February 2009

You’re invited

It’s not too late to sign up for the Basic and Advanced Implementation Seminars where you can learn how to start a Character First! program in your organization.

Oklahoma City Seminars:
February 24-25, 2009
April 28-29, 2009

Session Topics:

  • Why Character?
  • How to Build Character
  • Employee Meetings
  • Hiring for Character
  • How to Make Appeals
  • Character-Based Correction

Read testimonials, browse courses and descriptions, free downloads, or register now.


“I Will Be Loyal to You”

Last month Discovery Health and TLC aired a one-hour special in which Josh Duggar sang, “I Will Be Loyal to You,” to his bride. The broadcast was part of the series, “17 Kids and Counting,” showcasing the Jim Duggar family.

Listen to other Character First! songs, available on CD, tape, and sheet music.


The Power of Encouragement

By Steven Menzel

I am a walking, talking example that encouragement goes a lot farther than we think.

Growing up in a New Jersey State Trooper’s home, I rarely received encouragement. It was always, “Clean up your room,” “You throw like a girl.” “What did I tell you about cutting the grass?” “Shut the refrigerator door!” “Can’t you keep a job!?”

Sometimes I hated going home. My parents divorced when I was thirteen, and I often stayed out late or spent the night at a friend’s house. I joined the United States Air Force when I was nineteen, and four years into my enlistment, I volunteered to become a Boot Camp drill sergeant. You see, encouragement doesn’t come naturally for me—just ask my kids!

Even knowing how discouragement feels, I still struggle each day—or each minute—to encourage others. It is so easy to focus on what others do wrong and what I do right. But the opposite needs to happen in order to build strong relationships. I should admire the right choices others make and expect myself to make better choices!

Is it possible for someone like me to change? YES, it is!!

Now that I realize the importance of encouraging others, I work on it every day. And my precious wife helps me when I can’t see my “blind spots.” I’m glad I learned how to be an encourager before my children grew up and left home. Now I enjoy great relationships with my three high school and college-age children.

Whatever your personality or background, make every effort to encourage others and build healthy relationships.

By the way, I have totally forgiven my father and long for a healthy relationship to this very day.

Steven Menzel is director of the International Association of Character Cities, a division of the Character Training Institute. Steven speaks at business and community events throughout the United States and around the world.


Rise Above

An eraser does not make what has been written any less true or false, but an eraser does clear the paper so that it can serve another purpose. Similarly, forgiveness does not eliminate past offenses, but it does make it possible to move forward.

Acknowledge Reality
Prior to confronting someone else’s guilt, fully acknowledge your own guilt. Before you can release an offender or sincerely seek forgiveness, you must acknowledge the reality of the situation.

Begin Healing
Once you face the reality of an offense, you must consciously release offenders, accept the loss they caused, and require no repayment. Postponing forgiveness until a more opportune time only makes it harder.

To forgive is to extend an undeserved release. Continuing to focus on the offense allows it to define your thoughts and actions, reducing life to little more than a personal struggle between yourself and those who have offended you.

Continue Life
A commitment to forgive requires daily practice. Past offenses may rest heavily on your mind, and new offenses will arise. Whatever the situation, true forgiveness requires that you release your offenders from the personal obligation to suffer for an offense.

Maintain your commitment to do what is right—regardless of others’ actions.

This article is from the Members’ Library, a free resource to monthly bulletin subscribers.


Forgiveness Thoughts

“Forgiveness is not an emotion. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” —Corrie ten Boom

“A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary pain. ” —Samuel Johnson

“When a deep injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive.” —Alan Stewart Paton

“This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.” —Francis Bacon