15 Challenges to Pursue in Life

by Jim Rohn from the 2004 Jim Rohn Weekend Leadership Event . In life, this is one of my important realization, we are designed to pursue dreams and face challenges along the way. It is a never ending dream, attainment, new dreams, new goals, achievements and yet breeds to new more desires and dreams. Let us all enjoy the journey and I know you - The Smart Pinoy is up to it =)

1. Review Your Performance. Whether it’s communication, whether it’s activity, whether it’s a CEO, whether it’s on the job. Here’s what my father said: “Always do more than you are paid for to make an investment in your future.” Now some unions would argue with that. My father was so unique. Review your performance—your language with your children. Say, “Have I been too harsh, too strong, too stubborn? Should I have learned to be easier and mixed more compassion with the tough stuff I have to deal with?” And yes, prayer will help. Ask for help to say the right thing, not to ruin it all by poor communication.

2. Face Your Fears. That’s how you conquer them. Don’t dismiss them; face them. Say, “Here’s what I’m afraid of. I wonder what I could do to change that.”

3. Exercise Your Willpower to Change Direction. You don’t have to keep doing what you’ve been doing the last six years if it’s not yielding the benefits you want. My mentor helped me review the last six years so I wouldn’t repeat those errors the next six. Pick a new destination and go that way. Use your willpower to start the process. You don’t have to repeat last year. Clean up the errors. Invest it now in the next year. Watch it make the difference.

4. Admit Your Mistakes. Sometimes you have to admit them to others. Parents have to do it. We ask our kids to do it. We have to do it. Here is one of the best phrases in the English language: “I’m sorry.” The reason those are good words is because they could start a whole new relationship. It could start two people going in a whole new direction. Simple, not easy. You get this done, the turnaround can be dramatic. The early years can be big in payoff. Here’s the big one. Admit your mistakes to yourself. You don’t have to babble about them to everyone in the neighborhood. But it doesn’t hurt to sit down and have a conversation with yourself and say, “There’s no use kidding myself. Here’s where I really am. I’ve got pennies in my pocket and I’ve got nothing in the bank.” That’s what I said after a Girl Scout left my door. I had a conversation with myself and I said, “I don’t want this to happen anymore.”

5. Refine Your Goals. Start the process. Set some higher goals. Reach for some higher purpose. Go for something beyond what you thought you could do.

6. Believe in Yourself. You’ve got to believe in God and you’ve got to believe in the community. You’ve got to believe in the possibilities. You’ve got to believe in the economy. You’ve got to believe that tomorrow can be better than today. Here’s the big one. Believe in yourself. There isn’t a skill you can’t learn; there isn’t a discipline you can’t try; there isn’t a class you can’t take; there isn’t a book you couldn’t read.

7. Ask for Wisdom. This is communication of the highest source. Ask for wisdom that creates answers. Ask for the wisdom that creates faith to believe things are possible. Ask for wisdom to deal with the challenges for today and tomorrow, to deal with the challenges your family brings you. Don’t wish it was easier; wish you were better.

8. Conserve Your Time. Sometimes we get faked out. Bill Bailey says the average person says, “I’ve got twenty more years.” No, Bill says you’ve got twenty more times. If you go fishing once a year, you’ve only got twenty more times to go fishing, not twenty years. That fakes you out.

9. Invest Your Profits. Here’s one of the philosophies that Mr. Shoaff gave me. Profits are better than wages. Wages make you a living, profits make you a fortune. Could we start earning profits while we make a living? The answer is yes.

10. Protect Your Family. These are troublesome times. At school—troublesome times. Protect your family as best you can from the hidden dangers, the lurking evil one.

11. Live with Intensity. You might as well turn it up a notch or two. Invest more of you in whatever you do. Be a little stronger; be a little wiser. Step up your vitality contribution. Put everything you’ve got into everything you do and then ask for more vitality, more strength and more vigor, more heart and more soul.

12. Find Your Place. If you just work on a job, find the best place you can serve well, and sure enough they’ll ask you to occupy a better place. And if you keep doing a job well, do the very best you can. That’s your best way out. Here’s a Bible phrase. If you work on your gifts, they’ll make a place for you.

13 Demand Integrity from Yourself. Integrity is like loyalty. You can’t demand it of someone else; you can only demand it of yourself. Be the best example of loyalty, and you’ll get some loyal followers. Be the best example of integrity, and you’ll have people around you who have integrity. Lead the way.

14. Welcome the Disciplines. Can’t give you much better advice than that because disciplines create the reality. Disciplines build cities. A well-disciplined activity creates abundance, creates uniqueness, productivity.

15. Fight for What’s Right. It’s a fight we’re in. The storyteller says “And there was a great war in heaven.” One of the writers of later Scripture said, “I fought a good fight.” That’s extraordinary to be able to say. I fought for my kids, and I fought for what was right and I fought for good health, and I fought to protect my company and I fought for a good career that would bless my family. I fought a good fight. It’s good to fight the encroachment. Opposites are in conflict, and you’re in the middle. If you want something valuable, you’ve got to fight for it. Then this writer also said, “I fought a good fight and I kept the faith.” See, that’s the deal. Keep faith with your family. Fight the enemy and keep faith. Fight the illness and keep faith. Fight the evil and keep faith. I can’t give you much better advice.

To your Success! 

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Manny Pacquiao emulating Bruce Lee?

I saw this interesting article on a newspaper entitled  "Enter the Emulator" referring to Manny Pacquiao and the person it said he is emulating, is the late Bruce Lee ( whose movie hit was " Enter the Dragon " ). I myself was a big fan of Bruce Lee and I do agree on most respect on this particular article. If you were able to watch the "True to Life Story Of Bruce Lee" - The Martial Arts Legend , what he and Manny Pacquaio - The 8 Division Boxing Champion do have in common is their passion for Self- Development and Innovation on their chosen field. Bruce Lee challenges different Masters of  different martial arts ( Karate, Jujitsu, Taekwando, etc ) specifically to further improve his skills and come up with a better one ...which he did with his Jeet Kune Do. Manny Pacquaio takes himself and boxing skills to the next level ...here's what the article have to say further about this one Smart Pinoy:

By GREG BISHOP , The New York TImes

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — The boxing genius of  Manny Pacquiao includes feet that belong in “Riverdance,” calves the size of grapefruits and deceptive power generated from his core. His movement is unorthodox, scattered and perpetual, as if designed by a jazz musician. He creates angles unlike any other fighter, past or present, appearing, disappearing, shifting, striking; on balance, off balance, even off one foot.

It is this style — part performance art, part technical wizardry, unique to Pacquiao— that defines perhaps the best boxer of his generation. And it started with a videotape of the martial artist who became his idol. It started with Bruce Lee.

Last month, as Pacquiao molded his style specific to Shane Mosley, his welterweight opponent on Saturday in Las Vegas, he wrapped his hands inside the dressing room at the Wild Card boxing gym here. To explain the way he fights, he settled on three words.

“Like Bruce Lee,” he said.

Growing up in the Philippines, Pacquiao studied Lee, watching his movies on endless loops. He still often views his collector’s set. “Enter the Dragon” is his favorite. Hisconditioning coach, Alex Ariza, says he believes Pacquiao built his baseline movement off Lee’s template, the continual attacking, the feet drummed in and out.

“Bruce Lee jumped around and kicked his feet and shook his head and shoulders,” Ariza said. “His feet moved in concert with his hands. He could be choppy, but he was rhythmic. Manny does the same thing. It comes from that.”

A stick-thin, one-dimensional left-hander arrived at Wild Card in 2001, his style still reckless, raw. Pacquiao punched at high volume, seeking knockouts, but struggled against superior technicians.

By then, Pacquiao possessed the basics of his skill set. Because he fought with the speed of the boxers he most admired, Pacquiao cornered opponents, made them feel squeezed. His tempo, the sparring partner Shawn Porter said, feels less like 1 ... 2 ... 3 and more like 1-2-3-4-5-6.

If Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, could place one boxing skill above all others, he said, “speed is the greatest asset in the world.” Pacquiao’s speed is evident. At one workout, even the comedian Don Rickles said Pacquiao reminded him of Sugar Ray Leonard.

The early Pacquiao combined feet that moved like lightning with uncommon power for a man his size, power that started in those calves (his adviser Mike Koncz said thick legs ran in the family) and wound through his torso.

After Erik Morales defeated Pacquiao in 2005, Roach decided Pacquiao needed balance, and Roach set about enhancing his right hand. In practice, Roach instructed Pacquiao to throw jabs, uppercuts and hooks in three- to four-punch combinations, all right-handed. It took three years, but a different fighter emerged against David Diaz, and Pacquiao later knocked out Ricky Hatton with a right.

Roach divides Pacquiao’s career into two periods: before the Diaz fight and after. His style had started to take shape.

The next epiphany occurred by accident, when, during training, Pacquiao shifted left, around Roach and tapped his trainer on his left shoulder. “What are you going to do now?” he asked. Roach was stunned.

Back when Roach fought, boxers mostly engaged straight on. His work with Pacquiao, the angles they created, changed the way Roach trained. If Pacquiao shifted left, outside the right foot of his opponents, their natural instinct was to follow — into his left hand. If opponents chose not to engage, they had one option, to back away. Roach says Pacquiao improves his position with each angle created and makes it more difficult to counterpunch.

Roach and Pacquiao design angles specific to each opponent. The key, Roach said, is creating space and confusion.

“He still taps me on the shoulder every session,” Roach said. “I’ll always try to counter with what his next opponent would do. I always lose.”

Roach and Pacquiao did not invent this approach to boxing — Roach cited George Foreman’s 1990 knockout of Gerry Cooney as an earlier example — but they elevated angles into art. Roach sees boxing’s future in Pacquiao’s fancy footwork.

As Pacquiao kept moving up in weight divisions, Roach worried less about the weight or power that Pacquiao could add and more about the speed he could lose. Roach told Ariza, “Do not screw up his speed.”

In all his years, through dozens of world champions, Roach never saw a fighter who gained so much weight and retained speed and power. As a result, suspicions have been raised that Pacquiao used performance-enhancing drugs, a charge his camp denies. (Pacquiao has never failed a test.) Ariza points to other factors: different diet, isometric exercises for balance, plyometric exercises for explosiveness.

“He’s also just a freak,” Ariza said. “His resting heart rate in the morning is 42 beats per minute. If he did half the work he does, he would still be where he is today.”

In his last fight, Pacquiao contested the junior middleweight Antonio Margarito. When Margarito’s trainer, Robert Garcia, watched film of Pacquiao, he saw a somewhat vulnerable fighter who lunged too often and left himself exposed. At least it seemed that way.

Garcia instructed Margarito to attack the body, but he failed to keep up and lost vision in one eye when Pacquiao fractured his orbital bone.

“Whatever plan you have against Pacquiao, he just terminates it,” Garcia said. “What seems possible on video is not. Nobody fights like him — awkward, quick, strong, fast, good reflexes — nobody that complete.”

In recent years, Pacquiao honed the footwork that Roach said he deserved more credit for.

“When he moves,” Roach said, “his footwork is so exact, so perfect, it’s what creates the angles and wins all his fights.” Roach sees poetry when Pacquiao’s feet pump, but less like ballet and more like what Ariza calls “the Riverdance.”

The continual movement makes Pacquiao difficult to time. This disrupts the rhythm of his opponents, forces them to take risks.

“It’s an unpolished but very compelling and original athleticism,” the veteran trainer Joe Goossen said. “It’s not a continuing flow of beauty. It can be herky-jerky. It can be harsh, deliberate, unorthodox. But it’s effective.”

Roach says he wishes Pacquiao would finish opponents sooner, thinks Pacquiao is too nice. But Pacquiao views his style as boxing entertainment. He relishes the stage, revels in the attention.

Pacquiao also became a more polished strategist in recent years. Last month, he and Roach slowed regularly during mitt work, and Pacquiao made suggestions that they incorporated on the spot. Koncz said Pacquiao became a “professor of boxing” in his 2008 victory over Oscar De La Hoya.

As opposed to “volume of punches,” Koncz said, Pacquiao “moves sideways, makes angles, with more intent and purpose.” Roach taught Pacquiao elusive tactics, blocking tactics and sidestepping tactics that he had never used before. His style has become more nuanced, more advanced, his results a direct reflection of his evolution.

Pacquiao, 32, attributed that in part to age. Ariza credited the fighter’s outside interests, all the chess and darts and political ambition, for heightened brain activity that, rather than distract Pacquiao, helped him focus.

To beat the improved Pacquiao, Garcia and Goossen said, would require a superb defensive performance, movement to match his movement, an offensive assault to force him backward and, simply, luck. Because of his defensive style and tactical brilliance,Floyd Mayweather Jr. poses the biggest threat.

As Ariza surveys the boxing landscape, he sees fighters emulating Pacquiao, or trying to. They bounce like him, dance like him, shift like him. But they are not as efficient, powerful, creative or balanced. Pacquiao boasts a style that is often imitated, never replicated.

Ariza has long wanted to test Pacquiao for scientific purposes, for lung capacity, red blood cells, endurance. He could publish his findings in a scientific journal. But Pacquiao wants none of that. Part of his genius remains a mystery and always will.

“Bruce Lee,” Ariza said, “was like that.”

=======
As I write this post, Manny have just defeated Mosley on a lopsided fight. For those who watched the fight, you know very well why it was so. Manny is reaping the benefits of his hardwork and pursuit of excellence in the sports of boxing... if Bruce Lee is alive today, I'm sure he will consider it an honor to be Manny Pacquiao's inspiration and his movies used as training material on his way to become the "Best Pound for Pound Fighter in the World".

To your Success! 

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How Do You Attract Opportunity into Your Life?

by Jim Rohn

Someone once asked me the question: “How can I have more opportunities come
into my life?” Good question, but I think my answer surprised them a bit.


I bypassed the obvious (and necessary) points about hard work, persistence
and preparation. They actually were very hard workers. And they had the
great attribute of being seekers; they were on the outlook. But I felt
maybe they were missing this next and most valuable point: attraction.


I always thought opportunities and success were something you went after,
but then I found out that I needed to turn it around. Opportunities and
success are not something you go after necessarily, but something you
attract—by becoming an attractive person.


That’s why I teach development of skills. If you can develop your
skills—keep refining all the parts of your character and yourself, your
health, your relationships, etc., so that you become an attractive person
to the marketplace—you’ll attract opportunity. Opportunity will probably
seek you out. Your reputation will probably precede you and someone will
want to do business with you. All of the possibilities are there by working
on the philosophy that success is something you attract.


The key is to continue making yourself a more attractive person by the
skills you have, the disciplines you have, the personality you’ve acquired,
the character and reputation you have established, the language and speech
you use—all of that refinement makes you more attractive to the
marketplace.


Personal development is the never-ending chance to improve not only
yourself, but also to attract opportunities and affect others.

Attract opportunity in your life with the guidance of a team of
world-renowned success experts! Click on side banners for the best self development mentors/resources.


To your success!

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How to Make Money in Real Estate in the Philippines - Fast?

Think Rich Quick on Tri-media

Yes it can be done in a matter of weeks or even in a few days! Before you think this is too good to be true and must not be real,consider the story of Mic Mejia. Mic attended the last “Think Rich Quick” seminar back in March 27, 2010. Ten days after the seminar, he sold a condo and made P100,000. Mic is not a licensed real estate agent and yet after learning powerful techniques during the Think Rich Quick seminar, he sold a condo faster than even the most experienced real estate agents out there. And get this...Mic did not put any money down on this deal...and he did not go to a bank and borrow money.
Click here to view more details

Here's a video interview with Trace Trajano, a US Based Pinoy Investor, a real estate guru, and best selling author of Think Rich Quick book. Don't attend this Think Rich Quick Seminar until you have watched this video:

If you are the type of person who really want to make things happen for your Real Estate career this year,  if you're serious about being more and doing more, then I urge you to take that necessary STEP  for you to succeed. Attending this TRQ just might be the PUSH that you need to quit your job and change your life. The possibilities are there and there's only one way to find out...
Click here to view more details

To your breakthrough success! 

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Prophecy for the Philippines Series - Rev. Abu Baku

Rev. Abu Baku
a prolific teacher from Ghana emphasized that culture has the foundation of worship. Why we established the Church? To possess the gates of the enemies. The foundation of the nation must be based on the family. If the family is destroyed, the nation is in chaos. He asked, “How do we see God's Kingdom in the family?”

         Abu talked on kingdom as domain or entire domain i.e. referring God's kingdom which is meant for the entire universe which includes the heavenly and earthly realms. God' expanse of kingdom includes subjects of the rule in submission to the King... “Stop creating your own thing...anything that is created by the flesh, you are building it on a sand. Anything that is created by the spirit, you are building it on the rock...” John 14:2, “In my Father's house are many mansions.. I will prepare a place for you...” Place in Greek word, “topos,” means space, position, occupancy, location, position, home or opportunity. Within some space are places. There are specific seats, positions and spots. Where you be yesterday may not be the same today. The sin of leaders are presumptous. You can not establish your family unless you first establish your kingship. Psalm 125:3, For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest, on the land alloted to the righteous, lest the righteous reach their hands to iniquity.” Without scepter, you are illegitimate authority. God ordained messengers to bring the message of the kingdom to the King.

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Prophecy for the Philippines Series - Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj

Sundar Selvaraj was raised up in a strong Hindu family. He has two sisters and a younger brother. When he was about seven years old, his father became a layman priest."

Young Sundar being the first born male child followed his father's footsteps and became a devout Hindu. He gave himself to the study of mantras and was versed in performing pujas (religious ceremonies). He even carried the kavadi- a form of Hindu penance, for three years. When he was about 16 years old, there arose a question in his heart about karma, life after death and nirvana. He sought the favours of the Hindu deities through fasting, penances and pujas, to be set free from the cycle of rebirth and to be one with Brahma - the union with the cosmic energy. But all his efforts were futile. After six months of fervent futile prayers, he came to the conclusion that he had been fated to be reincarnated again and again in this world due to his bad karma.

About this time in June 1978, he attended a religious-cum-science lecture at a public auditorium. The distinguished speaker was speaking on the subject of evolution. Young Sundar had great fascination for science and was planning on becoming a neurosurgeon. After speaking for half an hour on evolution, the speaker then compared the science of evolution to the science of creation by God. Although science was of interest to Sundar he did not enjoy hearing about Jesus Christ. The speaker said that because of God's great love for man, He came down to earth as a man to die for the sins of the whole world, and only by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ can a person be set free from sin and the cycle of death.

After the message, the speaker gave an invitation to all those who wished to receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour to come forward to the stage. Though Sundar felt an urge to go forward, being a staunch Hindu, he rebelled against the nudge. Suddenly, from deep within him, he heard a clear and audible voice speaking to him. The voice said, "This is the true God. Go and follow Him." Sundar was astonished to hear the voice beckoning him to go forward and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour and God. He ignored the voice. But, like an auto reverse cassette player, the voice kept on repeating, "This is the true God. Go and follow Him." Sundar then experienced another supernatural experience. The chair on which he was sitting began to shake.

It was as if the chair was prompting him to get up and go. He grabbed the handles of the chair and would not budge an inch.

All the while, the voice kept repeating. "This is the true God. Go and follow Him". Sundar was now experiencing two unexplainable supernatural experiences. Then without any warning, he felt a real tangible hand below his back. The hand gently lifted him up to his feet. Puzzled, Sundar stopped resisting. The unseen but real hand then clasped his hand and gently led him down three flights of stairs to the front of the stage.

He joined about 50 other people who had come forward to receive the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. Looking upwards, Sundar said, "Jesus if you are the true God, please help me be set free from the cycle of rebirth."He then repeated after the speaker, "Lord Jesus come into my life."

As soon as he said those words,he least expected another supernatural experience. He felt someone pouring what he felt like oil on his head. It dropped on his head and began to flow downwards all over him. As the oil was flowing down over him, he felt a cleansing taking place inside his heart. Like all his sins and filthy nature being washed and cleansed.The oil kept flowing down to his toes. When the oil flowed out of his toes, a great indescribable peace filled his entire being. After the Lord gave him four supernatural experiences, Sundar was totally convinced Sundar that the Lord Jesus Christ is truly The One True God. He then sincerely gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ and became his devoted disciple.

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Self-Development for Smart Pinoy joins Earth Hour 2011

Hope my few kwhr save for this one hour of turning off of electricity in my home will add up to the millions around the world. 15 minutes to go....

At 8:30 PM on Saturday 26th March 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

With Earth Hour almost upon us, our thoughts are with the people of Japan during this incredibly challenging and sad time for their country.

日本の皆さん、勇気を持って頑張って下さい

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Prophecy for the Philippines Series - Cindy Jacob

Let me have here a list of Prophets and what they say about the Philippines and what we should do as nation. First one is Cindy Jacob on her last visit. 

Cindy Jacob 

Widely recognized as a prophet to the nations, Cindy Jacobs is the President and Co-Founder of Generals of Intercession, a missionary organization devoted to training in prayer and spiritual warfare.  She is the author of three best-selling books, including Possessing the Gates of the Enemy, The Voice of God, and Women of Destiny.  Her testimony is composed of excerpts from her book Women of Destiny.  To purchase her books or for more information, check out her website at www.generals.org.  To contact Cindy usegenerals@generals.org

 Cindy's Testimony

The year was 1950, and a struggling seminary couple knelt in earnest prayer.  They were presenting a very special request to God.  It seemed strange for them to ask such a thing in light of their present  circumstances.  "Lord," they prayed, "please give us a baby girl."  They had lost a child through miscarriage and already had a precious son.  God answered their heartfelt petition in August of 1951, and that is how my journey began.

 I've always been deeply touched by that story.  It has given me a sense of destiny and purpose through many turbulent times as a woman minister.  Perhaps the Lord knew I would need the extra confidence that such a blessed beginning gives so I would have the strength to finish the course God had set out for me. 

People sometimes pose this question to me, "Cindy, did you ever dream you would be traveling around the world speaking to thousands of people when you were a little girl?"  The answer is no.  I had absolutely no inkling.  However, I have always had the sense of God's hand on my life for something very special, even as a tiny child.  Maybe there are those of you who have felt something similar.

The man who influenced my life the most as a child was my daddy.  I adored my daddy as I grew up.  He was a Baptist church planter and had a passion for starting churches.  During those days, we didn't have an understanding of the role of the apostle in the church, so Dad rather puzzled us.  We would start a church and once we got it going he'd get this itch to move on.  As you can imagine, I moved quite a bit.  I guess it could have really messed me up except for one factor--there was a lot of love in my family.

When I was nine, I went to church camp in Prescott, Arizona.  It was there, in my afternoon quiet time, that I surrendered my life to the Lord.  I knew I needed to "make it public." The moment finally came that evening when the speaker gave the invitation.  Wafting through the night air came the strains of the camp song I loved, "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus"..."No turning back, no turning back."  I knew I couldn't turn back.  Feeling nervous and a little embarrassed, I moved out and quietly knelt at the front.  My heart was bursting with love for the Lord, "I will go Lord--anywhere.  Just tell me what you want me to do."  At the end of the invitation time, one of the workers handed me a commitment form to fill out.  I sat down and studied the boxes: pastor, evangelist and missionary.  I wasn't sure about missionary, but I never dreamed I could be a pastor or evangelist, so I signed up with the Lord to go to the mission field. 

When I was 31 years old, God touched me and told me to pick up my cross and follow Him in taking the gospel to the nations.  Well, I had a terrible struggle accepting the call.  The wrestling with God began in earnest when I realized God was not negotiating.  He wanted me to preach, not my husband, Mike.  The war was on!  I gave the Lord plenty of reasons why I couldn't possibly preach.  "God," I pled, "Didn't You notice that I am the wrong gender?  Besides, Lord,"  I whined further, "I don't like women ministers.  They have those high, squeaky, unpleasant voices."

The next horrible thought that zinged through my brain was, Oh, God!  What about my children?  Some people don't like women ministers.  I don't want anyone to hurt my kids.  I'm afraid my next statement wasn't very religious: "God, I'm not laying my children on the altar of any ministry." 

For nearly a two-year period, I paced the floor after everyone was asleep at night, fighting the call.  Finally I said yes to God and accepted His call.  I figured I was safe.  I lived in Weatherford, Texas--population 12,000.  How could anyone find me there?  Right? Wrong!  God can find you anywhere.  You can read the details in my book Women of Destiny.

Still, there were temptations to go my own way.  Early in life, I begged my parents to let me take piano lessons.  I loved music, and I honestly believed I had discovered my niche in life.  I completed my bachelor's degree in music and went on to study a fifth year for my Master's in teaching music.  Years later, after I had begun my ministry, I was offered a job teaching voice at a Bible school.  My desire to take the job was so strong that I had a hard time hearing God's will for me.  Even though my schedule was full of speaking engagements that I'd have to cancel, I still wanted the job.  Finally in the wee hours of the morning, the Lord gently instructed me to finish the course by preaching the gospel, not by teaching music.  I heard Him say in a still, small voice,  "Cindy, the call to music is the call of your soul, but the call of your spirit is to preach the gospel."

Many people ask me, "Cindy, why has God used you all around the world for His kingdom"?  Well, it's not because I'm more gifted than most or a better speaker.  I earnestly believe it is because when there were obstacles in the way of what God called me to do, I trusted Him to make a way where there was no way.  Has it been easy?  No.  Has it been worth it?  Yes! 

Ladies, you may at times have unique challenges in pursuing your destiny, but your attitude along the way will make or break you.  If you choose bitterness or anger, or get eaten up inside with how unjust the system is or how prejudiced some men are against women, then you will never survive in the ministry or be successful in your life either. 

It takes a lot of courage to follow the call of God--many times, more courage than you can personally muster.   This is why you need to have an intimate walk with the Lord. 

Obstacles are inevitable.  There will be storms.  And, friends, sometimes God doesn't take the storm away-He just tucks us in the eye of the storm where we will be protected from its raging. (1)

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6 Ways to Make Your Holy Week Really Holy

When the trend is having a diaspora to the beaches or to the cooler climate areas, doing their Panata

( pledge ) during Semana Santa either by Penitensya  ( public penance ) while others chooses "staycation" or stay at home... you can't help but ask, how can we really make this Holy Week really really Holy regardless of the activities we have set to do...

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Understanding the Passion of Christ

 THE (SCIENTIFIC) DEATH OF JESUS

At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death penalty.

At the time crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst

criminals are condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for

Jesus, unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion Jesus

was to be nailed to the cross by His hands and feet.

Each nail was 5 to 8 inches long.

The nails were driven into His wrist. Not into His palms as is

commonly portrayed. There's a tendon in the wrist that extends to the

shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being

hammered into the wrist that tendon would tear and break, forcing

Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself so that He could

breath.

Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support

Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus

could not support himself with His legs because of the pain so He was

forced to alternate between arching His back then using his legs just

to continue to breath. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering,

the courage.

Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours.

Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few

minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding.

He was simply pouring water from his wounds.

From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the

spear wound to His side. But do we realize His wounds were actually

made in his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the

feet overlapped and an even large nail hammered through the arches,

then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But before the

nails and the spear Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so

severe that it tore the flesh from His body. The beating so horrific

that His face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The crown

of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived

this torture.

He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His wounds.

The human adult body contains about 3.5 litres (just less than a gallon) of blood.

Jesus poured all 3.5 litres of his blood; He had three nails hammered

into his members; a crown of thorns on his head and, beyond that, a

Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into his chest.

All these without mentioning the humiliation He passed after carrying his own cross for almost 2 kilometres, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones (the cross was almost 30 kg of weight, only for its higher part, where his hands were nailed).

Jesus had to endure this experience, so that you can have free access to God. So that your sins could be "washed" away.

All of them, with no exception! Don't ignore this situation. JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU! Do not believe that He only died for others (those who go to church or for pastors, bishops, etc).

Accept the reality, the truth that JESUS IS THE ONLY SALVATION FOR THE WORLD.

God has plans for you, show all your friends what He experienced to save you.

...He said (Matthew 10:32 &33):

"Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before

my Father in heaven; but whosoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven".

Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me".

Philippians 4:13..

I have done my part in sharing this message, now it is your turn by sharing this post.
Have a Blessed Holy Week.  

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15 Rules of Smart Pinoy Producers

Michael Jordan, a Top Producer!

Here's a quick reference for the 15 Rules for Top Producers by Doyle Slayton. I believe practicing them or implementing them in your Network Marketing, Sales or any career involving High-touch interactions will lead to remarkable results. Have made short inputs for my take on it. Enjoy!

Rule 1: Build a strong foundation.

• -     or one strong earthquake or setback your destroyed easily.

Rule 2: Block out negativity from outsiders.

• -     Would you let your neighbors threw their garbage in your backyard..think about it.

Rule 3: Crush negativity from insiders.

• -     Inside out approach is still key

Rule 4: Learn to love that which produces the biggest results.

• -     Just like Pareto principle…focus on the ones with significant impact.

Rule 5: Don’t give your prospects an easy out.

• -     Hmm if you are having a hard time, it is your fault =)

Rule 6: Focus on the right activities.

• -     Absolutely!

Rule 7: The more, the more!

• -     The manyer? =)

Rule 8: Your pipeline is your lifeline.

• -     Better than hauling buckets all your life.

Rule 9: Leave single-mindedness behind.

• -     Many ways to skin a cat.

Rule 10: Cold-calling trumps Networking

• -     Let them call you or be the one sought ..that’s how it should be

Rule 11: Master the art of uncovering needs

• -     Motivation and pain

Rule 12: Be a hardcore closer without being pushy

or unprofessional

• -     Now I understand …what’s the meaning of closing all the time.

Rule 13: Sell your prospects the way they like to be sold.

• -     They need to sell themselves.

Rule 14: You’ve got to have a scoreboard!

• -     What gets measured, gets done

Rule 15: If you are going to win, Win BIG!

• -      Why not?  

To your maximum potential!

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Why We Laugh

This is part of a chapter from the Book Comedy Writing Secrets by Mel Helitzer. I do find it amusing and I have so much respects for comedians ( actors,stand up comedians, my dad and brother in their own ways ). So let me share what the intro on what makes us laugh...

The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.—Dorothy Parker

Aristotle studied it, and Socrates debated it. Such famous historical figures as Charles Darwin, Thomas Hobbes, and Henri Bergson wrote papers on their humor theories. In the twentieth century, Sigmund Freud, Max Eastman, and even Woody Allen tried to formulate clear explanations of the purpose of humor.
In fact, there's been more research on humor in the last decade than in all previous centuries combined. Humor has played an important part in our lives for thousands of years, but scientists and philosophers
are still working to understand what laughter means, why we tell jokes, and why we do or don't appreciate other people's humor.
Despite the prowess of the minds that have considered the subject, answers are far from definitive. Like rabbis in the eternal debate over the meaning of the Talmud, every scholar of comedy interprets its subjective
phenomena in terms of his own discipline. Today, there is more diversity of opinion than ever.

So much remains to be done that the student of humor has a real opportunity to make a significant contribution to the field.—Jeffrey Goldstein and Paul McGhee

The only common denominator among the theories is an agreement that humor is so subjective that no one theory can possibly fit in all instances. For those interested in creating humor, there is good news and bad
news. The good news is that if humor has so many tangents, it may have an unlimited variety of benefits. Most of them have yet to be discovered.The bad news is that those who create comedy are not sure they know
exactly what they're doing. "I work strictly on instinct," Woody Allen admitted. Humor writers therefore have to live with the fear that they won't be able to continue producing humor consistently.
After being an established writer for fifteen years, I remember staring at the typewriter every morning with a desperate, random groping for something funny, that familiar fear that I couldn't do it, that I had been getting away with it all this time and I would at last be found out.

[It was] a painful blundering most of us went through. —Sol Saks

There are few artists more insecure than humorists. They are traditionally suspicious of any attempt to analyze their creative techniques.That's because they develop their formulas through trial and error.
They discover comedy batting averages; some techniques work more often than others.

I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.—Steve Martin

....reason for laughter on next post. =) 

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SILAKBO 2011 in Santa Rosa City

Silakbo 2011

I am doing my part for Mother Earth that is why I joined  SILAKBO last Sunday April 10,2011 with friends here in Santa Rosa.

Sikad, lakad, takbo… SILAKBO.  This is the City of Santa Rosa’s unique way of raising awareness and calling to action on the importance of protecting Mother Earth and preserving the environment. Below are some of the pictures taken after the run with Miss Earth 2011 Candidates.

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