Lessons from the great Nelson Mandela inspiring Quotes to Live By

mentors quotes

Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and former president, once said, “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” This quote reminds us that it’s not about avoiding failure, but rather how we handle it when it happens. Life is full of challenges and setbacks, and it’s how we respond to them that truly matters. Rather than giving up or dwelling on our mistakes, we should strive to learn from them and use them as opportunities to grow and improve. It’s through perseverance and resilience that we can achieve our greatest victories and find true fulfillment in life.

1. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
2. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
3. “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and…

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Should church members question preachers about the doctrine that is not in the Holy Bible?

In our previous article, we looked at one of the great possibilities of diversity in Christendom and Christianity, many ‘theologians‘ interpreting the bible and introducing human doctrines into their religious groups or churches.

In every church, we can find preachers telling the flock to do this or that and to believe this or that. In all those churches their clergy claims that they are showing the only One God, though many preach about a Triune or three-headed god, in contradiction to the Biblical teaching that there is Only One True God Who is a Singular Spirit Being no man can see.

When we hear the question

Should church members question preachers about the doctrine that is not in the Holy Bible?

we would say that each individual in a church or in a community of believers always should investigate what is really said in their community and always should compare the teachings of their leaders with what they can find in the Book of books, the Holy Scriptures or the Bible. To the above mentioned question, we would add

Who or what do you want to believe most, the Word of the Bible or the sayings of the priest, pastor or preacher of your church?

It is not cultural Christianity that “often suffocated authentic faith and facilitated superficial religion“, but it were those who went with the schism of 313 and the Nicene Creed, preferring to go for a triune god instead of keeping to the God of the Bible. First it was the Roman Catholic Church who ‘suffocated’ the real followers of Christ and even went after them to burn them at the stake. Later the protestants, instead of going back to the Biblical teachings continued in the tradition of the Catholic Church instructing their members the human doctrines instead of Biblical doctrines. They created rules and regulations which are not at all in the Bible. Some of them teach about dispensationalism, by which the seven dispensations and very names of the dispensations are also manufactured. Several protestant churches bring forth a system that contradicts the Scripture.

The System says the age of the Law lasted until the Day of Pentecost. The Bible says the Law and the prophets were until John – not Calvary. Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. {The Scriptures Versus the System}

Many churches also created a hierarchy and gave a special position to their leaders which is not described nor encouraged to have, according to the Scriptures. Some even go so far to place themselves in the place of the Jews, calling themselves the Chosen People of God, then forgetting that the Jews for ever will be the People of God.

Lots of churches do not spend much attention to what is really written in the bible. They seem to forget that divine illumination shall come to those who read the Bible and are willing to listen to God’s Voice. Though this requires are right attitude and our faith in those Sacred Writings. If we believe the Bible is the Word of God, and that the Bible is the ultimate authority over our lives then our eyes shall be opened and we shall come to see and understand what others are telling is according to the bible or not.

We always should trust God more than human beings and should refer to their sayings with the material we can find in the Holy Scriptures.

Theologians may do a lot to have you to believe that you would not be able to understand what is written in the Bible. Those implying that those without a PhD aren’t qualified to speak or write publicly about religion, are misleading the people and are wanting people to believe that God is partial and only wants to give insight to those who are learned. Those people who have gone to a theological college are closing ranks.

“It looks like clericalism… This kind of elitism may be more subtle than language of schisms and wounds and splits, but it has its own unpleasant implications.” {Who is qualified to write theology?}

However, one should know that God does not exclude anyone. Anyone can come to God, and Jehovah God is ready to nurture and provide insight to anyone who is open to receive His Wisdom.

The traditional goal of Christian theology might have been to develop a better understanding of God so that we could think and speak rightly about God within the context of a life governed by our faith in Christ and our discipleship to him in community with other Christians, but already for centuries the study of theology has concentrated more on the many writings of human beings who were priests, bishops or theologians, but only a few hours a week are given to the Word of God.

Under Christendom, politicians mouthed pieties they didn’t believe, and persons attended church for business contacts and socialising. Whilst in those churches those present did not hear so many words from Scripture, but got to hear lots of words written and said by human beings.

Lots of those speaking in church count more on those writers from the past instead of going by the anointed ones from God. They rely on the knowledge of their predecessors without questioning their words or comparing them with what is really in the Bible.

A bible student, Shawna N. writes

Some are so set on their interpretation that to suggest any new insight or different perspective will get you shot down pretty quick usually with scriptures that remind you that only God is God and we are not.

That we are but mere serveants who should not make ourselves out to be more than that. That we should not add or take away from the scriptures, that we should repent etc.etc.etc. and I think it has caused many to retreat and to isolate.

Many believe they have the Bible figured out. That their interpretation of the scriptures is the right interpretation and any challenge of it is to add to it or take away from it or that perhaps you are thinking you are higher than God.

The attitude and saying of certain preachers made people think about their church. This way lots of people left their church for what it is. Many do not attend church anymore, not because they cannot find one that worships the God of the Bible but because they cannot find a church of the Bible.

Shawna N. writes

I believe that it is crucial in studying Gods word to meditate on the scriptures. To slow way down and to meditate on every word in every scripture and to pray for God to help us to understand it .To know that our ways are not His ways our thoughts are not His thoughts .

Many of us grew up being taught that Jesus is going tocome crashing through the sky one day and thatbChristians will just vanish one day though the bible says that we are to Live by Faith Not by Site we are to expect a physical rapture and as long as we do and as long as we expect Jesus to show up in the physical to save the day the day will not be saved Is He not already with us and in us are we not His hands and feet?

Michael Hickenbotham, member of the Church of Jesus Christ for over 65 years the above first mentioned question a good question. He writes

I believe we all, even the most devoted disciples, lean to our own understanding most of the time. The phrase is found in Proverbs 3:5:

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3

Notice that the verse starts with “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart”. If we always do that first, the second part of the verse will take care of itself. Trust or faith in the Lord needs to the primary guiding principle in all the important decisions in our lives.

In order for us not to lean to our own understanding, we need to be influenced by and follow the inspiration of Lord through the Holy Spirit all the time. For most of us, that seems to be more a goal than a commandment.

Not relying on the arm of flesh (Jer. 17:5; 2 Cor. 5:7; 2 Nephi 4:34; D&C 1:19) is another way of saying the same thing.

Benson’s Commentary indicates that we should

“Wholly and securely rely upon God’s wisdom, power, and goodness, and upon his providence and promises, for direction and help in all thine affairs and dangers. Lean not to thine own understanding

— Think

And that thinking is what a lot of people prefer not to do. They expect others to think for them and to take action for them. In many churches we can find lots of passive members, just sitting quiet, following the Sunday service, never reacting to what is said in church by that one who is standing in front or on the pulpit.

Michael Kern, B.A. Applied Linguistics & Biblical Languages, Moody Bible Institute replies affirmative to the question if we should question preachers about the doctrine that is not in the Holy Bible

Absolutely! The pastor’s first and foremost responsibility is to lead his congregation. If he is leading them down the wrong path, then he is failing at his job. Those in positions of great authority are held greatly accountable for their leadership.

I will say this, though: he may be teaching something that is biblical, even if you don’t see it. Some Scriptures are very difficult to interpret, and we have multitudes of different doctrines and denominations to prove it.

Before you challenge your pastor, take the time to research the subject yourself. You may find that he knew what he was talking about. If you find that the subject doesn’t align with Scripture in any way that you can see, then there is a likely chance that he is leading you astray.

If that’s the case, I would advise approaching your pastor one-on-one and asking him how he came to the doctrine in question. Maybe his explanation will make sense, maybe it won’t. Have a discussion with him and try to reach a consensus on the issue regarding what he has been teaching.

If he absolutely refuses to listen to biblical proof that he is wrong, and can provide no satisfactory answer for his teachings, then you move on to the last resort: bring your findings to the elders of the church, and ask them to speak with him. If all else fails, disciplinary action may need to be taken.

Sheryl Powell replies

If they are lovers of truth and they come across scripture that contradict what they have heard something is wrong. Now they may have it wrong and need to be adjusted with proper scriptures. If that is not the case and the ideology of the Pastor is wrong, perhaps it is time to seek love elsewhere.

The Catholic Sister Julie Distel her idea is that

church members of any denomination should free to question, in my opinion. I would suggest questioning in the proper environment – perhaps an appointment – not challenging the preacher during a service!

Now be mindful that some Christian groups, particularly the Catholic Church, has always honored tradition as a valid and rich source for our faith. Many condemn this and will quote Scripture about “no source but the Bible.” That is their belief and God bless them. We believe differently – and God bless us too.

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Preceding

If the Bible tells us not to lean upon our own understanding, are preachers, and Bible professors, leaning upon the theirs’?

When looking for God or wanting to relate to the Most High Divine God

Rhetoric and Biblical Truth

7 Ways To Become A Better Christian

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Additional reading

1. Looking to the East and the West for Truth
2. Concern needed for the one who has no questions
3. Self-development, self-control, meditation, beliefs and spirituality
4. Have you also been deceived
5. Why is it that Christians don’t understand Muslims and Muslims do not understand Christians?
6. Challenging claim 1 Whose word
7. Divine revelation mediated by Moshe and other selected people
8. Vital importance of reading and following the Kitvei Hakodesh
9. Reading to grow and to become wise concerning the most important thing in life 1 Times of reading
10. One of the most important Truths
11. Bible Inspired Word of God
12. Everything from the Bible is useful for humans
13. Importance to read the Bible regularly and gain understanding
14. Bible exceptional Book of books where nothing can be taken away or added
15. Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #1 Pre King James Bible
16. Deep sense of consciousness of the brokenness of our system
17. Face to Face
18. Preparing for the Kingdom
19. Good or bad preacher
20. Looking for a primary cause and a goal that can not offer philosophers existing beliefs
21. An unbridgeable gap
22. Trinitarians making their proof for existence of God look ridiculous #2
23. Constantine a brutal sociopath getting the believers in a God man on his side and creating a Christian church
24. Mental Enslavement and Sins Syndrome (MESS)
25. Redemption #8 Righteousness by Faith
26. Different wineskins
27. Not many coming out with their community name
28. A strange thing might happen when you come under Christ
29. When seeing a biblically sound church
30. As a small church needing encouragement
31. Invest in Faith working together arm in arm

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Related

1. On Religion
2. Celebrating Christendom’s Demise?
3. The Scriptures Versus the System
4. Who is qualified to write theology?
5. Theology as Discipleship
6. The Shifting Paradigms of the Gospel
7. Father, Holy Spirit, & Son: When the Trinity is Out of Order
8. three times a day
9. what’s in the Bible?
10. The Struggle to Believe the Bible
11. Fitting The Right Pieces
12. Five Reformation Principles
13. In the Midst of Every Plague, God is Still A Mighty Fortress
14. They Dreamed a Dream
15. It is Easier to Change the Local Church than the Bible
16. The Polarizing Effect Of Truth
17. What I Love About the Bible Despite My Misgivings About It.
18. To Show God’s Truthfulness
19. The Christian’s Struggle to Be Good

Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response Book Review

Donald Trump is the guilty one that America was and is still so much caught in the Corona crisis. In case he would not have minimalised this “Chinese” disease and would have given the right advice to the American citizens, a lot of deaths, suffering and sorrow could have been avoided.

Writergurlny

Hindsight is always 2020. The question we have to ask ourselves, is when the same issue comes up, is the past repeated or do we truly learn from our errors?

Andy Slavitt has spent many years within the world of healthcare. His new book, Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response, was published in June. It documents the time he spent in the last Presidential administration and the missteps that led to more than half a million Americans dead from Covid-19. Speaking to government officials, politicians on all sides of the spectrum, and medical professionals, he talks about in detail what went wrong and what could have been done to save lives.

As I got further into the narrative, I was getting angry. The United States is one of the wealthiest nations in the world. While there was no…

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Humility

Who is choosing who? Is it leaders choosing people for them or are it people who choose the leader?

In history we can see that more than once people followed the wrong leader, but we also can see how the Divine Creator had chosen Him a people, who not always remained faithful.

Human pride made that people went astray from the Most Precious and Most Righteous Leader, the God above all gods. It is man’s self-reliance and whimsy that brought him into all kinds of difficulties.

Today, man still has a lot to learn about humility and dignified recognition.

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To remember

• Humility = virtue asserted by every religion + every spiritual tradition > understood by very few.
• Humility = self-forgetfulness.
• A leader, particularly one in a spiritual position, must live a paradox.
• natural + lamentable temptation to see leadership status as a privilege => affirmation of one’s own superiority.
• best leaders =  people do not notice their existence.
• Focus on self, whether in praise or in criticism  =/= humility.
• leader of a people must forget himself => no room for selfishness
• leader = clear channel for the people’s will + for wisdom => no room for his own desires, his own aggrandizement, his own ego.
• Beware the rich man bearing gifts.
• For the leader to be among the wise =>  first necessary a measure of wisdom be found in the people.
• people follow a venal leader, keep him tightly bound with restraints of law + of their own suspicion => can do little good, dares do little harm, + law + people restrain him.

Brian Rush

Humility is a virtue asserted by every religion and every spiritual tradition and understood by very few. It’s something that was brought home to me recently by an exploration of the phenomenon of leadership.

A leader, particularly one in a spiritual position, must live a paradox. He is “above” the rest in certain ways: taking greater responsibility, providing guidance and help to others that they cannot as easily do for themselves, upholding the highest standards of thought and behavior. If he starts to think of himself as above the rest, though, he hampers his ability to fulfill his function as a leader. There’s a natural and lamentable temptation to see leadership status as a privilege, and to take from it affirmation of one’s own superiority. It’s very difficult to avoid doing this, but the very best of leaders do.

As Lao Tzu put it:

To lead people, walk beside…

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Institutional Racism

Not only the United States of America has its problems with racism. It is a growing problem in Europe as well where populism and nationalism are gaining terrain.

Several right-wing politicians are helping it to grow and use the immigration as their flagship to make people afraid for Mohammedanism. At the same time the other politicians are too much afraid to loose votes, by giving a clear voice against the exclusion of certain people and religions.

From the church, synagogues and mosques are not enough voices coming up and letting people see their true face.

We can not longer stand at the side and be silent. We do have to play our role to have people their eyes opened and to overcome to see the differences which are not and should not frighten us. We should take care to be in time to disarm those who take every effort to blacken others and to have those who have a gloomy side of things to see the world more positive and to see the others not as a threat.

We need the right people to show others are not the menace to fear, and that we can live together in peace with a multicultural society, which shall enrich us more than deteriorating us.

It is high time to see those to stand up who can and will be the ones who reform policing and empower all to build up one united society.

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To remember

• Much of the resistance to government intervention and assistance comes down to a belief that “They” are getting the benefits – the mysterious “other” that is easily blamed for everything. It prevents us from having a useful discussion about “Us”, a free and united people ready to tackle the changes of our world bravely and directly.
• White Privilege is generally little more than the benefit of the doubt. But when the volume is turned up and the noise is deafening, only baser senses remain. The simple benefit of the doubt often adrenalizes into violent, destructive action. {White Privilege}
• A simple assumption accelerates into a terrible collision. {White Privilege}
• society as a whole is still incapable of comprehending how simple yet terrible it is. {White Privilege}
• We won’t end racism overnight, but we can continue to make progress.
• There is a horrible lack of leadership everywhere in the developed world right now > requires strategic thinking, + strategy = horribly under-appreciated. {Strategy as Leadership}
• separation between Strategy and Tactics is what usually trips people up. {Strategy as Leadership}
• lack of leadership we see at the top = merely a reflection of the lack of understanding of leadership throughout our society, which is to say how to think strategically.{Strategy as Leadership}
• institutional racism, =/= issue defeated head-on > Once lines are set => frozen. Everyone hunkered down in a defensive position, ready for the attacks. => quickly dissolves into trench warfare, = nasty game of inches rather than yards.
• It will take understanding, love, patience, + humor to get at the heart of racism.
• key = to engage it in a way that disarms majority of people who have racist thoughts but are empathetic enough to realize it is wrong. They need tools to cope and an invitation to stand proud rather than hunker down defensively.

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Preceding articles

If you’re going to be a hater, make sure you’ve done your homework.

Refusing to Be Silent

Tact? Knowing when it is better to remain silent!

My Multi-Cultural Childhood Could be the Answer to Racism & Xenophobia

Anti-Semitic pressure driving Jews out of Europe

It’s Time real lovers of God to Stand and Speak Out!

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Additional reading

1. Martin Luther King’s Dream Today
2. Immigration consternation
3. Forms of slavery, human trafficking and disrespectful attitude to creation to be changed
4. Migrants to the West #3
5. Migrants to the West #8 Welbeing
6. Speciesism and racism
7. Rome mobilisation to say no to fascism and racism

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Related

1. More about the Legacy of Race in Seventh-day Adventist Culture
2. Anti-racism – definition of anti-racism by The Free Dictionary
3. Jon Jones blasts Colby Covington for racism, throws shade after Fabricio Werdum altercation
4. Social Issues: #2 Racial Prejudice and Racism
5. Everyday racism
6. AmeriKKKan Racism ~VS~ World Racism
7. Institutional Racism Finally Addressed at Inquest into Toronto Police Killing of Andrew Loku

Barataria - The work of Erik Hare

For Dr. King’s Day, we have to acknowledge there is a war on between races.  It is a war which can only tear this nation apart, as it has done for centuries.  This,from 2016, is on how we have to engage it.

My thesis is this: there is nothing more important to the future of our nation than ending racism, particularly institutional racism. This has become a desperate matter of survival for far too many people when it comes to the issue of police killings. These tragedies happen disproportionately to minorities largely because of racism.

Yet the problem goes far beyond that. There is not a single issue in this nation which does not ultimately become polarized and frozen by race. Much of the resistance to government intervention and assistance comes down to a belief that “They” are getting the benefits – the mysterious “other” that is easily blamed for…

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Preventing conflicts and war

Continuation of: Scattering of peoples who delight in wars

With Rabbi David Krishef we continue to look at how we should avoid conflicts and war. In our daily life we encounter many times where we are questioned or when we are questioning others and want to find out how others want to relate to others.

The rabbi notices

In business, competitors sometime refer customers to each other when they know the other company can fulfill a particular need better than they can. Competition is good when we play fairly by the rules and when it challenges each of us to become better. {Psalm 30 – “You have lifted me up” (30:1)}

Though in this world not everybody wants to play with the fair rules or with the same rules as us. Some also consider the other as a competitor or sometimes even as an adversary. Some people prefer to exclude others because they feel threatened by them. As such some might find that their faith comes in danger by what others are telling. This can be clearly seen in the present day where several Christians take aversion against non-trinitarian Christians, Jews and Muslims, because those are against the worship of Jeshua or Jesus Christ and deny his god-ship, whilst those trinitarian Christians do know God says Jesus His is only begotten son, but do not accept it that way. For them Jesus is their god and all who deny his godship they consider a jeopardy bringing their faith at risk. Several of those trinitarian Christians also see lots of their members loosing faith and going to the Muslim faith. For them that smells to peril certainly because the world today is also confronted with fundamental Islamist fighters. Many people do not see the nuances in the many religious groups and think all of the other religion must be of the same sort as those fundamentalists, a danger for society.

Many of them consider themselves at the moment still part of the stronger nation and fear that those who leave Christendom shall weaken them.

The rabbi remarks

No one dares to attack the strong nation, because the weaker nation would face virtually certain defeat. We hope the strongest nation uses its leadership and power for kind and loving purposes. Otherwise, when the powerful begin exercising power for their own enrichment, those around them join together to take down the tyrant.{Psalm 29 – “May Adonai grant strength to God’s people; may Adonai bless God’s people with peace.” (29:11)}

At the moment we can see that in the capitalist countries, politicians take every effort to gain popularity and to enlarge their power, no matter what for in-ethical matters they do have to do. Most of them striving to power in the Western countries are on the look out for their own enrichment and some of them do want to help the weapon lobbies also to full their pockets richly.

The wealth many are aiming for, at the moment, is not a healthy wealth.

Wealth and influence can be of tremendous benefit, but at the end of our life we ought to rather be remembered for our kindness and for the good things that we’ve done and not just for the possessions we leave behind. {Psalm 33 – “Horses are a false hope for deliverance.” (33:17)}

Lovers of God should be very careful not to be taken by the treadmill, not letting themselves being carried away by those who want to blacken other religious groups than their own. Those who really love God should examine if they are following God’s Word and should examine their own way of life and way of worship. In case they call themselves Christian they should check if they worship the same God as the God of Jesus, the God of Israel.

Further they should examine if they take on the right attitude and do what Jesus also would do.

We all should see to have strength and peace in balance. Even when they are

two concepts … rooted in the classic military theory of preventing war (or winning war) through projecting power. {Psalm 29}

we should be willing to mount a horse prepared by the Most High Elohim. Allah, the God of peace wants His ‘nationals’ or His ‘children’ to be lovers of peace and lovers of each other, respecting all creatures of God.

In old Westerns, the hero swoops in and rescues the damsel in distress, throws her across a horse, and rides off into the sunset. {Psalm 33}

reminds us Rabbi David Krishef, who looks at the psalmist who speaks of a symbolic horse as the possession of a warrior, representing wealth, power and mobility. {Psalm 33}

Our wealth should be in being a possession of God, being under Allah’s wings. Even when we notice that evil doers may have it better than us, we should know it might be so  … at the moment.

Reward and punishment do not always work out perfectly. Sometimes, good people do not prosper and evil people do not suffer. {Psalm 28 “Pay them according to their deeds.” (28:4)}

writes the rabbi, reminding his readers that

However, most of the time, in the long run, goodness is recognized. {Psalm 28}

Ichthys and Psalm23 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lovers of God should stimulate others to do good by themselves being good examples. In the knowledge that people are attracted to good people, we should not mind to join those who want to do good, from whatever religion they might be. Joining good doers they may become stronger and those seeing others motivated to be kind to the evil doers and to help them, shall become more interested to learn about their reasons why they want to help those who are also bad to them.

Helping each other shall enable the people in the surroundings to have better and deeper friendships.

Good people will tend to be happier and more satisfied with their lives. Truly good people do not do good things because of recognition or reward. Goodness is not a tool to be used as a means to get something. Good deeds are an end unto themselves. {Psalm 28}

And it is the deep-rooted goodness that shall be the stronger sword, and form the better combatant of peace, when no weapons of man are taken, but the ‘sword of God‘ and the ‘sword of love‘, using the strength of God His set-apart Word. By not taking hold of it, showing patience and trust in Allah, leaving all the judging up to Him and His only begotten son, the mediator between God and man, we should not worry and hope for a better future, in the knowledge that the Saviour, the Messiah and King shall come to rule in the Land of Hope where there shall be no war any more.

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Preceding articles

Scattering of peoples who delight in wars

When Tragedy Strikes…

A Prayer for 9-11

Detachment by Family problems

Youngster all over the world with the same dream

A Positive Disposition

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Additional reading

1. Necessity of a revelation of creation 1 Works of God and works of man
2. Good and bad things in this world
3. Power in the life of certain
4. Patience is the ability to count down before blasting off
5. The Field is the World #1 Church Union
6. Germinating small seeds, pebble-stones, small and mega churches and faith
7. To whom do we want to be enslaved
8. Displeasure of יהוה , Jehovah the God of gods, and His wrath against all the gentiles their divisions
9. Bible, sword of the Spirit to come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man
10. A Jewish Woman and a Test of Faith
11. Compromise and accomodation
12. Developing new energy
13. Ability
14. Ability (part 5) Thought about the abilities to be under God’s Spirit
15. Growth in character
16. Your struggles develop your strengths
17. Count your blessings
18. The giving and protecting God
19. This was my reward
20. Belief of the things that God has promised
21. Be happy that the thorn bush has roses
22. Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness
23. Kindness
24. Spread love everywhere you go

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Further related

1. Geestelijke vorming tot heiligheid #2
2. Geduld is het vermogen om af te tellen voor explosieven te laten ontsteken

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Related articles

• Contemporary Christianity in Nigeria and inherent challenges
• Ondo CAN Preaches Religious Tolerance Among Nigerians
• Cardinal Quevedo slams terrorism as ‘demonic ideology’
• Bishop Advises Students To Shun Cultism, Idolatry
• Know Your Doctrine
• Christians having the right heart to call others to go to God
• Jewish and Christian traditions of elders
• Once Saved, Forever Saved?

American Christians have to think twice before going to vote

Money opening doors

In Europe we can see how un-democratic the voting system is in the United States of America. Big problem for the citizens of those states is that the people without enough money never make a change to become a candidate in the running or even spoken off.

Mud fights

This year it might have been the candidates looked previously to the Belgian politicians throwing with mud regularly and wanted to continue the way they had chosen in 2012. But it must be said, the Americans won with big lead of unheard and unseen denigration of each other. The man with the big mouth stretched the crown by having it all the time more about Hillary Clinton than explaining to the public what he was planning to do to help the country.

Turning winds

Trump on several occasions showed clearly that he twisted and turned like the wind, but to our surprise his public did not seem to notice and cheer him all the time, whatever this man raved. He could talk any nonsense and it was glutted like ‘Starbucks coffee’ and ‘American dream’.

He never proposed a plan to address the African-American community and minorities. First he hated all the ‘fags’ and told transgender, coloured people, Hispanics and all non Americans better could be somewhere else, and those who are not the main American citizen man or woman could best be determinated in a camp. Though suddenly he said on the convention he would also have an eye to the trangenders and other feeling men and women (whatever that might mean).

Republicans have constructed the most overtly anti-LGBT platform in history, but Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump is doing his best to show he is sympathetic towards the LGBT community. {Trump Extends Olive Branch to LGBT Community}

Naturally Trump is not going to say he ever made mistakes or did anything wrong. As a born business man he knows how to play his customers. He knows the tricks of his trade and the primary rules of a politician. As such he is never to

“allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it.” {After the Acceptance Speech}

Chances or opportunities

At first nobody would ever given this billionaire the chance of winning the president candidacy. Most people would have thought all Americans would see his mounting a campaign of snarl and sneer, not substance, because he had nothing to offer. All the mistakes about names and places, you would think would have dismantled and unmasked him. Any educated person, we would think, would have come to see this man has views which are concocted and are wrong in their diagnosis of America’s problems and dangerous in their proposed solutions and that he has no clear view of the world situation and is not a diplomatic figure to solve problems which could endanger not only the American nation but also the whole world. Take just one of his last expressions; with the present situation going on in Europe, he would already have started a world war.

Nobody of his entourage and fans ever questioned his plans or asked his sayings to make hard.

Like auditor for Franklin County, Ohio, we are 

“still waiting to see a very prominent Republican have a national dialogue about why White Americans and Black Americans still can’t seem to communicate and understand each other’s perspectives.” {Does Donald Trump Have Any Real Policy Plans?}

Weapon of fear

You would expect a candidate for presidency having his main speech at a convention centred on what he really plans to do for all people living in the nation he has to steer to a better future. At the tumultuous Republican National Convention Trump had a few words about restoring what he called, “law and order.”

He not only did not stop to make the people afraid of and angry on Hilary Clinton, he continued fearing those American citizens for the

Nearly 180,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records, ordered deported from /the U.S.A./ /who/, are tonight roaming free to threaten peaceful citizens

Out of the 925,000 immigrants who received an order of deportation last year, 20 percent (185,000) had at least one criminal conviction, charged with non-violent crimes, but that is not difficult because it is already a crime to enter the country illegally, so when caught they always will have a conviction. Hooked ones always shall have to face one or an other (non violent) conviction and may be considered ‘criminals’ according to some.

Also to call a person a criminal because he or she has done something stupid, like Hilary Clinton with the e-mails, is far over the top. Who does not stupid things in his or her life. Does that mean he or she is a criminal?

There may be enough in Hillary Clinton’s background to give the appearance of wrong-doing.  Trump gives his public the impression he believes it to be true and that it must be so. Therefore those who want a criminal fee America should believe it too and should make sure to get that  “Crooked Hillary” out of the way.

Who would not believe that man with so much charisma and conviction, who has proven he can do everything he wants.

He believes everything he says, as he’s saying it.  It makes it easier to gather followers, and for them to believe it too, no matter how outrageous the statement.  This is why he could win- the simple force of his personality.

writes Freelance Journalist in the Milton Ontario area Laura Steiner in her article “Donald Trump Could Be President”

All christians should like a-religious people be aware of the wolf in sheepskin. For those who are crying to have America going to come back (to what?) we also would like to give some warning.

The United States of America may have lots of people who sincerely love their country. There are also some who love it so much they would do everything for it (and that can become dangerous.). In that country which was build up a European dream of freedom, there are enough people who sincerely protect many, even protesters who mock them,  because the love the nation where freedom of thought has to be every ones part.

Stories braking the heart

Ted Cruz talked about Michael Smith’s story which weighed on his heart perhaps that’s because his daughter Caroline is about the same age as his eldest daughter, and happens to share the same name. Maybe it’s because he saw a video of that dear, sweet child choking back sobs as she remembered her Daddy’s last question to her.  He said

Maybe it’s because we live in a world where so many others have had their lives destroyed by evil in places like Orlando, and Paris, and Nice, and Baton Rouge. Maybe it’s because of the simple question itself. What if this right now is our last time? Our last moment to do something for our families, and our country? Did we live up to the values we say we believe? Did we do all we really could?

That’s really what elections should be about. That’s why you and millions like you devoted so much time and sacrifice to this campaign. We’re fighting not for one particular candidate, or one campaign, but because each of wants to be able to tell our kids and grandkids, our own Caroline’s, that we did our best for their future and our country.  {see transcript Ted Cruz convention-speech}

Party division and no unity in the states

That country is now very clearly divided and even in the parties there is so much division they should come to see that much more political parties should exist because they are their but do not receive a voice. The republicans themselves are not only an amalgamation of very conservatives, fanatical christians, the gap between the majority and the one who got the most votes now is very huge.

It looked like the Republican party was willing to offer lots of his ideas just to beat Hillary Clinton. It also looks like the GOP assured herself that if they fail and Trump will not beat Hillary Clinton, they shall have a scapegoat. The whipping boy shall quietly slink whilst the very party leaders Trump’s supporters loathe will remain in their jobs come January helping Hillary Clinton orchestrate her inauguration.

“Since February I have been warning both that Trump could not beat Hillary Clinton in November and that there is no way I or many conservatives of faith could actually support him.”

writes Erick Erickson, who was convinced that Trump was a passing fad, at The Resurgent and ads

“There is no grand and elaborate conspiracy of pollsters in America. Trump has only been ahead in nine polls since January and the majority of those are Rasmussen polls, which are not worth the paper they are printed on.

The warnings have all fallen on deaf ears.”

“The Trump supporters have become the very Republican establishment they oppose and the very leaders of the party they hate will remain once Trump is gone. The GOP is now led by a Clinton donor and friend and party leaders bow before him pretending he is something other than what he is.”

That Putin cheers Trump is no wonder both having two peas in a pod.

For those who see both as unqualified for office and feel they should let their voice be heard and act now when there is still time to bring change.

Only one perfect government

But all people should know there does not exist such a thing as a perfect government in our present world. It only shall be at the return of Christ that we shall be able to get the most perfect government, under the leadership of Jesus Christ. Until that time will come we do have to manage and steer with what we have.

Not voting is also bringing out your vote, because it is also a declaration. Not talking to others about is is also keeping distance and bringing out your vote (though in silence and perhaps also in conscience).

In case you want to go to the ballot station or meet people who have an opinion of one or the other candidate, make sure your Christian voice is also heard. Whoever is a candidate and goes for president should be a person who is willing to accept Judeo Christian values and have an open mind concerning freedom of thought, this also meaning that people who feel different, like homo’s, transgender, are people to be accepted in our community. No matter what colour, race, religion, or no religion, every human being should be able to receive an equal place in our society and has to be free to speak and walk everywhere in the nation.

In such a nation of freedom of speech should be no place for tackiness and below-the-belt punches, and certainly not by the people who should be an example to the nation.

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Preceding articles

Children of Men

Hillary Clinton Says Religious Beliefs About Abortion Have to be Changed

Mountains of information, disinformation and breaking away

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Become a Peaceblogger

Click on the picture to know more

Additional reading

1. 150 Years after the 13th Amendment
2. Refugee crisis, terrorist attacks and created fear
3. Vatican against Opponents of immigration
4. Peppered Speeches at Republican National Convention
5. Bumpy road to success
6. Bridge builder Obama
7. Coming closer to the end of 2015 and the end for Donald Trump as presidential candidate
8. 2015 In the Picture
9. Summary for the year 2015 # 2 Strewn with corpses and refugees
10. Wrong choices made to get rid of Assad
11. Trump brand of migrant demonization #1
12. Trump brand of migrant demonization #2
13. Cowardly governors give ISIS a propaganda victory: Refusing refugees is a moral outrage & a strategic blunder
14. Blinded crying blue murder having being made afraid by a bugaboo

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Find out more

1. Fact Or Fiction? Donald Trump On Minorities, Immigrants, & The LGBT Community
2. Eight years after hope and change, voters are angry, anxious
3. Kaine brings steady hand, confidence to Clinton ticket
4. Barack Obama’s half-brother says he will vote for Republican candidate Donald Trump
5. Hillary Clinton Has Chosen Her V.P.!
6. Watch and read the speeches yourself …
7. “Donald Trump is a unique threat to American democracy”
8. Republican Party Bends Knee to Trump
9. After the Acceptance Speech
10. Republican National Convention Actually Goes Fine
11. #TrumpYourself – Feel the Wrath of Donald Trump
12. Trump Extends Olive Branch to LGBT Community
13. Convention as theater
14. Modern Good Samaritan parable

Brian Tracy on leadership

Business expert Brian Tracy in his book “How the Best Leaders Lead: Proven Secrets to Getting the Most Out of Yourself and Others” gives you a series of practical, proven ideas and strategies that leaders and managers at every level can use immediately.

Those in charge of churches have to be good leaders. Have a look at what he has to say:

 

You become what you think about most of the time.

Most of the time, leaders think about the qualities of leadership and how to apply them daily.

Leaders have a clear vision of where they are going, and they convey this vision to everyone around them.

Leaders have the courage to take risks, to move forward, to face danger with no guarantee of success.

Leaders have integrity. They deal honestly and straightforwardly with each person. They tell the truth, and they always keep their word.

Leaders are humble. They get results by using the strengths and knowledge of those around them. They know how to listen, and they know how to learn.

Leaders have foresight. They continually look ahead and anticipate what might happen. They make provisions to guard against possible reversals and put themselves into a position to take advantage of possible opportunities.

Leaders focus on what’s important. They concentrate their time and resources, and the time and resources of the company, on the activities that will make the most difference.

Leaders cooperate well with others. They are liked and respected by everyone around them. They go out of their way to get along well with the key people upon which the company depends. They truly believe that people are their most valuable asset.

The best companies (churches) have the best leaders. The second-best companies (churches) have the second-best leaders. The third-best companies (churches), in these times of turbulence, are unfortunately on their way out of business.

The most important contribution you can make to your company (church) is to be a leader, accept responsibility for results, and dare to go forward.

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Preceding articles:

A Brief Thought on Leadership

Failures, mistakes and Initiatives for Excellence and success, Working towards turning a Dream of yours into reality

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A Brief Thought on Leadership

Not everybody is given to be a leader and not everybody can take up the leadership. The one taking up leadership always should respect those under him, willing to give them something more and offering them positive prospects, putting them on fire, willing to explore, discover, strive, soar and excel.

Joe DeRosa loves marketing and has spent a significant amount of his time and energy studying buyer behaviours. As an executive leader of several Marketing and Sales teams he has gathered vast amounts of data – qualitative and quantitative – around the customer journey.

He, like us, is convinced that leadership is not selfish and that great leaders make it all about their teams which they lead with dignity. As we showed already in our previous postings, life is a learning process. In this competitive world the best leaders should be continuous learners, not claiming to have all the answers nor believing they themselves are the only ones capable of generating great ideas. With many youngsters, this might a be problem today and the cause of so many projects failing in the end.

An other big problem today is the lack of communication or the will to listen to others, and nobody wanting to take responsibilities.

With many of those born in the 1980s and 1990s we find a very placating and narcissistic tendency, many having a very strong ego. Many of them are also not willing to trust others and do not want to share all that they know, but want to be recognised as the one who knows most and best, which is not always so true.

Purpose-driven leaders understand the importance of gratitude.  Being gracious for a job well done separates a good leader from a bad leader.  There’s nothing wrong with expressing your gratitude or thanks to an employee who did a good job even though a good job is what’s expected.  It’s often the smallest acts of kindness that embolden a team to its leader. {10 Things a Leader is Not}

Many youngsters think they know already everything and are often not open to learn more. They forget that everything changes so fast and everyday offers again something knew. For good leaders there is no place for ignorance and no place for such proud that no questions are dared to be posed about matters not known.

In good leadership is also no place for indecisiveness or a regular hesitating attitude.

Enduring leaders know that making decisions are required for leadership longevity.  Those that shy away from making decisions, difficult or easy, don’t last long as leaders.  Indecisive leaders are some of the most difficult leaders to work for. {10 Things a Leader is Not}

Let us therefore remember

• Leadership = collection of experiences, ideas, values, beliefs, and opinions
• = demonstrating humility while acknowledging = still more to learn
• not about being right but rather getting it right.

relationship formed through existence of mutual trust

Very important > Knowing when to lead + when to follow = area that separates good from great leaders.

> Please do find to read also:

1. Should You Clean House? The most difficult question you’ll face as a leader.
2. Is it time to change?
3. Leader or Executive – Which Are You?
4. Preparing to Fail is the First Step to Winning
5. Best Practices…Who Says?
6. Your Ability To Change Determines Success or Failure
7. Are You a Helper, or a Server? An Important Question for Your Brand.
8. Be An Inspiration
9. Never Settle
10. Stop Managing Change, Start Inspiring It
11. Why Generosity?
12. How Pressure Affects Performance
13. 3 Hints to Help You Hit Your Goals in 2016: Hint #1 – Visualization
14. 3 Hints to Help You Hit Your Goals in 2016: Hint #2 – Write it Down
15. 3 Hints to Help You Hit Your Goals in 2016: Hint #3 – Tell People

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Preceding article:

Failures, mistakes and Initiatives for Excellence and success, Working towards turning a Dream of yours into reality

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Joseph DeRosa

Leadership is a collection of experiences, ideas, values, beliefs, and opinions. Good leaders ask great questions. Great leaders apply what they’ve learned from those questions to their actions.  It’s not about having,or projecting an attitude, but rather demonstrating humility while acknowledging there is still more to learn. It’s not about being right but rather getting it right.

Leadership is a privilege.  It’s not a right, nor a duty as some may think. It’s a gift given to those who have earned it by demonstrating their desire to serve others. Those who have been given a leadership role without earning it are exposed rather quickly.  People are eager to follow those they believe in, trust, and care about.  That relationship can only be formed through the existence of a mutual trust.  It’s the leaders job to build that trust.  It is granted to the leader who demonstrates his or her genuine interest and caring for…

View original post 121 more words

Failures, mistakes and Initiatives for Excellence and success, Working towards turning a Dream of yours into reality

We all have to have dreams. Without dreams we shall not accomplish much in life.

Dr Austin Ejaife, [an Olorogun, the ‘Ugo’ of Agbon Kingdom] a Professional Tax, Audit, Accounting, Strategy and Global Corporate Governance Consultant, who also wants to be Motivational Speaker, Inspiration mover, Political Critic and Social Crusader with passion for good governance, advocacy and empowerment for Positive Change, reflects how he views and interpret real life issues, current news items from around the world and Nigeria in particular. But he has also some good food for thinking for those in the West as well.

He writes about are do’s and don’ts and knows we all make mistakes and have to live with them, but are better to look forward to the tomorrow which will come–and it is up to us how we choose to face the day ahead of us.

The mistakes of yesterday are in the past, and with the right attitude and some effort, today will find us making fewer. {Leave Yesterday’s Mistakes In The Past… And Bring The Lessons With You So That You Will Not Repeat Them}

Some APEX teen leaders were invited to a breakfast (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In our previous article we looked at some celebrities. Several highly placed people or those who are in the picture for a while may get a certain attitude. It is not weird or strange to find leaders filled with abnormal hubris lacking internal validation. Dr. Austin Ejajaife tells about some wonderful studies, that shows the corroding effects of ego and how leaders are more likely to suffer from disease of fixing fat compensation, acquiring other firms and engaging in other risky strategies to feed their egos. Leaders ought to cultivate humility. {Initiatives For Excellence: Avoiding Arrogance of Power}

Successful people are able to come into the danger zone, becoming a leader, or anyone in a position of power and authority, having to avoid the trap of arrogance of power.

Everything rises and falls on leadership,”

says Dr. John C. Maxwell,

“but knowing how to lead is only half the battle. Understanding leadership and actually leading are two different activities.” {Initiatives For Excellence: 12 Major Signs Of Leadership In Danger (I)}

Dr Austin Ejaife *(Ugo1)* writes

World leaders attending the Progressive Governance Conference 2009 in Chile. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The key to transforming yourself from someone who understands leadership to a person who successfully leads in the real world is character. Your character qualities activate and empower your leadership ability, or they can stand in the way of your success
Dr. Ted Engstrom  says that organisation succeed or fail for many different reasons.

Even the mature organization or nation is not without its hazards. In many ways the dangers that it faces are more subtle. They are often the result of success rather than failure. {Initiatives For Excellence: 12 Major Signs Of Leadership In Danger (I)}

We would say it is not only leadership in danger but also for our own success we have to be careful not to settle for the status quo. We also should know that new ideas shall bring with them a conflict of interest, and conflict of interest brings internal tension. We continuously have to work around those feelings and cope with that internal tension.

Quality is far more important than quantity. Size or quantity must always be secondary to the effectiveness. Discriminating between breadth and depth is not easy. That is why there is a real danger here. Leaders may have a great desire to expand throughout and beyond our community or to the rest of the world, but if the quality of our products or services is not being continually strengthened, then, we may discover that we have over-extended ourselves. {Initiatives For Excellence: 12 Major Signs Of Leadership In Danger (I)}

We always should know ourselves and have to be realistic about what we can do and what we can handle, never forgetting to listen to others and to look around us, noticing what is going on and how society reacts to certain things. One of those dangers when looking around is that we view a situation from a limited point of view.

The only failures that really exist are choosing to hold onto limiting thoughts such as, “There is nothing we can do to move beyond this situation.” Life is a series of decisions. If something didn’t work out in the past, accept what happened as being an incident from the past, and be willing to move on. If we are spending time trying to change the past, we have limited ourselves from moving forward. Please remind yourself that we cannot change what has already happened. We can change how we feel about past situations. {Turn Your Failure Into Accomplishment!}

Reality (Dream album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lots of people look up at what they think may be the success or happiness of somebody else. They keep comparing themselves with others and get pulled down or frustrated. By doing so they often are limiting themselves.

Limiting beliefs always create limited outcomes. Limited thinking also keeps us stuck from moving beyond the imaginary walls known as our comfort zones. If we really wish to turn failure, disappointment, or frustration into something positive, we need to be willing to step out of the comfort zone arena. Whenever we approach any situation in a limited manner, it is because we are holding onto excuses and fear. When we feel limited or challenged usually also results in feeling discouraged.

Discouragement translates into more excuses; and eventually because of thinking from a limited point of view causes us to stop working on achieving our goal(s). By understanding that in order to experience disappointment or failure, if we can recognise that we made a decision to stop, quit or give up, is only a decision. This incredible insight suggests that if we were to make better decisions we can turn the whole thing around. {Turn Your Failure Into Accomplishment!}

We should remember

When working on goals, instead of approaching the situation as difficult, vague or impossible, let us begin by changing our point of view. By beginning to use positive intentions helps us to view tasks as being possible and manageable. We are changing what we are holding in mind. Instead of responding with,

“Maybe tomorrow… or giving yourself some other excuse,”

make a decision that focuses on easily completing the task. A better response would be,

“I can easily take care of this,”

and give yourself a reasonable period of time to accomplish the task (i.e. by the end of day, week, or month, etc.). By approaching tasks as easy, and also providing a reasonable timeframe, allows us to take the appropriate actions to accomplish the task without getting discouraged. {Turn Your Failure Into Accomplishment!}

The writer of the blog which we advise you to visit, is convinced that

We are marvellous and unique beings, created by a loving God for a purpose that is quite perfectly our own.

Who is to say that our dreams have to be like theirs, or anyone else’s in this world for that matter? Just because someone else dreams of amassing new things, more power, greater wealth, or more fame, does not mean we, too, share the same passion. Perhaps we just want to travel the world more, or dream of a simpler life with less stress and more peace. {Work Towards Turning A Dream Of Yours Into Reality}

Looking at what Douglas Everett says:

“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.”

Ejaife thinks there is more than simply realizing that we are in charge of choosing our own dreams in life.

We must also realize that within us, we possess the ability to turn those dreams into our reality, if we but dare to take the necessary steps to make them come true. What did you dream of as a child? Have you realized any of those dreams? What do you dream of today? How do you feel when you are focused on those dreams? As children, we often allowed ourselves to dream with the idea that any one of those dreams could come true. But as we grow older, we often times buy into what other people consider reality, and our dreams get pushed aside, packed away, and perhaps even forgotten. {Work Towards Turning A Dream Of Yours Into Reality}

When looking at the screen of your television and hearing about all those celebrities, remind yourself that all that fame is temporary and does not always bring that luck hoped for.

Ejaife brings questions to consider. We should think about what we want to do in our life and with our life. We should ask ourself why we are so often afraid to tackle certain issues.

Why do we often put our dreams on hold?

How can we go about turning our dreams into our realities?

What differences do you see between dreams and reality?

For further thought:

“Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.” ~ Anais Nin

> Please do read: Work Towards Turning A Dream Of Yours Into Reality and find more interesting articles by Dr Austin Ejaife

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Preceding articles:

The Goal

Attitude of Unstopable Success

Gender connections

Getting fate in your change to positiveness

Helping to create a Positive Attitude

Material wealth, Submission and Heaven on earth

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Find also to read:

1. Why “Selfishness” Doesn’t Properly Mean Being Shortsighted and Harmful to Others
2. Subcutaneous power for humanity 5 Loneliness, Virtual and real friends
3. Opportunity!
4. At first looking like a loss
5. Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement
6. The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places
7. Fear of failure, and fear of the unknown
8. Some one or something to fear #4 Families and Competition
9. Failing Man to make free choice
10. Let not sin reign in your mortal body

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What is the truth asked also Pontius Pilate

In history there have been several moments that people wondered what really happened or what was really the truth.

Christ before Pontius Pilate, Mihály Munkácsy, 1881 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The coming days we also think about a man who was presented with a dilemma. The coming days we think about a man who wanted to come the world a truth for which they had to be very careful. All people had to think seriously of what they wanted to belief and to do. Today about this, nothing has changed yet. The Nazarene his message should still ring in our ears. But about this man it was also said he was or is a king (king of Israel), and that made many anxious or even annoyed, having some one standing in their way. How was the world to cope with this man who said he was the son of God and the one sent to show the world the Way to God?

At the time when this son of man lived there where none who made him to a god, but today many have made him to their god. Though this man told all around him he could not do anything without his heavenly Father Who is greater than him. He always spoke about his heavenly Father being the God of Abraham and also being his God, to Whom he prayed and to Whom we also should pray.

It was questioned by many if what this Nazarene man was telling could be true. the temple servants thought it could not be true and because of him saying he was the son of God by whom the heavenly Father worked in him they sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making according to them, himself equal with God. They did not think he said he was God, but thought he considered him equal with God. Therefore Jesus reacted unto them, making it clear he never would think himself equal with or the same as God. He also wanted to assure them he could do nothing of himself. Though him mentioning that he knew that the Father loved him as Son, was not liked by them either. Worse they heard this Nazarene telling folks that he would be able to give life to whom he will.  This was much more than one step too far.

Joh 5:17-24 MKJV  But Jesus answered them, My Father works until now, and I work.  (18)  Then, because of this, the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but also said that God was His father, making Himself equal with God.  (19)  Then Jesus answered and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do. For whatever things He does, these also the Son does likewise.  (20)  For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all the things that He Himself does. And He will show Him greater works than these, so that you may marvel.  (21)  For as the Father raises the dead and makes alive, even so the Son of Man makes alive whomever He wills.  (22)  For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son,  (23)  so that all should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.  (24)  Truly, truly, I say to you, He who hears My Word and believes on Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life.

Joh 14:28-31 MKJV  You have heard how I said to you, I go away and I am coming to you again. If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, I go to the Father, for My Father is greater than I.  (29)  And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens you might believe.  (30)  I shall no longer speak many things with you, for the ruler of this world comes, and he has nothing in Me.  (31)  But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father has given Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go away from here.

But when he was brought in front of the high priest who asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his teaching, he answered him that he had spoken openly to the world. The truth was that Jeshua (how he was really called) ever taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always came together; and in secret spoke he nothing.  Jeshua was not afraid to say what he thought and what he found to be the truth. He also asked others always to tell the truth. Jeshua never hid something so he was surprised they asked him because he knew they knew the things which he said.  Annas sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest and they lead Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover.  Pontius Pilate wondered about the accusation brought against this man.  They answered and said unto him,

“If this man were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee.”

Pilate asked them to judge Jeshua (Jesus) according to their law, but they escaped having blood on their hand by throwing it into his hands, saying that it is not lawful for them to put any man to death. Asking Jesus if he was the King of the Jews Jesus did not deny it but answered with a question, not making it easier for Pilate. After Pilate asked if Jesus considered Pilate a Jew and what Jesus had done, Jesus answered that his kingdom is not of this world.  Pilate asked him to be a king then, to which Jesus answered that he said that he is a king, and confirmed that he was born to his end and to this end he had come into the world, that he should bear witness unto the truth. but he also added that every one that is of the truth had to hear his voice.  Pilate asked him

What is truth?

Joh 18:33-38 MKJV  Then Pilate entered into the praetorium again and called Jesus and said to him, Are you the king of the Jews?  (34)  Jesus answered him, Do you say this thing of yourself, or did others say it to you about Me?  (35)  Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me. What have you done?  (36)  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would fight so that I might not be delivered to the Jews. But now My kingdom is not from here.  (37)  Pilate then said to Him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, You say it that I am a king. To this end I was born, and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.  (38)  Pilate said to Him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, I find no fault in him.

Finding no crime in this Nazarene man, Pilate knew the Jews had a custom, that he should release unto them one at the passover. But not as he would have thought the people to answer, to let the man free, the crowd shouted to have the criminal be freed, the one who had robbed also some of them.

Joh 18:39-40 MKJV  But you have a custom that I should release one to you at the Passover. Then do you desire that I release to you the king of the Jews?  (40)  Then they all cried again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas! But Barabbas was a robber.

Tim Cloyd reads this as Pilate being actually genuinely confused. We also do think that Pilate has heard already many things about the man from Nazareth going through Galilee telling stories and doing wonderful things. The news must have come to his ears as well. Now, at last, he sees the man in real life and wants to know what truth really is.

Truth is not a part of the metric that he is familiar with in making leadership choices and if Jesus is a king this mode of thought makes no sense to Pilate. His leadership model is only one of self interest – expediency or of a kind of utilitarianism.

writes Cloyd and continues:

 “The greatest good for the greatest number” or the good or truth is whatever promotes his interest or cause.

Jesus is speaking truth to earthly power. It is an ethic that looks at things, actions, and choices as true or untrue, good or bad in and of themselves. It is a radical and dangerous way to regard the world in terms of earthly power and decision making.

Today lots of people run away with the truth, they just make a joke of it. Not many are really interested in telling the truth or keeping to the truth. Many also do not mind their relationships being build on dreams and lies. Many also want to use their fantasy words to lure others in their nets. People who tell the truth and point them out to the ethics to which we should keep are not liked, like Jesus was not liked for telling the truth and for showing their crooked way of thinking and misleading others. today we can find many who make it a sport of misleading others. It has become big business.

Many or most of our leaders, CEOs, and politicians are more likely than not it seems to me to be familiar with the leadership ethic of Pontius Pilate. As a leader you are likely to be confronted with demands from friends, board members, shareholders, or other constituencies that pressure you to make decisions that may be popular and wrong, but may be justified by expediency or utility. {The Leadership Ethic of Pontius Pilate – Expediency and Utility}

Think of the CEO asked to kick business back to powerful friends or bosses. Choosing not to do what is asked would be unpopular, but right. The consequences of not doing what was asked would in most cases be bad for that CEO’s career, his family, etc. The ire of scorned friends or others in power could lead to rumors or the release of damaging partial or (dis) information that could harm a CEO who made a decision not to do the wrong thing based on truth and not to agree based on expediency or utility. {The Leadership Ethic of Pontius Pilate – Expediency and Utility}

Liberal arts colleges teach students to reflect on such issues. They allow for both the assertion of truth and for the question “what is truth?” but they teach students no matter their faith tradition that there are better and worse ways to live a life. {The Leadership Ethic of Pontius Pilate – Expediency and Utility}

It is a reality of the day that we do not see many struggling with what is real or with what is the truth. It would be better if more people took Pilate in mind and got to see the problem and the ethic of Pilate, which still troubles the world today.

We also do hope more people come to hear what Tim Cloyd means just as you hear what Jesus means.

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Disscusion Questions

It would be nice if “Everyone has at least one person available always to hear their problems, troubles, mistakes, secrets and even opinions. ” but we are afraid we can find lots of people who are feeling lonely and who do not find somebody around them to whom they can tell the ‘closest’ things to. Even many people who have lots of Facebookfriends today can not feel happiness because they do not really feel they can have a very close connection with somebody else. At the time when social Media is such a hype and everybody seems to be constantly busy with updating their social status, we see that a lot of it is a flush of air.

Having all the magical tools which can spread photo’s in a few seconds make it even worse in this world, because many people have found a weapon in it to tease and even worse bully others with their messages and photo’s been placed on the internet.

All tat social media action makes that lots of people have lost their trust in certain people around them.

But each of us can make a difference. Even when liking to use Facebook and other social gadgets we should be conscious not to misuse the modern tools to gossip, but using it more to show our good will to help others and to be ready for them.
We should do proof to others that they can rely on us, because we are trustworthy and standing ready to be helpful for those in need. People are right to fear the ‘Gossiping‘ which has increased so much, and we should give a clear sign to others who try to do such a thing, that we are not served by that and that we do not want to hear.

When we do hear somebody judging somebody else we should give a clear signal that it is not up to man to judge the other, and that before something is insinuated the person has to be very sure that what he or she wants to tell is founded on truth and not on gossip.

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Notice:

Power and determination = most important qualities => make you a good leader

leaders need to be strong so that they can be obeyed and followed but they also need to be flexible and friendly with other people so that they can have good relations, can be trusted by the members led and finally can be loved and defended no matter what happens.

A good leader = determined + has power + is also weak + sympathetic

good lives are made so by discipline.

=> keep the laws + law makers

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Find also to read:

1. If there is bitterness in the heart
2. Do not be so busy adding up your troubles
3. A small trouble is like a pebble
4. God is my refuge and my fortress in Him I will trust
5. Do the appropriate for a friend
6. She who sows thistles will reap prickles
7. A Breath for tomorow
8. Voice for the plebs
9. Do we have to be an anarchist to react
10. To mean, to think, outing your opinion, conviction, belief – Menen, mening, overtuiging, opinie, geloof
11. The business of this life
12. Determine the drive
13. What Jesus did: First things first

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Explore the World

How could someone chose the person he trusts?

People can’t be lonely in this life, they always need someone to listen to them, understand them and help them. For example, if you have a problem that is personal but you are struggling to solve it, you will need someone to help you because if you stay hiding that problem you are going to hate life and feel bad about yourself and other people around you. That is why we form trust. We trust people who have time to listen and care about us. Often these people are close to us like a family member, a close friend, a teacher, etc. Everyone has at least one person available always to hear their problems, troubles, mistakes, secrets and even opinions. How to choose the person you trust is very important. You cannot just start telling a stranger all your secrets and personal information because…

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