Do We Know How To Communicate?

I hope and pray that you are having an amazing beginning to a New Year. As you can see, I am really trying to be consistent to blogging this year. Pray that this will last. I wanted to discuss something that I thought was very interesting. I was reading a recent Readers Digest where an article caught my attention. The article was entitled "The Science of Awkward Moments". It is centered around the thought that the key to handling interactions with grace is anticipating the other person's point of view. One part of the article dealt with How to Frame CRITICISM. This segment starts with the basic premise that no one likes to be told that they have done something wrong. Even "constructive criticism" is met with defensiveness. Psychologist Susan Heitler recommends the best way to offer feedback is to "skip complaining and go straight to the explaining." Choose encouraging statements over stern commands. How we talk to each other is a clear sign of our maturity. Children explode and rant when things do not go their way or things happen they do not like or approve of. I have seen and experienced the harmful effects of mismanaging our tongues in regards to how we relate and communicate to others. Criticism makes or breaks all kinds of relationships. In any relationship, its crucial to criticize without demeaning or humiliating the other person. Grandma would say "you can kill more flies with honey than vinegar." I hope that this year we all practice better ways to communicate with each other. Remember, scripture says "The Power of Life and Death are in the TONGUE...." PG

Happy New Year 2014

Happy New Year!!!! I am excited as we have turned the page again on another year. Last year was truly the year of "Taking The Limits Off"!!.This is the year we are declaring at Tabernacle Baptist Church the "Year of EMPOWERING DISCIPLES". It is my prayer as a church that we will focus on three main areas: Discipleship, Hospitality, and Volunteerism. In other words, I want us to "Learn, Love and Live like Jesus". I am excited and energized as we embark upon this new level of being a Church that makes an I.M.P.A.C.T. Lets do it REAL BIG for Jesus this year. Let's give God MORE in 2014.