Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Lesson of the day

Lesson of the day: when you need to vent, make sure that the person listening is willing to hear.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

A Note on Preaching Styles

During this new foray of mine into Christianity, I've been observing different preaching styles - both on TV and in person. I've come to understand why I like and follow some pastors, and why I dislike others. It has also helped me understand why - for most of my life - I never enjoyed going to church.

Some pastors deliver their message as if they were leading a protest. They scream with conviction, trying to impart on the audience their opinion. They might be talking about a good thing (God's love), but their voice sounds angry. Their passion for what they are trying to preach is delivered through the energy of hate.
I have always disliked those kinds of pastors. I don't think God's love (or anything positive for that matter) can flow through someone who is engulfed in such extreme negative emotions. It usually takes me very few seconds to mute or turn off the TV after they start speaking.

I've recently noticed other pastors who speak in a similarly aggressive tone, but out of desperation instead of anger. They almost scream as they try to impart on the audience how urgent and important it is to have a positive attitude, to trust God, etc. Their love and concern for their audience is delivered through a tone of worry and fear.
I also find it hard to feel the love of God flowing through someone who is so desperate and scared. I don't feel too inclined to hear the message being given by those kinds of preachers either.

Then there are the calm, natural preachers. They speak to their audience in a normal tone of voice, as if they were talking to a friend. They talk about positive things with a smile on their face. I've also noticed a couple of things in common with all of them: they always have a few jokes in the middle of their message, and they use their personal stories as examples for their own preaching.
In my opinion, it's easy to feel God's love flowing through someone who is relaxed and happy. It's easy to be inspired by someone who exhibits a positive composure. By sharing their own stories, flaws, struggles and successes, they incite feelings of empathy and hope. I am much more inclined to stop and listen to someone who is talking to me as a friend, making jokes and sharing their struggles.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that the way a preacher delivers their message is as important as the message itself - and it can make a difference between having followers or struggling to make their ministry grow.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Lesson of the day

Lesson of the day: even if you feel like you are not succeeding at keeping your Inner Peace, keep trying. It is better than not trying at all.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Quote of the Day

Quote of the day: Your attitude is yours. Nobody can make you have a good one if you don't want to. And nobody can make you have a bad one if you don't want to. - Joyce Meyer

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Lesson of the Day

Lesson of the Day: when you have Inner Peace, Love flows easily through you to others, and back.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day: Joy is energy. [When you have joy, you are full of energy. If you want to be energized, fill yourself with hope.] - Joyce Meyer. 

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day: We make decisions and feelings catch up with our decisions. - Joyce Meyer

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Lesson of the day

Lesson of the day: part of learning how to fly is learning how to land.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The Man Who Ate Pizza

Image: VectorToons


Do you give money to homeless people on the street?
I always have mixed feelings about that. I end up not doing it, partly because of my background and partly because of my own experiences. But last week, something happened that has once again tipped my "inner balance" to the giving side.

I was sitting at a food court chatting with some friends. A man with red, long, dirty looking hair and a frizzy beard approached our table. His clothes - an old grey sweater and torn jeans - were much bigger than his size and looked a bit dirty too. He said "can you guys give me some money so that I can eat something?". We all said we didn't have any money, followed by our traditional Canadian apology. And he left us alone.

We then proceeded to talk about mistrusting homeless people, how you never know if they will use the money for food or to buy drugs, alcohol, etc. Many of us (including me) told stories of offering food when they asked us money and them rejecting the food.

As we talked, the homeless man walked to a table next to ours where 4 other friends of ours were sitting. A couple of ladies promptly gave him some coins. A few of my friends commented on what a mistake that was, how naive they were, etc.

We continued talking negatively about homeless people who ask for money.
I saw the man walk to a fast-food pizza restaurant at the food court. I observed him talking to the server and receiving a cup of carbonated beverage.
At first I thought he was using only part of the money he got for the beverage and the rest he would spend on drugs. But a part of me started suspecting that maybe he just wanted to eat something after all.

I continued observing the man, now with a mix of curiosity and guilt. My friends were still talking about our need to mistrust homeless people. The man had remained at the counter, while the server put a slice of pizza in an industrial oven.

My doubts had almost disappeared and the guilt started hanging heavier in my heart. A thought (which has come to my mind before when I've seen a homeless person asking for money) occurred to me again "I should have told him 'Tell me what you want and I will buy it for you'."
A few seconds later, my suspicions were confirmed. The server gave him the freshly baked slice of pizza and he poured several coins on the server's hand.

As he walked and sat at a nearby table, the guilt in me (for mistrusting him) prompted me to interrupt my friends (who were still talking negatively about the homeless). I nodded in the direction of the man's table and commented that he indeed just wanted money for food. My friends agreed that we were wrong (but quickly changed the subject).

That man renewed my faith in homeless people. I decided that next time I saw a homeless person asking for money, I would try my approach of offering to buy them food.
It's interesting how a small act by another person can change your opinion about something (if you are open to change).
I hope this inspires someone to renew their trust in homeless people.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Quote of the day

Quote of the day: If you think about how angry you are with somebody, you'll never be able to treat them lovingly. - Joyce Meyer

Monday, April 13, 2015

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Lesson of the Day

Lesson of the Day: focus on God's Love and He will help you get through anything.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Monday, April 6, 2015

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day: Get up everyday and think "I can do whatever I need to do today". - Joyce Meyer

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day: Stop looking at what you don't have and start looking at what you have. - JoyceMeyer

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day: When you have an argument: it doesn't matter who's wrong. What matters is who is the 1st to make peace. - Joyce Meyer

Friday, April 3, 2015

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Thought of the Day

Thought of the Day: When we become too busy to seek and keep our Inner Peace, we're actually losing sight of who we are meant to become.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Thought of the Day

Thought of the Day: One of the reasons we don't have  the things we desire is because we seek those things and not our Inner Peace.