TOTAL QUALITY PEOPLE

I earlier today remembered TQP--TOTAL QUALITY PEOPLE as a result of a question posed by a friend on Facebook.  As I read through, I focused on responsibility and the aspect of our world views, mind shifts and thus resulted to quoting Shiv Khera thus 'Having been exposed to a number of training programs, such as customer service, selling skills, and strategic planning, I have come to the conclusion that all these are great programs with one major challenge: None of them works unless they have the right foundation, and the right foundation is TQP. What is TQP? TQP is Total Quality People-- people with character, integrity, good values, and a positive attitude. Don't get me wrong. You do need all the other programs, but they will only work when you have the right foundation, and the foundation is TQP. For example, some customer service programs teach participants to say "please," and "thank-you," give smiles and handshakes. But how long can a person keep on a fake smile if he does not have the desire to serve? Besides, people can see through him. And if the smile is not sincere, it is irritating. My point is, there has to be substance over form, not form over substance. Without a doubt, one does need to remember "please" and "thank-you," the smiles, etc.--they are very important. But keep in mind that they come a lot easier when accompanied by a desire to serve. Someone once approached Blaise Pascal, the famous French philosopher and said, "If I had your brains, I would be a better person." Pascal replied, "Be a better person and you will have my brains."

Let someone challenge me and tell me that TQP is not about what I had discussed yesterday - transformation.  And how does it come by?  What we do, our associates, what we say - what preoccupies our minds.  In a world that is so focused on all else but Christ the author and giver of life, the source of all transformation, how can we be able to impact any one else let alone us?  As Shiv talks about character, integrity and good values as well as attitude - where else do we find this other than from Christ?  Our value system outside Christ is meaningless and thus the bible warns us "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well:, Matt 6:33.  What is this kingdom that we ought to seek - his character - what is God's character - peace, love, kindness, unchanging (not a liar), He is true to His word.  These are virtues that ought to form our character and value system and as we seek them, he will then grant us contentment in all states.  Further the bible admonishes in Phill 4: 8 thus "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" and further that "set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things", Col 1-2.

If by the grace and the power of the holy spirit, we can allow God himself to transform us, we can live in a better world and change it for better for those yet to come.  GBU.