Public Speaking: Ed Wohlmuth Method

All of us at one time or another are asked to "get up and share a few words." For me, this has always been such a nightmare! Fortunately, over time, it is not so much the "getting up" as it is the "sharing a few [worthy and insightful] words." We can really mess things up by not being in the moment!

I came across this overnight guide to public speaking and really enjoyed its practical and timely advice. It is worth saving for future reference. 

Six Signals Every Audience Wants to Hear

1. I Will Not Waste Your Time
2. I Know Who You Are
3. I Am Well Organized
4. I Know My Subject
5. Here Is My Most Important Point
6. I Am Finished

Ten Sure-Fire Ways to Give a Lousy Speech

1. Come Ill-Prepared (Make sure you spend time thinking about the purpose and content of the message.)
2. Waste Everyone's Time (Remember even the first 30 seconds of the speech make a difference in impression and value.)
3. Talk to Yourself (Does the message impress you alone, or does it bring value to the audience?)
4. Talk to Your Boss (Are you only aiming the message to one person or group? That insults the rest of the crowd.)
5. Use Opinions Instead of Facts (Citing fancy names or opinions of others and not focusing on the product. This has no value to the audience.)
6. Ramble Away From Your Subject (Telling stories or jokes that have nothing to do with the topic and have probably already been told by other people in the crowd!)
7. Forget Your Objective (You love the sound of your voice, but your metaphors mean your message is lost and so is your audience.)
8. Ignore the Setting (Be courteous to the audience and others on the agenda by keeping your message brief, on-point, and in doing so, win over the crowd, other speakers, and the host.)
9. Ignore the Clock (Know when to quit talking!)
10. Conclude Inconclusively (Don't ever say, "Well, I guess that's all I have to say..." Know when you are finished with your point and say so by wrapping it up decisively.)

This book is available online although it was last published in 1993, so some of the references to technology and entertainment are really outdated. The basic ideas on communication and valuing time and having an important message are still relevant. 

In my opinion, the Six Signals (above) should be on an index card or electronic device to refer to before every public speaking opportunity.

The ten ways to give a speech are also clues to a speaker's personality and character. It seems like etiquette has really declined over the last few decades and the rules for how we treat others are in danger of extinction. Just as technology evolves, so do forms of communication, but the basic elements of communication are the same.

Ultimately, it is just as much how the speaker makes a person feel as what the message is or the delivery.

In conclusion, a speaker must have an important message and make the audience feel important and valued. Once these two goals are understood, it is time to begin speaking!

Maya Angelou - American poet and inspirational writer
(1928-2014)

Psalm 23 - The Good Shepherd

This well-known passage is recited often at funerals and other church services and is a source of comfort.

A psalm of David. Copied from biblegateway.com.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death

Years ago, I was introduced to a book on this psalm, and I highly recommend it. It is titled, "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23," written by W. Phillip Keller.

The author explains the role and significance of the shepherd and how he takes care of his sheep. In the Bible, this illustration compares the Lord, Our God, as The Good Shepherd and people as His sheep.

Imagine a field of sheep, wandering about, grazing, falling over, maybe appearing confused at times! But when the sheep hear the voice of their Shepherd, they know where to go, what to do, and at times they are rescued from danger or peril. 

Reread Psalm 23, imagining yourself at the mercy and care of the Good Shepherd.

Jesus was quoted as saying in John 10:7-11,

Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers,but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

Christ the Good Shepherd
by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

This is probably one of my favorite paintings of all time. It is a beautiful image of Christ as the Good Shepherd, painted by the Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo in the 17th century.

Cucumber, Tomato, Avocado Salad

I'm saving this recipe that I found online so I can find it later. This salad is healthy and delicious. I would recommend slicing the tomatoes and avocado thinner than in this picture! :)

Cucumber, Tomato, Avocado Salad

Ingredients:

1 cucumber, sliced thin
4 Roma (the smaller) tomatoes
3 ripe avocados
½ red onion, sliced or diced
¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Place sliced cucumber, tomatoes, avocados, onion, and cilantro in a large salad bowl.

2. Toss with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Inspired by: http://natashaskitchen.com/2015/06/01/cucumber-tomato-avocado-salad/

New Year, New Goals

I've decided to wait until the second week of January to commit to my New Year's Resolutions.
Searching online, I came across a poem that explains why!

January Acrostic (With Rhyme) - Poem by Stevie Taite

J uncture of the year 

A t which we like to make

N umerous null promises

U ndoubtedly they'll take

A bout a week to break

R esolutions gone awry

Y et again next year we'll try[!]

Yet seriously, we should be confident in the start of a new year and take comfort in the opportunity of having a clean slate to begin again. For all that didn't go well in 2016, whether personally or corporately, let's start again. And if and when there is a failure, then press reset for the next day. 

In this new year, I have a list of goals and objectives just as most people do. For me, I truly believe that the only tasks that are accomplished are those that are scheduled and held accountable. For most people, this means what is expected at work or home, such as meetings, appointments, or caring for others out of necessity. These are our responsibilities. But also, we should expect to grow, and this growth process requires input, reflection, expression, and feedback. These should be our new responsibilities, in addition to the old.

So once again, this year as many before, my resolution is to make the most of my time, and to grow. For me, this means being productive while also finding outlets for creating so I can feel fulfillment and be a lifelong learner. We learn by doing, sharing, listening, and reflecting. Growth is not done alone; it involves spending time with others, learning and communicating with real people.

At the end of the year, we will look back again and remember what is truly important. At the risk of sounding cliché, it will remain faith, family, and love, but what does our faith, our family, and our love for God and others cause us to do?

Concerning work ethic, it is also about setting smart goals: specific, measurable, agreed upon/action-oriented, realistic, and time-based. Here's to the start of a new year, and an opportunity to pause, reflect and critique, and set new goals for growth! We want our God, our family and others to celebrate with us at the end of the year at how much we accomplished for our self-fulfillment and for others.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Salmon Patties

Ingredients:

1 14 oz. can pink salmon
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/2 small onion, chopped
2 eggs, beaten
2 tsp lemon juice
1 T fresh parsley, or dried Italian seasoning
1/4 t garlic salt, or season to taste with salt and pepper
1-2 T vegetable or canola oil


Preparation:

Drain and flake the salmon in a medium bowl. Remove the tiny bones and slivers as much as possible.* Combine salmon, breadcrumbs, onion, egg, lemon juice, and seasonings. Blend well. Shape into eight small "burger patties."

In a large skillet, heat a 1/2 inch depth of olive oil, or olive and canola oil (about 4-6 T). Cook salmon patties over medium heat, turning to fry both sides, until they are brown and heated through.

Serve on a bed of lettuce with cold cucumbers in vinegar. For kids of all ages, serve with macaroni and cheese!

*Note from Chicken of the Sea salmon can: The skin and tiny, soft bones are completely edible and an excellent source of calcium and Omega-3 fatty acids. Simply blend skin and bones with salmon and other ingredients.

What Christmas Is All About

The greatest gift I ever received was around Christmas time. It brought great news, joy, hope, and peace, all wrapped up in a story that changed my heart. Long before I understood the Christmas story, I have memories of listening to Linus from the Peanuts comic tell the Christmas story. (posted below)

It is a story that is told every year, although some have never heard it. It can be found in the books of Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2. (links direct to Bible Gateway)

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 

19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 

21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Isaiah 7:14)

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 

6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 

11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Video of Linus telling the Christmas story on the Charlie Brown cartoon:

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLzGawC_Pt4

Cornbread Dressing for Turkey

The art of a recipe is usually "about 1/4 this and about 1/2 that," so this won't be "exact," but it is how I made this year's dressing at least! For my daughter who requested I save this recipe, I hope sharing it on here helps. It is similar to how my mom and her dad made dressing, which was also something they did from memory. The key ingredients that make this special are the butter, onions, celery, and poultry seasoning. It tastes like home to me! 

Make a batch of yellow cornbread. You can use the recipe on the package, or something like this recipe (below). If you want it to be "authentic," then bake it in a black caste-iron skillet in the oven. The crust is golden-brown and the bread is savory, not sweet. Some recipes call for sugar, but the more sugar you use, the more it will taste like cake. 😉 If you don't have buttermilk, then find a recipe that uses milk.

Cornbread Ingredients:

4 tablespoons bacon drippings or vegetable oil 2 cups of cornmeal (yellow)
½ cup all-purpose flour 
1 tablespoon baking powder 
1 teaspoon salt 
1 egg 
2 cups buttermilk 

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Put the drippings or oil in a large (10-inch) cast-iron skillet and place in the oven as it preheats.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together the egg and buttermilk then stir into the dry ingredients. 
3. Take the skillet out of oven, and pour the hot oil into the batter and stir until well combined.
4. Pour the batter into the skillet and bake for 20 minutes. Cornbread should be brown on top and pulling away from the sides of the skillet. 

Dressing:

1. Lightly toast about 8-10 slices of white bread. Cut these into small pieces, or tear apart. In a large mixing bowl, crumble up the cornbread in small pieces and mix in the toast. Set this aside.
2. Prepare 2 large onions, diced very fine, and about 6 stalks celery, diced very fine.
3. Melt about 1/2 stick of butter in a large skillet, saute the onions and celery about 5 minutes until softened. Lightly salt this a little while it is cooking. Pour the vegetables, including any remaining butter within the skillet into the bread mixture. 
4. Add 1 tsp. poultry seasoning, 1 tsp. salt. Stir well to combine. Add about 4 cups of chicken stock (make with bouillon or use a pre-packaged box of good-quality stock).
5. Mix this very well and pour it into a buttered or lightly greased casserole dish (about 9 x 13). The dressing should be wet and well covered in chicken stock so it is not dry, but not standing in liquid.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour until it is golden brown on the top and the edges lightly browned. Serve with cranberry salad or canned cranberry.

Another recipe here from the New York Times to compare