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The Value of Strength

10/2/2019

President Lincoln Statue. Cowboy Museum in OK City.

My thoughts...

In society today many times people feel pressured to submit to the popular trends of thoughts and beliefs so not to offend. The concept of a standard of excellence and truth can be overlooked and pushed to the side. What has happened to the idea of a plumb line of measurement? Plumb lines are used by painters and carpenters to keep their work straight. It is easy to get off center and begin to go crooked. A plumb line provides that true reference that all work must measure up to so the work is correctly done. As one writer wrote, "A plumb line doesn't change or move according to the whims of the carpenter, it remains true." (www.gotquestions.org)

So what about other areas of life? Can we live however we want? Can we say what is wrong is really right in certain situations. What is to constitute what is wrong? If I feel like it is right...can't it be right? If I have an altruistic motive, can't I do something that is illegal and still be right? A society and a life that is guided by such ambivalence is truly headed into chaos. In such trying times, it takes a voice that is willing to rise and say, "This is the way, walk in it. This is truth. This is right." A voice and a standard that does not change when the challenges come. It takes strength. It takes courage to be such a voice...such a beacon of light and truth.

I think of Abraham Lincoln. I think of the voice he had in the nation of the USA. He saw the wrong of the day even though slavery was well accepted and slavery served a purpose on the plantations of the South. He was willing to raise up a standard for right and truth in the midst of unpopular thought for that day. President Lincoln was strong to stand and make his Gettysburg address. He declared that the nation of the USA was "conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." What strength it took for him to be a voice for liberty and equality in the slavery dilemma of that day. And what a change his strength and his voice made!

So I encourage you in the day we are living...Be Strong. Be Courageous. Be a Voice for Right and for Truth. There is a plumb line that our lives are to be guided by. There is a right and there is a wrong. There is light and there is darkness. Love well. Love brings light into a dark world. Speak the truth from that motive of love. Be Strong!

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The Value of Friendship

9/2/2019

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With our friend Kathi

In our American culture, being a "self-made" person has become something of great value. This phrase captures the ideal that individuals have within themselves the ability to accomplish something greater than they were born into. An example is a person born into a life of poverty and through much work and perseverance they rise to a place of prosperity and success. It's an ideal and opportunity that many people admire from across the waters in other nations. If not correctly balanced, there is a flaw that this ideal introduces. It can place a greater value on the individual and a lesser value on the help that others bring into our lives. We are not created to be lone rangers. We are created to need one another. King Solomon (a King in the nation of Israel's ancient history) is recorded as writing,

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up".

That sure brings another view to the ideal of a "self made" person.

Our friends the Whitehouses

Another interesting fact is that the field of neuroscience is finding through studies that "people" is the missing link to success. In other words success and relationships are linked together in our lives. Dr. John Townsend in his book, People Fuel, brings this fact to light. He also states, "People are the fuel for us to grow."
Have you ever heard (or said yourself), "This job would be wonderful except for the people!" I have heard this and laughed!! Yes, there are challenges to relationships! And at the same time, we need relationships! We NEED People! Again, Dr. John Townsend speaks of "Relational Nutrients". He identifies 22 nutrients that we get from positive relationships in our lives. These nutrients create a healthy person just like our nutritional nutrients create a healthy body and mind.

So....what is the take-a-way from all of this?? We NEED each other...people!

Cindy and Sarah

So the next time you make room in your schedule to stop and talk with your friend or take a break from the "works" of life to invest in a relationship...remember, you are investing into your health and success. We can't do life alone. We have been created to do life with people. We need each other in the good, the bad, and the beautiful side of all that life brings!

INVEST! Invest in your health. Invest in your success. Invest in another's health. Invest in another's success!

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Leadership 3: The Heart of Leadership

8/3/2019

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Jennifer serving at BA REST June 2019

How many of you would identify this picture as a picture of leadership?

In this blog I want to talk about how this picture identifies the very heart of leadership. An integral part of leadership...Serving Others.

Many times we imagine a leader as one who stands out front giving direction and orders to others. Well, that is a level of leadership or a function of leadership, and at the same time, that can not be all there is to leadership. Leadership must embody so much more to be effective and successful!

Here are some quotes from John Maxwell's book, Developing the Leader In You 2.0:

Quote #1: “When you decide to serve others as a leader, the team’s success becomes your success.”

Quote #2: “The heart of leadership is based on serving others, not ourselves.”

Quote #3: “True leaders are motivated by loving concern rather than personal glory…”

As you chew on these quotes, what message is coming across to you??
Here are some thoughts:

Thought #1: Leadership is about how to serve/help/empower the people connected to your leadership.

Thought #2: Leadership is not about how people can make YOU look good but about how YOU can develop people.

Thought #3: Leadership cultivates a team concept vs a boss concept.

Thought #4: Leadership opens the door for communication, creativity, and reaching out beyond the box.

So, does every person or every organization cultivate this side of leadership? No.
And at the same time, you can cultivate this type of leadership within yourself. Remember, leadership is first influence. What kind of influence are you cultivating in the lives of others?

Here are some steps to consider if you dare to venture into these waters of "Serving Others".

Step #1: Begin to see people as valuable. Not an asset to be used but a treasure to be valued.

Step #2: Move from selfishness to selflessness. Put others' well being before your own agenda.

Step #3: Ask yourself: "What do I have to give to others to help them?" (gifts, knowledge, skills, time, etc)

Step #4: Ask yourself: "What positive thing can I say or do to encourage someone?"

Step #5: Start taking time and making effort to get to know the people around you (work, neighborhood, etc.).

So, the next time you slow down long enough to hold the door open for someone vs rushing to get your errand done, remember, you are taking a positive step towards developing the leader in you!

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Cindy writes about her adventures, observations, and other nuggets from living in another nation. She and John live in SE Asia. She will also share nuggets from her 58 plus years of life.

New blogs are normally posted once a month.

McKinney International

The Value of Strength

The Value of Friendship

Leadership 3: The Heart of Leadership

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