Seizing the Kairos! - Snatch them with Love and Mercy

Yudas 1:23-24

(23) selamatkanlah mereka dengan jalan merampas mereka dari api.
Tetapi tunjukkanlah belas kasihan yang disertai ketakutan kepada orang-orang lain juga,
dan bencilah pakaian mereka yang dicemarkan oleh keinginan-keinginan dosa.

(24) Bagi Dia, yang berkuasa menjaga supaya jangan kamu tersandung dan yang membawa kamu dengan tak bernoda dan penuh kegembiraan di hadapan kemuliaanNya

Kitab Yudas ini ditulis dengan nasihat keras karena pada masa-masa kitab ini ditulis muncul pengajar-pengajar palsu yang disebut sebagai golongan Antimonian (melawan hukum) atau Libertine. Golongan ini mempromosikan hidup berdosa tanpa harus takut terhadap penghakiman. Mereka bisa berbuat apa saja dengan tubuh mereka, asalkan mereka percaya terhadap hal yang benar, yaitu terhadap kesalamatan dan kasih karunia dari Yesus Kristus.

Kalau kita paralelkan dengan situasi yang terjadi sekarang di ujung pada akhir jaman ini, paham Antimonian sangatlah kental dan menjamur di kalangan orang-orang Kristen sendiri. Inilah salah satu misi kita di bumi ini untuk menyelamatkan mereka dari api penghakiman karena pengaruh dari ajaran / pemahaman yang menyesatkan ini (ayat 23) tetapi juga harus meminta hikmat dan pertolongan Tuhan (ayat 24, ..."menjaga supaya jangan kamu tersandung...") secara konstan agar roh yang takut akan Tuhan (ayat 23, ".... tunjukkanlah belas kasihan yang disertai ketakutan...") tetap melekat dalam kita agar kita juga tidak terjerat dengan kilau sengatan dari dosa itu sendiri.

Kiranya kita boleh diingatkan dan disadarkan kembali bahwa memang hanya belas kasihan dan kasih sayang yang bisa merubah orang yang paling keras sekalipun. Dan sejahat-jahatnya seseorang,  kita tetap harus meminta pertolongan Tuhan untuk mengasihi orang tersebut. Karena firmanNya berkata bahwa yg harus kita benci adalah "pakaian mereka", bukan orangnya. 

"People don't  care about Jesus, until they know how much Jesus care about them!"

Let's spread the love and show mercy to others and snatch them back from the fire to the Kingdom of God

-JH-

Seizing Kairos! - The God of Process

Genesis 1 - The God of Process

Our God is ELOHIM - A Creative God, a God that is productive, creative, and flawless  in making His creation. He is the true artist, the true engineer, the true designer, and the best project manager there is that ever lived in this world, because Heaven and Earth and all the things inside them are truly His creation.

I believe that He has the capacity and the capability in creating things, spoken only through His words (e.g. Gen 1:3, "God said,...."). In our mind as a human being, we would think that it is best to be effective and efficient in everything that we do, especially living in today's world, where "time is priceless and very valuable asset that will never come back again". I believe that God has everything it takes to create Heaven and Earth only in 1 day.

But God has a different paradigm. Our God is not a result-oriented God. Our God is a Process-Oriented God. He believes in creating masterpieces, a step-by-step approach has to be taken in order to ensure that He could witness and enjoy the process. That's is why the creation of Heaven, Earth, and the first man took in total 7 days, not 1 day.

It reminds us that God values process more than results. He wants to ensure that God's characters and paradigms are embedded and craved in our life through our struggles and challenges. That is why sometimes God does not answer our prayers directly, because He need to see our hearts, our minds, and our soul, grow and expand through our challenges so that  we become more like Christ everyday.

No matter how hard your life could be right now, enjoy the process and be extremely grateful. Love Him and obey Him more than ever even in your darkest hour. Because as God has created this world, right after "night", the "day" will come. The sunrise always come right after it's darkest time of the night.

I believe that God's given destiny in our lives would be revealed one-step at a time, because He wants to witness and enjoy the process of us becoming more like Jesus everyday, for our God is the God of Process.

-JH-

MC JIMBO - Video Profile

THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK: A STORY OF FORGIVENESS

Born to a wealthy British-Roman family, Patrick was kidnapped by a band of Irish marauders as a teenager. The raiders carried him off to Ireland where they pressed him into servitude, tending their flocks and fields. Isolated and alone, Patrick clung to his faith to endure the cruelty of his masters.

After six years in captivity, Patrick summoned the courage to risk escape. He ran away from his captors, surviving a 200-mile trek across Ireland to the sea. Upon arrival to the coast, he talked his way onto a shipping vessel bound for his homeland.

Lesson #1 - Don't harbor grudges

After being enslaved in Ireland, you would think Patrick would have embittered at the Irish for stealing six years of his life. However, he dedicated the next 15 years to studying theology in preparation for a return trip to Ireland as a missionary. Despite being kidnapped and cruelly mistreated, Patrick chose forgiveness and showed compassion to his former captors.

Lesson #2 - Go the extra mile to make amends

Patrick was not exactly a welcome visitor back in Ireland-especially when he began teaching a religion that ran contrary to the beliefs held by druid priests. However, Patrick won favor by returning to his former master and paying the full ransom price of a slave as "compensation" for his escape. This generous gesture astounded the Irish and appeased them, giving Patrick a platform to share his religious views.

It seems as if Patrick should have demanded an apology from his prior masters rather than paying them for having been a runaway slave. However, his goal wasn't to make accusations, but rather, by extending forgiveness, to acquire influence with the Irish.

Lesson #3 - When reconciling a relationship, speak the other person's language

During his six years of force labor in Ireland, Patrick gained a working knowledge of the Celtic language. When he returned as a priest, he could speak directly to the Irish in their native tongue. Furthermore, Patrick understood the religious sensibilities of druidism from his time in captivity. Accordingly, he was able to communicate the message of the Christian faith in images that made sense to the Irish.

As legend has it, Patrick created the Celtic cross in an effort to connect the significance of Christ's death on the cross with the Irish people's veneration for the sun. Another popular legend holds that he used the shamrock, another natural symbol, to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity. Whatever the case, Patrick's ability to deliver his message in ways the Irish could understand had a profound impact. Within a century, the entire nation of Ireland had converted to the religious faith of one of its former slaves.

Summary

Regardless of a person's religious beliefs, there's no denying Saint Patrick's enormous influence as a leader. By harnessing the power of forgiveness, the one-time slave persuaded his former captors, and their entire nation, to adopt his Christian faith. By studying the life of Saint Patrick, we find lessons about forgiveness that can be applied to our own lives and leadership relationships.

About

Moran, Patrick Francis Cardinal. "St. Patrick." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 8 Mar 2009.

"Who Was St. Patrick?" The History Channel Online. 2008. A&E Television Networks. 9 Mar 2009.

"Patrick's Life." Religion Homepage. BBC Online. 20 Feb 2006. 9 Mar 2009.

Taken from http://www.giantimpact.com/

"Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant."

-Robert Louis Stevenson-

FIGURING OUT FREE AGENTS

PAYING EMPLOYEES TO QUIT

You've heard of a sign on bonus, but likely not a sign off bonus. While most companies dangle cash to lure employees to join their ranks, one company literally pays its employees to quit. In his blog for Harvard Business Publishing, Bill Taylor explores the innovative approach being taken by Zappos, a Nevada-based online shoe seller.

Why would a company reward its quitters? At Zappos, quitters get a parting gift of cash so that the company's pristine track record of customer service is preserved. By giving employees financial incentive to leave, Zappos weeds out uncommitted workers before they ruin the company's reputation.

Here's how it works. Zappos has high standards for its call center employees, who are expected to provide stellar service to its customers. After an intensive interviewing process, call center candidates enter 4-weeks of immersive training. After a week of training, Zappos makes an offer: either the candidate agrees to fulfill the rigorous demands of their role, or they walk away with $1,000, plus payment for their week of labor�no questions asked.

Some managers may balk at the steep cost paid to those who depart. However, for Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, the quality of a customer's experience is well worth the financial cost incurred to find the right people for the call center. Does Zappos' counterintuitive strategy actually work? Accordingly to Bill Taylor, it's a smashing success.

Zappos has also mastered the art of telephone service�a black hole for most Internet retailers. Zappos publishes its 1-800 number on every single page of the site�and its smart and entertaining call-center employees are free to do whatever it takes to make you happy. There are no scripts, no time limits on calls, no robotic behavior, and plenty of legendary stories about Zappos and its customers.

Zappos' leaders are betting the outstanding performance of highly engaged workers will more than offset money paid out to malcontents. And it's a bet they seem to be winning.

Taylor closes with a final point about the business-customer relationship. "Companies don't engage emotionally with customers," he writes, "If you want to create a memorable company, you have to fill your company with memorable people." Business boils down to relationships, and relationships happen between people. Are you attracting the best people to join your ranks? What price are you willing to pay to find out?

To read more of Bill Taylor's insights about the novel business practices of Zappos, visit Harvard Business Publishing.

Taken from http://www.injoy.com/newsletters/leadership/content/printerfriendly/11_13.htm#2

To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.

Bruce Lee

THE BLIND SPOT

By Dr. John C. Maxwell


After World War II, a general and his young lieutenant were traveling by train in England. When they boarded, the only seats left were across from a beautiful young lady and her grandmother. The soldiers sat facing the ladies. As the train pulled out it went through a long tunnel. For about ten seconds there was total darkness. In the silence of the moment, the train’s passengers heard two unmistakable sounds – a kiss and a slap. Everyone on the train had their own perceptions as to what happened.

The young lady thought to herself, “I’m flattered that the lieutenant kissed me, but I’m terribly embarrassed that Grandmother hit him!”

The grandmother thought, “I’m aggravated that he kissed my granddaughter, but I’m proud she had the courage to retaliate!”

The general wondered, “My lieutenant showed guts to kiss the girl, but why did she slap me by mistake?”

The lieutenant was only one who knew what had happened. For, in the brief moment of darkness, he had seized the opportunity both to kiss a pretty girl and slap his general.

BLIND SPOT

Blind spots are the areas where we are in the dark about ourselves. We are oblivious to our blind spots, and they may wreak havoc on our leadership. Last edition of Leadership Wired, I began a discussion of leadership blind spots by looking at the dangers of a self-centered perspective.

In this article, I’d like to examine another widespread blind spot—insecurity.

The Blind Spot – An area in the lives of people in which they continually do not see themselves or their situation realistically. This unawareness often causes great damage to the people and those around them.


BLIND SPOT: INSECURITY

Personal insecurity may be the most widespread blind spot in leadership. Insecurity causes a leader to think selfishly when the very essence of leadership is to focus on others. Insecure leaders place their followers in jeopardy, put the organization in peril, and even endanger themselves.

Telltale behavioral signs make insecure leaders easy to spot. First, insecure leaders have a hard time giving credit to others. Insecure people operate from an internal deficit. They are empty inside, and, as such, they are constantly seeking affirmation. Bottom line: insecure people are needy people.

A second symptom of an insecure leader is the habit of withholding information. Communication can be a form of empowerment, but insecure leaders conceal it to gain control. They may even leverage information to manipulate those they lead. By releasing information a leader demonstrates trust and confidence, whereas withholding it belies a fear and insecurity.

Another warning sign of an insecure leader is the habit of feeling threatened by the growth of others. Instead of empowering those they lead, an insecure leader may deliberately stunt the growth of followers. A classic example comes from observing a bucket of crabs. If one crab is trapped in a bucket, it will have no trouble climbing out. However, if several crabs are trapped, they will never escape. As soon as one begins to climb toward freedom, the others will pull it back down. Like the crabs, insecure leaders habitually drag down those around them.

A final quality of insecure leadership is micromanagement. Insecure leaders are control freaks. Distrustful, they have tight reigns on everyone and everything.


SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE BLIND SPOTS

As a leader, how do you fix a blind spot when you can’t even see it?

# 1 Ask Those Who Know You Best to Identify Your Blind Spot.

For instance, I’ve asked my assistant, Linda Eggers, for feedback on my blind spots, and she has kindly and candidly helped me to discover them.
My Blind Spot: Since I assume right motives in those around me and believe in the importance of a great attitude, I do not always give a timely and realistic assessment of the people and situations around me.
I couldn’t have articulated this blind spot on my own. I needed someone else to verbalize it for me, and Linda enabled me to see it.

#2 Openly Discuss Your Blind Spots With Your Inner Circle.

Be transparent with you inner circle about your recurring blind spots. You will need to rely on your team to counterbalance your personal weaknesses.

#3 Assume Your Blind Spots Cannot Be Removed By You.

Remember our definition of the Blind Spot – “An area in the lives of people in which they continually do not see themselves or their situation realistically.”
I have had the same blind spots my entire life. I’ve learned to compensate for them, but I’ve never been able to remove them.

#4 Develop and Empower a Team to Cover Your Blind Spots.

I’ve been able to avoid the pitfalls of my blind spots by surrounding myself with quality people. For instance, whenever I face a major business decision, my brother, Larry, goes with me. He is much shrewder than I am in the business arena, and his perspective covers the deficiencies in my vision.

Delegation can also save you from the dangers of a blind spot. My tendency to see the best in others and to put my faith in their potential has led to some horrible hiring decisions. My organizations didn’t start to hire better people until I quit being the one who hired them.