Tag: manipulating

The Art of Connecting: Building Rapport

The most effective space in missionary work is trust. In a recent training with missionaries, it appears the MTC is still teaching rapport building as an ‘effective’ tool in the work.

How do you feel when someone tries to manipulate you into doing something they want?

As a father, when my son prefaces a question with: “Dad, I sure love you,” my antennae go up. Does he love me because I’m dad, or because I have something he wants?

You can’t hide rapport building. Like bad breath, it usually arrives moments after you open your mouth. The art of connecting is another way of building rapport.

An Adulterous Woman and Her Men

John 8 recounts a most interesting story. Jesus is on the Mt. of Olives, perhaps in or near the Garden of Gethsemane. Early in the morning He went unto the temple and scribes and Pharisees brought a woman before him taken in adultery.

They set her in the midst and claimed to have taken the woman in the very act. Now what does that mean? Where is the man? They quote Moses as to her penalty. She is to be stoned, and in a pitiful attempt, the wisdom of the natural man tempts God,

“What sayest thou?” they ask of the Savior.

A Christmas Gift Your Family Will Never Forget

It was Christmas Eve as Mark emerged from the office. Walking up to his new car, he noticed a street urchin circling with admiration.

“Is this your car Mister?” he asked.

Mark nodded, “My brother gave it to me as an early Christmas present.”

The boy look astounded. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you anything? Gosh I wish…”

He hesitated and Mark knew what he was going to wish. He was going to wish that he had a brother like that. But the lad’s actual wish jarred Mark to his inner core.