twice as much as they say.

A partially deaf boy trudged into his home one day after school. In his hand, he carried a note. It was a note from school officials, suggesting that his parents remove him from school. According to those wise officials, this boy was "too stupid to learn." Upon reading the note, the boy's mother vowed, "My son Tom isn't stupid to learn. I'll teach him myself." And that is exactly what she did. Many years later when Tom died, many Americans paid tribute to him by turning off their lights for one full minute. This was a fitting tribute, for Tom Edison invented the light bulb - along with motion pictures and the phonograph. In all, he was credited with more than a thousand patents.

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together. He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

  Before reading the next paragraph, please answer this three-part question:  What is the single most significant thing you could begin doing regularly that would:  1. Make you more effective at your work?  2. Create a better atmosphere for your family?  3. Enrich your spiritual life? On the assumption now that you have named three specific things that would make your life better , let me pose one more question: Can you defend your choice to omit any of these three things from your schedule this week?

By Tom Norvell Much of our world is in a constant state of change. However, there are some things that never change: * Sometimes the treatment does not work and the patient does not get better. * Sometimes the prodigal does not come home. * Sometimes the working conditions do not improve. * Sometimes the attitude stays the same. * Sometimes the marriage falls apart.

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the first interview, the director did the last interview, made the last decision. The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never had a year when he did not score good grades. The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "None."

I have learned along the way that failure is riddled full of success, if you open your eyes to it. Even though most people would count our venture as failure, it was the start of our 'adventure' to get a grip, and swing it all back around. Objectively speaking, it is our finest moment. To come back from this type of overwhelming adversity in the present economic climate is utterly amazing. So many things that could have sunk our battleship along the way have not presented themselves. We dealt with situations that came up. But, we always seemed to come up on top. We have been blessed time and time again. The Fight is Engaged: If you find yourself at the bottom of the stack and you are retching because you feel that you have been kicked in the gut from all directions -- that is where we were. We decided to 'fight'! But we decided to fight in a different way . *** FOCUS  We decided what we wanted -- our 'target' at the end of the tunnel we could focus ...

 ONE

When we list our desires, wants and life goals, we often omit "failure." We must fail if we are to risk living passionate lives. We live in a culture that has become soft, in that it conditions us to seek comfort and avoid discomfort. There is a lack of appreciation for the wisdom that hardship bestows. There is an illusion that it is possible to live in a world where things come easily and failure can be avoided, and if your life is not "this ideal," there is something is wrong with you. We will naturally take the path of least resistance, clinging to the familiar, staying within our restricted safe places in an attempt to control the outcome.

You might read this several times already, but it is better to refresh our memory and be reminded of - The Purpose Driven Life: Don't date because you are desperate. Don't marry because you are miserable. Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior. Don't philander because you think you are irresistible. Don't associate with people you can't trust. Don't cheat. Don't lie. Don't pretend. Don't dictate because you are smarter. Don't demand because you are stronger. Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough & know better. Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder. Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals. Don't stagnate!