The Value

I didn't realize how little the value of business was valued until just recently when I was overcharged by several dollars.

I was using the taxi service offered by my office and after a two hour shuttle I was returned to my house. The driver mumbled the fare over his shoulder and held out his hand for the money. But the amount he was charging me was a few dollars over the negotiated rate my office had agreed upon with the taxi company.

Thinking that I must have misunderstood the driver I asked that he repeat his fare. He repeated his inflated fare even after I asked him to double check. It was late, there was no supervisor in their main dispatch office and I didn't want to argue so I paid him what he asked for.

I, later, got in touch with the corporate sales manager and got the situation cleared up and a reimbursement of my money. But what struck me was the short-sightedness of the taxi driver. He put his livelihood, his reputation and that of the taxi company future earnings and business on the line in order to make a few extra dollars.

It pointed out a flaw in his reasoning and a principle should follow. Always round off the deal in the client's favor.

We will always be confronted with situations in which, while no one is watching, we could take advantage of the client. That may mean making more money on that deal but it will, without a doubt, mean a loss of a business relationship. And after it is all said and done its the personal relationships we make along the way that validate our words and produce dividends beyond what we can see, taste or feel.

G

-- Post From My iPhone

Canceling out God's Word

I always believed that there was nothing that could stand up against God's Word. He Is God, so it would stand to reason that there shouldn't be anything that could stand against His Word, right? He created the heavens and the earth. He placed the stars in the sky with the words of His mouth. He measures the oceans in the palm of His hand. So, it's logical to believe that His words will carry with them the power to fullfill them and nothing can stop it.

Well, to my surprise, that has an exception clause.

Yes. God's words have the power to fulfill their purpose but God's plans can be thwarted.

Think about this... Isn't it God's will that all men might be saved? So, are they all saved? Is it God's fault? Wouldn't you agre that this is an interesting situation in which God's will is not fulfilled because of man.

In a like manner God's words are held back or are of no effect (ie can not take effect or cause an effect) because of man's traditions.

I won't write about man's traditions this time but we should all take a moment and check ourselves, asking "are my ideas, experiences, or philosophies nullifying God's word?" have we ever said "I know that is what the Bible says BUT...." if so we might be nullifying God's word in our life.



-- Post From My iPhone

As for me and my family

When I read what Joshua said I didn't have a family of my own. I was encouraged by his conviction and leadership. I imagined Mel Gibson in Braveheart as he ran before his men on his steed encouraging his men before the battle.

I whole heartedly agreed, and vowed to do the same when my time came to be a head-of-household. Then I got married and I realized that William Wallace wasn't married when he so valiently stood before his men and made his pledge.

Joshua's pledge took on a different meaning. It wasn't just a stand but a commitment to God and to his family. It was a declaration of how he would live his life in such a way that every action and word would serve as a guide to his children and children's children on serving God.

It may sound simple but that statement means a denial of self interests and becoming sold out to a higher cause. In fact it means that those who make that statement must live the life they want their family to live.

I, for one, believe that it's worth it. And so I repeat those words I shouted out in Vision Juvenil 86 and Joshua declared before the people of Israel "...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."


-- Post From My iPhone

What are you doing!?

Our every action is important. Our every word propels us toward a certain future. And if we take our 24 hours lightly we will find ourselves in a difficult and inhospitable place.

Look at the ships on the sea. If they don't have a ploted course they will eventually land on the rocks.

How is your day plotted? Are you taking advantage of your down time? Are you investing in yourself and on your future?

I challenge you to take an inventory of your day and record the time you spend. I submit that, if you are spending more than 120 minutes a day in non-productive activities, your floating dangerously near the rocks.

Take advantage of every moment of every day. Don't let your life slip by.

Gabriel G


-- Post From My iPhone

Ride to school

The taxi jerked to the left in order to avoid a horse-drawn cart making it's way down the Javier Prado (a semi-highway in Lima) and I looked down at my 4-year old laughing and singing beside me.

She knows no other life except the one overseas. To her it's normal to see horses on the highway, and over stuffed buses. To her it's a wonderful experience to eat an empanada on the street corner and haggle with the street vendor for a better price on her M&M's.

She's growing up and experiencing the world at lighting speed. I feel many times like the crowd in the stands watching the runner rush by on her way towards the finish line.

She used to fit in one arm. Now she looks up at me from her side of the taxi pointing at the fire eater asking for money at the light-stop.

We're going to her school and some would think it to be a waste of time, others would fill the 10-15 minutes with a phone call or an email to their boss. To me it's 15 minutes that I will cherish for a lifetime.

My beautiful baby girl







-- Post From My iPhone

Why the iPhone

I was asked today why I had an iPhone, or was it "what's so special about the iPhone?"? What ever the case it boiled down to the same thing.

I asked the same question while I was still debating whether to buy one. In fact, I am constantly asking myself that question.
The most obvious always tops the list. "'cause it's cool and it's all the rave" but I find that the iPhone is much more that just a shinny bauble. It has grown from a simple phone into a portable office and communication center.

I can make a multiple user phone conference, text and receive SMS responses in ordered fashion by contact or contact group, present keynote and/or PowerPoint presentations by wifi, record audio memos or conversations and email them to myself or some other interested party.
Besides the business related things mentioned above, I can also listen to a day's worth of mp3's and several movies, while playing a game and doing what I'm doing now.... Writing this blog while being bounced around in a Peruvian taxi cab.

An iPhone puts me far ahead of my competition and in a favorable place to serve those who rely on me.
-- Post From My iPhone

Two Children

I wish the blessing of children on all. They don't come with a hand book, which would greatly help, nor do they come with fear. This combination can keep any adult on their toes. But what makes childhood so wonderful is their trust and unwavering faith in their parents.

I constantly learn from my 2 about how my relationship with my heavenly father should be like. The issues of trust, patience, promises, my word all come to bear.

What saddens me most is when one or the other doesn't believe me. I ask them why or who told them that I wouldn't do this or that.

That's when I see myself receiving the same chidding from my heavenly Father when I doubt Him.

I should never forget that my Father can not lie and can not change Him mind. His promises are YES and AMEN.