This week's virus alert can be found here.  Since there's nothing really new in this latest worm, the standard recommendations apply.  Do NOT open unknown or even vaguely suspicious email attachments.  Make sure you have anti-virus software running and it has been recently updated (in this case that means updated in the last 24 hours).  The infected messages come with the subject:  Hi and text starting with "Test =)" the from address is faked so don't bother replying.  Just delete the message and get on with your life.

Along those lines my laptop was temporarily without sound due to the spilling of tea :-( The spacebar is a bit ornery as well and, so far, those are the worst maladies : -(

What a way to begin last Wednesday's online news search. My heart ached as I thought of the site I had passed so many times long ago. Knowing you're praying for both sides helps greatly.

A dear friend sent a link about one of President Bush's Christmas visits, and I thought you'd enjoy reading it here:

I read the following in a weekly newsletter and thought you'd appreciate it as you share the Good News with the lost:

Find Out What They Want

In his excellent book, "Bringing Out The Best In People" ( http://www.amazon.com ), Dr. Alan Loy McGinnis cites a quote from Thomas Aquinas: "When you want to convert a man to your view, you go over to where he is standing, take him by the hand and guide him. You don't stand across the room and shout at him; you don't call him a dummy; you don't order him to come over to where you are. You start where he is, and work from that position. That's the only way to get him to budge."

Apparently, people haven't changed much since the 13th century, when that statement was made. And, the chances are, people won't change much in that regard over the next eight centuries, either.

Attempting to change a person's views by telling them how wrong they - or how right we - are is perhaps the most counter-productive "persuasion" method there is. Yet, how many times have we done that? (How many times have I done that?....more than I'd like to admit.)

In teaching us how to lead and persuade more effectively, Dr. McGinnis relates the story of one of the country's top salesmen of the early 1900's, J. Elliot Hall. Hall said he'd first been a failure at selling because he had been making "too many positive statements."

That sounds a bit silly, doesn't it?

But, according to the author, Hall explained that his mistake had been "to spend too much time trying to extol the product and too little time asking questions of the prospective customer." He eventually changed his style from "telling" to asking questions that would "help the other people to recognize what they want, then {I could} help them decide how to get it."

Wow - how profound. And, please keep in mind that, in the persuasion process, the other person is our prospect for whatever it is we are selling (idea, concept, plans for dinner, political preference, etc.).

What McGinnis suggests then is, rather than tell a person why they are wrong, or why we are right, "to make a thorough study of the other person's needs." And he makes a lot of sense. After all, only by first understanding their feelings, their belief system, their view of the world - and the specific issue at hand - are we in a position to move them to our side of an issue.

Remember what Dale Carnegie, author of the classic, "How to Win Friends And Influence People" ( http://www.amazon.com ) said, "People do things for their reasons, not ours. So find their reasons."

Do this, and I can practically guarantee your positive persuasion rate will shoot through the roof."

Matthew 24:14

* Be sure to sign up for the Wednesday Weekly.

+ You joined us in praying for Jasmine's infected nail to heal. She was taking medicine as well as putting ointment on her nail twice a day... Thank you for your prayers as Jasmine's nail is doing much better :-)

+ You asked God to speak to a group of visitors coming to the Prayer Center last week that their hearts would see the need and opportunity to reach the world's unreached people groups... thanks to your intercession, I believe they saw the needs and opportunities! Thank you for praying!

+ You prayed for the landscaping needs of the Prayer Garden to be met as Scott worked with a young man who has taken interest in the Garden... it looks like things will continue to progress, especially once things dry up! Thank you for praying.

<T H I S  W E E K><

<>< This week Shirin will attend a women's meeting for new believers along with following up on the ladies that attended the Christmas party. Please pray for the women to understand what it truly means to be saved and for the meeting leader to be led by the Spirit as she helps the women understand why Christ died for them.

<>< While Shirin has this special meeting, I'll be with Jasmine. Pray that she and I have a special time together.

<>< Ask God to grant me the patience and discipline to continue preparing for our upcoming Stateside Assignment (STAS).

<>< Jasmine will enjoy her first "Passover performance" this weekend and we're asking that she have a memorable experience, one on which we can build.

<>< We're also planning a trip to Bethlehem and Jericho with some friends and would ask the same for Jasmine.

>< Pray for the Northern Yemeni Arabs. >

CALENDAR UPDATES

<If you're not receiving our bimonthly snail-mail newsletter, let us know so we can send it to you!><

14, Akram’s salvation

* It didn't happen today : -(

15, Pray for Shirin as she shares with neighbors.

* On this day Jasmine decided that she wanted to share her candy with the two neighbor girls upstairs. Jasmine and Shirin had a good visit and hope to share the gospel with them again in God's time.

16, We would fall deeper in love with Jesus.

* Although I skipped the mini-trampoline and NT listening, I gave that extra time to Jasmine : -)

17, Pray for laborers to share in settlements.

* More settlements are planned, but the laborers to share are not coming any time soon :-(

18, To see a new follower be born today

* It didn't happen where we worshiped, so I hope it happened with you!

19, Ask that our marriage grow sweeter.

* We had a great family day with a co-worker in the Prayer Garden, pulling weeds : -)

20, computer ‘health’

* Thank you for praying today! I spilled tea on the laptop, temporarily lost sound, and (so far) the only severe consequence is the loss of feeling in the space bar. Yes, it could be worse!

The E-Mail Wonderland

Another "ping",

Are you listenin'?

The puter screen,

Is a glistenin'

With icons so bright,

They light up the night,

Welcome to the e-mail wonderland!

Gone away,

Are the hall talks.

Here to stay,

Is the IN-BOX.

Flagged "urgent, please read!",

And "answer with speed!".

Welcome to the e-mail wonderland!

[refrain] In the morning e-mails start to add up.

No lunch today cause messages abound.

Just click away and hope the server stays up.

You can't do your job if it goes down.

10 P.M.,

You're not tired.

The caffeine,

Has got you wired.

The day's not complete,

Till the last delete,

Welcome to the e-mail wonderland!

[refrain]

Until you,

Are retired,

The same old grind,

It is required.

You'll face unafraid,

That message parade.

Welcome to the e-mail wonderland.