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For the next five days, our meditation shall be on a biblical principle as to how to sustain anything and later success.

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power… – Hebrews 1:3

Toward the end of my first year in the university, I backslid from the Way and became iconoclastic, challenging the authenticity of Jesus Christ as the son of God and some seemingly controversial claims in the Bible.

Because I had read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation for about three times as at then, I easily floored my born-again friends who tried to reason with me with the aim of getting me to reconsider my ways. And the more people I overcame in logic, the more popular I became as an atheist.

So, I carried on with my life, with no Christ, no God, but seeking more knowledge everywhere I could to further justify my stand on Jesus Christ as a fake. Not that I denied the existence or sovereignty of God, it was Jesus I had issues with. But, I realised that, with my denial of Jesus, I could not maintain a relationship with God as I used to, even though I didn’t deny Him. I could not pray to Him, I could not worship Him, I could not relate with Him.

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Therefore, I geared my passion at seeking more knowledge. I wanted to know more so I could have a better say over my Christian friends. But then, I lost my peace. I discovered that I wasn’t as happy as I used to be. On the surface, I cut a picture of a driven, self-assured, and informed young man. But, within me, I knew things weren’t alright.

I was a bit popular because of my extra-curricular activities on campus and, now, adding an anti-Jesus flavour to it, I became the companion and sounding board of Muslims and students of other/no religious affiliations who wanted to hear what I had to say about Jesus or some of my new findings.

To be continued…

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:
https://daily-dew.com/the-atheist-logic/
https://daily-dew.com/understanding-purpose-5/
https://daily-dew.com/why-you-struggle-as-a-christian/

Where does your job start or end?

Recently, a business associate and I went to call on a retail customer, and we experienced one of the real challenges in visiting a very large regional shopping centre that is over 2km long, with in excess of 300 shops spread over three shopping levels. How do you find a store when you haven’t been to this shopping centre for some considerable period of time?

Well, when we first arrived at the centre and had parked our car, the first thing we did was look for a centre directory or the customer service desk, but without any success. As we weaved our way past a host of customers and shoppers who all seemed to be well aware of where they were going, out of the crowd appeared one of the shopping centre security officers. He was, as you may well expect, dressed in a black suit, white shirt and dark tie, with the shopping centre logo emblazoned on his jacket. He was holding a two-way radio handset with an earpiece and remote microphone in his ear, which obviously allowed him to speak to other security officers working in the centre at that time.

Seizing the opportunity to seek some assistance from someone who would no doubt know where the store was located, I approached him and asked for directions. He smiled at us both and indicated that the store was on the next level, only some 75 metres from where we were standing.

Before we could thank him, he added.

‘However, please allow me to show where it is.’

We thanked him but said that there was no need, as we would now be able to find it with the help of his directions. His immediate reply came as a real surprise to us both.

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‘No not at all, please follow me, it is not very far and it is all just part of my job.’

Almost without realising it, we were walking with him and moved onto the travelator that took us to the next level of the shopping centre and the short walk to store. As we walked, he asked how our day had been and then added that it was a very busy day in the centre, mainly because it was school holidays. When we reached the store, we both thanked him for his courtesy and asked for his name.

He replied with a grin on his face, ‘my name is Rob and I suppose you could say that it is not such a great name, given the work that I do here as a security officer.’

We both laughed at his zany sense of humour and once again thanked him for his courtesy and great customer service. As he moved away, he replied for the second time, ‘it is a pleasure, all just part of my job.’

The visit to our retail customer lasted about 20 minutes and then we head back towards the car park, only this time we were more certain which way we had to go.

As we walked along the shopping mall level we came across the customer service desk which we could not find on our arrival at the shopping centre, so we stopped to speak to the customer service attendant at the counter. We asked if we could speak to the centre manager and was quizzed in a friendly manner about why we wanted to see him – our answer was that we wanted to give some feedback about a positive customer service experience we had just had. Sadly, the centre manager was not available; however, the customer service attendant suggested we could speak to the duty manager in charge of centre security. So we decided that we would go down to the security office located on the loading dock on the first level of the centre.

ALSO READ Purpose: Sent to Take Our Sins Away
On arriving at the security office we were greeted by the duty manager who had a very apprehensive look on his face, which we concluded was due to the fact that when similar contact was made with him by members of the public, it was to lodge a complaint of some sort. When we told him we wanted to give some feedback about a great service experience offered by of one of his team members, his face changed to a positive expression as we went on to praise Rob for making our visit to the centre an enjoyable one. We asked him to pass on our thanks to Rob and make sure that the centre manager was made aware of what he had done for us.

As we left the office and walked back to our car, we both discussed the likelihood that our expression of appreciation would make its way back to Rob and to the centre manager. We agreed that whilst it would have been great if the praise was passed on to Rob we realised that he would have no doubt been the recipient of many other expressions of appreciation from other customers just like us, who had experienced Rob’s all part of my job attitude to his work. Whether other people would have taken the time express their appreciation to his boss as we did – is a matter of speculation, the fact that we did express it to Rob and then to his manager was all that mattered to us at the time.

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There is little doubt in my mind that people like Rob don’t walk their talk selectively, it just isn’t in their nature to be obligingly beyond expectations to one or two people as he did with us and then not do the same with others. I am sure Rob’s job as a security officer is full of daily challenges with lot’s of not so good things to deal with, so no doubt doing what he did for us and I am certain many others, is more than likely the part of his job that makes his day just that more enjoyable and rewarding.

There can be nothing better in life than to offer caring and genuine service to others and not expect anything in return, however, I am sure that the praise you receive for a job very well done will never go astray – will it!

by Keith Ready

Meditation: Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31

You will succeed because Jesus loves You!

Also read:

Never too Late
An Irate Customer
Great Service is a Choice
https://daily-dew.com/all-just-part-of-my-job/

Here is the concluding part of Leadership Lessons From a Janitor

As often happens in life, events sweep us away from those in our past. The last time I saw Bill was on graduation day in June 1977. As I walked out of the squadron for the last time, he shook my hand and simply said, “Good luck, young man.” With that, I embarked on a career that has been truly lucky and blessed.

Mr Crawford continued to work at the Academy and eventually retired in his native Colorado where he resides today, one of four Medal of Honor winners living in a small town.

A wise person once said, “It’s not life that is important, but those you meet along the way that make the difference.” Bill was one who made a difference for me. While I haven’t seen Mr Crawford in over 20 years, he’d probably be surprised to know I think of him often. Bill Crawford, our janitor, taught me many valuable, unforgettable leadership lessons. Here are 10 I’d like to share with you.

1. Be Cautious of Labels. The labels you place on people may define your relationship to them and bound their potential. Sadly, and for a long time, we labelled Bill as just a janitor, but he was so much more. Therefore, be cautious of a leader who callously says, “Hey, he’s just an Airman.” Likewise, don’t tolerate the O-1, who says, “I can’t do that, I’m just a lieutenant.”

2. Everyone Deserves Respect. Because we hung the “janitor” label on Mr Crawford, we often wrongly treated him with less respect than others around us. He deserved much more, and not just because he was a Medal of Honor winner. Bill deserved respect because he was a janitor, walked among us, and was a part of our team.

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3. Courtesy Makes a Difference. Be courteous to all around you, regardless of rank or position. Military customs, as well as common courtesies, help bond a team. When our daily words to Mr Crawford turned from perfunctory “hellos” to heartfelt greetings, his demeanour and personality outwardly changed. It made a difference for all of us.

4. Take Time to Know Your People. Life in the military is hectic, but that’s no excuse for not knowing the people you work for and with. For years a hero walked among us at the Academy and we never knew it. Who are the heroes that walk in your midst?

5. Anyone Can Be a Hero. Mr Crawford certainly didn’t fit anyone’s standard definition of a hero. Moreover, he was just a private on the day he won his Medal. Don’t sell your people short, for any one of them may be the hero who rises to the occasion when duty calls. On the other hand, it’s easy to turn to your proven performers when the chips are down but don’t ignore the rest of the team. Today’s rookie could and should be tomorrow’s superstar.

6. Leaders Should Be Humble. Most modern-day heroes and some leaders are anything but humble, especially if you calibrate your “hero meter” on today’s athletic fields. End zone celebrations and self-aggrandizement are what we’ve come to expect from sports greats. Not Mr Crawford-he was too busy working to celebrate his past heroics. Leaders would be well-served to do the same.

7. Life Won’t Always Hand You What You Think You Deserve. We in the military work hard and, dang it, we deserve recognition, right? However, sometimes you just have to persevere, even when accolades don’t come your way. Perhaps, you weren’t nominated for junior officer or airman of the quarter as you thought you should – don’t let that stop you.

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8. Don’t pursue glory; pursue excellence. Private Bill Crawford didn’t pursue glory; he did his duty and then swept floors for a living. No job is beneath a Leader. If Bill Crawford, a Medal of Honor winner, could clean latrines and smile, is there a job beneath your dignity? Think about it.

9. Pursue Excellence. No matter what task life hands you, do it well. Dr Martin Luther King said, “If life makes you a street sweeper, be the best street sweeper you can be.” Mr Crawford modelled that philosophy and helped make our dormitory area a home.

10. Life is a Leadership Laboratory. All too often we look to some school or PME class to teach us about leadership when, in fact, life is a leadership laboratory. Those you meet every day will teach you enduring lessons if you just take time to stop, look and listen. I spent four years at the Air Force Academy, took dozens of classes, read hundreds of books, and met thousands of great people. I gleaned leadership skills from all of them, but one of the people I remember most is Mr Bill Crawford and the lessons he unknowingly taught. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn.

Bill Crawford was a janitor. However, he was also a teacher, friend, role model and one great American hero. Thanks, Mr Crawford, for some valuable leadership lessons.

Dale Pyeatt, Executive Director of the National Guard Association of Texas, comments: And now, for the “rest of the story”: Pvt William John Crawford was a platoon scout for 3rd Platoon of Company L 1 42nd Regiment 36th Division (Texas National Guard) and won the Medal Of Honor for his actions on Hill 424, just 4 days after the invasion at Salerno.

On Hill 424, Pvt Crawford took out 3 enemy machine guns before darkness fell, halting the platoon’s advance. Pvt Crawford could not be found and was assumed dead. The request for his MOH was quickly approved. Major General Terry Allen presented the posthumous MOH to Bill Crawford’s father, George, on 11 May 1944 in Camp (now Fort) Carson, near Pueblo. Nearly two months after that, it was learned that Pvt Crawford was alive in a POW camp in Germany.

During his captivity, a German guard clubbed him with his rifle. Bill overpowered him, took the rifle away, and beat the guard unconscious. A German doctor’s testimony saved him from severe punishment, perhaps death. To stay ahead of the advancing Russian army, the prisoners were marched 500 miles in 52 days in the middle of the German winter, subsisting on one potato a day. An allied tank column liberated the camp in the spring of 1945, and Pvt Crawford took his first hot shower in 18 months on VE Day. Pvt Crawford stayed in the army before retiring as an MSG and becoming a janitor.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan officially presented the MOH to Bill Crawford. William Crawford passed away in 2000. He is the only U.S. Army veteran and sole Medal of Honor winner to be buried in the cemetery of the U.S. Air Force Academy.

By Colonel James E. Moschgat

ALSO READ Portals of Destiny (2)
Meditation: By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life. – Proverbs 22:4

You will succeed because Jesus loves You!

Also read:

Leadership
Leadership Lessons From a Janitor (Part 1)
Benefits of Wisdom (13): Effective Leadership

RIP

Thanks for the clarification

Dave Barry noted that “the school dropped religion altogether and started singing about the weather…non-memorable songs such as ‘Winter Wonderland’, ‘Frosty The Snowman,’ and — this is a real song — ‘Suzy Snowflake,’ all of which is pretty funny because we live in Miami. A visitor from another planet would assume that the children belonged to the Church of Meteorology.”

We stick with the carols because the carols stick with us. Year after year, the words come back from some deep place in our memory…at least through my generation. The culture around us helped us learn to sing them.

That’s not the case today. Kids aren’t learning the carols in school. Outside the church, the next generation does not have a memory of singing the story of the birth of Christ.

The Biblical irony, of course, is that it was never supposed to be the culture’s responsibility to tell the Christmas story. The New Testament Christians always assumed that it was the church’s responsibility to take the story to a secular, unbelieving world; a world where the gospel has to compete with belief in The Church of Meteorology; just the kind of world in which we live today.

Read more: https://daily-dew.com/stick-with-the-carols/

I love the taste of T-bone steak,
Delicious every bite,
But there’s nothing like the Word of God,
For my spiritual appetite.

The Word of God has milk and meat,
And even ice cream and cake.
Take a slice of the Bread of Life,
And coffee to keep us awake.

Open your Bible and turn to Psalms,
For David’s famous buffet.
You can drink all the wine of the Word you want,
And still feel fine the next day.

There’s enough of the Word for everyone,
And no one has to cheat.
The Word of God is a smorgasbord,
So take all you are able to eat.

Let’s have a little long-suffering,
Job gives the recipe.
Patience is the main ingredient,
Self-denial is the fee

Read more: https://daily-dew.com/worlds-greatest-chef/

“I can master it,” said the Ax. His blows fell heavy on the hard, strong steel.
But each blow only made his edge blunter until he ceased to strike.

“Leave it to me,” said the Saw. With his relentless teeth, he worked back and forth.
But to his dismay, all of his teeth were worn out or broken off.

“Ha!” said the Hammer. “I knew you could not do this. Let me show you how.”
But with the very first blow, his head flew off, and the steel was unchanged………………….

Read More: https://daily-dew.com/the-warm-flame-of-love/

BLESSED ARE YOU who take time to listen to difficult speech
FOR YOU help us know that if we persevere, we can be understood.

BLESSED ARE YOU who walk with us in public places and ignore the stares of strangers,
FOR in your companionship, we find havens of relaxation.

BLESSED ARE YOU who never bid us “hurry up” and, more blessed, you who do not snatch our tasks from our hands to do them for us
FOR often we need time rather than help.

BLESSED ARE YOU who stand beside us as we enter new and untried ventures,
FOR our failures will be..........................

Read More: https://daily-dew.com/beatitudes-for-those-who-work-with-special-people/

A very poor newly wedded young couple lived in a small farm. One day, the husband made the following proposition to his wife: “Honey, I will leave the house. I will travel far away, get a job and work hard in order to come back and give you the comfortable life that you deserve. I do not know how long I will stay away, I only ask one thing, please wait for me. And while I am away, you should be faithful to me, because I will be faithful to you.”

So the young man left. He walked many days until he found a farmer who was in need of someone to help him. The young man offered his services. He was accepted. Therefore he discussed the terms with his boss: “Let me work for as long as I want and when I think I should go home, please relieve me of my duties. I do not want to receive my salary. I ask you to save it for me, until the day I leave. The day I decide to go, please give me the money and I will go my way.”

They agreed on that. So, the young man worked for 20 years without holiday and without rest. After 20 years, he came to his boss and said: “Boss, I want my money, because I am returning to my home.”

The boss replied: “All right. after all, I made a deal with you and I will stick to it.

Read more: https://daily-dew.com/three-pieces-of-advice/

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it’s the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it’s the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable. A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee in………………………….

Read More: https://daily-dew.com/the-marbles-story/

uthor Unknown

Jeffie was in his playpen and he was crying. Tears were rolling down his little cheeks, his face was red as it could be. He was crying, and he looked pitiful in his little baseball T-shirt and a diaper.

Then Jeffie’s Grandpa entered the room; Jeffie’s little face lit up when he saw his Grandpa! He immediately reached out his little arms in supplication and said, “Out Pa Pa out.”

What is a Grandpa to do? How can someone resist that?

So Grandpa went over to the playpen, he bent over. He reached down to lift his little buddy from captivity and distress. Just then “Law and Order” walked into the room.

Momma said, “Jeffie, you stay right there! I’m punishing you because you have been naughty! Dad, leave Jeffie alone!”

What is a Grandpa to do?

Grandpa backs off and is thinking, “I can’t just pick up a book and read it with Jeffie here. He would think I was uncaring and distant. I can’t leave the room because he would feel like I have abandoned him.”

What is a Grandpa to do?

Read more: https://daily-dew.com/love-always-finds-a-way/

My son Gilbert was eight years old and had been in Cub Scouts only a short time. During one of his meetings he was handed a sheet of paper, a block of wood and four tires and told to return home and give all to “dad”.

That was not an easy task for Gilbert to do. Dad was not receptive to doing things with his son. But Gilbert tried. Dad read the paper and scoffed at the idea of making a pine wood derby car with his young, eager son. The block of wood remained untouched as the weeks passed.
Finally, mom stepped in to see if I could…………………………………………………

Read More: https://daily-dew.com/the-wisdom-of-a-child/

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest. A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself (and doesn’t feel even the least bit weird shutting your ‘beer/Pepsi drawer’ with her foot!)

A simple friend has never seen you cry. A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

A simple friend doesn’t know your parents’ first names. A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.

A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party. A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.

Read more: https://daily-dew.com/real-friend-test/