Is Praying Supposed To Be Fun?

By: Bo Sanchez

Yes, If You Use Your Own Prayer Language.

Do you struggle praying daily?
I did. For years.
But no matter what I felt, I prayed anyway. That was the “teaching” and “rule” for good
Christians like me.

So each day, I went into my room and talked to God.

30 minutes, I was taught. So 30 minutes I did.
Some days, it was Ok.
Some days, it was like being root-canalled.
Or lipo-suctioned. (Just in case you’re wondering, I’ve never experienced it, but my friends tell me it’s torture.)

During those difficult days of prayer, every part of me wanted to get out of that room. I felt so dry. So empty. So distant from God.

And I didn’t know why. Why did I feel so depressed?
I simply concluded it was the spiritual dryness that saints experienced regularly (Ahem.) I read that St. Therese of Avila had spiritual dryness that lasted for 20 years. Who was I to complain?

Until I stumbled upon what I now call “Prayer Language”.
Today, I realize that perhaps many people’s spiritual dryness come from simply not loving themselves. How? By not respecting their own personality, not listening to their needs, and not using their own prayer language.

My Spiritual Arrogance

Once upon a time, I thought there was only one way of praying: My way!
My way of praying meant going to a room, sitting down or standing up, and singing, listening, and talking to God. For years, I’d teach people to do this exact same thing. I called it “Prayer Time” and it had only one definition—Mine.

I remember a woman who said, “Bo, I do my gardening every morning. And when I do, I imagine Him gardening beside me. Surrounded by the fresh air and the beauty of the flowers around me, I spend time with Him. As I dirty my hands with the soil of the earth, I’m blessed. And I feel so refreshed each morning…”

I frowned at her. I said, “That’s nice. But you still need a formal prayer time where you go into a room—and then sit down and stand up. And then use A.C.T.S.—Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication…”

Forgive me Lord for my spiritual arrogance!

Perhaps a part of me looked down on anyone who was having too much fun in their prayer life. How could she when I was suffering through my prayers?
I never saw that she was probably closer to God than I was.

Because God made her a gardener. And He was meeting her in the garden. God was talking to her with the prayer language He gave her.

What Is Your Prayer Language?

I still meet people who insist that others pray the way they pray.

“You should go to the Blessed Sacrament and kneel for an hour…”
“You should pray in tongues…”
“You should pray the Liturgy of the Hours…”
“You should pray, worship, jump, and dance like in a prayer meeting…”
“You should pray the rosary…”
“You should pray in quiet, emptying your mind…”

All of the above are prayer languages.

But never the language.

There is no such thing.

Today, I tell people to discover their own prayer language.
I did.

And boy, did I feel relieved that my prayer language wasn’t going into a room and doing the A.C.T.S. No wonder I had great difficulty! I felt disconnected.

My Prayer Language?

Here’s what I do for my daily time with God….

In the morning, I walk out of the house and pray in tongues. That’s just a few minutes of walking slowly, absorbing the sunlight, and inhaling God’s Presence and the beauty of the new day. I claim the blessings of the day. I pray the Novena to God’s Love prayer.

Why do I pray outside? Because I love nature. I feel God’s Presence much more outdoors than indoors. That’s just how God made me.

I then go into the house, fire up my laptop, and “pray” my Dreambook. This is a 15-page document that lists my ultimate mission in life. (My mission in life is composed of 4 words: “To Communicate God’s Love”.) It also lists my long-term dreams as well as my goals for the year. Why do I pray this way? Because God designed my psychology as a “futurist”.

And then, I start writing. I write my prayers, my reflections, and my insights. When I do this, I feel God’s Presence in a very palpable way. Why? Because God made me a writer, and writing is my prayer language.

I no longer struggle much when I pray.

I love praying. I have fun.
Because now, prayer can be all these activities and more.
Because I’m not stuck with one way of praying.
Because I’m using my prayer language—the language God gave me.
Because prayer is a relationship, not a fixed set of things to do imposed upon me by other people.

Hey, I’ve now come to respect the prayer languages of my friends too…

Examples of Prayer Languages

· One of my friends is a music lover. So each morning, he plays his worship CD. And he sings along for the next 8 to 10 songs, worshipping the Lord. He tells me that this prayer time really connects him to the Lord.

· My athletic uncle jogged daily. (He’s 80 now, so he’s slowed down.) But for years, he ran for miles. And he told me that each morning, he’d talk to God like the Almighty was jogging right beside him.

· A friend loves quiet. She walks to a nearby chapel and spends quiet time before the Blessed Sacrament. She loves it.

Praying Creatively In Difficult Circumstances
Some friends pray in creative ways by the force of their circumstances. In my immature days, I used to judge them, insisting that they “find” proper time for God. Today, I’ve come to admire them very much…

· A friend lives in Sta. Rosa Laguna and travels two hours to work and another two hours going home. She can sleep only 4 hours a day. But thanks to the heavy roadwork now in South Luzon Express Way, her relationship with God has been repaired too. Half of her travel time, she sleeps. And the other half, she turns the bus into her private chapel.

· A new mother can only grab snippets of prayer when she makes her baby sleep. Her “lullabies” are worship songs.

Friend, are you having difficulty praying daily?

What is your prayer language?

Tell me about it in the comments below. And share it to the world too. Someone might get encouraged by your way of praying.

==>>CLICK HERE

James Parmis Ministries
http://www.JamesParmis.com

I Still Date My Ex-Girlfriend

By: BO SANCHEZ

Call Me Crazy, But She Still Makes My Heart Go Pumpity-Pump

After ten years of marriage, I’m still crazy for this woman.

Being with her is my little piece of heaven on earth.

Here’s my proof: So far, I’ve had 508 romantic dates with my wife. (Yes, my wife. What were you thinking? She’s my ex-girlfriend, right?) That’s once per week for almost 10 beautiful years.
And I’ve loved every single one of them.

Our date night is sacred.

Unless it’s an invitation from the President of the Republic, I say no to all invitations and meetings. Our marriage is what it is today because of those precious 508 dates.

Call me corny. Call me deluded. Call me in denial.

But I really love being with her.

By the way, did you know my wife has magical powers?

When I’m with her, she drains my stress away. When I’m going through a rough time, all I have to do is share my problems to her, and instantly, I feel so much better. With her, I’m at home. And I rest.

I believe couples need to connect with each other in a deep way, or they will drift apart and look for attachments elsewhere.

Aside from our weekly dates, I grab special times I call “spontaneous moments of connection”.
Spontaneous Moments Of Connection

Yesterday afternoon, I came home ready to dive into my work. The usual stuff I do: articles to write, talks to prepare, meetings to plan…

But when I came home, I saw this lovely woman sitting on the couch all by herself.
I thought to myself, “Work can wait,” and I grabbed this opportunity to sit beside the greatest girl on the galaxy. It wasn’t planned. But we were able to talk and connect our hearts. Even just for a few minutes.

Life offers us these fantastic times of bonding. I’ve learned not to miss them: Being stuck in traffic with her. Or waiting for the dentist. Or lining up in the grocery. These times don’t have to be boring if you hold hands and talk.

How To Have A Great Marriage

One day, a young husband came up to me and said, “Bo, I wish my marriage will be as great as yours ten years from now…”

I only had one word for him: “Don’t wish. Decide.”
In that one line, I gave my secret to success.
That’s what separates great marriages and not-so-great marriages.
That’s what separates successful people from unsuccessful people.
Unsuccessful people wish, want, hope, desire for their dreams.
That’s not enough.
Successful people decide to make their dreams happen. Period.
That means they’ll do whatever it takes.

Nothing will stop them.
Failure is not an option.
Let me ask you: Will you do whatever it takes?

For me as a husband, it means…
o practicing “mental” monogamy
o overlooking her faults
o going out of my way to express my love
o prioritizing our dates
o leading my family to God

Note: Just in case you’re in the delusion that I’m a perfect husband, let me make this record straight. I’m far from it. Just ask my wife!

But the important thing is that I’ve decided to become a great husband. And I make that decision everyday. (I struggle towards this dream everyday!)

I’ve realized that this power of decision works in every other area in life…

How To Be A Success In Anything

I’ve also decided to be a financial success.
No ifs, no buts, no excuses. I’ll do everything it takes.
For me, that means sticking to my core gifts, getting wise mentors, reinventing myself, creating a dream team around me, and focusing on loving my customers.
I’ve also decided to be a spiritual person.

That means opening myself to God’s love, walking with integrity, and pursuing my ultimate mission of loving others.

I’ve also decided to be a healthy person.
That means going to the gym daily, eating veggies and fruits, taking supplements, and living with balance.

Don’t Wish. Decide.
“But Bo, I’ve already decided to be a success! But I guess my decision wasn’t strong enough…”
Then that means you haven’t really decided yet.
You’ve just wished.
If you remain in the level of wish, nothing happens.
You must go to the level of decision.

I’m reminded of this Chinese General who invaded an island. Upon landing on the shore, he asked his soldiers to burn their own boats. Obviously, they were shocked. When asked why would they do this insane act of burning their own boats, he said, “We’ll leave this island either as Victors or as dead men. Escape is not an option.”
That’s a decision.
And that’s the kind of decision that will make you succeed in anything.

AHBO MILLIONAIRES 2010
www.AmazingHomeBusinessOnline.com

James Parmis Ministries
http://www.JamesParmis.com

Why I Look Like Tom Cruise

Why I Look Like Tom Cruise
By: Bo Sanchez

I get interviewed a lot.
Perhaps once a week, I get interviewed (No joke).
My problem is that I get asked the same questions over and over again.
So just to break the monotony, I give them the silliest answers.
Let me share with you one interview today.
Despite the jokes, I’m sure you’ll pick up something for your own personal growth. Here it is…

Q: Brother Bo, we’re going to ask you some very basic questions.
Bo: No problem. You wouldn’t know if my answers would be correct anyway, right?

Q: (Laughs) When and where were you born?
Bo: July 11, 1966 in Caloocan City. Or was that 1976? Let me show you my baby photo. (See below.) At least, that’s what my mother said when she gave me this photo. But because the creature in the photo looks like a miniaturized sumo wrestler, I’m wondering if it was really me. What do you think?

Q: Who are your parents?
Bo: Eugenio and Pilar Sanchez. The most fantastic human beings on the planet.

Q: We read somewhere that they have a great love story. How did they meet?
Bo: Mom was a pretty 19 year old girl when she met Dad. She was applying for work in his office. Dad, 6 years older than her, liked what he saw and, take note, secretly gave her the answers to the entrance exam—just so that she would pass! He then hired her on the spot and asked for his first date. This may scandalize you, but three months later, Mom and Dad got married. Obviously, they never told me this shocking piece of information until I was 31 years old—when I was far and safe from the impulsiveness of teenage romance.

Q: What was their religious background?
Bo: Catholic. Do you know what was their first date?

Q: What?
Bo: Morning Mass. And from that day on, they never stopped going to daily Mass for the rest of their lives. Before Dad died last year, they celebrated 63 years of wedded bliss.

Q: Where did you go to School?
Bo: I switched schools like I switched shirts. I started in Stella Maris, jumped to San Carlos Boys, hopped to St. Josephs, switched to Claret High School, and finally landed in the Ateneo. Yes, I never got a Loyalty Award.

Q: What was your course in college?
Bo: AB Philosophy.

Q: Did you take up Masters?
Bo: I took up my Masters in Theology but never did my thesis. I was just too busy with my ministry. My purpose wasn’t to get a degree. I just wanted to learn more.

Q: Where did you work?
Bo: In a normal job and normal company? Never. I’m now 41 and I’ve never had a Boss in my entire life. Ever since high school, I was already serving in ministry. And when I was in college, I was already working “full-time” in the ministry of the Lord. I founded 4 non-profit organizations and I’ve always been the leader. I guess I’m just lazy and I don’t want to work for anyone.

Q. Why did you become a preacher?
Bo: I had a spiritual conversion at age 12. I experienced God’s love in such a real and intimate way. And I wanted to do two things. First, the force of that love overwhelmed me and I wanted to love Him back. Second, I wanted to live a life of significance. I wanted my life to have eternal meaning. And so I had this desire to serve God by preaching. Would you believe, as a 13-year-old kid, I would imagine myself standing before 30,000 people in Araneta Coliseum, holding a bible and a microphone, preaching God’s Word.

Q. Did that happen?
Bo: I gave my first talk in the Araneta Coliseum at age 16. That was a miracle. Let me prove it to you: Here’s my passport photo when I was 16. Would you have listened to that… uh, alien?

Q. Was there a particular event in your life that caused you to become a preacher?
Bo: At age 13, Aida, our prayer group leader prophesied that I would receive the gift of wisdom and that I would preach. So she asked me to give a talk that following Friday prayer meeting. So at age 13, I preached my first talk and never stopped ever since. I owe my ministry to that woman, Aida. She believed in me. She saw something in me that others—even I—didn’t see in me. And all through the years, I’ve been trying to be an Aida in other people’s lives. I raise people up and release them to the world. It’s been fun.

Q. We have noticed that you talk about a broad range of topics. Do you have favorite topics now?
Bo: After almost 30 years of preaching, my favorite topics now are about building people’s self-esteem, teaching people to see themselves the way God sees them, and helping them to dream again. For me to do that, I have to change their distorted images of God and of themselves. Another favorite topic right now is helping people raise their financial literacy and teaching them the right theology and psychology towards money. Can I plug?

Q. Yes, please!
Bo: I don’t know if there are still empty seats available, but I’ll announce this anyway. I’ll be giving my life-changing How To Be Truly Rich Seminar this April 5, 2008, from 8:30am to 12noon. I love giving this seminar because it really changes the financial lives of people. How? By changing their psychology and theology towards money. I’ve always believed that money problems are mind problems. So by changing their mind towards money, their money life will change as well. To find out if there are still empty seats available, they can email beaconlightevents@gmail.com right away. (Note from Bo: You can also read my P.S. at the bottom of this blog.)

Q. Why do you use various media? You seem to use everything. You use television and radio and books and magazines and the internet…
Bo: Media is powerful. It multiplies my reach. I think if Jesus were alive today, He’d use the internet too. Can I make another shameless plug? In the internet, I’ve created an international, borderless, non-physical community of people who want to grow in their personal life. I supply them with a mountain load of spiritual nourishment—like daily Bible reflections, monthly magazines, etc… All they have to do is log on at www.kerygmafamily.com. It’s FREE.

Q. You’re both a Preacher of God and also a Motivational or Inspirational Speaker. Is there a conflict?
Bo: Truth is universal. So I give one message. But yes, I’m a preacher in our prayer meetings because I can more openly talk about my sources—the Bible and our faith tradition. And I’m an inspirational speaker in my corporate seminars where I source my message from history, secular authors, social sciences, etc. But the message remains the same because the simplest truth that changes lives is universal.

Q. Why do you think thousands of people admire you?
Bo: Because I look like Tom Cruise. You don’t believe me? Our intestines, kidneys, and spleen really look alike. Okay seriously now. Gee, I’ll be guessing here. Three things. First, perhaps because I try to be honest with my failures and weaknesses. I don’t hide them. People know my sins. So perhaps they see themselves in me. Second, perhaps because I try to speak their language. I speak simply. I don’t try to impress people with my knowledge. Finally, perhaps because I speak what matters to them, their most pressing needs. Because I want to help them where they hurt the most. Aside from those three things, I really think it’s the Tom Cruise thing.

Q. How do you attain your own goals?
Bo: I start small. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Second, I bring together a dream team around me. I don’t go into a project without a fantastic group of people who will assist me in that project. Third, I keep at it. I keep positive. I keep faith. I keep focused. I believe that when a man is focused on his dreams with passion, he becomes a blessing-magnet. He doesn’t even have to look for them. Every blessing that he needs to fulfill his dreams will come to him. He will find blessings rolling down at his feet, begging that he receives them.

Q. We heard that you don’t send your kids to school. Instead, you homeschool them. Why such a radical decision?
Bo: It was a difficult decision. But after 4 years of homeschooling our kids, we see the fruits. We’ve been able to form the values in our kids. We enjoy a very strong relationship with them. To get my complete answer, log on at www.catholicfilipinoacademy.com In that site, you’ll also know the 16 reasons why we homeschool our kids.

Q. How is your relationship with God?
Bo: Alive. Intimate. Happy. Fun. Real. Honest. Worldly. I experience Him in the most secular moments of my life.

Q. You seem to be a very different kind of Preacher. You don’t only preach. You want to help the poor. You want to change the world. Why?
Bo: I began to understand that essence of Christianity. It is love. I’ll say something that will shock the daylights out of you. I believe that Salvation isn’t about going to Heaven. I believe Salvation is about bringing Heaven down on earth, especially to those who are suffering the most—the poor, the sick, the abandoned, and the spiritually lost. My faith is meaningless—my prayer meetings, my liturgical rituals, my bible reading, my religious beliefs—if I do not love my neighbor.

Q. What are you plans for the future?
Bo: I’ll continue to preach about God’s love. I’ll continue to teach people to believe in the God that believes in them. I’ll continue to share very practical ways of living the Christian life—in their families, in their jobs… I’ll use media more extensively to share this message. As a community, we will give half of our funds for evangelism and the other half for our work for the poor. Specifically, we will do developmental work for the poorest of the poor, establishing micro-credit and livelihood facilities. We will work with other groups to eradicate world poverty.

Q. Thank you very much. You have inspired us again.
Bo: Thank you too. You gave me great questions.

Friends, I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I enjoyed answering it.

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

AHBO Millionaires
www.AmazingHomeBusinessOnline.com

James Parmis Ministries
http://www.JamesParmis.com