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Saturday, February 28, 2015
Oposição ou Oportunidade?
http://anchor.tfionline.com/pt/post/oposicao-ou-oportunidade/
Uma compilação
Eu lhes disse essas coisas para que em mim vocês tenham paz. Neste mundo vocês terão aflições; contudo, tenham ânimo! Eu venci o mundo.—João 16:33
*
Conforme cumprimos fielmente a nossa missão de levar a mensagem ao mundo, podemos contar com oposição. Oposição e objeções são um fato da nossa vida de serviço ativo para o Senhor.
O cristão precisa saber enfrentar oposição e estar preparado para enfrentar os desafios com fé. Agindo assim seremos capacitados espiritual, mental e emocionalmente para enfrentarmos não só as tempestades, mas também contarmos que o Senhor vai transformar até circunstâncias aparentemente negativas para o nosso bem, e serem oportunidades para fazermos o Seu trabalho avançar. Podemos enfrentar os ventos de oposição com a confiança inabalável de que Jesus tem um plano e desÃgnio para toda dificuldade na nossa vida.
É importante pedir ao Senhor a Sua perspectiva em cada caso de oposição, bem como Sua orientação para sabermos reagir adequadamente e agirmos de maneira proativa. Assim, saberemos levar a oposição e canalizar nossa energia e esforços para pensarmos em soluções e alcançarmos vitórias.
O fato de sofrermos oposição não significa forçosamente que fizemos algo que não deverÃamos ou cometemos um erro. Se não agirmos em oração e conselho com as pessoas que o Senhor coloca na nossa vida para nos servirem de conselheiros divinos, se não ficarmos em sintonia com o Senhor, poderemos tomar decisões inconsequentes e cometer erros que vão se tornar lições para aprendermos. Mas essa nem sempre é a razão por que enfrentamos adversidades. Se entregarmos a nossa vida e trabalho ao Senhor em oração, e enfrentarmos problemas ou divergências, devemos considerar “motivo de grande alegria o fato de passarem por diversas provações, pois vocês sabem que a prova da sua fé produz perseverança. E a perseverança deve ter ação completa, a fim de que vocês sejam maduros e Ãntegros, sem lhes faltar coisa alguma.”[1]
Independentemente das circunstâncias, deverÃamos ter fé e contar com dificuldades, sabendo que a experiência será para o nosso bem, pois vai nos fortalecer ou dar mais sabedoria, ou vai nos ajudar a testemunhar, ou a continuar avançando apesar da crise. Podemos aceitar os desafios e aproveitarmos essas oportunidades de pegarmos a onda dos problemas e vencer, nos tornarmos mais fortes e superarmos as dificuldades.—Maria Fontaine
*
Todo grande homem ou mulher de fé, e até mesmo idealistas que não eram forçosamente religiosos, enfrentaram vários tipos e graus de oposição durante a sua vida. O testemunho de suas vidas é de luta frente a adversidades, recusando-se a se deixarem levar pela oposição, e avançando para cumprirem sua vocação e missão. Eles tinham um propósito, e sabiam que para cumpri-lo iam ter que lutar. A oposição se apresentava de várias formas: polÃtica, de pessoas que defendiam interesses financeiros; de poderes religiosos da época; de amigos e familiares, da mÃdia hostil, ou de instituições educativas.
Qualquer pessoa que já aspirou realizar algo grandioso neste mundo para ocasionar mudanças e melhorias monumentais enfrentaram desafios imensos e muita oposição. Os que lutaram para acabar com o trabalho infantil e pelos direitos das crianças receberem educação escolar enfrentaram uma oposição ferrenha. Os que lutaram por igualdade racial enfrentaram oposição continuamente, e os que lutaram para pôr fim ao tráfico de escravos tiveram que enfrentar os ricos e poderosos da época. Os que lutaram para o povo poder ler a BÃblia enfrentaram oposição e perseguição das autoridades religiosas da época... e assim por diante.
Os que pregam uma mensagem de salvação, fé e confiança vão enfrentar oposição do mundo e do poder estabelecido.—Jesus falando em profecia
*
Diz em Filipenses 2:13: “Pois é Deus quem efetua em vocês tanto o querer quanto o realizar, de acordo com a boa vontade dele.” E em 1 Tessalonicenses 5:24 diz: “Aquele que os chama é fiel, e fará isso.” Essas promessas são de libertação para nós, porque se focarmos o que Deus faz por meio de nós, deixaremos de nos sentir pressionados e transferiremos para Ele a responsabilidade. A nós cabe dar um passo de fé apoiados em Deus e confiando que Ele vai realizar o Seu propósito em toda incumbência que nos der.
Isso não significa que tudo vai transcorrer tranquilamente. Sabemos que, onde quer que o trabalho de Deus seja realizado, haverá oposição, não só no campo de missão, mas dentro dos lares e comunidades. Sempre haverá ciladas e obstáculos a serem transpostos. Mas quando Cristo é a nossa força, as dificuldades tornam o nosso compromisso mais profundo, e não só aprendemos com elas, mas usufruÃmos dos recursos ilimitados de Deus. Para toda incumbência que nos dá Deus também nos capacita e fortalece. Essa é a nossa confiança. Não se trata do que fazemos, mas do fato de Cristo estar fazendo por meio de nós.—Charles Price
*
Adversidade é um mestre severo enviado por Aquele que nos conhece e ama muito mais do que nós próprios. Nosso adversário fortalece nossos nervos e aprimora nossas habilidades. Ele nos ajuda. A dificuldade que enfrentamos nos faz conhecer o objeto e considerá-lo em todos os âmbitos. Impede-nos de sermos superficiais em relação ao opositor.—Edmund Burke
*
Dificuldades são os ingressos para o jogo da vida. Mas, às vezes, não podemos deixar de suspeitar que a vida seria muito mais agradável sem os empecilhos. É assim que você pensa? Antes de responder, reflita no seguinte.
Em um mundo sem obstáculos não existem vencedores; sem sofrimento não existem santos; sem batalhas não existem vitórias; sem chuva não existe arco-Ãris. Não acha que um mundo com sofrimento é mais gratificante? Não é necessário o calor para produzir o ouro, pressão e lapidação para produzir diamantes, e dificuldades para formar o caráter?
Henry Ford expressou esse mesmo sentimento da seguinte forma: “A vida é uma série de experiências, cada uma contribuindo para sermos pessoas melhores, mesmo que à s vezes seja difÃcil percebermos isso. Precisamos aprender que os reveses… que suportamos, nos ajudam a avançar.”—Chuck Gallozzi
Publicado no Âncora em abril 2014.
Tradução Hebe Rondon Flandoli. Revisão Denise Oliveira.
[1] Tiago 1:2–4.
Eu lhes disse essas coisas para que em mim vocês tenham paz. Neste mundo vocês terão aflições; contudo, tenham ânimo! Eu venci o mundo.—João 16:33
*
Conforme cumprimos fielmente a nossa missão de levar a mensagem ao mundo, podemos contar com oposição. Oposição e objeções são um fato da nossa vida de serviço ativo para o Senhor.
O cristão precisa saber enfrentar oposição e estar preparado para enfrentar os desafios com fé. Agindo assim seremos capacitados espiritual, mental e emocionalmente para enfrentarmos não só as tempestades, mas também contarmos que o Senhor vai transformar até circunstâncias aparentemente negativas para o nosso bem, e serem oportunidades para fazermos o Seu trabalho avançar. Podemos enfrentar os ventos de oposição com a confiança inabalável de que Jesus tem um plano e desÃgnio para toda dificuldade na nossa vida.
É importante pedir ao Senhor a Sua perspectiva em cada caso de oposição, bem como Sua orientação para sabermos reagir adequadamente e agirmos de maneira proativa. Assim, saberemos levar a oposição e canalizar nossa energia e esforços para pensarmos em soluções e alcançarmos vitórias.
O fato de sofrermos oposição não significa forçosamente que fizemos algo que não deverÃamos ou cometemos um erro. Se não agirmos em oração e conselho com as pessoas que o Senhor coloca na nossa vida para nos servirem de conselheiros divinos, se não ficarmos em sintonia com o Senhor, poderemos tomar decisões inconsequentes e cometer erros que vão se tornar lições para aprendermos. Mas essa nem sempre é a razão por que enfrentamos adversidades. Se entregarmos a nossa vida e trabalho ao Senhor em oração, e enfrentarmos problemas ou divergências, devemos considerar “motivo de grande alegria o fato de passarem por diversas provações, pois vocês sabem que a prova da sua fé produz perseverança. E a perseverança deve ter ação completa, a fim de que vocês sejam maduros e Ãntegros, sem lhes faltar coisa alguma.”[1]
Independentemente das circunstâncias, deverÃamos ter fé e contar com dificuldades, sabendo que a experiência será para o nosso bem, pois vai nos fortalecer ou dar mais sabedoria, ou vai nos ajudar a testemunhar, ou a continuar avançando apesar da crise. Podemos aceitar os desafios e aproveitarmos essas oportunidades de pegarmos a onda dos problemas e vencer, nos tornarmos mais fortes e superarmos as dificuldades.—Maria Fontaine
*
Todo grande homem ou mulher de fé, e até mesmo idealistas que não eram forçosamente religiosos, enfrentaram vários tipos e graus de oposição durante a sua vida. O testemunho de suas vidas é de luta frente a adversidades, recusando-se a se deixarem levar pela oposição, e avançando para cumprirem sua vocação e missão. Eles tinham um propósito, e sabiam que para cumpri-lo iam ter que lutar. A oposição se apresentava de várias formas: polÃtica, de pessoas que defendiam interesses financeiros; de poderes religiosos da época; de amigos e familiares, da mÃdia hostil, ou de instituições educativas.
Qualquer pessoa que já aspirou realizar algo grandioso neste mundo para ocasionar mudanças e melhorias monumentais enfrentaram desafios imensos e muita oposição. Os que lutaram para acabar com o trabalho infantil e pelos direitos das crianças receberem educação escolar enfrentaram uma oposição ferrenha. Os que lutaram por igualdade racial enfrentaram oposição continuamente, e os que lutaram para pôr fim ao tráfico de escravos tiveram que enfrentar os ricos e poderosos da época. Os que lutaram para o povo poder ler a BÃblia enfrentaram oposição e perseguição das autoridades religiosas da época... e assim por diante.
Os que pregam uma mensagem de salvação, fé e confiança vão enfrentar oposição do mundo e do poder estabelecido.—Jesus falando em profecia
*
Diz em Filipenses 2:13: “Pois é Deus quem efetua em vocês tanto o querer quanto o realizar, de acordo com a boa vontade dele.” E em 1 Tessalonicenses 5:24 diz: “Aquele que os chama é fiel, e fará isso.” Essas promessas são de libertação para nós, porque se focarmos o que Deus faz por meio de nós, deixaremos de nos sentir pressionados e transferiremos para Ele a responsabilidade. A nós cabe dar um passo de fé apoiados em Deus e confiando que Ele vai realizar o Seu propósito em toda incumbência que nos der.
Isso não significa que tudo vai transcorrer tranquilamente. Sabemos que, onde quer que o trabalho de Deus seja realizado, haverá oposição, não só no campo de missão, mas dentro dos lares e comunidades. Sempre haverá ciladas e obstáculos a serem transpostos. Mas quando Cristo é a nossa força, as dificuldades tornam o nosso compromisso mais profundo, e não só aprendemos com elas, mas usufruÃmos dos recursos ilimitados de Deus. Para toda incumbência que nos dá Deus também nos capacita e fortalece. Essa é a nossa confiança. Não se trata do que fazemos, mas do fato de Cristo estar fazendo por meio de nós.—Charles Price
*
Adversidade é um mestre severo enviado por Aquele que nos conhece e ama muito mais do que nós próprios. Nosso adversário fortalece nossos nervos e aprimora nossas habilidades. Ele nos ajuda. A dificuldade que enfrentamos nos faz conhecer o objeto e considerá-lo em todos os âmbitos. Impede-nos de sermos superficiais em relação ao opositor.—Edmund Burke
*
Dificuldades são os ingressos para o jogo da vida. Mas, às vezes, não podemos deixar de suspeitar que a vida seria muito mais agradável sem os empecilhos. É assim que você pensa? Antes de responder, reflita no seguinte.
Em um mundo sem obstáculos não existem vencedores; sem sofrimento não existem santos; sem batalhas não existem vitórias; sem chuva não existe arco-Ãris. Não acha que um mundo com sofrimento é mais gratificante? Não é necessário o calor para produzir o ouro, pressão e lapidação para produzir diamantes, e dificuldades para formar o caráter?
Henry Ford expressou esse mesmo sentimento da seguinte forma: “A vida é uma série de experiências, cada uma contribuindo para sermos pessoas melhores, mesmo que à s vezes seja difÃcil percebermos isso. Precisamos aprender que os reveses… que suportamos, nos ajudam a avançar.”—Chuck Gallozzi
Publicado no Âncora em abril 2014.
Tradução Hebe Rondon Flandoli. Revisão Denise Oliveira.
[1] Tiago 1:2–4.
Different Gifts
http://anchor.tfionline.com/post/different-gifts/
A compilation
Audio length: 9:17
Download Audio (8.5MB)
If you’re someone who looks around and sees others who are brighter than you, more eloquent, more skilled, more energetic, or who just seem “more” or “better” in a variety of ways, you’re not alone.
The problem, though, is that that adds up to a lot of down and discouraged people in the world, because seeing oneself as “less” or “worse” than others is definitely not an uplifting exercise.
It’s not that you want to drag other people down to your level. You’d just like to rise to their level, or at least get closer. But when you look at yourself, it’s easy to lose heart. Instead, the Lord wants you to take heart!
First of all, remember that He’s fair, and when He hands out gifts and talents, skills and abilities, He gives everyone, including you, something special. The Bible says, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.”1 “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.”2
If you’ll take a good, honest look at yourself, at your pluses instead of your minuses, you’ll find that you too have gifts and abilities that you can be happy about—those gifts that the Lord has given you for “doing certain things well.” You can be sure that there are others who look at you and your strengths in a certain area and think, “I wish I were more like that!”
How much better it would be if we could each learn to appreciate the varieties of gifts that the Lord has given to others, without overlooking or forgetting the ones that He has given us.
Most of all, remember that the Lord doesn’t compare you to anyone. He loves you with an everlasting love, and it’s a love that sees all the good and possibilities that you have. If you love Him and want to please Him, that’s what matters to Him! You are special to Him, and He loves you with a special love!—Maria Fontaine
*
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.—1 Corinthians 12:4–12 NKJV
*
When you are tempted to compare with others because you think they are more beautiful, more talented, have better personalities, are more mature spiritually, or other people seem to like them more or love them more, do not feel bad. Accept the gifts I have given others and be thankful for them, not envious, knowing that I have given you many gifts as well. As you thank Me and praise Me for the way I’ve made you and accept that I do all things well, then you will have victory.
What is it to you what I give to others, what I entrust them with, what I ask of them, or how I bless them and how I operate in their lives? It’s not for you to compare or judge or come to conclusions in your own mind as to how My dealings with you should be, or how My dealings with others should be. You simply need to trust Me, because as I’ve told you over and over, I have a plan and a purpose, and I’m working in your life to make you stronger, better, and more useful.
Contentment comes from trusting and believing in Me—believing that I will make your way perfect; that I will do all things well for you; that I will reward you for all that you’ve sacrificed, given up, or gone without.—Jesus, speaking in prophecy
*
People are different and have different ministries, different gifts, different responsibilities, and fill different roles. There is a great diversity of gifts, talents, personalities and opinions in the body of My church, and all are necessary to make it well rounded. Each part of the body has its role and there should be no comparing.—Jesus, speaking in prophecy
*
The Devil often tries to get us to compare ourselves unfavorably to others. The Lord tells us that we shouldn’t think about those negative things at all: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”3
Whether abounding or abasing, we should be thankful for whatever we’ve got.4 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”6 We could all praise the Lord more and be more positive. Thank God for the health you do have. Thank God that you’re not completely incapacitated. All kinds of things could be wrong with you, so thank the Lord for the blessings you do have. Stay positive, thankful, and full of praise to Jesus!—David Brandt Berg
*
“It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else.”—Ecclesiastes 6:9b GN
In order to overcome envy, you and I need to rejoice in what we have. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, you should be grateful for what you do have. Your “wants” will pale in comparison when you realize that what you already have is more than enough.
Too often we think, “I have this, but if I get more, I’ll be even happier.” That’s just not true. We are taught to be discontent, but we don’t have to be if we focus on what good things we already have.
Does that mean we’ll never have a hard time handling the success of other people? Of course not! We all do from time to time. In fact, human instinct will always cause us to ask, “Why did that person get a promotion when I didn’t?” or “How come they’re having a wedding and I’m still single?” or “Why do they get to go to Europe and we have to pay for braces?”
Let me clarify this: Envy is not having desires, dreams, or ambitions. You can have desires, dreams, or ambitions without being envious of others. Envy is when you resent others who already have the things you hope to have or who have achieved the things you hope to achieve. Envy is believing you can’t be happy until you get those things.
Envy is based on a myth: I must have more than you to be happy!
Be grateful for who you are and what you have. Instead of complaining, remember that everything is a gift! How will the following scripture change your life? “Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing? You already have all you need!”—1 Corinthians 4:7–8 MSG—Rick Warren7
Published on Anchor February 2015. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso.
1 1 Corinthians 12:4 NAU.
2 Romans 12:6 NLT.
3 Philippians 4:8.
4 Philippians 4:11–12.
5 Psalm 150:6.
6 Psalm 103:2.
7 http://rickwarren.org/devotional/english/be-grateful-not-regretful.
A compilation
Audio length: 9:17
Download Audio (8.5MB)
If you’re someone who looks around and sees others who are brighter than you, more eloquent, more skilled, more energetic, or who just seem “more” or “better” in a variety of ways, you’re not alone.
The problem, though, is that that adds up to a lot of down and discouraged people in the world, because seeing oneself as “less” or “worse” than others is definitely not an uplifting exercise.
It’s not that you want to drag other people down to your level. You’d just like to rise to their level, or at least get closer. But when you look at yourself, it’s easy to lose heart. Instead, the Lord wants you to take heart!
First of all, remember that He’s fair, and when He hands out gifts and talents, skills and abilities, He gives everyone, including you, something special. The Bible says, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.”1 “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.”2
If you’ll take a good, honest look at yourself, at your pluses instead of your minuses, you’ll find that you too have gifts and abilities that you can be happy about—those gifts that the Lord has given you for “doing certain things well.” You can be sure that there are others who look at you and your strengths in a certain area and think, “I wish I were more like that!”
How much better it would be if we could each learn to appreciate the varieties of gifts that the Lord has given to others, without overlooking or forgetting the ones that He has given us.
Most of all, remember that the Lord doesn’t compare you to anyone. He loves you with an everlasting love, and it’s a love that sees all the good and possibilities that you have. If you love Him and want to please Him, that’s what matters to Him! You are special to Him, and He loves you with a special love!—Maria Fontaine
*
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.—1 Corinthians 12:4–12 NKJV
*
When you are tempted to compare with others because you think they are more beautiful, more talented, have better personalities, are more mature spiritually, or other people seem to like them more or love them more, do not feel bad. Accept the gifts I have given others and be thankful for them, not envious, knowing that I have given you many gifts as well. As you thank Me and praise Me for the way I’ve made you and accept that I do all things well, then you will have victory.
What is it to you what I give to others, what I entrust them with, what I ask of them, or how I bless them and how I operate in their lives? It’s not for you to compare or judge or come to conclusions in your own mind as to how My dealings with you should be, or how My dealings with others should be. You simply need to trust Me, because as I’ve told you over and over, I have a plan and a purpose, and I’m working in your life to make you stronger, better, and more useful.
Contentment comes from trusting and believing in Me—believing that I will make your way perfect; that I will do all things well for you; that I will reward you for all that you’ve sacrificed, given up, or gone without.—Jesus, speaking in prophecy
*
People are different and have different ministries, different gifts, different responsibilities, and fill different roles. There is a great diversity of gifts, talents, personalities and opinions in the body of My church, and all are necessary to make it well rounded. Each part of the body has its role and there should be no comparing.—Jesus, speaking in prophecy
*
The Devil often tries to get us to compare ourselves unfavorably to others. The Lord tells us that we shouldn’t think about those negative things at all: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”3
Whether abounding or abasing, we should be thankful for whatever we’ve got.4 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”6 We could all praise the Lord more and be more positive. Thank God for the health you do have. Thank God that you’re not completely incapacitated. All kinds of things could be wrong with you, so thank the Lord for the blessings you do have. Stay positive, thankful, and full of praise to Jesus!—David Brandt Berg
*
“It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else.”—Ecclesiastes 6:9b GN
In order to overcome envy, you and I need to rejoice in what we have. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, you should be grateful for what you do have. Your “wants” will pale in comparison when you realize that what you already have is more than enough.
Too often we think, “I have this, but if I get more, I’ll be even happier.” That’s just not true. We are taught to be discontent, but we don’t have to be if we focus on what good things we already have.
Does that mean we’ll never have a hard time handling the success of other people? Of course not! We all do from time to time. In fact, human instinct will always cause us to ask, “Why did that person get a promotion when I didn’t?” or “How come they’re having a wedding and I’m still single?” or “Why do they get to go to Europe and we have to pay for braces?”
Let me clarify this: Envy is not having desires, dreams, or ambitions. You can have desires, dreams, or ambitions without being envious of others. Envy is when you resent others who already have the things you hope to have or who have achieved the things you hope to achieve. Envy is believing you can’t be happy until you get those things.
Envy is based on a myth: I must have more than you to be happy!
Be grateful for who you are and what you have. Instead of complaining, remember that everything is a gift! How will the following scripture change your life? “Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing? You already have all you need!”—1 Corinthians 4:7–8 MSG—Rick Warren7
Published on Anchor February 2015. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso.
1 1 Corinthians 12:4 NAU.
2 Romans 12:6 NLT.
3 Philippians 4:8.
4 Philippians 4:11–12.
5 Psalm 150:6.
6 Psalm 103:2.
7 http://rickwarren.org/devotional/english/be-grateful-not-regretful.
A Question That Can Change Your Life
By Peter Bregman, ETR, Feb. 26, 2015
For years I’ve exercised every day—doing weights, cardio, yoga—but despite my continuous effort, I haven’t seen much change.
Until a few months ago.
Recently, my body has changed. My muscles are stronger, more defined, and I’ve lost five pounds along with a visible layer of fat. So what did I do differently?
Let’s start with what I didn’t do…
Spend more time exercising. In fact, I’ve spent less. What I did change is how I use the time I spend working out.
Instead of doing the same old workout, day after day, I’m mixing it up with new routines. I’m focusing my effort more wisely—hitting my muscles with different exercises, adding balance challenges, power moves, and intervals.
The rapid results I achieved by changing my exercise routine made something very clear to me: We habitually squander time and effort on behaviors that do little to move us toward the outcomes we’re seeking. Spending an hour on a treadmill watching TV had no visible impact on my fitness. But when I used that hour differently, I saw improvement.
It’s not that we’re lazy. We put effort into what we do. I ran on the treadmill every day. But, like my daily run, our efforts often don’t translate into optimum results.
The basic principle is simple: We’re already spending a certain amount of time doing things—in meetings, managing businesses, writing emails, making decisions. If we could just make a higher impact during that time, it’s all upside with no cost.
So here’s the question I’d like to propose you ask yourself throughout your day: What can I do, right now, that would be the most powerful use of this moment?
What can I say? What action can I take? What question can I ask? What issue can I bring up? What decision can I make that would have the greatest impact?
Asking these questions—and answering them honestly—is the path to choosing new actions that could bring better outcomes. The hard part is following through on the answers and taking the risks to reap the full benefits of each moment. That takes courage. But it’s also what brings the payoff.
Rejection, failure, even ridicule—those are the risks of making the most powerful use of a moment. But in my experience, boldness, combined with skilled communication, almost always pays off because it moves the energy of a situation and creates new possibilities in otherwise old ruts.
Having the courage to take the kind of bold action that creates new opportunities is, possibly, the most critical skill a leader can have. It’s why leadership development should involve experiences that hone emotional courage, and the communication abilities necessary to use it productively.
I recently saw a short video that perfectly illustrates the risk-reward payoff of courageously using a moment well. Billy Joel was speaking at Vanderbilt University when a young student, Michael Pollack, raised his hand. When Joel called on him, Michael asked if he could play the piano to accompany the musician for a song. A silence followed. Michael had taken a big risk just by asking and you could feel the tension and suspense in the room. After a pause, Joel said “yes” and the video of their astounding spontaneous collaboration has now been viewed over 2.5 million times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bceuh8c-4kg
How often have you been in a similar situation, at one time or another, wanting to say something or do something, yet letting the moment pass? Next time you’re in that situation, pay attention to it. Notice the feelings that come along with it. Observe the physical sensations in your body. Can you feel your heart beating? Can you connect with the conflicting urges to act and not to? Getting in touch with those feelings is the first step to acting in the face of them.
Woody Allen famously said that 80% of success is showing up. Maybe that’s true. But, if it is, then I’d say the other 20% is the most important. Simply showing up and watching TV on a treadmill—that’s not enough. Your greatest opportunity is to use your time in a way that will garner the most productive return. To take risks that will shake things up.
What can you do, right now, that would be the most powerful use of this moment?
For years I’ve exercised every day—doing weights, cardio, yoga—but despite my continuous effort, I haven’t seen much change.
Until a few months ago.
Recently, my body has changed. My muscles are stronger, more defined, and I’ve lost five pounds along with a visible layer of fat. So what did I do differently?
Let’s start with what I didn’t do…
Spend more time exercising. In fact, I’ve spent less. What I did change is how I use the time I spend working out.
Instead of doing the same old workout, day after day, I’m mixing it up with new routines. I’m focusing my effort more wisely—hitting my muscles with different exercises, adding balance challenges, power moves, and intervals.
The rapid results I achieved by changing my exercise routine made something very clear to me: We habitually squander time and effort on behaviors that do little to move us toward the outcomes we’re seeking. Spending an hour on a treadmill watching TV had no visible impact on my fitness. But when I used that hour differently, I saw improvement.
It’s not that we’re lazy. We put effort into what we do. I ran on the treadmill every day. But, like my daily run, our efforts often don’t translate into optimum results.
The basic principle is simple: We’re already spending a certain amount of time doing things—in meetings, managing businesses, writing emails, making decisions. If we could just make a higher impact during that time, it’s all upside with no cost.
So here’s the question I’d like to propose you ask yourself throughout your day: What can I do, right now, that would be the most powerful use of this moment?
What can I say? What action can I take? What question can I ask? What issue can I bring up? What decision can I make that would have the greatest impact?
Asking these questions—and answering them honestly—is the path to choosing new actions that could bring better outcomes. The hard part is following through on the answers and taking the risks to reap the full benefits of each moment. That takes courage. But it’s also what brings the payoff.
Rejection, failure, even ridicule—those are the risks of making the most powerful use of a moment. But in my experience, boldness, combined with skilled communication, almost always pays off because it moves the energy of a situation and creates new possibilities in otherwise old ruts.
Having the courage to take the kind of bold action that creates new opportunities is, possibly, the most critical skill a leader can have. It’s why leadership development should involve experiences that hone emotional courage, and the communication abilities necessary to use it productively.
I recently saw a short video that perfectly illustrates the risk-reward payoff of courageously using a moment well. Billy Joel was speaking at Vanderbilt University when a young student, Michael Pollack, raised his hand. When Joel called on him, Michael asked if he could play the piano to accompany the musician for a song. A silence followed. Michael had taken a big risk just by asking and you could feel the tension and suspense in the room. After a pause, Joel said “yes” and the video of their astounding spontaneous collaboration has now been viewed over 2.5 million times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bceuh8c-4kg
How often have you been in a similar situation, at one time or another, wanting to say something or do something, yet letting the moment pass? Next time you’re in that situation, pay attention to it. Notice the feelings that come along with it. Observe the physical sensations in your body. Can you feel your heart beating? Can you connect with the conflicting urges to act and not to? Getting in touch with those feelings is the first step to acting in the face of them.
Woody Allen famously said that 80% of success is showing up. Maybe that’s true. But, if it is, then I’d say the other 20% is the most important. Simply showing up and watching TV on a treadmill—that’s not enough. Your greatest opportunity is to use your time in a way that will garner the most productive return. To take risks that will shake things up.
What can you do, right now, that would be the most powerful use of this moment?
This filmmaker set out to win Sundance and got ‘saved’ instead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EShApFSrXqw
Jonathan Merritt, Religion News Service, Feb 20, 2015
Brian Ivie, 24, grew up dreaming about making a film that would compete at Sundance Film Festival. When he stumbled on a 2011 Los Angeles Times article, “South Korean pastor tends an unwanted flock,” Ivie thought he found his way in.
The article recounted the story of Pastor Lee Jong-rak of Seoul who decided to build a “baby box” for mothers to leave their unwanted children. Hundreds of infants are abandoned in South Korea each year due to social stigmas associated with domestic adoption, out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and physical and mental disabilities. Lee feels a supernatural call to personally care for the children that others refuse to keep. He and his wife, Chun-Ja, now care for dozens of children. Many of them have a disability, such as deafness, blindness, Down syndrome, or cerebral palsy.
“Here was the story of a pastor who had built a mailbox for babies at his church, and it haunted me,” Ivie said of learning about Lee’s story. “I thought, ‘This could be my golden ticket to Sundance.’”
While still a film student at the University of Southern California, Ivie tracked down Lee to ask if he could visit Korea and make a documentary about his work. Lee responded that he wasn’t sure what making a documentary meant, but he invited Ivie to come live in his home. After raising money via Kickstarter and convincing Red Digital Cinema to donate state-of-the-art equipment, Ivie flew to South Korea to capture the story he hoped would make him famous. But what he found in Seoul was faith, rather than fame.
“I didn’t smoke cigarettes and watched Fox News with my mom, so I assumed I was probably a Christian,” Ivie, who was raised Roman Catholic, said. “But when I witnessed the love and courage of Pastor Lee, I saw the real deal. He was giving his life for something that wasn’t cultural.”
Through the process, Ivie says he was “saved” or converted to Christianity. The experience, he says, brought him a sense of purpose and freedom from struggles such as anger issues and pornography addiction.
“When I started, I was using these people in Korea to fulfill my aspirations to go to Sundance, but I found something much greater,” Ivie says.
This spiritual awakening propelled Ivie to visit Lee two more times and complete the film, “The Drop Box,” which can be seen in theaters nationwide from March 3 to 5. A book written by Ivie that shares his personal journey also releases in March.
The film is being distributed by “Focus on the Family,” and considering its emphasis on the sanctity of infant life, will likely be a powerful tool for pro-life advocates. Ivie recognizes this and says he hopes the film will expand the pro-life movement beyond just opposing abortion to also focusing the humanity of women who struggle with difficult decisions.
“Pastor Lee is a man who doesn’t yell at women to stop having abortions,” Ivie says. “Instead, he says, ‘I will take your children and raise them with love.’ Telling people that they matter and that their child matters is the only way forward.”
“The Drop Box” was not admitted to Sundance Film Festival, which Ivie says is because “it is not as good as a lot of those films.” But such an assessment may be Ivie’s attempt at humility. His film has earned a spate of critical accolades including being named an official selection at both the Portland Film Festival and Heartland Film Festival, as well as winning the prestigious “Best of Festival” award at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.
Despite my own aversion to documentaries and “faith-based” art, I decided to screen the final cut of the film this week and found myself both weeping and laughing all the way through. The film is not overtly evangelistic or heavy-handed in conveying spiritual themes. It is imaginative in its storytelling and allows critics of Lee’s work to be heard so that audiences can judge for themselves.
All in all, “The Drop Box” is one of the most stunning and moving documentaries I’ve ever seen, and it will set up Ivie as a major player in a burgeoning faith film industry. Ivie has already begun developing his next film, tentatively titled “The Jesus Revolution,” which tells the story of the America’s last spiritual awakening.
“A lot of people get saved and then go to the Amazon jungle and preach to unreached people groups,” Ivie says, “but I want to reach people in and through Hollywood by making good films that aren’t corny or obvious or self-righteous or cliche.”
If his first attempt at filmmaking is any indication, Ivie is already well on his way.
Jonathan Merritt, Religion News Service, Feb 20, 2015
Brian Ivie, 24, grew up dreaming about making a film that would compete at Sundance Film Festival. When he stumbled on a 2011 Los Angeles Times article, “South Korean pastor tends an unwanted flock,” Ivie thought he found his way in.
The article recounted the story of Pastor Lee Jong-rak of Seoul who decided to build a “baby box” for mothers to leave their unwanted children. Hundreds of infants are abandoned in South Korea each year due to social stigmas associated with domestic adoption, out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and physical and mental disabilities. Lee feels a supernatural call to personally care for the children that others refuse to keep. He and his wife, Chun-Ja, now care for dozens of children. Many of them have a disability, such as deafness, blindness, Down syndrome, or cerebral palsy.
“Here was the story of a pastor who had built a mailbox for babies at his church, and it haunted me,” Ivie said of learning about Lee’s story. “I thought, ‘This could be my golden ticket to Sundance.’”
While still a film student at the University of Southern California, Ivie tracked down Lee to ask if he could visit Korea and make a documentary about his work. Lee responded that he wasn’t sure what making a documentary meant, but he invited Ivie to come live in his home. After raising money via Kickstarter and convincing Red Digital Cinema to donate state-of-the-art equipment, Ivie flew to South Korea to capture the story he hoped would make him famous. But what he found in Seoul was faith, rather than fame.
“I didn’t smoke cigarettes and watched Fox News with my mom, so I assumed I was probably a Christian,” Ivie, who was raised Roman Catholic, said. “But when I witnessed the love and courage of Pastor Lee, I saw the real deal. He was giving his life for something that wasn’t cultural.”
Through the process, Ivie says he was “saved” or converted to Christianity. The experience, he says, brought him a sense of purpose and freedom from struggles such as anger issues and pornography addiction.
“When I started, I was using these people in Korea to fulfill my aspirations to go to Sundance, but I found something much greater,” Ivie says.
This spiritual awakening propelled Ivie to visit Lee two more times and complete the film, “The Drop Box,” which can be seen in theaters nationwide from March 3 to 5. A book written by Ivie that shares his personal journey also releases in March.
The film is being distributed by “Focus on the Family,” and considering its emphasis on the sanctity of infant life, will likely be a powerful tool for pro-life advocates. Ivie recognizes this and says he hopes the film will expand the pro-life movement beyond just opposing abortion to also focusing the humanity of women who struggle with difficult decisions.
“Pastor Lee is a man who doesn’t yell at women to stop having abortions,” Ivie says. “Instead, he says, ‘I will take your children and raise them with love.’ Telling people that they matter and that their child matters is the only way forward.”
“The Drop Box” was not admitted to Sundance Film Festival, which Ivie says is because “it is not as good as a lot of those films.” But such an assessment may be Ivie’s attempt at humility. His film has earned a spate of critical accolades including being named an official selection at both the Portland Film Festival and Heartland Film Festival, as well as winning the prestigious “Best of Festival” award at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.
Despite my own aversion to documentaries and “faith-based” art, I decided to screen the final cut of the film this week and found myself both weeping and laughing all the way through. The film is not overtly evangelistic or heavy-handed in conveying spiritual themes. It is imaginative in its storytelling and allows critics of Lee’s work to be heard so that audiences can judge for themselves.
All in all, “The Drop Box” is one of the most stunning and moving documentaries I’ve ever seen, and it will set up Ivie as a major player in a burgeoning faith film industry. Ivie has already begun developing his next film, tentatively titled “The Jesus Revolution,” which tells the story of the America’s last spiritual awakening.
“A lot of people get saved and then go to the Amazon jungle and preach to unreached people groups,” Ivie says, “but I want to reach people in and through Hollywood by making good films that aren’t corny or obvious or self-righteous or cliche.”
If his first attempt at filmmaking is any indication, Ivie is already well on his way.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Foram Fazer um Ultrasso—Não esperavam esses resultados
De SFG Family
Este casal estava esperando um filho, e foram fazer um ultrassom. Depois de receberem más notÃcias, prepararam-se para o pior. Mas e quando o seu filho nasceu? Eles não estava preparados para isso!
Duração de 7:44 minutos.
Duração de 7:44 minutos.
Gang Members Shot Him Eight Times—An Angel Helped Save His Life
http://blog.godreports.com/2014/12/gang-members-shot-him-eight-times-an-angel-helped-save-his-life/
By Michael Ashcraft and Mark Ellis
When gang initiates shot musician Marcus Stanley eight times one night in 2004 on a Baltimore street, he feared that IF he lived, his music career was over.
He played piano with R&B singer Chris Brown. He traveled with gospel musicians like Donnie McClurkin, but he didn’t really pay attention to the gospel. He was drawn by the money and extravagant lifestyle.
“I was not focused on the message. I was not focused on Christ,” Stanley told CBN. “I was really focused on just making it—being a musician, being a popular musician, and playing for a great artist. The money, too, that would probably be No. 1 ’cause it was fast money.”
The heady days of fame and fortune crashed to an end with the late-night shooting. Police suspect the attempted murder was a random case of initiates earning their entrance into a gang.
“We got in late every night,” Stanley told CBN. “I was actually walking to the store. I realized I didn’t have my wallet and hadn’t reached the store yet, but I turned around and started walking back to go get my wallet and I saw these guys standing on the corner that night and they were watching.”
One of the six, the leader of the gang, walked up to him and said, “What’s you doing out here, homie?”
“I’m just chillin, bro,” Stanley replied, and kept walking. The gang followed and circled around him.
“Well, you gotta roll out, homie,” the leader retorted. That’s when he pulled out a .45 caliber gun from his leather jacket, pointed it at Stanley, and shot him point-blank.
A bright light from the gun blinded him and Stanley fell to the ground. A burst of seven more rounds rained down on him from close range.
“When I first saw the gun-flash, I remember hitting the ground, and then I saw an angel get in front of me,” said Stanley.
Apparently the angel saved Stanley’s life by deflecting the path of some of the bullets.
“I’m 6 foot 7, so the angel was probably like 7-foot something,” Stanley told CBN. “It was just a transparent figure. I didn’t see wings or anything like that. I saw it was clear, transparent, and it was in front of me.”
Stanley heard God tell him not to move. He held his breath and waited for the killers to leave. When they drove away at fast speed, Stanley took his first breath. “Oh God … Oh God,” he cried softly. He saw a pool of blood forming around him and tried to stand, but couldn’t.
For the first time in his life, he cried out to the Lord of Life—the same God the gospel singers invoked.
“I was like, ‘God help me. Help me make it,’” Stanley said. “I just remember trying to stay awake. I thought that would be the key.
“It was like a movie. You see that stuff in a movie. You see the light up there. People see their life flashing before their eyes. It was like that for me, except that I started thinking what would happen if I did die. And I was like, nobody’s going to know what happened to me.”
He crawled from the street to the sidewalk. Stanley tried to flag down passing cars, but no one would stop.
Suddenly Stanley remembered he still had his cell phone. He pulled it out and dialed 911.
When police arrived they drew a chalk line around him and put up crime scene tape. Even though everything around him communicated death, Stanley began to pray for life.
After paramedics rushed him to the hospital, doctors cut off his clothes and Stanley could see all the gunshot wounds. My body looks dead, like I shouldn’t be alive, but I am, he thought.
Stanley heard the EMT say, “I don’t think he’s going to make it.”
When they wheeled him in for surgery, the doctors seemed stunned he was still breathing and conscious.
Before the surgery, Stanley saw an amazing sight. “I remember looking and seeing the same angel that was on the street and the angel had his arms crossed… He didn’t do anything or say anything. He was kind of like nodding his head as if to say, ‘Everything is going to be all right.’” Immediately, Stanley felt God’s peace.
Doctors performed an eight-hour surgery to save his life. They reattached his colon, removed half his stomach, removed half his pancreas and removed all his spleen, he said.
After the surgery, he sustained nerve damage in his arm, and his right hand was left with no feeling. He thought his musical career was over.
Remarkably, after three months of rehab he was able to walk again and even play the piano.
Despite God’s amazing intervention to save and preserve his life, Stanley was not ready to surrender his life to Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He went back to pursuing his dreams in the music world.
But the need for painkillers after the surgery led him into drug addiction. Five years later, he was so disgusted with the course of his life, he finally decided to go all-out for Jesus.
Stanley hit rock bottom—and this time he was ready to surrender. He cried out to God and turned his life completely over to Jesus Christ.
“I got to a point where in desperation I was like, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ And that’s when everything changed for me as far as me pursuing, saying, ‘I need Jesus.’ Took me a long time to get there,” Stanley told CBN.
Later, he learned that his surgeon found God as a result of Stanley’s surgery. “He acknowledged it was not possible that he did the surgery by himself.”
Today, Stanley uses his talent for God’s kingdom. He plays and speaks before youth groups and high schools.
“It’s not really about the music,” Stanley said. “It’s more about what God’s done in my life, and I aim to make him famous at everything I do and to show his glory.”
From http://blog.godreports.com/2014/12/gang-members-shot-him-eight-times-an-angel-helped-save-his-life. You can hear Marcus Stanley tell the story in the YouTube clip at the end of this page.
By Michael Ashcraft and Mark Ellis
When gang initiates shot musician Marcus Stanley eight times one night in 2004 on a Baltimore street, he feared that IF he lived, his music career was over.
He played piano with R&B singer Chris Brown. He traveled with gospel musicians like Donnie McClurkin, but he didn’t really pay attention to the gospel. He was drawn by the money and extravagant lifestyle.
“I was not focused on the message. I was not focused on Christ,” Stanley told CBN. “I was really focused on just making it—being a musician, being a popular musician, and playing for a great artist. The money, too, that would probably be No. 1 ’cause it was fast money.”
The heady days of fame and fortune crashed to an end with the late-night shooting. Police suspect the attempted murder was a random case of initiates earning their entrance into a gang.
“We got in late every night,” Stanley told CBN. “I was actually walking to the store. I realized I didn’t have my wallet and hadn’t reached the store yet, but I turned around and started walking back to go get my wallet and I saw these guys standing on the corner that night and they were watching.”
One of the six, the leader of the gang, walked up to him and said, “What’s you doing out here, homie?”
“I’m just chillin, bro,” Stanley replied, and kept walking. The gang followed and circled around him.
“Well, you gotta roll out, homie,” the leader retorted. That’s when he pulled out a .45 caliber gun from his leather jacket, pointed it at Stanley, and shot him point-blank.
A bright light from the gun blinded him and Stanley fell to the ground. A burst of seven more rounds rained down on him from close range.
“When I first saw the gun-flash, I remember hitting the ground, and then I saw an angel get in front of me,” said Stanley.
Apparently the angel saved Stanley’s life by deflecting the path of some of the bullets.
“I’m 6 foot 7, so the angel was probably like 7-foot something,” Stanley told CBN. “It was just a transparent figure. I didn’t see wings or anything like that. I saw it was clear, transparent, and it was in front of me.”
Stanley heard God tell him not to move. He held his breath and waited for the killers to leave. When they drove away at fast speed, Stanley took his first breath. “Oh God … Oh God,” he cried softly. He saw a pool of blood forming around him and tried to stand, but couldn’t.
For the first time in his life, he cried out to the Lord of Life—the same God the gospel singers invoked.
“I was like, ‘God help me. Help me make it,’” Stanley said. “I just remember trying to stay awake. I thought that would be the key.
“It was like a movie. You see that stuff in a movie. You see the light up there. People see their life flashing before their eyes. It was like that for me, except that I started thinking what would happen if I did die. And I was like, nobody’s going to know what happened to me.”
He crawled from the street to the sidewalk. Stanley tried to flag down passing cars, but no one would stop.
Suddenly Stanley remembered he still had his cell phone. He pulled it out and dialed 911.
When police arrived they drew a chalk line around him and put up crime scene tape. Even though everything around him communicated death, Stanley began to pray for life.
After paramedics rushed him to the hospital, doctors cut off his clothes and Stanley could see all the gunshot wounds. My body looks dead, like I shouldn’t be alive, but I am, he thought.
Stanley heard the EMT say, “I don’t think he’s going to make it.”
When they wheeled him in for surgery, the doctors seemed stunned he was still breathing and conscious.
Before the surgery, Stanley saw an amazing sight. “I remember looking and seeing the same angel that was on the street and the angel had his arms crossed… He didn’t do anything or say anything. He was kind of like nodding his head as if to say, ‘Everything is going to be all right.’” Immediately, Stanley felt God’s peace.
Doctors performed an eight-hour surgery to save his life. They reattached his colon, removed half his stomach, removed half his pancreas and removed all his spleen, he said.
After the surgery, he sustained nerve damage in his arm, and his right hand was left with no feeling. He thought his musical career was over.
Remarkably, after three months of rehab he was able to walk again and even play the piano.
Despite God’s amazing intervention to save and preserve his life, Stanley was not ready to surrender his life to Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He went back to pursuing his dreams in the music world.
But the need for painkillers after the surgery led him into drug addiction. Five years later, he was so disgusted with the course of his life, he finally decided to go all-out for Jesus.
Stanley hit rock bottom—and this time he was ready to surrender. He cried out to God and turned his life completely over to Jesus Christ.
“I got to a point where in desperation I was like, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ And that’s when everything changed for me as far as me pursuing, saying, ‘I need Jesus.’ Took me a long time to get there,” Stanley told CBN.
Later, he learned that his surgeon found God as a result of Stanley’s surgery. “He acknowledged it was not possible that he did the surgery by himself.”
Today, Stanley uses his talent for God’s kingdom. He plays and speaks before youth groups and high schools.
“It’s not really about the music,” Stanley said. “It’s more about what God’s done in my life, and I aim to make him famous at everything I do and to show his glory.”
From http://blog.godreports.com/2014/12/gang-members-shot-him-eight-times-an-angel-helped-save-his-life. You can hear Marcus Stanley tell the story in the YouTube clip at the end of this page.
