<![CDATA[Grace Community Church in Roswell, NM

<![CDATA[Grace Community Church in Roswell, NM - More Than Just Living]]>Mon, 28 May 2012 13:55:06 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Make Happiness Your "Drug" of Choice]]>Fri, 25 May 2012 07:43:40 -0800http://www.roswellgrace.com/4/post/2012/05/make-happiness-your-drug-of-choice.html

From the authors of Success magazine:

Your brain contains some powerful drugs. That’s according to Joseph McClendon III, author of Get Happy Now: Get Happy in 10 Minutes, Feel Happy in 10 Days, Be Happy for Life (SUCCESS Books, May 2012). These chemicals in your brain can create feelings of happiness and euphoria, like dopamine or endorphins, while others can contribute to feelings of anxiety or depression. Sometimes people modify their body chemistry with drugs, alcohol or other chemicals in an attempt to get happy. Maybe you know someone who solves stress that way, or maybe that’s been you. The scientific truth is the body manufactures chemicals that mimic the way drugs like opium or valium affect your mood.

Just like morphine is a powerful pain medication that alters the way your brain perceives pain, your brain has naturally occurring chemicals that do the same thing and more, modulating your energy, emotions, ability to interact with others and ultimately, your happiness.

Inside your brain, you have a powerful drug that’s available free of charge, with no prescription and accessible any time day or night—it’s called happiness.

“Everyone wants to be happy,” McClendon says. “They seek it, buy it, chase it, medicate it and do everything possible to get it. I’ve spoken in more than 50 countries around the world and met all kinds of people in various cultures. I’ve seen people with every reason to be happy who are not, and I’ve met people with every conceivable reason to be miserable who are happy and content.”

But, he emphasizes, happiness isn’t complex. “It’s not distorted, a 12-step plan, or years of agony in counseling with some self-help guru. Happiness is the feeling of joy and excitement you get when you have hope, and move with positive expectation toward that positive dream, expectation, or goal.”

McClendon says, “Happiness is just an emotion.”

Read more about SUCCESS Books’ newest release, Get Happy Now by Joseph McClendon at SUCCESS.com.

]]><![CDATA[Must Have Resource for Communicators]]>Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:15 -0800http://www.roswellgrace.com/4/post/2012/05/must-have-resource-for-communicators.html

I've been following Ken Davis and the excellent work he is doing to help everyday folk like you and me become better communicators. NOT just public speakers, but anyone who does any form of communication can get better. Here's a recent post from Ken:

Being a communicator isn’t easy. And getting the message “out there” to those who need it is half the problem. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce a new resource by our friend and partner, Michael Hyatt.

Today is the official launch day for his amazing new book for anyone with something to say or sell. It’s called Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. This holds huge possibilities for communicators of every kind. After all, we have something to say!

“I have watched Michael Hyatt build his own platform from the ground up to become one of the largest in the world. And he has done so with the strategies and tips he outlines in this very practical book. Any author, speaker, or business owner who wants a blueprint for getting the attention and visibility they want, needs to read this book.” —JOHN C. MAXWELL

To be successful in the market today, you must possess two strategic assets: a compelling product (a message) and a meaningful platform. It has never been easier, less expensive, or more possible than right now to build your platform and Michael Hyatt will show you how.

Platform offers a step-by-step guide with proven strategies, practical tips and easy-to-replicate formulas. Whether you are an author, pastor, public speaker, entrepreneur, musician, or small business owner… developing your platform is critical for your success.

BONUS OFFER: To celebrate the launch of the book this week, Michael is giving away $375.98 worth of free bonus content for those who purchase the book between May 21 and May 25. Complete details are available at http://michaelhyatt.com/platform

Bonuses include: Platform Video Jumpstart Program (six sessions), How to Write a Winning Book Proposal (two e-books and two audio sessions), Why NOW is the Best Time Ever to Be an Author (hour-long video), Digital Versions of Platform (audio and eBook), and more!

Do yourself and your future a favor, get this book today. Take advantage of Michael’s bonus content and start building or expanding your platform right away!

]]><![CDATA[Ranking for Signal to Noise Ratio]]>Tue, 22 May 2012 09:09:18 -0800http://www.roswellgrace.com/4/post/2012/05/ranking-for-signal-to-noise-ratio.html

From Seth Godin:

A whisper in a quiet room is all you need. There's so little noise, so few distractions, that the energy of the whisper is enough to make a dent.

On the other hand, it's basically impossible to have a conversation (at any volume) in a nightclub.

Signal to noise ratio is a measurement of the relationship between the stuff you want to hear and the stuff you don't. And here's the thing: Twitter and email and Facebook all have a bad ratio, and it's getting worse.

The clickthrough rates on tweets is getting closer and closer to zero. Not because there aren't links worth clicking on, but because there's so much junk you don't have the attention or time to sort it all out.

Spam (and worse, spamlike messages from organizations and people that ought to treasure your attention and permission) are turning a medium (email) that used to be incredibly rich into one that's becoming very noisy as well.

And you really can't do much to fix these media and still use them the way you're used to using them.

The alternative, which is well worth it, is to find new channels you can trust. An RSS feed with only bloggers who respect your time. Relentless editing of who you follow and who you listen to and what gets on the top of the pile.

Until you remove the noise, you're going to miss a lot of signal.

]]><![CDATA[A Few Good Things]]>Fri, 18 May 2012 08:25:56 -0800http://www.roswellgrace.com/4/post/2012/05/a-few-good-things.html

I'm friends with a couple who own a local business that they've grown to be one of the best in their very competitive industry. And they've done so by focusing on what they do, not what they don't, and doing those few things really, really well while at the same time offering top-notch customer service.

Over the years, I've asked why they don't expand to offer other products and/or services. Their reply is nearly always the same, "You know, John, we just don't want to go there. We want to be the best at what we do."

What a simple way of doing business. Yet it really works! Too often I've seen other businesses attempting to be everything to everybody and they remain mediocre. But by remaining laser-focused on a few things, and doing them exceptionally well you can also grow your business, your church, your non-profit to be a world-class organization. And with proper financial management, you can have a "nice life."

Just as my dad taught me about investing to "Keep It Simple, Son." These successful business owners follow the same rule about their business. And by keeping it simple, they rock their share of their business.

]]><![CDATA[Study: 1 in 5 Families Drowning in Debt ]]>Wed, 16 May 2012 08:26:13 -0800http://www.roswellgrace.com/4/post/2012/05/study-1-in-5-families-drowning-in-debt.htmlby Terri Gruca
Feel like you’re drowning in debt? You’re not alone.

According to a new University of Michigan study, one out of every five households in the U.S. owes more on credit cards, medical bills, student loans and other debts than they have in savings or other liquid assets.

The report also found that the mortgage crisis may be far from over. About 1.7 percent of families surveyed say it is “very or somewhat likely” that they will fall behind on their mortgage payments in the near future. About 1.9 percent said that in 2009.

The average savings has gone up for most families since 2008, but it is primarily for families with more than $50,000 already in savings or other liquid assets.

The significance of this study is that it surveyed the same 8,121 families before and after the economic downturn. It is the longest longitudinal household survey in the world.

Here are some other key findings:

About 3.5 percent of families owned a home and were behind on their mortgage payments in either 2009 or 2011, or in both years. While these percentages are low, the number of families affected is significant—approximately 4.1 million on a national level.
The proportion of families with no savings or other liquid assets rose to 23.4 percent in 2011, up from 18.5 percent in 2009.
About the same percentage of families in 2009 and 2011 had $30,000 or more in credit card and other non-collateralized debts (8.5 percent vs.10 percent), and about the same proportion (48.0 percent vs. 47.4 percent) had no such debt in both years.

]]><![CDATA[With Investments, the Adage is the Same]]>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:47:32 -0800http://www.roswellgrace.com/4/post/2012/05/with-investments-the-adage-is-the-same.htmlJust like with other advice I received from my father years ago, he gave this sage wisdom about investing: Keep It Simple, Son!

What did he mean by that? For one, don't get involved with something you don't understand. In the early 80s, as a young newlywed trying to provide for my growing family, I got a "hot tip" from a friend. Sure enough, we dumped some cash into the "sure thing." Only to have that thing go south way too fast. When we were finally able to sell the stuff, we sold at 10 cents on the dollar. What a costly mistake.

And then, don't get caught up in the roller-coaster emotions of what you see on TV. Here's the hard thing - to listen to all that you're being fed on TV, online and through various other media and NOT give in to the doom & gloom, but ride out the current wave.

So, how are you applying the KISS method to your investing and to your life?
]]><![CDATA[Seeing Potential in Others]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 12:16:36 -0800http://www.roswellgrace.com/4/post/2012/05/seeing-potential-in-others.htmlWhen our girls were a lot younger, they used to complain to me at times for wanting them to do better. My response was that I could see their potential and wanted them to live up to it. And they would reply, "just stop looking for our potential."

Years later John Maxwell would talk about when entering a room, seeing everyone as a "10" on a scale of 1 - 10, when 10 is the best you can be. "We all assign a number to people," he would say, "she' a 5; he's a 7; and that one over there is a 3. Why not assign a 10 to everyone until they prove you wrong?"

That would affect the way we interact with folk, wouldn't it? What would/could happen if we began to see the potential in people and assign a higher number to them than we normally would? Would they rise to that expectation we have of them, or would they really reveal that they are, in deed, a 2 and not the 10 we hoped they would be?

What would happen if you saw the people you work with on a regular basis as 10s? What would happen if you treated your spouse as a 10? What would happen if you approached potential clients/customers as 10s?

How would it change things if you looked in the mirror and saw yourself as a 10? You don't think so? Well, that's how God sees you, why shouldn't you see yourself that way?
]]><![CDATA[Fighting the Five Enemies of Unity]]>Fri, 11 May 2012 09:18:30 -0800http://www.roswellgrace.com/4/post/2012/05/fighting-the-five-enemies-of-unity.htmlFrom Dave Ramsey:

For Troy Meachum, owner of ACR Supply Company in Durham, North Carolina, the thought of vacation was anything but relaxing. It's not that he didn't love getting away it's that he dreaded returning to a desk full of problems and team members who weren't getting along.

Troy knew something had to change, so he rolled up his sleeves and went to work to transform his company's culture. A major part of that was unifying his team. To accomplish this goal, Troy relied on the lessons he learned at EntreLeadership Master Series. And like Dave, he found out that if he kept the five enemies of unity away from his door, everyone became increasingly unified. You can do the same! The enemies include:

Failure to Communicate
Want a team that works together as one? Then talk it up and always let them know what's going on, whether good news or bad. As Dave says, "Most people assume the worst times 10 when leadership hasn't built trust with them by telling the whole truth." Be proactive with your communication.

Lack of Shared Purpose
A company without a common goal is like a car traveling to an unknown destination without a GPS. You don't have a clue where you're going, and you'll probably never get there. You can't have unity without a common goal, a common mission and a common vision, all flowing from a common dream. Create them and talk about them over and over again. And then talk about them some more.

Gossip
One thing you will never find at Dave's office is gossip. Everyone knows that if they have a problem, they need to take it to their leader and no one else. In fact, Dave hates gossiping so much, it's a fireable offense. "It has the power to divide and destroy everything you have built," Dave says.

Unresolved Disagreements
It's a fact as old of time. When you get a bunch of humans together, no matter their age, education or sense of humor, disputes are going to ensue. And as a leader, it's your job to act quickly and decisively when you become aware of them. If not, they will fester, and your team will grow apart.

Sanctioned Incompetence
Remember in school when you were assigned a group project, and there was always that one goof-off who never helped? You didn't feel like pitching in the next time, right? Well, the same holds true for your team. If you don't act when someone can't or won't do their job, it demotivates everyone else.

By fighting the five enemies of unity, you can create team members who love their job and are all working toward a common goal—winning the game. That's what Troy has done, and today he has no problem going on vacation. "We have a culture much like a family who cares for each other, communicates, and wants to help each other and unite," he says. "It's a place where people wake up and want to come to work."

]]><![CDATA[The Story of Ian & Larissa]]>Thu, 10 May 2012 12:50:34 -0800http://www.roswellgrace.com/4/post/2012/05/the-story-of-ian-larissa.htmlFrom John Piper:

Desiring God exists to help people everywhere understand and embrace the truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. And I would add, especially in suffering.

Being satisfied in God (or anything) always seems easier when all is going well. But when things you love are being stripped out of your hands, then the test is real. If God remains precious in those moments, then his supreme worth shines more brightly. He is most glorified.

The most meaningful testimonies I receive are when people tell me that it was a vision of the sovereignty and goodness of God that got them through the most difficult times of their life.

Here is one of those testimonies. I tremble with the glad responsibility of introducing you to Ian & Larissa Murphy in this video. Tremble, because it is their story and so personal. So delicate. So easily abused. So unfinished. Glad, because Christ is exalted over all things.

We have a big vision at Desiring God: we want to reach as many people as possible with our message of Christian Hedonism—the gladness of God in being God and in making people glad in him. We have at our disposal the amazing power of the Web. That is our main way of spreading.

But internet statistics can conceal as well as reveal. These are people. Each Website visit represents a real person with an eternal soul. What a responsibility! Pray for us that we would steward our influence well. And thank you for your partnership to make this ministry possible.

Love Ian and Larissa as you watch this amazing story. Pray for them. And us.

Your partner in the greatest cause,

John Piper
Check out the video of Ian & Larissa HERE.
Check out John's book HERE.

]]><![CDATA[Delayed Gratification]]>Wed, 09 May 2012 08:47:36 -0800http://www.roswellgrace.com/4/post/2012/05/delayed-gratification.htmlBrother! I do NOT like those words - delayed gratification.

I find that when I really take the time to think about it, I like the idea we've developed of having it my way (thanks Burger King) and having it right now. So that's why I get frustrated when I want to lose weight and it doesn't come off after one day of watching what I eat!

It can also lead to frustration when I go out for a ride and I'm not as fast as I think I should be, nor can I go for long distances without getting a bit winded. I've heard for many years that I didn't become out of shape over night, so getting back in shape will not happen overnight either. But there are times when that doesn't get through that instant gratification filter affixed to my brain.

I think that's a reason why so many late night commercials feature the latest gadget, the latest scheme, the latest whatever "secret" to getting what you want out of life. Let me let you in on the REAL secret - there is NO secret to getting rich quick, or losing weight quick, or getting in shape quick. All of those depend on those two words I said I do not like - delayed gratification.

The same confusion carries over to our financial situations. We think because we made a single deposit in our retirement account, we should be set for life. Not so! It takes continually doing the right things over time consistently that will lead us to better bank accounts, better health, fuller lives.

Years ago, when our youngest was in college, I introduced her to the concept of Compound Interest. At that time she got all excited and wanted to be part of that. It never happened.

So what are you delaying gratification on today, so that you might have a richer/better/fuller tomorrow?
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