Preacher’s Pen|…just some thoughts…

Funny things happen when people get comfortable with religion and even funnier things happen when people determine how their religion goes by the circumstances in the world around them. I believe we see this various times in the scriptures and yet we often do not consider some of them. I ran across this video today and I think it makes a pretty good point regarding the way we view our religion; but the GREATER point is how our religion is viewed by outsiders.

I do not agree with the ministers in this video, but I agree with the songwriter’s views regarding how they conduct their lives. Hitting closer to home is the consideration of how people view our congregations with huge buildings and thousands spent on decorating and lawn maintenance while people go hungry.

Give it a look and see what you think.

Just a thought,

Chris

Here is the Video:

I posted this a long time ago and when I heard this song again this week, I thought I would share theses words again.

My roots run deep in the hills of West Virginia. While most of my life has been around "city life," I hold dear the memories I have of living in the country. As a result of those roots and memories, country music is my favorite genre of music by far.

The lyrics to the song below ring true to the needs of our country. It is a song by the country artist Craig Morgan.

Enjoy!

______________________________________________

Sweet Old Fashion Goodness

(Michael White / Carson Chamberlain / Lee Thomas Miller)

Wind chimes in a weeping willow
Biscuits light as feather pillows
At Mama’s house
Sunday morning kids a squirming
Thank the preacher for the sermon
As your walking out
Sweet old fashion goodness

Old man comes out and pumps your gas
Tells a joke while he cleans your glass
And says thank you friend
Grab a cup of sugar from your neighbor
Honor roll made the morning paper
Cut it out again
Sweet old fashion goodness

Chorus:
We don’t need no bureaucrats
No scientists or diplomats
To help us figure out what this world needs
Just sweet old fashion goodness

He says have you met my young bride
We got married back in ‘49
She ain’t changed at all
There’s a nervous boy on the front porch waiting
While the daddy of the girl he’s been dating
Lays down the law

Sweet old fashion goodness

Chorus:
We don’t need no bureaucrats
No scientists or diplomats
To help us figure out what this world needs
Just sweet old fashion goodness
Nothin’ but sweet old fashion goodness

© 2006 Hits And Smashes Music, a Division of 2820 Music LLC/Zomba Enterprises Inc. (ASCAP)/Dimensional Songs of the Knoll/WCCR Music/EMI Blackwood Music Inc./New Songs Of Sea Gayle/Noah’s Little Boat Music (BMI) All rights on behalf of Hits And Smashes Music administered by Zomba Enterprises Inc. Worldwide rights for Dimensional Songs of the Knoll and WCCR Music administered by Cherry River Music Co. All rights for New Songs Of Sea Gayle and Noah’s Little Boat Music controlled and administered by EMI Blackwood Music Inc.

A video by SweetTeaFilms (on YouTube) about a month ago, so when I searched through their catalog of film, I saw this one and laughed for quite a while. Simply put, some people have too much spare time. Enjoy!

What can I say, I am a very list oriented person. Every now and then I sit down and begin making of list of something on my mind. This week I decided to begin making a list of simple public speaking tips I thought you might enjoy.

As some of you know, I am currently reaching out to begin motivational speaking and a client relations practice and creating a list like the one below helps to assist others in becoming better public speakers. I hope this list will inspire you. (If you have a moment stop by my other website and see the resources available there can help you. Go to http://www.speak-better.com)

Here are “Gallagher’s Speaking Tips – Part #1":

1. Speak or do not speak - Do not go at it half-hearted! Go with your full heart and change lives! Desire Success!
2. Know what you are talking about! Delivering a lesson with no points is like taking a cruise to nowhere!
3. Give your audience your best! They will be one of the best audiences ever, if you give them your best!
4. Mistakes happen so you better learn to laugh. You will make mistakes speaking, laugh & move on! You are human.
5. Nervous? Remember, they are the ones asking you to speak, they have confidence in you and you should too!
6. Study your topic and prepare for greatness! Attitude is almost all the battle!
7. Grow your mind and you will grow your audience level!
8. Give to your audience what you would want given to you.
9. Develop your ability and lead others to develop theirs — one word at a time.
10. Remember, even the "small people" are great people too! Reach for everyone!
11. Ego tripping is not speaking. Humbling yourself to lift others up is speaking!
12. No one cares what you learn last week, they want to know how you will help them this week.
13. Read today for what you will speak about tomorrow.
14. If you do not have a speaking engagement, plan, plan plan! The opportunity will come, will you be ready.
15. Drink water when you speak!
16. Take a breath mint! People will talk to you afterwards, do not taint them with bad breath!
17. Be yourself! Do not fake it, people will see.
18. Be positive always! Positive messages stick longer and people act quicker.
19. If you have to be negative, be sincere and loving.
20. Smile!
21. Use your hands naturally! Do no gesture to gesture, gesture because it is who you are.
22. Ummmm……no! Do your best to get rid of the "um" of speech. Everyone does it, but stop filling space with "ums."
23. Preparation is the key to speaking…..prepare now for the message to come.
24. Concentrate on your best message and improve it weekly.
25. Study your audience. Note the makeup and share relevant information!
26. When you are done….QUIT!
27. As always KISS; Keep It Simple Stupid!
28. Speak to people like people, not as bondservants.
29. Watch your audience, feed off of their emotions. If they are falling asleep, you might need to change.
30. Do not speak on everything, speak on something!

I hope you have enjoyed!

Chris

Enjoy a short video of Daren Streblow on dating! Hilarious!

Hope you enjoyed!

Chris