Yesterday afternoon a heathen walked into the break room of MARDEL Christian and Educational Supplier and STOLE my phone. I called my number and the thief actually answered. LORD I pray for those that have spitefully used me. I pray that the blessing of truth will reign in their lives, for the wages of sin is death.

Regardless. I have received a new phone. In less than 18 hours my replacement had arrived. I do not however though, have any one's phone number. If you have my number in your cell phone. And would like to hear from me in the future, then give me a call. I would love to save your number so that I could in turn call sometime to say hello. Thanks!

Proverbs 18:13 has spoken to me so frequently in the past few days. How many times it has been such a horribly daunting task to study silence.

There is a professional relationship of mine that started off on the wrong foot. She thought I was wrong, and I was too right to let her continue being so wrong, regardless of how few the days I had been around.

Needless to say her stubbornness was introduced to my own and she still hasn't gotten over it. In fact, she did a very effective job of influencing the initial view of a few others. Now we have all entered that fun stage where everyone else has realized how wrong she was and is now falling on the other side of nice to make up for their missperceptions, except of course The Thorn.

And so it is through the relational workings of Thorn and myself that I have come reacquainted with some psychological understandings that interest me. I have in a since, continually tried to manipulate Thorn so that I can increase my influence. John Maxwell builds a staircase to influence. It begins with relationship, then calls for success and finally requires the development of others leading to their own successes. Let me share with you a few of the 'experiments' I am trying to conduct to reach the first step on Maxwells staircase.

One finding (I would source these, but my Social Psychology book is at Julie's and I don't want to waste the time Google'ing), shows that when someone is asked or convinced to perform a favor or work for another that the view of the recipient is heightened by the giver. It seems that while the person giving is performing the task they tend to justify their actions by increasing their perceived value of the person they are performing for. (i.e. Yesterday I asked Thorn if she would store my bag of starlight mints in her desk drawer, of course she could have any she wanted... True I give away a few mints, but now everytime she opens that drawer she is reminding that she is doing something for me. Why would she do that if she hated me? Maybe she dosen't really hate me.)

Another finding shows that a moderate amount of negativity towards a bystander also increases the perception the bystander has for that individual. I loved the way this one played out. Last Thursday. I walked up to a desk and Thorn was standing their with Pleasant. I said hello to both, but only asked Pleasant how her weekend was. Afterward I started to slowly leave without speaking to Thorn.

She quickly bit, and said, "Aren't you going to ask how my weekend was?'

Of course I turned around and said, "Oh! I didn't know you would even want to tell me."

"Well I enjoy talking to you..."

Simple examples really, some would say those 'findings' are mere common since to a skilled communicator. However, regardless of how new or old the information, it still brings about a pause. Is it wrong to use your knowledge and understanding, however limited it may be, in interpersonal relationships toward an end that serves a purpose? Does a nice gesture, when done with an ulterior motive, cease to be nice? Of course I wouldn't dare propose that one shouldn't serve and be nice just for the sake of being nice, 1 Peter would certainly detour such missconceptions. I would be dishonest if I said that I had never used some psychological principles in every relationship I have. I guess the question is: Should I apologize for it?

Tonight was a wonderful service. I found myself once again getting lost in praise and worship. Oh how wonderful He is.

It is so sweet to just love the Lord and praise Him. He has been so merciful when my attention has been so divided. He truly is the Lover of My Soul.

It's 9:15 on Saturday morning and my brother is now 29. Do I call him and wake him up to wish him a happy birthday or do I let him sleep in. If your into the blog thing then you already know how much he enjoys sleep, But he loves me too right :)? Ah what to do.

People talk so frequently of sleep and how much they enjoy it. Bill Cosby relates it to a good steak. His retelling reminded me of mom. He said he wouldn't tear into sleep with long and loud log cutting action, but more soft and subdued humms and murmurings of fondness. Regardless Joseph James, Bill Cosby, Sis Karla and many others in great company love sleep. I think I don't.

We all know I'm a hopeless romantic, but if Julie is going somewhere in the morning and I wont see her for a while, I like her to call and wake me up. I want to hear her say good morning and encourage each other at the beginning of the day. Sometimes when friends are over and work is looming on the horizon there is just to much gold lying in those hours to sell them to sleep.

Yes, Lord, You've made us fearfully and wonderfully, but I do long for the day when this body will be made new. When rest and regeneration will not be needed and I can spend every drop of eternity with You, You're wonderful people, and the angels.

9:22... I've waited long enough. Goodmorning Sunshine!!!

Joseph James Ouellette

On Saturday February 3, 2007 my brother will be a score and nine years old. I have met men with twice as many years and not half as much wisdom. Somewhere along the way that wisdom revealed itself in the value of passion. And so what ever work it was that his hands found to do, he would sacrifice of himself, and it would resound in excellence. So often he quotes an interview that he conducted with Terry Creekmore. He would tell the story of asking Bro Creekmore about his calling into ministry, he loved the reply. 'I don't really know that God ever called me. It was just that I saw a need and knew I could do it. So I did.' There is no better description of the principal foundation of Joseph James Ouellette than that. If there is something that HAS to be done, he can do it, will do it and probably do it better than you.

If you have a mission field of 6000 students you can count on him to spend years toward creating an organization to try and reach them. If your church has been uncounted in the work of reaching children while others are taking advantage of the opportunity you wont even need to solicit his response in ministry. There are not ways to convey the depth that my brother will pour himself into a masterful job of baking an apple pie or sharing the word of the Lord.

Along that 29 year wisdom illuminated the path of knowledge. If you have something to share then share it. You will find in Joseph a mind that is ready to hear what you offer. You may get it back, and you may not appreciate what he did with it, but you won't have to think long or hard to find the truth in his reply. Oh how aggravating when you are arguing and you know that you have been exposed... how well I know that feeling. Overcoming what some would have considered obstacles Joseph James is a man who seeks understanding, gives it the attention it deserves and shares it freely with those around him.

I guess I will leave you with this. I find in you, Joseph, a picture of a man. A man who seeks to fulfill the role that God has revealed to him. A man who does truly know the meaning of success and refuses to seek after the cheap imitations the world portrays. A man who will lead. A man who will follow. A man who knows where he falls in between the two. I love you. Happy Birthday!