Where Life and Faith Meet
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4Ü #239

Powerless

15 June 2006

NOTE: This 4Ü archive entry was reformatted by a computer. If you find any broken links, formatting problems, or have any suggestions, please email us.

WASSUP - Powerless

Interesting how powerless you feel when the power is turned off.
Computers don't work
Traffic lights become silent witnesses to chaos
No coffee at Starbucks
The garage door no longer opens
Light becomes a candles fragile flame
The inconvenience of it all!
That our lives are lived based upon a power that is beyond ourselves
Think about it.

For those outside New Zealand: This week Auckland faced a 4 hour black out and much of the South Island covered with snow, had significant power outs.

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INSIGHT OUT - A glass ceiling

Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Listen to my cry for help,
Be not deaf to my weeping

Ps 39:12

A glass ceiling
holds thoughts and prayers captive.
Is anyone there?
Does anyone care?

Words return to me in silence,
and then taunt with laughter.
How long must my prayer go unanswered?
Crushed by my own longings.

God listen when I cry.
Don't go deaf on me.
Break the glass.
Turn your ear to hear.

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OUTSIGHT IN - Wrong assumptions

"The root cause of nearly every one of these (business) crisis is not that things are being done poorly. It is not even that the wrong things are being done. Indeed, in most cases, the right things are being done - but fruitlessly. What accounts for this apparent paradox? The assumptions on which the organization has been built and is being run no longer fit reality."

Peter Drucker at his best! (HBR 1994 The theory of business)

Your assumptions are the theories or beliefs that shape what and how you do business.

What do you get paid for?
What is really important to you and your organization?
What are you trading (product or service)?
What business do you think you are in?
Who are your customers and what do you believe about them?
What do you think they think about you?
Will your assumptions be true in ten years time?

Chances are that if you can't answer these questions or have no idea what I'm talking about, you are in either nostalgia, blame or denial.
Nostalgia - "If only we could have to good old days back again."
Blame - "It's someone else's fault."
Denial - "It ain't broke and don't need fixin."

On the other hand, if it is working and working well, do you know why?
Check your assumptions because they may not hold true for tomorrow.

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SEE YA SUNDAY - Can I really talk to God? Part one: "Breaking through the glass ceiling"

Most people pray, they cry out to God when stuck in traffic or when tragedy strikes but even so it feels like praying in a glass box. Did it go anywhere?

Over the next three weeks I'll be exploring ways you can pray that will touch the heart of God and connect with you in a powerful way. We're talking about developing a one on one with the creator of the universe! Interested? See ya Sunday.

This Sunday morning - Can I really talk to God? Part one: "Breaking through the glass ceiling" 8.30am & 10.30am

Bread & Wine - 9.45am - Weekly Communion

6.00pm - The St Columba Institute of Life and Faith

Thanks for this time to chat.

Andrew

St Columba
Where Life and Faith Meet
andrew.norton@stcolumba.org.nz

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It's free but don't steal

If this is of help to others, you are welcome to forward it. This e-mail letter is 97% original - 3% cut and paste & 100% fat free. 4U is copyright to Andrew Norton. That means you can't cut and paste it and call it your own (that's stealing). I'm happy for it to be used but please refer to the author.

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LAST WORD- Who's counting?

Not everything that can be counted, counts; and not everything that counts, can be counted.

Albert Einstein


© 2008, St Columba Presbyterian Church, Auckland