To persuade or not to persuade...

NOTE: For those that did not follow instructions, be certain to re-read the original post of this assignment so that you can receive full credit.  For those wanting to join Edmodo, come to class and request the Edmodo pass word for Pre-Ap and General Education. 

Hey Guys!
Here we meet again. I am excited to begin our sharing process. Your assignment is to blog (write & provide) your opinion about what you believe would be a great activity to enrich our persuasive unit: another round of debates, hostile audience speeches, online group assignment, etc. etc.

Be certain to provide your choice and use persuasive language to support your idea. You will receive a test grade for responding to at least two of your classmates ideas. Remember to clearly identify yourself at the beginning of your post. This is a test grade for pre-ap, and this assignment will serve as an extra credit assignment for all other classes. This assignment closes on Tuesday, April 2.

Enjoy your weekend!

No worries...just words

Hello my fearless sharers of information.  I realized long ago that I was destined to leave information for others to read and then wait patiently for their response.  I guess that was when I was in the fifth grade and I asked Angela Wilson if she wanted to be my friend.  Then I left two check boxes: one for "no" and one for "yes".  But I digress.  Here are this weeks super links:
The Lord of the Flies which is a great read for those of you unable to purchase the novel.  Be certain to use the vocabulary list while reading and identify words that you want to add.  Additionally, to my Darker Face of the Earth readers,  this information should provide great insight while completing your "About the Author" project.  Happy reading and remember to respond to these three questions as you read:
 

1. How can I use context clues to understand new words?
 

2. How can parts of words help me determine the meaning of an unknown word?

3.Why is it important to learn new vocabulary words?


Enjoy your week!

The End of an Era

     Hey Guys!

This is Thad-n-Tonya Porter, and we just want to send out a quick message.  Happy Monday Team!  Today is the final day of our Daily Call.  It is truly the end of an era in our business.  We started the call back in November of 2009.  However, business dictates that we move within the technology that fuels our business, so in our sadness, we are overjoyed with Business Elite, and the many opportunities it represents.  We are excited about the fact that our short text messages will impact the team and get information to you quickly and seamlessly throughout the day, and only those that are serious about building their business will receive this information.  Text 'MrUrgency' to 55469 today to receive updates from Team Urgency. As your week begins, I want to bring your attention to a topic near & dear to me, and that is stress free living. 

     When Jethro came to see Moses, He advised him that his method of judging the people by himself every day would wear him and the people out.  So Jethro advised Moses to develop leaders that would help him share the load.  Everyone doing a little is the 5Linx Business model of leverage.  Don't wear yourself out guys.  Talk to your team today, help them Expose their 5linx business and expand their team, so that you can make it happen.

God bless you, and we look forward to talking to you, real soon.

Tis the Season for Investing

Each holiday season brings with it not only a change in the weather, but also a change in spending habits.  It is not unusual to see Americans budget an additional $400 to $800 in spending during the Holiday season.  The niceties or nonessential items usually show a spike in sales during this season.  However, essential items continue to show consistent sales.  Most retailers will tell you that the spike in sales for nonessential items enables them to make their margin for the year, but the perfect storm is finding items that are not only essential, but also boast an increased demand during the holiday season.  I even found one article post that detailed the "best time to buy" throughout the entire calendar year including the best month or months to shop!  Wouldn't it be great to combine the essential and nonessential commodities into one investment opportunity?  And if that were the case, when should you invest?

All the information pointed to one simple plan, INVEST NOW; the earlier the better.  Why, because the market fluctuates, and during the holiday season, take some of that discretionary spending money and invest in yourself.  During my search for the best investments for 2011, I found that many of the best investment opportunities are in the home-based business market or network marketing.  According to the book, The New Professionals, networking marketing and home-based business is the way to begin to create personal wealth and security in an uncertain market.  Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, has posted a video describing the power of the home-based business and how individuals can tap into this wealth trend and begin to become financially empowered.

So in my curiosity, I began to look at the top income earners, billionaires, and their holdings.  Therein, I saw the holdings that have catapulted the richest man in the world above Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, and that is Carlos Slim Helu: worth a reported $53.5 billion dollars!  What are his major holdings?  He owns a communications company: mobile phones, and he builds energy infrastructure.  Along with Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, they all own interests in communications and energy, and both these markets contain commodities that are both essential and nonessential. 

Now, just as the deregulation of long distance made household names out of SPRINT, MCI, and other local, long distance, and international calling phone companies, the deregulation of energy is set to turn the world markets on their ear.  Energy is set to become a major player for businesses that have properly positioned themselves to take advantage of this growth, as evidenced in this short video discussing energy deregulation.  However, I only see one company out there right now that is positioned to take advantage of BOTH of these wealth trends, and that is 5linx Enterprises. 

Stay informed and do your research. If you are currently involved in any MLM opportunities, stop struggling and invest in a system that will help market your opportunity, and consider adding either communications or energy to your portfolio.  For anyone out there that is not currently involved in any home-based business, I encourage you to use your discretionary income to invest in an opportunity before the end of 2010.  Position yourself this year to make money on the wealth trends for 2011 and the years to come! 

Dedicated to your Success...

Thadd Porter

TU Enterprises CEO & Online Coach

Office: 334.462.6828

Las Vegas 5Linx National Event 2010

NO TV!!

Hey Hey...I think the blog has really become what it was supposed to be all along, my random daily thoughts.  I am encouraged that my son, TJ, is seemingly waking up and becoming more responsible with his lessons.  By setting myself up with a no TV regimen thru the end of this year, I can focus more on what he and Justin need and how I can better support them.  As for the rest of the time, I know I really need to get the money flowing in my business!  The past few months, production has been down, but I feel a shift in the atmosphere.  I guess I feel kinda like the prophet that prayed for rain and then got excited when he saw a cloud about the size of a man's hand....

Pray my strength in the lord and I know I will see a rise in production this week.  Yesterday I spent about 2hrs putting up door knockers.  I feel like Will Smith's character from "The Pursuit of Happyness". 

Reflection is a God thing!

I woke up this morning and looked out my window to see the Vegas skyline rising behind the Trump Plaza, and all I could think about was my oldest son, TJ.  His major challenge in life is actually my strength.  He resists reading and writing, and his resistance has finally caught up with him.  The magnet program at his school has a pre-AP English course that requires a great deal of discourse, and then the students must reflect on the discussion in their writing.  When we spoke via videophone last night, I could see the frustration in his eyes, in his mannerisms, and I heard his struggle in his voice.  Initially, I was angry because he had allowed himself to get behind in his assignments, but then I realized that he simply was avoiding things that he had always avoided, but having never been truly confronted about his avoidance issues, he now has deadlines pending that require him to alter his behavior and engage NOW. 

As a father, my first emotion was anger that my son would allow himself to get into this situation.  Didn't he know that I have a master's in English?  Didn't he know that I would have gladly spent time with him going over everything and helping him finish all his assignments?  What if his teacher had not called and let me know about his lapses...what could have happened if I had not gotten the word to step in and intervene?  What was he thinking?  And then...it hit me...isn't that what I do with my heavenly father?  Don't I know that he owns the cattle on a thousand hills?  Don't I know that his desire for me is to prosper, to have life and to have it more abundantly?  Why is it that we have challenges, and though our heavenly Father has all that we need, he usually has to find out about everything thru the prayers/communications of someone else:  mothers, fathers, spouses, prayer intercessors? 

In this time with my son, God has shown me that I need to come to Him with ALL my issues, and I need to have the confidence in knowing that having been tempted Himself, in all points, without having sinned, He is able to deliver us.  So now, thru my dissappointment with my son, I found the compassion that Christ had and has for me, and how in the midst of it all, he looks beyond my faults, and sees my needs. 

Show the love of Christ to everyone you encounter today, and begin to extend the compassion to others that is perpetually being extended to you.  In my reflections on these truths, the scripture that admonishes us to be slow to wrath came to mind...wrath can really cloud your thinking.  Good thing I was here to see that Vegas skyline...reflection is a God thing.  

Random thoughts...

I often find myself struggling with myself.  Its as if I know what it takes for me to have success today, right now, but there is some other part of me that always wants to put if off.  I see myself being successful today, right now, but there is some other part of me that always wants to put it off.  Tomorrow functions as a safety-net of sorts, and so I keep battling to stay out of the safety net and jump into my destiny today, right now! 

The conversation that Paul has about these warring factions in our nature: "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Romans 7:21-24

It helps me when I recognize that I am not alone in my struggles.  I have an advocate with the father: His son Jesus Christ.  And even though I am constantly being accused by Satan and berated with guilt and a feeling of unworthiness for my failures, I am encouraged because Revelations tells me that the accuser has been defeated, and his time is short.  So all I have to do is walk in the victory already provided!

I feel good about that...no matter what comes my way today, I have complete and total victory!

Does one size really fit all?

I got my first lesson in pressure when I owned a Ford Ranger.  It needed a new hose, so I had one of my "shade tree mechanic" friends replace it for me.  We did not pay attention to any SPECS for the Ford, we just attached the new hose.  A few days later, I noticed that my truck would periodically stall, and it never seemed to ride as smooth as it had in the past.  Some time later, I was getting ready to get on the road, and I brought my truck in for a tuneup...you know, I didn't want to be stranded on the side of the road.  When the mechanic came to me to give me the run-down on my services, I remember him telling me that the pressure was off in one of my hoses, and it had led to some other issues, but everything was fine now.  Immediately, I reflected on that hose I had a friend replace because I wanted to save some money on repairs.  That was my first lesson in pressure.

When I had that hose installed, my friend didn't have any gauges to check the pressure, he just knew how to replace my damaged hose.  I guess neither one of us took any thought about the pressure differences, so it never was taken into consideration.  All these memories came rushing back to me when I was having a discussion with my wife.  She and I have different pressure points, and it would be ludicrous of me to attempt to apply my pressure standards to hers.  Romans 12:3 reminds us that, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."  One of the most pivotal things you can do in any relationship is not confuse pressure points.  That doesn't mean that one person is stronger or weaker, just that they are different, and this diffence must be accounted for when we talk to one another.  Just like my truck began to run rough when the pressure was off, our relationships can become rough and rocky when we make assumptions about the pressure gauges in someone else's life.  If we are not careful, our lack of sensitivity in one area can lead to other problems, and we will find ourselves throwing up our hands in frustration.

Remember, my first error was that I did not check with the SPECS, prior to hooking up the hose.  Who better to consult when life is in need of repair than our heavenly father?  Psalm 139, reminds us of how God knows us completely and will always be with us.  Prior to your next conversation with a spouse or loved one, remember to consult life's spec sheet, and find out what the Lord says about it.  This has helped me thru the years.  Remember, we all have a measure of grace, there is no one size fits all...

What to do...

Direction in life seems at times to be such a mystery.  Have you ever prayed for answers only to find yourself running after everything that appears to be a "sign"?  It's as if we ask God for a job, and the first person or opportunity that comes our way we jump at it as though this must be what God has for me.  I don't know how many times I've done that, only to find that I have been a victim of my own desires...looking so hard for answers that I begin to force SQUARE happenings into ROUND answers, if that makes any sense.

In my reading, I came across the writings of "Pastor Greg".  He explained it in such a way as to make me examine my relationship with God.  How do I see Him?  Is He here as some sort of cosmic Genie, to grant wishes to me, or am I here for Him seeking His will for my life? 

As you examine your own prayer life and relationship with God, ask yourself, "Am I willing to submit to God's will for my life, or do I just worship God so that He will give me what I want?" 

While you are enjoying your Labor Day Weekend, reflect on how you can better reverence God's will for your life and receive instruction that provides more clarity in your life and enables you to joyfully embrace God's perfect will for you. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2

Distractions...

Some of you may know that I am involved in an MLM, and have been a top producer in my opportunity for quite some time.  Due to my success, I have often been approached by other MLMs asking if I will share their information with my network of independent marketers.  Interestingly enough, they always start by explaining to me how easy it is, or how new it is and how we need to jump on this thing quick.  When I woke up this morning, it hit me that the draw is not unlike any other distraction that appears in life.

Luke 10:38-42 details one such distraction: "Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

I want to highlight two points.  First, there were many things going on, and Luke identifies these things as distractions, not that they were bad, only that they took the focus off of Jesus.  Second, when Martha was distracted, her desire was to have Mary lose her laser-like focus and join her in her distraction.  How many times have we seen this happen?  I recall countless situations where one person became so entangled in other endeavors that they lost sight of the main thing. For you, the main thing could be your spouse, your children, the "why" for why you are involved in a particular venture, or your relationship with Jesus.

Look at your life today and begin to prioritize your energies.  Put first things first, and then maintain a laser-like focus until you reach your goals.  Remember, your path to greatness will be lined with temptation, but as you stay focused and avoid distractions, you will eventually reach your goals and see yourself living a life of abundance. 

Practice being calm...

Every weekend, I have the opportunity to hear a word of encouragement that I believe will get me started on the right track. Yet each week, it never fails, something comes up that attempts to shake all the enthusiasm out of me, as if I were being held up by my ankles, and shaken until all my precious belongings fell from my pockets onto the ground. Maybe we aren't hanging by our angles, but many times, we allow life's challenges to shake us nonetheless, and there we are with our confidence, our joy, our self-control emptied all over the ground. Even though we know that worrying about any situation brings no relief, we still employ that emotion as our first response. What if over time you would begin to employ a different first response.


Jonah Lehrer, a writer for the LA Times, discussed the calm nature of pilots. "This is where flight simulators enter the picture. The advantage of these realistic simulators, which have been in widespread use since the early 1980s, is that they allow pilots to practice extreme flight scenarios... The training provides pilots with important technical skills -- they can practice flying crippled planes -- but it also teaches them something more important: ... They learn how to ignore their fear when fear isn't useful and how to make quick, complicated decisions in the most fraught situations. Flight crews don't panic because they've practiced staying calm."

For people of faith, the question should be flashing in the back of your mind like a neon sign...HAVE I PRACTICED BEING CALM? Well, I was reflecting on a favorite passage of mine, the 23 Psalms, and in it reads this verse, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures," As our pastor ministered on yesterday, Have we practiced lying down in the green pastures our heavenly father has provided for us, or are we still struggling in our own strength? We want to fix things, and in our fragile state, we do not have the power to fix all that ails us. We must trust that our heavenly father is still in control, no matter what it looks like. Our initial response is usually to frantically grab the wheel of life when we appear to be careening out of control, but our heavenly father wants us to mature to the point when all can follow Matthew 6:25 and say, "...take no thought for your life." In short, it doesn't mean not to prepare, only that we should practice being calm.

Lets get it...!

Good Morning to you!  I woke up excited today, not because I was just excited, but because when my eyes opened and I was awake, I started to reflect on the comments of yesterday and how we often clothe ourselves in garments with our first thoughts, intentional or unintentional, and I decided to be INTENTIONAL.  I recall waking up today and thinking, "Lord, today is another day that you have blessed me to live.  I am excited about the potential in this day.  I commit this day to you and your purpose, and I ask that you lay out my garments this morning.  Clothe me with what I need to accomplish the purpose that you have for my life in this day, and help me to learn from the lessons of this day.  In Jesus' name...AMEN." 

Now, I trust you are ready for whatever!  Have a great weekend, and till the next time...Let's get it!

Is it just fashion...?

Have you ever noticed that the first thoughts and actions that you think and perform in the morning set the tone for the rest of your day.  Sometimes, I wake up in the morning and just pop right out of bed.  I start walking thru the house, checking on everyone else, and then I go into the closet and set something out to wear...the entire time my mind is running and I am excited about getting started.  I can't wait to get out there and make it happen.  I feel as if I am on top of the world, and they are not going to be ready for me today!

THEN, there are those days when I have to convince myself to get up.  I start making little deals with my body.  "I'll get up in another 10 min."  Or worse, "It doesn't take me that long to get ready, I can just lay here another 30 minutes, then I'll get dressed really fast." These are the days that usually start with me rushing around the house, only to feel rushed for the rest of the day, always one step behind.  

I see these two different days just like two different wardrobes:  One day I am clothed in excitement, expectation, and victory, and the other day I am clothed in doubt, procrastination, and fear.  I finally had to realize that regardless as to how my day began, I chose the garments.  I woke up and put something on that covered me that entire day.  So ask yourself, what garments are you wearing today? 

Choices...

This past Sunday, we were teaching on a parable that speaks of allowing the wheat and tares to grow up together. In that parable, it speaks of a man whose enemies have sown tares along with the wheat in his field. Well, for those not familiar with tares, they are simply a weed of the wheat crop. In the early stages, the wheat and the tares are very similar in appearance, but if the tare is consumed, it will produce symptoms similar to food-poisoning. According to the parable, the best thing to do is allow the wheat and the tares to grow up together, then upon maturity, they are easily identified and can be safely removed from the field of wheat.


One might gather from this parable that in life, you will experience defeat right alongside victory, so just focus more on the victories and less on the defeats. Remember, it's not what happens TO you but what happens IN you. A wise man once said, "Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out." We have a choice as to how we will respond to whatever happens. As you go through the events of this day, what will you choose?

The Valley of the Shadow of Death...

I often see images of crossroads and begin to reflect on my own life and how so many of us respond to these pivotal decisions.  Realizing that each decision that we make determines the path that we follow is enough to keep many people cemented to the ground, afraid to make a decision.  Wouldn't it be great if we had absolute certainty as to whether or not this new venture will work out?  Is he or she the right one for me to marry? I am pregnant and alone and I don't know whether or not I should keep this child?  It all brings me back to that little eight-ball that you could shake up and get an answer within seconds, but there aren't any magic eight-balls for life's situations.  No decision is going to be easy, and regardless of the situations that you face in life, no path chosen is without its share of challenges. Whether you keep going straight, or turn to the left or right, just prepare to face your challenges.  

There is a psalm that reads, "Yea though I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."  The comfort is that you are going THRU the valley, not pitching a tent. Be decisive today and move with the courage that you are going thru to get to something better.

Heard a powerful word on traffic lights and intersections.... It's decision-making time!

Perfectly Good Tools...

Is knowledge really power?  I have often heard these words in various commercials, but knowledge by itself is not power.  Knowledge is simply a hammer lying next to a box of nails.  Until the nails actually meet the working end of the hammer, knowledge is just potential.  Many network marketers make the mistake of acquiring knowledge and then sitting on their hands, or they may even apply their knowledge for a period of time, but when results do not come quickly, they put their hammer down and go in search of another tool from the shed, only to follow the same cycle.  Never consistently applying what you have learned is simply knowledge on ice. 

Some may even have an entire garage full of perfectly good hammers, and box upon box of nails, but without hammer meeting nail, nothing will be built. 

I wonder what that house next door will look like in six months to a year?  What will your business look like in six months to a year?  Keep consistently applying the knowledge you gain for your opportunity and find out what you can build.