Let Him do the cold calling

Sales, is the word that I dreaded now as I search into open positions in the market place. I've been in that arena and no matter how mild the experience be, I'd rather be doing something else. Market place is big world of sales, and no matter how low the association may be, but without "sales" there will not be economy, there will be no CEOs, or even money (concrete form or otherwise).

And yet another thing... you need to have a great ability to humble yourself to be going far in this sector. You have to be able to suck your pride as those rude receivers hung up on you before you even done speaking for the umpteenth time. You are just this medium with no thoughts or feelings. I really applaud these people's ability. If I may say so, I'm in a more 'stuck up' place of sales, meaning, I'd rather do marketing. Yes, there's sales factor in them, but I don't need to be the end of the spear. I'm playing the supportive stick. Figuratively.

So for all of you business people out there. May it be the front runner, or the one hiding behind, I read a verse that can be a good encouragement. And where else would that be if not in Proverbs, hehehehe...

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." (Proverbs 16:3, NIV) But I like New King James version better...
"Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established."

Notice that in NKJV, it states... "your thoughts will be established." As you're about to do up your sales (or in another current cooler, more dignifying term: Business Development). Before you even manage to utter a word, just pray that whatever that you would like to say is all guided by God so all is well, whatever the result may be. Even when that phone or meeting slams the door infront of your face, you will deflect it better knowing that God is with you. And when one door is closed, many other thing will be open, "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." (Proverbs 16:9) Notice the word 'steps'. Not just one but many. Amen.

On a lighter note, I received this e-mail from a friend of mine in Indonesia. It's a joke about Marketing terms. The joke is in Indonesian, but I shall try to translate it. Hopefully I don't loose the undertone due to the language barrier...

The text is in Indonesian slang:Istilah Dalam Dunia Marketing (translated: Marketing Terminology)

1. Loe liat seorang cewek cantik d sebuah pesta.. loe samperin trus langsung ngomong, 'Gw orang kaya, nikah sama gw yuk!' Itu namanya Direct Marketing.
(translation) You saw a beautiful chick at a party... You approached her and then said, "I'm rich. Marry me!" That is called Direct Marketing.

2. Loe lagi di sebuah pesta sama temen2 gokil loe trus loe tiba2 liat ada cewe cakep banget.. Salah satu temen loe samperin tuh cewe sambil nunjuk ke loe dia ngmg, 'Dia orang kaya, nikah ama dia yah!' Itu namanya Advertising.
(translation) You were in a party with your dorky friends when suddenly you saw this very cute chick. One of your friends approached the girl and pointed finger at you while saying, "He's loaded, marry him!" That is called Advertising.

3. Loe liat seorang cewek cantik d sebuah pesta.. loe samperin trus minta nomor HP-nya.. besokannya loe telpon dia trus langsung ngomong, 'Gw orang kaya, nikah sama gw yuk!' Itu namanya Telemarketing.
(translation) You saw a pretty chick at a party. You approached her and asked for her mobile. The next day you rang her up and said, "I'm rich, marry me!" That is called Telemarketing.

4. Loe liat seorang cewek cantik d sebuah pesta.. loe rapihin dasi gembel loe, loe tuangin minum buat dia, bukain pintu buat dia, bawain barang2nya, trus sambil loe anterin pulang loe ngomong, 'btw gw orang kaya, nikah sama gw yuk!' Itu namanya Public Relations.
(translation) You saw a pretty girl at a party; straightening up your ugly tie, you poured a drink for her, opened the door for her, carried her stuff, and while you're driving her home, you blurted, "By the way, am rich. Marry me!" That is called Public Relations.

5. Loe liat cewek cantik di sebuah pesta.. Dia nyamperin loe trus ngmg, 'Loe orang kaya kan, nikah sama gw yuk!' Itu namanya Brand Recognition. (translation) You saw a pretty girl at a party... She sauntered to you and said, "I heard you're loaded... Marry me, K?" That is called Brand Recognition.

6. Loe liat seorang cewek cantik d sebuah pesta.. loe samperin trus langsung ngomong, 'Gw orang kaya, nikah sama gw yuk!' trus loe dapet gamparan pedes dari dia.. Itu namanya Customer Feedback.
(translation) You saw a pretty girl at a party. You approached her and said, "I'm rich, marry me!" then she slapped you hard. That is called Customer Feedback.

7. Loe liat seorang cewek cantik d sebuah pesta.. loe samperin trus langsung ngomong, 'Gw orang kaya, nikah sama gw yuk!' trus dia kenalin loe ke suaminya.. Itu namanya Demand and Supply Gap.
(translation) You saw a pretty girl at a party... you approached her and said, "I'm rich, marry me!" then she introduced you to her husband. That is called Demand and Supply Gap.

8. Loe liat seorang cewek cantik d sebuah pesta.. loe samperin tp blom juga loe sempet ngmg apa2, ada cowo laen dateng trus langsung ngomong, 'Gw orang kaya, nikah sama gw yuk!' .. Itu namanya Marketing Competition.
(translation) You saw a pretty girl at a party... you're approaching her, but before you managed to utter a word, there's another dude cut the line and said, "I'm rich, marry me!" That is called Marketing Competition.

9. Loe liat seorang cewek cantik d sebuah pesta.. loe samperin tp blom juga loe sempet ngmg apa2, ada cowo laen dateng trus langsung ngomong, 'Gw orang kaya, nikah sama gw yuk!' dan tuh cewe cabut pergi ma itu cowo.. Itu namanya Losing Market Share.
(translation) You saw a pretty girl at a party... you're approaching her, but before you managed to utter a word, there's another dude cut the line and said, "I'm rich, marry me!" and she bounced with him... That is called Losing Market Share.

10. Loe liat seorang cewek cantik d sebuah pesta.. loe samperin tp blom juga loe sempet ngmg 'Gw orang kaya, nikah sama gw yuk!' .. tiba2 istri loe nongol..!! Itu namanya Barrier To New Market Entry.
(translation) You saw a pretty girl at a party... you approached her, but before you managed to utter, "I'm rich, marry me!" all of the sudden your wife appeared!! That is called Barrier to New Market Entry.

Lead me to the Cross

The messages these past few weeks at church really has blessed me. Especially yesterday when Pastor Jo had mentioned that we need to screen who do we want to listen to. The misleading power of suggestion that only bring you down, hopeless, frustrated and fearful are not the right message that God wants you to hear. You will be like a stunted plant, that can't grow to be as big as your potential and before you know it, you're missing out on the great things that been laid out for you just because you believe in a sliver of a lie.

Now I always thought that following the Lord, carrying the cross is a terrifying thing. Well you can think that and actually experience the pain and the suffering of the cross. But is that what God would like you to be? Suffering? As I remembered not everybody is called to be a martyr. Even a martyr faced his early doom as a part of a joy of knowing that they will be back home sooner than later, hence their courage to press on. It doesn't mean that you need to be martyr to be a Christian, because as Pastor Jeff (I think), said, that gift can only be used once, while other such as showing kindness, charity, etc. are continuous. So what's your giftings? God know you better than you know yourself. He knows your strength and weaknesses and how to applied them for His glory. Something that you may think is your strength may not be what God has in mind for you. And in all things, He still managed to laugh at your antics.

I believe that God know our limits and boundaries. Hey, as I mentioned in my previous post, I'm a creature of comfort. I can be comparable to a house cat (maybe even a plump, ginger colored tabby, hehe). And in all things God gave me avenues to really try and to be hands on in His projects. As of now, I know that God wants me to use my voice to bless people. But He also is still faithful to me in regard on touching other people's lives. Every time I lost out on a soul, I felt that I failed Him. And yet, he kept opening doors to another one, as though trying to tell me that it's not my fault. And I pray that all any little seeds that I manage to plant (or more likely... throw) can bud into a larger tree of faith.

I just read a message today speaking about the joy of being with our fellow Christian. It says, " I'm sure you have your own stories about meeting fellow brothers and sisters in Christ along life's road, sensing that eternal bond, and coming away with uplifted spirits. It's something that I cherish about being a part of the body of Christ." Have you felt that way when you meet random people that happen to be a Christian and you two strike a conversation, and for some reason you felt as though you just flow nicely with them? That's why sometimes, and please pardon me... I don't really like hanging out with Non Christian, because I felt their 'hopelessness', no matter how chirpy they are with their life. I sensed their 'emptiness', and I don't like the feeling of it. I know I shouldn't do that, but again God didn't give up on me, by sending me the backsliders. Funny that way. The ones that was not deeply rooted and hurt in the process. So it's a half baked people, that still have a sense of God's light but chose to meander from it. I think I can still speak their lingo. Another part of the chapter that I read was this sentence, "Does my life indicate that Jesus loves (the world) as much as God loves Jesus?"

Within that same chapter, aside from the author talking about the joy to be around our fellow brother and sister, she also put down John 17:23, which lead me to read the whole chapter by itself. And I could not help but teared up when I started reading the title: Jesus prays for all believers (NIV). Now if you noticed, this chapter was during his tumultuous struggle to continue on with what God has in store for Him. The cross. He was in Gethsemane, soon to be captured to be crucified. And yet He had time to think about us, in present time, that we may enjoy life on earth that He didn't have, the lives that God bless us with and the eternal union with Him later when it's time for us to go home.

"My (Jesus) prayer is not for them (the disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their (the disciples) message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one. I brought complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me. Father, I want those you have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You and they know that You have sent Me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." John 17: 20 - 26.

Have a great and blessed week ahead! Do enjoy the music video below. (Ahem... perhaps I can sing this at church too, hehehehe)



God bless you!

Where the heart is

Yesterday, as we rested at the end of the day, we chatted. Jon had told me several times that bedtime at night is his favorite time of the day since we can just relax and talk until we drifted to sleep. Last night was no exception. But he made a remark that made me think even until today.

For the past two days, I screened two of my favorite chick flicks to him. And especially after watching “Babel”, I really need to see something lighthearted. Man! That movie was really depressing. So he got to see “Where The Heart Is” and “Love Actually” with me. Although I can tell for the first few moments, especially for “Where The Heart Is”, was kind of slow for him judging from his many comments during the show. But he managed to enjoy the shows, or at least pretended to enjoy them. He learned the meaning of “fornication” more vividly than before and by watching “Love Actually” he tries to come up with an "epiphany". Funny guy.

Then he summarized both his movie experiences. It seemed to him the movie portrayed American girls as brainless. I thought that was beside the point. It's all about the heart. But then his next sentence really gnawed at me.

“American girls are so stupid, huh? Just like my wife…” but before I managed to smack him, he added, “...to end up marrying a guy like me…” I was at loss for words. He was not facing me when he said those words and somewhat in the trance of slumber. What kind of statement was that? I told him that it was a sad statement, and when he asked me why, I couldn’t answer. It’s just too broad. Why would he just randomly said those word?

I marvelled at those sentence, because I could not even imagine my life without him. We are not the richest financially, but we do get by, and quite well also, plus his heart for God is also one of the things that I am grateful of each day (Dear Lord, please don't ask us for missions, tho :P. I am not the Safari type). He likes to make me laugh and patient toward my mood swings. He is God's blessing for me in a lot of ways.

I always thought there were elements of truth in every joke and this time joking or not, there’s a certain pinch I felt as his words opened both negative and positive connotations. Perhaps he gathered all this simple sentence to convey his feelings as a reaction, perhaps, to the things that I said, although I never meant any harm and it's just for the sake of chattering. Or perhaps it reflected from my attitude, which was not judgment of who he is as a person, but merely because I was not feeling my best. I tried not to read too much into it.

And as the lights out, I hugged him and I verbally thanked the Lord for the love of my life. He sleepily chimed in. Ditto...