34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Understanding
Last night (Sunday, November 27th 2011) I was chatting with a friend (from Pakistan) about a particular person I know who he met in town the other day. He shared his symptathy after hearing about this persons troubled past. I began to notice how his compassion grew for this person who he just met once just by growing "understanding" about this person through an intimate quality conversation dialogue. Imagaine if we can do this with everybody (e.g. enemies)!
I began to "understand" how important relationships are through understanding one another..
"...
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.
"NEAPOLIS -- So you say you want a divorce. Sure about that? University of Minnesota researchers have found a surprising amount of "reconciliation interest" in couples trying to part ways.
"We tend to assume once people file for divorce it's a done deal," U of M Family Social Science Professor Bill Doherty said.
Conducting 2 years of research in Hennepin County, Doherty found 1 in 4 people late in divorce proceedings believed their marriage could be saved with hard work. And of the 2,500 people surveyed 3 in 10 expressed openness to receiving help.
"This has probably been there a long time but nobody ever asked the question," Doherty explained.
Felicia Glass-Wilcox says she's noticed more "reconciliation weddings" at the Chapel of Love in the Mall of America. "Actually we've seen several in the last 6 months. It seems like it is picking up because I haven't seen that in years," she said.
Glass-Wilcox also noticed that those couples that have considered or been through the "Big D" seem stronger when they walk down her aisle. "They know they can count on each other. It's a stronger relationship at that point in time and you can just see that they're happy to realize that they've got each other," she explained.
Doherty's study could be ground-breaking. A group of Twin Cities' lawyers has already been better trained to ask couples about the possibility of reconciliation. Lawyers have also found that 50% of people early in the divorce process reported they were uncertain about actually going through with it.
"The divorce process takes on a life of its own and it can get away from people," Doherty concluded.
The study also found that 55% of people considering divorce said they were "growing apart." 40% said they were upset with how their spouse handles money and 18% cited "in-law problems." Those involved in the study could cite more than one reason for wanting a divorce.
(Copyright 2011 by KARE 11. All Rights Reserved.) "
"Identical twins, separated at birth and each raised by one of their biological parents, discover each other for the first time at summer camp and make a plan to bring their wayward parents back together. .."
The Parent Trap Trailer
"
...
Hallie Parker and Annie James are identical twins separated at a young age because of their parents' divorce. unknowingly to their parents, the girls are sent to the same summer camp where they meet, discover the truth about themselves, and then plot with each other to switch places. Hallie meets her mother, and Annie meets her father for the first time in years. they then make a plan to set up their parents, which suddenly goes awry with an announcement from their father. the story goes through many different twists and turns, and is an amazing story from start to finish
"
"..Every person can have right relationships with God and others by following the timeless advice in Proverbs. Its many themes cover work, money, marriage, friendship, family life, perseverance, and pleasing God.
".A good relationship with your boss and co-workers can make for a healthy career. However, this is not always easy. As a matter of fact it can be very difficult at times. These resources will show you how to improve interpersonal office relationships....
Workplace Etiquette
"Mel Brooks, the movie producer, said it best, “Life stinks!”
If you have spent any time in the workplace, you will have observed many different kinds of attitudes, personalities, and ways of approaching the job there. We all have different personalities, habits, desires, experiences, and expectations, all converging and conflicting, and the water cooler area becomes a gathering place for hearing the latest gossip, a hotbed of conflict and chaos. Somehow, in the midst of all this, we, as Christians, are called to distinction. This rubs us against the grain of our coworkers and employers, who have conflicting ideas. The Christian enters into a struggle with identity, values, attitudes, and feelings, all producing stress and fatigue.
We are Christians, yet we are also human, and we work with Christians as well as non-Christians. We are material beings who need a livelihood to provide for the daily substance of life. From food and shelter to leisure and entertainment, work becomes a necessary means for us to live and function in society. Work can also be a potential for so much more. A call, a vocation, or a job, whatever you call what you do in between your day of worship and church, whether it be a priest or a fry cook, we all have a purpose. We all have a job. Sometimes, it is the same, sometimes not, as we may be in the wrong place and job. Nevertheless, we have a call to be employed, to function in society, and to behave in that call.
We are also social beings, not just tools or devices, slaves or machines. We are spiritual beings who have been saved by our God and Creator and given the call to be virtuous and righteous. All our experiences, expectations, aptitudes, and attitudes come together in the workplace. And, all of these distinctions converge into our mindset and attitudes at work. So, what is the right attitude and approach with which to do our work? How do we get along with coworkers, bosses, and our God?
Work, Job or vocation is a word we use to start to describe what we do in life, vocation has its root from the Latin verb “to call;” thus, our vocation and job is actually a call, similar to a minister. So we need to understand its role and significance in our life and how we are to be in our vocation as well as what it means in our walk with our Lord. Let us venture into God’s Word and see what He has to say about what we do during the week. What and why we have work and what we are to do in that vocation and how we respond to others around us. The following passages are arranged so you can spend some time in the Word, which will help you to develop a Biblical attitude of work. Also, several thoughts based on Scriptural insights are provided for you to pray about to nudge yourself into being a better person at work. You may discover what we do is not as important as how we do it!
God’s Call for the Employee Ephesians 6:5-8
You may feel like a slave at work. Or, perhaps you treat others in that way thinking, I am in command. They work for me, and they have to do what I say! But, the key to this passage is the attitude we are to have, that of looking to Christ as our employer so we do our work for Him. Therefore, we are to be our best for His glory, regardless of our circumstances (Rom. 8:17; Phil. 2:1-11).
We may have a paycheck from McDonald’s and a boss who may need some acne treatments, but our ultimate authority and manager is Christ Himself! We show our value--that Christ paid a price for us--so, we in turn can respond with a good work ethic (1 Cor. 7:23). We must adjust our mindset to see work as an opportunity to please Him, and in so doing, be a blessing to those around us.
As an employee we are called to Diligence! This allows us to operate with our best for Christ’s highest with excitement and passion in order to complete our work and call from the Lord. It is practical obedience, which is the loving of our call and the pursuing of our work so we are doing our best for His glory. (Prov. 10:4; Rom. 12:11; Colossians 3:23)
Here are some more Scriptures about being an employee: Exodus 23:12; 35:2; Proverbs 10:26; 25:13; Ecclesiastes 2:4; 5:12; Colossians 3:17,22-25; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 6:2; Titus 2:9,10; 1 Peter 2: 18-20
God’s Call for the Employer
God honors diligence and fairness. As an employer you are called to Diligence and to Fairness! These are the two characteristics we are to have in the workplace, and are especially essential for the manager. God hates the exploitation of people and will judge with severity those who do exploit others. So, why bother with the rotten characters of dishonesty and exploitation when we can have a much more efficient and happy workplace, where the workers are cared for and encouraged to produce instead of being forced and made to condescend.
Here are some more Scriptures about being an employer: Leviticus 19: 13; Deuteronomy 24:4,14; Proverbs 27: 18; Malachi 3:5; Luke 10:7; 1 Corinthians 9: 6-12; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:17; 4:1; 1 Timothy 5:17,18
God’s Call for the Workplace As a worker, or an employer, God has a lot to say to us regarding our virtue at work.
· We are called to work with respect and honor to God and others: Genesis 2: 15; 3: 15; Proverbs 6:6-8; 10:4,5,26; 12:9; 13:4; 14:23; 18:9; 22:29; 31:11-31; Ecclesiastes 3:22; 5:12; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 5: 8!
· We are called to work with integrity: Proverbs 10:2; 15:27; Jeremiah 22: 13; Ephesians 4:28!
· We are warned about laziness: Exodus 20:9-11; 23:12; 34:21; Proverbs 16:27; 18:9; 19: 15; 22:13; 24:30-34; 1 Thessalonians 4: 11,12; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-15!
· We are called to honor just remuneration: Proverbs 3:27,28; 27:18; Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5: 18; James 5:1-5!
Question to Ponder
After reading any of the above selected Scriptures, ask yourself these questions:
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