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Showing posts with label Mentoring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mentoring. Show all posts

Friday, June 21, 2013

Are You Living Your Best Life On Purpose? ... Book Review



Book Review . Sailor. U. S. Navy . Military & Personal Training . Coaching & Mentoring . Prostate Cancer . Sunday School Teacher . Veteran . Europe . Middle East . Israel . Trainer . Life Coach . Engineer . Biz Consultant . Motivational Speaker . Psychology . Ph D Student

This book is Inspiring and Motivation.

I am highly elated that Jon G. Hartman sent me an autographed copy of his book for review. My prayers are with him, all cancer patients, veterans and our troops around the world.

He was diagnosed with stage-two prostate cancer at the age of 48 (just six months prior to completing his book).

No good deed or success goes unnoticed without celebration and giving thanks. Be grateful in advance to God, and all whom took part in your journey thus far.

Celebrate and Reward Yourself.

Get Your Happy Dance On!

King David Danced!

Corporate America has played a big part in persuading our governments and the people into creating and becoming slaves to an economic god, the economy.

Only God knows the amount of time He has graciously gifted to you.


11 Key Areas for Your S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Balanced Life

1. Spiritually

2. Purpose

3. Passion

4. Wellness

5. Health

6. Personal Growth

7. Career

8. Financial

9. Relationship

10. Family

11. Social

Your S. M.A.R.T.E.R. Balanced Life

S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goals are very: Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely, Engaging, & Righteous.

GPS = God + Purpose + Significance

God has so graciously gifted you with your Life, talents, tools, and time.

Make Good Use of Down Time.

Walking, Driving, Showering, and daydreaming are good times to plan, reflect, and pray.




Regardless of your religious Belief system, your journey through this book will guide you to seek, realize, and live out your true Purpose in Life. You will learn and come to realize hopefully, that time is a gift from God.

This book is considered second to the Bible as a Life handbook to possibly help when parents, the church, and the community may have fallen short in being effective and efficient in raising and educating past and present generations.

A handbook to remind you and encourage you to always love and respect your family, your neighbor, your environment, and you. To show you how to lead by example and utilize your mind, body, and spirit's full potential.

I understand this quite well: Jon G. Hartman, MBA, BSME, CPC shares "Though he is a follower of Jesus Christ, out of sincere love and respect, he must acknowledge many of those who have been part of the journey for what he learned (A Scripture from the Bible be ye wise as serpents & harmless as doves), even if he didn't agree with their personal Emotional Intelligence reasoning that they may believe and/or teach."

He believes his Purpose is to serve God, and then serve you by being a significant human being.

Much of the sharings in his book has been shared by authors (past and present), Biblical apostles, and Jesus.

He encourages the reader to learn more about Jesus, and to truly seek a personal relationship with God.

What do words like "joy" and "happiness" mean to you? What does success mean to you? How do you define what your Purpose is? Yes, our lives are shaped by the results of all experiences that involved Significant Emotional Pain & Significant Emotional Pleasures.

Before you can truly fulfill a Life of Purpose, you must first define exactly what these types of words describing pain and pleasure truly mean to You. At the end of the day, other people's definitions, opinions, and beliefs don't matter.

Your Belief System has been impacted by the family and culture you were born into, and whom you have surrounded yourself by throughout your Life that have either encouraged you to seek self-actualization.

Your Life exists because of God's grace and mercy. What you choose to do with your Life and how you choose to live it, is your gift in return to God.

None of this is possible without you rolling up your sleeves and preparing to take action by utilizing ALL of your mind, body, and spirit in order to seek and live your best Life On Purpose.

To have a Purpose is to have a plan, to have a plan is to have goals, to have goals is a sign of true passion, and passion is the driving force to get you to set and achieve Life goals that matter.

Your Purpose must contain Life goals.

This is where Life separates people who are just content, and those who hunger to learn more, live more, and love more. Truth be known, if you cannot love and respect yourself 100%, you will always hold back from giving 100% to others ... including God.

You joyfully use your gifted talents, wisdom, and love to serve God and mankind.

Don't get caught in the peer pressure trap of lowering your standards because of other people having a lesser expectation of themselves, or their limited Belief System.

Sure, you can't pick your family, but you don't have to surround yourself with them to the extent that you give up your personal power.

Train and workout with people that are more physically fit than you are, or better at any of the sports or activities you are training for.

Study with the people that seem to be subject-matter-experts, or at least very knowledgeable in the subject area that you are learning.

Surround yourself by couples that live a loving and healthy marriage by example, if you are seeking to better your existing relationship.

Surround yourself by as many strong Christian & Spiritual like-minded people as possible and learn from them all.

Ego and God cannot occupy the same place at the same time in your heart.

Things in your Life will happen and you will not be in control, and as a result, you are going to experience fear (fear = pain).

God created you for His Purpose, His love, & His joy. Your career, education, and personal successes are not needed beyond this world. However, they are needed today as part of your wonderful journey that allows you to live and express your Belief System.

Surprisingly, and even worse sometimes you win when you don't follow the rules or laws.

Rick Warren boldy wrote, "Without a clear purpose you have no foundation on which your basic decisions, allocate your time, and use your resources.

In the Book of Habakkuk it says "Write the Vision & Make It Plain."

Remember the meaning of success is very different from person to person and culture to culture.

You learn this is not a game you can play by yourself, there are other people involved in this game, and you best have a good understanding of what their rules are.

That is why people, who give up on themselves, never thrive because they never get to feel and live Life with ultimate joy, happiness and fulfillment.

KISS. Keep It Simple Silly!

Most, if not all people have the same desires and needs, of ultimately seeking and experiencing joy and happiness, regardless if it is in a personal or professional relationship. We seek to have pleasure in all situations and avoid pain when possible.

Jon was inspired to write this chapter based on the principles taught by Robbins (2000), in his audio book, Getting the Edge. He identifies humans having six specific needs that are driving forces in their life: certainty, uncertainty, significance, connection, growth, and contribution.

It does not matter who you are, what your educations or experiences have been so far in your Life. We have all been there and experienced many levels of motivational passion and drive at some point in our lives. What is the secret of putting yourself in a state of passion about everything you do in Life? The passion of doing what it takes to become significant and serve God and humanity.

All people need diversity, uncertainty, and a little vanity in their Life. In my eyes this will teach you not to place your trust in man, but in God, for storms will come, things will just happen.

You are never too old to know something new. To earn a higher degree, new language, play a musical instrument, foster a child, or paint a monet.

Jon's Mother turned a young 70, and unfortunately, she had to bury three of his siblings over the past twelve years.

Had each of his siblings known exactly how long they had to live, he is certain, the quantity and experiences of their Life would have been much different, and perhaps their relationships with God as well.

As parents or guardians, it is our responsibility to get every child educated and on track as soon as possible. Your children are gifts from God.

Time, as you know it, will never be replaced!

The world was not created in one day, and neither was your attitude or Belief System.

Become Fit For Life!

Before you run out of time, make the best of it in what ever you do to be effective and efficient in your daily Life.

Setting goals drive you to serve with a purpose.

A good coach or teacher can train you to use all of the latest and greatest techniques and methodologies for reaching your goals.

Define and lay your goals out in every part of your Life.

In May 1980, Jon had turned seventeen when he barely finished his tenth year as a C-ish student. He dropped out of high school so he could join the military. He studied that summer and earned his GED.

He went from an E1 to being frocked to E5 in less than three years.

He decided to go to college after he got out of the Navy, and he had many academic adversities awaiting him along the way.

After he got out of the Nay, he took a decent job working in a chemical plant as a mechanic in North Haven, Connecticut and soon began taking night classes.

It took him three years studying part time to do it.

After three years of passion, pain, and joy, in the fall of 1992 he was awarded his Mechanical Engineer degree.

Only two people attended his graduation ceremony. He received few congratulations from family members, his mother, but very few from extended family members and friends. Not because they did not care, because for some, if they were to acknowledge his achievements, it meant they were staring in the face of their own failures.

He received his AA in 1989, and then his engineering degree in 1992, and his MBA in 2003.

Know when to excuse yourself from a conversation going nowhere.

Small talk can be very important and powerful when it is used Purposefully in an effective and efficient and manner involving relationships, networking, consoling, being cordial, and in business.

Look for subject-matter-experts in your church or community programs. Find a Life Coach, Big Brothers/Big Sister Program, Counselors, Your local non-profits, Support Groups, or Colleges.

You can choose to be a main character, by seeking to be santicified by God, or you can simply stand back and watch His story unfold without you being written into His last chapter, Jon titled it, "Eternity, The Last Beginning."

He suggests you could write a letter to yourself each year at a minimum. He recommend that you do this on your birthday.

This may be very personal information and you may not want to share it with just anyone. Teach your children and neighbor so that you can pass on a new tradition that will bring love, growth, and value to the present day, as well for your family's future, long after you are gone.

Jon G. Hartman is a Ph D. Student studying Industrial & Organizational Psychology. He holds a Master in Business & a Bachelor in Engineering Compounding 30 years of Real Life 101, he is a prominent author, motivational speaker, life coach, and business consultant working in the fields of self-development & training for individuals & business professionals, who are seeking to become successfully & spiritually grounded while living their Best Life.

He is a proud Veteran, who has served his country in the U.S. Navy with two tours in Europe and the Middle East. He had the opportunity to be in Israel (my dream vacation) and walk the streets and paths that were believed to be the very journey of Jesus Christ, where the true spiritual journey began for Jon.

He also has been a Sunday School Teacher and Elder within the Lutheran Church Community.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Confident Parenting ... Book Review


Great Seats at Great Prices!


Book Review . Parenting . Children . Child . God . Galatians 6:2 . Shema . Deuteronomy 6 . Mentor . Faith . Grandchildren . Proverbs 18:21 . Matthew 16:26 . Father's Day

I thought that this would be a great book to share for 2013 Father's Day, which will be June 16, 2013.

Sharing tips from a book I reviewed over five years ago.

When a child comes into your home, he or she doesn't come with an owner's manual, warranty, or guarantee. Nobody sent us to parent - training school.

This book won't give you easy answers, but it does offer a road map, one drawn by God himself, who made caring for your family your highest calling on earth.

Is your parenting working? It will never be perfect, but it is supposed to be working.

For now, be aware that you may need to use the word "no" more than you would like in order to raise your kids to be responsible adults.

Frankly, you can't do much about the decisions of your spouse, or even your kids when they reach a certain age. Make decisions about your own life.

God's promise to you is found in an old proverb: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

You can choose to recover from your family's past or repeat it.

The author admits that there is alcoholism on both sides of his family. His choice is either to recover or repeat, so he choose not to drink.

Dan Chun is a good friend of the author and a pastor in Honolulu. Several years ago, he was looking to hire a youth worker for his church and called the author for some suggestions. The author gave him two names: an all-star youth worker and the other was yet unproven. Dan decided not to take the all-star. He told the author he only hire broken people to minister in his congregation.



Bill Hubels has written about coming to a place in his life where he needed to make some changes if his ministry relationship to his wife, and his role as a father were going to be successful.

He wrote, "there was no way he could continue to lead, teach, feed and grow his church with so many broken pieces rattling inside him.

Paul's advice to the church of Galatia is good for everybody (Galatians 6:2).

VDPs' -- Very Draining Persons

VIP's -- Very Inspiring Persons

We can - and should - make parenting decisions based on the eternal perspective.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 "Shema" in the Bible. It is the Hebrew word from the Old Testament. It means to listen or to hear.

The word "Shema" (pronounced she-MA) - to listen, to hear, morning blessings, bedtime prayer, special dedication, such as "home blessings."

No one is perfect. The cry of the Hebrew people was that there was one God, Yahweh, or Adonai.

Yes, the church community has a role, but parents must take ownership of transmitting faith to the next generation.

Each child is unique.

Every six months the author and his wife spend a half day talking about their kids. What areas need work?

A few years ago the author and his family visited Israel during the Jewish Passover. It was a most incredible time to visit the Holy Land, because of the preparation, Worship, and family traditions that happen at this very sacred time of year. They were doing what the Bible told them to do (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

At mealtime, read a Scripture, say a prayer, share a prayer concern, and light a candle to remember a loved one.

Storybooks are good for younger kids; hang-out time is better for older ones.

Focus on traditions that are meaningful to your family.

Ten Commandments: Lesson for finding peace in an over-crowded life. Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it Holy. Sabbath - Rest.

The pace of life is destroying families. It makes good people act crazy and makes otherwise healthy people become vulnerable to sickness, broken relationships and to sin.

The reason the author know and write about the effects of busyness is because it has so often been the story of his own life.

"What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26 NKJV)

The author and his wife spend a great deal of time helping people in pastoral ministry with their marriages and families. In this last year, they have heard from people struggling with pain and problems, from affairs and addictions to abuse and wayward children.

So what's the answer yo these pace-of-life issues? The author believes it is found in the lesson of the Sabbath.

A half day of Sabbath rest is better than no time at all.

4 Elements of A Healthy Sabbath for the Burns Family:

Rest - Refresh - Restore - Recreation

Lesson of A.W.E. - Affection, Warmth, Encouragement

Request a prescription of A.W.E.

There is no such thing as a house without conflict, but by working relentlessly to reduce stress in your family, you promote a warm environment.

No one can live successfully until he or she masters self-control.

Your words have power. They can either provide life and build up or they can destroy. Even when correcting your children, it is important to choose your words wisely.

Children need to learn that life is not fair and that there are consequences to wrong choices.

Your words have great power with your children. (Proverbs 18:21).

Your words have power to destroy or to heal. Use your words with your kids to bring out the best in them.

You are a role model to your children.

You are a mentor to your kids.

"Build a legacy of faith for your children and your grandchildren. Continue doing the best you can, and with God's help you will see wonderful results."

There is much to be done and much to be taught. You have learned the lessons of parenting.

The great philosopher Soren Kierkiegaard told a story about ducks that came from an imaginary country where only ducks live. One Sunday morning, all the mother and father ducks headed to church with their children waddling behind them.

They entered the doors and sat in their duck pews, sang songs from their duck hymnals, and gave to under privileged ducks at the offering time. When the duck preacher got up to proclaim the message, he was very dynamic. He opened his duck Bible and screamed, "Ducks, you can fly!" You have wings and you can fly like eagles."

The ducks all chanted. We can fly, we can fly!" He asked, "Do you believe you can fly?" He screamed again, "We can soar through the skies!" They all shouted, "Amen." With that the pastor closed his duck Bible and dismissed his congregation of ducks. Then they all waddled back home.

Your words are important, but they can only go so far. The message to our children will be very similar to that of the duck pastor. After he told them they could fly, he needed to show them by spreading his own wings and soaring above the clouds.

The author, Jim Burns, Ph.D. is heard daily in over 800 communities. He speaks to 1,000's around the world each year through marriage & family seminars & conferences. He earned his M.A. in Christian Education from Princeton Theological Seminary & his Ph.D. in Religious Education from Greenwich School of Theology.