QUALITIES OF A GOOD SPIRITUAL LEADER

INTRODUCTION

Spiritual leadership is the knowing where God wants His people to be and ensuring that he (the leader) takes them there, either by taking several initiatives to use God's methods to get them there in total reliance on God's power. Therefore, the goal of spiritual leadership is that people come to know God and to glorify him in all that they do. Spiritual leadership is aimed not so much at directing people, but in changing their lives and connecting them to God. Hence, we must make it our aim to develop persons rather than dictate plans for them. You can get people to do what you want, but if they don't change in their heart you have not led them spiritually. You have not taken them to where God wants them to be.

Everyone has the responsibility of leadership in some relationships. But my concern now is on the characteristics, qualities, virtues that a person must have in order to be a spiritual leader who excels both in the quality of his direction and the numbers of people who follow him. Therefore, the ultimate goal of spiritual leadership is that other people might come to glorify God, that is, they might so feel and think and act as to magnify the true character of God.

Here are some coded qualities to enhance a leader:

1. TACTFUL:

Paul said in Col. 4:5, 6, "Conduct yourself wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, to know how it is necessary to answer each one." And the writer of Proverbs said, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver" (Prov. 25:11). We must remember that leaders are aiming to change hearts, not just to get jobs done. Therefore, making people unfriendly unnecessarily is self-defeating. Tact is that quality of grace that wins the confidence of people who are sure you won't do or say something stupid. You can't inspire people to hang their heads in embarrassment at the inappropriate and insensitive things you say or do. Tact is especially needed in a leader to help cope with embarrassing or tragic situations.

For example, very often when you are leading a group someone will say something totally irrelevant, which is recognized to be very foolish by everyone in the group. A tactful leader must be able to divert the attention of the group back to the main course of the discussion without heaping scorn upon the individual.

The tact of a leader must demonstrate itself in forthright confrontation. The person who is unwilling to approach a person who needs admonition or rebuke will not be a successful spiritual leader. Combined with his judgment of people's character, a leader's tact will enable him to handle delicate negotiations and opposing viewpoints. His choice of words will be of good judgment rather than awkward.

2. A GOOD JUDGE OF CHARACTER:

Jesus knew the hearts of men (Jn. 2:17) and he urged us to be perceptive in assessing others (Mt. 7:15). Leaders must know who is fit for what kind of work. Good leaders have good noses. They can detect potential when they see it in a beginner. They can hear in a short time the echoes of pride and hypocrisy and worldliness, and then try to caution rightly. The spiritual leader steers a careful course between the dangers of rigid description on the one hand and indifference on the other hand.

3. ABLE TO TEACH:

According to 1 Tim. 3:2 “anyone who aspires to the office of overseer in the church should be able to teach.” What is a good teacher? I think a good teacher has at least the following characteristics.

Ø  A good teacher asks himself the hardest questions, works through to answer them, and then frames provocative questions for his learners to stimulate their thinking.

Ø  A good teacher analyzes his subject matter into parts and sees relationships and discovers the unity of the whole.

Ø  A good teacher knows the problems learners will have with his subject matter and encourages them and gets them over the humps of discouragement.

Ø  A good teacher foresees objections and thinks them through so that he can answer them intelligently.

Ø  A good teacher can put himself in the place of a variety of learners and therefore explain hard things in terms that are clear from their standpoint.

Ø  A good teacher is concrete, not abstract, specific not general, precise not vague, vulnerable not evasive.

The goal of a good teacher is the transformation of all of life and thought into a Christ-honoring unity.

4. A HARD THINKER:

"Be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature!" (1 Cor. 14:20). It is not easy to be a leader of people who can outthink you. A leader must be one who, when he sees a set of circumstances, thinks about it. He sits down with pad and pencil, pictures events, writes them down and creates a template. He tests all things with his mind and holds fast to what is good (1 Thes. 5:21). He weighs things and considers pros and cons and always has a significant rationale for the decisions that he makes. Careful and rigorous thought is not contrary to a reliance on prayer and divine revelation. The apostle Paul said to Timothy in 2 Tim. 2:7, "Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything." In other words, God's way of imparting to us insight is not to short-circuit the intellectual process.

5. ENERGETIC

Lazy people cannot be leaders. Spiritual leaders "redeem the time" (Eph. 5:16). They work while it is day, because they know that night comes when no man can work (John 9:4). They "do not grow weary in well doing" for they know that in due season they shall reap if they do not lose heart (Gal. 6:9). They are "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord their labor is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58). But they do not take credit for this great energy or boast in their efforts because they say with the apostle Paul, "I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Cor. 15:10). And: "For this I toil, striving with all the energy which He mightily inspires within me" (Col. 1:29).

The world is run by tired men, someone has said. A leader must learn to live with pressure. None of us accomplishes very much without deadlines and deadlines always create a sense of pressure. A leader does not see the pressure of work as a curse but as a glory. He does not desire to fritter away his life in excess leisure. He loves to be productive. And he copes with the pressure and prevents it from becoming worrisome.

6.  SELF-CONTROLLED

By self-controlled I do not mean prim, proper and unemotional, but rather master of our drives. If we are to lead others toward God, we cannot be led ourselves toward the world. According to Gal. 5:23 self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is not mere willpower, but it is appropriating the power of God to get mastery over our emotions and our appetites that could lead us astray or cause us to occupy our time with fruitless endeavors. In 1 Cor. 6:12 Paul says, "All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything."

The Christian leader must ruthlessly examine his life to see whether he is the least enslaved by television, alcohol, 2go, whatsapp, facebook, twitter, coffee, golf, computer games, fishing, Playboy, masturbation, good food. Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:25, "Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." And he says in Gal. 5:24, "Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires." Spiritual leaders ruthlessly track down bad habits and break them by the power of the Spirit. They hear and follow Rom. 8:13, " For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Spiritual leaders long to be free from everything that hinders their fullest delight in God and service of others.

EFFECT OF SOIL EROSION

The first hydrological effect of soil erosion is the variation of the water fable filth then maraese in the tempo of gully, the gradual lowering of the ground water becomes more evident, and the problem of water supply    to affected communities increases. Through (Grove 1951), considered that gully type erosion has not seriously affected water supply by lowering the water fable, he nevertheless added that the entrenching of stream beds, the stilling up of springs by soil creep and the development of canyon type valleys have greatly reduced the usefulness of several source of water supply. Thus, it appears that grove infact shares the view that a serious water supply problem is involved which may be caused by the gradual lowering of water fable. Another economic effect of soil erosion is loss of finance. Generally, monies used in soil conservation effort are lost to other uses to which the amount would have been put if soil erosion did not

Efficiency and Effectiveness

INTRODUCTION

Efficiency and effectiveness are both commonly used management terms. Yet, while they sound similar and start with the same letters, they both mean different things. Efficiency refers to doing things in a right manner. Scientifically, it is defined as the output to input ratio and focuses on getting the maximum output with minimum resources while effectiveness, on the other hand, refers to doing the right things. It constantly measures if the actual output meets the desired output. Since efficiency is all about focusing on the process, importance is given to the ‘means’ of doing things whereas effectiveness focuses on achieving the ‘end’ goal.

Efficiency is concerned with the present state or the ‘status quo’. Thinking about the future and adding or eliminating any resources might disturb the current state of efficiency. Effectiveness, on the other hand, believes in meeting the end goal and therefore takes into consideration any variables that may change in the future.

In order to be efficient time and again, discipline and rigor is required. This can build inflexibility into the system. Effectiveness, on the other hand, keeps the long term strategy in mind and is thus more adaptable to the changing environment.

Since efficiency is about doing things right, it demands documentation and repetition of the same steps. Doing the same thing again and again in the same manner will certainly discourage innovation. On the other hand, effectiveness encourages innovation as it demands people to think, the different ways they can meet the desired goal.

CONCEPT OF EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIECNY

Effectiveness and efficiency are two important concepts crucial to management but which are often lost sight of by managers.

Effective management is not the same thing as efficient administration. As Viswasan (1975) concluded recently, "the latter may lead to the former, but not necessarily".

EFFECTIVENESS IN SCHOOLS

School effectiveness research SER has attracted the attention of many people in the last two decades. The ensuring debate centered on what an effective school is an indicator of school effectiveness. The controversy has been so intense that Ellist 1996 regarded it as being music in the ears of politicians and government officials .He asserted that SER is being used to politically refusal to respond to teachers anxieties about the increasing size of the classes instruction, and a tendency to blame head teachers for failing schools on the grounds that they lack a capacity for strong leadership. Unfortunately, according to Ellist, school effectiveness researchers, because of their desire to win friends and exercise influence in the political arena, rarely present their findings and exercise influence in the political arena, rarely present their finding objectively within the educational research consensus has been reached on the criteria for school effectiveness. There has been different models of school effectiveness these are:

 GOAL MODEL:

This model assumes that a school is effective if it can accomplish its stated goals with the given inputs. This model assumes that a school is effective if it can accomplish its stated goals with the given input.

This model is widely accomplished or used in evaluating schools through the students’ achievement.

THE PROCESS MODEL:

This model assumes that a school is effective if its internal functioning is smooth and healthy. The criteria for determining the effective school as follows;

• The pupil control system

• The School environment provided for pupils.

• The involvement provided for pupils.

• The behaviour of teachers.

• The academic development of pupils.

• Classroom management

THE SYSTEM RESOURCE MODEL:

This model sees an effective school as the one that can acquire the resources it needs.

The strategic constituency model:

This defines a school, as effective when all its strategic s constituencies are minimally satisfied and the school action are largely responsive to the demands of the strategic constituencies.

The legitimacy model:

This states that school strive for legitimacy with external public in order to enhance their longetivity and avoid being selected out of environment.

Organizational model:

This model contends that a school is effective if it can learn how to make improvements and to adapt to its environments. The proponent of the model argues that the impact of environmental changes and the existence of internal barriers to the school functioning are inevitable and therefore it is very important to the school. Considering the state of Nigerian

Schools most especially the tertiary institution Specific factors should be taken into consideration by administrators some of these factors are Professional leadership, shared vision and goals, attractive learning environment, concentration on teaching and learning all round expectations, positive reinforcement, monitoring of pupil performance, conscious pupil rights an responsibilities home school partnership and a school based staff development.(Brown ,S. Duffield, J. and Riddell,S.1995)

EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

The problem of higher education can be viewed as allowing more staff to run the activities of higher education. The smooth running of higher education depends on division of labour, the sharing of knowledge or ideas as well as the integration of social roles. A single individual or group of men cannot possess the entire skills capabilities, creativity and ingenuity needed to ensure effective resource management infrastructure transformation as well as human technical and moral development. (Ujomu 2001). Leslie 1975:234) was of the opinion that stability within the university can only be attained through effectiveness and legitimacy.

External efficiency refers to the success of the educational system in meeting the cultural, social and economic objectives outlined or assigned by the society. Internal efficiency refers to the success of the educational system and its individual institutions in meeting specific operational targets within the resources made available to it.

Efficiency in educational institutions defines the level and extent of meeting the goal of educational system resulting from economic and social policy. Efficiency requires not only versatility and relevance but also prudent and visionary resource management within the university system. (Leslie 1975:234) says that stability within the university can only be attained through effectiveness and legitimacy on one hand.

Effectiveness therefore presupposes efficiency, accountability, and valuability of training, protections and stability. On the other hand, effectiveness therefore presupposes efficiency, accountability, and valuability of training, protection, and stability.

CONCLUSION:

Administrators face a difficult fusion of roles contexts and challenges Effective educational leadership in the 21st century will require administrators to face a difficult fusion of roles contexts and challenges. Effective educational leadership will require administrators committed to enact strategies that make it possible for all students to succeed academically. School leaders must respond to accountability pressures originating in state policies by emphasizing test scores, or by focusing on general improving effectiveness, teaching and learning. Educational leaders must cope with two chief issues. They must overcome labour shortages; second, they must maintain a qualified and diverse professional staff. Leaders must also increase the racial and ethnic diversity of qualified teachers and administrators. To move forward, educational leadership programme must take into account both new scientific reach on effective leadership models. Universities must consider linking educational leadership to teacher education programmes including the provision of leadership training for teachers who may not want to become administrators. Admission requirements for university leadership programmes should reflect higher expectations for future school leaders in alignment with principles of democratic leadership.

Principles for Effective Evangelism in a Rural Church

Principles for Effective Evangelism in a Rural Church

Many are involved in evangelism, but I have an uneasy feeling that very few Christians actually "DO IT". Much evangelism that takes place within and outside our Diocesan setting is purely based on a short term rather than a long term view of the way the Kingdom of God should be extended. Everybody has heard of meetings or crusades where many people have prayed the sinner's prayer, and genuinely decided to turn from ungodliness to living a righteous and holy life. However is this all that matters? Did Jesus tell us to go and make decisions or disciples?

Below is an outline or coded keys to effective evangelism in a rural diocese that I think is workable.

Key 1: We Must Bring People Into Relational Communities

If evangelism is to be effective, we must ensure that people are added to a Church. The aim of evangelism is the renewal and transformation of lives, not just to get people to pray the sinner's prayer. Salvation is a process that starts even before a person comes to Christ (through the drawing of the Holy Spirit) and continues after the decision is made to follow the Lord.

A new convert cannot function as a Christian apart from a local church, because this is the environment in which God has ordained for him to be nurtured and eventually find expression for his ministry. When evangelism occurs in an urban area, there are existing Churches for new believers to join. However, when evangelism occurs in a rural setting there may not always be established Churches to work with. What is to become of those who accept the Lord in such a situation? The evangelist or those conducting the evangelistic effort are responsible for these new believers. How can helpless newborn babes be left to fend for themselves? It is essential that these people be placed in relational communities so that their spiritual lives can be nurtured.

If we take a closer look, we will discover that there are several tremendous advantages to planting Churches. Here are just a few:

A. Church Planting Produces a More Holistic Approach to Evangelism

Evangelism is a sub-set of church planting. The wider aim of the extension of the Kingdom of God includes church planting as part of it, especially in areas where there are none. Evangelism is actually incomplete without the planting of churches.

B. Church Planting Leads to Church Growth

Even in areas where there are established churches, the planting of new churches increases the rate at which people are reached. Take for example a larger church which has reached a plateau in its growth. If this church makes an effort to plant new churches the Kingdom of God will be extended. At the same time more people will have the opportunity to become involved in ministry.

C. Church Planting Overcomes Barriers

Most people who live in remote rural areas do not have access to an established church. They either live too far from an existing church or they may belong to one of the many people groups that do not have a church witness in their midst. We need to plant churches in these groups so that they will, in turn, reach out further to others of their group. In this way the Gospel crosses barriers to those who may be beyond the reach of present evangelistic efforts.

D. Healthy Churches Plant More Churches

Just as Christians are supposed to make disciples of all nations, healthy churches should produce baby churches. This approach to evangelism produces a commitment to those who come to the Lord, as mother churches are in a position to care for their daughter churches. They will be nurtured and ministered to even if there are only a handful of new believers.

Key 2: We Must Emphasize On Discipleship

Those with a short term view of evangelism are only interested in getting people to make decisions to accept Christ. Yet, one of the most powerful ways for the process of evangelism to continue is to disciple those who have made decisions for the Lord. As discipling occurs, firm and stable believers who understand the importance of reaching and discipling others are produced. The process of evangelism then becomes self perpetuating.

Our Diocese needs to develop a philosophy of ministry that views evangelism task as incomplete if we lead someone to Christ and then leave them, especially if they are from a remote rural area where there is no church. For this reason, we are to be committed to discipling new converts wherever the gospel is sent to. This should be done until the new converts can stand on their own feet and are gathered as a body of believers that is able to reproduce itself.

This philosophy of ministry is costly. We cannot accept all the opportunities that present themselves to us. Progress seems slow. But it is worth it. As new believers are discipled and a church is established, they will in turn reach out to others and start new Churches which they will care for.

Key 3: We Must Develop Leaders

There is a two-fold cry of our diocese. The first is, "We need finance" and the second is, "We need trained workers who understands the terrain." The second problem is without doubt the greatest challenge.

Workers in rural settings often labour in areas where the Church is either very young or nonexistent. As a result there is little or no Christian heritage to draw upon. In places where the gospel has been preached for many years, there is no shortage of people who have a basic understanding of Christian principles. People who serve in rural areas cannot compare the progress of their work with those places where there has been a strong Christian heritage.

New converts in rural situations are the next generation of leadership. The way these are viewed determines whether the work will be effective in the long term. The Bible knowledge of young leaders may be limited. But who needs sophisticated Bible expositors in rural situations? In most cases the young leaders will be just a few steps ahead of the people in their Church.

His Bond Servant

Elechi Udochi A.

DANGERS OF SPIRITUAL REGRESSION

Topic:              DANGERS OF SPIRITUAL REGRESSION

Text:                Heb. 6:4-6

INTRODUCTION:

For it is impossible. There are sins that have no forgiveness (Mt 12:31,32). There are Apostates who can never find a place for repentance, not because of the failure of God's mercy, but because they have destroyed their moral capacity for a heartfelt repentance. Usually the most hardened sinner are apostates.

1.      Those who were once enlightened: They had the light of the Gospel, Joh 8:12. The phrase "to be enlightened" is one that is often used in the Scriptures, and may be applied either to one whose understanding has been enlightened to discern his duty, though he is not converted, more commonly, to one who is truly converted. It does not of necessity refer to true Christians, though it cannot be denied that it more obviously suggests the idea that the heart is truly changed, and that it is more commonly used in that sense. Comp. Ps 19:8. Light, in the Scriptures, is the emblem of knowledge, holiness, and happiness; and there is no impropriety here in understanding it in accordance with the more decisive phrases which follow, as referring to true Christians.

2.      They have tasted and experienced God in action: To taste of a thing means, according to the usage in the Scriptures, to experience, or to understand it. The expression is derived from the fact, that the taste is one of the means by which we ascertain the nature or quality of an object.

3.      They have been partakers of the heavenly gift: This signifies the new life in Christ. Christ "giveth life unto the world" (John 20:31). The gift from heaven or which pertains to heaven. The expression properly means some favour or gift which has descended from heaven; and may refer to any of the benefits which God has conferred on man in the work of redemption. It might include the plan of salvation; the forgiveness of sins; the enlightening, renewing, and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, or any one of the graces which that spirit imparts.

4.      Partakers of the Holy Ghost: The Spirit of God is sent into the heart of all sons (Gal. 4:6; Ro 8:9). Partakers of the influences of the Holy Ghost--for it is only in this sense that we can partake of the Holy Spirit. We partake of food when we share it with others; we partake of pleasure when we enjoy it with others; we partake of spoils in war when they are divided between us and others. So we partake of the influences of the Holy Spirit when we share these influences conferred on his people. This is not language which can properly be applied to any one but a true Christian; and though it is true that an unpardoned sinner may be enlightened and awakened by the Holy Spirit, yet the language here used is not such as would be likely to be employed to describe his state. It is too clearly expressive of those influences which renew and sanctify the soul. It is as elevated language as can be used to describe the joy of the Christian.

"THE ANOTOMY OF SPIRITUAL REGRESSION"

Topic:              "THE ANOTOMY OF SPIRITUAL REGRESSION"

Text:                2 Peter 2:20-22

INTRODUCTION

In 2Pe 2:20-22, we read of the real possibility and serious consequences of backsliding. It is interesting that we find this passage coming from the inspired pen of Peter.

a. For if anyone knew "firsthand" the reality and dangers of backsliding, it was Peter!

b. As he discovered the night he denied Jesus!

The process of backsliding is a gradual one, often overtaking a person by surprise; and lest we fall from our own steadfastness...

a. We shall carefully examine the process that led to Peter's denial of Christ

b. Followed by noticing how Peter's own words in his epistles are designed to prevent the same from happening to us!

I. THE ANATOMY OF A BACKSLIDER

A. PRIDE - Mk 14:27-31

1. In a boastful manner, Peter claims he will not fall away or deny Christ!

2. In doing so, Peter takes the first step in backsliding: "pride"! - cf. Pr 16:18

3. Why is this the "first" step?

        a. Because the first step in entering the kingdom is humility

            - Mt 18:3-4

        b. So if we lose "humility", we take that first step backward

4. Paul's advice to the Corinthians is very apropos in this

         regard - cf. 1Co 10:11

B. LAZINESS - Mk 14:32-42

1. Told to keep watch, Peter kept falling asleep

2. It was therefore lack of diligent preparation which caused him to be caught off guard for what was to follow

 3. The same thing can happen to us!

        a. Without diligence, we too can be found unprepared - cf. Lk. 21:34-36

        b. More often than not, it is a "gradual drifting" that catches us off guard - cf. He 2:1-3

        c. But when we are proud of ourselves, we become lazy, and that easily leads to the next step...

C. COWARDICE - Mk 14:54

1. Note that it says "...Peter followed Him at a distance"

2. Now that Jesus had become unpopular...

      a. Peter stays far enough away so as not to be identified with Him

      b. Peter was unprepared for the challenge of facing ridicule and persecution

 3. Without diligent preparation, we too can become guilty of cowardice!

      a. Ashamed to be seen carrying a Bible

      b. Ashamed to be seen giving thanks

      c. Ashamed to be seen with other Christians

      d. Perhaps even ashamed to let others know that we are Christians

4. And yet, Jesus has made it clear what He thinks of "cowardice"- cf. Mk 8:38; Re 21:8

5. When we are ashamed of Christ, it is natural for to fall into the next step of backsliding...

D. WORLDLINESS - Mk 14:54

We now find Peter sitting with the servants of the High Priest and warming himself by the fire, he was ashamed to be seen with Christ, it becomes easy to mingle with those of the world and enjoy their comforts. But one cannot be "comforted by the fire" of the world, and not be "burned"!

     a. Close contact with that which can harm has its effects! - cf. Pr 6:27-29

     b. So it is we cannot "flirt with the world" and walk away untouched! - 1Co 15:33

By the time we become "friends with the world", it is only a short time before we take the next and final step of backsliding.

E. DENIAL - Mk 14:66-71 

Away from Christ, at comfort with those in the world, Peter finds himself denying His Lord and Savior!. In so doing, he has put himself in grave danger - Mt 10:32-33.Though we may never actually deny Jesus in "words", we can easily backslide to the point of denying Him in "action"...

    a. We are called to worship Him...but make excuses why we cannot

    b. We are called to serve Him...but render little or no service

    c. We are called to stand by His side and suffer for His name ...but stand afar off in the safety of the world's comfort

When we deny the Lord, our backsliding is complete; unless we repent, the only thing left is to one day face the Lord, where we will fully realize the error of our ways! For Peter, he fully realized his sin when the Lord turned and looked at him there in the courtyard ( Lk 22:60-62).  Imagine the feeling in Peter's heart as those eyes of His Savior pierced his soul!  Like Judas, Peter wept bitterly over his sin. Unlike Judas, Peter had "godly sorrow" that results in true repentance (2Co 7:10-11).  And years later, we find Peter writing the sort of things that would prevent us from making the same mistake he did...

II. ADVICE FROM ONE WHO LEARNED THE HARD WAY

A. TO GUARD AGAINST "PRIDE"...

     1. Peter enjoins "humility" - 1Pe 5:5-6

     2. Indeed, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble"

B. TO WARD AGAINST "LAZINESS"...

     1. Peter commands "diligence" - 1Pe 5:8-9

     2. Note especially his words in his second epistle - 2Pe 1:5,10; 3:14

C. INSTEAD OF "COWARDICE"...

     1. Peter charges us to "glorify God" - 1Pe 4:16

      2. Think not of what it means to you, but what it means to God!

D. INSTEAD OF "WORLDLINESS"...

     1. Peter tells us to "abstain" - 1Pe 2:11-12

     2. Remember that we are "sojourners and pilgrims", destined for a better place than the things of this world have to offer!

E. INSTEAD OF "DENIAL"...

     1. Peter exhorts us to ever be ready to "give a defense" - 1 Pet. 3:15

     2. By careful preparation, we will "defend" Christ, and not "deny" Christ!

CONCLUSION

From one who learned by the hard road of experience, let's heed his advice lest we one day backslide ourselves, and in so doing deny the Lord! - cf. 2Pe 3:17-18. Remember too that when Peter saw the eyes of his Lord, he realized the error of his way...

   a. Fortunately for him, there was still time to repent

   b. But for us, when we see Jesus "face to face", the time to repent

      will be gone...it will be the time for judgment!

If we realize that we are guilty of backsliding...

   a. Repent now, do not wait until you stand before Jesus

   b. Do it now, so that your "face to face" encounter with Jesus will be terrific, not terrifying!

IDENTIFYING AND EXPLOITING YOUR FULL POTENTIALS

IDENTIFYING AND EXPLOITING YOUR FULL POTENTIALS

The word potential means: possible but not actual, having a latent possibility or likelihood of occurring, or of doing, or becoming something; qualities that exist and can be developed. Potentials are the complete make up of anything, though dormant (latent, inactive, hidden etc) but can be fully developed.

To reach your desired destiny, it is imperative that you exploit your full potential. Any successful person will agree that despite life challenges you must raise above your circumstances to achieve success. High-achievers are the people who position themselves high above the common crowd and keep going no matter what. Most of us have heard something like this before: “You have a lot of potential,” or “You have so much potential, work hard and you will realize it.” The only problem is no one seems to know how to tell us where to start or how to achieve our fullest potential. After all, potential is such an ominous term and indeed is your personal choice to make it happen each and every day. You can’t measure it. You can’t quantify it. You can’t define it, but yet it is heavily embedded inside of you.

I have developed a KIT that can serve as a guide and guard to us:

1: Be Open Minded - It is so important to be open minded, especially in the world that we live today.  A lot of opportunities can pass us by because if we’re stuck in a limited pattern of thinking, or if we’re afraid to take a risk. Having an open mind is the first step to reaching your potential, because it gives you the willingness to take risks. We’ll never be the best we can be by playing it safe. As the saying goes: “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been.” So, today do something you have never done before.

2: Look deep within - By looking into your inner self, you will harvest some great inspiration. Refuse to be content with where you are at present or what you have achieved so far. Rather, strive to constantly go beyond the normal thereby reaching your full potential. Reaching your goal does not mean that you can now relax, it means that you need to keep going without loosing the momentum and that you have a lot of work to do. The higher you go, the more the responsibility.

3: Know what you want -  Go for it! It never surprises me how many people fail to get what they want because they’re too afraid to ask for it. Their fear of rejection and embarrassment holds them back from asking for help. In order to get what you want, you have to have the courage to ask others for assistance. That doesn’t mean you mooch off of other people. It means you have the wisdom that by working together, you can accomplish far more than you could achieve alone.

4: Change your thinking - You won’t be surprised to find that those who have reached their greatest potential have often been the most abundant. They aren’t afraid to step outside of the norm. For example, Albert Einstein and Ralph Waldo Emerson were considered radical thinkers, and  now they’re just considered geniuses. Thinking different doesn’t just mean intentionally going against the grain, though. What it does mean is having the courage to express your individuality. It’s in developing and blatantly accepting your unique strengths and talents that you’ll reach your highest potential.

5. Work smart, not hard - By working smart you can save a ridiculous amount of time you would have otherwise been spinning your wheels. Working smart is about paying attention and taking the time to do your research. It is not, however, obsessing over getting every little detail figured out, that is obsession. Working smart means modeling other experienced people and doing your homework. It’s the difference between first watching an experienced mechanic, and then haphazardly trying to wing rebuilding an engine.

6. Assist others succeed – The best way to reach your fullest potential is to help other people as much as possible. When it’s your time to ask for help, other people will be more inclined to help you in return. If you find yourself falling short of your best, it’s likely because you’re not giving enough of yourself. The more you give of yourself to others, the more value you create. The more value you create, the more other people will want to give value back to you. In addition, by helping others as much as possible, you create a wide network of support. Most great people you’ll meet will tell you they didn’t achieve greatness alone. They had many mentors, and they stood on the shoulders of giants. Now you can do this too.

7: Challenge yourself - Always seek to challenge your capabilities and you will overcome the spirit of settling for average. You too have the ability of reaching your full potential and becoming the best in your niche. The achievement of one stage is the commencement of another thus past success must not hinder your current or future success.

8: Learn from the past - In another way, success is merely a matter of how you are going to use your past to inspire and propel yourself to reach your full potential, both now and in the future. For those who have tasted victory in the past they must feel even more confident and challenged to achieve more and climb to a higher status. Your past experiences will help you to learn more about yourself and speed the process of your current task at hand.

9: Be a champion - In case your past is a record of ups and downs, many failures, break that  yoke and believe that you are a champion of tomorrow. It is only having a burning desire to taste victory that will help you become a winner. Therefore, be focused, committed and disciplined towards attaining success. Never worry about yesterday, in fact, you should use your past experiences to build on a better today. Do you know that Reaching Your FULL Potential it is Your Choice? Start now….

The Killer AGENTS

Many do not utilize their true potential, and lay it to waste by engaging in tasks that are a poor use of their time and energy.  Here are 5 sure-fire ways to live below your true potential, I call them the killer agents:

1: Harp on the past instead of focusing on the present: Some people spend their lives living in the past.  They lament about what has been, what they could have done, and why they didn’t do that.  However, the past is the past, and no matter how much time we spend thinking and lamenting about it, it doesn’t change anything.  To spend time moping about what has been is to waste the person you can be.

2: Let yourself be affected by minor issues: Sometimes we may be affected by a hurtful comment or discouraged by a small setback.  While these emotions are justified, often times these events are insignificant in the long run.  One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter endure its taste in one year’s time?  Three years?  5 years?  10 years?  30  years?”  If not, then it’s probably not worth your energy to think about these things.  Concentrate on things that do matter in the long run instead.

3: Blame others for your plight: Is there anything you’re blaming others for in your life?  Are you blaming the economy for not getting the job you want?  Your parents for giving you “fat” genes?  Your boss for your workload?  The world for lack of opportunities around you?  The universe for not giving you the life of your dreams? The extent to which you can live your dream life depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life.  When you blame someone/something for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility.  You give others power over that part of your life.  For example, if you blame your parents for your obesity, you’ll continue to remain obese because in your mind they are the reason why you’re obese.  You’ll never have the power to change the situation until you take responsibility for it.  When you take 100% responsibility for your life, be it your career status, your health, your relationship status, your finances, your friendships, etc, that’s when you’re set to achieve the life of your dreams.

4: Complain: It’s okay to complain once in a while as a way to vent, but doing it too often makes you a magnet for negativity.  Whenever you complain, you give your power away to the universe.  For every second you spend complaining, that’s one second you could have spent creating the life you want.  Rather than lament, think about the actions you can take to improve your situation instead.  Every time you do, that’s one step toward the life you’ve been dreaming about.

CONCLUSSION:

Do you know that most people never utilize more than 0.1% of their true potential in their lifetime? It’s true. The thing is, human potential is unlimited.  Unlike computers, you’ll never come across a situation where your brain says the hard drive is full.  You can constantly push your limits, reaching greater heights, only to find that you’re not even reaching a fraction of your true worth!  Believe it or not, you harness more power than you can ever imagine.

//ELECHI, UDOCHI ALEGUA//

elechiudochi@yahoo.com;raptureudo@yahoo.com//

www.apstudo.blogspot.com//