BIR: When God Writes Your Love Story – Eric & Leslie Ludy – UPDATED

When God Writes Your Love Story - Eric & Leslie Ludy

BIR – Books I Read is a new section in my Blog. I do not start to read a book, finish it and then start another one. I am not like that. I read several book in the same time. I do not have all of them open and read from one a word and from another one a word and so on. But, when I find out about a good book I try to get it and I start to read it. Some say that by doing this, I can not get the whole picture of a book. But for me that is not true.

For some time now I heard about When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric & Leslie Ludy. A few days ago a good friend told me that read it. And yesterday evening I borrowed the book. As I got home, after I had something to eat, I opened the book. I’m at the 3rd chapter now. I really like the style of how the book was written. It is fresh and easy to read. But this doesn’t make it a light book. I believe that I have things to learn from this book and that it is going to help me.

Until now, I agree with what I read. The main things in those chapters I read, is that remained in my head are:

  1. I can trust in God also to write your love story. He is more than qualified to do this. He made me, so knows me better than I do.
  2. together we have to build the foundation. This is hard gray concrete, not very attractive, but strong to build later on.
  3. I should let God drive my life, not my dreams. He has better dreams dreams than I do.

I’ll keep you updated as I read the book and how it transforms me.

(3) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (5) Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:3-5

2007.05.19 UPDATE – new ideas:

  1. God says Do not try to build me in your life, but build your life around me (chapter 4, sub-chapter 4, 3rh paragraph, p. 63, Romanian translation)
  2. There’s not super formula for a great love story. When and if I would trust in a formula, we would loose the whole beauty that is in the love story that God wants to write for me (chapter 4, sub-chapter 5, 10th paragraph, p. 66, Romanian translation)
  3. Wrong & Right questions (chapter 4, sub-chapter 8, 2nd paragraph, p. 70, Romanian translation):
    • WRONG: How far can I go without upsetting God?
    • RIGHT: How far can I go in pleasing God?
  4. Immature love always compares, complain and feels unsafe, which transforms it self into jealousy (chapter 5, sub-chapter 1, 1st paragraph, p. 75, Romanian translation)
  5. “Eric”, whispered softly, with here delicate voice, “I forgive you!” She touched my cheek with her hand and with tremble she said, “Eric, I love you! You are my here, my knight in shining armor! And I chose to love you exactly as I sweet Jesus loves me!” (chapter 5, sub-chapter 1, 11th paragraph, p. 76, Romanian translation)
  6. Love is Christ’s sweetest perfume. If you approach Him, more and more, you’ll start to smell the same way (chapter 5, sub-chapter 2, 1st paragraph, p. 79, Romanian translation)

Go to the Books I Read Page.

More is Less

What I mean with the title is that giving more choices to the customers, you actually get less profit. This happens because

  1. the customers freezes when sees so many choices and does not know what to buy. This means a waste of time, when he/she could have bought and come again to buy some more.
  2. when the customer finally decides about his choice, he/she ends up less satisfied with the choice made, than there would be less options to chose from, because:
    • it the result of the choice is not perfect, then it is easy to imagine how it would have been if you choose better. So, you regret the decision you made and this subtracts from the satisfaction you had making the decision you did. The more options there are, the easier to regret your option is.
    • the value of something depends on what you compare that thing to
    • when you choose to do a thing you choose not to do others
    • with all the options available, the expectation raise
    • everything was better back when everything was worse because back then you could have had pleasant surprises
    • raise of the clinical depression because people have fell bad because bad choices they made when there was so much to chose from.

The secret to happiness is low expectations. What enables all of this choice is the material affluence. So, Barry recommends to give our extra choice to the others that have no choice.


So, More is less!

BIR: On Brand – Wally Olins

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2 weeks ago I ordered On Brand by Wally Olins from Comunicare.ro publishing house. I got the book in a few days.

The author knows what he’s talking about. Besides that, I like his writing style. It also helped me with the project I have for my MBA (Program to Stimulate Sales at Snowy). I did not finish the book yet, but it already helped me to understand mor what is the relation between the employee and the company brand. My brain works by examples. And this book is tailored for me.

Go to the Books I Read Page.

Why I Didn't Write Anything In The Weekend

Some might ask why I didn’t write anything in the weekend. Well, I was at home, in Botosani. We had a great time. It was so good to see my parents, to give them a big hug and spend time together.I really appreciate all that my parents did for us. They are hard working people. Even if they are not feeling good with their health, they still work and do not stop.

I will not talk a lot about this, but let the photos talk for them selfs…

Mom Cooking the good stuff just me

dsc07886_mod003_resize.jpg Mom and Anda preparing the meat Everyone enjoying

Dana’s dog (actually it’s Emi’s) together with Ben together with Ben

my parents entire life work my parents entire life work my parents entire life work

my parents entire life work my parents entire life work my parents entire life work

my parents entire life work my parents entire life work enjoying the fireplace

my parents entire life work my parents entire life work my parents entire life work

my parents entire life work my parents entire life work my parents entire life work

¿ What Do I Do When I Am Given Power ?

One Of The Today’s Thoughts

Continuing 1st book of Samuel, I read about how David spares again Saul’s life.

Here are the key texts:

  1. (9) But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? (10) As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. (11) But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.” 1st Samuel 26:9-11
  2. (23) The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. (24) As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” 1st Samuel 26:23-24

I see those occasions that God gives to Daniel, when Saul’s life is in David’s hands, as a test. God already anointed David, and David knew that. So, that is why I really like how David continues to behave. It is said that give power to a man to see how he really is. This is what God did with David. At church, work or in another places we are given the opportunity to do something, to take decisions. When we are in that posture, our flesh is ready to show it’s real face. Are we strong enough to say “NO”? Am I going to do what God taught me, or listen to the flesh?

NOT JUST Morning thoughts 11th may 2007

Today I learned something very interesting. As I was reading 1st Samuel 25, I discovered how I should behave wisely. As we read (in 1 Samuel 25:3B) Abigail was an intelligent and beautiful woman. The most important thing in here is that Abigail was smart.

The short story is that Nabal, Abigail’s husband, was very rich, but he was surly and mean in his dealings. Nabal was shearing his sheep. David send 10 men to Nabal. David asked to give them something because they took care of Nabal’s heard at the Carmel. Nabal refused to give anything to David and his people. So, David got angry and set his 400 men army to go and kill all that belong to Nabal. When Abigail heard how Nabal treated David’s people, she prepared food, and went to meet with David on the road.

What I like about this story is the way Abigail talks to David. Indeed she was beautiful, and David liked that. But let’s look at the more important thing… her wisdom.

  1. Abigail came humble in front of David ((23) When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. (24) She fell at his feet[…] 1 Samuel 25:23-24). What is the cost of being humble, to behave like this? When you really want something it is worth to be humble. Behavior has no cost.
  2. Abigail admitted Nabal’s guilt, her guild as she says ((24) My lord, let the blame be on me alone […] (25) May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal 1 Samuel 25:24-25). Again, what does it cost to day that you were wrong, even to admit that it was your guild, when actually it was another’s? Abigail was to face death and all that was hers and Nabal’s to be taken by David, after they were killed. So, when you have to face that, keeping you pride is not worth dieing for.
  3. Abigail made some research on David. She knew who he was and what David did.
  4. Abigail says may your enemies and all who intend to harm my master be like Nabal. The word Nabal means crazy. David had troubles then, he had enemies – Saul.
  5. Abigail excuses herself again (Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the LORD’s battles)
  6. Again Abigail talks about the David’s problems and wished that they would get resolved (Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God)
  7. Then Abigail pus in her sentences the word sling. David killed Goliath with a stone and a sling. So, makes David feel good, remembering him about the old days.

photo by Popa Virgil – Popix – (c) 2007

Abigail is very smart. She resolves the conflict. After a few days Nabal dies. When David heard that he asks Abigail to marry him. Wise choice for David as well.

What do I have to learn from this? Well…

  1. come humble in front of the one that is angry with you
  2. it doesn’t matter if I am wrong or not, I should say that I am sorry
  3. make research on the opponent
  4. use that research to make the opponent feel proud of himself/herself
  5. say again that you regret what happened, and admit your guilt (even if you were not guilty)
  6. wish all the good things to happen to your opponent

The Book – Bible Illuminated

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Facts about The Book – Bible Illuminated (Gamla Testamentet):

  • contains the exact, unedited text from the Old Testament in the most recent update of the Swedish Bible from 2000.
  • was conceived and designed to be accessible, neutral, ethical and aesthetic.
  • includes 450 pages, with photographs, in magazine format.
  • has had 30,000 copies printed (there are about 70,000 traditional Bibles sold in Sweden annually).
  • targets an urban middle class aged 25-50 years.
  • is planned to be translated into English and to have a New Testament sequel.
  • is available in Sweden from major bookstores as well as from the official website for The Book.

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What is The Book? It’s the normal Bible in Swedish, but with a new modern design, that has pictures.

Who came with this idea? Dag Saderberg, a man with a background in advertising. He says Most people have issues with the Bible. They have never gotten into it. They don’t find it accessible. But it’s our history, our heritage. And for most of us, we relate to it more than we think. Religious or not, it shapes much of our moral codes. The Book project seeks to eliminate this inaccessibility by presenting the Old Testament in magazine format. There are millions of magazines sold every month across Europe, so this format is familiar to many people. It’s closer to the way people read today. People prefer a text that is journalistic laid out: split into articles, with headlines, quote boxes, pictures and captions. This way they can more easily pick the parts they’re interested in reading.

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My opinion is that this is a good thing. In the 1st place the good thing is that the text was not changed. The format indeed is more attractive to young people to read it. There were a few earlier attempts to put The Bible in fresh format.

When it will be in English and if it will be affordable I’ll buy it.