Passion 2012 #1

Have you ever been to an event that has overwhelmed not only your heart with passion towards others but also changed your life? I just got back from one of the greatest 4 days of my life. This was the Passion 2012 Conference in Atlanta Georgia. I want to put all of this experience into words but I am struggling to do so and took yesterday as a day to prayerfully think about what to write on here so I can fully glorify God while also explaining exactly what happened in Georgia. The one word that can fully explain everything is Jesus!! He wasn't just present in the Georgia Dome and surrounding buildings but he was alive and working through the 45,000 in attendance as well as those who volunteered their time to make this conference happen.

I unfortunately was about two and a half hours late the first night because of my inability to get off work before noon but I showed up right at the time God had planned. When I got there I had already missed the first main session of the event in which Louie Giglio spoke and Chris Tomlin led worship so needless to say I was very bummed by the time I entered the World Congress Center to register. When I entered the building I was overwhelmed with the amount of people walking to their family groups. The lady at the desk gave me a packet that had a purple bracelet in it but then I explained that I had no clue where to go so she switched me from that color to a green one and more importantly a striped green one. Their room was right beside where I registered. This sounds very insignificant but this little change was all God because little did I know that I knew four people in this group and most importantly that I would meet 7 new people that would eventually become my family in a matter of 48 hours. These 7 come from different states in the U.S. but they all have a love of Christ and are all attending this conference hoping that God will give them answers to different things in their own personal lives. When I walked into this hall with 5,000 fellow striped green wearers I did not know what to think other than I hope I have a group with the people I know and well God had different plans. After we all met and broke some of the ice we dove right into the word of God in Ephesians. One of the best parts of having a random group of people studying the word of God is everyone has their own interpretation of what it means and also we all have different life experiences that we can bring to the table that could in turn help out those within the group. When I left our family group that night I knew we had something special but honestly excitement was building because I wanted to hear the David Crowder Band for the late night concert. DCB brought the house down and had the 45,000 wanting more but we all had to leave the Dome and get some sleep because it was going to be a long four days.

When leaving the dome on Monday night I had one thing on my mind, sleep! I drove to our hotel but took a different route and then had to drive around the downtown area of Atlanta because of the multiple one way streets. This detour opened my eyes to the poverty level in this city and many others in the world. I saw over 100 homeless people and I could not believe it. Yes I've seen the homeless before but never of this magnitude and I, like many others, just put this harsh reality into the back of our minds and move on with life. I forgot to mention that on Monday night it was spitting snow and was very very cold. I struggled to fall asleep that night knowing there was so many people just in this city that have no homes and have to resort to using other peoples trash to manufacture something to keep them warm. Before getting to Passion every person attending was asked to bring towels and socks so they could use this mass donation to give to those homeless and needy in the city. I was frustrated because I had to stop and buy socks for this Monday afternoon but after seeing the homeless I knew that what I donated would help keep a few people warm for many many nights. My thoughts have changed toward this and I am going to try and give back to my community both with my money and time.

As I close this portion of the blog regarding my experiences at Passion, I ask that you all pray for the 45,000 who were in attendance. We all are back at our normal lives now on fire for God and ready to make a difference. I also ask that you all consider donating something to a local charity so those less fortunate might be able to have a better life. Remember there are hundreds if not thousands of homeless in Atlanta Georgia right now and probably some in your hometown. I also ask that you might open your Bibles today and read some of Ephesians in not the whole book. (It's Short) God Bless you all and I will be blogging about the rest of my experiences at Passion 2012 in the days ahead. Have a wonderful day.

Ephesians 1:11-14 "11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory."

Mary Did You Know?

It's a couple of days before Christmas and a few days ago I saw a status update with the lyrics of the song "Mary Did You Know" which has sparked this post. This song is very powerful and has made me think a lot about the birth of Christ. After much thinking it has made me curious to what Mary thought when she saw Jesus for the first time. This baby that was miraculously placed into her body was the son of God and the one who would eventually save her and everyone else from eternal damnation to a life in Hell. I know what it was like to hold my niece for the first time just a few minutes after she was born. To see that perfect being with no worries in the world come into a place with many worries and hardship is a surreal feeling of love and hope for her life. Jesus on the other hand was a perfect being not just the day he was born but throughout his earthly life. Jesus also had the weight of the world on his back even on His first day on earth. Looking back at the song mentioned earlier, I think it would be hard to parent a child who is our own Savior. How would you discipline a kid who is the son of the most high? Could you even tell Him no? I know these questions are not answerable and are ultimately rhetorical but I only ask these to spark thoughts in your mind. I also ask these questions so you can give thought to the reason for this Christmas season and not just go through the motions again this year. There is a chance this could be my last post before Christmas and if so I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope all get to spend it with your love ones. I am happy and lucky enough to be around my whole family this year. I feel very blessed for this. Thank you all for reading and God Bless you throughout this Christmas season!!

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”” Luke 2:11-14 NIV

Eli's story: Ripped from the womb

I think you all will find this article very interesting and heartwarming. This young man is from my hometown and my high school. Enjoy everyone and God Bless!!

Eli's story: Ripped from the womb

Home for Christmas

This year has been different than those of my past. A few years back I thought I had it bad living 3 hours away from home and not being able to spend the whole Christmas season with my family. This year is much different. My parents asked me many times what I wanted and I told them different random things but honestly all I want is to be with them without having to worry about going back to work or being stressed about something pointless. I made a list for Santa (oh yeah I still believe)this year and the list could have been summed up with a simple phrase. All I want for Christmas is to be home!! I am happy to say I get to go home and be with my family and friends in two days. To say I'm excited is an understatement. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is the huge weather change from the 65 degrees we had today to the sub 30s. I'm still looking for reader participation. What are you looking forward to most this Christmas? Thanks again for reading and have a Blessed day

Proverbs 24 "19 Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, 20 for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out."

Fun Friday

I want to start a tradition of blog posts on Friday to be fun and have a more relaxed reading. This Christmas season is full of fun and should be a great time of the year. One of my favorite movies of the season is Elf. This movie has a good mix of children and adult comedy but most of all it is enjoyable year after year. We all need to have an attitude like Buddy does in this movie toward how we treat others. He is friendly and loves everyone he comes into contact with. The world would be a different place if we treated others like this. Try it out this Christmas and give back to others in your life. Below is one of my favorite scenes in the movie so I hope you enjoy it. I would like to have more reader participation in this blog so I'm curious what is your favorite Christmas movie? and Why do you like this movie so much? Thank you for reading and God Bless

Proverbs 21:13-14, "13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. 14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath."

The Albert Pujols Departure

Tonight there are many thoughts going through my mind but the main one is of Albert Pujols. I am a die hard Cardinals fan and have been a fan of Mr. Pujols since his entrance into Major League Baseball. This departure from the Cardinals was at first hard to take and was actually saddening news. But after looking at the whole situation it is probably best he signed with the Angels especially for the amount of money they gave him. I have great respect for Albert and the Christian man that he is. I think he will use this money wisely and will be able to add to his foundation. Now with everyone who seemingly "Hates" him makes no sense at all. Facebook and Twitter exploded with people who call themselves fans but are bashing Albert. I think everyone needs to look at this deal in a much smaller term to understand. Say your boss offers you a promotion in a different city doing the same job but for a much greater amount of money. What do you do? Most people will take that new job especially if they want to get ahead in this world. A lot of people forget that baseball, although it is a sport, it is still a job for those who play and it is also a business. Teams like the Cardinals know their fiscal responsibilities and know how much they can afford and 250+ Million dollars over 10 years is way too much. The Cardinals will be successful this season and could possibly make it back to the World Series. Albert Pujols I thank you for your years of service with the Cardinals and I wish you 10 years of success with the Angels. I also hope you come back and retire in STL. Most importantly Albert please continue to be a man of God and lead people to Christ. All of the hype over baseball is only temporary and heaven is for eternity! It might be time for everyone to check their priorities and realize the only thing that really matters in this world is our Savior Jesus Christ. God Bless you all and thanks for reading. Proverbs 3:9-10 "9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine."

Actions speak louder than your Facebook status

Tonight as I look through Facebook status updates I realize how confused some people have it. I see updates with a real sentimental Bible verse or I get a text from them saying they went to church a couple of times on Sunday but when I look more into their lives I see different. It's like what you see on the outside is not who they really are when you do a little investigating. I don't mean to judge and know it's not in my right to judge peoples actions but it really bothers me when I see this. I know it ultimately comes down to them and God. I just hope some people change before its too late. Getting drunk every weekend is only hurting yourself and those who are around you. Remember you only get one chance at life. Don't waste it being intoxicated and remember when you die it's either Heaven or Hell and you don't get a redo. I want to live my life to glorify God and teach others about Him and want to save people from an eternity in Hell. After reading this my prayer is that you might take a deep look into your life and realize that maybe your actions are speaking louder than what your Facebook status is trying to portray. Remember a lot of people read your status but even more look at your pictures and the comments you put on other peoples pages. If you see you need to change your lifestyle please kneel before God and ask for forgiveness. He is with you and will greatly take your hand and heart and love you more than you have ever known. The Heaven's rejoice when a sinner is saved!! Have a great Tuesday everyone. Thank you for reading and God Bless. Also please feel free to comment and send my link to others to read. Proverbs 23:12 "Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge."

Friendship

Tonight I sit in my apartment I find sleep hard to do. It is about midnight and I am tired but my mind is saying otherwise. Instead of wasting all of my life and time being on Facebook I am going to make a personal goal to fill this time with either reading or writing. My life is too precious to spend it looking at the lives of other people. Don't get me wrong I like Facebook and think it is a great thing especially for those like me who live multiple hours from family and friends but it can overrun a persons life. When I ponder the thought of Facebook it reminds me of friendships. Are Facebook friends really friends? IMO some are friends but most of the others are people that you maybe had class with, played along with on a team, or maybe you just randomly. I hold my friends dear to my heart because after high school I lost of "friends" but gained many more close ones. To be a friend you must commit a part of your life to be part of their life. I try to text my friends as often as I can just to let them know I still care and think about them no matter how far away I might be. A close friend of mine gave me the suggestion of writing about friendship tonight and I was a little reluctant to start with for many reasons but I think looking into friendship is something we all should do throughout this Christmas season. We should shower our friends with love and Christmas joy. Our friends should know that even though physical distance could be hours that in reality we are just a quick phone call or Skype date away. (Yes guys can Skype date other guys) This certain friend of mine who suggested this topic of friendship tonight is one I hold dear to my heart and is sister in Christ. We met a few years back at church camp became really close friends then in a matter of weeks became quite distant. Now a college degree and a few years later we live multiple hours from our hometowns, family's, and friends but close to each other. I look back and never would have thought I would be this far from home but to realize that the girl I became close friends with would be in the same situation and in relatively the same part of the U.S. God's plan for our lives are in much greater detail than we could ever think of. God's greatness continues to amaze me everyday. Thank you to all of my friends for being there when I have needed you the most. I appreciate and love you all. Thank you for the idea to write about friendship. I honestly cherish our friendship and hope we can continue to become closer friends. As I wrap up this post I would like you to look at your friends and give them a shout out this week. Let them know you appreciate their love and kindness and also ask them if they need anything? I would also like you to look back on your life and see how and where God has blessed you. Thank you for reading and God Bless you throughout your week!! Proverbs 23:12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Today as I sit in class about Sport Marketing I have a lot of things other than what we are talking about on my mind. Just a thought that I have been thinking about has to do with Christmas trees. When you buy a "live" Christmas tree is it really alive? The tree has been cut down and when you buy it it does not include the roots. I know this might be weird to think about are the trees dead or alive? A good think to compare this to is when you get fresh flowers. They are still alive but cut from the roots and can only be maintained with water. On to further thoughts this class is discussing endorsements with professional athletes. This just sparks thoughts about what it would be like to get paid to wear a brand of clothing instead of paying to wear that product. I haven't looked much into the NBA lockout but when I hear of players complaining about money and not getting paid enough it really gets under my skin. There are kids and families in the U.S. who just went through Thanksgiving without a family meal or even food. This is hard to think about and consider but when you see the suffering first hand this instance becomes very real. This past Thanksgiving I was not able to go home and see my parents but I think this was God's way of opening my eyes to the real world. I was privileged enough to spend Thanksgiving with a couple young guys who would not have had a family meal without the graciousness of my sister. It really made the experience of giving thanks even more special than usual. I challenge you for this Christmas season to find a family or a person who will not enjoy this season as you will. Give your time and gifts to others to help make this year the best that person has ever experienced. Proverb of the day: "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3 NIV Thank you for reading and have a great God filled day!!! -Chris-

Final Class Meeting

This is my final official classroom blog post for this semester. This course has been a good learning experience for my final semester here at UIS. My favorite part of the class was our elluminate sessions. I liked how we were able to meet in class without actually being face to face. My recommendation for next years class is to implement more elluminate sessions with more presentations. Thank you for this class. I had a great time and I am very thankful I decided to drive to Peoria to take a Monday night class like this one. Once again thank you and have a great summer!!

Fighting at work

My final project is on managing conflict at work. I found this video on Youtube last night and have to share with you all. This is NOT the proper way to manage conflict at work. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

LPGA State Farm Classic Logic Model

This is the logic model I presented last night in class. Please feel free to comment and leave suggestions for improvement as well as suggestions for the tournament. Thank you!

Logic Model for the classic

I found it interesting to use the Logic Model in comparison with my internship the LPGA State Farm Classic. I had to do some very hard thinking to fill in the model to fit the tournament. It was also neat that this tournament would fit in each of the categories. I was able to break it down into the different sections. i am looking at the tournament a little differently now because in my mind it is broke down into smaller pieces. The three main parts of this model are inputs, outputs, and outcomes-impact. I will try to post my version of the model tomorrow. Here is the original logic model used in class from the University of Missouri Extension.

Twitter Video

The twitter video suggested for us to watch today was very interesting and informative. I finally learned what it meant when people would put (#) before their tweets. I also really liked it that you can search topics and use twitter as a search engine to see what is being said about popular events around the world. I was always the person who said that twitter is a fad and it will eventually fade out like Myspace did but after this video I think it might be here to stay. Here is a link to the video for your viewing pleasure.

http://bb.uis.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_13088_1%26url%3D

Resume Help

The resume website I found to be the most help to me is http://www.freeresumehelp.net/. They offer help from Certified Professional Resume Writers and their colleagues. A great aspect of their website is it offers a FREE e-course in writing the perfect resume. This course will help you learn the secrets that will transform your resume. Everything they offer is free which is a huge plus. I know this is only one of many free resume helping and building websites but I found this one to be the most informative.

Request for Proposal Example

Sample Request for Proposal for External Quality Assessment Services

January xx, 200x

Ms. XXX
c/o ABC Assessment Firm
123 Any Street
Anytown, FL 00000

Dear Ms. XXX:

This letter is a Request for a Proposal (RFP) for an External Quality Assessment (QA) of ABC Company Manufacturing, Inc. Internal Audit Services.

Background: ABC Company, a public company, manufactures and markets specialty medical surgical devices. Manufacturing facilities are located in three Mid-Atlantic States. Distribution facilities are located in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Louisiana, and Nevada. Sales are made through an outsourced sales organization. In the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 200x, net revenues were approximately $2.2 billion and assets exceeded $2.5 billion. Further information is available on our Web site: www.abccompany.com.

Our Internal Audit Services Department consists of ## professionals, including the vice president who reports to the president/chief executive officer (CEO). The vice president has access to the chairman of the board and the audit committee.

The audit function provides an independent appraisal of key financial and operational controls. The audit department also shares best practices that promote operational efficiencies and cost saving opportunities. Our audit plan is the result of an annual risk assessment. A copy of the approved FY200x Audit Plan is enclosed for your reference.

Review services to be provided: This RFP is for an external quality assessment of Internal Audit Services of ABC Company. The selected independent party will:

1. Assess the IA Activity’s conformity to The Institute of Internal Auditor’s International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.

2. Evaluate the IA Activity’s efficiency and effectiveness in carrying out its mission (as set forth in its charter and expressed in the expectations of ABC Company management).

3. Identify opportunities to enhance the IA Activity’s management of resources and work processes, as well as its value to ABC Company.

The response to this RFP should identify the membership and credentials of the review team, and the primary contact’s information. The review team will include manufacturing internal audit experience.

The review will be confidential, with the results only provided to designated ABC Company representatives. The independent party shall prepare a written report upon completion of the external quality assessment that is addressed to the CEO and the audit committee. A presentation on the external quality assessment results will be made to the audit committee.

Fee Estimate Assumptions: Your fee estimate should incorporate the following assumptions:
• The project will be performed in Month, 200x, with a preliminary report submitted by April 28, 200x, and the final report issued by May 15, 200x.
• Fees should include the cost, plus any estimated expenses.

Submission and Selection: Proposals for the external quality assessment must be submitted by Jan. 20, 200x. Internal auditing and our quality assessment oversight committee, which is composed of our chief financial officer, chief legal officer, and a member of our audit committee, will review each proposal. Selection of the provider vendor is tentatively set for Feb. 1, 200x, after interviews of finalists. Additional information requests should be coordinated through my office at +1-000-555-0000.

Other Matters: Please provide references.

We are looking forward to working with you, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,

David P. Auditor
Vice President, Internal Audit

Attachment
cc: President/CEO
Quality Assessment Oversight Committee

Assignment 2: Structured Blog Activity

1. I follow certain bands on Twitter and Facebook. Their activity on these social media websites has allowed me to see previously unknown aspects of their lifestyles. An example of this is the band Skillet. They post a video podcast on their Facebook fan page as well as on itunes and YouTube. This podcast shows the behind the scenes of concerts, bus rides, and their lives. I also follow individual members of this band. Some members of Skillet post pictures on their twitter. It makes these people seem more like human beings and not some fictional character you hear on the radio. Evan’s Ladder of Engagement is creating content by posting photos, evangelize offering consists of the actual fan page, consume content is reading updated posts and curate content is watching videos posted on the fan page.

2. The two distinct brands of social media are Twitter and Facebook. I am interning at the LPGA State Farm Classic and I am in charge of the social media. I never realized how important these two websites were to a business until I started interning. We use this to inform every fan and follower of the breaking news and tournament updates. The goal is to expand the amount of friends on Facebook in order to establish a larger fan base.

Amazing Social Media Popularity

This week we are covering social media and how popular it has become. Some people think it is a fad and there are facts to back those thoughts up but I do not believe that at all. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Wiki's are here to stay. The video below will show you some of the staggering stats of these social media networks. The numbers are huge and unbelievable but they prove to us that social media is here to stay.

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are something I do not remember learning about in high school or even college to this date. I found it interesting that short phrases can be eliminated and fixed so easily. For example, the phrase "stick up for" can be easily eliminated with the word "defend." I like how this can be a very small cure to the wordiness problem most college students see in their writing styles. Here is a couple links to websites for more information on phrasal verbs and other fixes to wordiness. Thanks for reading!

http://www.learn-english-today.com/phrasal-verbs/phrasal-verb-list.htm

http://isucomm.iastate.edu/wordiness

My Thoughts on the Class Presentations

I really liked the way we did our class presentations. This format made me pay more attention to each individual's country and their cultures. The countries discussed were Brazil, Canada, Italy, Sweden, and Australia to name a few. I learned a lot about Australia. A couple of the main things I learned was how strict they are with littering, women are referred to as love just like men are called mate, and I didn't know people in Australia were such straightforward people. This was a good opportunity for everyone in the class to broaden our horizons on other countries. When we graduate and move on to bigger and better things some of us will be faced with working on the global scale. With this opportunity comes an even greater challenge. You must understand the culture of your international business partner or you run the risk of failing miserably. Do the research because it will pay off in the long run. I guarantee it!