If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment ,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without vices,

If you can sleep anywhere, anytime,

You must be the family dog…

Should preachers take on the same “spotlight” status as a celebrity? There are many mega churches with thousands of people whose preachers are lead around with body guards, limos, etc - celebrity status.

Yes, it is a form of spreading the gospel, and we should not presume to know anyones heart. There are those whose millions truly do go to missions and world aid, but most mega church preachers charge 15-25K just to visit and preach at your church.

If you are a small church, they may not even give you the time of day.

Thoughts? Is this right or wrong?

We must be silent before we can listen
We must listen before we can learn
We must learn before we can prepare
We must prepare before we can serve
We must serve before we can lead

I made this video a few years ago to remember September 11, 2001

Two days ago, U Win Tin, a senior leader in Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party the National League for Democracy (NLD), published an impassioned and powerful article in the Washington Post outlining a call for international support for the Burmese democracy struggle. 

The author is risking his life by writing this article.  He already spent 19 years locked up as a political prisoner in Burma, and by speaking out against the military regime he is putting his own life on the line.

Some international observers, such as U.S. Senator Jim Webb, are using language of fear in pressuring the NLD to participate in showcase elections the Burmese regime has scheduled for next year.  This article is the Burmese democracy movement’s rejection of that pressure and makes it clear that the election will only result in permanent military dictatorship.   

Washington Post (Oped): An ‘Election’ Burma’s People Don’t Need

By U Win Tin

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Much attention has been focused on Sen. James Webb’s recent visit to my country and his meetings with Senior Gen. Than Shwe and incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. I understand Webb’s desire to seek a meaningful dialogue with the Burmese ruling authorities. Unfortunately, his efforts have been damaging to our democracy movement and focus on the wrong issue — the potential for an “election” that Webb wants us to consider participating in next year as part of a long-term political strategy. But the showcase election planned by the military regime makes a mockery of the freedom sought by our people and would make military dictatorship permanent.

In our last free election, the Burmese people rejected military rule in a landslide, awarding our National League for Democracy party more than 80 percent of the seats in parliament. Yet the military has refused to allow the NLD to form a government. In the 19 years since that election, Burmese democracy activists have faced imprisonment, intimidation, torture and death as they have peacefully voiced demands for justice, individual and ethnic rights, and a democratic form of government that is representative of all Burma’s people.

While never ending our struggle for democracy, the NLD has continually sought to engage the regime and open a dialogue — based on peace and mutual respect — that could address Burma’s critical political as well as social problems. Make no mistake — these two issues are linked. Burma was once the rice bowl of Asia. Today, because of the regime’s destructive economic policies and its use of oppression to maintain military rule, Burma is a shattered, poverty-stricken country.

The regime is seeking to place a veneer of legitimacy on itself through showcase “elections” and claiming that “disciplined democracy” will be instituted next year. Yet in May 2008, just days after a massive cyclone devastated Burma and killed more than 100,000 people, the regime used a farcical process to claim that 93 percent of voters chose to adopt a constitution that permanently enshrines military rule and prevents those with undefined “foreign ties” from holding public office — catch-all provisions that would bar Suu Kyi and democracy activists from seeking office.

Some international observers view next year’s planned elections as an opportunity. But under the circumstances imposed by the military’s constitution, the election will be a sham. We will not sacrifice the democratic principles for which many millions of Burmese have marched, been arrested, been tortured and died to participate in a process that holds no hope whatsoever for bringing freedom to our country.

The demands of the NLD are reasonable. In April we issued another declaration to encourage engagement with the military that called for the release of all political prisoners, a full review of the constitution, reopening of all NLD offices and the right to freely organize. The regime’s answer is the continued jailing of Suu Kyi and 2,000 other activists, massive military offensives against ethnic groups and the enforcement of rules to gag democracy.

How can the international community play a meaningful role? First, officials such as Webb should stop fear-mongering about China. His language about containing China, and working with Burma’s regime to do so, is based on an outdated and unrealistic thesis. Suu Kyi rejected such notions by informing Webb that “we will not deal with anyone with fear and insecurity. We will deal with anyone, China, America, India, equally and friendly. As we can’t choose our neighbors, we understand that we need to have a good relationship with China.” Second, the NLD encourages other countries and international organizations to engage with Burma’s military leaders to persuade them to engage with us and Burma’s ethnic groups. The United States and many other nations have imposed sanctions on Burma. That is their decision and in keeping with their justified solidarity with the democratic values that we all hold so dear. If the regime genuinely engages with the NLD and ethnic representatives, releases political prisoners, ceases attacks against ethnic minorities and takes additional steps to build a true democratic state, these sanctions will be repealed at the right time.

In the meantime, let no one doubt our resolve. The NLD is a reflection of Burmese society. We will not be cowed or coerced into participating in a fatally flawed political process that robs the Burmese people of the freedom for which we struggle. We stand ready to engage, but we are more than willing to continue our struggle for the democratic values that so many have given their lives and their freedom to achieve.

U Win Tin is a member of the Central Executive Committee and a founder of Burma’s National League for Democracy party. He was a political prisoner from 1989 to 2008.

Kind words: Transform worry to joy.
“Worry can rob you of happiness, but kind words will cheer you up.” Proverbs 12:25

Gentle words: Break through anger.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 51:1

Pleasant words: Encourage learning.
“Pleasant words promote instruction.” Proverbs 16:21

Honest words: Make us feel loved.
“An honest answer is a kiss on the lips.” Proverbs 24:26

Wise words: Heal broken hearts.
“Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal.” Proverbs 12:18

I think intent is really important when we talk about gossip. Do you say these things to harm them or to really help them? You can have some hard conversations with people, let’s say in a work environment, but the end goal of it is to actually help that individual take steps and improve and be able to thrive in their work environment.

What is our motivation in the things that we share?

James says in our own lives our tongue is so significant because it steers our lives and it talks about deep internal things that are happening. He says it is the tongue that directs your life. If you want to know where you are going to go in the next five to ten years, look at what you say.

If you want to know the direction your life is moving, look at your conversations. Look at the words that are coming out of your mouth.
We shape our words and then our words shape and define us.

The tongue can open doors for you into the future. It can close doors for you. It can help other people. It can hurt other people.
It will determine the direction of your life.

The Call to be an encourager

The ministry of encouragement is always your calling as a part of the Body of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.
An encourager speaks words of encouragement, appreciation, support and respect.

Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will never forget you - William Arthur Ward

Encouragers build up with their words. Discouragers criticize and tear down.

A person who is continually criticized becomes good for nothing, the effect of criticism knocks all the gumption and power out of him.
James 5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.
Acknowledge others’ abilities and efforts. If someone feels inadequate, encourage him or her that all things are possible with God’s help.

Watch out for subtle ways you may tear down others, such as pointing out how quickly you can do something or how you disagree with them

An encourager is an intercessor.

It is interesting that the word used to describe the Holy Spirit, Paraclete is translated: “counselor,” “comforter,” “advocate,” “helper,” “intercessor,” “strengthener,” “standby,” or “encourager.”

Helping or encouraging someone means praying for them – building them up by lifting them up.

Encouragers talk to God on behalf of others. Discouragers talk to others about others.

“No one can tame the tongue,” says James, it is “a restless evil, full of deadly poison” . Did you hear about the kid who ate six bags of Pop Rocks at a party? His name was John Gilchrist, the actor who played “Little Mikey” in television commercials for Life cereal. He ate six bags of Pop Rocks, drank a six-pack of Pepsi, and the two substances combined in his stomach and exploded, killing him horribly. That’s why Pop Rocks were taken off the market in the early 1980s.

The truth is that John Gilchrist never exploded. Pop Rocks plus soda produces only a burp. But the makers of Pop Rocks had to work hard to squelch the rumor, even writing to school principals. The same sort of corporate action had to be taken by the company Procter & Gamble, when it was accused of having links to Satanism.

The depth of this rumor was so profound, I actually had someone come up to me after church and insist this was indeed fact, and they remembered it specifically.

Listen to these words of God specifically concerning His church:

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few - Ecc 5:1-2

Do you know how to stop the spread of a rumor? Simply don’t respond.
Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down – Proverbs 26:20

There simply isn’t anything good about gossip.

There is a great Christian virtue in simply holding your tongue.

There is truth to the saying “If you can’t say anything good, don’t say anything at all.” We as Christians should take that saying one-step further… “If we can’t say anything good, something that reflects a Christ-like attitude and reflects the love of Christ through us, than we shouldn’t say anything at all.

Nothing more hurtful, more discouraging to one of your brothers or sisters than to make an unkind, uncalled for remark about someone’s attempt to do the right thing for God, that perhaps doesn’t come out perfect. Instead of condemning, suggest something encouraging, helpful and respect the fact that the brother or sister is working for the Glory of God, not the approval of you and I.

The Bible tells us
the tongue is a fire,
it can set an entire forest ablaze,
it’s dangerous and destructive,
its power is far greater than its size,
it’s like a tiny rudder that can guide a huge ship,
it’s like a small bridle that controls the movement of a large horse…

Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

There are going to be times when we will have to speak about someone who is not present.

May God help us to always speak of that person in the best possible light. May God help all of us control our tongues so we may avoid the sin of gossip.

We all need encouragers in our lives, and we must all serve as encouragers for others. Imagine what we might hear if we devoted ourselves to listening for and passing along only encouragement.