Teenagers of Hope are Heard | Silence of the Lambs Pt 2

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Craig Rogers

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Teenagers of Hope are Heard – Silence of the Lambs Pt 2, by Craig Rogers, co-founder of Abundant Life Academy discussing the notion that teens of hope are teens that are heard.

Teenagers who report to being happy (content, hopeful, optimistic about their future) are the same teens who claim that they are generally “heard”, understood, and valued for their expressed message (personal message of their heart, where it be written, sung, or acted out on a stage).  Meaning, those who feel that others “hear” them (connect, respect, and share similarities) report that they also live empowered lives and believe they have something valid to contribute to the world around them.  In other words, these teenagers claim that their lives have hope have meaning, and their message has positively impacted the world around them.  They have a sense of fulfillment and a sense of being appreciated.  In short, these teens feel valued, counted, and respected.

To be human is to communicate (express) what’s in your heart.  We are all made with a unique, but important message of hope and destiny. Teenagers must find a way to express themselves, or they may experience the deep anguish of rejection, oppression, being trapped, and misunderstood (meaningless, unimportant, rejected).  Being rejected, abandoned, and discarded is the biggest fear one could have.  Those who find an effective way to share their heart with the world are the very teenagers who claim to have the greatest level of happiness (hope, contentment, fulfillment, empowerment, purpose, connectedness, etc.) and describe their lives as having substantial meaning and purpose.

For teenagers to have found a way to communicate the depth that is in their heart is to have found a way to empathize with others, to have found a way to effectively communicate inner most feelings (depth), and most importantly a way to be heard by many.  It draws a simple conclusion… if you want happiness you MUST be able to communicate, convey, converse, connect… and be heard.  More importantly, to be able to convey and communicate emotions, to be emotionally literate, to be able to navigate emotions through words, and to describe empathy, and to know how to articulate fear (fear of rejection, abandonment, being a disappointment) is to be emotionally intelligent (EQ).  Are we teaching teens to speak up, to speak out, or are we teaching them to shut up, and to shutdown?  In reality, we are teaching them to perform, but not from the heart, but from expectations (parents, teachers, coaches, society).  So when they create a sub-culture made up of other teens they create a language and a culture all to their own.  It is there that they speak up, and express themselves.  Unfortunately, all to often its the blind leading the blind.

The people who describe themselves as being “depressed”, “anxious”, “uncertain”, “unworthy”, “dismissed”, “disconnected”, and “lost” in anguish and despair are the very same people who claim that they are not heard, are not understood, and unable to convey their life experience or connect with others via empathy. Communication, and the ability to communicate emotions, is hard work and takes great effort; emotional literacy skills are developed over time through practice and discipline. Very few people get lucky and “stumble” upon effective ways to express themselves in meaningful ways.  It just is not something that is “lucky”, or “natural” for most people.  Its difficult and it takes effort, trial and error, and making a lot of mistakes along the way.  You need a Life Coach!

Some people do have the talents and gifts to convey and communicate in meaningful ways, nor do the find other platforms of communication, such as; music, writing, dance, athletics, or some other manner that allows the very most inner self to come out “on stage” to be seen and appreciated. But what about the others?  What happens to a person who never finds a way to be respected, received, or plugged in – unable to express their unique personage?  I can tell you this, “It’s not good!”

All to often, troubled teens are really just strong people of tremendous worth and potential who have not found a way to be “heard”. They therefore feel worthless, unable, stifled, dismissed, discarded, and unimportant. They are not able to feel connected, and don’t feel the sense of appreciation for their personal message, no sense of respect, and a complete failure to share their message with the world.  They once had a special revelation that was important, but didn’t come forth.  Perhaps covered up, dulled, or dumbed down due to failure to grow emotionally or intellectually (direct result of drug and alcohol abuse, or sexually promiscuity, or other forms of self-defeating behavior).

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Troubled Teens Not Being Heard | The Silence of the Lambs Pt 1

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Craig Rogers
The Silence of the Lambs

Troubled Teens Not Heard | The Silence of the Lambs by Christian boarding school for exceptional troubled teens.

The most predominant reason teens are “troubled” is that they are not being heard; they are the “Silence of the Lambs”.  They either do not know that they have a special message (gift, talent, extraordinary purpose), or they do know but are not able to present it (which makes them frustrated, and therefore they demonstrate the frustration through their “acting out” behavior). At Abundant Life Academy we believe that troubled teens are generally not able to convey their inner most self.  They are not able to express themselves in a way that gets vital needs met.  For example, when troubled teens are struggling emotionally they are not able to communicate, convey, or describe their inner conflict, therefore they do not resolve their issues, nor do they get the help they need. If they can’t communicate, they are not being heard.  Therefore, they lash out, act out, and then the focus shifts to their overt behavior, deflecting from the real issue, therefore everyone overlooks the real reason WHY they are acting out.  Unfortunately, this becomes a pattern and they tend to act out even more, and become doubly silenced.

The obvious behaviors that lead teenagers to be labeled as “troubled teens” is a direct result of not being heard, and/or not being able to express themselves. Troubled teens are kids who are able to rationalize well, but not able to redirect, not able to decipher, and not able to interpret the dynamic nature of their “trouble”.  They are silenced, even though they are usually speaking volumes.  Most of the time the silence is self-induced, but it does not matter.  Anyone who has ever experienced the place in life where you are discounted, dismissed, made to feel unimportant, overlooked, unnecessary, considered to be a bother without worth – knows what it is to not be heard.  To be a silenced lamb is to be without merit, without worth, or without importance… without a voice to be considered.  No value, no input, no contribution, no power, no direction, and no choice.

Abundant Life Academy  Receives Community Award

We have all been given an inherent and deeply personal and important message to share with the world.  We are driven to get this message out, even when we have no idea that there is a message, there is a deep calling and we know that it must be shared, heard, valued, and our contribution counts.  Intuitively we just know that there is some importance to our life, and that we matter, and our part will cause many good and great things to transpire.  To be disallowed and dismissed is not an option.  But sooner or later if we are not heard we tend to give up.  There are millions of “troubled teens” in the United States that were born into this world to contribute something very special, and they need to be heard, to be counted, and to be understood for their unique message and powerful contribution.

We all have been wired to speaking up, speaking out, and share what is filled up in our heart.  Whether our heart is filled with light, hope, inspiration, faith, or love, we are all driven to express what is in our hearts.  Even if our heart is filled with darkness, hurt, guilt, shame, or ugly vial, we will find a way to pour out what is filling our hearts.  Troubled Teens are like silent lambs, meaning they cry out and stammer, but no one cares, no one listens, and everyone wishes that they would simply shut up, and go away.  Consequentially their needs are not met, because no one knows cares. Because they are considered to be a big pain, pain that is better ignored, dismissed, and therefore no matter how loud they may get, they are silent.

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Cyber Bullies – Cowards of Facebook – Hate Speech of Intolerance

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Craig Rogers

Image representing Facebook as depicted in Cru...

The Cyber Bully phenomenon, is a modern day manifestation of an old issue (hate speech of intolerance) referred to as “cowards” who are also known as cyber bullies. Cyber bullies are behind the mask of Facebook, truly cowards who spew hate through speech and show extreme intolerance behind the Facebook disguise. These Facebook cowards are hate speech mongers, shouting the ugliness of intolerance.  These are cowards who normally would never speak up, speak out, or stand on their own to voice. But as they cower behind Facebook their opinions (venom of hurt, pain, and self-hatred) get posted in an anonymous manner.  Hidden, like a coward, they will attack like vicious dogs.  As long as they are not pulled out into the open, forced to stand up for themselves, forced to articulate in an intelligent way, they will be anonymous cowards who hang out in the shadows, hurling insults from the crowd, in the safety of anonymity. It is so bizarre that these same people would never have the guts or courage to share their strong opinions face-to-face. Harsh strong language from an obscure place behind the cyber walls of Facebook.

First, this is not knew. This kind of mob rule and open ugliness has been around as long as we have historical records of any kind. The coward hides, pounces only when he is safely behind the fence. But when the fence is removed, the harshness and boldness disappears. In its place are excuses, rationalizations, and cowering of embarrassment. Nothing new… Facebook has been reported as being the wall of ignorance, intolerance, and hate speech by the only group that would otherwise hide in the shadows. The cowards finally have a place to speak in cyber space.

The facts are beginning to mount.  Employers are now checking out prospective employees.  Those who are found to be cyber bullies are not getting the second interviews.  They are left out cold.  People are being frozen out of social venues, dating web services, housing opportunities, and many other opportunities in life because they “show up” as total idiots on Facebook.  Using foul language, attacking others, spewing hate, being hateful and full of revenge… There are stupid people who are looking for jobs, getting interviews, and then are denied employment because the prospective employee has trashed previous employers.  There is a new wave of cyber detectives.  People are showing up as being ugly toward former spouses/boyfriend/girlfriend and in doing so show their “other side” or “true colors”.  Millions of people are searching Social Media in order to find out “who you really are”.  People are mistaken by the mere appearance of anonymity of the Facebooks, Twitters, and Youtube.  It is no anonymous.  As a matter of fact what people write on Facebook is being used against them in divorce court, determining who gets the kids, and it is also being used in the determination of home loans (SBA), and other important privileges of life.

Sad, but the bold cyber haters are looking pretty stupid as they cut themselves out of opportunities, jobs, relationships, and other important venues of life.  These ugly statements are coming back to bite them in the butt, literally.  The Cyber Trash talk is literally coming back upon them as they lose dignity, respect, and value in society.  Unfortunately, most of the cyber cowards won’t ever find anything but victimhood, as they continuously undermine their own efforts to enjoy the life.

Facebook bullying students ‘should be expelled’
Teachers have called for the expulsion of pupils who insult staff on internet sites such as Facebook and Bebo after a popular girls’ school became embroiled in a cyberbullying row.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22006040502

http://www.wiredprnews.com/2010/10/18/facebook-seeks-to-remove-hateful-content-from-site_2010101814437.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/4214234/Facebook-bullying-students-should-be-expelled.html

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People of Hate are People Who Lack Emotional Intelligence

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Craig Rogers
A NEW HOPE FOR AMERICA: New generation of retu...

By Craig Rogers of Abundant Life Preparatory

People of Hate are people who lack emotional intelligence.  Think about it, people hiding behind Facebook, spewing out hate and intolerance, as if they are not naked, as if they are perfect… As I read the postings of hate I ask, “don’t they understand that in their attempt to hurt me with violent words they are really standing in a pile of shit? ”  Meaning, the ugliness they are spewing is in them, and they are the one’s that look pitiful.  I can’t say anything against them that they haven’t done to themselves a hundred times worse!  What could I say to strike back?  I can’t because they have demeaned themselves so badly that there is nothing left to say or do.  If I really wanted to strike back in pain, and to hurt them, how could I hurt them any worse then they have hurt themselves.  They already look worse than fools, and no one is listening.  Noisy gongs… But I do hurt deeply as I come to realize that they are human beings, and somewhere something went terribly wrong.  The positive people who have value in their lives, the people who are filled, whole, powerful… well they certainly are not wasting their time wallowing in self-pity and victimhood.

For more on hateful speech, intolerance, and Facebook cowards go to:

http://behavioralhealthhub.com/2011/03/08/abundant-life-academy-teaches-freedom-individual-liberties/

http://behavioralhealthhub.com/2011/02/27/abundant-life-academy-students-exercise-freedom-of-speech/

http://behavioralhealthhub.com/2011/02/20/intolerance-practiced-by-angela-smith-and-eric-norwood/

The truth is that I would be right there with them if it were not for GRACE AND MERCY. I am no better than they, and no different than they… I am set free by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Meaning, His one act of sacrificial love brought forth freedom for idiots like me.  And, I didn’t even have one iota part in the salvation of my soul.  I was such an idiot that God did it all.  Therefore, the only difference between myself and those stuck in hate is the Glory of God and God knows I didn’t deserve it.

People of Hate are easy to point out.  They are intolerant, they spew hate, and they are not necessarily called the “Taliban“.  Are the Taliban the only known hate group that comes to your mind?  What about the Palestinians?  The Israelites?  Muslim’s?  The Cubans?  The American‘s? The Democrats, or the Republicans?  The Baptists, or the Mormon’s.  The Left and the Right?  Today we have too many people who aggressively hate others.  Its no longer enough to disagree, or to respectfully debate, or to honorably have differing points of view.  Today, you have ugly hate where people attack others, judging the motives of their heart, discounting their personhood, and verbally raping them of dignity, respect, or humanity.  It makes you wonder if these people who spew hate had the power to wield their views and oppress those who do not agree.  Meaning, what if these haters had the power, authority, and controlled the market place, the court house, the jail and the prison.  What would they do with their hate and intolerance if there was no one to oppose them?

Have things really changed?  Is there more hatred and intolerance today?  Or, does history point out something totally different?  The reality is that we are much more civilized today.  Worldwide there are more tolerant people who respect humanity at its core, more defenders of human rights, and more people who are willing to stand up against those who would otherwise impose their values and beliefs upon other’s.  People who use violence and murder to accomplish their rule are far less today than they once were.  Those who would use war to overthrow those who oppose their right to exist, taking their very right to think, act, or live, are less and less.  Today, the defenders of human rights are in “defensive” mode, using many prosocial non-violent means of defending everyone’s right to exist, to think, and to express their uniqueness.

Today, Social Media venues have allowed the cowards to stand behind a cyber wall and hurl insults.  These same people do not have the guts self-confidence to speak these things in person.  But behind the cyber wall they have become bold, aggressive, and no longer regulated to being a coward afraid to speak their mind.  Unfortunately, the second they get out from behind the computer screen they are the same people who walk by you and smile, ask you about your family, and wish you success… Social media has given cowards a place to shout their venom from the mountain tops.  Its too bad that they shrink back into absurdity when the lights come on and they have to stand on their own merits in the real world.

Even though we have such strong and ugly words of judgment spewed out against people who differ, there is more civility than at any other time in the history of mankind.  It is one thing to disagree vehemently, and something far different to attack a person at that core, ripping up their personhood, judging their heart and dismantling their personal uniqueness.  I oppose opinions and viewpoints, but love the individual people.  I can hate a perspective, and I can despise an act of intolerance.  I can even hate an act of violence, like rape, or child molestation.  But I still don’t have the right to attack the core of the person who thinks differently than I do, nor do I have the right to take away from their personhood.  People who oppose me have children, brothers, uncles, parents, and people who love them.  Who am I too demean, or to destroy the very essence of a person I disagree with?  What does it make me when I attack the very humanity of a person?  If I were to use ugly verbal violence against another person, speaking directly to their personhood, their essence of life, I am in direct hatred of that person’s God.  I am therefore making myself out to be God.  God the judger of man, that is what I am when I use violent ugly words of hate against another human being.  How sad it would be to be God, to judge others, when the truth is that my best value is the hatred I weld against my fellow man.

The perception is that today’s haters are far worse than ever before, and the intolerant, those who attack people at their core, demeaning others worth of life, imposing their intolerance and inflicting wounds meant to bring forth death, despising themselves and all of humanity, wishing them selves and others a horror of pain.  These are the people who put Jesus on the cross.  These are the people Jesus describes in Matthew Chapter 5, when He warned us that the world will hate you.  These are the people who have no emotional intelligence, no conscious, no purpose, no value, and no faith. These are the Taliban, the Israelite, the American, the illegal immigrant, the the animal right’s activists, the pro lifer, the war veteran and the anti-war activist…. all people who use words of violence to express their hate… they are the democrats liberals and the conservative right wingers, they are the labor union officials and the prodemocracy idealoges…  who at their very core are the same as you and me.  The only difference is that one of us is humble, one of us is grateful, and one of us is too busy enjoying what little time they have in serving others, determined to leave a legacy of love and tolerance, understanding, patience and significance… all things of value that live on far after we leave this world and enter the Kingdom of God by GRACE ALONE.

Just who in the hell do you think you are to attack?  That is not just the “question”, but the answer as well… who in the HELL.  Meaning, those who attack others in hate are in a living hell, and they need us to be patient, understanding, optimistic, and trust that God wants them out of that living hell as much as we do…

The real truth is that only by God’s grace do any of us escape that hell, and we have no right to judge those who are ugly, hatefilled, and intolerant.  They are counting on us to return their hate with love, to turn the other cheek, and not because we have something better, and not that we are better… but only by the will of God and through His supremacy are we anything.  I don’t know why He choose me to be saved, and I certainly did not deserve to be pulled out of that hell… But He did choose me and therefore I stand and take the hate, the cruelty, and the ugliness and return it with a love that is not mine, a love that goes beyond all understanding.

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California Parents using Therapeutic Boarding Schools in Utah

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Craig Rogers

The state quarter representing Utah, depicting...

California Parents using Therapeutic Boarding Schools in Utah

California parents are using therapeutic boarding schools in Utah to save their child from their own self-destructive behaviors. Parents from California who are struggling with a defiant troubled teen have some tough decisions to make. The decision is, “can we continue to deal with this outrageous behavior? Can we continue to go down this road? The family is upside down and our entire lives are disrupted. We can’t just let him (or her) go do as they please, they could end up ruining their life.” When a troubled teen from California has come to the place where they will no longer follow even the most simple directions, when they are completely out of control, dropped out of school, using drugs and alcohol, running the streets, having sex without protection, engaging in criminal activity, defying all authority…” What can a parent from California do to intervene in the life of the troubled teen? Abundant Life Preparatory, a Christian therapeutic boarding school has been restoring troubled teens and their families for 10 years. Call Abundant Life Preparatory at 800-94809066.

California parents of troubled teens have no other choice but to seek outside help. Many parents are upset, distraught, humiliated, and at the end of their rope. Especially troublesome are the California parents with younger siblings in the home. Big brother or big sister has turned the family upside down and the parents are caught in between attempting to help the troubled teen and protect his or her younger siblings. California parents often begin with professional help at home. California parents of troubled teens seek help from school guidance counselors, Christian counselors, therapists, substance abuse counselors, and other behavioral health professionals. Unfortunately, therapy only works when the troubled teen is seeking help. Other wise, it’s an exercise in futility. Many parents from California will find that the therapist or counselor will collude with the troubled teen and together blame the parent. At this point parents from California have turned to Abundant Life Preparatory, a premier Christian boarding school focused on family restoration, academic repair, and therapeutic intervention.  Craig Rogers, co-founder of Abundant Life Preparatory teaches a leadership training to a group of teens.


When the troubled teenager has engaged in gang affiliation, profound substance abuse, sexually promiscuity, and host of other dangerous and illegal behaviors the best choice the parent has is to seek the help of a therapeutic boarding school. The issue is the danger and the permanent outcomes of the dangerous behavior. Parents often have no other choice but to seek out-of-home remedies. The parents who do not take a radical stance and continue to allow the downward spiral will seek their troubled teenager eventually come to a sad conclusion through the criminal courts and worse. Parents can intervene and stop the spiral downward by enrolling their child into Abundant Life Preparatory – restore families, futures, and destiny.

Boarding schools for troubled teens in California are not available. The laws of California prevent a therapeutic boarding school from operating. Parents of California troubled teens are forced to go outside the State. Many of the best programs for troubled teens are found in Utah. The State of Utah upholds parental rights, and therefore the California troubled teen while in a Utah boarding school is under the laws of Utah. These laws protect both the troubled teen and his/her parents. In California parents have been stripped of their parental rights, and therefore they have lost all options of saving their teen when the troubled child has gone beyond the point of return. For immediately help and to begin the restoration programs contact Abundant Life Preparatory, 800-948-9066.

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Intolerance Practiced by Angela Smith and Ginger Warbis

Posted on February 20, 2011 by Craig Rogers
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Image via Wikipedia"]Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer[/caption]

Intolerance Practiced by Angela Smith and Ginger Warbis

Intolerance that is practiced by Angela Smith and Ginger Warbis is available for all to see (heal-online.org). The people behind Heal-online and Fornit’s Wayward Web Fora, Angela Smith and Ginger Warbis demonstrate the very essence of intolerance. The content of their websites is the very essence of intolerance. Ginger Warbis McNulty and Angela Smith do not approve of my opinions, and they do not approve of my right to hold an opinion that differs from their own. The purpose of Heal-online and Fornit’s Wayward Web Fora is to end/stop/squelch/dismantle the right to own and operate boarding schools or programs for troubled teens. Angela Smith and Eric Norwood would like to see me and others like me to lose our right to hold a view different from their own. The difference between myself and Angela/Ginger is the fact that I would fight for their right to express their views, even if their views were in opposition to my own. But Angela and Ginger hold the opinion that I should not have the right to my own opinion. There is no doubt that I strongly express my opinions with out shame, the truth is that I do not attempt to stop Angela or Ginger from expressing their beliefs. Unfortunately, Angela Smith and Ginger Warbis strongly advocate their opinions and beliefs, they go to far when they appoint themselves as having the duty to stop me from having an opinion at all. Angela Smith and Ginger Warbis have every right to belief what they wish, but to attempt to take away my right to believe differently is the practice of intolerance. Of course they will never admit it, but their own words and deeds prove otherwise.

Angela Smith has created a platform by inviting Boarding Schools and Programs to enter into discussions. If we choose not to engage with them they have declared a verdict, meaning they don’t believe we should have a choice to debate, or to not debate. Their invite is really a superiority and arrogance. I have no desire to persuade Angela Smith or Ginger Warbis to adopt my view point, opinions, or beliefs. I exercise the right to be left alone, to belief the way I wish, and to allowed the same right that every American enjoys. The right of free speech, free thought, free opinions… the right to see things differently. Intolerance is ugly, nasty, and demeaning. My worth as a person is not decided upon my beliefs. My personhood is not diminished because I am not as “enlightened” as they are, and my rights are not to be dismissed solely on the basis that I see things differently.

When people have differing opinions, or differing view points, they can still respect one another. There are so many different people with vast differences yet it is possible for everyone to honor one another in the midst of the differences. There are conservative view points and liberal viewpoints. Some people are socially conservative yet politically liberal. The beautiful thing about differences is that through our differences we can grow, learn, and become more complete. If I am intolerant then I hold the belief that only my viewpoint can exist, and that the I have the position of supremacy of thought and opinion, and therefore I can decided to take away your right to think independently from me. Furthermore, if I am intolerant then I believe that no other belief, viewpoint, or opinion can exist that differs from my beliefs, viewpoints, or opinions. In other words, if I am intolerant then I am the only person with the right to exercise free will, and all others must get into alignment with the way I see the world, and the way I think things should be, or you had better watch out.

The United States of America was founded upon the notion that we all have the right to our own opinion and that no one can take away our freedom to be independent thinkers. The Preamble of the Constitution states, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America“. The First Amendment of the US Constitution goes like this… “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” The important thing I want to point out is the United States Constitution does not support, advocate, or protect the notion of “intolerance”.

Intolerant people get angry and lash out at others who do not share their views. Intolerant people are mean-spirited. Intolerant people mock the beliefs and opinions of others. Intolerant people do not state their own opinions as much as they attempt to take away others right have their own. Intolerant people do not support your right to differ from them, and they absolutely believe that they have the duty to squash anyone that might have an opposing viewpoint. Intolerant people practice the notion that they are right, and others who differ from them are wrong – so wrong that they need to be squashed and stripped of their rights and freedoms. I wish to be left alone and to have my rights and freedoms to be valued as much as their own.

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Responsibility and Discipline | Human Rights and Freedom

Posted on February 19, 2011 by Craig Rogers

Tackled and Brought Down | ALA Warriors Football

Responsibility and Discipline | Human Rights and Freedoms

Human Rights are really manifestations of Human Responsibilities, or the lack thereof. Freedom is really the manifestation of the discipline I exercise over my life’s choices. A rapist “takes”, “steals”, and “destroys” by imposing his/her wants and desires upon another despite the will of one who is being victimized.  The rapist believes that he/she has the right to take what is not theirs, and to exercise his/her will/opinion/belief’s/values upon the victim.  The rapist is imposing his will upon the victim.

Today’s thought process of “entitlement” declares that we all are entitled to freedom and should be free from all restrictions and consequences.  Meaning, no one has the right to question my opinion, and my opinion trumps everyone else except those who think like I do… The truth is that those who are the most intolerant are the one’s who wish to imprison those who think differently than they do.  Those who do not like the way we think, or have opinions differently than mine, do not deserve to think, and I want to imprison them for not being in agreement with me.  And, those who oppose my way of thinking will get my wrath.  Being intolerant means that those who have different standards, different values, different ways of being are to be ridiculed, oppressed, mocked, and threaded upon.  If they don’t share my opinion then their very essences, their value as people, their “rights” do not count, are not valid, should not be heard, and will not be tolerated.

“Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility . . . . In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on responsibility.” — Michael Korda Editor-in-Cheif, Simon & Schuster

“The price of greatness is responsibility.” —  Winston Churchill

“The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.”—  Lou Holtz

“Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off.”—  General Colin Powell

“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself.”—  Jim Rohn

“The reason people blame things on the previous generation is that there’s only one other choice.”—  Doug Larson

“In the old days, words like sin and Satan had a moral certitude. Today, they’re replaced with self-help jargon, words like dysfunction and antisocial behavior, discouraging any responsibility for one’s actions..” —  Don Henley

“Ninety-nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses.” —  George Washington Carver

“All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you.”—  Wayne Dyer

“In times like the present, men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be responsible through time and eternity.”— Abraham Lincoln December 1, 1862 Message to Congress

“It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.” —  J. W. Goethe

“Sure I am a religious man who is also passionate about conserving the environment. But I am also a CEO, with all the bad habits and attitudes that are natural to the species. . . . I am still naturally self-interested, overconfident, full of pride, and eager to control a meeting as any CEO in America. Every day, I struggle with my ego.” — Tom Chappell

“The first and best victory is to conquer self.”— Plato

“You can never conquer the mountain. You can only conquer yourself.”— Jim Whittaker

“Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.”— H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“It is not enough to have great qualities; We should also have the management of them.”— La Rochefoucauld

“A man without decision of character can never be said to belong to himself . . . . He belongs to whatever can make captive of him.” — John Foster

“Control is not leadership; management is not leadership; leadership is leadership is leadership. If you seek to lead, invest at least 50% of your time leading yourself—your own purpose, ethics, principles, motivation, conduct. Invest at least 20% leading those with authority over you and 15% leading your peers. If you don’t understand that you work for your mislabeled ‘subordinates,’ then you know nothing of leadership. You know only tyranny.”— Dee Hock

“It is necessary to try to surpass one’s self always: this occupation ought to last as long as life.” —  Queen Christina of Sweden

“I think the guys who are really controlling their emotions … are going to win.”—  Tiger Woods

“Beware of endeavoring to become a great man in a hurry. One such attempt in ten thousand may succeed. These are fearful odds.” —  Benjamin Disraeli

“Let me . . . ; remind you that it is only by working with an energy which is almost superhuman and which looks to uninterested spectators like insanity that we can accomplish anything worth the achievement. Work is the keystone of a perfect life. Work and trust in God.” —  Woodrow Wilson

“We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” —  Aristotle

“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set. This is true of earthly as of heavenly things. Even the man whose object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life.”—  James Allen

“Nothing is more harmful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army superiority over another.”—  George Washington

“Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in. It’s a state of mind-you could call it character in action.”—  Vince Lombardi

“There are no short cuts to any place worth going.” —  Beverly Sills

“Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself-and be lenient to everybody else.” —  Henry Ward Beecher

“Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”—  Mark Twain

“If we don’t discipline ourselves, the world will do it for us.” —  William Feather

“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.” —  Lao Tzu

“Never suffer your courage to exert itself in fierceness, your resolution in obstinacy, your wisdom in cunning, nor your patience in sullenness and despair. “ —  Charles Palmer

“Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” —  James 1:19

“Well begun is half done.” —  Aristotle

“This quality of self-denial in pursuit of a longer-term goal and, indeed, the willpower to maintain the denial, is excellent training for the boardroom. —  John Viney

“Rule your mind or it will rule you.” —  Horace

“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.” —  Thomas á Kempis

“Leaders aren’t born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.”—  Vince Lombardi

“You must never be satisfied with losing. You must get angry, terribly angry, about losing. But the mark of the good loser is that he takes his anger out on himself and not his victorious opponents or on his teammates.” —  Richard Nixon

“Leaders who can stay optimistic and upbeat, even under intense pressure, radiate the positive feelings that create resonance. By staying in control of their feelings and impulses, they craft an environment of trust, comforts and fairness. And that self-management has a trickle down effect from the leader. —  Daniel Goleman, Primal Leadership

“Success is a matter of understanding and religiously practicing specific, simple habits that always lead to success.” —  Robert J. Ringer

“It was high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, ‘always do what you are afraid to do.’” —  Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Nobody’s a natural. You work hard to get good and then work to get better. It’s hard to stay on top.” — Paul Coffey NHL star

“A successful career will no longer be about promotion. It will be about mastery.”—  Michael Hammer

“The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It’s your mind you have to convince.” —  Vince Lombardi

“The individual who wants to reach the top in business must appreciate the might and force of habit. He must be quick to break those habits that can break him—and hasten to adopt those practices that will become the habits that help him achieve the success he desires.” —  J. Paul Getty

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.”— Pierre de Coubertin, founder of modern Olympic Games

“Mountaintops inspire leaders but valleys mature them.” — Winston Churchill

“Self-discipline is a form of freedom. Freedom from laziness and lethargy, freedom from the expectations and demands of others, freedom from weakness and fear—and doubt. Self-discipline allows a pitcher to feel his individuality, his inner strength, his talent. He is master of, rather than a slave to, his thoughts and emotions.” — H.A. Dorfman

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Internet Marketing and Social Media | Your Main Business Goal

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Craig Rogers

Image representing Zion Educational Systems as...

Your Main Goal for Social Media – Internet Marketing and Business Development?

Is Social Media your interest or is it more along the lines of Internet Marketing? Before you start you need to know your goal or objective in the use of Social Media?  Are you seeking to grow your business, expand client-base, promote your business, and/or attract/draw/recruit new customers? If so, then Social Media is basically a fancy term that describes the “networking” of people for the purpose of professional development; advertising, and/or the “marketing” of your business.

Go to my Internet Media website and see the Social Media tools http://www.zioneducationalsystems.com (Zion Educational Systems, ZES)

I have been writing articles about using Social Media to help repair my online reputation (overcoming an industry attack and smear campaign by Heal-online and Fornit’s).  Test my work by going to Google and typing in “Craig Rogers Abundant Life Academy”, or “Abundant Life Academy Reviews”, or “Abundant Life Academy Craig Rogers Review”.  You will see all kinds of postings from my blogs, articles, and Social Media venues (Youtube, Facebook, etc).

With Internet Marketing you can always look for a two-for-one sale.  Meaning, you develop a blog, post/syndicate it through ping.fm, and you are able to keep In communication with your customer base, improve your rankings in Google searches related to your industry or business, and repair your reputation (rebut or balance out a negative review) all at the same time.

I have put together the list of Social Media venues that I use on an every day basis.  These are my favorites, my “go to sites”.  Although I used dozens and dozens of other venues for the purpose of “networking” – Internet Marketing – I think that a beginner should focus on developing the foundation first.  If you get this far (see below) then you are well on your way to becoming an Internet Marketing expert.

Blogging:  Blogger, WordPress, Google Blog (Consistent creation and posting of personal or professional opinions, editorial opinions, personal journal, professional articles, Video/Photos/Written content of value, communication with client-base)

Article/Video Directories: EzineArticle.com, blog.abundantlifeacademy.com, articles.abundantlifeacademy.com, behavioralhealthhub.com, blog.troubledteensearch.com, articles.troubledteensearch.com (blog and article directory hubs or portals)

Micro Blogging:  Twitter, Google Buzz, (links to posts, products, and business branding)

Bookmarking:  Delicious, Reddit, Digg, Stumbleupon (book marking your favorite web pages, adding comments about a website or web page, sharing your favorite stuff with others)

Video Sharing:  Youtube, Tango, Blue Kiwi (creating video channels, uploading video to share with the world)

Social Networking:  Facebook, MySpace (Friends linking together, Groups and Organizations w/Causes, and My Pages – Interests)

Family Networking:  MyFamily (blog posts)

Business Networking: Linkedin (Networking with Industry Colleagues, Job Postings, Professional Presentations, Marketing of Services/Products, Professional Groups, Blog Posts, Internet Marketing Opportunities)

Social News:  Digg, Reddit, PRWeb (Press Releases, Industry News)

Photo Sharing:  Flickr

Social Media is a lot of fun and beware.  It can suck up a lot of your time.  You will meet fascinating people with your same interests and goals.

Social Media can very rewarding & powerful in so many ways. Watch out for the sharks out there, they prey on the ignorant.

Important Social Media Tools

Ping.fm:  Ping.fm is a web site that allows its members to send out (syndicate)  their web pages, blogs, or social media postings all at once. http://ping.fm Meaning, if you just created a new post on your blog, or uploaded a new video to Youtube, simply go to ping.fm and send out the posting to all your social media and social networks all at once.  When I create a new post on my blog I am able to use ping.fm to post my new blog post to my Twitter, Facebook, Facebook Pages/Groups, Youtube, Google Buzz, Blogger, Linkedin, and many other Social Media accounts all at once.  My hope is that these “pings” will cause all my members and friends to view my work, forward my work to their friends, or to “retweet” them.  Meaning, my work can go well beyond my borders if it has a value.  In doing so, Google will look at my blogs and article directories as being “popular”, giving my pages authority, and therefore good rank in Google’s search engine results.

Google Webmaster Tools and Google Analytics:  Make sure that you create a “Google Account” before you start anything.  Once you have an account with Google, following the Google “settings” and go explore all the Google tools, services, and account options.  One of the most important tools Google offers is Google Webmaster Tools.  It would take two months to explain the depth of what Google offers through Webmaster Tools and Analytics.  The good news is that Google has the most well developed tutorials and “how to’s” in the world.  Just dive in and spend time, learn, explore, experiment.  Pretty soon you are an Internet Marketing expert.  Make sure you grab the SEO Guide, and learn it like the back of your hand.  It will come in handy!

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Blogging for Business – 50 Steps to Building Traffic and Sales

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Craig Rogers
The logo of the blogging software WordPress.

Blogging for Business – 50 Steps to Building Traffic and Sales

Craig Rogers of Abundant Life Preparatory, reviews his options regarding online reputation repair.  Creating your own blog is very important and we proudly share our successful blog with you.  Go to http://blogger.zioneducationalsystems.com and check it out.  Abundant Life Preparatory is fighting back, producing and publishing incredible reviews and testimonials from parents of Abundant Life Preparatory through our blogs.  When prospective parents and families search the Internet they can also search for parent or client reviews of Abundant Life Preparatory.  Craig Rogers is using the positive reviews from parents of Abundant Life Preparatory to fight back against Heal-online and Fornit’s smear campaign. Repairing ALP’s reputation was easy once Craig learned how to optimize for the keywords Abundant Life Preparatory Reviews, Reviews of Abundant Life Preparatory, what parents say about Abundant Life Preparatory.  Internet Marketing requires taking responsibility for the entire process of marketing.

You’ve heard the news: blogging is the best way to deliver the information, interaction and inspiration today’s consumers want. Blogs work.

With so many “how tos” out there on starting a blog, launching your own can seem like an overwhelming task.

That’s why Wordtracker has teamed with international blogging expert, Chris Garrett, to create an exciting e-book, “Blogging for Business – 50 Steps to Building Traffic and Sales.”

From selecting the right name for your blog to creating a first-rate visitor experience, this handy guide shows you how you can use blogging to gain more customers, strengthen your brand and generate more sales.

You can find out more here, or read on for a special offer.

Inside the Book …

In “Blogging for Business – 50 Steps to Building Traffic and Sales,” you’ll learn how to:

  • Select the right blogging software
  • Navigate the common pitfalls of blogging and avoid obvious mistakes
  • Create mouthwatering content that attracts your ideal audience
  • Spread the word about your blog – and build an email list
  • Transform your blog into a revenue-producing machine

A blog allows you to attract new customers, build brand awareness, and inspire more prospects to buy from you. Not to mention the SEO benefits: the average blog attracts 55% more visitors and gets indexed 434% more by search engines than a traditional website, giving you exposure like never before.

A roadmap to success  “Blogging for Business – 50 Steps to Building Traffic and Sales”lays out a practical, step-by-step process for developing a successful blog for your business:

  1. We explain the theories

    2. behind the use of blogging as a powerful marketing tool.

  2. Then, we list the practical actions you need to take to build and promote your own blog.
  3. This book is loaded with screenshots and how-tos,making it incredibly easy to follow, even for the novice blogger!

Proven insights from a blogging master

“Blogging for Business” was written by renowned speaker, author and internet marketing consultant, Chris Garrett. The plan outlined in the book has been successfully implemented by Chris in his own career as a sought-after professional blogger. Since 1994, he has used his expertise to help thousands of individuals and businesses grow their companies by connecting with their customers online.

Now you can benefit from his advice – at a fraction of the cost he charges his consultancy clients.

Blogging for Business
Here’s more detail about what’s inside:

In “Blogging for Business – 50 Steps to Building Traffic and Sales,” you’ll learn in 162 pages:

  • How to identify your target audience, get inside their heads and create the kind of content they really crave.
  • How to solve the technical challenges and decisions you’ll face before you can start blogging.
  • How to determine your blog’s unique selling point and blow away your competition.
  • Why an ill-conceived blogging strategy can actually damage your company’s reputation – and how to plan smart.
  • Which traffic building solutions will give you the best return on investment – and which are a complete waste of time.
  • Why creating a phenomenal “visitor experience” is the key to generating more sales (and how to do it).
  • Tried and true tips for converting casual blog readers into loyal subscribers.
  • Why adding multimedia to your blog can make visitors warm up to you more quickly (even if it’s poorly produced!)

And here’s what one of our customers says:

‘It is, without doubt, the best book on blogging I have seen in ages. Over the years I have bought every book going on blogging and this surpasses even the best of them. For anyone involved in blogging – or considering a blog – this is essential reading’.
Graham Jones, internet psychologist.

Buy today and save 26%

“Blogging for Business – 50 Steps to Building Traffic and Sales” is usually priced at $39. But since you’re a valued Wordtracker newsletter subscriber, we’re offering you a special limited-time deal: order the book within the next 48 hours and get the special sale price of $29 - that’s a 26% saving!

YES, I’d like to order now and save 26%!

The Wordtracker Money-Back Guarantee

We’re confident you’ll be thrilled with “Blogging for Business.” However, if for any reason you’re not satisfied with the e-book, just let us know and Wordtracker will cheerfully refund your money at any point within 30 days of purchase. No questions asked!

Remember, this exclusive offer expires in 48 hours, so you must act today! Order “Blogging for Business – 50 Steps to Building Traffic and Sales”

In the spirit of online success,

The Wordtracker Team
support@wordtracker.com

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Repair Your Organization’s Online Reputation | Five Tips

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Craig Rogers
Image representing Wikipedia as depicted in Cr...

Repair your organization’s online reputation – Five Tips
by Pam Fielding

Does your organization have a good rep – or a bad one? There’s only one way to know for sure. Follow these five steps to find out where your organization stands – virtually speaking — and how to fix a bad rep before it costs you members, supporters, donors, or sponsors.

1. Become a Search Engine Detective.
Every good opposition researcher knows where to find dirt online – at a trusty search engine. Google or Yahoo! your organization, and see what you find. Is your own Website presented high in the search results? What else is showing up on the first page – and if it isn’t your content describing your organization – whose is it? Be sure to search for the obvious problems, such as your company’s name matched with an issue on which you’ve gotten a bad rap. To keep tabs on the state of your reputation, be sure to use a tool like Google Alerts so that you are notified when content is posted online about your organization.

2. Buttress Your Press.
Type “Hillary Clinton,” “Barack Obama,” or “John McCain” into your favorite search engine, and see what they have in common. Hint: It’s not their politics – it’s their search results. The first thing you’ll notice is that the top search result (after sponsored listings) is news. Your organization is no different. Whether you’re generating good or bad press – it’s going to show up at the top of your search results. While you can’t change bad press – you can leverage press releases as a way to highlight good news about your company. Post press releases on your Website, and be sure they can be found online. Press releases can enhance your online reputation – so be sure to use them well.

3. Flyspeck Your Wikipedia Article.
Wikipedia currently contains 2,323,764 articles on every imagineable topic, and possibly one about your own organization. According to Wikipedia, it is a conflict of interest for an organization to create its own Wikipedia article, to edit its own article, or to pay someone to do so. However, it makes common sense to monitor your article if you have one, and to encourage your unpaid supporters to either write or enhance your article – in a neutral manner using reliable source information – as necessary.

4. Talk Back.
We now live in a world of user-generated content, where all of us are online publishers and any of us can make positive or negative comments about ourselves and those around us – using text, video, or photos. In a talk-back virtual environment, we have a responsibility both to monitor what others are saying (and showing) others about us and to be responsible about what we say and do online. After you snap that photo of your work colleague doing a keg stand at the company picnic, think twice before you post it to Facebook, MySpace, or Flickr. It’s just this kind of content that sets you and your company up for the online reputation hangover.

When user-generated content is posted about your company online – and especially if it’s incorrect – don’t be afraid to set the record straight. Remember, however, that not every blog post is worth responding to; Earl Nobody’s blog does not carry the same weight as the Daily Kos. Remember these two rules when responding to user-generated content (luckily for us, they rhyme): Be polite and be right.

5. Take Control of Your Reputation.
The strategies of search engine optimization and keyword advertising (see Sean’s blog post) can be extremely useful in helping you put your virtual best-foot forward. The takeaway here is simple: remember that your online reputation comes from what people say and what people FIND indexed online. Smart companies still make mistakes, face lawsuits, layoff employees, and get their reputations bruised along the way, but they know how to use their content, create new content, and apply search strategies strategically to avoid long-term pain.

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