Positive reporting.

Recently I was reading the Annual Report from the Church Denomination (Africa Evangelical Church) that we had worked under whilst in Transkei and South Africa last century and very early this one, and came across the following recommendations:

“Look for positive things that will encourage people to pray for you. Sell your Christian life in style as AEC member. Do not be wishy-washy and hanky-panky! Negative reporting turns people away. Share what is worth sharing and keep those things that might be sensitive and handle them with skill.” (Taken From AEC 2007 Annual Report.)

Just temporarily removing the Christian content (and the African Grammar,) for a moment, I thought that it was very good advice for all of us, irregardless of our spiritual involvement, or lack thereof!

· I believe it will do no one any harm if we always look for good and positive things to focus our thoughts on, instead of worrying about all the negative things.

· I also believe that none of us should ever sell ourselves short as valuable members of the Human race, with something genuinely important to give to the world at large. Therefore we should not be unwarrantedly ashamed of ourselves or our place in society

· I also believe many valuable opportunities are lost to the world because we are so wishy-washy that we can’t make up our minds whether to do something or not. We may have the world’s greatest invention in our minds, but it will help no one if we do nothing with it.

· However sometimes we do get involved with Hanky-panky of some kind or another and distracted form our original and beneficial gaols and end up hurting people rather than helping anyone.

· Whilst there is great danger in always looking through Rose Coloured Glasses, there is the other danger of only ever seeing danger and missing the opportunities also available.

· When it comes to sharing, it seems all we ever want to share is the rubbish and the unhelpful, but not the beneficial and helpful. Let us all be more selective in what we share and why.

· Whilst we should always speak the truth, we should do it in love and not in a hurtful or spiteful way. And sometimes we should only share the truth when asked or not at all.

· Sometimes it will have to be said whether you want to or not, and those are the times where you will need skill, tack, patience, and even a thick skin yourself, because often the truth is so painful that people refuse to see it and not only reject it, but you too. But if we truly love or care for them than that should not stop us trying to help.

So what about you this year? Are you going to be as positive as you can? Or do I hear a negative response there?

Mt Cook. One Time Too Many.

An experienced Mountain Guide (Anton Woperies) died in a fall on Mt Cook in New Zealand on New Year’s Day. Anton was not new at his job. He had climbed the 3754 Metre Mountain some 28 times successfully before. Just not this time. The paper did not say how or why he fell only that he did and paid the ultimate price for it.

I am attracted to incidences where experienced and expert people have accidents doing things that they have previously done successfully many times before.

This shows me that when ever we do something even slightly risky, no matter how many times we have done it before, we should never become complacent or take short cuts where not necessary. This blog is no reflection on Anton who may well have done every thing right and still had an unseen accident.

However I think it is a good reminder for all of us as we face the New Year not to be complacent about what we are doing, no matter how many times we have done it before. It doesn’t even matter if it is not even seen as normally dangerous, we should always be on the alert for unforseen accidents or situations.

What about you this New Year? No matter how many times you have carried out your occupation before, will you give it it’s due concern, care and concentration required, and not take anything recklessly lightly.

Again this one is truly up to you and you alone. Have a great and safe year: Walter

Everyone was apologetic; but all suffered too!

Two separate but related stories today. Last Sunday, as we do every Sunday, we headed off to the Hall where we hold our Church services to help set up. The other family (Who do most of it anyway) were already there and were already in the process when we arrived.

As I was (incorrectly it turned out) predicting a low turnout that day, I remarked on the number of Chairs already out. Only to be told that they were not putting them out but putting them (and about 20 long folding tables) away. At the same time they were muttering under their breaths (or was that me?) about other people using the Hall and not packing up after themselves. As well as the 20 or so tables, they had every chair on the premises out, something like 200, whereas we never have out more than 40 or 50.

So there we are a small group going off to the hall expecting all to be as it should be and finding it not so and having to put most of it away before we could set up for our own purposes! I think it fair to say that we were not particularly pleased with this situation.

Next story. Three mornings later I receive a phone call and a voice says, “Walter? This is Perter Sellers. You don’t know me.” Which was true enough, as I didn’t, nor had any idea how he had my number and name until he explained.

It turns out it was his party who had put out the Tables on the previous Saturday. Not for that night but for the following Monday (New Year’s Eve).

Apparently he had been told that no one was using the hall in the meantime and so set it up on Saturday and rocked up on Monday Morning to just throw some table cloths on in readiness for final setting up for Monday night, only to find it all put away again. They also did some muttering to I am told!

At first they were mystified as to what had happened, but eventually found one of my Business cards and a flyer advertising our Church there, and put two and two together and thus he rung up to apologise.

He was very apologetic, and so were we, when we found out the true situation. Had we known in advance we could have made some changes ourselves to accommodate them, but as we didn’t, we all wasted time; either in having to set up twice (for them) or having to put away someone else’s chairs (for us). All because they had received false information in the first place! What about you when you give out information?

Do you take the trouble to check all the facts or do you take short cuts or rely on memory. In our case we have had the hall booked for every Sunday Morn for the previous 15 months and already booked for the next 12. Yet someone still didn’t notice or recognise our Booking. Yet had they done so, no one would have had to feel apologetic and a whole lot of time and energy (In their case 3 hours, each time) would not have been wasted.

So please when you give out any and all information, please do your utmost to see that you are up to date with all the facts so that others do not suffer because of YOU.

Why Didn’t We Check It Out Earlier?

In previous Blogs I have mentioned that we went to a Chinese Restaurant in our local Shopping Centre. As also previously mentioned I had long wanted to go there but had been put off by the word of one person, who said the place was too expensive, snobbish and busy. Well maybe it was a couple of years ago but not so now apparently as we found out for our selves and have since heard from others who have also been there but said nothing until jitney heard that we were going/ or had been there.

As we were heading towards its doorway our girls ran into someone from their church coming out and he heartedly recommended it. As had the Girl’s cousin the night before when she heard that we were going there. She and her Husband both like it as it as the food is good, not expensive and lots of Chinese people eat there, which is always a good sign that it is both good and authentic Chinese food. On top of that, they like it because it is also baby friendly too! (Although that last bit means nothing to me now!)

So when we finally went, we too found that it was not expensive, or snobbish as we had been led to believe; and we only wondered why it had taken us so long to check it out for ourselves.

What about you? Are you prepared to check some things out for your self?

I’m not talking about all things here. There are definitely some things that we should take the word of others for, no matter how small a minority they may be!

However for many other things, where a personal judgement rather than a moral one is being made, it might pay to check it out for yourself.

We deprived ourselves of the benefits of this place on the word of one or two people who were either incorrect or their information was well out of date. I am definitely not saying that you have to check everything out for yourself every time, but there are some things of a subjective nature that it might pay you to check out a little more thoroughly before you decide one way or the other. What say you?

A tale of Two Restaurants.

In recent Blogs I have mentioned two Restaurants that we have been to recently for Birthdays.

For my wife’s Birthday we went to a Mongolian restaurant nearby that has a good reputation.

Though we had heard of this place before, we had never experienced their cuisine before, so we all stepped out of our usual tastes and had Mongolian Barbeque that night. And all enjoyed it thoroughly. Although I think my son aptly summed up everyone else’s, till then unspoken thoughts, with, “Well, that was very nice, but I don’t think I will be rushing back here in a hurry.”

Since that time we have spoken to quite a few people who have also been there and they have all said very much the same as our son said. “It was good, but ….” It was also a little more expensive than some other places although not exorbitant by any means.

Then 8 days later we went to a Chinese Restaurant in our local Shopping centre. It has been there for a couple of years or so now and I have often wanted to go and check it out but was originally told it was expensive and snobbish so never did. However, this time we went and enjoyed it immensely and found that it was not expensive at all and in fact even cheaper than the Mongolian Restaurant.

As for being snobbish? Well that was a myth too, as we found out from a niece and her husband who occasionally go there. They like it too and they also like that it is baby friendly too! We like it too although we are long past The “Baby stage” now. Others also later heartily recommended it as being good.

What I found interesting in comparing the comments by others and ourselves about the two restaurants, is that while we all liked both places and would heartedly recommend both to anyone, all of us would only give immediate return business to one but not the other.

Both were good and commendable, but only one won voluntary commendation.

What about you? Are you basically good and acceptable but not getting repeat business? Maybe it is not really you; just that the market for what you are selling is too small for the supply out there. If there is enough demand for your services then you will stay in business. If there is not enough demand for your offerings, than you will either go broke or have to try something different next time around.

As the New Year is still new, maybe now is a good time to reassess how you are currently doing things and are they still in demand? Maybe you should continue on with what you are doing or maybe you should change your direction and methods. The real question is not which to choose, but that you are aware of the situation and not just ’Blundering and Blustering” along as in the past? Instead, do you actually know your true attractions and distractions and directions?

So in closing which Restaurant are you? “Good, but …” Or, “Highly recommended!” Over to you for now. Walter

How Do You Choose?

I have told you about my wife’s recent Birthday. Well anything she can do, so can I! So 8 days after she had hers, I had mine. Now anyone who has a birthday close to Christmas will tell you that it is no fun when you are little and gets no better when you are older.

We normally go out as a family for Birthdays but this year mine was on a Friday and so the two younger ones had normal plans for that night which couldn’t be gotten out of. So at first it looked like I would miss out on my birthday meal out, this year. Then Both Girls realised that as it was both their places of employment break-ups the day before, each was free for the whole day and so each independent of the other, offered to take me out.

In the past we had occasionally gone with the youngest to the Pancake Parlour for a late breakfast, and as she felt like Pancakes, she offered to take me there for breakfast, and of course I could not bear to disappoint her could I? Likewise when the older one later offered to take me out for lunch I couldn’t refuse her either, could I? So instead of Missing out altogether, I had both breakfast and lunch with my wife and two Girls.

Now when our son heard that we were going out for lunch for Chinese at Eastland he wasn’t too fussed as he thought we were going to the food Court like we sometimes do. However as it was my birthday I had other plans. A couple of years or so ago a “proper” Chinese restaurant opened there on the top floor. (Ironically right behind the Pancake Parlour!)

I had always wanted to go and check it out but was originally told it was expensive and snobbish so never did. However, this time I thought we should at least try it now for my birthday, even if it is expensive! Besides even if I am the only one who thinks this, “I’m worth it!” Especially when someone else is Paying, hey!!!!!!

Now when our son heard that we were going there he was most upset as he too has always wanted to go there but hadn’t. Like his nighttime engagement he couldn’t get out of his daytime one either and so couldn’t join us. When asked why he was unhappy now and not before, He replied along the lines of, “when I thought you were going to a “Crappy” Place like normal it didn’t matter. But now I know that you are going to a good place I want to come too!”

However He couldn’t come and so missed out, but I was left wondering how often we make decisions based on where the event is being held, rather than going to the event itself.

In my son’s case it didn’t really matter where we went, he was never going to be able to come, but again what motivates us when we consider accepting or rejecting an offer from “Friends” or Family?

Do we really go because we want to be with them? Or is our decision largely based on whether the place is interesting or not? Again, what motivates you most? The people or the Place? Something for you to ponder on.

Mongolian Bar B Q.

Between the 5 in our immediate family, we have a range of tastes in eating, when out. However most of us are happy with Chinese food and so when we go out for birthdays, or other special occasions, we usually settle for Chinese as it suits all of us. However even then some things are usually predictable.

We usually order a few dishes and share them between us all. However when it comes to my choice, the question usually goes something like this: “ And what do you want dad? Your usual sweet and sour pork?” More embarrassingly, usually I do.

Anyhow for my wife’s last birthday it was decided that as we live very close to a Mongolian restaurant that we should try it for a change. So we did. When we all arrived we looked at their menu and then decided to reject the other things on offer (Including S&S Pork) and go for their speciality, the Mongolian Barbeque.

This is where you go up to a cabinet and pick your choice of three different types of meat sliced very thinly (Beef, Lamb or Chicken; or like most, choose a bit of each!) Then you choose from a range of raw salad vegetables, all placed in the same large round bowl. Then you go to another table where there are about 16 or so large glass salad bowls filled with various liquids. Here you choose one of 4 receipts to make your own dressing (Mild, sweet, Hot and something else.) So you make your own dressing by following the receipt and putting in so many measures of whatever ingredient you are told to. Then, when your bowl is almost overflowing with this liquid and your food, you go up to a window on an enclosed Glass walled “Kitchen”.

All it contains is a round hot plate about the size of a largish round dining table and the Chef has two bamboo chop stick like instruments, a little over a metre long and he throws your food (literally) on this hot plate, whacks it a few times with his sticks, swirls it around a few times and then 30 seconds later, he uses his sticks to sweep your food off this flat hot plate, back into another clean bowl, then he does a couple of flamboyant swirls of the bowl in the air and hands it back to you through another window and moves back to the next in line.

So we all stepped out of our usual tastes and had Mongolian Barbeque that night. And all enjoyed it thoroughly. What about you? Are you willing to step outside of your normal and safe known routine and try the unknown, occasionally? If you go to a place, are you prepared to try the speciality of the place or do you always play it safe and go with the known and normal? Even if it is a while if ever any of us voluntarily go back to a Mongolian Restaurant, but if we ever find ourselves at one, we would have no reservations about recommending it to others as worth the experience.

What about you as we face this New Year? Are you going to stick with the familiar and predictable, or are you going to reach out even just a little, and try something new and different? I am not recommending new and dangerous, just new and different. You never know, you just may like it!

Anyway, have a great year! That’s an ORDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!