Know Yourself

Life is all about relationships. For the most part, I believe people are conscious of how important relationship to people is to their quality of life but how about the relationship they have with themselves? How good a friend are you to yourself? How well do you treat you? I believe many, if not most, people live unconscious of even having an active relationship with themselves. On the surface it might sound a little funny but the truth is the kind relationship you have with you will determine the kind of relationship you will know with others.

I embrace a faith in the God who said, "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And, love your neighbor as you love yourself." Two things are vital to me in this direction for life. To begin with, I am not God. It is just as important to know yourself for what you aren't as for what you are. I know I am not God. I believe their is one God who is holy and who is love. I believe in the explanation Jesus represented in that regard. As a result, I do not believe life begins with me. I believe it begins with Him.

Secondly, I believe I have to love myself before I can ever really love others. I begin with a love for God and then I move to others, through the the love He directs me to have for myself. And, that brings me to the kind of relationship I have with me. The way I treat myself is a direct reflection upon my recognition and love of God and it is the defining reality as to my respect and love for others. I believe the same is true for you.

So, spend some time thinking about it this week. I hope you have already taken time to listen to my podcast. It is entitled, Take Care of Yourself. Begin with your opinion of you. You will have to face the reality of your opinion of God. Then, you will be ready to build healthier relationship with others. It is a great time to begin again. Think Easter! Do well, my friends!

Take Care of Yourself

Welcome to Tappe Talk, a Purposed Connection podcast by The Tappe Group. This week Allen's focus is upon "relational" examination. This week he challenges you to examine yourself relationally.

1. How objective are you about you?
2. How do you define you?
3. How committed are you to you?
4. How aware of you, are you?

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Stay Ahead of the Game

There is something about staying on top of things that just makes life easier. Somehow, life seems to just look better when you are not playing from behind. It seems to me, however, it is more natural to be playing catch up. For some, procrastination is a lifestyle. Putting things off is a way of life. For others, it just seems to happen. I believe there are reasons why for staying ahead of the game you need to keep in mind. I know I do.

To begin with, you never know when life is going to happen to you. I mean there is a difference between making excuses and having to manage life conditions. When you are behind and life brings its challenges it compounds everything. If, however, you have things thought through and preparation has been made challenges don't look so big.

It is also possible that new opportunity might be waiting for you. If you are behind, it can complicate taking advantage of those opportunities. When you need clarity and freedom you don't need to be dealing with confusion and bondage.

Take some time and think ahead a few weeks. I am not talking about losing sight of living today. I am just suggesting that taking a good look at tomorrow might allow you to get some things done today that will make tomorrow easier. Keeping things less frantic by providing a little wider margin for yourself makes sense. Choose to stay ahead of the game. Do well, my friends.

Welcome to Tappe Talk, a Purposed Connection podcast by The Tappe Group.To have this weekly podcast automatically upload to your mp3 player visit the iTunes Store and Power Search "Tappe talk" and then subscribeTo comment on this blog, click on the COMMENTS link located directly below. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Managing Failure

Welcome to Tappe Talk, a Purposed Connection podcast by The Tappe Group.

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To have this weekly podcast automatically upload to your mp3 player visit the iTunes Store and Power Search "Tappe talk" and then subscribe.

To comment on this blog, click on the COMMENTS link located directly below. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Acceptance

Acceptance is an interesting word. It actually represents the presence of a vulnerable condition. Acceptance means you are moving forward with reason outside of yourself. For instance to say, "I accept that to be true," doesn't necessarily mean it is true. It just means you have made the choice to accept it as truth for yourself because of something you have been told or read. Many things we accept as truth simply deserve more investigation.

For instance, just because a person wants to engage your services doesn't necessarily make that person a good customer. They might, in fact, be someone you need to avoid. I have a friend who was held responsible for what his customer did through the services he provided. He really did not know the person. He just accepted him as the customer he represented himself to be. He later discovered the man to be a criminal. I have found many people who have customers that have become their worst nightmares.

Many have belief systems that are built upon things accepted as truth. They have usually come from some relationship of authority. It could parents. It could be from well meaning friends. It could be from some charlatan. The reality is we are responsible for the things we choose to believe. There are no "grandchildren" of God.

Acceptance needs to be grounded in reason that is both personal and trustworthy. Rather than making a person cynical, acceptance well established creates greater confidence and conviction. Relationships deepen and faith grows. An insufficient foundation will always create a faulty structure.

Choose to believe what you believe because of what you have discovered to be true. Be careful about becoming satisfied in your discovery. Truth is never something to be owned or possessed. It is something to grow in and share. Do well, my friends.

Choose Carefully

Welcome to Tappe Talk, a Purposed Connection podcast by The Tappe Group. The purpose of this podcast is to challenge you to take greater responsibility for what you choose to accept.

1. Take Responsibility for Things You Believe...
2. Think for Yourself...
3. Keep Learning...
4. Stay Humble...

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To have this weekly podcast automatically upload to your mp3 player visit the iTunes Store and Power Search "Tappe talk" and then subscribe.

To comment on this blog, click on the COMMENTS link located directly below. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Be Extravagant!

Recently, I have experienced the receiving side of extravagance. It has been something I have received throughout my life but this time I have experienced it through my granddaughter. She is headed to Kenya this summer to work with orphans who are hearing impaired. She has achieved a level of mastery in signing and so she believes she is on a mission she was born to experience. The only problem is money. It is going to be an expensive summer for someone who is still a college student. And, that is where this story of extravagance begins.

She sent letters out to about seventy-five families asking them to consider supporting her on this mission. She really asked for their partnership in prayer but she clearly noted she needed their help in getting to Kenya and back. Most of the people are people who have known her since she was born. Many are clients of mine who have become friends and who have heard about Savannah through me. Almost immediately, the support began to arrive. It is hard to explain what it has meant to her to receive such extravagant expressions of love and support. It has changed her life.

Today, I got to spend the entire day with my grandson. It doesn't happen often. At fifteen, he has a lot going on and, for most of it, a grandfather would not fit. Today was different. I had the opportunity to enjoy taking him into my world some. I was also able to gift him, not only with my time, but with things he never expected. There clearly was expense involved. Most people would call it extravagant and they would be right. The impact on my grandson and the impact upon me really can't be put into word. I loved it.

My message is this, be extravagant to someone. Do something they could not possibly expect. Make it special. It will change their lives and it will transform you. Think about it. You have a God who has been extravagant upon you. Think about the ways He provides. Think about His love, His forgiveness, and His companionship. I hope you are experiencing His extravagance. Believe me, it is there for you. He is there for you. Do well, my friends.