|
Getting Off the Treadmill of Good Intentions
by Bill Allison
 About ten years ago, I bought my first treadmill. Boy, did I feel great about myself. Just getting that thing down to the basement was a workout in itself—I think I lost half a pound! Once I got that thing settled in its place, I beamed with pride… and just knew that in a short time I’d be in shape… or at least in better shape.
Yet, I confess to you that though I have over a decade of treadmill ownership under my belt, my belt has not gotten any smaller. I thought about taking the treadmill back and trading it in for a new and improved model. Obviously, this one wasn’t working.
But I think I finally figured out what’s wrong. It seems you must actually get on the treadmill three to five times a week for about 20-30 minutes each time if you want any benefits. Go figure. Oh yeah, and they also tell me you should plug the treadmill in and turn it on (sounds kind of dangerous if you ask me).
The Treadmill of Good Intentions
Laugh at me all you want. But I’m willing to bet a rarely used ten-year-old treadmill that you’re frighteningly more like me than you care to admit. Yep, my treadmill story is for YOU—especially if you’ve ever had the good intentions to…
- read the Bible through in a year… but didn’t make it through the second week of January
- create and stick to a budget… but ran up more credit card debt
- lose weight… and then set a personal record in chocolate eating
- have a better marriage… and then actually argued with your spouse about how (Okay, that could be just me on that one.)
- be a more patient parent… and then yelled at your kids more than ever
- exercise regularly… and then used your treadmill as a clothes hanger
- bought a self-help book… but didn’t help yourself enough to crack it open
Just like me and my treadmill—you bought the books, took notes on the sermon, went to the Bible study, and even signed up for the seminar, but nothing really changed in the key areas of your life.
My question to you—before we go any further—is this: Are you sick enough of the treadmill of good intentions that you’re really ready to move to the track of personal growth?
To Get Off the Treadmill, You Need to Get On Track
If you really want to move off the treadmill of good intentions and onto the track of personal growth, I contend that, like a train, you must be careful to run on two rails. Of course, I’m not saying these are the only two keys to personal growth. All I’m saying is that the two rails I am about to explore with you are foundational if you really want to quit dinking around and start growing.
What are the two rails? To finish this training session, GO HERE. |
|
 |
 |
|
FREE PDF Download:
How You Can Move from Good Intentions to Action |
This FREE eight-page PDF downloadable training session is great for personal use or for use in small groups, Sunday school, and one-on-one discipleship—and it includes:
- A clear explanation of the two rails of the personal growth track
- The true confessions of a couch potato
- Biblically-based motivations for personal growth
- A photo of Bill’s very first personal growth plan (no, it wasn’t chiseled on stone... they actually had paper back then)
- Five next steps resources that walk you through the compelling WHYS and practical HOWS of moving from good intentions to action
- Our enthusiastic permission for you to use and share this training session with as many people as you wish as long as you don’t edit it in any way. You are free to print and share this with others or simply email them the PDF.
It’s all FREE for YOU from your missionaries of encouragement at Cadre Ministries! All you have to do to get this is GO HERE.
 |
|
SPECIAL:
Something for the Person Who Gives You the Most Trouble |
One time D.L. Moody was asked by a reporter, “Which people give you the most trouble?” Moody replied, “I’ve had more trouble with D.L. Moody than any other man alive.”
Can you relate? I sure can. So what can we do?
To help you deal effectively with the person who gives you the most trouble, we’ve handpicked and severely discounted the following PDF and MP3 downloads:
 |
|
1. How to Write Your Personal Growth Plan
If you’re willing to invest $.99 (yes, cents) to write your personal growth plan, this 14-page PDF download will walk you through the WHYS and HOWS! It comes complete with application pages. Great for personal use—or use in small groups. |
 |
|
2. How to Find and Be a Great Accountability Partner
If you’re willing to invest $.99 (yes, cents) to discover some very practical ways you can find and be a great accountability partner, this 22- page PDF download will walk you through the details! It comes complete with application pages. Great for personal use—or use in small groups. |
If you’re more of an audio learner, for a limited time you can get 50% off each of the following audio training sessions (a savings of $2.50 per audio download). Be sure to use this coupon code for the discount: pgp2008
Warning: Just downloading any of these resources will NOT help you deal with the person who gives you the most trouble. You actually have to use and apply what these resources teach you. In the words of Hamlet, “Ay, there’s the rub!”
Experience Cadre Training Live!
It’s fun, biblical, experiential, and usually we eat a lot... it’s Cadre training LIVE!
 |
|
FREE:
A Personal Growth Planning Matrix
All you have to do is GO HERE.
Who loves you? Cadre does! |
FREE:
A Personal Growth Self-Assessment Tool
|
|
 |
 |
|
Just for Fun
Words to live by in 2008. You’ve got to see it to believe it: GO HERE. |
Cadre: Equipping Local Churches to Make Volunteers
WILDLY Successful!
Cadre is a not-for-profit ministry [501(c)(3)] that exists to assist
local churches in becoming the greatest volunteer training organizations
in the world. We're asking God to give us 5,000 non-staff trainers who
are obsessed with Ephesians 4:11-12! To pursue certification to take Cadre
training to your church, contact info@cadreministries.com
Cadre staff serve as support-based, God-dependent missionaries to
come alongside volunteers and those who care for volunteers in the church
to help accomplish their God-given mission.
We provide FREE monthly online training for volunteers in the church
(Cadre Connection), for volunteer Jr. High Youthworkers (Batteries Included),
and for Student Leaders (Spiritual Caffeine). Visit www.cadreministries.com
to preview our recent free training or to sign up to receive training
in your email-box monthly.
For more information about bringing a certified Cadre trainer to
coach and train the volunteer teachers, leaders, and youth workers in
your church, contact info@cadreministries.com
For Cadre training resources visit http://www.cadreministries.com/store
All other tax deductible donations can be sent to:
Cadre Ministries
PO Box 278
Sycamore, IL 60178
Receive this Via
E-mail |