Friday, June 26, 2015

CHARACTER TRAITS

1.      ALERTNESS vs UNAWARENESS ~ Become aware of the physical and spiritual events taking place around you so that you can make the right response to them.
2.      ATTENTIVENESS vs UNCONCERN ~ Show the worth of a person by giving your undivided attention to their words and emotions.
3.      AVAILABILITY vs SELF-CENTEREDNESS ~ Adjust your personal responsibilities around the needs of those you are serving.
4.      BOLDNESS vs FEARFULNESS ~ Have confidence that what you have to say or do is true and right and just in the sight of God.
5.   CAUTIOUSNESS vs RASHNESS ~ Know the importance of right timing to accomplish right actions.
6.   COMPASSION vs INDIFFERENCE ~ Invest whatever is necessary to heal other’s hurts.
7.   CONTENTMENT vs COVETOUSNESS ~ Realize God has provided everything you need for your present happiness.
8.   CREATIVITY vs UNDER-ACHIEVEMENT ~ Apply God’s wisdom & practical insights to need or task.
9.   DECISIVNESS vs DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS ~ Use ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God.
10. DEFERENCE vs RUDENSS ~ Limit your freedom to speak/act in order not to offend the tastes of others.
11. DEPENDABILITY vs INCONSISTENCY ~ Fulfill what you consent even if means unexpected sacrifice.
12. DETERMINATION vs FAINT-HEARTEDNESS ~ Purpose to accomplish God’s goals in God’s time regardless of the opposition.
13.DILIGENCE vs SLOTHFULNESS ~ Visualize each task as a special assignment from the Lord and use all your energies to accomplish it.
14.DISCERNMENT vs JUDGMENT ~ Use your God-given ability to understand why things happen to others and to you. 
15.DISCRETION vs SIMPLE-MINDEDNESS ~ Use your ability to avoid words, actions, and attitudes which could result in undesirable consequences.
16. ENDURANCE vs GIVING UP ~ Develop inward strength to withstand stress to accomplish God’s best.
17. ENTHUSIASM vs APATHY ~ Express with your spirit the joy of your soul.
18. FAITH vs PRESUMPTION ~ Visualize what God intends in a given situation and act in harmony with it.
19. FLEXIBILITY vs RESISTANCE ~Don’t set your affections on ideas or plans which could be changed by God or others.  
20. FORGIVENESS vs REJECTION ~ Clear the record of those who have wronged you and allow God to love them through you.
21. GENEROSITY vs STINGINESS ~ Realize that all you have belongs to God and use it for His purposes. 
22. GENTLENESS vs HARSHNESS ~ Show personal care and concern in meeting the needs of others. 
23. GRATEFULNESS vs UNTHANKFULNESS ~ Make known to God and others in what ways they have benefited your life. 
24. HOSPITALITY vs LONELINESS ~ Cheerfully share food, shelter, and spiritual refreshment with those whom God brings into your life.
25. HUMILITY vs PRIDE ~ See the contrast between God’s holiness and your sinfulness.
26. INITIATIVE vs UNRESPONSIVENESS ~ Recognize and do what needs to be done before asked to do it.
27. JOYFULNESS vs SELF-PITY ~ Know that God is perfecting His life in others through you.
28. JUSTICE vs FAIRNESS ~ Display personal responsibility to God’s unchanging laws.
29. LOVE vs SELFISHNESS ~ Give to others basic needs without having personal reward as your motive.
30. LOYALTY vs UNFAITHFULNESS ~ Use difficult times to demonstrate loyalty to God and to those whom He has called you to serve.
31. MEEKNESS vs ANGER ~ Yield your personal rights and expectations to God.
32. OBEDIENCE vs WILLFULNESS ~ Fulfill instructions so that God and the one you are serving will be fully satisfied. 
33. ORDERLINESS vs DISORGANIZATION ~ Arrange your life and surroundings so that God has maximum freedom to achieve His goals through you.
34. PATIENCE vs RESTLESSNESS ~ Accept a difficult situation w/o giving God a deadline to remove it.
35. PERSUASIVENESS vs CONTENTIOUSNESS ~ Use words to confirm to the listener’s spirit that he is hearing the truth.
36. PUNCTUALITY vs TARDINESS ~ Show respect to others by using wisely the limited time God has given to them.
37. RESOURCEFULNESS vs WASTEFULNESS ~ Use wisely that which others would normally overlook or discard.
38. RESPONSIBILITY vs UNRELIABILITY ~ Know/do what both God and others are expecting of you.
39. REVERENCE vs DISRESPECT ~ Be aware of how God is working through the people and events in your lie to produce the character of Christ in you.
40. SECURITY vs ANXIETY ~ Structure your life around the eternal that cannot be destroyed or taken away.
41. SELF-CONTROL vs SELF-INDULGENCE ~ Obey instantly the initial promptings of the Holy Spirit. 
42. SENSITIVITY vs CALLOUSNESS ~ Know by the prompting of God’s Spirit what words and actions will benefit the lives of others.
43. SINCERITY vs HYPOCRISY ~ Be eager to do what is right without transparent motives.
44. THRIFTINESS vs EXTRAVAGANCE ~ Do not let yourself or others spend that which is not necessary.
45. THOROUGHNESS vs INCOMPLETENESS ~ Realize that each of your tasks will be reviewed and rewarded by God.
46. TOLERANCE vs PREJUDICE ~ View every person as a valuable individual whom God created & loves.
47. TRUST vs HOPELESSNESS ~ Have conviction and confidence that God has you in the palm of His hand.
48. TRUTHFULNESS vs DECEPTION ~ Earn future trust by accurately reporting past facts.
49. VIRTUE vs IMPURITY ~ Know that God is having an influence on others through your life regardless of your past failures.
50. WISDOM vs NATURAL INCLINATIONS ~ See and respond to your life from God’s frame of reference. 
 

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Where Success with People Begins and Ends

by James R. Fisher, Jr.

Excerpt...

While technical systems change rapidly, the systems that govern our social behavior have evolved little in 2000 years. We get what we want out of life only by working with and through others. To maintain that perspective in life, here are some rules that seem to flow from it...

To have a friend, you must be a friend, starting with yourself.

The greatest hunger a person has is to be needed. Help create that feeling in others.

The greatest virtue is kindness. You can't love everyone, but you can be kind to everyone.

Don't try to impress others. Let them have the fun of impressing you.

Be enthusiastic. Nothing of consequence was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Be positive. Positive people attract others, while negative people repel.

You have greater impact on others by the way you listen than by the way you talk.

Gossip cheapens the one who gossips more than the one gossiped about.

Call a person by his or her name and use it often in conversation.

Communicate cheerfulness.

Differences are bound to occur and can be resolved if conflict is managed in a polite manner.

If you are given to making fun of someone, be sure it is of yourself.

Be genuinely interested in others. Get them to talk about themselves.

A smile doesn't cost anything and pays big dividends. Not only does it make you feel good, but it makes everyone else feel better, too.

Be the first to say, "Hello! Good to see you."

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The golden rule is where it all begins and ends.



Friday, June 5, 2015

Joke unknown but here's your laugh for the day...

THE CHILI COOKOFF
Recently I was honored to be selected as an Outstanding Famous Celebrity in my Community to be a judge at a chili cook-off because no one else wanted to do it. Also the original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table asking directions to the beer wagon when the call came. I was assured by the other two judges that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy, and besides they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted this as being one of those burdens you endure when you're an Internet writer and therefore known and adored by all.

Here are the scorecards from the event:

Chili # 1: Mike's Maniac Mobster Monster Chili
JUDGE ONE: A little too heavy on tomato. Amusing kick.
JUDGE TWO: Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
ME: Holy smokes, what is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway with it. Took me two beers to put the flames out. Hope that's the worst one. These people are crazy.

Chili # 2: Arthur's Afterburner Chili
JUDGE ONE: Smoky (barbecue?) with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.
JUDGE TWO: Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.
ME: Keep this out of reach of children! I'm not sure what I am supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. Shoved my way to the front of the beer line. The barmaid looks like a professional wrestler after a bad night. She was so irritated over my gagging sounds that the snake tattoo under her eye started to twitch. She has arms like Popeye and a face like Winston Churchill. I will NOT pick a fight with her.

Chili # 3: Fred's Famous Burn Down the Barn Chili
JUDGE ONE: Excellent firehouse chili! Great kick. Needs more beans.
JUDGE TWO: A beanless chili, a bit salty, good use of red peppers.
ME: This has got to be a joke. Call the EPA, I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been sneezing Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now and got out of my way so I could make it to the beer wagon. Barmaid pounded me on the back; now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. She said her friends call her "Sally." Probably behind her back they call her "Forklift."

Chili # 4: Bubba's Black Magic
JUDGE ONE: Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.
JUDGE TWO: A hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.
ME: I felt something scraping across my tongue but was unable to taste it. Sally was standing behind me with fresh refills so I wouldn't have to dash over to see her. When she winked at me her snake sort of coiled and uncoiled--it's kinda cute.

Chili # 5: Linda's Legal Lip Remover
JUDGE ONE: Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground adding considerable kick. Very impressive.
JUDGE TWO: Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.
ME: My ears are ringing and I can no longer focus my eyes. I belched and four people in front of me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed hurt when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue by pouring beer directly on it from a pitcher. Sort of irritates me that one of the other judges asked me to stop screaming.

Chili # 6: Vera's Very Vegetarian Variety
JUDGE ONE: Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spice and peppers.
JUDGE TWO: The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, and garlic. Superb.
ME: My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous flames. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except Sally. I asked if she wants to go dancing later.

Chili # 7: Susan's Screaming Sensation Chili
JUDGE ONE: A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.
JUDGE TWO: Ho Hum, tastes as if the chef threw in canned chili peppers at the last moment. I should note that I am worried about Judge Number 3, he appears to be in a bit of distress.
ME: You could put a hand grenade in my mouth and pull the pin and I wouldn't feel it. I've lost the sight in one eye and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My clothes are covered with chili which slid unnoticed out of my mouth at some point. Good, at autopsy they'll know what killed me. Go Sally, save yourself before it's too late. Tell our children I'm sorry I was not there to conceive them. I've decided to stop breathing, it's too painful and I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air I'll just let it in through the hole in my stomach. Call the X-Files people and tell them I've found a super nova on my tongue.

Chili # 8: Helen's Mount Saint Chili
JUDGE ONE: This final entry is a good, balanced chili, neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge Number 3 fell and pulled the chili pot on top of himself.
JUDGE TWO: A perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili, safe for all, not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence.
ME: Momma...