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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Evernote - Do You Use It Yet?

If you're like me, you are frustrated with the reality of the incredible amount of information we need to keep at our fingertips in order for our lives to run smoothly. Whether it's keeping track of login usernames and passwords, travel itineraries, receipts, notes to self, PDFs, sermon notes, and just about anything else digital — Evernote is my new friend.

I have the Evernote client installed on both my work and home computer and my iPhone. All notes are kept synced and up to date. Changes on any client immediately appear on the others. You can even access your notes online.

Here's a good article on 14 Ways you can use Evernote.

Check it.

Evernote

Friday, September 25, 2009

The Psychology of Tipping

I knew that certain tactics were used in the food service industry to increase the likelihood of receiving bigger tips. There is actually studies that back this up. I like the "spontaneous extra piece of candy" method the most.

Cornell University's Center for Hospitality Research conducted several studies revealing some other interesting facts about server habits that can boost tip percentages. Here are a few of them:

Touching - Waiters experienced a tip increase from 11.8 percent to 14.8 percent of the check total when they briefly touched the shoulder of the customer. Both men and women left higher tips when touched, and although younger customers increased their tip amount more, all ages increased the tip by some amount [Source: Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell].

Squatting - Two studies showed that waiters who squatted next to the table when taking orders and talking with customers increased their tips from 14.9 percent of the bill to 17.5 percent of the bill in one study, and from 12 percent to 15 percent in another study. Apparently, the eye contact and closer interaction creates a more intimate connection and makes us want to give the server more money [Source: Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell].

Giving candy - A study that involved giving customers a piece of candy with their bill showed an increase in tip percentage from 15.1 percent to 17.8 percent. Another study in which servers gave each customer two pieces of candy with the bill increased the tip from 19 percent to 21.6 percent of the bill. Still another study showed that the way the server gave the customer the candy had the largest impact on the increase of the tip: This study had the server initially give each member of the customer's party one piece of candy and then "spontaneously" offer a second piece of candy. This method increased the tip to 23 percent of the bill [Source: Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell].

Being helpful - A study of hotel bellhops revealed that just taking a few extra minutes explaining to guests how to operate the television and thermostat, opening the drapes for guests, and offering to fill the ice bucket increased tips from $2.40 to $4.77 [Source: Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell].

Borrowed from HowStuffWorks.com

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Those Things that Only You Can Do

Submission to The Sentinel's Life Notes.

Recently I was reminded that of all the things that I do in my life, there are only a few things that I and only I can do. No one else can do these things for me. In virtually every other area of my life, I am replaceable — but not in these few things. No one can "step in" for me in these areas.

Wayne Cordeiro calls these areas the "last 5%". This is true for all of us. He breaks it down like this:

Eighty percent of what you do, anyone can do — answer the phone, check your email, take notes at the meeting, fill out reports, etc.

Fifteen percent of what you do, anyone with some basic skills can do — run your software program, deal with clients, operate specific machinery, etc.

But the last five percent, no one else can do — be your spouse's mate, be your children's mother or father, build your relationship with God, etc.

This last five percent is what is truly worth our time. The other things might be good, but these things are great. These things are worth investing your life in.

Only you can grow spiritually. Only you can open your heart to Jesus Christ. You are responsible to shepherd and guard your own heart. 1 Timothy 4:7 says, "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness." No one else holds our spiritual future in their hands. You are the one who decides whether to follow God with all of your heart, or just with your spare time. This is the one thing that can truly set all of your life in order and put you on the road to great success.

Only you can keep yourself motivated to obey God and to seek Him. The bottom line is that you alone are responsible to bring motivation to the table. You must keep yourself motivated by keeping your eyes on the prize and your heart full of hope. The circumstances of life are are always waging war against your belief that life can be better and that God is faithful. In the Old Testament we read that "David encouraged himself in the Lord" (1 Samuel 30:6). Sometimes we have to stare the ugly facts of life straight in the face and decide that instead of allowing those things to discourage, destroy or distract us, we instead will encourage ourself. We will chose to remember that God is greater than any circumstance and that He is always faithful.

Only you can love your family as their father, mother, husband or wife. No one else but you can play this role as well as you. You are responsible to play the role in your home that God has created for you. If you are anything like me, far to often you find yourself spending time on things that take you away from being the best you can be for your family. Instead of putting your family as the priority, they get put on the back burner. But if you chose to embrace this important role, then you will discover that the investment pays incredible dividends.

Time is short in life. We have to decide where to invest it. There are many great things to do, but there are only a few things that only you can do. Chose to do these things and you will never regret it.

This weekend, why don't you grab your family and head to church? The pastors of Kings County would love the opportunity to encourage you to invest your five percent in the best way possible.

Monday, September 21, 2009

The Precursor to Ace of Cakes Must Have Made This

Terrible Beauty: Atomic Bomb Tests - Photo Gallery, 25 Pictures - LIFE
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

How Brazilian Pastors are Reaching the Youth with Sports

Check out the New York Times article.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Parasites - Man's Best Friend?

Just saw that one of my favorite podcasts/radio programs is back for its newest season — WNYC's Radiolab — with an episode about parasites that features a story about a man that cured his asthma and hay fever allergies by infesting himself with hookworms. If you're not familiar with this show, do yourself a favor and check out one of my favorites Sleep.




Thanks to kottke.org for the inspiration!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Obedience Usually Precedes the Solution to Your Problems

If Moses had tried to solve the problem before deciding to lead the people, he would have never made the decision to move ahead. Instead, he made the decision and actually led the people before he had the problem solved....Great people are ordinary people who make extraordinary decisions.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Have You Ever Washed Dirty Feet?

Submission for Life Notes for The Sentinel


In the Scriptures in John chapter 13, Jesus washes the disciples feet. It is a story worth reading and reflecting on because in it, Jesus models for us a lifestyle that we are to emulate. By this simple act, Jesus demonstrates the key to significance in His Kingdom.

Foot washing in Jesus' time was more than just a ritual, it was a necessity. The primary means of transportation was the feet and the streets were not paved in that day. In a busy village, the main avenues would have been filthy—mud, refuse and animal droppings were all underfoot continually. Needless to say, by the end of the day, your feet were covered in grime, your sandals having done very little to keep your feet clean.

So every evening, before the meal, the lowest person in the house—usually the servant or slave—would be called in to wash everyone's feet, one at a time. It was an undesirable task—not only were you coming into contact with the filth from the street, but you also had to handle people's feet! I can just imagine having to deal with the grime under the toe nails, the corns and that special stuff that builds up between the toes. What a job!

And this was the task that Jesus used to illustrate that our lives are supposed to be about serving others. As the story goes, one evening He and the disciples were there together preparing for the meal and the servant was nowhere to be found. Who was going to wash their feet?

It is clear from the story that nobody seemed altogether too keen on jumping to the task. I imagine Jesus may have looked around just to see if any of His students had picked up on His teachings about greatness. But it appears that no one made a move. So Jesus picked up a towel and a basin and began to wash their feet.

For the disciples, it was a great shock. It was unimaginable that the greatest person in the room—the Rabbi—would stoop to do a task that only the lowest person among them was expected to do. In the absence of the servant, Jesus could have picked out one of the disciples and instructed him to do it. But instead, it was Jesus Himself that chose to perform this lowly task.

There is something about the idea of washing someone's feet that makes it such a great picture of service. It is generally something that no one wants to do. It is something that is often uncomfortable, both for the one being washed and for the one doing the washing. It is uncomfortable not because of the washing but because of the exposure to this part of the body that is often hidden away under layers of socks and shoes.

It is also something that is meaningful. For the disciples, it was essential—in a few moments they were going to recline at the table and their feet would be in close proximity to their neighbor's face. This wasn't something that didn't matter—it was vitally important!

So Jesus washes their feet and then tells them that their role in life is to be a servant to others—to wash one another's feet. And that is our charge from Jesus today. We too are called to be foot washers. We are called to serve others and to do those things that perhaps no one else wants to do. Sometimes service makes us uncomfortable. Sometimes we feel that the task is beneath us. But it is the key to greatness in the Kingdom of God.

So the next time you are tempted to say "that job is beneath me" or "I won't serve because it makes me too uncomfortable", think back to what Jesus did. He picked up the towel and showed the way for us.

To learn more about the Kingdom, why don't you make plans to visit one of the great churches in Kings County this weekend? The pastors would love to help you understand how Jesus' principles for living can revolutionize your life.