Components of emotional intelligence

In going through transition, one of the most important ways to cooperate with God is to have something of a checklist to review the responsibilities and the people and projects entrusted to your care during the previous assignment.  This is important to advancing at every turn, whether its been cleaning the closets or negotiating with captains of industry/heads of state.  I've been going over a number of things in that regard, preparing for the open door in the plan of God.  Here is a list I've reviewed over the years, started by an article I read years ago in the Harvard Business Review.  The article was an analysis of how it was the 'emotional intelligence' of leaders that largely determined their effectiveness at achieving corporate goals:

Five Components of Emotional Intelligence at Work

	Definition	Hallmarks
Self-awareness	The ability to recognize and understand your moods, emotions, and drives, as well as their effect on others	Self-confidence Realistic self_assessment Self-deprecating sense of humor
Self-regulation	The ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods The propensity to suspend judgement-to think before acting	Trustworthiness and integrity Comfort with ambiguity Openness to change
Motivation	A passion to work for reasons that go beyond money or status A propensity to pursue goals with energy and persistence	Strong drive to achieve Optimism, even in the face of failure Organizational commitment
Empathy	The ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people Skill in treating people according to their emotional reactions	Expertise in building and retaining talent Cross-cultural sensitivity Commitment to others' success
Social Skill	Proficiency in managing relationships and building networks An ability to find common ground and build rapport	Effectiveness in leading change Persuasiveness Expertise in building and leading teams

Voice of the Martyrs prayer update

INDIA — Pastor Brutally Attacked — VOM Contacts

On March 8, Pastor Ravi Chandran was brutally attacked by Hindu extremists in Mysore, Karnataka State, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Pastor Ravi was attacked by more than 10 extremists, who forcibly entered a believer’s home where the pastor was holding a prayer meeting. “The extremists entered the house and began abusing the pastor and the believers gathered there,” VOM contacts said. “They hit the pastor with glass bottles, as well as kicking and punching him mercilessly, after which they disappeared from the venue.” Pastor Ravi suffered severe injuries to his leg and head. Please pray for Pastor Ravi, his church and all believers in India. 

Romans 8:34–36

INDONESIA — Churches Burned — Compass Direct News

On Jan. 22, two church buildings under construction in North Sumatra, Indonesia, were burned by suspected Islamic extremists, according to Compass Direct News. “The attackers came from outside the area to burn the partially constructed buildings of the Huria Kristen Batak Protestan Church (HKBP) and the Pentecostal Church in Sibuhuan village, Padang Lawas Residency, during daylight hours,” Rev. Lubis of the HKBP church told Compass. “Hundreds of people arrived on motorcycles and burned the empty church.” Praise God none of the believers were injured in the fires. Church leaders reported that many believers in the area have fled, fearing for their safety. Pray that God will protect these Indonesian believers and give them courage in the face of persecution. Pray that those who started the fires might be brought to justice, and pray that the Indonesian believers will respond to this persecution in a way that honors and glorifies God. 

Revelation 2:10–11

NIGERIA — Violence Against Christians Continues — VOM Contacts

On March 7, Muslims launched deadly attacks against Christians in the three farming villages of Dogo Nahawa, Zot and Rastat near the city of Jos, Nigeria, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The Muslim attackers, members of the Fulani ethnic group, killed hundreds of Christians, many of whom were women and children. The majority of the believers were members of the Berom ethnic group. VOM has contacts on the ground in Nigeria working to assist and encourage believers. Pray for peace in Northern Nigeria. Ask God to comfort these communities as they deal with this ongoing tragedy. Pray that the faith and witness of these believers might draw their persecutors as well as others who hear their stories into fellowship with Christ. 

Psalm 91:1–7

Personal update

Greetings, dear friends;

With the advent of April quickly approaching, an update on our family is timely.  As some of you might know it was last April that I had an encounter with the Lord where He said that I had already started the biggest transition of my life thus far.  As a news bulletin of sorts, it was absolutely mind-boggling to me at the time.  Things in general had seemed to be clipping along at an acceptable pace from my perspective.  But within weeks Kirk Bennett received a directive from the Holy Spirit to move back to Kansas City.  From that point forward the packing up and dispersion of much of the Zadok House of Prayer (ZHOP) community began and continued in a steady way until the formal closing of the prayer room in October of 2009.  It had been a glorious journey, and God was with us and started a prayer meeting among us that lasted over 3 and 1/2 years.

As a family we remained watchful and listening.  There was a needed time to put away the former things in order to best discern what new might be in the will of God for us.  In a sense, everything was subject to review.  Asking and thinking about what to carry forward with gratefulness for the friendships and lessons we had acquired, and how we might improve and refine the decisions made along the way should we face them again.

We have considered a number of options as to what we might do as a family, including moving nearer to family in Texas or moving to Kansas City.  Both of those options are attractive to us.  But other considerations have come into view as we have listened and stayed in prayer.  I will not belabor those in this communication except to note that a move to Raleigh has stood out in recent weeks.  The prospect of establishing a prayer community there at the encouragement of Duncan and Kate Smith, senior leaders of the Catch the Fire church, has become something that we will explore further with them in the next week.  To that end I would ask for you to remember us in prayer as we discern what the nature of such a relationship might entail.

The most surprising aspect of this transition has been an occasion a few weeks ago where I woke up in the middle of the night and received some unexpected understanding of the nature of the road ahead.  On February 24, I was told by the Lord that He was going to send people to me whom I am supposed to help.  I would not need to make a phone call, He would send them to me.  Since that time there have been people from 2 different parts of North Carolina who have sought me out and are asking for my input to their building prayer communities.  These are in addition to my interest in prayer among friends in Raleigh, North Carolina and Newport News, Virginia and Austin, Texas.

I perceive we are nearing the end of the listening phase of our transition and will have clarity in the next week or so as to where we should live.  Through all these developments I am asking the Lord to raise up between 200 and 300 people in full-time prayer in the mid-Atlantic region in the next 3 years in these prayer communities. There is something new He will do in regards to funding prayer in coming years.  We are greatly privileged by the Holy Spirit to be in prayer for the Body of Christ to come to its full stature: awake with all of its members functioning, compassionate while sincerely embracing righteousness, and deeply in love with Jesus.

For the Lamb of God and His harvest,

Greg Burnett

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD, forever.

- Psalm 23:6