en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/397135 Comments by deanaohara http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/09/so-you-want-to-be-a-professional-speaker.html#IDComment36495551 Jason I am both a speaker and a comic as well. I started out serving in my small church and now I travel through out the state. I agree Michael and thank you for sharing this. I was at the Summit this past Spring, and the value is worth far more than they charge. It was even worth the airfare, car rental, and hotel. (I live in Oklahoma) I'm new on the professional end of speaking, but not new as a speaker. I almost talked myself out of going because I thought I was too new. My attendance at the Summit was in obedience to God and he has blessed that beyond measure. I could not soak the information up fast enough, and I am using most of that today as I go out and speak more and more. This was much needed rocket fuel and the dividends have been amazing. Dynamic Communicators Workshop is my next stop in October and I know it will be worth far more than what we are paying. Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:37:33 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/09/so-you-want-to-be-a-professional-speaker.html#IDComment36495551 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/08/caption-please-43/#IDComment30684179 Oh Dear Lord! Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:39:10 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/08/caption-please-43/#IDComment30684179 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/08/the-great-hot-assistant-debate/#IDComment29747280 That goes both ways though - sometimes it is the worship leader who doesn't know how to maintain Christlike relationships. We can't place all the blame on the women. Thu, 6 Aug 2009 18:14:56 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/08/the-great-hot-assistant-debate/#IDComment29747280 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/08/the-great-hot-assistant-debate/#IDComment29746476 Great thoughts - I've walked that path - we all start niave and hopeful - at least a lot of us do. I did anyway, and it does not matter whether the office is ministry based or secular based - the bada bing factor can hit all of us when we least expect it. The trick too is I learned I'm more likely to call a boundry in secular than I am in ministry - I had to stop being so niave in that regard. Men are men - collar or no collar. And so are women. Churches could learn a lot from the corporate world, and vice versa, I'm sure. Anyway I liked your post - wanted to tell you that you aren't alone. Thu, 6 Aug 2009 18:05:23 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/08/the-great-hot-assistant-debate/#IDComment29746476 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/08/the-great-hot-assistant-debate/#IDComment29724469 There are some really awesome posts here. Great topic. One I wish I'd known about 8 years ago. Christ is key - so is maturity, honesty and strong boundaries. I will add this is a two way street - women are just as easily tempted. I view myself as pic #2, my hubby disagrees. Love that man. I have stronger boundaries and rules today for male/female friendships and work relationships. Hot or not. They have to be happily married, mates have to be included in the relationship, we are never alone, and my deal breakers are trip all over yourself to talk to me when no one is looking and ignore me in front of your wife - it is hasta la vista baby. I can't lay this as a blame game in that only men are tempted - women are too, it's foolishness to believe otherwise. Way to be brave Carlos - thanks for the post. Thu, 6 Aug 2009 13:40:55 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/08/the-great-hot-assistant-debate/#IDComment29724469 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/08/my-sunday-notes/#IDComment29308386 We had a guest speaker Sunday - Tony McMullen (freeinchristministries). Tony is an x-con (drug dealer/murderer) and has an amazing testimony on the forgiveness of Christ as well as owning our choices - ie.. don't let other people make your choices for you. Satan never shows you the consequences. Very powerful message. Our youngest is walking a line of rebellion that has me in tears some days - Tony struck a chord in him - and our other youth - that was really good. Brought home the core lie that "God left something out in me, I'll never be_____." ____It was interesting watching my "tough / too cool" teen interact with Tony - he was intimidated. I have not seen him act submissive around a man in long time. His mode today is more of a "bring it!" than anything else. (He grew 6 inches last year and it now taller than us.) My trick - let God work and not try to hammer home the points past the edge of deafness. God has him... I need to trust that. Mon, 3 Aug 2009 14:30:00 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/08/my-sunday-notes/#IDComment29308386 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/07/book-notes-interview-with-n-d-wilson.html#IDComment27956543 The "Childish Wonder" really spoke to me in the interview as did the God as an artist aspect. I don't have many books that could be classified as apologetics and the ones I do are for the most part seminary level reading. I'm intrigued. Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:28:47 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/07/book-notes-interview-with-n-d-wilson.html#IDComment27956543 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/07/why-do-you-go-to-your-church-why-not/#IDComment27906276 too funny. Our denomination is rather traditional. Praise teams are new - Mission plants with a full praise service and not liturgial - is unheard of. And yet we are doing it. I think it's cool. Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:55:59 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/07/why-do-you-go-to-your-church-why-not/#IDComment27906276 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/07/why-do-you-go-to-your-church-why-not/#IDComment27881194 I meant to type Praise Team. Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:17:03 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/07/why-do-you-go-to-your-church-why-not/#IDComment27881194 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/07/why-do-you-go-to-your-church-why-not/#IDComment27881166 My reasons change with the seasons. But..for our particular church 1. To support my husband who is on the praise tea. 2. They are mission minded and sponsor a MIssion Start which is a shared passion for both of us. OTW - I'd be in a non-denominational. Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:16:37 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/07/why-do-you-go-to-your-church-why-not/#IDComment27881166 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/07/summer-sisters/#IDComment27817934 Carlos - this is awesome - you are a cool Dad. Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:29:57 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/07/summer-sisters/#IDComment27817934 http://michaelhyatt.com/2008/03/turning-failure-to-your-advantage.html#IDComment27171816 "Honestly, there are just some things you can’t learn—or won’t learn—without failing. I wish it were different. But pain is a powerful teacher. Like Friedrich Nietzsche, the 19th century German philosopher, once said, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” So true." This whole piece is excellent. The above statement really rings home. As a recovering perfectionist who used to be terrified of failure - it was in failing that I learned about value and about life - and about God. It was in failing that God revealed to me my broken places that needed His touch - it was the only way He could get my attention. Not that I would relive that season - I've lightened up a lot, and I' not nearly as afraid as I used to be. Thanks for reposting this. Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:05:02 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2008/03/turning-failure-to-your-advantage.html#IDComment27171816 http://www.spencesmith.com/2009/04/06/my-wonderfully-imperfect-relationship/#IDComment18277215 Great post - I'm seeing a theme this Easter between a lot of people I know. That or maybe I'm just open to seeing it right now because I'm walking through those questions myself. And this isn't the first time. - It's seasonal for me. Wondering at the maturity and some days lack of maturity, in my relationship with Christ. Cookie cutter formula's dont' fit me. Neither do traditional doctrines. I love the whole perfectly imperfect thought process. My relationship with God has definate ups and downs and it's always me - never Him. He cannot change - I change by the hour. ;-) Great thoughts Spence. Thanks. Tue, 7 Apr 2009 02:50:37 +0000 http://www.spencesmith.com/2009/04/06/my-wonderfully-imperfect-relationship/#IDComment18277215 http://www.spencesmith.com/2009/03/21/the-newest-addition-to-the-smith-family/#IDComment17378559 Wow Spence - Jeff and I love this! - Our boys have been raised around music thier whole lives. Charlie now plays keyboard and writes songs from time to time. Dillon plays drums and is learning electric guitar. Oddly, Dillon also craves old rock from the 70's - Clapton, AC/DC, Queen, The Stones, all of it, which is amazing. He's also an artist and can get lost in that for hours. Charlie is my writer. Somewhere along the line he picked up a love for reading and writing from watching me try all these years. He also has a talent for comedy and a heart for the Gospel that transcends anything we could possibly take credit for. I have no musical talent whatsoever. Having a family of musicians fills my spirit. I love it. Sun, 22 Mar 2009 04:22:30 +0000 http://www.spencesmith.com/2009/03/21/the-newest-addition-to-the-smith-family/#IDComment17378559