52 Ways

The year 52 AD when Barea Soranus was consul of Rome and when Ananias was accused of violence, who was then high priest in Jerusalem, Febuary had an extra day!

But that my friends is now why I am writing you. I'm writing to give you 5, not 52, hints on how to show your friends you care for them.

I'm glad to say that I will be able to better use these than any of my friends. ;-)


1. Notice them. (Easy enough right, the idea as I see it is to notice something about them that perhaps you over look)

2. Smile at them. (One friend of mine tested it out, It really works, look at a friend and just smile at them and see what happends, they will find its hard not to smile back)

3. Encourage them to think big. (Dangerous, perhaps, but dreams do come true)

4. Look them in the eye when you talk to them. (Not for all cultures, I read the other day in post modern american cultrue 60% eye contact is a good aim. You don't want to scare anyone now do you?)

5. Ask them about themselves. (Personaly I used this all the time, when I want to talk about someone, I stop and ask them what ever question I wish they would ask me. Sometimes that leads to my conversation. However I find that often it does not.

Take it or leave it, here are the first five ways to show someone you care about them.

ps, no spell check this time, deal!

Eleven Years Later

It's been eleven years since I've sat in the Dean's office at my old high school. But today there I was sitting in front of the new Dean. I graduated in 1998. But during my final year I made a promise to our old Dean. I promised her I would come back in five to ten years and let them know what I was doing.
You know it was still really strange to be in that office, immediately I felt like a twelve year old being punished for a years worth of tardiness. When I entered the school I had to buzz in to speak with the secretary through some kind of bullet proof glass, not something we had in my day. I asked to see the Dean who was in a meeting. I waited on a few minuets by talking to one of my old teachers. It was then that a most beautiful woman came in and I was introduced to the our new Dean. I believe that this was a part of why it was difficult for me. but only a portion. I mean walking into anyone's office for the first time basically unannounced to tell them your past 11 year story would be kinda weird. But this I hadn't planned on.
So, how did it go, well I guess. I only apologized a few times for how strange this must be for her. Even she said in a most natural way it would be great if someone I knew was there for me to share all this with. And really the whole meeting went like this. I could tell she belonged there. I mean she was so relaxed in her office her environment, and I was just out of place. I felt the more and more we spoke the more this was obvious. Then at the last moments of our conversation I relised that this is not what I came her for, it wasent as I had dreamed it would be. It was turnning out to just be a semi awkward moment. I was supposed to be encouraging. I was supposed to tell her my rags to riches story and leave her knowing any punk could be changed for the better if they just had a chance. Well I don't want to let you down, I mean few people will probably ever read this. probably only thouse close to me, and of them still few. But I did leave her with that. I did tell her about Christ, and my new life in Him, I told her about Moldova and my work and dreams there. Its just that I dident ever see it panning out like this.

What is it all about?

For me Ultra International was born for one reason. To help the children of Larga's camp for children in Moldova. Last summer we spent six weeks in Moldova working with third world people, in third world towns, with third world children. The main problem with that last sentence is not grammar, its this. There is no such thing as a third world child. Each child is a chance for a better tomarrow and all children deserve to see a better tomarrow.

Ultra International's invoulvement takes part in the financial funding for this camp, its vollnteer staff, and their children. I joined UI 3 months ago and have seen wonderful results. At this point I am making more than I've invested and look forward to seeing checks as large as $46,000 in the mail. But this will take perhaps a few years with out your support. If you would like to contribute, I will post the link behind. Your support is appreciated, and you can call, my number is at the bottom of the web page.

If you take this oppertunity to join Ultra International. You will not only be helping me to help these children, but you will be helping your self.

http://www.ultraselects.com/rufusbc