A Moral Foundation . . . Audwin

This week in forum we had a Real Renaissance Man come speak to us. Mr. McGee is a artist/craftsmen. He talked about the Pursuit of Happiness, not the movie, but on that note I haven't it. In order to pursue happiness you have to know what makes you happy. I tried thinking about what made me happy. I'm one of those who really didn't care about money, being around my family made me really happy. Spending time with my cousin, are the majority of memories. We used to fun and crazy things like play hide-n- go-seek on 4-wheelers. Which in all reality, I don't understand how it worked, but it did. We used to sit on my auntie couch and watch every movie like Scary Movie, Love and Basketball, Boyz N' the Hood, and Waterboy, and other things of that nature. As I got older, nothing made me more happier than being able to work for free. Volunteering!!! I love to volunteer, if I can fit in my schedule I will. I kind of want a degree in Professional NonProfit Management, but I would have to transfer and I wouldn't want to do that, but I'll have to think about that though.

He also said something along the line about when you make plans for the future, you need to set goals, and I strongly agree with that. I haven't really made plans for the future, but I have set some many goals for myself, and I will reach them (if God's Will). But overall We neeed to build a moral foundation, a set up of our own principles.

Choir Director!

So, I went home this weekend, because we had choir practice at church (David's Temple Missionary Baptist Church). When I walked in I was happy to see that we had a Choir Director. For the past few months we didn't have one, because our other one had to do something at her father's church. Her name is Mrs. Jackie, and she told us she was the choir director from "hell". Lol. She really worked with us and encourages us to hit our notes and do better. She may be a little strict but I think that's what our choir needs a little more direction. We ended up practicing 3 hours this past Saturday! But I enjoyed it, I just love singing. I see it as my way to minister to people. I think God's has placed music in my heart so I can share His word through my music. That's what our new choir director is saying. "Singing for the Lord ain't nothing to play with, because you never know who you're ministering too."

We took this song and reworked, it in so many ways, and it sounded legit. It was much different from the  way they are singing it, but it pretty close. We add leads and modulations and stuff like that.

We worked on this song again . . . 

Ricky DIllard

So I'm starting to build an ear for Ricky Dillard and New G. There are one of the few choir groups still left and their are going strong, they remind of how church used to be when I was little. If we sing one of their songs during service, the spirit just moving in that place. I really do love their music, it's so uplifting and encouraging . . .

A 12 Hour Flight? Ain't nobody got time for that!

This was my favorite forum so far. Dr. Chunsheng Zhang started me off talking about how people new to Alabama would have to study "Alabamian". I was rolling laughing, in my mind of course. I WAS interested in doing a study abroad program, but I just don"t believe I would be able to sit on a plane, in the air, buzzing, ears popping, and hungry for 12 hours. While he was talking I was bouncing places around in my headed, and I would love to go to Costa Rica, Australia, maybe Hawaii. Okay! that last one probably wouldn't count, but you catch my drift.

After listening to Corinne talk about China, I really wanted to go, but then I heard 12 hour flight again, and ain't nobody got time for that. I really dislike doubting myself, but I don't like being in a confined space for more than 4hrs. I have flown to Boston and D.C., but we had lay overs. So maybe if they get lay overs on the way to China, then I will go.

I would love to go to Costa Rica, but I just don't know if I really want to do an immersion program. I would actually love to do what Lauren did if I could find someone to go with me. 

Everything That Is Legal Isn't Always Ethical

Ms. Libby Watts Jordan, member UNA Board of Trustees & Director of Cultural Tourism, was our inspiration for the week. I was glad to have a female speaker, because for some reason there voices keep you involved and help you pay more attention. This week forum started off  with the phrase " Things change over Time". Our topic for the week was Honesty in the Business World. 

Ms. Jordan told us that we are all salesmen, and that is so true. We go are around everyday parading ourselves to be what we want people to see us as. We sale our intelligence by our school work, we sale our leadership through our activities, and so on. ( This is a complete side-note, but she gave us a stat that stated that 95% of cheaters never get caught.) I really loved her stories they were quite powerful.

At the End of this I came to realize that when you come to face 'conflicts of interests' you sometimes have look at your morals and do what you do because it is the right thing to do. Be Honest and Up Front!

Values? In the Business World?

Our speaker at Honors Forum this week was the president of Bank Independent, Mr. Macke Mauldin. It refreshing to see that not all business people are like the corrupt you see on TV or hear on the news all the time. It’s great to know that some of them actually have values. Next, the president of the bank gave of us his bank’s values:

1. People

 2. Community

3. Strength

4. Service

5. Convenience

These values are not just important for Bank Independent, but for the rest of society as well.

He finished with saying attitude is everything thing whatever you do, make sure you stand behind. If it’s the wrong thing fix it and move on! If you want to be look on a person with strong moral values, you will stay true to your values and act them out!

Inspiration Through Dedication

This week speaker was inspiring. Dr. Wes Desselle, a surgeon Helen Keller Hospital came and shared the experience that help him decide to go into the medical field. He told us about a car accident that he had, which caused him to undergo surgery, that ultimately helped him, and because of that he wanted to be able to do the same thing for others. That's how he chose his career, which is very plausible. It helped me kind of re-capture my goal of working and creating some Non-Profit organizations. To whom I believe much gratitude is owed, because with out those non-profit organization, our communities probably wouldn't be as great as they are now. 

Back to Dr. Desselle, he mention three human values, not only need in the Medical World but the Real World too, and they are: 

Mentorship:

In the New Testament passage that we often call “The Great Commission” (Matthew28:19 –20), Jesus urges all believers to “go and make disciples” (verse 19). The objective was not that they attract their own disciples, but that they attract new followers of Jesus. The book of Acts tells the story of how the Spirit-filled apostles obeyed that command. Closely related to the concept of making disciples is the mentoring of leaders. However, neither discipleship nor mentoring were invented by the early church. The principles involved had been around for centuries.

Source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/52770330/19/Biblical-Examples-of-Mentoring

Perseverance:
Many of us harbor hidden low self-esteem. We deem everything and everyone more important that ourselves and think that meeting their needs is more important than eeting our own. But if you run out of gas, everyone riding with you will be left stranded.- T.D. Jakes

Romans 5:3-4 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/25-awesome-perseverance-quotes/#ixzz2DXKaao6A

Trust: And everyone should have the gist of trust down by now!