The Interview

I have been hunting for a job for a while now. There have been a few interviews, nothing successful, but something I have always struggled with is feeling comfortable in interviews. Some might say, "well duh, nobody feels comfortable in interviews on either side of the process." But I am starting to realize that there is more to landing a job than a well structured resume, grammatically correct cover letter and experience. All of these being the foundation, but there is something to build on top of these.

Rapport.

When I worked for Vector Marketing selling Cutco for a summer, rapport was a huge topic. "The best way to sell the product is to build rapport with the customer." This may sound cold and I do not want anyone I sold Cutco to think I swindled them into buying the product. For two reasons...I had a hard time building rapport with people I knew never mind strangers, and I actually believe Cutco is a good product. That aside, I have yet to master the art of rapport. I feel like I can read a person's body language pretty good, but to translate that into a conversation is a challenge.

I need to make the distinction that I believe the rapport you build with a future employer and a future girlfriend are two different worlds. While you may use the same tools in each situation, said future employer might not always respond positively to flirty smiles and complements on wardrobe...especially if it is a 50 year old man. Disclaimer: I do necessarily use previously stated techniques to pick up a girlfriend. I digress.

I don't know how much TV you all watch, but there is an extremely entertaining show that me and some guys in college would watch purely because of how preposterous the idea was. Have you ever heard of "The Pick Up Artist" ? I will not go into details, but it is based on this guy that calls himself "Mystery"(See Picture above). He believes he can pick up any girl he wants and uses this competitive show to teach a group of guys to do the same with his techniques. Like I said, it was for entertainment not practical application. But the point is that much of his techniques could be considered building rapport.

This whole thought process on rapport was triggered by some articles about building rapport on a resume builder website. It mentions how the interviewer, maybe not even intentionally, will make a decision on who is offered the position based on emotions and how memorable the interviewee was and if there was a "connection". So the challenge is perfecting the art of connection. This website also suggests practicing in other contexts to refine one's ability to build rapport before going into an interview. I just might go to the library today and do some observing and approach a complete stranger to see if I have appropriately read body language and interaction with other people. Maybe the grocery store is a better idea.

Happy job hunting to all my unemployed readers!

Tear Down the Walls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-R314tcUFw

Tear down the walls see the world
Is there something we have missed
Turn from ourselves
Look beyond
There is so much more than this

And I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this
Fire burning deep inside my heart

Look to the skies hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life there is love
There is hope and this is real

Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart

This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You

Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You

Oh for all the sons and daughters
Who are walking in the darkness
You are calling us to lead them back to You
We will see Your spirit rising
As the lost come out of hiding
Every heart will see this hope we have in You

Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart

This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You

Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You
(x2)

Soli Deo Gloria.

This Latin phrase is the proclamation of Dordt College."To God alone be the glory." It has always been something that the President would end his speeches for graduation and convocation and any other chance he had the opportunity to say it. As with anything that is repeated, it can become old and lose meaning. I never really appreciated this phrase while I attended the college, and it really is bizarre how I came to appreciate it today.

Since yesterday I have been in one of those moods, the kind where I get in this funk of feeling a little down and a little "woe is me" syndrome. I don't particularly enjoy it, and at first I was worried I was getting sick. Even as I write this I am feeling a little bit of vertigo. But I think there is something else that is contributing to my woeful feelings. I have never struggled to find things in my life that I am not pleased with. I have recently prayed that the Holy Spirit's voice be very clear to me, and specifically giving me an awareness of my sin. Simply put, guilt. It terrifies me think I could possibly become ignorant of the sin in my life and do not feel guilt for my actions! Please, no!

So today I woke up in my funk and considering the ways that I am just coasting. Watching films is one way that often convicts me and gets me to process how I am living my life. Sometimes it's inspirational and other times discouraging. But today I was listening to some music by Lecrae and I had one of those inspirational moments.


"while Im here livin man I gotta ask why
what am here fo I gotta figure out
waste my life/ no I gotta make it count
if Christ is real.
Paul said if Christ aint resurrect then we wasted our lives
well that implies that our life's built around Jesus being alive
everyday I'm living tryin show the world why
Christ is more than everything you'll ever try
We created for Him outta the dust he made us for Him
Elects us and he saves us for Him Jesus comes and raises for Him
Magnify the Father why bother with something lesser
he made us so we could bless Him and to the world we confess him
resurrects him so I know I got life matter fact better man I know I got Christ
if you don't' see His ways in my days and nights
you can hit my brakes you can stop my lights
man I lost my rights I lost my life
the cost is Christ
and they could never offer me anything on the planet that'll cost that price

Here are my gifts and time cause I'm constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ
If he's truly raised to life then this news should change your life
and by his grace you can put your faith in place that rules your days and nights"

Surely there are people that are thinking "rap? really? come on Joel, I thought you were more of music snob than that?" Nope. At least not for this rap. The point is that I am encouraged by the truth in these words.

My hope is that I am willing to sacrifice anything for the sake of the gospel. But words come so easy. Talk is cheap. Right? Absolutely right.

So I think the last 24 hours have been a gut check. Maybe it is the Holy Spirit maintaining my awareness of how incompetent I am. Because I know that when I acknowledge my short comings, it leads me crawling back to the cross. Jesus I have nailed you there once again,I am so wretched, I love your law for makes me aware of my need for the grace and forgiveness that you can give. Do not let me abuse what you have given to me. "what wondrous love is this, oh my soul? That cause the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul." Gaaaaaaah! There is such a disconnect from my words to my actions.

The song posted on my blog right now is a Hillsong that speaks the same message. I will post the lyrics in my next post.
Stay hungry!

Magnificat by Arvo Part

The piece of music that is currently playing on my blog is a choral piece that the Concert Choir from my school sang in the fall of 2008. It has been my favorite piece that we sang while I was in the choir. The following is a translation.

Text of the Magnificat: (The New Jerusalem Bible and The Vulgate)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Magnificat anima mea Dominum
et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.

Because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant.
Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed.
Qui respexit humilitatem ancillae suae,
ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.

for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est
et sanctum nomen eius

His faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him
et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.

He has pulled down princes from their thrones
and raised high the lowly.
deposuit potentes de sede,
et exaltavit humiles.

He has filled the starving with good things
sent the rich away empty
esurientes implevit bonis
et divites dimisit inanens

He has come to the help of Israel his servant
mindful of his faithful love.
Suscepit Israel, puerum suum,
recordatus misericordiae suae.

According to the promise he made to our ancestors
of his mercy to Abraham and his descendants for ever.
sicut locutus est ad patres nostros
Abraham et semini eius in saecula.

My favorite musical part of the piece is at 4:30-4:50. Especially the chord at 4:50. How could we ever live with out Music?

Words without action...

On Thursday nights I meet with a group of guys to talk about life and a chapter from the book we are reading called Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. So far the book has sparked some really good conversation and last night was no exception. The chapter was titled Husbands and Wives as Analogous to Christ and the Church we discussed the issue of obedience and our role as the church to be obedient and submissive to Christ and then asked how that is reflected in a marriage relationship. The nice part of the group is that some are married, one guy is engaged and couple of us single which gives some interesting insight from different perspectives.

It is frustrating that terms such as submission, obedience, headship and reverence all have preconceived definitions tied with them. But if we reevaluate how these are used in relationship between Jesus and the Church, they paint a beautiful picture of how God designed relationship in a relationships to work. I think domineering, abusive, power and authority are often negatively coupled with the aforementioned list. God designed male headship in a husband's household to be sacrificial. Just as Christ lived and died sacrificially for His church, in that same way God is calling man to live sacrificially for his family. If we talk about a household being submissive and respectful to the authority given to the father and husband of the household, it should be evident in all areas of life. Spiritual growth, physical needs, health, provision and as the man initiating an attitude of repentance and reconciliation in the home. The father and husband leads by example, for better or worse, the household will follow. It's all about the gospel message being lived out in the home.