"And Joshua said, Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people
across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!" - Joshua 7:7
Have you ever felt like you were doing what God wanted you to do, but your plans were totally frustrated? This was how Joshua felt. The Lord had been with the people of Israel as they entered the Promised Land. They defeated every enemy because of God's blessing and
protection. They had just taken the city of Jericho. The next battle was the city of Ai. They scouted the enemy and determined it would require only 3,000 men to defeat them. They attacked, and soon the reports came back that they were being routed. Joshua could not understand this. He cried out to God asking why this was happening.
The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated My covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own
possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction" (Joshua 7:10-12).
Whenever we open ourselves up to sin, we become liable. God removes His protective shield from our lives in order for the sin in our lives to be purged out. He often uses the enemy of our souls to accomplish the task.
If you feel you are being thwarted in some way, examine your life to see if there is any sin that is the cause of the problem. Adversity is not always due to sin, but it can be. Ask Him. He will show you. As with Joshua, God immediately answered this prayer when Joshua asked. He
desires for His children to live in a right relationship with Him.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
PLACING TRUST IN OUR STRENGTH
"So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead". - 1 Chronicles 21:14.
When was the last time your overconfidence cost the lives of 70,000 men? That is exactly what happened to David. David made what might appear to be an innocent request of his general, Joab. But the minute Joab heard the request he cringed. He knew David was in big trouble for this one. You see to number the troops was a great sin in Israel because it was against the law. Why? Because it demonstrated that you were placing more trust in numbers than in the living God. David displayed enough pride to cost the lives of 70,000 fighting men. God gave him three choices of punishment for his sin. A plague was the one he chose, and it resulted in the loss of 70,000.
Throughout Israel's history, God set the stage for battles to be won, miracles to take place, and people to exercise faith. The stage was always set so that man could not take credit for what God did. Consider Gideon who was only allowed 300 men to fight an army of 100,000. Consider Jehoshaphat, who had to lead his army with his singers. God defeated the enemy. Consider Joshua, who was told simply to walk around Jericho seven times, and they would get victory. God did things in some very unconventional ways!
How does this relate to you and me as workplace believers? Well, the minute you and I place more trust in our abilities than in God, we are guilty of numbering the troops. How does He punish us? Sometimes it's through letting a deal go sour. Sometimes it's through problems with a client or vendor. Sometimes situations just blow up in our face. Other times, He lets us go on for a long time doing our own thing, but eventually He deals with it.
The lesson here is to learn daily and complete dependence on God. Use your gifts and abilities through the power of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him daily for direction and wisdom. His ways won't always line up with conventional wisdom. When we begin depending on our abilities only, God has a responsibility to make known to us who is the giver of the blessings.
When was the last time your overconfidence cost the lives of 70,000 men? That is exactly what happened to David. David made what might appear to be an innocent request of his general, Joab. But the minute Joab heard the request he cringed. He knew David was in big trouble for this one. You see to number the troops was a great sin in Israel because it was against the law. Why? Because it demonstrated that you were placing more trust in numbers than in the living God. David displayed enough pride to cost the lives of 70,000 fighting men. God gave him three choices of punishment for his sin. A plague was the one he chose, and it resulted in the loss of 70,000.
Throughout Israel's history, God set the stage for battles to be won, miracles to take place, and people to exercise faith. The stage was always set so that man could not take credit for what God did. Consider Gideon who was only allowed 300 men to fight an army of 100,000. Consider Jehoshaphat, who had to lead his army with his singers. God defeated the enemy. Consider Joshua, who was told simply to walk around Jericho seven times, and they would get victory. God did things in some very unconventional ways!
How does this relate to you and me as workplace believers? Well, the minute you and I place more trust in our abilities than in God, we are guilty of numbering the troops. How does He punish us? Sometimes it's through letting a deal go sour. Sometimes it's through problems with a client or vendor. Sometimes situations just blow up in our face. Other times, He lets us go on for a long time doing our own thing, but eventually He deals with it.
The lesson here is to learn daily and complete dependence on God. Use your gifts and abilities through the power of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him daily for direction and wisdom. His ways won't always line up with conventional wisdom. When we begin depending on our abilities only, God has a responsibility to make known to us who is the giver of the blessings.
Monday, February 25, 2008
SELF DISCIPLINE
''It is better to have self-control than to conquer a city.'' - Proverbs 16:32 NLT
First and foremost, building strong character reqiures self-discipline. Self-discipline is the ability to do what's right, when you don't feel like it. Plato asserted, ''The first and best victory is to conquer self.'' Yes, your greatest victories are internal one. Bobby Jones was winning golf tournament by age 12. But he had a temper. His nickname was ''club-thrower.'' An older gentleman called Grandpa Bart recognised Jones' talent and his character issues. He said, 'Bobby, you're good enough to win, but you'll never win big until you control that temper of yours.' Jones did master his temper, and went on to win his first U.S Open at 21. Grandpa Bart used to say, 'Bobby was 14 when he mastered golf, but he was 21 when he mastered himself.' English theologian Henry Parry Liddon observe, 'What we do on some great occasion will probably depend on what we already are; and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline.'
If you're serious about building strong character, set higher standards for yourself and refuse to lower them. Need a role model? You won't find a better one than Jesus. He said, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself' (Matthew 16:24 NIV). Each day look for an opportunity to say 'no' to yourself in some small area. Try it; you'll be surprised how hard it is. But the payoff will come when you need to say no to yourself in some big area of life. Like saving for a rainy day, you'll have spiritual strength to draw on when you need it.
First and foremost, building strong character reqiures self-discipline. Self-discipline is the ability to do what's right, when you don't feel like it. Plato asserted, ''The first and best victory is to conquer self.'' Yes, your greatest victories are internal one. Bobby Jones was winning golf tournament by age 12. But he had a temper. His nickname was ''club-thrower.'' An older gentleman called Grandpa Bart recognised Jones' talent and his character issues. He said, 'Bobby, you're good enough to win, but you'll never win big until you control that temper of yours.' Jones did master his temper, and went on to win his first U.S Open at 21. Grandpa Bart used to say, 'Bobby was 14 when he mastered golf, but he was 21 when he mastered himself.' English theologian Henry Parry Liddon observe, 'What we do on some great occasion will probably depend on what we already are; and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline.'
If you're serious about building strong character, set higher standards for yourself and refuse to lower them. Need a role model? You won't find a better one than Jesus. He said, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself' (Matthew 16:24 NIV). Each day look for an opportunity to say 'no' to yourself in some small area. Try it; you'll be surprised how hard it is. But the payoff will come when you need to say no to yourself in some big area of life. Like saving for a rainy day, you'll have spiritual strength to draw on when you need it.
Friday, February 22, 2008
THE MIRACLE OF COMPOUNDING INTEREST
Saving and investing for the future is great gain. Be it towards retirement, college trust, medical purpose or dream vacation. We will look at the reality and the benefit of starting early to save for the future. Compounding interest is simply the interest you earn on both the principal and the accrued interest.
There is a story of a master who gave his servants talents. To one he gave five, another two and another one. The one he gave five talents doubled it, so did the one with two. The one he gave one talent buried his in the ground for safekeeping. Their master returned and praised the two servants who doubled theirs, while he called the third servant lazy and wicked.
Our talents should multiply! Let us look at another story of two children Helen and Ruth. Their parents begin saving =N=25,000 per annum towards their college fund. Helen’s parent began saving when she was age 1 till age 10. Ruth’s parent started at age 10 till age 26. Now let’s see the magic of compounding interest work for both of them.
AGE HELEN’S SAVINGS COMP INT RUTH’S SAVINGS COMP INT
1 25,000.00 26,000.00 0.00 0.00
2 25,000.00 53,040.00 0.00 0.00
3 25,000.00 81,162.00 0.00 0.00
4 25,000.00 110,408.00 0.00 0.00
5 25,000.00 140,824.00 0.00 0.00
6 25,000.00 172,457.00 0.00 0.00
7 25,000.00 205,355.00 0.00 0.00
8 25,000.00 239,569.00 0.00 0.00
9 25,000.00 275,152.00 0.00 0.00
10 0.00 312,158.00 25,000.00 26,000.00
11 0.00 324,644.00 25,000.00 53,040.00
12 0.00 337,630.00 25,000.00 81,162.00
13 0.00 365,180.00 25,000.00 110,408.00
14 0.00 379,787.00 25,000.00 140,824.00
15 0.00 394,978.00 25,000.00 172,457.00
16 0.00 410,777.00 25,000.00 205,355.00
17 0.00 427,208.00 25,000.00 239,569.00
18 0.00 444,296.00 25,000.00 275,152.00
19 0.00 462,068.00 25,000.00 312,158.00
20 0.00 480,551.00 25,000.00 350,644.00
21 0.00 499,773.00 25,000.00 390,670.00
22 0.00 519,764.00 25,000.00 432,297.00
23 0.00 540,555.00 25,000.00 475,589.00
24 0.00 562,177.00 25,000.00 520,613.00
25 0.00 584,864.00 25,000.00 576,438.00
26 0.00 608,051.00 25,000.00 616,136.00
250,000.00 425,000.00
At age 26 years of age Helen and Ruth both have a =N=600,000+, however, Helen’s parent contribution was =N=250,000.00, while Ruth’s was =N=425,000.00. Rates are based on 4% interest compounded annually. Today banks offer 4% for your child’s super saver account. Of course, this analysis works perfectly in an environment of stable inflation rate and minimum rate of currency devaluation. Imagine the figures in dollars saved at a New York bank!
The point is, start to save early and be committed to your savings plan. Time waits for no one. Helen’s parent saved =N=25,000 only for 10 years, and Ruth’s did not save for the first 9 years, and had to contribute almost twice the amount that Helen’s parent did for 17 years to arrive at about the same place.
The miracle of compounding interest can work for a child, adult, business organization or even an economy. Start a plan today!
There is a story of a master who gave his servants talents. To one he gave five, another two and another one. The one he gave five talents doubled it, so did the one with two. The one he gave one talent buried his in the ground for safekeeping. Their master returned and praised the two servants who doubled theirs, while he called the third servant lazy and wicked.
Our talents should multiply! Let us look at another story of two children Helen and Ruth. Their parents begin saving =N=25,000 per annum towards their college fund. Helen’s parent began saving when she was age 1 till age 10. Ruth’s parent started at age 10 till age 26. Now let’s see the magic of compounding interest work for both of them.
AGE HELEN’S SAVINGS COMP INT RUTH’S SAVINGS COMP INT
1 25,000.00 26,000.00 0.00 0.00
2 25,000.00 53,040.00 0.00 0.00
3 25,000.00 81,162.00 0.00 0.00
4 25,000.00 110,408.00 0.00 0.00
5 25,000.00 140,824.00 0.00 0.00
6 25,000.00 172,457.00 0.00 0.00
7 25,000.00 205,355.00 0.00 0.00
8 25,000.00 239,569.00 0.00 0.00
9 25,000.00 275,152.00 0.00 0.00
10 0.00 312,158.00 25,000.00 26,000.00
11 0.00 324,644.00 25,000.00 53,040.00
12 0.00 337,630.00 25,000.00 81,162.00
13 0.00 365,180.00 25,000.00 110,408.00
14 0.00 379,787.00 25,000.00 140,824.00
15 0.00 394,978.00 25,000.00 172,457.00
16 0.00 410,777.00 25,000.00 205,355.00
17 0.00 427,208.00 25,000.00 239,569.00
18 0.00 444,296.00 25,000.00 275,152.00
19 0.00 462,068.00 25,000.00 312,158.00
20 0.00 480,551.00 25,000.00 350,644.00
21 0.00 499,773.00 25,000.00 390,670.00
22 0.00 519,764.00 25,000.00 432,297.00
23 0.00 540,555.00 25,000.00 475,589.00
24 0.00 562,177.00 25,000.00 520,613.00
25 0.00 584,864.00 25,000.00 576,438.00
26 0.00 608,051.00 25,000.00 616,136.00
250,000.00 425,000.00
At age 26 years of age Helen and Ruth both have a =N=600,000+, however, Helen’s parent contribution was =N=250,000.00, while Ruth’s was =N=425,000.00. Rates are based on 4% interest compounded annually. Today banks offer 4% for your child’s super saver account. Of course, this analysis works perfectly in an environment of stable inflation rate and minimum rate of currency devaluation. Imagine the figures in dollars saved at a New York bank!
The point is, start to save early and be committed to your savings plan. Time waits for no one. Helen’s parent saved =N=25,000 only for 10 years, and Ruth’s did not save for the first 9 years, and had to contribute almost twice the amount that Helen’s parent did for 17 years to arrive at about the same place.
The miracle of compounding interest can work for a child, adult, business organization or even an economy. Start a plan today!
STAY TEACHABLE
"Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.'' - Proverbs 18:15 TM
When it comes to staying teachable, understand 2 things:
1. Nothing is interesting if you are not interested - Philip B. Cosby writes: ''There is a theory of human behaviour that says people subconsciously retard their own growth. They come to rely on cliches and habits. Once they reach the age of their own personal comfort with the world, they stop learning and their minds run on idle for the rest of their days. They may progress organizationally, they may be ambitious and eager, and they may even work night and day, but they learn no more.'' It's a tragedy when we allow ourselves to get in a rut and never climb out. We miss the best God has to offer. In contrast, teachable people are fully engaged in life. They get excited about things. They are interested in discovery, disscussion, application and growth.
2. Successful people view learning differently than those who are unsuccessful - That doesn't mean that unsuccessful people are unable to think the way successful people do. If you have the desire and the discipline, you can retrain yourself to think differently. Teachable people are always open to new ideas and are willing to learn from anyone who has something to offer. Sidney J. Harris wrote: ''A winner knows how much he still has to learn, even when he is considered an expert by others. A loser wants to be considered an expert by others, before he has learned enough to know how little he knows.'' Bottom line it's truly remarkable how much a person has to learn, before he realizes how little he knows. So, stay teachable.
When it comes to staying teachable, understand 2 things:
1. Nothing is interesting if you are not interested - Philip B. Cosby writes: ''There is a theory of human behaviour that says people subconsciously retard their own growth. They come to rely on cliches and habits. Once they reach the age of their own personal comfort with the world, they stop learning and their minds run on idle for the rest of their days. They may progress organizationally, they may be ambitious and eager, and they may even work night and day, but they learn no more.'' It's a tragedy when we allow ourselves to get in a rut and never climb out. We miss the best God has to offer. In contrast, teachable people are fully engaged in life. They get excited about things. They are interested in discovery, disscussion, application and growth.
2. Successful people view learning differently than those who are unsuccessful - That doesn't mean that unsuccessful people are unable to think the way successful people do. If you have the desire and the discipline, you can retrain yourself to think differently. Teachable people are always open to new ideas and are willing to learn from anyone who has something to offer. Sidney J. Harris wrote: ''A winner knows how much he still has to learn, even when he is considered an expert by others. A loser wants to be considered an expert by others, before he has learned enough to know how little he knows.'' Bottom line it's truly remarkable how much a person has to learn, before he realizes how little he knows. So, stay teachable.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
THE LION AND THE COUGAR
A pointed fable is told about a young lion and a cougar. Both thirsty,the animals arrived at their usual water hole at the same time. They immediately began to argue about who should satisfy their thirst first. The argument became heated, and each decided he would rather die than give up the privilege of being first to quench his thirst. As they stubbornly confronted each other, their emotions turned to rage.Their cruel attacks on each other were suddenly interrupted. They both looked up. Circling overhead was a flock of vultures waiting for the loser to fall. Quietly, the two beasts turned and walked away. The thought of being devoured was all they needed to end their quarrel.
Friday, February 15, 2008
FACE TO FACE
"I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.'' - 2 John 12.
It is easy to fire off a letter to someone in this age of electronic communication because of its expediency. In business we call this being efficient. However, there are times when nothing but a face-to-face meeting is the appropriate means of communication. We know that verbal skills are a very small portion of communication. Body language, voice tone, and our expressions make up the majority of our overall communication. This cannot be seen through a letter or electronic medium.
John knew that being face to face with those he ministered to be important. And for John, it meant some major trouble to get from one place to another. It wasn't as simple as getting into a car or hopping onto an airplane. John's desire and determination to visit and talk face to face reinforces the importance of one-on-one personal communication. I once had to confront a businessman about some problems we were having in a business deal. He lived in another town. The negotiations had stalled to some degree. I could have attempted to solve the problem over the phone. But I realized the serious nature of the issues required a face-to-face meeting. I drove two hours to his office and met with him face to face. It meant all the difference. It demonstrated to my friend I was serious enough about solving the problem to take a day to come see him. It also showed I valued him and he was worth the effort. This resulted in him giving greater emphasis to the issue.
Next time a situation arises that requires more focused communication, consider whether the situation requires a personal visit. You may find this will be the key to resolving issues that otherwise might end in a stalemate.
It is easy to fire off a letter to someone in this age of electronic communication because of its expediency. In business we call this being efficient. However, there are times when nothing but a face-to-face meeting is the appropriate means of communication. We know that verbal skills are a very small portion of communication. Body language, voice tone, and our expressions make up the majority of our overall communication. This cannot be seen through a letter or electronic medium.
John knew that being face to face with those he ministered to be important. And for John, it meant some major trouble to get from one place to another. It wasn't as simple as getting into a car or hopping onto an airplane. John's desire and determination to visit and talk face to face reinforces the importance of one-on-one personal communication. I once had to confront a businessman about some problems we were having in a business deal. He lived in another town. The negotiations had stalled to some degree. I could have attempted to solve the problem over the phone. But I realized the serious nature of the issues required a face-to-face meeting. I drove two hours to his office and met with him face to face. It meant all the difference. It demonstrated to my friend I was serious enough about solving the problem to take a day to come see him. It also showed I valued him and he was worth the effort. This resulted in him giving greater emphasis to the issue.
Next time a situation arises that requires more focused communication, consider whether the situation requires a personal visit. You may find this will be the key to resolving issues that otherwise might end in a stalemate.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
COMBINE THE POWER OF MSN, GOOGLE AND YAHOO!
It goes without saying that the world of search engines is heavily dominated by Google, but at the same time, it’s obvious that while Google typically provides some of the best results, they’re far from perfect. After all, how can you possibly trust a search engine that doesn’t have this blog as the number one result for “John Chow.” In this way, it could be better to look into a meta-search engine like Atnio. Here is their review.
Meta Search Engine for Mega Results
It’s obvious enough where the people behind Atnio got their inspiration for creating the world’s most powerful search engine. Unlike Google, however, Atnio does not have a mega-sized database of its own, relying instead on the amalgamated results of several search engines. For those of you who don’t know, this is the very definition of a meta search engine.
It’s a matter of perspective how you would view the search engine results. When you enter the search term “John Chow” in Google, you get 946,000 results. By contrast, when you perform the same search on Atnio, you get served up with “about” 17,400,000 results. That’s nearly 18 times the results, but realistically, you’ll only look at maybe the first 50 or so. You might not even navigate beyond the first page of results.
On a side note, John Chow dot Com sits on top of the Atnio SERP (search engine results page) for “John Chow”, in case you’re wondering.
Looks Like Google, Complete with Ads
From the user interface to the layout of the results page, the Atnio meta search engine looks an awful lot like Google. The main page has a blue background, but when you get to the results, it reverts to mostly white. Moreover, depending on the keyword search term, you may also get served up with sponsored results on the right. Atnio isn’t nearly as big as Google, so they don’t have as many advertisers.
The aesthetics will feel familiar, but the Atnio ads are not bid-based. Instead, getting in on the “sponsored results” comes in at a flat fee of $7.50 a month. This gets you a single listing and you can enter up to 8 keywords or keyword phrases. This effectively eliminates the concern over click fraud, just like the flat rate advertising on John Chow dot Com.
Online Bookmarking
One feature that sets Atnio apart from other meta search engines (and search engines in general) is what they call “My Folder”. This is where you can save any searches that you have done. When you conduct a search on Atnio, you can click on any of the “save result” links to save the search in My Folder. This saves the actual link, as well as the search that brought up that result.
From My Folder, you can send selected listings to any email address, assign a personal rating (out of five stars), and add a personal note, as well as delete individual entries (of course). This can come in pretty handy, but it’s a little strange that Atnio does not appear to have any sort of registration process for this service. Instead, it looks cookie-based.
Pictures, Videos, and News
Beyond the usual text-based search, you can also use Atnio to search for images, news, and videos. The pictures come from all over the web, whereas the video results seem to come only from YouTube and Yahoo! Video. To be a better meta search engine for video, it would have been better if Atnio also included popular sites like Revver, Google Video, and so on.
It’s nice seeing thumbnails for the videos, but the rest of the information is severely lacking. It wouldn’t take much to pull something as integral as the video’s title. Otherwise, users are simply guessing the content of the video based on a single frame.
Is Meta Really Better?
I appreciate the value of Atnio’s My Folder functionality and the relatively inexpensive sponsored results, but I have my gripes too. The image and video results could use a little more information, and it’s a little disconcerting for parents that the family filter is switched off by default. Moreover, the very name of the site — Atnio — is easy to forget. It’s easy to mistake it for Antio, Antoi, Atnoi, and so on.
So, what’s my answer to the question above? I’m going to go with “Not really.” Atnio has done a good job with creating a meta search engine, pulling results from at least six different search engines (Google, MSN, Ask, Fast, Yahoo!, and Entireweb), but there’s not enough here to pull me away from relying on the big G just yet.
Meta Search Engine for Mega Results
It’s obvious enough where the people behind Atnio got their inspiration for creating the world’s most powerful search engine. Unlike Google, however, Atnio does not have a mega-sized database of its own, relying instead on the amalgamated results of several search engines. For those of you who don’t know, this is the very definition of a meta search engine.
It’s a matter of perspective how you would view the search engine results. When you enter the search term “John Chow” in Google, you get 946,000 results. By contrast, when you perform the same search on Atnio, you get served up with “about” 17,400,000 results. That’s nearly 18 times the results, but realistically, you’ll only look at maybe the first 50 or so. You might not even navigate beyond the first page of results.
On a side note, John Chow dot Com sits on top of the Atnio SERP (search engine results page) for “John Chow”, in case you’re wondering.
Looks Like Google, Complete with Ads
From the user interface to the layout of the results page, the Atnio meta search engine looks an awful lot like Google. The main page has a blue background, but when you get to the results, it reverts to mostly white. Moreover, depending on the keyword search term, you may also get served up with sponsored results on the right. Atnio isn’t nearly as big as Google, so they don’t have as many advertisers.
The aesthetics will feel familiar, but the Atnio ads are not bid-based. Instead, getting in on the “sponsored results” comes in at a flat fee of $7.50 a month. This gets you a single listing and you can enter up to 8 keywords or keyword phrases. This effectively eliminates the concern over click fraud, just like the flat rate advertising on John Chow dot Com.
Online Bookmarking
One feature that sets Atnio apart from other meta search engines (and search engines in general) is what they call “My Folder”. This is where you can save any searches that you have done. When you conduct a search on Atnio, you can click on any of the “save result” links to save the search in My Folder. This saves the actual link, as well as the search that brought up that result.
From My Folder, you can send selected listings to any email address, assign a personal rating (out of five stars), and add a personal note, as well as delete individual entries (of course). This can come in pretty handy, but it’s a little strange that Atnio does not appear to have any sort of registration process for this service. Instead, it looks cookie-based.
Pictures, Videos, and News
Beyond the usual text-based search, you can also use Atnio to search for images, news, and videos. The pictures come from all over the web, whereas the video results seem to come only from YouTube and Yahoo! Video. To be a better meta search engine for video, it would have been better if Atnio also included popular sites like Revver, Google Video, and so on.
It’s nice seeing thumbnails for the videos, but the rest of the information is severely lacking. It wouldn’t take much to pull something as integral as the video’s title. Otherwise, users are simply guessing the content of the video based on a single frame.
Is Meta Really Better?
I appreciate the value of Atnio’s My Folder functionality and the relatively inexpensive sponsored results, but I have my gripes too. The image and video results could use a little more information, and it’s a little disconcerting for parents that the family filter is switched off by default. Moreover, the very name of the site — Atnio — is easy to forget. It’s easy to mistake it for Antio, Antoi, Atnoi, and so on.
So, what’s my answer to the question above? I’m going to go with “Not really.” Atnio has done a good job with creating a meta search engine, pulling results from at least six different search engines (Google, MSN, Ask, Fast, Yahoo!, and Entireweb), but there’s not enough here to pull me away from relying on the big G just yet.
WHEN YOUR ENEMY IS YOUR FRIEND
'Friend, do what you came for''. - Matthew 26:50 NIV
There's no pain like betrayal. And none of us is exempt. The Psalmist lamented: " My best friend, the one i trusted...has turned against me'' (Psalm 41:9 NLT). The truth is , God allows certain people into our lives to facilitate His purpose even ones like Judas, whom Jesus called 'friend', and said: 'Do what you came for'. Before Jesus was betrayed He told the disciples, ''I know whom i have chosen..that the scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me'' (John 13:18 NKJV). He could have fulfilled His destiny without John the beloved disciple, or impetuous Peter who was always ready to defend him. But it was Judas's kiss of betrayal that ushered Him to His destiny. So you can't always avoid getting hurt. But God can give you the grace to reevaluate the situation and realize that the person you thought was your enemy, was a friend in disguise. God will never permit His plans for us to be sabotage by somebody else's actions. When you're under His shield of protection He'll allow your Judas to go so far and no further. As a child of God His purpose govern how much damage others can do to you. Once you understand that, it lessens the fear that stems from getting involved again when you've been burned. The Paslmist said: ; it was good for me to be afflicted, so that i might learn your decrees' (Psalm 119:71 NIV). God loves to turn our negatives into positives. And while none of us enjoys suffering, it takes us to levels of understanding that, left to our own devices, we'd never reach.'
There's no pain like betrayal. And none of us is exempt. The Psalmist lamented: " My best friend, the one i trusted...has turned against me'' (Psalm 41:9 NLT). The truth is , God allows certain people into our lives to facilitate His purpose even ones like Judas, whom Jesus called 'friend', and said: 'Do what you came for'. Before Jesus was betrayed He told the disciples, ''I know whom i have chosen..that the scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me'' (John 13:18 NKJV). He could have fulfilled His destiny without John the beloved disciple, or impetuous Peter who was always ready to defend him. But it was Judas's kiss of betrayal that ushered Him to His destiny. So you can't always avoid getting hurt. But God can give you the grace to reevaluate the situation and realize that the person you thought was your enemy, was a friend in disguise. God will never permit His plans for us to be sabotage by somebody else's actions. When you're under His shield of protection He'll allow your Judas to go so far and no further. As a child of God His purpose govern how much damage others can do to you. Once you understand that, it lessens the fear that stems from getting involved again when you've been burned. The Paslmist said: ; it was good for me to be afflicted, so that i might learn your decrees' (Psalm 119:71 NIV). God loves to turn our negatives into positives. And while none of us enjoys suffering, it takes us to levels of understanding that, left to our own devices, we'd never reach.'
Monday, February 11, 2008
INTERNET SHOCKING SECRETS REVEALED!
Have you heard the news? The Internet has CHANGED! It's a whole new world out there... and if you don't jump on this super-hot new trend RIGHT NOW, these changes are going to crash down on your head like a tidal wave and sweep away your chances of achieving online success -- for GOOD!" Sigh...How many times have you seen overblown "scare" pitches like this, telling you that the world of Internet marketing has been turned on its head, and only the savvy elite will survive the changes that are coming? Every time I see something like this, I shake my head. Sure, the Internet is growing and evolving... But the fundamental rules for making great money online have NOT changed at all. And it drives me absolutely CRAZY when "flash-in-the-pan" marketers use fear tactics to try and scare people into buying "The next hottest thing!"
The shocking secret is, there IS no secret! I know that's a funny thing to hear from the guy who sells a best-selling marketing course called, "Insider Secrets to Marketing Your Business on the Internet!"But the fact is, there is no real "mystery" involved in creating a money-making online business. All you need to do is follow these six steps:
Step #1: Find your niche market Look for a NEED and then find a way to fill it. And make sure that whatever product or service you come up with, people are willing to pay for it! Also, you absolutely MUST research your competition to make sure your niche isn't overcrowded with competitors who offer perfectly good solutions to the problem you want to solve for your customers, Otherwise, there may not be enough room for your business to grow and thrive.
Step #2: Make sure you sell the right solution. You have to come up with a product or service that does a good job of solving your market's problem. And there has to be something truly "special" about it! You need to have some sort of "unique selling proposition" (USP) -- something that sets your product or service apart from every other product out there.
Step #3: Keep visitors glued to your site with compelling sales copy. When you have an online business, the WORDS on your site are going to be your best salesperson -- so you have to make sure they do the best possible job of selling the benefits of your product to your potential customers.
Step #4: Design a site that leads visitors straight to the order button. You have to make sure your website gives people exactly what they're looking for -- and makes it EASY for them to buy your product!
Step #5: Use an "opt-in" to collect leads and build customer relationships. Most people won't buy from you unless they feel like they know you. That's why you need to capture your visitors' email addresses so you can build relationships with them over time. Otherwise, you'll only ever make a fraction of the sales you could be getting.
Step #6: Advertise your business to the people who are MOST LIKELY TO BUY. The beauty of the Internet is that you can laser-target your advertising so you only present your message to the people who are most interested in buying your product. And traffic channels like the 'Net's top search engines can help you drive thousands of qualified leads to your site -- for little or no money! ... And that's basically it!
All of these 6 steps are essential to the success of your business. Once you have mastered all of these steps, you will be the proud owner of a website that's guaranteed to generate you healthy profits. HOWEVER, if you skip a single step, or do them out of order, you won't achieve the kind of success you're hoping for. And you'll probably end up wasting a lot of time (not to mention blood, sweat, and tears) trying to correct a painful situation you never would have experienced if you had done all these steps properly in the first place!
Are you confused by any of these 6 steps, or experiencing problems implementing any of them in your business? If so, leave a comment on my blog letting me know which steps you'd like me to explain in more detail.
The shocking secret is, there IS no secret! I know that's a funny thing to hear from the guy who sells a best-selling marketing course called, "Insider Secrets to Marketing Your Business on the Internet!"But the fact is, there is no real "mystery" involved in creating a money-making online business. All you need to do is follow these six steps:
Step #1: Find your niche market Look for a NEED and then find a way to fill it. And make sure that whatever product or service you come up with, people are willing to pay for it! Also, you absolutely MUST research your competition to make sure your niche isn't overcrowded with competitors who offer perfectly good solutions to the problem you want to solve for your customers, Otherwise, there may not be enough room for your business to grow and thrive.
Step #2: Make sure you sell the right solution. You have to come up with a product or service that does a good job of solving your market's problem. And there has to be something truly "special" about it! You need to have some sort of "unique selling proposition" (USP) -- something that sets your product or service apart from every other product out there.
Step #3: Keep visitors glued to your site with compelling sales copy. When you have an online business, the WORDS on your site are going to be your best salesperson -- so you have to make sure they do the best possible job of selling the benefits of your product to your potential customers.
Step #4: Design a site that leads visitors straight to the order button. You have to make sure your website gives people exactly what they're looking for -- and makes it EASY for them to buy your product!
Step #5: Use an "opt-in" to collect leads and build customer relationships. Most people won't buy from you unless they feel like they know you. That's why you need to capture your visitors' email addresses so you can build relationships with them over time. Otherwise, you'll only ever make a fraction of the sales you could be getting.
Step #6: Advertise your business to the people who are MOST LIKELY TO BUY. The beauty of the Internet is that you can laser-target your advertising so you only present your message to the people who are most interested in buying your product. And traffic channels like the 'Net's top search engines can help you drive thousands of qualified leads to your site -- for little or no money! ... And that's basically it!
All of these 6 steps are essential to the success of your business. Once you have mastered all of these steps, you will be the proud owner of a website that's guaranteed to generate you healthy profits. HOWEVER, if you skip a single step, or do them out of order, you won't achieve the kind of success you're hoping for. And you'll probably end up wasting a lot of time (not to mention blood, sweat, and tears) trying to correct a painful situation you never would have experienced if you had done all these steps properly in the first place!
Are you confused by any of these 6 steps, or experiencing problems implementing any of them in your business? If so, leave a comment on my blog letting me know which steps you'd like me to explain in more detail.
Friday, February 8, 2008
WHO'S COUNTING?
Napoleon was involved in conversation with a colonel of a Hungarian battalion who had been taken prisoner in Italy. The colonel mentioned he had fought in the army of Maria Theresa. "You must have a few years under your belt!" exclaimed Napoleon. "I'm sure I've lived sixty or seventy years," replied the colonel. "You mean to say," Napoleon continued, "you have not kept track of the years you have lived?" The colonel promptly replied, "Sir, I always count my money, my shirts, and my horses - but as for my years, I know nobody who wants to steal them, and I shall surely never lose them."
Thursday, February 7, 2008
HYPNOSIS AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Hypnosis has a strong reputation for being an excellent tools for changing habits. It is also a popular stage show activity that results in some facinating displays of mental manipulation. Many psychologists will also use hypnosis as a means for treating mental dysfunction. And success coaches will use hypnosis for aiding in personal development. But hypnosis can be used foreven greater purposes than these, including spiritual development.The process of hypnosis is relatively easy, which is surprising to most, considering the power that is associated with this phenomenon. In short, the process is one of distracting the conscious mind long enough to implant alternate suggestions to the inner mind. Many people think that hypnosis is a process of putting the conscious mind asleep, but this is a common misconception of hypnosis.
Hypnosis is not sleep, but rather a form of tightly focused concentration. Many spiritual traditions use meditation as a vehicle for development. Meditation too, is a process of focusing the mind, but usually at a lower level of intensity. This lower level of intensity makes meditation easier for the individual to attain and control. Once the mind is focused to the degree common in hypnosis, the ability to direct the course of activity is usually lost. This is one of the major difficulties in trying to use hypnosis by yourself. To reach a deep level, you have to have an outside source of direction. But there are relatively simple methods of overcoming this difficulty. Having another person direct you through the process is a common method. This is the way many of us view hypnosis - as a processof one person leading another through a series of steps. If this person is trustworthy, and has a solid grounding in psychology and the spiritual beliefs you hold, then this is the best option, as any variation that comes up during the process of hypnosis can be dealt with effectively. If your purpose of using hypnosis were to stop smoking, loseweight, control procrastination, or a host of many other common goals, then you would be able to use one of the many pre-recorded hypnotic tapes that are being sold on the market. Unfortunately, there aren't many hypnotic recordings for spiritual development, and the ones that do exist are somewhat expensive (the ecomonics of supply and demand in action). It is possible to create your own hypnotic recordings, and by doing this you also end up with a hypnotic session that is custom tailored to your exact goals. Using a recording device, such as a tape recorder, mini-disc recorder, or MP3 device, you can record a series of steps that you intend to follow while in the hypnotic state. This way, you can create your own hypnotic program that will help you acheive the exact results you want. But what do you record to create a hypnotic session for spiritual development?
Beyond the basics of directing yourself to relax your physical body, focus your mind through a series of steps to attain the level of focus required, and the ending sequence of coming back to normal consciousness, the progression of the working session can follow a number of different formats. Spiritual growth and development takes many forms depending on the culture in which you live. The content of the hypnotic session depends greatly on the belief system of the person undertaking it. If you believe that spiritual growth takes place when you live according to a prescribed set of rules without deviation, then you would use hypnosis to instill a 'natural' tendency to live according to those rules. This is the same as the habit control usage of hypnosis applied to those habits seen as being spiritual. Your recording will be a series of statements such as "You enjoy ....." and "You will always.......". If you believe that spiritual development takes place when you are able to make a strong connection to a higher power, then you would use hypnosis to find and control the inner mechanisms responsible for making that connection. (Incidentally, this is my belief regarding spiritual development.) In this format, hypnosis becomes a 'practice session' for learning how to make that connection better and stronger. Your recording will generally be a guided day dream in which you take the actions which lead to the stronger connection. And if you believe that spiritual growth and development happens as you become more like the Supreme Being, then you would use hypnosis to create whatever internal changes that need to happen to bring yourself closer to that state. This format of hypnosis is a combination of the other two formats.
Hypnosis is not sleep, but rather a form of tightly focused concentration. Many spiritual traditions use meditation as a vehicle for development. Meditation too, is a process of focusing the mind, but usually at a lower level of intensity. This lower level of intensity makes meditation easier for the individual to attain and control. Once the mind is focused to the degree common in hypnosis, the ability to direct the course of activity is usually lost. This is one of the major difficulties in trying to use hypnosis by yourself. To reach a deep level, you have to have an outside source of direction. But there are relatively simple methods of overcoming this difficulty. Having another person direct you through the process is a common method. This is the way many of us view hypnosis - as a processof one person leading another through a series of steps. If this person is trustworthy, and has a solid grounding in psychology and the spiritual beliefs you hold, then this is the best option, as any variation that comes up during the process of hypnosis can be dealt with effectively. If your purpose of using hypnosis were to stop smoking, loseweight, control procrastination, or a host of many other common goals, then you would be able to use one of the many pre-recorded hypnotic tapes that are being sold on the market. Unfortunately, there aren't many hypnotic recordings for spiritual development, and the ones that do exist are somewhat expensive (the ecomonics of supply and demand in action). It is possible to create your own hypnotic recordings, and by doing this you also end up with a hypnotic session that is custom tailored to your exact goals. Using a recording device, such as a tape recorder, mini-disc recorder, or MP3 device, you can record a series of steps that you intend to follow while in the hypnotic state. This way, you can create your own hypnotic program that will help you acheive the exact results you want. But what do you record to create a hypnotic session for spiritual development?
Beyond the basics of directing yourself to relax your physical body, focus your mind through a series of steps to attain the level of focus required, and the ending sequence of coming back to normal consciousness, the progression of the working session can follow a number of different formats. Spiritual growth and development takes many forms depending on the culture in which you live. The content of the hypnotic session depends greatly on the belief system of the person undertaking it. If you believe that spiritual growth takes place when you live according to a prescribed set of rules without deviation, then you would use hypnosis to instill a 'natural' tendency to live according to those rules. This is the same as the habit control usage of hypnosis applied to those habits seen as being spiritual. Your recording will be a series of statements such as "You enjoy ....." and "You will always.......". If you believe that spiritual development takes place when you are able to make a strong connection to a higher power, then you would use hypnosis to find and control the inner mechanisms responsible for making that connection. (Incidentally, this is my belief regarding spiritual development.) In this format, hypnosis becomes a 'practice session' for learning how to make that connection better and stronger. Your recording will generally be a guided day dream in which you take the actions which lead to the stronger connection. And if you believe that spiritual growth and development happens as you become more like the Supreme Being, then you would use hypnosis to create whatever internal changes that need to happen to bring yourself closer to that state. This format of hypnosis is a combination of the other two formats.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
SCRIPTURAL KEYS TO SUCCESS IN LIFE
"I will never leave you nor forsake you". - Joshua 1:5.
Imagine trying to fill the shoes Moses walked in. "Joshua wondered, '' Do i have what it takes?'' Then God told him:
a) God promises success to those who have the faith to take the first step, and keep walking with Him regardless of what they encounter, that means showing up earlier, staying later, and working harder.
b) No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. Expect opposition; certain people will always stand up against you.
In his book High Maintenance Relationships, Les Parrott identifies the types of people who will do this:
CRITICS who constantly complain or give unwanted advice.
MARTYRS who are forever the victim and wracked with self-pity.
WET BLANKETS who are pessimistic and habitually negative.
STEAMROLLERS who are blindly insensitive to others.
GOSSIPS who spread rumors and leak secrets.
CONTROL FREAKS who are unable to let go and let things be.
BACK-STABBERS who are two-faced.
GREEN-EYED MONSTER who see the with envy.
VOLCANOES who build steam and are always ready to erupt.
SPONGES who are always needy and never give anything back.
COMPETITORS who always keep track of tit-for-tat.
c) "Be strong.. because you will lead these people to inherit the land'' Joshua 1:6. Successful people are not necessarrily more gifted, they're just more passionate. What do you pray about? Cry about? Dream about? What are you willing to risk everything for? That's the well from which you'll draw your strength and your strategies when you experience setbacks, when others disappoint you, when the job feels too big and you feel too small.
Imagine trying to fill the shoes Moses walked in. "Joshua wondered, '' Do i have what it takes?'' Then God told him:
a) God promises success to those who have the faith to take the first step, and keep walking with Him regardless of what they encounter, that means showing up earlier, staying later, and working harder.
b) No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. Expect opposition; certain people will always stand up against you.
In his book High Maintenance Relationships, Les Parrott identifies the types of people who will do this:
CRITICS who constantly complain or give unwanted advice.
MARTYRS who are forever the victim and wracked with self-pity.
WET BLANKETS who are pessimistic and habitually negative.
STEAMROLLERS who are blindly insensitive to others.
GOSSIPS who spread rumors and leak secrets.
CONTROL FREAKS who are unable to let go and let things be.
BACK-STABBERS who are two-faced.
GREEN-EYED MONSTER who see the with envy.
VOLCANOES who build steam and are always ready to erupt.
SPONGES who are always needy and never give anything back.
COMPETITORS who always keep track of tit-for-tat.
c) "Be strong.. because you will lead these people to inherit the land'' Joshua 1:6. Successful people are not necessarrily more gifted, they're just more passionate. What do you pray about? Cry about? Dream about? What are you willing to risk everything for? That's the well from which you'll draw your strength and your strategies when you experience setbacks, when others disappoint you, when the job feels too big and you feel too small.
Friday, February 1, 2008
GRIND OR SHINE
Adversity is the grindstone of life. Intended to polish you up,
adversity also has the ability to grind you down. The impact and
ultimate result depend on what you do with the difficulties that come
your way. Consider the phenomenal achievements of people experiencing
adversity.
Beethoven composed his greatest works after becoming deaf. Sir Walter
Raleigh wrote the History of the World during a thirteen year
imprisonment. If Columbus had turned back, no one could have blamed
him, considering the constant adversity he endured. Of course, no one
would have remembered him either. Abraham Lincoln achieved greatness
by his display of wisdom and character during the devastation of the
Civil War. Luther translated the Bible while enduring confinement in
the Castle of Wartburg. Under a sentence of death and during twenty
years in exile, Dante wrote the Divine Comedy. John Bunyan wrote
Pilgrim's Progress in a Bedford jail.
Finally, consider a more recent example. Mary Groda-Lewis endured
sixteen years of illiteracy because of unrecognized dyslexia, was
committed to a reformatory on two different occasions, and almost died
of a stroke while bearing a child. Committed to going to college, she
worked at a variety of odd jobs to save money, graduated with her high
school equivalency at eighteen, was named Oregon's outstanding Upward
Bound student, and finally entered college. Determined to become a
doctor, she faced fifteen medical school rejections until Albany
Medical College finally accepted her. In 1984, Dr. Mary Groda-Lewis,
at thirty-five, graduated with honors to fulfill her dream.
Adversity - the grindstone of life. Will it grind you down or polish
you up?
adversity also has the ability to grind you down. The impact and
ultimate result depend on what you do with the difficulties that come
your way. Consider the phenomenal achievements of people experiencing
adversity.
Beethoven composed his greatest works after becoming deaf. Sir Walter
Raleigh wrote the History of the World during a thirteen year
imprisonment. If Columbus had turned back, no one could have blamed
him, considering the constant adversity he endured. Of course, no one
would have remembered him either. Abraham Lincoln achieved greatness
by his display of wisdom and character during the devastation of the
Civil War. Luther translated the Bible while enduring confinement in
the Castle of Wartburg. Under a sentence of death and during twenty
years in exile, Dante wrote the Divine Comedy. John Bunyan wrote
Pilgrim's Progress in a Bedford jail.
Finally, consider a more recent example. Mary Groda-Lewis endured
sixteen years of illiteracy because of unrecognized dyslexia, was
committed to a reformatory on two different occasions, and almost died
of a stroke while bearing a child. Committed to going to college, she
worked at a variety of odd jobs to save money, graduated with her high
school equivalency at eighteen, was named Oregon's outstanding Upward
Bound student, and finally entered college. Determined to become a
doctor, she faced fifteen medical school rejections until Albany
Medical College finally accepted her. In 1984, Dr. Mary Groda-Lewis,
at thirty-five, graduated with honors to fulfill her dream.
Adversity - the grindstone of life. Will it grind you down or polish
you up?
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