Posted by Rescue Mission Team on Wed, Jul 29, 2009
My good friend Rich Wilkerson (@richwilkersonsr), Pastor of Trinity Church in Miami, Fl., recommended a book the other day on twitter: The No Complaining Rule by Jon Gordon, that he had shared with his staff.
This is one of the great advantages of twitter, you can get updates on interesting books, articles, scriptures, quotes, etc. from people you respect or trust. Follow me on Twitter by clicking here.
With Rich’s recommendation I picked up the book and read it last night. A parable on the effects of negativity at work and in your personal life, the book highlights some facts I’d not previous known:
1. Negativity costs the U.S. economy between $250 to $300 million a year in lost productivity (Gallup).
2. 90% of doctor visits are stress related (CDC) and #1 cause of office stress is complaining.
3. Too many negative interactions compared to positive can decrease productivity of a team. (U of Michigan study)
Here are three practical tools they recommend to stop complaining:
1. Using But…to transition to a more positive outlook
From the book… “When you realize you are complaining, you simply add the word but and then add a positive thought or positive action. Example:
I don’t like driving to work BUT I”m thankful I have a job.”
2. Focus on “Get to” instead of “Have to”.
“Focus on what you GET to do. Focus on the feeling blessed instead of stressed.” Too many people feel they HAVE to do something instead of GETTING to do it.
3. Turn Complaints into Solutions
The goal is not to eliminate complaining, but the mindless complaining that serves no purpose and isn’t solutions based. When you see something that doesn’t satisfy, make some suggestions and look for solutions.
Summary: Easy, quick read that will remind you of what you know deep down, complaining almost always makes things worse and creates negativity. Keep focusing on the positive and looking for God’s hand in your life.
EXTRA: Check out this website, acomplaintfreeworld.org
DC
Read all of David Curry's blogs at
http://blog.rescue-mission.org or visit the Rescue Mission at
http://www.rescue-mission.org
Posted by Rescue Mission Team on Mon, Jul 27, 2009
Often people think of homeless people during extemely cold days of winter, but the extreme heat also poses a danger to those who cannot get out of the heat and may be wearing all the clothes they own in the world, thus making it even more hot.
New Life Sq. at 425 South Tacoma Way is open all day and night to help those homeless people who may be suffering from heat exhaustion and need to get out of the sun. There will be water available all day in the day room in addition to the regularly scheduled meals.
Please inform anyone you know who may need to use these services.
DC
Read all of David Curry's blogs at
http://blog.rescue-mission.org or visit the Rescue Mission at
http://www.rescue-mission.org
Posted by Rescue Mission Team on Mon, Jul 27, 2009
Occasionally people ask me what I’m reading, watching and listening to that is helping me grow as a leader, father, and all the other roles that make up my life. Lately I’ve been trying to reinvest some time to better understand twitter, facebook, etc. and how I can better communicate through these mediums.
Someone recently recommended this video from designer Tim Brown on twitter and I took a look. It’s absolutely fascinating. There is also an hour long video from Tim to MIT that is interesting if you have the time.
Here is a video on TED.com from Clay Shirky on How Social Media is Changing Everything. I’m listening to this stuff to figure out how the Tacoma Rescue Mission can better communicate with its advocates, supporters, and clients.
Keep learning and pass on your thoughts on what you think might be interesting for me to learn.
DC
Read all of David Curry's blogs at
http://blog.rescue-mission.org or visit the Rescue Mission at
http://www.rescue-mission.org
Posted by Rescue Mission Team on Wed, Jul 22, 2009
As we launch our new website design I wanted to let you know the purpose and function behind the design.
First, my dream is that this enhanced design will allow for more content available to those in the community who don’t have a lot of interaction with the Tacoma Rescue Mission. As we continue to add to the site you’ll see lots of interviews with homeless clients, graduates of our New Life Program and raw footage of what we do at the Mission that makes this place so special.
My interaction with the community tells me that most folks don’t know of all the stuff we do, and don’t have a good idea of the kinds of struggles our clients are facing. This should be a help in that area.
Secondly, this new site will allow us to have more information available to our clients through a Recovery Blog and eventually lessons posted online. This will be particularly helpful for those who’ve graduated from our program, but need to be continually inspired to build a new life.
Thirdly, this site makes it super easy for volunteers to get connected to a meaningful task in the service of others. By clicking on the volunteer page, you’ll see descriptions of different job descriptions and things you might like to do. Just fill out the form right there and send it in to get started. Super Easy.
We’ll keep adding content, please keep checking in and making suggestions.
David
Read all of David Curry's blogs at
http://blog.rescue-mission.org or visit the Rescue Mission at
http://www.rescue-mission.org
Posted by Rescue Mission Team on Wed, Jul 15, 2009
Every week I give tours of the Tacoma Rescue Mission facilities to donors, supporters and volunteers in addition to speeches at churches and civic groups. Without question the most common refrain I hear from those who see and hear about all the Rescue Mission is: “I didn’t know how the Mission was doing!”
Clearly, many people have an idea of what a Rescue Mission does, they feed the poor. But We do so much more than that. We provide shelter, transitional housing, educational services, case management, financial assistance through Need a Break ministries, jail chaplaincy at the Pierce County Jail, after school and summer youth programs for homeless children and much more. Click here to see all we do.
More than that, you need to take a tour of the Mission. call Jocelyn at 383-4462 to set up a tour of the Mission and it’s facilities. What you don’t know about the Tacoma Rescue Mission is a lot. Come see what we do and get exciting about adopting the Mission as your cause.
DC
Read all of David Curry's blogs at
http://blog.rescue-mission.org or visit the Rescue Mission at
http://www.rescue-mission.org
Posted by Rescue Mission Team on Wed, Jul 08, 2009
Our work here at the Mission requires most of us to deal with more crises in one day than many pastors deal with in a month. Some of the Pastors reading this blog may question that statement, but having been a pastor for many years I say it without fear of contradiction. With over 450 people in our care each night and serving meals to hundreds more who are struggling with addiction, homelessness, medical issues, bi-polar, legal issues, prostitution, abuse, etc. the sheer number of overwhelming problems we face is amazing. How do you keep sharp and avoid burnout?
Here’s what I challenge all of you to remember each day to help you stay sharp and to keep focused and motivated on helping reach the hurting, hungry and lost of your community:
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Remember to put your concerns and burdens in the hands of the Lord. There is nothing we can accomplish outside of Him and there is nothing we cannot accomplish if we are working in His will. I believe that EVERY problem has a spiritual solution.To all our staff I remind you to rely upon the power and joy of the Lord today to make a difference.
David
Read all of David Curry's blogs at
http://blog.rescue-mission.org or visit the Rescue Mission at
http://www.rescue-mission.org
Posted by Rescue Mission Team on Mon, Jul 06, 2009
There is such a thing as “Learned Optimism”. Many people think you are either born positive or are optimistic by temperment, but the fact is that optimism is a way of thinking that can be learned. This isn’t a new idea, biblical scripture tells us to “think on things that are pure, righteous, good…” and to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”, and many more concepts and principles along these lines. Unfortunately, many of us shut down and revert to pessimistic negative thinking when in the midst of problems. This effectively focuses us on the problem, but usually keep us from looking at potential solutions and opportunities. We allow the problem to become such a focus in our life that we become tunnel visioned, nurturing the excuses and circumstances that will keep us mired in our current situations.
Solutions call for outside-the-box thinking, negativity shuts that down. Knowing that a person can learn to think positively and optimistically is little guidance when faced with difficulty and real-life challenges.
Here are some ideas about how to shake off the blues and to focus on possibilities:
1. Think Spiritually – Knowing God has a plan and purpose for your life can help to shake lose the “why me” thinking and start up the “What’s God’s Plan” thinking that could reshape and reinvigorate your life.
2. Dream and brainstorm solutions with someone not tied to your problem. Brainstorming is great, dreaming is great, but often when done in isolation we can easily shut down the process before it begins. We need a second party to help us think outside the box. We all edit ourselves but negativity magnifies the editing process. ”I can’t afford it”, “I can’t do that”, I don’t have the education”, “my family wouldn’t like that” are all excuses that stop the brainstorming process. Find someone who won’t put up with those excuses and get started dreaming.
3. Make thinking positive a routine. Negative thinking is so ingrained in our minds that we don’t even realize we are doing it. You need to find a way to make thinking positive a part of your system. Positive affirmations, scriptures, quotes, books, are just a few ways to make it a routine.
4. Become a Student. Read books about positive thinking. I know the wrap against “positive thinking” and I don’t buy it. I’m not suggesting living in a fantasy world, I’m suggesting rigorously deciding to stay on the offensive. Don’t shrink back from life because you’ve got serious challenges in life. Many of our graduates and success stories at the Tacoma Rescue Mission will tell you that they had to stop thinking negative, blaming others for their problems and get busy living a positive purpose for the Lord.
Give me some of your ideas on how to learn to be optimistic.
DC
Read all of David Curry's blogs at
http://blog.rescue-mission.org or visit the Rescue Mission at
http://www.rescue-mission.org