Angelus' Quote: We Can Alter Our Lives by Altering Our Attitudes of Mind

Dale Carnegie, the author of the famous book, How to Win Friends & Influence People, speaks about attitude:

It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it 😇

For example, two people may be in the same place, doing the same thing; both may have an equal amount of money and prestige - and yet one may be miserable 😡 and the other happy 😬 Why? Because of different mental attitudes 😉 #ServeToLead #GrowingLeader

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

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The Millionaire’s Path: Passion, Optimism, and Wealth (2000) by Mark Fisher, Book Review

The Millionaire’s Path: Passion, Optimism, and Wealth
(2-Books-in-1, Hardcover Edition, 2000) by Mark Fisher

I never heard about this book mention in self-help or financial book reviews or recommendations anywhere. Why? I don’t know. Do you know where I get this book? At the The Hills’ Second Time Around Book Fair. How much? Just Rm7.90! This is crazy! The value of this book (or these books) worth more than Rm7.90, it is worth a million ringgit! Carlos Santana, legendary rock-jazz musician, once said, “Your mind is a magnet. You don’t attract what you need or what you want; you attract who you are.” Perhaps I was thinking about success and personal development all day long when I browsed through the books (this is what I called Purposeful Browsing) and then like a magnet - this book ‘appeared’ in front of me. I’m glad that I bought it. I praise God that I’m able to read and understanding it. Thanks God for written language and His God-given mind.

This book consists of two books The Instant Millionaire and How to Think Like a Millionaire. One is a story; the other is a prose. One is a wisdom fable; the other is simplified success principles. Both have one overarching goal: “By deciding to read [these books] you have just taken the first step toward success and living your dreams,” writes Mark Fisher. These books are easy to read and straight to the points. It gives me somethings to think about such as don’t give up on my dreams, do what I love, managing my priorities in life, managing my financial situation, and set goal in my life. Mind you, the lessons and principles lay down in these books are not new as the author(s) states in the introduction. What make the message refreshing is the way the author(s) narrated the story and how he puts the principles in the most practical terms. Also, it doesn’t really teach you HOW to be a millionaire but its more on how to THINK like a millionaire. I’m okay with that. I read Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations few months ago, and this is one of my favorite quotes on thinking: “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” Not money.

The Instant Millionaire: A Tale of Wisdom and Wealth (1990) by Mark Fisher. If you like Ken Blanchard’s One Minute Manager writing style, then you will like this book. It is about a young man who meet a wise old man called ‘Instant Millionaire’ through the process of mentoring and on the spot teachings. The old man reveals that financial prosperity and a fulfilling life well lived are goals we can all achieve if we understand and practice the principles of success. Through the pages, when I read it, I felt like I was the young man... probably... I am.

How to Think Like a Millionaire (1997) by Mark Fisher with Marc Allen.  The essence of this book is this: Success can’t be attributed to fate but to the deliberate application of very specific principles. Age, education, money, background and childhood experiences do not matter in the face of these principles. Many of the successful people had commonplace, poor and sometimes miserable childhoods. At school, many of them were considered slow learners. Yet, each one of them, at a crucial moment in their lives, decided to take fate into their own hands and enlightened by a book, by the word or example of another person or by a powerful sense of intuition, set out to be successful. You may have reached that critical point that will change your life. This book can help you to stand out among the rest and inspired you to greatness... yes, you can... if you applied the principles taught in this book in your life.

Surely, I recommend this book(s)!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Book Review: The Heart of Leadership (2013) by Mark Miller

The Heart of Leadership: Becoming a Leader People Want to Follow (2013)
by Mark Miller

This book is very enlightening and entertaining business fable (story with lessons). It’s about a young and ambitious man named Blake Brown who desperately wanted promotion but doesn’t have despite his outstanding individual performance. His boss Samantha keeps on telling him that “leaders are different.” In his confusion and frustration, Blake turns to his former mentor, Debbie Brewster, for advice but instead she sends him on a quest to meet five leaders, each of whom hold “a piece of the puzzle he’s trying to solve.” Are you the type of leader people want to follow? You and I can be – this book will show us what sets great leaders apart from all the rest.

“Leaders are different”. That wasn’t a new idea for me, but I’m grateful that Mark Miller keeps reminding and emphasizing that. And to be different, I have to have leadership character. “As important as the skills are,” he writes, “lack of skills is not what derails most leaders; skill are too easy to learn. If you want to predict people’s ultimate success as leaders, evaluate not their skills but their leadership character.” Without leadership character no one cares about our skills. That’s true! Here are 5 core traits that together constitute leadership character as Blake learned these from his interviews with great leaders, they represent the HEART of leadership (I add questions for each point instead of nugget of truths found in the book so that you’ll read it for yourself):

#1 Hunger for Wisdom

“You need to think of your quest for wisdom as a hunger that will never be satiated.” Good questions to ask myself: Do I see my personal development as one of my highest priorities? Is my calendar reflects the high priority I place on the pursuit of wisdom? Am I invest time on a regular basis with people who help me grow?

#2 Expect the Best

“The future has not yet been written – it is written by leaders.” When difficulties arise, am I remain optimist? Am my ‘expect the best’ outlook impacts all areas of my life? Do I consistently demonstrate an ‘expect the best’ attitude? Am I able to grasp reality and still maintain my optimism?

#3 Accept Responsibility

“The best leaders don’t blame others. They own their actions and their outcomes.” Am I accept responsibility for my effort and outcomes? Am I willingly accept responsibility for the work of those I lead? When outcomes are not good, am I look to my role in the situation first? And when outcomes are good, am I quick to give praise to others?

#4 Respond with Courage

“Leaders usually don’t wait – they initiate.” “Your missed opportunities are often no big deal in isolation. They are, however, cumulative.” Am I willing to make tough decisions? Can people count on me to do the right thing even when it won’t be popular? Is my first instinct when faced with a challenge or opportunity is to act?

#5 Think Others First

“The servant leader constantly works to help others win.” “SERVE = See the Future, Engage and Develop Others, Reinvent Continuously, Value Results and Relationships, and Embody the Values.” Do I consider the needs and desires of others before my own? Am I constantly look for ways to add value to others? During my daily activities, do I often find myself serving others? Am I a serving leader?

When I read this book, I no longer thinking of Blake, the main character, but I see myself on the quest of learning and improving my leadership character. His journey of discovery became mine. In the final note, “the heart of leadership is a matter of the heart.” And so as I finished reading this book, I prayed, ‘Lord, only you can change my heart, change it Lord so that I may lead with the HEART of leadership. Amen.’

Seriously, read and apply the principles in this book!

[only RM17.90 at Xcessbook, AmCorp Mall, Petaling Jaya]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

In Jesus, We Are Victorious! (1 John 5:3-5)

“Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God”

(1 John 5:3-5, NLT).

I noticed that our love for God is not so much an emotional feeling as it is practical and active. We show our love by our actions, by “keeping his commandments.” This may sound kind of easy, but it’s not always so, is it? Sometimes we may just be too busy thinking about something else, like workloads, worried about how we look or act, or feel tired or sick. At times like these, we need to remember the promise of Jesus Christ: “Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). So, when we’re burned out and feel that God’s commandments are “burdensome” – when we’re exhausted, too busy, or when our feelings get kind of numb, we are promised that, as we share our concerns with Jesus, we will get great relief. We can cast our concerns and burdens upon God because God really cares about us (read 1 Peter 5:7).

Not only does Jesus promise to give us relief and rest but He also promises to give us strength. No matter what our age, there are times we may just feel like we want to let go of everything and sleep for days and days. Life can just be too much, and who can care about other people at those times? But as we learn to keep the right balance in our lives – especially as we learn to include God in our plans and put Him at the center of what is important to us – we will be given new strength we never thought we would have. God’s got enough power and strength to last all of us through our lifetimes! So, God has not imposed a lot of impossible demands and rules on us only to walk out and slam the door. God is right here with us, never leaving us (even at times when we may not feel close to Him), always encouraging and giving us the strength we need to “keep his [not burdensome] commandments.” God wants what is best for us and wants us to have deeper joy in Him.

“And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God” Obeying God’s commandments and having faith in Jesus is one and the same, and interrelated – only God’s children will do. Our faith in Jesus brings us great victory: we can overcome and “defeat this evil world” The temptations of the world can be very appealing and alluring. The pressure to be like everyone else – to have certain things and to act in certain ways – can be overpowering. But with God on our side, we “can win this battle against the world.” We don’t need to walk around and act defeated. With God’s help, we are really victorious in life!

If you have ever won some kind of contest (I once won a musical contest during my university time, battle of the band. Or whatever you had won) you know how great you feel when you win – as if you could conquer the world! That’s the kind of attitude that God wants for us in life – a winning, forward-looking, confident, expecting the best, stretching us to the limit. “We achieve this victory through our faith” in “the Son of God.” If you’re God’s child, you don’t have to feel defeated, inadequate, and expecting the worst. In Jesus, you’re victorious! Amen.  

THINK BIG. START SMALL GO DEEP.

Jesus's Perfect Love = No Fear of God's Judgement and Punishment (1 John 4:17-18)

“[As] we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love”

(1 John 4:17-18, NLT).

Early in the Apostle John’s letter (1 John 2:28), he talks about the confidence we will have when Christ returns because of our faith in God. At that time, people who have turned away from God will feel afraid and helpless. It will be too late – nothing more can happen. The opportunities people have had to understand God’s Word or to accept Jesus – the Son of God – as Lord and Saviour will be gone, and unbelievers will be speechless and unable to move because of their fear. True Christians, on the other hand, will feel strong and sure; they have put their belief in God.

Fears and anxieties are powerful emotions. Whether we feel fear (when we know what we are afraid of), or anxiety (when we feel afraid but we’re not sure what is causing it), such feelings can make us want to back off, withdraw, run or hide. We will often feel unsure or powerless when faced with a certain situation or person. And running away may seem like the only solution. Some of us may feel that our fears are controlling us; all we can think about is being afraid. Sometimes we even get afraid of being afraid, so we avoid certain situations to keep from becoming so strong that they overwhelm us.

But here is the great news (!) for coping with our fears: “As we live in God, our love grows more perfect… Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.” As we walk in God’s light and live with God, our fears are banished. There is no room for fear in love. It is like oil and water – the two will just not mix. Love and fear are like that; they are not compatible. God calls us to be strong, courageous persons, not weak, cowardly nerds. “Love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.”

Friends, let’s go back to the confidence we will have as Christians when Christ returns. We know that “we will not be afraid on the day of judgment” or “fear of punishment” because we have accepted Christ (if not, you’re sure to be afraid). Jesus Christ Himself is on our side, His blood covers us – and God’s Spirit lives within us. As we believe and have confidence in God about the future, we can learn to cope with our fears on a day-to-day basis. We need to recognize and deal with our fears rather than avoid them. Then we can pray that God will help us face those situations that make us so afraid, to give us the courage to walk towards our fears rather than away from them. Well, walking through our fears may feel like walking through a long, dark tunnel. If we think about how long the tunnel is we may be tempted to give up. But if we take one step at a time, soon we feel stronger and our fears begin to lose their power. Soon the light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter and brighter, and we can find our way more easily than before. No fear.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). That is a gift God has given us. But it’s like a Christmas present. If we put a present away and don’t unwrap it, the gift won’t do us any good.  And the gifts of courage and love won’t be ours until we claim them and ask God to change whatever habits have been giving us problems. And this love we experience with God becomes more and more perfect (or mature and complete). “As we live in God, our love grows more perfect.” It just keeps getting better and better toward perfection in Christ.

So the next time you feel like running for your life, stop! Remember the courage God promises to give you. Make use of it. Face your fears. Claim God's promises and words. And your fears will do the running instead of you. Amen?

Come let us “fully experienced his perfect love.”

With Christ. No fear.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Be an Optimist Christian, Don't Give In to Pessimism

Dear Annie,

            I need to share you a story. A not-so-closed-friend of mine, who studied in a theological school, (He said to me once, “I’m a Calvinist-reformed.” I don’t know what that really mean, and I think he’s just repeating his favourite preacher’s sermons) asked me, “Are you a Calvinist or Arminian?” I know he wants to have a theological debate with me. I know about the Calvinist’s 5-points (TULIP) and because I admire David Pawson and John Wesley, I know about basic Arminian’s arguments too. But I don’t want to argue with him. So I answered, “I’m an optimist.” I can tell his eyes widen when I continued, “I think if I labelled myself to either one of that, I’ll become a pessimist Christian” like you, I thought to myself.

Annie, my dear, life is hard. Anyone who want to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Bad things will happened. So if persecution is a sure thing, why we need to add more troubles by being pessimist? I want to be an optimist Christian! Pessimism and Christianity don’t mix. Why? Because Christians have every reason to be optimistic about life here on earth and life eternal. As. C.H. Spurgeon observed, “Our hope in Christ for the future is the mainstream of our joy.” But sometimes, we may fall prey to worry, frustration, anxiety, and our hearts become heavy. What’s needed is a large dose of perspective, God’s healing touch, and the Word of God: “Give your worries to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let good people down” (Psalms 55:22).

Let us make a promise to ourselves today: vow to be a hope-and-joy-filled Christian. Think optimistically about our lives, our families, our future together and our friends. Let us trust in God’s love, hope and don’t fear of the future. Our future is belongs to God. When we filled our hearts with hope and gladness, we can share our God-given optimism with our friends and loved ones.

A very close friend once told me, “If you genuinely believe that God is good and that His Son died for your sins, how you can be pessimistic about your future? The answer, of course, is that you can’t!” I agreed. But Annie, sometime we forget that actually Jesus’ resurrection and ascension (not only his work on the cross) are the biggest reasons why we have to be an optimistic Christians. Jesus is Alive! Jesus the Victorious! Curse are the anxious and sad-face Christians! Optimism is a choice. When we choose to trust God for everything, we can rest in His promises to take care of us the way He sees fit. Knowing that we have a loving heavenly Father who desires to care for us and provide for us should give every child of God a reason for true optimism.

By God’s grace, I pray that you and I will be filled with God’s joy.

Don’t forget to text me today okay. Smile my love.

                                                                                                                                    Miss you very much,

Richard

P.S: I’m also optimistic about marrying you

(Am I sound too preach-y lately? ha2)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Optimist-Christian Attitudes #1: Half Full or Half Empty?

“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation,

you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude,

a feeling that nurtures the soul” (Rabbi Harold Kushner)

Is the glass half full or half empty? This is just one of the most common of the many metaphors used to contrast optimism with pessimism. It is also said that an optimist sees daylight at the end of a tunnel, whereas a pessimist sees the headlights of an oncoming train. Optimists believe that every cloud has a silver lining, while pessimists just see the potential for rain. Optimists see the doughnut, pessimists see the hole.

Keeping your glass half full is a matter of what you pay attention to. If you focus on the positive aspects of a situation, this does not mean you are denying the negative, it’s simply that you are making a conscious decision to seek God’s guidance rather than evil’s plan; encouragement rather than discouragement.

One way to focus on the half-full part of the glass is to express gratitude for what you have or what you have experienced, what God gives to you and what God had done for you. I know, it is not always easy to recognize the things in our lives for which we should be thankful, particularly when we are unhappy, it can be annoying to be told to cheer up and be grateful that we have home, family, health, and so on. However, this is precisely what God wants us to do and what we should do. People who show their appreciation are those who are enthusiastic, energetic, faithful, and optimistic, and they experience less stress and depression. They are free to love God and others because they appreciate life the most.

There is no doubt that when the going is tough it is more difficult to be grateful than when things are going well. However, it is during the hard times that we need gratitude the most. Like my previous post, true Christians will surely be rejected and persecuted – either spiritually or physical or mentally – but they are also optimist about the future for “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28) and “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you… For great reward awaits you in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12).

Yes, optimist Christians see the glass half full.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.