1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:02,160 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 2 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:05,279 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 2: the ministry. 4 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 3: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 5 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 3: blessing and share it with a friend. 6 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 2: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 7 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 2: your life. Now, God bless you. It's always a joy 8 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 2: to come into your homes. We love you and we 9 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 2: know God has great things in store. And if you're 10 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 2: ever in our area, I hope you'll stop by and 11 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 2: be a part of one of our services. 12 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: We'd love to meet you one on one. 13 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 2: But thanks so much for tuning in today and thanks 14 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 2: again for coming out. I like to start with something 15 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 2: funny and I heard about this pastor. He was greeting 16 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,200 Speaker 2: people in the lobby after the service and he saw 17 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 2: this man that he hadn't seen in a long long time. 18 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 2: He pulled him aside and said, sir, you need to 19 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 2: join the Army. 20 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: Of the Lord. 21 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 2: The man said, what do you mean, I'm in the 22 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 2: Army of the Lord. The pastor said, well, how come 23 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 2: I only see you on Christmas and Easter. The man 24 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 2: whispered back, I'm in the Secret Service. 25 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 4: All right. 26 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: Hold up your Bible, say it like you mean it. 27 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 28 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: I have what it says I have. 29 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 2: I can do what it says I can do. Today 30 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 2: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 31 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 2: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 32 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 2: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 33 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 2: I want to talk to you today about taking steps 34 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 2: to grow. We have to realize that growth is not automatic. 35 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 2: There are many successful people, but they haven't reached half 36 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 2: of their potential because they stopped growing. There's something called 37 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:42,319 Speaker 2: destination disease. That is, when we reach a certain goal, 38 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,759 Speaker 2: when we get our degree, when we get a certain position, 39 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 2: when we get the house paid off, we just kick 40 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 2: back and put our mind in neutral and we coast. 41 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: Off of what we've already learned. 42 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 2: We may make a little progress here and there, but 43 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: we're really not learning anything new. 44 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: We're really not growing. 45 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 2: We're not becoming better in our careers, better in our 46 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 2: personal life. 47 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 1: And one of the reasons is. 48 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 2: The way we were trained as a little child. We 49 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 2: grow automatically, we get bigger, we develop physically mentally. We 50 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 2: have parents, teachers, coaches that challenge us to grow early on. 51 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 2: Growth is automatic, it's just a part of our life. 52 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 2: But the problem is at one point when we stop 53 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 2: growing physically, when we get out of school, that growth 54 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 2: is no longer automatic. If we're going to continue to grow, 55 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 2: we have to take responsibility for our own growth. We 56 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 2: have to have the attitude how can I improve? What 57 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 2: can I do to make me better? We have to 58 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 2: stir up that desire to learn. We should have a 59 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 2: goal to grow in some way every day, a goal 60 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 2: to learn something new every single day. A man by 61 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,679 Speaker 2: the name of Pablo Casas was one of the greatest 62 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 2: cellists that ever lived. He started playing at the age 63 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 2: of twelve. He accomplished things that no other cellist had done. 64 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 2: He was known as the very best in his field. 65 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: At the age of eighty five, he still got up 66 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 2: early every day and. 67 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: Practiced for five hours. 68 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 2: One time, a reporter asked him why he still put 69 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 2: so much effort in it. He smiled and said, it's 70 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 2: because I think I'm getting better. He understood this principle. 71 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 2: When you stop learning, you stop growing. When you stop growing, 72 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: you stop living. Life becomes very routine. We lose our enthusiasm, 73 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 2: we lose our zeal. Well, let me ask you today, 74 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 2: what steps are you taking to grow? Are you reading books, 75 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 2: listening to teaching CDs? Are you taking any courses on 76 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 2: the internet, going to any seminars? Do you have any 77 00:03:55,720 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 2: good mentors? Are you doing anything to stretch yourself? Friends, 78 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 2: God's given you a gift. You have a treasure on 79 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 2: the inside. One of our main goals should be to 80 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 2: develop our potential. I read where the number one magazine 81 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 2: in America, the best selling most read magazine is TV Guide. 82 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 2: Nothing against TV Guide, but we should use our time wisely. 83 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 2: Fifty percent of people after they graduate from school, either 84 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 2: high school or college, will never read an entire. 85 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: Book the rest of their life. 86 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 2: It's because we view learning as a period of life 87 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 2: instead of as a way of life. We think, I'm 88 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 2: out of school, I'm done learning, got my position, I'm 89 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 2: a partner in the firm, a manager at the office, 90 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 2: pastor of a church. No, we're never supposed to stop 91 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 2: learning today. There are so many opportunities to grow with 92 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 2: modern technology. It's easy to increase and expand our thinking. 93 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: Don't get stuck in a You shouldn't be at the 94 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 2: same place next year in your career. In your finances, 95 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: in your relationships. 96 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: As you are right now, you should know more. 97 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 2: If you work in the field of sales, you need 98 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 2: to read books on how to communicate more effectively. People 99 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: have gone where you're trying to go. Listen to what 100 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 2: they have to say. Take courses, go to seminars. There's 101 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 2: potential in you that has to be drawn out. A 102 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 2: lot of times we're waiting on God to open doors. God, 103 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 2: if you'll give me more favor, God, just give me 104 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: more opportunity. But really God's waiting on us to develop 105 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 2: what He's put on the inside. We have to tap 106 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 2: into that potential. When I was in my early twenties, 107 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 2: we were about to buy a significant amount of television 108 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 2: equipment for the ministry, several hundred thousand dollars worth, and 109 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 2: it was between two large manufactures. And the men that 110 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 2: represented this one company was in his mid. 111 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:55,799 Speaker 1: To late sixties, a very. 112 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 2: Kind, friendly man, and I had gone up to Dallas 113 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 2: to see the equipment, spent the day with him, and 114 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 2: I was about to fly back home to Houston, and 115 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: he said, Joel, I'd like to fly back with you 116 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 2: to just keep you company, and then I'll. 117 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 1: Turn around fly back to Dallas. I said, no, no, 118 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 1: you don't need to do that. 119 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 2: I'll be fine, but he insisted, and so we got 120 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 2: on the plane and he sat next to me. This 121 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 2: man knew everything about me. He knew where I had 122 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 2: grown up, he knew where I'd gone to school, he 123 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 2: knew what my hobbies were. He knew all about the church, 124 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 2: he knew how it got started outside of my family. 125 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 2: This man probably knew more about me than anybody. It 126 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 2: was amazing. I finally said, why do you know all this? 127 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,919 Speaker 2: He said, Joel, It's something I learned from one of 128 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: the greatest salespersons. 129 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 1: That's ever lived. 130 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 2: He taught me, the more I know about my clients, 131 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 2: the better I'll be able to relate to them. The 132 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: more I understand where they're coming from and what their 133 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 2: needs are, the better I'll. 134 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: Be able to serve them. He said, Joel, you're in 135 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: your twenties. I'm in my sixties. 136 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: Think about how much better I can relate to you 137 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 2: knowing what your background is, knowing what your hobbies are, 138 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 2: knowing how you were raised. 139 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: That's why he was. 140 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 2: The number one salesperson in this huge company. He had 141 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 2: made a lifetime of studying sales He told how he 142 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: went to sales seminars at least twice a year. He 143 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 2: had been doing that for forty years. He knew the 144 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 2: emotion behind seals. He had taken courses on how to relate, 145 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 2: how to communicate more effectively. 146 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: No wonder, he was blessed. 147 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 2: He was learning, he was growing, developing what God put 148 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 2: on the inside. No matter what fields you're in, even 149 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 2: if you're a stay at home mom, you need to 150 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 2: always look for ways to improve to become everything God's 151 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 2: created you to be. That means if you're an accountant, 152 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 2: don't just settle there and think I've reached my goal. 153 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: This is where I'm going to be the rest of 154 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: my life. No, that's destination disease coming on strong, trying 155 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: to limit you. Take steps to learn more. 156 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 2: Go get your CPA license, get out of the box 157 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 2: and learn something different. Maybe you work in the field 158 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: as an electrician, as a carpenter, as a mechanic. 159 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: That's great, but what steps are you taking to improve? 160 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 2: I read where if a person will spend an hour 161 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 2: a day on a certain subject, after three years, that 162 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 2: person will be an expert on that subject. You need 163 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 2: to find the area of your greatest gifting what you're 164 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 2: good at naturally, and spend time increasing in that area. 165 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 2: If you'll stay focused and learn a little more each day, 166 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,719 Speaker 2: a little more each year, before long you'll be one 167 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 2: of the experts. You'll be a leader in your field. 168 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 2: You need to develop your gifts to the point where 169 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 2: your company cannot make it without you, or at least 170 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 2: if you're not there, things don't run nearly as smooth, 171 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 2: because if you're out for a week and nobody misses you, 172 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 2: and sales are just as good and all the work 173 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 2: gets done. I need to sound the alarm right now. 174 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 2: You got to wake up and smell the coffee. If 175 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 2: they don't miss you, they may figure you're not necessary. 176 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 2: You need to kick it into a new gear. Produce 177 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 2: more than you've been producing. Take courses to improve your skills. 178 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 2: You got to step it up a notch. Ell Joel, 179 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 2: I have a kind of a low level position. If 180 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 2: I'm gone, nobody would ever miss me. Well, maybe so, 181 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 2: but make up your mind. That is not where you're 182 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 2: going to stay. Don't build a house where you should 183 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 2: have a tent. That is not a permanent address. You're 184 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 2: not supposed to live there forever. You're just passing through, 185 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:43,679 Speaker 2: keep growing, keep learning, do more than you have to do. Overproduce. 186 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 2: Cream always rises to the top. 187 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:48,439 Speaker 1: You do your best. 188 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 2: Each day, and you're going to get noticed. That's what 189 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 2: it says in Proverbs twenty two twenty nine. 190 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: Do you see a. 191 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 2: Person skilled in their work, they will stand before great men, 192 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 2: your people. That's saying if you will be diligent to 193 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,319 Speaker 2: develop the gifts that God's given you and be your 194 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 2: best every day, then promotion is coming your way. Well, 195 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 2: you say, my supervisor has ten years seniority on me, 196 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 2: They're not going anywhere. 197 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: There's no room for me to increase. 198 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:22,959 Speaker 2: No, if you outperform them, if you outgrow them, if 199 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 2: you know more than them. God says, your gifts will 200 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 2: make room for you. It may take a year, it 201 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 2: may take five. 202 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,079 Speaker 1: Years, but new doors are going to open. 203 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 2: You don't have to worry about who's in front of 204 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 2: you and who's blocking you and why it's not going 205 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 2: to happen. God is in complete control. Don't get discouraged 206 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 2: and think, well, this isn't for me today. There's no 207 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 2: room for me to increase. No, kick your learning into 208 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 2: a new gear. You're not working under people, you're working 209 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 2: under God. 210 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:50,960 Speaker 1: And you don't know. 211 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 2: God may not want you to have that supervisor's position. 212 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:56,839 Speaker 2: That may be too low for you. God may want 213 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 2: to thrust you far ahead of that and put you 214 00:10:58,600 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 2: at a. 215 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: Whole new level. I know people right. 216 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 2: Now that used to be former receptionists, they used to 217 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 2: answer the phone today that are running multimillion dollar corporations. 218 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: What am I saying? 219 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:18,199 Speaker 2: Develop your skills, don't stop growing, don't stop learning. Well, Joel, 220 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 2: I'm doing as good as my coworkers. 221 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: I'm doing as good as. 222 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 2: Everybody else in my department. No, you're not supposed to 223 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:25,559 Speaker 2: be like everybody else. 224 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: That thinking will limit you. That'll convince you to just 225 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: settle where you are. We're supposed to be a cut above. 226 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: We should be so excellent. 227 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 2: So productive, so filled with wisdom and insight that when 228 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 2: you're not at work, people say, man, I can't wait 229 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 2: till they get back. 230 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: This office is practically falling apart. 231 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 2: Let me tell you a way that you can always 232 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 2: be missed, and that is if you will learn to 233 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 2: be a problem solver. Don't go to your boss or 234 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 2: your supervisor and say, well, we got a problem over here, 235 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 2: and this person is about to quit, and this manager's mad. 236 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 2: This department is in this array. Bob cursed out Larry yesterday. 237 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 2: Bill's never on time, nobody paid the taxes last month. 238 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: What would you like me to do? 239 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 2: No, don't present problems, present solutions. I know as an 240 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 2: employer one of the main things we are looking for 241 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 2: is people that can solve problems. Anybody can present problems. 242 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 2: My nine year old daughter can come tell me, Daddy. 243 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: The house is on fire. That's easy. 244 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 2: But I want somebody that will not only tell me 245 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 2: the house is on fire, but the fire department's on 246 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 2: the way, and we got everybody out safely, and I called. 247 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: The insurance company. They'll be here tomorrow. And here's a 248 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 1: hotel to stay in, here's a car to drive. What's 249 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 1: my point? 250 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 2: If you want to be invaluable to your organization, be 251 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:49,559 Speaker 2: a problem solver, present solutions, or at least several different options. 252 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 2: I have four or five main managers that helped me 253 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 2: here over the last nine years. I cannot remember one 254 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 2: time that they've ever come to me and said, Joel, 255 00:12:58,800 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 2: we've got a problem. 256 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: We don't know what to do. 257 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 2: No, even if they don't know what to do, they're 258 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:05,319 Speaker 2: not gonna tell me they're going to act like they do. 259 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 2: This is an area that we can all improve in. 260 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 2: Become more solution oriented and not problem oriented. Even in 261 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 2: your personal life. Don't go to your spouse and say, 262 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 2: here's a problem. 263 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 1: What are you going to do? 264 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 2: No, if you ever present a problem, follow it up 265 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 2: by presenting a solution. I mean, we've had employees in 266 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 2: the past when they went on vacation, we had a 267 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:29,079 Speaker 2: big celebration. 268 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: Thank god they're gone for a week. We can finally 269 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: quit hearing about what's wrong, what's not. Don't let that 270 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: be you present solutions. Hope they're not here today. 271 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 2: What are you doing to improve so you can go 272 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 2: to the next level. Can you take a course that 273 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 2: would give you an advantage? You got to stay on 274 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 2: the offensive. Well, Joel, I got my degree, I got 275 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 2: my certification, I got my license. Now do you realize 276 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:58,439 Speaker 2: how many degrees are outdated in as little as five years? 277 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 1: The world has changed so fast. 278 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 2: If you don't have this attitude to continue to learn, 279 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 2: to take steps to grow, then you can be left behind. 280 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,959 Speaker 2: Some of you today need to be set free from 281 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 2: destination disease. You've reached a certain level, but you've stopped growing. 282 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 2: You need to break out of that box and learn 283 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 2: something new. Will Rogers said, even if you're on the 284 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 2: right track, if you sit down. 285 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: Eventually you'll get run over. 286 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 2: And if you're not taking steps to grow, don't be 287 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: surprised if somebody comes along and takes a promotion that 288 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 2: belongs to you. Well, bless God, nobody's going to get 289 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 2: my promotion, Joe. Know, if you're not prepared, if you're 290 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 2: not developing what God's put on the inside, you can 291 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 2: miss out on what rightfully. 292 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: Belongs to you. 293 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 2: The good news is it's not too late to start. 294 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 2: You can become everything God's created you to be. Now, 295 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 2: I want to challenge you to develop a personal growth 296 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 2: plan for your life. 297 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: You need a specific plan that shows how you're going 298 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: to grow. Word words. 299 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 2: These are the steps I'm going to take each day 300 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 2: to improve to get better. Not something vague, Well, maybe 301 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 2: I'll read a book ever once in a while. No, 302 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 2: it needs to be a definite plan. It's not going 303 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 2: to happen automatically. You've got to put it into place. 304 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 2: Let me give you some ideas. Driving to work, instead 305 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 2: of listening to the radio, listen to good teaching CDs, 306 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 2: listen to training materials, things that are going to improve 307 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 2: you in your field, things that are going to give 308 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 2: you more knowledge. The average American spends three hundred hours 309 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 2: a year in their car. 310 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: You can turn your car into a university. 311 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 2: That's valuable time. Take advantage of it. Or how bad 312 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 2: at the gym when you're working out, make sure you 313 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 2: have good information going into you have. People tell me 314 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 2: all the time. Listen to you while I run. Listen 315 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 2: to you taking my walk each day, Listen to. 316 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: You while I work out. An elderly lady told me 317 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: the other day, Jeel, I listen to you before I 318 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 1: go to bed at night. 319 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 2: You always put me right to sleep. She meant it 320 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 2: as a compliment, but thanks anyway, mother. These are simple things. 321 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 2: I'm not talking about spending an extra three hours a 322 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 2: day studying. I'm talking about taking advantage of the time 323 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 2: that you're not using right now now. I love the 324 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 2: new technology with these podcasts. 325 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: You can have messages downloaded to your. 326 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 2: iPod to where you can listen to them anytime you want. 327 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 2: This year, we will give away sixty million messages free 328 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 2: of charge. 329 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: All you've got to do is. 330 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 2: Sign up and it'll come to you directly to you 331 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 2: and you can listen to those messages again and again. 332 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: That's a growth plan. 333 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 2: When God sees you putting forth effort, when he sees 334 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 2: you stretching and doing your part to improve, that's when 335 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 2: you're going to see supernatural doors open. That's when you're 336 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 2: going to see favor and promotion like you've never seen 337 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 2: it before, including your plan going to a seminar at 338 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 2: least once a year. They need to get around other 339 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 2: people in your same field, listen to their ideas, expand 340 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 2: your thinking. I'm constantly talking to other ministers, other leaders. 341 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:11,160 Speaker 1: Twice a year. 342 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 2: We have a round table here with a couple hundred pastors. 343 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,959 Speaker 2: All we do is share ideas. Every person gets two 344 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 2: minutes to share the most effective thing that's working in 345 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 2: their ministry. I've learned so much and gotten so many 346 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 2: good ideas. If you're going to continue to grow and 347 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 2: be your best, you need to get around other people 348 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 2: in your field and be open to learn. Another important 349 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: part of any growth plan should be to have good mentors. 350 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 2: Find people that have been where you're trying to go, 351 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 2: people that know more than you, and let them mentor you. 352 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,120 Speaker 2: You need good people speaking into your life when you're 353 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 2: around them, ask questions, pick their brain, find out how 354 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 2: they got to where they are and how they think. 355 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 2: You say, Joel, I don't need a mentor. I'm very successful. 356 00:17:58,640 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 2: I'm doing really well. 357 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: I think about this. 358 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 2: Tiger Woods is probably the greatest golfer that's ever played. 359 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:06,679 Speaker 1: But do you know Tiger Woods has a coach. 360 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 2: He has a trainer, people to help him with his swing, 361 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 2: people to help him with his exercise routine, people to 362 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 2: help him with his mental focus. If Tiger Woods needs 363 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 2: a coach, being as great as he is in his field, 364 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:21,679 Speaker 2: surely we need a coach. We need mentors and people 365 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:25,199 Speaker 2: speaking faith into us. I read about this group of 366 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,199 Speaker 2: sales associates. There were several hundred of them in the 367 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 2: room from the same company. The speaker asked them how 368 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 2: many knew who the top three salespeople in the room were. 369 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 1: Every person raised their hand. 370 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 2: He then asked, how many of you have taken time 371 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 2: to take those people to lunch and find out how 372 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 2: they got to where they are? Not one hand went up. 373 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 2: The point we're making is all around us. God has 374 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 2: put people in our path to gain wisdom, insight, experience, 375 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:56,199 Speaker 2: but we have to be open. Look around you, today 376 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,439 Speaker 2: and see who's in your life that you could be 377 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 2: learning from. And I say this respectfully, but don't waste 378 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:06,360 Speaker 2: your valuable time with people that are not adding anything 379 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:07,120 Speaker 2: to your growth. 380 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: Life is too short to. 381 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 2: Hang around people with little dreams, little goals, people that 382 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 2: are not going anywhere. Let me tell you, destination disease 383 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 2: is extremely contagious. If you hang around them long enough, 384 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:23,360 Speaker 2: it's gonna rub off on you. 385 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 1: And this is especially important for young people. If you're 386 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 1: still in school. 387 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:31,920 Speaker 2: High school, junior high, even college. You need to associate 388 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 2: with people that inspire you, people that build you up, 389 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 2: people that challenge you to go higher, not people that 390 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 2: tear you down and convince you to stay where you are. 391 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 1: Your time is too valuable for that. 392 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 2: You may not be the most popular person in school, 393 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 2: but twenty years from now, nobody remembers who the most 394 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 2: popular one was. And those people that may be getting 395 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 2: all the tension because they're a little wilder because they're 396 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:00,719 Speaker 2: wearing so much bleed, twenty years from now, the BLeague 397 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 2: is not going to matter. What's going to matter is 398 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 2: did you get a good education? Did you get a 399 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:11,439 Speaker 2: good foundation to build your life on. It's funny the 400 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 2: science fair is never the most popular event in school. 401 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 1: Being in the math club is. 402 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 2: Never as popular as being on the football team. My friends, 403 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 2: some of them, they made fun of people that were 404 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,439 Speaker 2: on the debate team when I was growing up, but 405 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 2: it's funny now they work for people that were on 406 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 2: the debate team. 407 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: Make the most of what you have. 408 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 2: High school, junior high those are critical formative years. 409 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,679 Speaker 1: There's so much emphasis on sports these days, and I 410 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 1: love sports. 411 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 2: I've played sports all growing up, and I know they 412 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 2: teach us discipline and perseverance and teamwork, but we need 413 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 2: to keep it all in perspective. Most likely we are 414 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 2: not going to play sports for a living. 415 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 1: I read where. 416 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 2: One in five million young men will play professional basketball. 417 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: I mean to depress you, but. 418 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 2: If you're white, it's one in fifteen million. If you're 419 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 2: my size, it's one in two billion. The average professional 420 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 2: football career is three and a half years. And even 421 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:17,440 Speaker 2: if you do make it, and we have a lot 422 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 2: of professional athletes here today, and that's great, we're all 423 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 2: for you, but you still need a good foundation to 424 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 2: build on. When you take learning and growing seriously, you 425 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 2: get in school and you're serious about your education, people 426 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 2: may call you a bookworm, a geek, a nerd. But 427 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 2: don't let any of that bother you, because in a 428 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:38,919 Speaker 2: few years. 429 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: They'll call you boss, They'll call your CEO. 430 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 2: Doctor, senator, superintendent, pastor. I heard somebody say popularity is 431 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:53,640 Speaker 2: people liking you. Happiness is you liking you. Don't worry 432 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 2: about who doesn't like you. Just make sure that you 433 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 2: like you, that you're being the best that you can be. 434 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:02,360 Speaker 2: It's good to set growth goals. 435 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:04,119 Speaker 1: Where do you want to be in a year. 436 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 2: If you don't set goals, you're probably not going to 437 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 2: end up there. I read about this young man in 438 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:12,679 Speaker 2: high school. He was a star swimmer. His dream was 439 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:15,919 Speaker 2: to compete in the Olympics in nineteen seventy two. He 440 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 2: was watching the Olympics on television and when he saw 441 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 2: the time from the gold medal swimmer, he noticed that 442 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,919 Speaker 2: he only had to lower his time by four seconds 443 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 2: and he would be able to compete. 444 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 1: So he came up with a plan. 445 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 2: He had four years to prepare, and he figured if 446 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:36,359 Speaker 2: he would train ten months a year for four years, 447 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 2: all he had to do was lower his time by 448 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 2: one tenth of a. 449 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 1: Second each month. 450 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:45,879 Speaker 2: He broke it down into small increments, and he knew 451 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:48,679 Speaker 2: if he'd get a little bit better each day, he 452 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 2: could reach his goal. 453 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 1: He stuck with it. 454 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 2: Sure enough, in nineteen seventy six, John Naber came home 455 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 2: with four Olympic gold medals. The point I'm making is 456 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 2: if you will develop a plan and to get a 457 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 2: little bit better each day, you'll be amazed at where 458 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 2: you'll be in a year, five years, twenty years. Right 459 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:11,240 Speaker 2: now that goal may look way way off, but all 460 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 2: it really takes is a little growth, a little of 461 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:16,919 Speaker 2: improvement each day. I have a friend that grew up 462 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 2: in a very poor environment. His father left the family 463 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 2: at an early age, and he was being raised by 464 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 2: a single parent mom in the projects. He was very insecure, 465 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:30,400 Speaker 2: and he had a terrible problem with stuttering. And through 466 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 2: a series of good breaks and really God's favor, he 467 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:35,120 Speaker 2: got accepted into college. 468 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,119 Speaker 1: His dream was to become a journalist. 469 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 2: But the first few days in college, a professor said 470 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:43,639 Speaker 2: to him, you're wasting your time. 471 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 1: You stutter too much. You will never be a journalist. 472 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 2: He was sitting on the front lawn of the college 473 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 2: about to go home, so depressed, and this lady came 474 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 2: along and said, son, what's wrong. He explained what the 475 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 2: teacher had told him and how he was about to 476 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 2: drop out. She looked at him very sternly and said, 477 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 2: how dare he tell you that you're not going to 478 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 2: drop out. 479 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 1: You're coming with me. She was the dean of the college. 480 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 2: She put him in a different class, and she got 481 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 2: rid of that other professor. 482 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 1: This young man. 483 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:18,200 Speaker 2: This young man had never met his roommate. They came 484 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:21,919 Speaker 2: from two totally different backgrounds. His roommate was raised in 485 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,200 Speaker 2: a wealthy environment, from a well to do home. Here 486 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,159 Speaker 2: he came from the projects. But God always knows what 487 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 2: he's doing. When you have a desire to improve, to 488 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 2: get better, God will make sure the right people come 489 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 2: across your path. And that roommate, when he found out 490 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 2: what his friend wanted to become, he said, you'll never 491 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 2: be a journalist with your vocabulary like that. 492 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:45,160 Speaker 1: You need to learn some new words. 493 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 2: He took him under his wing, and every day that 494 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 2: roommate taught him a new word, day after day, month 495 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:53,879 Speaker 2: after month, without fail. 496 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: He'd get the dictionary out. 497 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:57,919 Speaker 2: Taught him a word, taught him how to say it, 498 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 2: taught him how to pronounce it. He would make it friend, 499 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 2: use it back to him in a sentence, four years 500 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 2: every day learning a new word. Today, that young man 501 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 2: is an award winning journalist. He works for the major network. 502 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 2: He continues to excel. 503 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: I see him on the news all the time. But 504 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:20,160 Speaker 1: it all started by learning one new word a day. Well, 505 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:22,680 Speaker 1: what is your plan for personal growth? 506 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 2: Are you doing anything intentionally and strategically to better yourself? 507 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:31,639 Speaker 1: If not, you can start today. Come up with the plan. 508 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 2: It can be something simple like I'm going to get 509 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:38,040 Speaker 2: up every morning and spend the first twenty minutes meditating 510 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:39,119 Speaker 2: on God's word. 511 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 1: Thanking God for what He's done. 512 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 2: I'm going to listen to a teaching CD on the 513 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:45,359 Speaker 2: way to work at night. I'm going to turn the 514 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 2: TV off a little bit earlier and read a book 515 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:49,879 Speaker 2: for twenty minutes. I'm going to hook up with my 516 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 2: mentor twice a month and go out to lunch. I'm 517 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 2: going to be at church every weekend. That's a growth plan. Now, 518 00:25:56,400 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 2: as you take your growth responsibly, God will honor yours. 519 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:03,520 Speaker 2: I believe in the coming days, you're going to see 520 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 2: new opportunities come across your path. You're gonna have opportunities 521 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:10,359 Speaker 2: to stretch, to take on new challenges. 522 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 1: To go to a new level. 523 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 2: But you've got to be prepared. Don't let destination disease 524 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:19,400 Speaker 2: set in. You have seeds of greatness on the inside 525 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 2: just waiting to take root and flourish. Make a decision. 526 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:26,440 Speaker 2: You're going to learn something new every single day. If 527 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 2: you will get in a growth plan for your life 528 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 2: and stick with it and really focus on developing your gifts, 529 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:36,360 Speaker 2: then God promises your gifts will make room for you. 530 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 2: That means he'll do for you what he did for 531 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 2: that young man. He'll bring the right people into your life. 532 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 2: He'll give you the right breaks, he'll give you the 533 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 2: right opportunities. You'll rise higher and higher. 534 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: And I believe and. 535 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 2: Declare you'll see every dream, every desire God's put in 536 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:51,160 Speaker 2: your heart. 537 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: You'll see that come to fulfillment. Amen, do you receive 538 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 1: it today? 539 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 2: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 540 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:00,240 Speaker 2: an opportunity to. 541 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 1: Make Jesus the lord of your life. 542 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:06,359 Speaker 2: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 543 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:11,080 Speaker 2: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 544 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:14,480 Speaker 2: you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 545 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 2: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 546 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,640 Speaker 2: a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's 547 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:22,919 Speaker 2: going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 548 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 4: What if every plan you set, every habit you formed, 549 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 4: and every decision you made became a pathway to see 550 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 4: God move in your life. 551 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 2: We all have hopes and dreams, things we're believing for. 552 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:42,120 Speaker 2: When you start the year in faith expecting God's goodness, 553 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:44,880 Speaker 2: you are setting the tone for a blessed new year. 554 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:47,400 Speaker 2: And we'd love to send you our twenty twenty six 555 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 2: Faith for the Day planner. You can write down your 556 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:53,160 Speaker 2: dreams and galls and plus use it for your everyday 557 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:54,880 Speaker 2: activities and reminders. 558 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 3: It's important to feed your faith on a daily basis. 559 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 3: This planner it's not just a it's filled with scriptures 560 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 3: and inspiration to help you stay encouraged and keep believing 561 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 3: for what God has put in your heart. 562 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:09,919 Speaker 2: Twenty twenty six is your year to see the goodness 563 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 2: of God in greater ways, let go of what didn't 564 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 2: work out, and get ready for the new things God 565 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 2: has in store. 566 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,400 Speaker 4: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 567 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 4: of any amount this month, we would like to send 568 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:24,639 Speaker 4: you a copy of the twenty twenty six Faith for 569 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:29,119 Speaker 4: Today's planner. Each month features a fresh theme of encouragement, 570 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:33,840 Speaker 4: a guiding scripture to stand on, room to write your goals, prayers, 571 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 4: and vision space for faith steps. Because faith isn't passive, 572 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:42,320 Speaker 4: it's active. A monthly QR code linking to a message 573 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 4: or video to keep your spirit lifted. With a twenty 574 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:49,239 Speaker 4: twenty six Faith for Today Planner, you'll be reminded that 575 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 4: living by faith makes room for God to do what 576 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 4: only He can do. 577 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: Break through in your. 578 00:28:55,640 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 4: Business, God's healing touch. Loved ones returning to faith. Request 579 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 4: your copy of the planner and step into the new 580 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 4: year with fold faith, fresh hope, and daily encouragement. To 581 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 4: strengthen your spirit and face every challenge with confidence. 582 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 2: No matter what's happening around you, Faith can rise up 583 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:15,880 Speaker 2: in you. 584 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: Keep believing and expecting a. 585 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 2: Blessed twenty twenty six Victoria and I pray for you 586 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 2: and your family every day. Thank you so much for 587 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 2: your prayer and support. Your generosity is helping people around 588 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 2: the world. As we finish this year, I hope you'll 589 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 2: consider making a special year in gift to help keep 590 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 2: the ministry strong. We so appreciate all the Champion of 591 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 2: Hope partners. 592 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:41,959 Speaker 1: For your monthly support. We wish you and your family 593 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 1: a very merry Christmas. Until we see you next time. 594 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 1: May the Lord bless you and keep you. 595 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 4: Be sure to request your copy of the twenty twenty 596 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 4: six Faith for Today Planner. Visit Joelostein dot com or 597 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 4: call eight eight eight five six seven Joel for a 598 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 4: special year end gift. This mon we are also offering 599 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 4: the Faith to Share. 600 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 1: Bundle, Keep One, Give One. 601 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:09,240 Speaker 4: Give the gift of faith, focus and fresh hope for 602 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 4: someone special in your life. You can also request the 603 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 4: God's Word Work Study Collection. This empowering collection includes the NIV, 604 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:23,400 Speaker 4: the Message, Parallel Bible, a beautifully crafted leather bookmark and pen, 605 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 4: and how to read your Bible and enjoy it, along 606 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 4: with two planners. You can request these inspiring resources by 607 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:34,479 Speaker 4: calling eight eight eight five six seven Joel or logging 608 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:38,760 Speaker 4: on to Joelostein dot com today call or click anytime 609 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 4: twenty four hours a day, stay organized, encouraged, and full 610 00:30:43,360 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 4: of faith all year long. Request these resources today