God of all blessings,
source of all life,
giver of all grace:
We thank you for the gift of life:
for the breath
that sustains life,
for the food of this earth
that nurtures life,
for the love of family and friends
without which there would be no life.
We thank you for the mystery of creation:
for the beauty
that the eye can see,
for the joy
that the ear may hear,
for the unknown
that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder,
for the expanse of space
that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves.
We thank you for setting us in communities:
for families
who nurture our becoming,
for friends
who love us by choice,
for companions at work,
who share our burdens and daily tasks,
for strangers
who welcome us into their midst,
for people from other lands
who call us to grow in understanding,
for children
who lighten our moments with delight,
for the unborn,
who offer us hope for the future.
We thank you for this day:
for life
and one more day to love,
for opportunity
and one more day to work for justice and peace,
for neighbors
and one more person to love
and by whom be loved,
for your grace
and one more experience of your presence,
for your promise:
to be with us,
to be our God,
and to give salvation.
For these, and all blessings,
we give you thanks, eternal, loving God,
through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
- Vienna Cobb Anderson
Friday, November 28, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Strength and Courage
It takes strength to be firm,
It takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.
It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubt.
It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend’s pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to be loved.
It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.
It takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.
It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubt.
It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend’s pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to be loved.
It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Inspiration on the “7 Principles of an Eagle”
1.Eagles fly alone at a high altitude and not with sparrows or mix with other smaller birds. Birds of a feather flock together. No other bird goes to the height of the eagle. Eagles fly with eagles. Never in a flock. Even when Moses (Old Testament Bible) went to commune with God on the mountain‚ he left the crowd at the foothills. Stay away from sparrows and ravens. Eagles fly with eagles.
2.Eagles have strong vision‚ which focuses up to 5 kilometres from the air. When an eagle sites prey - even a rodent from this distance‚ he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle‚ the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it. Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed.
3.Eagles do not eat dead things. He feeds on fresh prey. Vultures eat dead animals but not eagles. Steer clear of outdated and old information. Do your research well always.
4.The Eagle is the only bird that loves the storm. When clouds gather‚ the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the wings of the storm to rise and is pushed up higher. Once it finds the wing of the storm‚ the eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar the clouds and glide. This gives the eagle an opportunity to rest its wings. In the meantime all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees. We can use the storms of our lives (obstacles‚ trouble‚ etc) to rise to greater heights. Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably.
5.The Eagle tests before it trusts. When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate‚ she flies down to earth with the male pursing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her.
.Once she has reached a height high enough for her‚ she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls‚ the faster he chases until he reaches it and has to catch it before it falls to the ground‚ then bring it back to the female eagle. The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a much higher altitude pursued by the male until she perceives it high enough‚ and then drops the twig for the male to chase. This goes on for hours‚ with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of picking the twig which shows commitment‚ then and only then‚ will she allow him to mate with her! Whether in private life or in business‚ one should test commitment of people intended for partnership.
6.Eagles prepare for training. When about to lay eggs‚ the female and male eagle identify a place very high on a cliff where no predators can reach; the male flies to earth and picks thorns and lays them on the crevice of the cliff‚ then flies to earth again to collect twigs which he lays in the intended nest. He flies back to earth picks thorns and lays them on top of the twigs. He flies back to earth and picks soft grass to cover the thorns‚ and then flies back to pick rugs to put on the grass. When this first layering is complete the male eagle runs back to earth and picks more thorns‚ lays them on the nest; runs back to get grass and rugs and lays them on top of the thorns‚ then plucks his feathers to complete the nest. The thorns on the outside of the nest protect it from possible intruders. Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. She lays the eggs and protects them; he builds the nest and hunts. During the time of training the young ones to fly‚ the mother eagle throws the eaglets out of the nest and because they are scared‚ they jump into the nest again.
Next‚ she throws them out and then takes off the soft layers of the nest‚ leaving the thorns bare. When the scared eaglets jump into the nest again‚ they are pricked by thorns. Shrieking and bleeding they jump out again this time wondering why the mother and father who love them so much are torturing them. Next‚ mother eagle pushes them off the cliff into the air.
As they shriek in fear‚ father eagle flies out and picks them up on his back before they fall‚ and brings them back to the cliff. This goes on for sometime until they start flapping their wings. They get excited at this newfound knowledge that they can fly and not fall at such a fast rate.
The father and mother eagle supports them with their wings.
The preparation of the nest teaches us to prepare for changes;
The preparation for the family teaches us that active participation of both partners’ leads to success;
The being pricked by the thorns tells us that sometimes being too comfortable where we are may result into our not experiencing life‚ not progressing and not learning at all. The thorns of life come to teach us that we need to grow‚ get out of the nest and love on. We may not know it but the seemingly comfortable and safe haven may have thorns;
The people who love us do not let us languish in sloth but push us hard to grow and prosper. Even in their seemingly bad actions they have good intentions for us.
7.When the Eagle grows old‚ his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should. When he feels weak and about to die‚ he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there‚ he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers‚ then he can come out. We occasionally need to shed off old habits & items that burden us without adding to our lives …Author: Dr. Myles Monroe
2.Eagles have strong vision‚ which focuses up to 5 kilometres from the air. When an eagle sites prey - even a rodent from this distance‚ he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle‚ the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it. Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed.
3.Eagles do not eat dead things. He feeds on fresh prey. Vultures eat dead animals but not eagles. Steer clear of outdated and old information. Do your research well always.
4.The Eagle is the only bird that loves the storm. When clouds gather‚ the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the wings of the storm to rise and is pushed up higher. Once it finds the wing of the storm‚ the eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar the clouds and glide. This gives the eagle an opportunity to rest its wings. In the meantime all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees. We can use the storms of our lives (obstacles‚ trouble‚ etc) to rise to greater heights. Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably.
5.The Eagle tests before it trusts. When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate‚ she flies down to earth with the male pursing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her.
.Once she has reached a height high enough for her‚ she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls‚ the faster he chases until he reaches it and has to catch it before it falls to the ground‚ then bring it back to the female eagle. The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a much higher altitude pursued by the male until she perceives it high enough‚ and then drops the twig for the male to chase. This goes on for hours‚ with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of picking the twig which shows commitment‚ then and only then‚ will she allow him to mate with her! Whether in private life or in business‚ one should test commitment of people intended for partnership.
6.Eagles prepare for training. When about to lay eggs‚ the female and male eagle identify a place very high on a cliff where no predators can reach; the male flies to earth and picks thorns and lays them on the crevice of the cliff‚ then flies to earth again to collect twigs which he lays in the intended nest. He flies back to earth picks thorns and lays them on top of the twigs. He flies back to earth and picks soft grass to cover the thorns‚ and then flies back to pick rugs to put on the grass. When this first layering is complete the male eagle runs back to earth and picks more thorns‚ lays them on the nest; runs back to get grass and rugs and lays them on top of the thorns‚ then plucks his feathers to complete the nest. The thorns on the outside of the nest protect it from possible intruders. Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. She lays the eggs and protects them; he builds the nest and hunts. During the time of training the young ones to fly‚ the mother eagle throws the eaglets out of the nest and because they are scared‚ they jump into the nest again.
Next‚ she throws them out and then takes off the soft layers of the nest‚ leaving the thorns bare. When the scared eaglets jump into the nest again‚ they are pricked by thorns. Shrieking and bleeding they jump out again this time wondering why the mother and father who love them so much are torturing them. Next‚ mother eagle pushes them off the cliff into the air.
As they shriek in fear‚ father eagle flies out and picks them up on his back before they fall‚ and brings them back to the cliff. This goes on for sometime until they start flapping their wings. They get excited at this newfound knowledge that they can fly and not fall at such a fast rate.
The father and mother eagle supports them with their wings.
The preparation of the nest teaches us to prepare for changes;
The preparation for the family teaches us that active participation of both partners’ leads to success;
The being pricked by the thorns tells us that sometimes being too comfortable where we are may result into our not experiencing life‚ not progressing and not learning at all. The thorns of life come to teach us that we need to grow‚ get out of the nest and love on. We may not know it but the seemingly comfortable and safe haven may have thorns;
The people who love us do not let us languish in sloth but push us hard to grow and prosper. Even in their seemingly bad actions they have good intentions for us.
7.When the Eagle grows old‚ his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should. When he feels weak and about to die‚ he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there‚ he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers‚ then he can come out. We occasionally need to shed off old habits & items that burden us without adding to our lives …Author: Dr. Myles Monroe
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Men in Heaven
Men in Heaven - Who is the Head of the Household?
At the end of the age when all the believers were standing in line waiting to get into heaven,
God appeared and said, "I want all the men to form two lines.
One line will be for the men who were the true heads of their households.
The other will be for the men who were dominated by their wives."
God continued, "I want all the women to report to St. Peter."
The women left and the men formed two lines.
The line of men who were dominated by their wives was seemingly unending.
The line of men who were the true head of their household had one man in it.
God said to the first line, "You men ought to be ashamed or yourselves.
I appointed you to be the heads of your households and you were disobedient and have not fulfilled your purpose.
Of all of you, there is only one man who obeyed me. Learn from him."
Then God turned to the lone man and asked, "How did you come to be in this line?"
The man replied, "My wife told me to stand here."
Have a great week.
At the end of the age when all the believers were standing in line waiting to get into heaven,
God appeared and said, "I want all the men to form two lines.
One line will be for the men who were the true heads of their households.
The other will be for the men who were dominated by their wives."
God continued, "I want all the women to report to St. Peter."
The women left and the men formed two lines.
The line of men who were dominated by their wives was seemingly unending.
The line of men who were the true head of their household had one man in it.
God said to the first line, "You men ought to be ashamed or yourselves.
I appointed you to be the heads of your households and you were disobedient and have not fulfilled your purpose.
Of all of you, there is only one man who obeyed me. Learn from him."
Then God turned to the lone man and asked, "How did you come to be in this line?"
The man replied, "My wife told me to stand here."
Have a great week.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Smart thinking...
An old man lived alone in Minnesota . He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his situation:
Dear Son,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden, because your mother always loved planting time. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren't in prison.
Love, Dad
Shortly, the old man received this telegram:
'For Heaven's sake, Dad, don't dig up the garden!! That's where I buried the GUNS!!'
At 4 a.m. the next morning, a dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns. Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what happened, and asked him what to do next.
His son's reply was: 'Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad.. It's the best I could do for you from here.'
Moral:
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING DEEP FROM YOUR HEART YOU CAN DO IT. IT IS THE THOUGHT THAT MATTERS NOT WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT THE CONSTRAINTS ARE.
Dear Son,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden, because your mother always loved planting time. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren't in prison.
Love, Dad
Shortly, the old man received this telegram:
'For Heaven's sake, Dad, don't dig up the garden!! That's where I buried the GUNS!!'
At 4 a.m. the next morning, a dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns. Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what happened, and asked him what to do next.
His son's reply was: 'Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad.. It's the best I could do for you from here.'
Moral:
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING DEEP FROM YOUR HEART YOU CAN DO IT. IT IS THE THOUGHT THAT MATTERS NOT WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT THE CONSTRAINTS ARE.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Entrepreneur's Creed
Entrepreneur's Creed
I do not choose to be a common person.
It is my right to be uncommon -- if I can.
I seek opportunity -- not security.
I do not wish to be a kept citizen,
humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.
I want to take the calculated risk,
to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole;
I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence:
the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of Utopia.
I will not trade my freedom for beneficence
nor my dignity for a handout.
I will never cower before any earthly master
nor bend to any threat.
It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and
unafraid: to think and act for myself,
to enjoy the benefit of my creations
and to face the world boldly and say:
this, with God's help I have done.
All this is what it means to be an entrepreneur.
Spirit of Free Enterprise
The Big Black Book
I do not choose to be a common person.
It is my right to be uncommon -- if I can.
I seek opportunity -- not security.
I do not wish to be a kept citizen,
humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.
I want to take the calculated risk,
to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole;
I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence:
the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of Utopia.
I will not trade my freedom for beneficence
nor my dignity for a handout.
I will never cower before any earthly master
nor bend to any threat.
It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and
unafraid: to think and act for myself,
to enjoy the benefit of my creations
and to face the world boldly and say:
this, with God's help I have done.
All this is what it means to be an entrepreneur.
Spirit of Free Enterprise
The Big Black Book
Saturday, November 1, 2008
YOUR LIFE PURPOSE...
Living your Life Purpose is key. Everything else comes out of that. Your dreams and goals, your vision, your values, the mission of your business, are all anchored in your Life Purpose. When you're faced with a challenge, your Purpose will guide you through. When opportunities present themselves, you'll choose the best avenue to pursue based on its fit with your Life Purpose. It is, as they say, what gets you out of bed in the morning. It's what you will use to measure your progress. It's the track you run on, and the place to go back to when you get off track.
-FOGG.
-FOGG.
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