Performance Thermostat

My warm-up and cooldown splits this past week are faster than many of my previous runs--still plenty of room for improvement. I recognized that my performance thermostat became stuck on "complacent plodder" instead of "competitive runner."

Have you recently checked and/or adjusted the setting of your performance thermostat?

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!

Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickEmeyer.com

P.S. I originally discussed "Performance Thermostat" in a Toastmasters speech in or about 2000 AD in Hastings, NE.

Speak Truth--Trust God

Spring 2012 Christian Journalism assignment 
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas, Texas

Rick E. Meyer

Running On Faith Ministry Inc.

See, Believe, Achieve Inc.

rick@rickEmeyer.com ~ www.rickEmeyer.com

Speak Truth: Trust God
 

Parents and friends influence our views and beliefs. This includes our belief in truth. My dad epitomized truth. Some growing up with him considered truthfulness his biggest weakness. I witnessed an example of Dad’s honesty at our April 1983 farm sale. He unsuccessfully attempted to camouflage the devastation of losing the family farm.

Dad stayed near the auctioneer, answering questions concerning any of the equipment as it sold. At least once his answer probably hindered the selling price. Sadly, my sixteen year-old adolescent mind momentarily questioned his truthfulness. Yet, truth always prevails. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (truth), and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33, NKJV).

 

Unfortunately, some seek first the kingdom of self, believing secular success supersedes truth. A Past Toastmasters World champion offered stunning advice, “Exaggerations enhance the probability of winning the ‘World Championship of Public Speaking.’ Tonight’s winner excelled using exaggerations and ‘stretching the truth’ for humor, two necessary components of competing for the World Championship of Public Speaking.”

 
My laughter switched to disappointment upon realizing he, a veterinarian, lacked any desire for humor in evaluating the Region Toastmasters contest. As a Christian, I seek truth in everything, including humor. I ponder; does wisdom value “championships” more than integrity? How can one serve the God of truth, while honoring the “father of lies” (John 8:44)?
 

As expected, those seeking first the kingdom of self, change their approval of exaggerations when lies affect their wallet. For example, during speaking engagements I ask, “Who approves of exaggerating?” Upon request, an exaggerating approving volunteer hands his twenty-dollar bill to me in exchange for fifteen. I inquire if my exaggerating the fifteen to twenty dollars maintains equality in our transaction. His disapproving facial expression description exceeds 1,000 words.

How does a speaker’s message and a cash illustration correlate? The truthfulness of a communicator’s message affects and reflects truthfulness in the marketplace. Would you laugh if the aforementioned veterinarian exaggerated serum dosage in treating your family dog? Would you approve of him ‘stretching the truth’ on your invoice? A speaker’s approval affects his or her income. A deceitful communicator deceives for personal gain.

 

Imagine an organization’s hypocrisy when giving lip service to honesty, yet hiring speakers who exaggerate for their meetings.  

 

Thirteen months and three weeks after the Region Toastmasters contest, I returned to my agronomy sales office on a beautiful August afternoon. My boss, Frank, invited me to step into his office for a visit. We enjoyed a cordial relationship.

This time Frank avoided small talk: “Rick, you are too honest for this position! We are seeking your resignation. If you submit your resignation letter within two hours, Ron will provide two weeks of severance pay.”

As a child, my parents and teachers disciplined me for dishonesty. I cleaned my office and desk while pondering past professional encounters in this position.

Two months earlier, a co-worker and church councilman declared, “Rick, we throw honesty and integrity out the window this time of year.”

I inquired, “Considering Jesus is the Truth, explain the benefits of throwing Jesus out the window.”

 

Two sales managers, Mark, a church councilman, and Al, separately challenged, “Rick, either ignore biblical principles such as honesty and treating the small clients with the same respect as the big clients, or fail in this position. Success in this position requires mixing truth with exaggerations, or ‘stretching the truth’.”

 

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” How do we exaggerate or stretch Jesus? Have we killed Jesus’ presence in the marketplace?

 

Does our communication synchronize with God’s Spirit of Truth? Does God approve of falsities? The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful (Proverbs 12:22). A Christian receives the Holy Spirit sent by the Lord Jesus Christ, from the Father. God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit exist in singular persons, yet as one triune God.

 

Consequently, those who submit their lives to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit delight in pure truth (John 4:23).

 

When we delight in exaggerating, ‘stretching the truth’ or any description of lying, we reject God and serve Satan—the father of lies. Speaking truth allows God’s communication through us; He collaborates in our true communication, lest God join our deceit which opposes His character.

 

The most common justification for lying stems from viewing truth as inadequate. Considering Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…,” does professional communication assume an inadequate or lying Jesus? Denying pure truth declares our message contains greater richness with exaggerations, falsities and ‘stretching the truth’, than with Jesus—the Truth.

 

As an undergraduate in Biology Lab, I dissected frogs. Everything from the frog’s body consisted of frog. Every examined cell, if tested, contained frog DNA. A true frog indicates all frog. A true message indicates “all true.” Satan, the father of lies, thrives on mixing truth and lies encouraging justification based on partial truth.

Dr. Martin Luther illustrates the dangers of questioning the validity of God’s word by equating the dialogue between the serpent and Eve in the Garden of Eden. “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1). Martin Luther suggests Eve should have turned and departed from the serpent upon his questioning God’s word. Questioning truth’s necessity, questions God’s word.

 

Twenty-three years and six months after the farm sale, November 2006, Dad received a lung cancer diagnosis. A day and a half later, Dad sat in the hospital chair waiting for the nurse to bring breakfast. Hydrocephalus complicated communication with him. He requested, “We need to pray for God’s blessing on everyone we know.” Later in the morning he looked into my eyes, “Always trust God. Remember that son. Trust God always.”

“I will Dad, I will.” Dad died three weeks later.

 
Our eternal life depends on pure truth. Why should we exaggerate for earthly gain? Dad chose truth over financial gain, because he trusted God’s goodness.
 

Trusting God and loving people enables speaking truth.

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Second Hand Negative

(Originally presented as a speech by Rick E. Meyer in Toastmasters in 2000 or 2001)

Have you received a multitude of warnings regarding the dangers of second-hand smoke? Some suggest our lungs fill with tar from second-hand smoke, as do the lungs of smokers. A plethora of studies, documents and discussions exist regarding the effects of second-hand smoke. I lack any desire or intention of picking-on those who smoke.  

When you or I associate with smokers, especially if we gather in a smoke-filled room, smoke saturates our clothes. The smoke-filled environment causes our eyes to redden, and the deepening and raspy sound of our vocal tonality. Enough exposure to smoke eventually causes our sense of smell to adapt, leading to eventually accepting the aroma of smoke as normal.

Those with whom we encounter after leaving the smoke-filled environment instantly sense the environmental effects of second-hand smoke. They instantly know we had been in a smoke-filled environment, they smell the smoke on our clothes, the see the redness in our eyes, and hear the deep, raspy tonality of our voice.

Even if we become accustomed to the smell, no longer noticing the effect on our clothes, eyes and voice, others still notice. It is nearly impossible to avoid the powerfully obvious effects of second-hand smoke.

The mention of second-hand smoke serves only illustrative purposes in this discussion. I believe another second-hand contaminate contains exponentially greater damaging effects than smoke—Second-hand Negative.

When we associate with negative people or gather in a room filled gossip and complaining, the negative begins infiltrating our attitude. Just like smoke, even if we become calloused to the effects, no longer sensing negative, the effects remain. As others detect our presence around smoke, they too detect our presence around negative.

What are the effects of second-hand negative? Our attitude diminishes, our eyes and smiles lose their optimistic sparkle. Our voice shifts from a cheerful tone to one of despair. The brief illustration of a negative person speaking—when presenting in a keynote or seminar—causes loss of optimism, and energy. The tar of negativity ruins our creativity, imagination, vision, encouragement, and optimism.

Those with whom we encounter instantly detect our previous association with second-hand negative. They hear negative tonality in our voice, see despair—at minimum they sense a lack of optimism—in our eyes and face. We lose our attractiveness—negative causes us to become unattractive. It is nearly impossible to avoid the powerfully obvious effects of second-hand negative.

The effects second-hand negative hinder our physical and emotional health in real ways. Negative emotions significantly impact the secretion of neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters affect:

1. Appetite
2. Cardiovascular System
3. Control of Muscles
4. Immune System
5. Injury Recovery
6. Motivation

Moreover, stress from anxiety or depression causes the excessive release of cortisol, which can potentially destroy our immune system over time.

To avoid second-hand smoke saturating my clothes, causing them to stink, along with my eyes reddening and my voice becoming raspy, I now remain outside of smoky environments. If I open the door to a smoke filled room, I immediately shut it and go elsewhere.

When you and I recognize the detrimental effects of second-hand negative—literally and figuratively—we will close every door leading to rooms filled with negativity. You and I will immediately go elsewhere.

Shut the door to negative associations!

Regain, restore, replenish the attractive sparkle in your eyes, smile and voice. Strengthen your creativity, imagination, vision, encouragement, and optimism. Strengthen your physical and emotional health.

Avoid second-hand negative!

Rick E. Meyer

See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com

Since the original presentation of this topic, an excellent book published explaining the effects of negativity. I highly recommend: Mathias, Art Ph.D. In His Own Image. Anchorage, AK: Wellspring Publishing, 2003.