Attitude Determines Everything!

How we react, what we do or say, all depends on our attitude. It determines whether we'll be happy or sad. Attitude can help, or hinder us in all areas of our lives.

If your thoughts are constantly of doom and gloom, you will receive the same in return.

Your thoughts and your perception of the world influences all that you do, and all that you are, and all that you can be.

Changing your attitude is really changing the way you see things. To begin the change, you must start looking for the good in every situation, rather than the negative.

So, you see the choice is yours. If we compare attitude to swimming, which are you doing?

Are you swimming - even against the currents and the waves you keep going,
you see your destination and you are taking action to reach it.

Are you floating - just allowing the waves to carry you, you end up
where ever the water takes you.

Are you drowning - you see the waves and the currents as difficulties
you can not over come.

The finest gift ...

The finest gift you can give anyone is encouragement.
Yet, almost no one gets the encouragement they need to grow to their full potential.
If everyone received the encouragement they need to grow, the genius in most everyone would blossom and the world would produce abundance beyond our wildest dreams.

Playing The Game

Life is a game with a glorious prize,

If we can only play it right.

It is give and take,

build and break,

And often it ends in a fight;

But he surely wins who honestly tries

(Regardless of wealth or fame),

He can never despair who plays it fair -

How are you playing the game?

Do you wilt and whine,

if you fail to win

In the manner you think your due?

Do you sneer at the man in case that he can

And does, do better than you?

Do you take your rebuffs with a knowing grin?

Do you laugh tho' you pull up lame?

Does your faith hold true when the whole world's blue?

How are you playing the game?

Get into the thick of it - wade in, boys!

Whatever your cherished goal;

Brace up your will till your pulses thrill,

And you dare - to your very soul!

Do something more than make a noise;

Let your purpose leap into flame

As you plunge with a cry, "I shall do or die,"

Then you will be playing the game.

Better English Speaking Skills

Improving your English speaking skills will help you communicate more easily and effectively. But how do you become a more confident English speaker?

Practice where you can, when you can.

Any practice is good - whether you speak to someone who is native English speaker or not.

It's important to build your confidence.

If possible, use simple English sentencestructure that you know is correct, so that you can concentrate on getting your message across.

Try to experiment with the English you know.

Use words and phrases you know in new situation. Native English speakers are more likely to correct you if you use the wrong word than if you use the wrong grammar. Experimenting with vocabulary is a really good way of getting feedback.

Try to respond to what people say to you.

You can often get clues to what people think by looking at their body language. Respond to them in a natural way.

Try NOT to translate into and from your own language. This takes too much time and will make you more hesitant.

If you forgot a word, do what native English speakers do all the time, and say things that 'fill' the conversation. This is better than keeping comlpetely silent.

Do not speak too fast!

It is important to use a natural rhythm when speaking English, but if you speak too fast it will be difficult for peolpe to understand you.

Try to relax when you speak.

You will find your mouth does most the pronunciation work for you. When you speak English at normal speed, you will discover that many of the pronunciation skills, such as linking words, will happen automatically.

Attention! MUET students! 10 Things to kickstart your English speaking life!

To all MUET students in year 2008.

To most students, they do not have confident to speak English in front of public, however, what if, I were to change the language to Mandarin? Now, this is interesting, when talking about Mandarin, they can convey and converse everything in their minds and without hesitant, they speak fluently! But, for English, students are so reluctant to speak up. What happened? They afraid of people's critics? They do not know how to speak? No, actually, they do know how to speak English, just that they do not have the right confident and right words for their topic. What else do they do? They have the words translated directly from Chinese to English.

Here is to help and built your character in speaking English before giving you the information about English speaking.

1. Realise that you can be good at English.

2. Realise that English is easy.

It is something you can achieve. And you can achieve easily. All it takes is a little effort and the right way of thinking. English is easy.

3. Do something you enjoy.

You must love to learn English. You don't see it as work, but as play. To achieve this the key is to do what excites you, but do it in English. Do you have a passion for fishing, or fashion? The latest stock prices or the hottest music? What about your family or children? What gets you going? What's the one thing that if taken away from your life would have the biggest influence on you? Now imagine reading, listening and talking passionately about that subject, but in English.

4. Set a goal.

How good do you want to be? Without a goal, however hard you try you will never achieve anything. You need a decided, specific, written goal. Maybe you have one already? Maybe you need a certain level of English for a promotion or pay rise? Maybe there is a special girl or boy you want to speak to in English? Maybe you have a big business trip coming up? Set that as your goal. See yourself with that promotion, with that pay rise, with that boy or girl or talking effortlessly during that business meeting. Set the goal, work everyday towards it and you will achieve it.

5. Don't mind what other people think.

6. Take responsibility.

We all start from different points in life. Some of us are born rich, some are born poor. Some have influential parents, some have no parents at all. Some have been seemingly been given great chances on a plate, some have had to work extra hard for everything they have achieved. This is life. And there's nothing to do but accept it. If we constantly say "yes, but he was born in America so of course he can speak English", or "Yes, but he went to the best university and had the best teachers" then we are blaming other people. Blaming other people is to make excuses, and making excuses is to open the path to failure. First we must take responsibility ourselves. How good you are at English is all up to you. There are millions of people in underdeveloped countries who have no food, no education and no resources, but they simply decided to learn English and did it. They took responsibility and took action. You are exactly the same, if you take responsibility and take action you will succeed. Maybe you feel you have no time? That you are too busy? But who decides how you spend your time? Don't blame other people. How you choose to spend your time is entirely decided by you. So take responsibility and take control, acknowledge that you control what, when and how you do things, and make the best use of your time to achieve your goals. Take time where you can, five minutes after taking the kids to school? A 20 minute commute to work? An extra 10 minutes while eating lunch? Your time is yours. Five minutes before breakfast? Your time is yours. Everything starts with you. You are the master of your destiny, only you can determine how good you wish to become. Decide today you wish to be brilliant. Take responsibility. Make it happen. Become a brilliant speaker.

7. Work smart, not hard.

8. Take every chance you have.

Every chance is a gift; you'd be a fool not to take it. If you are asked to speak to some people in English, if you see someone lost on the street, if you are on holiday and want to order some food. Take the chance and do it. Speak English. Don't give into the easy path of being embarrassed or afraid. This is the new you and you take every chance you get. Who cares if you make mistakes, you will have learnt something from the experience. Taking every chance you get increases your confidence. And increased confidence leads to more chances and opportunities appearing. People will see how you are eager to help people, you will be asked to help out more and people will respect you for it.

9. You can do it!

Confidence is the key. You are special. You can do it. You are a very clever person, after all you've had the energy to keep reading right to the end of this book. It's not brain surgery, it's not genetic engineering, it's just English, and you can do it. Stay with it, just five minutes a day and you will become better than you every imagined. It's all up to do. Decide to become a great speaker. Believe it will happen, and it will.

10. Do it today!

So you're all geared up ready to be able to speak English today? Well, do it! Don't wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes! Don't think; do it! There's never been a better time for you to start. Whatever you are doing after reading this book, do it in English. If you are going to the shops, call in at a bookstore and buy some CDs. If you are in the house, put the TV on in English. If you are planning what to make for dinner, think about what you would like - in English. If you are listening to this book on CD, then let the English version play. The best time to start is right now! You are the new you, the new you speaks great English and the new you starts now!

Your GOALS!

There is no end to the amount of things you can accomplish!

Promise Yourself! I Swear!

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind;
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet;
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them;
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true;
To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best;
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own;
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future;
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile;
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others;
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear;
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble;
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds;
To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

Third Class Mentality in Chung Ling High School

Prologue slash Interlude

*** ***

Are they hypocrites? Are they the rotten apples? Are they drowned in their own indulgence just because they are the so-called teachers in this school? What are they? No one knows, only them.

No enthusiasm in teaching, sleep in the class, no sympathies towards students, not anything. Should they get fired and asked to wake up in their overindulgent selves? YES! They are no less than society trash.

*** ***

Can you even think of a well known school has this phenomenon? Yes, it may not happen to you. It may not happen to some high ranked school in Penang Island. To me, this school is well known for its name and I think it has been notorious for its teachers’ quality.

In Chung Ling, this phenomenon happens always. Not that you do not believe, it is too good to be true, eh? However, now, it is not the truth anymore! Third class mentality can be seen anywhere at any corner in this school.

*** ***

Your mother’s friend: “Which school is your son studying at now?”
Mother: “Oh, he is now studying in Chung Ling High School.”
Your mother’s friend: “Wow! Wow! That is a great school to be in. my child cannot even enter the school after his UPSR because his results do not meet the school’s requirements... What a waste... (Your mother’s friend seems to be very impressed by Chung Ling High School.)
*** ***

I believe your mother’s friend will sigh for his son’s incompetence, incapability and regrets that her son cannot study in this school...

I cannot deny anymore that Chung Ling has the system breakdown of the administration. For those who still have not dip a taste of HOW GOOD Chung Ling High School is may think that it is a rare opportunity to study in this well known school and be proud of their children. I have studied here, for the seventh year in year 2008 for my Upper Sixth Form. Seven years... seven years in this school, this school is rotting from day to day, from time to time...

Talk about teachers. You find undedicated ones, irresponsible ones, those who pin point students and can I say, those hypocrites? There are many types of teachers in Chung Ling High School, too many until I cannot even think out a list of them! HOW PATHETIC. Nowadays, more and more “newbie” – new and inexperienced teachers – eh? – so-called teachers. They do not teach with their hearts; they teach with their mouth and ass. What they do is just read out the whole passage or anything or even everything written in the text, without further explanations.

*** ***
Student A: Teacher, what is meant by “tantalizing”?
Student B: Sir, how to solve this equation by multiplying them? I cannot get the whole picture here.
Student C: Sir, what happens to the chemical reaction after the concentration is being increased? Can you explain it?
Student D: Teacher, you told us that we have to finish the assignment by this Friday, but you did not tell us how you would want us to do it?
*** ***

Teacher A: You find the answer in the book by yourself!
Teacher B: I do not know! (The worst teacher I had ever seen in my life.)
Teacher C: You do your own assignment! Do not ask me how. I ask you to do and not to ask me how! Keep quiet!
Teacher D: Are you stupid enough to not know the word? Idiot! (There is this type of teachers in Chung Ling High School, do not be surprised.)

***

All sorts of inquiries and questions and unsolved problems of students were actually turned down by teachers. How pathetic!

To make the matter worst, they even sleep in class throughout their lessons. Is this what a school for? To contain all these moron teachers and let them cultivate, nurture and educate our next generation? I think I would like to send my children to private tutors or even start school schooling rather than letting my children go to school flooded with bunches of incapable, incompetence and irresponsible teachers!

I have seen this throughout my years in Chung Ling High School and this is not a rarity anymore. Not anymore...

They rather sit in front of the classroom and pretend nothing happens in the class rather than start their lessons. Believe me, believe it! You can spot the NOT in Chung Ling High School.

Some times ... some times ... They can be said “dedicated” and “hardworking” for a period of time...

They are likely to be said that they dislike to be blamed on something they do not do. Likewise, they will “do their best” sometimes to shown the parents they are doing their duties as teachers. They do not give home works some times, and here to go, they give a lot of home works some times. Eh? A little contradictory, is it not? Wow! Home works in bulk! How great and nice they are to the students. But, they were on a purpose of, just to show the parents that they have been doing their job to educate their children with home works, bunch of home works. How bravo they are in acting! I think they can be the best actors or actresses nominees for the Oscar Awards or even the Grammy Awards. ACTS AFTER ACTS. Without the feeling of getting bored... How great it is!

They specifically choose a “right” time. The exam spree! When the exam or test is drawing nearer and nearer, closer and closer, tah-dah! Home works are popped out of the student’s bag. Bunch and bunch of home works. Students cannot even breathe with their mouths! Is this a way how a teacher should be? You think of that and tell me. This is not a rarity, again. This is the truth. I am watching it everyday, as this happens to me and my brother.

How pathetic the teachers can be in Chung Ling High School... rotting in the nest!

And, lessons are not supposed to be a carol or al-Quran preaching time. Lessons need to be carried on with explanations and on-going participation by both parties, teachers and students. There must be interactions between them. Some teachers are so great and fluent in preaching the students during their lessons.

Definitely to say, there are still some dedicated teachers. But, not more that I can think of. They can be counted even with your ten fingers only.

That is not something going wrong with the students; instead, it is the teachers.

You cannot have a great expectation over the teachers, you yourself are the one to have determination to walk your path and color your life. Do not let the teachers mislead you! You choose your own way.

P/S: If you wish to know more about what I have been experienced in school, you can comment on this and leave me with further requests and questions. I would be glad to help and provide you with more information.

Your ATTITUDE!

The Pessimist complains about the wind.

The Optimists expects the wind to change.

A Leader adjusts the sails.

The Journey by Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew

What you had to do, and began

Though the voices around you

Kept shouting

Their bad advice -

Though the whole house

Began to tremble

And you felt the old tug

At your ankles "Mend my life!"

Each voice cried.

But you didn't stop.

You knew what you had to do,

Though the wind pried

With its stiff fingers

At the very foundations,

Though their melancholy

Was terrible.

It was already late

Enough, and a wild night,

And the road full of fallen stones.

But little by little,

As you left their voices behind,

The stars began to burn

Through the sheets of clouds,

And there was a new voice,

Which you slowly recognized as your own,

That kept you company

As you strode deeper and deeper

Into the world,

Determined to do

The only thing you could do -

Determined to save

The only life you could save.

Reunion Dinner and I Am Busy Ma...

Chinese New Year can be said is already ended after the Fifteenth Night which we call "Chap Goh Mei". However, I am touched by 2 advertisements that always played on television.

The first one: the Reunion Night.
Thiam Hock is asked by his art teacher to draw a picture of "Reunion Dinner". He has to draw a picture of reunion dinner of his and of what he understands of. But, sadly, Thiam Hock does not know what is reunion dinner and so, he did not draw one during the art lesson and being scolded by his art teacher. All his friends were drawing their own reunion dinner, for your first sight, you may think that Thiam Hock does not have color pencils, that is why he does not start to draw on his paper. However, this is not what we think ... just watch this advertisement and have it etched into your heart the spirit of Family to you! Do not abandon your child, as they are your gifts.

The second one: I am Busy, Ma...
What you can see now is a working man and he is so busy until he can not talk to his mother. What you will be hearing in this advertisement is a very easy-learned Hokkien phrase, which is "Bo Eng" meaning "not free". Visit your parents in their golden age, and be with them whenever you can... Do not be "Bo Eng" ...

You shouldn't rush for your True Love!

There are many reasons why you shouldn't rush to find your true love. One of the main reasons is because when you rush through life hoping to find your true love and your soul mate , your good judgment will disappear. What i mean by that is you seem blind to their characteristics. You Will find someone and think to yourself " this is the one " but that person will end up breaking your heart because you did not pay attention to the signs telling you that the relationship is bad or even dangerous. Women usually make the mistake of rushing to find love and they soon regret it after they have their heart broken a dozen times or after they get beaten a dozen times or both. So be patient , allow love to find you.

This is a article for those who want to find their true love at young age. My advice is not to rush for love. Love will find you.

Like what happens now, someone has been so-called deeply in love with someone, tell you the truth, this is not love, this is admiration, perhaps not either, and this is ridiculous. You cannot love a person without meeting him/her, without knowing him/her and yet, you wanted him/her to be with you every moment and every minute! What I just called -- RIDICULOUS.

You can neither love a person without knowing him/her nor meeting him/her personally. What happens nowadays is what I call "one sided love".

Imagination

What you imagine can be your dream. So, dream big to be big. Want to be different? Think different!

Start Where You Stand

Start where you stand and never mind the past,

The past won't help you in beginning new,

If you have left it all behind at last

Why, that's enough, you're done with it, you're through;

This is another chapter in the book,

This is another race that you have planned,

Don't give the vanished days a backward look,

Start where you stand.

The world won't care about your old defeats

If you can start anew and win success;

The future is your time, and time is fleetA

nd there is much of work and strain and stress;

Forget the buried woes and dead despairs,

Here is a brand-new trial right at hand,

The future is for him who does and dares,

Start where you stand.

Old failures will not halt, old triumphs aid,

To-day's the thing, to-morrow soon will be;

Get in the fight and face it unafraid,

And leave the past to ancient history,

What has been, has been;

yesterday is deadAnd by it you are neither blessed nor banned;

Take courage, man, be brave and drive ahead,

Start where you stand.

Persistence Makes Success

All you have to get is to step up, even with the smallest step, it can make
your life a topsy-turvy.

Secrets of Life

If you want to get somewhere, you have to know where you want to go and how to get there. Then never, never, never give up.

The secret of life isn't what happens to you, but what you do with what happens to you.

Help other people to cope with their problems and your own will be easier to cope with.

Never use the word impossible seriously again. Toss it into the verbal wastebasket.

Self-trust is the first secret of success. So believe in and trust yourself.

Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them.

You will find that they haven't half the strength you think they have.

Joy increases as you give it, and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself.

In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greater than you ever believed possible.

How you think about a problem is more important than the problem itself - so always think positively.

Go at life with abandon; give it all you've got.

And life will give all it has to you.

Never Give Up

You Are The BEST!

There is nothing you can't do! You can even move a mountain! Believe in yourself!

There's nothing to fear ---

you're as good as the best,

As strong as the mightiest, too.

You can win in every battle or test;

For there's no one just like you.

There's only one you in the world today;

So nobody else, you see,

Can do your work in as fine a way:

You're the only you there'll be!

So face the world, and all life is yours

To conquer and love and live:

And you'll find the happiness that endures

In just the measure you give;

There's nothing too good for you to possess,

Nor heights where you cannot go:

Your power is more than belief or guess ---

It is something you have to know.

There is nothing to fear --- you can and you will.

For you are the invincible you.

Set your foot on the highest hill ---

There's nothing you cannot do.

Keep 'Em Close

One day a mother died.

And on that clear, cold morning,

in the warmth of her bedroom,

the daughter was struck with

the pain of learning that sometimes

there isn't any more.

No more hugs, no more lucky moments to celebrate together,

no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute."
Sometimes, what we care about the most goes away,

never to return before we can say good-bye, say "I Love You."

So while we have it … it's best we love it .

And care for it and fix it when it's broken

and take good care of it when it's sick.

This is true for marriage … and friendships!

And children with bad report cards;

and dogs with bad hips;

and aging parents and grandparents.

We keep them because they are worth it,

because we cherish them!

Some things we keep -

like a best friend who moved away

or a classmate we grew up with.

There are just some things that

make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, and so are the people we know.

And so, keep them close!

Two Brothers

Brothers of Hamster! Its Brothers. For instance, Jarod and I, brothers!

Once upon a time two brothers, who lived on adjoining farms, fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a conflict. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's tool box. "I'm looking for a few days' work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?" "Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you."

"Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor; in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better."

"See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence -- an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done." The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand.

They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother. "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, but I have many more bridges to build.

Food for Thought: Do you have any bridges that you need to build?

STRUGGLE... Do you want to be the flying butterfly?

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.
One day a small opening appeared;
he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.
Then it seemed to stop making any progress.
It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther.
Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.
The butterfly then emerged easily.
But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened!
In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.
It never was able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were nature's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life.
If nature allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us.
We would not be as strong as what we could have been.
And we could never fly...

Laws Of Success

Do you want something ? -- Will you pay the price?

The great sin -- Gossip.

The great crippler -- Fear.

The greatest mistake -- Giving up.

The most satisfying experience -- Doing your duty first.

The best action -- Keep the mind clear and judgement good.

The greatest blessing -- Good health.

The biggest fool - The man who lies to himself.

The great gamble -- Substituting hope for facts.

The most certain thing in life -- Change.

The greatest joy -- Being needed.

The cleverest man -- The one who does what he thinks is right.

The most potent force -- Positive thinking.

The greatest opportunity -- The next one.

The greatest thought -- God.

The greatest victory -- Victory over self.

The best play -- Successful work.

The greatest handicap -- Egotism.

The most expensive indulgence -- Hate.

The most dangerous man -- The liar.

The most ridiculous trait -- False pride.

The greatest loss -- Loss of self confidence.

The greatest need -- Common sense.

By Jack Yianitsas

Dear Diary, do you want some QUALITY people in your life?

IF ONLY I COULD HAVE SOME QUALITY PEOPLE IN MY LIFE...
We might look at our life and say: “If I didn’t have to deal with my lazy husband and these rowdy kids, I could get about my personal growth...” Wrong! They are your personal growth.

The people in our life are our teachers. Husbands who snore and leave cupboard doors open, “ungrateful” children, neighbors who park across the driveway ... Only for so long can we tell ourselves: “I’d be happier if these guys got their act together!”

If your wife makes you angry, then your project is to deal with anger effectively. And you have the perfect person to help you do it right in your home. A practice partner! What fortune!

You might say: “I’ll divorce her! That will fix it!” But it will fix it only until you marry someone else who makes you just as angry.

Year of the RAT, 2008

Wishing all readers Happy Chinese New Year

Dear Diary, Live & Learn!

“It’s only by going down into the abyss
that we recover the treasures of life.
Where you stumble
there lies your treasure.
The very cave you are afraid to enter
turns out to be the source of
what you were looking for.”

Life doesn’t always have to be painful – but pain is still the main reason we change. Until we are in pain, we can pretend. Out ego says: “I’m fine.” When things hurt enough, for example, when we are lonely enough, or scared enough, we become vulnerable. Our ego has no more answers, and we open up. Pain encourages us to get serious.

It’s always easier to be philosophical about other people’s pain! We look at Jim and say: “Going broke was a huge learning experience for him.” We look at Mary and say: “That divorce helped her to stand on her own feet.” We all agree: “Challenges make you stronger.”

But when out own challenges come along, we’re not so enthusiastic. We say: “Lord, why this? Give me a convenient challenge!” Unfortunately, real challenges aren’t convenient.