Grandstand George - From Limelight Seeker to Leader

- By Dr. John C. Maxwell


For some people, it's not "We're number one," but "I'm number
one!" I call this kind of a person "Grandstand George." After
months of work, the team is pushed into the shadows as he shoves
his way to the stage for "his" prize. He's a glory hound. He
benefits from the work of others and takes all the credit.

Grandstand George can cause more division within your team than
any other person. His aggressive behavior and demanding attitude
angers team members. If George is left unchecked, their attitude
becomes, "Why do all the work if George gets all the credit?"
George may be self-sufficient in his work and motivated to win,
but if he divides the team in the process, the success of the
organization will decline. As George's leader, you need to teach
him the benefits of working with a team and winning as a team.

Listen...

Talk to George one-on-one about his grandstanding. Give him
examples of team efforts that he took credit for. Ask him who he
respects within your organization and why. Ask him if he
realizes that teamwork works both ways - up and down the
organization. Show him that in order to do big things, people
need a team - even when they are at the top of the organization.
And share your own positive team experiences with him.

...Then Lead

1. Lead from power and strength. When you approach George, he
needs to be aware of your strength. Lead him with authority.
Otherwise, he will walk all over you. Let him know that you are
not impressed by images, rather the teamwork that produces
results.

2. Bring in a person he respects to help you. If George
mentioned that he respected another leader in your organization,
bring that person in to help mentor George. I have found within
my own organization that it is best to pair up a potential young
leader with an established leader they respect. This person can
speak with authority on issues such as grandstanding, and George
will be more likely to listen and learn.

3. Reward him for team play. Don't base George's salary or
other rewards on his individual efforts. If he's a producer, he
has already proven what he can do on his own. Base his rewards
on meeting team goals.

4. Ask him to do projects. By giving George a project, you will
be setting up boundaries for him. He needs boundaries. George
needs to be put in a team environment where he will be forced to
work with others, and win with others.

5. Know which issues are worth the battle. By meeting with
George you will start to understand his personality and
motivation. Pick your battles. It's better to have a driven
person on your team who needs grooming than a polished one with
no motivation. Discover what drives George and where he can
develop as a leader. Find out what areas from which you should
steer him clear. Don't force him to work in an area where he has
little interest or talent. And be sure to place him on a team in
an area where he has strong interests and visible rewards.

6. Once the issues are settled, never give in. Don't allow
George to go outside the boundaries you have set up for him. He
should not be able to go out on his own to do his own thing. He
must learn how to work with a team in order to see the benefits
of being rewarded as a team player.

Left unaddressed, George's grandstanding will affect your team's
morale. As the leader, you need to emphasize the importance of
the team to George. He is already motivated to win. Give him
the opportunity to win with a team, and he can become one of your
strongest leaders.

Critical Charlie - Turning Around a Negative Person

- By Dr. John C. Maxwell


His words are discouraging. His actions undermine people. His
presence impairs progress. "Critical Charlie" is as negative a
person as you have ever met. For him, the sunshine is too
bright, and the birds are singing too loudly. He is motivated by
anyone who will listen to his complaints and rants. There is a
little bit of truth to his words; you can't ignore him. Even if
he is achieving results, his constant critical attitude hinders
the overall effectiveness of your team. As the leader, you need
to confront Critical Charlie.

Listen...

Privately sit down and discuss Charlie's criticisms. Let him
know that his negative attitude is a problem. Give specific
examples of how his actions have hurt people and progress. Then,
ask him to explain what is prompting his negative attitude. Why
does he criticize instead of find solutions? Once you have
talked to Charlie, offer him a proper avenue for his critical
observations. If he is having a problem with an individual, he
should resolve it with that person. If he cannot, he should then
come to you for assistance. If Charlie is having a problem with
the company, he should come straight to you. Let Charlie know
that it is never appropriate to share his criticism with a third
party. Besides, it is more effective to deal directly with the
source.

...Then Lead

If Charlie agrees to the boundaries you outline and he follows
through on this agreement (based on his behavior), you won't need
to involve other people. However, if Charlie continues to
inappropriately criticize individuals and the company, stronger
action is required.

1. Ask the people affected by Charlie's criticism to meet with
you and him. The goal of this meeting is not to gang up on
Charlie, but to help him realize how his criticism affects other
people. Bring in the people who have most recently been
criticized. You don't want to dredge up things that happened
years ago, unless the effects of the encounter with Charlie are
still a factor. Try to limit the number of people in this
meeting.

2. Ask them to tell their side of the story. Give each person a
turn to discuss his or her experience with Charlie. Try to keep
the discussion focused on facts and results. Give Charlie
specific examples.

3. Ask Charlie for an explanation. After each person recounts
his or her experience with Charlie, give him time to explain. In
most cases he will not be able to justify his actions. If there
is an underlying reason for his critical attitude, this is the
point where it should be detected. Is he bitter because he
didn't get a promotion? Do his job responsibilities overwhelm
him? Do his hurt feelings stem from his relationship with you or
another team member? Once you detect the source, deal with it
privately.

4. Give them all guidelines for positive criticism. Tell your
team to come to you to share their opinions or observations about
the company, and to approach individuals on the team directly.
Be clear that criticism should never be expressed to other
people. Remind them that the best way to deal with a problem is
to go directly to the source.

If the problem still continues...

5. If Charlie is an employee, it is time to let him go. If
Charlie is a volunteer, share publicly with people that Charlie
has a critical spirit, and share the process you have asked him
to follow. And encourage people Charlie affects not to provide
him an audience in the future.

As a leader, your goal is to turn Charlie around. I have found
that most difficult personalities were not so difficult once I
faced them. It is possible that Charlie's criticism is stemming
from another issue. By confronting him about his critical
attitude and listening to him, you should be able to find out
what the source of the problem really is.

Respect is the key to difficult relationships, and by giving
Charlie personal attention you will have an opportunity to gain
his respect and build the relationship. If you can help Charlie
overcome his critical spirit, Charlie can become a more
productive team member. Instead of attacking the other members
of his team, Charlie can become a positive problem solver. With
your guidance, he may even become a team leader.

EXCELENT QUOTES

"The first rule of holes: When you're in one, stop digging."
- Molly Ivins, columnist

"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people
keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."
- Conrad Hilton, hotel executive

"Be not the slave of your own past."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can
alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind."
- William James, psychologist

"We ought not look back, unless it is to derive useful lessons
from past errors and for the purpose of profiting by dear bought
experience."
- George Washington, American President

"The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem
to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last
year."
- John Foster Dulles, former Secretary of State

"The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitude in
any given set of circumstances."
- Victor Frankl

"People don't care how much you know - until they know how much
you care."
- John C. Maxwell

"When rejecting the ideas of another, make sure you reject only
the idea and not the person."
- Author Unknown

"It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he
already knows."
- Epictetus

"A good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share
of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit."
- Author Unknown

"A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the
crowd."
- Author Unknown

"No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself -
or to get all the credit for doing it."
- Andrew Carnegie

"A great man is always willing to be little."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Steps Toward a Leadership Breakthrough

- By Dr. John C. Maxwell


I believe that a leader faces many hurdles, however he or she
becomes stronger and more accurate at every leap. Begin the
process by practicing the following five steps.

1. Personal Growth.

Leadership, just as life, is a journey. You must continue to
learn in order to lead. Each day I try to learn something, file
something and teach something. I learn from reading books,
listening to tapes or meeting with other leaders. I file the
best quotes and stories that I find, which improves my work as an
author and speaker. I also learn a great deal from teaching. My
audience lets me know if I am connecting and helping them with
the lessons I give.

As a leader, you need to develop your own personal growth plan.
Include resources and experiences that will help you grow
professionally as well as personally. The desire to grow is the
first important step toward a leadership breakthrough.

2. Responsibility.

One of the differences between a leader and a follower is the
willingness to accept responsibility. A leader takes on the
challenge and takes responsibility for the outcome. John D.
Rockefeller, Jr. said, "I believe that every right implies a
responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every
possession, a duty."

As a leader, you must become more concerned with your
responsibility than your rights. People who take responsibility
get the job done, go the extra mile, are driven by excellence,
and produce regardless of the situation.

3. Connection.

As a leader, your relationships with your team members will
determine the effectiveness of the team. Before you will be able
to rally the efforts of your followers, you need to find out
where they are, move toward them, and connect with them.

Remember: you can connect with people and lead them only if you
value them.

Here are some ways to connect: 1) make getting to know your
people a priority; 2) look for things that you and your team
members have in common such as hobbies, experiences, interests;
3) respect differences in opinions or personalities; 4) find out
what motivates your people; and 5) include your team in the
leadership process by asking for their ideas and suggestions.

4. Resolve.

Truly effective leaders must know their priorities and be able to
concentrate their time and energy on meeting goals. A leader who
knows his or her priorities but lacks concentration knows what to
do but never gets it done. A leader who has concentration but no
priorities has excellence without progress.

I have found that I am most productive and successful when I
concentrate 70 percent of my time and energy on my strengths, 25
percent on new things, and 5 percent on areas of weakness. Learn
what you do well that brings the greatest results and make it
your priority, and dedicate the balance of your time to growth.

5. Positive Attitude.

When you are leading a group of people, your attitude is
extremely important. Because attitudes are contagious, your team
will recognize your attitude and adapt to the example you set.
If you appear irritated about the challenges your team faces,
then your team members will to become irritated too.

Your progress and the chance for success will be hindered if your
attitude isn't right. It is impossible for us to tailor our
situations to fit our lives, but it is possible to tailor our
attitudes to fit our situation.

Tailoring your attitude may take a lot of work. Start by
surrounding yourself with positive pictures, sayings and people.
Read motivational books. Then try to achieve a goal every day.
Your attitude will become more positive as you learn and sense
that you are making progress.

Leadership develops from the inside out. Achieving a
breakthrough works the same way. You have the choice to become a
more effective leader in the New Year. It may mean letting go
of the past and moving forward with a new focus, but you'll be
glad you started moving in a new direction as you see the
benefits of reaching your leadership potential.

Steps Toward a Leadership Breakdown

- By Dr. John C. Maxwell


In my experience, the problems of a person's past impact them in
one of two ways: they experience either a breakdown or a
breakthrough. This month as we gear up for the New Year, take a
moment to decide which path you will take. Are you heading
toward a breakdown or a breakthrough?

Steps toward a Leadership Breakdown:

1. Comparison.

No matter what you've experienced, remember this: there are
people who've had it better than you and done worse; and there
are people who've had it worse than you and done better. I've
watched some very talented people miss opportunities because they
were worried about what someone else was receiving or achieving.
If you prepare yourself to the best of your abilities and give
your all in every situation, you will be successful. You may not
always win, but you will be a winner.

One of my favorite thoughts about comparison comes from a young
girl who was competing in a pageant. "There will always be
someone prettier than me, more talented than me, and more
graceful than me. I can only hope they aren't on the same stage
as me."

2. Rationalization.

In this day and age it seems that people can rationalize any
situation. A cartoon which appeared a few years ago in the New
Yorker showed two clean-shaven middle-aged men sitting together
in a jail cell. One inmate turned to the other and said, "All
along, I thought our level of corruption fell well within
community standards." Taking responsibility instead of
rationalizing is a matter of integrity. And integrity is the
foundation of leadership.

3. Isolation.

You can't be a leader if you're all alone. Leadership requires
teamwork, and teamwork requires people. Trying to avoid a
challenge or problem by isolating yourself from everyone always
results in a larger problem. You may need to separate yourself
from most of the group to solve a problem; however, you should
always have contact with at least one other person who can mentor
you and help you through the situation. Your mentor may not be
able to help you find a solution quicker, but a mentor serves as
an encourager, which is sometimes just as valuable.

4. Regret.

Yesterday ended last night. As much as we would like to, we
can't go back and change what has already happened. We can only
move forward and do the best we can today. Regret merely drains
our energy and makes it harder to move on.

5. Bitterness.

Past hurts can make you bitter or better. If you hold onto
disappointment you become bitter. If you learn from
disappointment you have a better chance of not facing the same
disappointment later on. I have found that grudges hurt me more
than they will the other person; therefore, clinging to
bitterness wastes time and energy.

In my book, "Failing Forward", I recount the story of Joseph of
the ancient Hebrews. He was thrown into a pit, sold into
slavery, falsely accused, and put in jail; however, he didn't
hold a grudge against the people who wronged him. Joseph found
the positive benefits in his negative experiences, and went on to
be a powerful ruler in Egypt.

Your Voice is Required

Mine is the thought of him who is lost in his own country; of the alien in his own nation; of the solitary among his kinfolk and friends. Kahil Gibran.

Justice does not only uphold the law of the land, but also ourselves, our loved ones, and the world entire.

Love and Truth
So many words have been written about the meaning of love - about the blessings of it, and the pain of it - but whatever is said, it is never portrayed as being judgmental, and was never meant to reserve its favours for only the chosen few.

We are told by our religious doctrines, that love is not just the God given right for family and friends, but for the whole of humanity, with all its' foibles and inadequacies, and yet terrible wars have been enacted in the name of love, and what some people perceive as "justice" for them, is "betrayal" for another.

Whether we really care about this, or pretend that it just doesn't happen makes no difference to the fact that we do have the power to change things, and we do not have to make war to find justice.

Love and Truth
To be governed by TRUTH and LOVE is the only basis for a strong and fair system, so - if we are mindful of this - then perhaps we can start by lighting a candle for honest and just interaction between our nations, and start considering what these two words may actually mean for those who are unjustly imprisoned in this 'civilised' world we live in today.

And although we, as individuals, may think that we can make little impact on the quality of justice, we can begin by looking closely at ourselves; at what love means to us, and the way we pass judgements on others in our everyday lives. For these judgements bring actions that can be very far reaching, and it is always much easier to "accuse" than to be faced with our own motivations and behaviour.

Of course we do not all want to wave banners, or stand on soap boxes, but we can do much by curbing the tendency to blame others for the perceived wrongs of life, and look within ourselves to find some solutions first?So next time you are hit by the impulse to make judgements about people, perhaps it is wise to ensure that you really have just cause? Quite often it is the situation or circumstance that is causing the problem, not necessarily the individuals concerned, and things tend to look quite different when viewed from another standpoint.

If we have the courage to speak out for what we believe in, with genuine concern and tact rather than anger and resentment; and if we do what we really think is right all the time, slowly the world will change, for we are all brothers and sisters of this human family, and although it may not seem like it, we do all secretly wish for the same things.

Babies aren't born bad - they learn from others - and the more you care for fairness, and speak your truth with love, the more your world, and that of others, will expand.

There are many types of prisoners of life - prisoners of dependency, duty, drudgery and there are those starved, bullied and beaten just for being different.

All over the world there are judgements being made, but these judgements do not necessarily uphold justice - especially when made for political reasons, for treason to some is heroism to others. We do not have to be imprisoned, or die by the sword, to change things. We just have to care enough not to make rash assumptions without knowing the whole truth.

The great statesman Gandhi, when asked why he did not advocate war, replied"All through history, the way of Truth and Love has always won"

There are those who suffer terribly in this world through lack of this love - either within themselves or from others. Some are imprisoned for their beliefs, and some imprisoned by them.

Real justice is not a harsh judge, just an honest one - with trust and truth of all the facts as its keynote. And real love is not slushy, nor full of New Age reverie - it is honest and bold and truthful and giving. It does not judge nor look for reward, and in giving it, regardless of the circumstances, we become encompassed with a warmth that we want to continue to share with others.

Love and Truth and Justice begin at home, - in our houses, our cities and our nations, but above all - even if we feel that we can do nothing else - we do have the power to ensure that it begins with ourselves.

When we all work together with one thought and action in mind, many wonderful things can be achieved.

The Prisoner

"First they came for the communists

And I did not speak out -

because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the Jews,

and I did not speak out -

because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists

and I did not speak out -

because I was not a trade unionist.

Next they came for the catholics,

and I did not speak out -

because I was not a catholic.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left

to speak out for me"

Pastor Niemoeller, Political Prisoner of the Nazis

Perfect Peace

How God guides our hearts
- by Michael Reynolds


Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Proverbs 16:3


It was the perfect day. I mean perfect. It was the Saturday before Easter, and we woke up to a crisp, cloudless spring morning that had "get outside and do something" written all over it. Of course yard work was a possibility, or perhaps a garage clean-out, or any number of things on the ever-present "honey-do" list.


Not a chance.


You see, I was going to the car show. Not just any car show, mind you; this was the annual Heritage Village antique car show. Set among the trees and streets of a restored historical village, the old cars were uniquely displayed in a way that made you feel as if you had taken a step back into a quieter, simpler time. It was Mayberry, Norman Rockwell, and Mom's apple pie all rolled into one. And there were cars: gorgeously and meticulously restored antique cars. It was as good as it gets. Ferris Beuller should have such a day off. It was perfect.


Well, almost.


Our church occasionally conducts a Saturday morning "evangelism blitz" where we meet at church and then fan out into the surrounding areas and invite our neighbors to services. The day before Easter would be a great time to invite the "holly-lily people" (Christmas-Easter only attendees) to church and, if the opportunity presented itself, to share Christ with them. What a superb idea!


There was only one problem: Car Show: 10 a.m.; Evangelism Blitz: 10 a.m.


Perfect day? You bet. Perfect peace? I don't think so.


If you're like me, you run into this kind of thing all the time: two extremely good events in conflicting time frames. We're all busy, and we often have to sort through these calendar conflicts.


I Corinthians 14:33 tells us that "God is not a God of disorder, but of peace." (NIV) I was not having much peace on this one.


I have a passion for evangelism, and I enjoy a sense of fulfillment when I share my faith with others. Our family's life verse is Matthew 6:33 where Jesus tells us, "But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." (NASV) I was also reminded of that section in Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life, (p.31) where he says: "Knowing your purpose simplifies your life. It defines what you do and what you don't do."


I got in the car and began driving and praying (eyes open) as I headed toward church to pursue the obvious godly choice. However, I must confess I felt somewhat disappointed that I would be missing the event that I had looked so forward to attending. It wasn't that I was doing a "Jonah sulk" (Jonah 4), but I was just telling God that it sure would be nice if I could do both. Yes, it sure would be nice if I could ... hey, wait a minute!


I have to tell you, I'm not one of those guys who hears from God in any kind of direct way. Sure, I get promptings and impressions and I read Scripture, but I just don't seem to have those "God told me" moments that I hear others talk about. Now with my wife Carolyn, it's a totally different story. I think she meets God at Starbucks in the morning and they discuss his plans for her day over a venti latté. While that girl is connected, my reception seems to come and go like a cell phone in the mountains.


In any event, as I was driving toward church, I got the idea that maybe I could do both. Go see the old cars, and while I'm there, pass out invitations to the next day's Easter services. I had picked up a handful of the special Easter invitations at church earlier that week. A plan bas born.


Conflict resolved. Peace restored.


I know it's a cliché, but God really is good all the time. In Psalm 37 David tells us: "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

(Psalm 37:4 NIV)


As I passed out invitations to the Easter services, no one was in the least bit unpleasant, and many thanked me. If that wasn't blessing enough, I was able to spend some time with one of the participants, the owner of a gorgeous, blue 1931 Ford Model A coupe. We talked cars for a while and then "shifted" to spiritual subjects. I had the awesome privilege of leading that kind-hearted soul to Jesus!


Is there a lesson to all this? There is for me, and perhaps you can relate. We all live lives where conflicting interests are an ever-present challenge. But God has promised us: "You (God) will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3 NIV)


If perfect peace is the promise, what are we called to do? It seems to me that we need to:

1. Pray. Just tell God what's on your heart. He cares. (I Peter 5:7)

2. Purpose. Remember what you're here for. (Ephesians 2:10)

3. Prepare. Is sharing your faith a gift or passion? Get trained.

4. Participate. Sometimes we just need to show up. Get in the game. Is it evangelism? Show up. Is it service? Show up. Is it Life Purpose Coaching®? Show up.

5. Peace. Enjoy it.


It was a glorious Saturday morning, the day before Easter. What was it going to be? Cars or Christ? How about cars and Christ?


It was the perfect day.

Everyday Life is Spiritual

Should churches meet practical needs?
- by John Townsend


One of the biggest problems facing the church today is what has been called the sacred-secular division.


This phrase refers to the idea that church is where spiritual life resides, and the secular life is what goes on outside the walls of the building. With this understanding, the church and its activities are religious and spiritual in nature and are meant to support and strengthen people, so they can go out into their lives - the "secular world" - and have success, victory, and hope for themselves.


In reality, there is a clear distinction between what is directly and clearly of God and his ways, and what is not. This is what holiness is about. The concept comes from the Old Testament teachings in which God guided his people to separate from evil and be part of what belongs to him: "Be holy, for I am holy. (Lev. 11:44, NAS). It is a protective structure that God created to keep us safe and away from what would harm us. Holiness is a very good thing.


The idea, however, has morphed over time, so that often it no longer relates to good versus evil, but instead to religious versus everyday. That is, often people think that their personal realities, like jobs, families, relationships, emotions, and bad habits are part of the "real world," but church, worship, Bible teaching, and preaching are part of the "spiritual world."


The problem with this thinking is that it doesn't satisfy the spiritual emptiness and hunger of people. They live in two divided worlds, and there is not a lot of connection between the two. This is often where people begin to suffer from shame and guilt, feeling that their everyday lives and problems are inferior to what goes on at church - and somehow not as important to God.


Sometimes they hide and conceal from others, and from themselves, how they really feel and live because of this division. Sometimes they spiritualize their lives and simply avoid facing their problems, issues, and hurts, hoping that the more they pray, read the Bible, and attend church, the more the problems will be resolved.


Certainly the spiritual disciplines, doctrines, and theologies of the Bible are meant to give us a life that works and is fruitful. But things work better for people when they understand how God really sees things - and it is this way: it's all spiritual.


Our families, jobs, talents, dreams, failures, and past baggage are all parts of life that God cares about, wants to help us with, and has provided resources for. As the old hymn says, "This is My Father's World." He is the One "in whom we live and move and exist." (Acts 17:28) In all the ways we live, in all the places we move, and in all the patterns of life we exist in, God is involved deeply and wants to guide us. That is the spiritual life.


What is the takeaway for us?


Basically, to help people seek God, his presence, and his answers within the contexts of their lives. We in the church need to show them that their careers, finances, dating lives, struggles, and parenting are deeply spiritual activities with spiritual answers and solutions. Provide biblical and practical steps, activities, and small group gatherings for them to discuss and learn all they need to know to get to the next step.


We are never closer to God than when we connect, in his name, with those who need support in their everyday lives. That is the truly spiritual way, the way that involves us in being his hands and feet.


"And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'" (Matt. 25:40)


God bless you.

I Don't Want to Change and You Can't Make Me!

Five keys to lasting change
April 16, 2007 - by Katie Brazelton and Janet Foster


I recently had lunch with a friend, whom we'll call Sally, who reported that she and her husband could barely speak to one another without having an argument. She added that friends and family members had offered their opinion, noting that her insecurities and communication style were definitely part of the problem. When I asked whether she felt the feedback was accurate, she replied: "They are probably right, but I don't have the patience to change. It's too difficult - too much work."


It's often said that if two or more people bring the same issue to our attention, the issue probably has merit. So let's assume for just a moment that Sally's got issues - just like the rest of us! And, let's assume that her friends and family have truly identified some specific areas for improvement that could be life-changing for her.


Why is she resisting and why do we resist? Bottom line, because we don't see that the payoff for change will outweigh the effort it will take to change. We are not thinking from God's eternal perspective; we are thinking with our tired minds, broken hearts, and dispirited souls.


I wish change happened along the lines of how my iRobot Roomba vacuum works! Have you seen one of those fast-thinking machines in action? They have a sensor that helps them change direction at a moment's notice. If they hit a wall, they simply bounce off it and take that as clear instructions to try a different route. Wouldn't it be incredible if all we had to do was to sense, literally, when to change directions - and Voila, it would happen!


But let's face it. For us, change is much more difficult; it takes patience and a ton of effort. Change comes from putting our thoughts into action. Sometimes it is a dramatic leap, but most of the time it happens little by little as new behavior is practiced and new habits are learned. For those who are partial to instant gratification, this repetition is more likely to make us groan than inspire us to change. Fortunately, we don't have to rely on our own will power or determination. God has supplied all the tools and resources needed to make the journey a success.


Sally is fortunate. She has taken one giant step forward without even realizing it. She has admitted that she has a problem. The path to lasting change starts with ownership of our emotions, attitudes, motives, and actions. For those who suffer from selective denial (yes, my hand is raised), a root canal will sound more appealing. The good news is that wounded pride about our shortcomings isn't fatal! God already knows the areas in which we struggle. Admitting weakness and taking responsibility prepare our heart for the next step.


And that's where Sally is getting hung up: She now needs to acknowledge that she is going to need God's help. Philippians 1:6 could be of great comfort to her: "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (NIV) God always has our best interest in mind. We must surrender our circumstances to him and trust him to see the change through to completion. Over the years, I have found that focusing on five P's has worked for me: Presence, Prayer, Preparation, Patience, and Perseverance.


The Five P's to Life-Long Change


1. Get into God's presence. Hebrews 11:16 (NIV) says, "He rewards those who earnestly seek him." Whether your preference is listening to worship music, meditating, or reading the Bible, take the time to get into God's presence. If you will feed your spirit when times are good, it will help you be strong when times are bad.


2. Pray for God's strength and guidance. Mark 11:24 (NIV) promises, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Keep the communication line with God open. Share with him your concerns and fears. Declare in prayer that you know how powerful he is and in whose hands you place your human efforts.


3. Prepare your heart for a positive outcome. The Bible states, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:13 NIV) Visualize the desired outcome, then take action to prepare yourself in advance for his victory that is already at hand.


4. Be patient with yourself. Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NIV) teaches: "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride." God's work is accomplished in his good timing, and the good news is that the outcome won't be one nanosecond late. God's timing is perfect, so wait patiently for the end of the matter.


5. Persevere. Don't give up! Remember that "Perseverance must finish its work." (Jas 1:12 NIV) The outcome you desire could be days, hours, or only minutes away! Keep your eyes focused on the prize and never give up. In fact, as Winston Churchill once said, "Never, never, never give up."


Change is definitely not easy, but it is essential to our spiritual growth as Christians, and it is quite doable if we learn to sit in God's presence, pray, prepare ourselves, be patient with ourselves, and persevere. What opportunities for change invite action from you today? Will you take the first step in admitting the truth of needing to change and the second step in leaning on God, or will you say, "I don't want to change, and you can't make me!"

Your Actions Do Count

Some men think of things that are, and say 'why?' - I dream of things that never were, and say 'why not?' George Bernard Shaw

The future of humanity does not lie totally in the hands of the politicians, it lies in our hands too.

Courage and Enthusiasm

In these times of continued world conflicts, it is difficult to remain unconcerned about the future, and it is all too easy to allow this to swamp our natural optimism.

The more this gloom spreads, the heavier life will get for us all, and yet we - as humanity - have a wonderful, unrecognised "gift", and that is the ability to change things, for we affect others by our mood.

People around us are affected by our attitude. If we think fear, we talk fear, and those around us catch the mood, and think fear also. It is no use pretending that our thoughts don't affect others, because they do, and we only have to look at how we respond to the media to realise that this is true.

So do we really feel the world is as bad and as frightening as we are led to believe and, if so, are we going to try to do something about it, or are we happy to bury our heads in the sand and convince ourselves that it is all pointless anyway?

Well, we do have the power to do something valuable as individuals, and that is to use this "gift" in a much more productive way - all we need is to believe that we have this power, and then find the Will to to put it into practice.

By doing so, we can find ourselves becoming more energised; more able to confront the reality of world conflicts, and hopefully re-awaken our inner courage and enthusiasm to protect ourselves emotionally from outside negative influences.

Courage and Enthusiasm

Both these things are essential for a happy life, for if we don't find the courage, we will always be running away from our fears, and if we don't have the enthusiasm, we will never find the energy to make the most of the opportunities of life.

So maybe it is worth finding the time to seriously look at the direction your thinking is taking you, and perhaps spare a moment to light a candle for protection and peace throughout the world?

War is a terrible thing, and more often than not brought about by the greed and ignorance of those unable to see a world beyond their own weakness and insecurity.

Perhaps they should be pitied rather than blamed?

The terror instilled by tanks and guns is very real, but if we bother to look a little closer, we would surely realise that treachery and heroism walk hand in hand, and are only separated by the side of the battle we choose to support?

So where does that leave us?

Well, big wars are born from little wars, and these little wars reside within ourselves - in our anger, our jealousy, our resentments, and above all in our peculiar ability to lay blame on anyone but the real culprit - our personal fear.

And unless each of us seriously tries to let go our grievances, and replace them with the feeling of COURAGE and ENTHUSIASM to confront the hazards of our everyday life, the world will continue to be ravaged by pain.

As individuals we can do a lot to change the negative affects around us, just by trying to be more tolerant and objective in our day to day circumstance. Each one of us is quite capable of turning adversity into personal achievement, of we really want to.

It doesn't hurt to love more and dislike less and, as time goes on, you will be amazed to see what a good affect this has on yourself and those around you. Moods are infectious, and these feelings will spread, like ripples on a pond, into other people's lives.

There are many who believe that the world is going through a very complex and difficult transition. The challenge is to transform from material obsession to more spiritual values.

The Age of Aquarius is about Enlightenment - The waking up of humanity to a higher self, and bringing about soul consciousness upon earth. If we are ever to achieve this, then we must start taking greater responsibility for our happiness, and believing in the power - we all have within us - to change things for the better.

When individuals work together with one objective and one thought, many wonderful things can happen, and the more this message spreads, the greater the chance of finding peace, not only in our own lives, but in the rest of the world.

To some, of course, this will seem like airy fairy nonsense but, as little else has worked so far, it may be worth a try?, Lao Tse

When a country is in harmony with the Tao,

the factories make trucks and tractors.

When a country goes counter to the Tao,

warheads are stockpiled outside the cities.

There is no greater illusion than fear,

no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself,

no greater misfortune than having an enemy.

Whoever can see through all fear

will always be safe..