Volksrust Recorder - Rubrieke10 Recorder 14 November 2014

Een van die kenmerke van die menslike natuur is om ten gunste van hom of haarself te kies. Dit kan soms baieselfsugtig wees. Hierdie tipe optrede kan ook dramatiese gevolge of implikasies inhou vir die mense na aan ons.Keuses het ook implikasie op mense wat nie een enigiets met ons te doen het nie. Ons kan maar net kyk naregerings wat verkeerde keuses maak; hulle keuses het ‘n rippel-effek in die ekonomie en lewens van die mensevan daardie bepaalde land. Elkeen van ons onthou sekere momente in ons lewens waar ons of direk of indirekdeur ander se keuses beïnvloed is. Hierdie keuses los soms wonde wat jare vat om te genees. Keuse kan ons in‘n finansiële penarie dompel, keuses verwoes huwelike, keuses bring dood op ons pad. Hoe ons ook al daarnakyk ons lewe in ‘n gebroke wêreld en niemand is immuun teen die seer van hierdie wêreld nie! Kinders van Godis nog in hierdie sisteem en die gebrokenheid tref hulle ook! Ek is dankbaar vir die Trooster, God se Gees wat onstroos in die pyn, lei in tye wanneer ons nie weet watter kant toe nie, versterk wanneer dit voel ons kan nie meernie. Josua en Kaleb was manne van God. Hulle het in geregtigheid geleef. In Numeri 13 en 14 lees ons van dieverhaal waar twaalf manne na Kanaän gestuur is om dit te verken. God het hulle gestuur, God het die land vir hullegegee. Numeri 13:1 “En die Here het met Moses gespreek en gesê, stuur vir jou manne uit, dat hulle die landKanaän wat ek aan die kinders van Israel sal gee, kan verken.” Volgens my was dit God se wil dat Israel op hierdiestadium die beloofde land moes inneem. Josua en Kaleb het dit ook geglo, maar die ander tien manne het getwyfelof mag ek sê hulle het nie God se wil verstaan nie. Hulle het uit die vlees op getree. Hulle optrede en besluite hetJosua en Kaleb indirek geraak. Maar hulle optrede het die res van die volk ook geraak. Ons lees in vers 27-32Num 13:27 -32, “ En hulle het hom vertel en gesê: Ons het gekom in die land waarheen u ons gestuur het; enwaarlik, dit loop oor van melk en heuning, en dít is sy vrugte. Maar die volk wat in die land woon, is sterk,en die stede is versterk en baie groot; en ons het daar ook die kinders van die Enakiete gesien. Die Amalekietewoon in die Suidland, maar die Hetiete en Jebusiete en Amoriete woon in die gebergte, en die Kanaänietewoon by die see en aan die kant van die Jordaan. Toe het Kaleb die volk stil gemaak teenoor Moses en gesê:Laat ons gerus optrek en dit in besit neem; want ons kan dit sekerlik oorweldig. Maar die manne wat saam methom opgetrek het, het gesê: Ons kan nie teen die volk optrek nie, want hulle is sterker as ons. So het hulle danslegte gerugte onder die kinders van Israel versprei oor die land wat hulle verken het”God gee aan ons beloftes en soms ervaar ons dat die Here sekere deure vir ons oopmaak, ons voel God se Geeslei ons in ‘n sekere rigting. Ons beleef en glo dat ons in God se perfekte wil is. Tog werk dinge nie uit soos wat onsgedink het nie. Het ons dan verkeerd gehoor? Soms nie, want ek glo dat daar ander faktore is wat ‘n invloed het.Ander partye of mense kan buite God se wil optree en sodoende ons lewens beïnvloed. Ons sien dit in die gevalvan Josua en Kaleb. God is egter in beheer en soewerein Josua en Kaleb het ingegaan net op ‘n laterestadium. Hulle het saam met die volk die woestyn rond geswerf maar ek glo hulle het bly vashou aan God sebeloftes, nie bitterheid in hulle harte toegelaat nie. Hulle het ook met opgewondenheid uitgesien na die dag dathulle, hul voete in die beloofde land sou sit. Ek wil jou vandag aanmoedig om; in gehoorsaamheid te leef sodatjou optrede nie ander se lewe vernietig nie, te volhard in geloof totdat God se beloftes waar word. Moeniebitterheid teenoor mense koester wat volgens jou uit God se wil beweeg en jou beïnvloed, nie. Kies vandag omGod te vertrou. Want Hy is in beheer.Vrede, Pastoor Johan Venter

Have you ever tried something new to improve your lot in life?Like a business venture, a diet, an exercise regime or aphilosophy. If you have, soon after you’ll find a bunch of folkswho pose as experts but are really just naysayers trying to keepyou in the status quo. Keeping you in the status quo may beunfair because the ‘experts’ (typically, your family and friends)really just want to protect you from failing. The problem, in mostcases is that whilst they are well meaning, they have no priorexperience of the adventure you want to embark on. They mayhave heard from a friend of a friend that this diet doesn’t work orthat business venture is a waste of time. But, they haven’tactually been exposed to your idea in any great detail. Rememberopinions are cheap, especially ill-informed ones. I heard someonesay this about opinions that I find apt: “If you have an opinionabout my life; which of the bills will you be paying”.Here are two examples of other people’s opinions that changedthe destiny of a whole bunch of people:

- Joe Green walked away from the $200-billion Facebook.When Mark Zuckerberg asked Green to drop out of the IvyLeague university to build the social networking site with him, hesaid no because his father disapproved.

- Excite passed up buying Google for $750 000 in 1999thanks to advice from its experts. Google is now worth in excessof $382-billionSo, beware the experts. Listen to them with a bit ofcircumspection and cynicism. They don’t always have the inside

track and could very easily stop your dreams in their tracks.

Volksrust/Seme Chamber of Commerce was launched recently. With the initial spreadingof the word, it is obvious that a lot of people (Business Owners) question the initiativeand espescially the benefits. The Volksrust/Seme Business Chamber, envisioned an areawhere business’ will thrive and benefitting actively participating businesses in equalopportunities for our District. In short creating a better living for all. I took some time tocreate a list of Pros and Cons for joining a Business Chamber, and we hope as Volksrust/Seme Business Chamber to welcome you as part of the organised Business Community ofthe Volksrust/Wakkerstroom/Amersfoort/Perdekop area.Pros of Joining a Chamber of Commerce:Publicity boost:Your business increases exposure in online and offline formats. Did you know thatchambers run programs that welcome new residents to the community? Were you awarethat members receive an online listing (with a link) to help interested parties find you insearches? Both of those opportunities alone could give your company a significant boostin buzz. That’s something to think about!Networking opportunities:You’ll be in direct contact with other professionals. The Business Chamber put you indirect contact with potential leads. Expos and conventions will frequently take place incommunities. Business Chamber members will typically gain booth access to thoseconventions before non-members, and sometimes at a worthwhile discount.Furthermore, the Business Chamber put you in direct contact with other professionals inthe area for networking purposes. Networking can be a pain if you cold call or blindlyattend events hoping to make new connections, but it’s infinitely easier when you’re inthe same room as area business owners for meetings.Marketing Opportunities:You have the chance to directly market to other business owners who may require yourservices/products. Business Chambers have access to mailing lists that you wouldn’t beable to access otherwise. Those mailing lists are especially helpful if your business isprimarily B2B (Business to Business), because you’ll be able to directly contact or visitthe person in charge instead of throwing darts in the dark hoping to reach someone withbuying power.Also keep in mind that chambers refer their members’ products and services over non-members’, which means that you’ll also gain referral opportunities as a paying member.Consolidated Business Voice:The Business Chamber is a stuctured institution consisting of economically activebusiness people and enterprises with the purpose of creaing joint bargaining power,serving group interests and joining forces to create wealth and a buisess-friendlyenvironment in a region.Training & Information:What does a slow economic rate of return mean, where does local fit it with national oreven global? How do I create a online footprint, how do I implement a turn-aroundstrategy for my business? What impact does the latest changes to legislation (PAIA,

Labour Law, SARS, Retirement Funds vs Provident Funds) have on my business. TheBusiness Chamber provides its members with guidance and training where necessary andserves as a link with Ahi National. The Business Chamber therefore serves as mouthpieceand representative of business in the local interest.Cons of Joining a Chamber of Commerce:Membership fees:Up-front cost gives people pause, especially newly-established businesses with low seedmoney. Money isn’t everything, but it’s sure helpful for businesses with minimal startingcosts. The membership fees associated with chambers of commerce deter many fromtaking the plunge. How much up-front cash are we talking?ROI urgency:Chambers are not a magical solution because hard work is still required. If face-to-facetime with competitors sounds dreadful, then you may not enjoy chamber meetings. Thispoint isn’t really a con that chambers can do anything about — it’s more of amisconception. Paying your dues and sitting on your hands probably won’t net you anynew clients! You can’t think of a chamber as a one-stop solution. You have to put in thework after you’ve put in the money, just as you would with any other effort. In otherwords, you may not see immediate results from simply joining a chamber, but that’sperfectly normal. The long-term benefits have vast potential to balance that out.Potential conflicts:Sometimes you’ll be face to face with competitors. If sitting in a room with your toughestcompetitor on the other side of the table sounds intimidating, then you may not likebelonging to a chamber. Depending on what type of business you’re running, there’s achance you’ll face competition straight on when you’re in meetings. It’s important toremember that chambers of commerce not only network with one another, but they alsowork together to coordinate special community events and fundraisers. Sometimes you’llhave to band with competing businesses in order to make the area a better place to live; ifyou’re not cool with working together, then this could be a major deterrent.So, depending on how you look at it, these cons might not be negative at all after youtake the time to analyze them…Should you join a chamber of commerce, or not?The choice is up to you. However, I don’t think a few hundred rand is a bad deal for all ofthe pros attached to chambers of commerce, nor do I think that hard work and potentialconflicts are much to worry your pretty head about. Membership dues, the main con onthis list, are intimidating for new businesses and it’s very likely that your company won’tbe able to justify them right away. That’s perfectly okay! And remember if you sign upnow, you get 3-months members free.In addition you will also miss the most likely hike inmembership fees due after the first AGM in March 2015.The key is to make sure youcarefully measure the pros and cons for yourself before making a decision. It’ll bedifferent for everyone.For more information please contact Willem Hüsselmann 082 415 7725, Johan Botha 082335 7274, Ashraf Moola 082 558 5515,Ahmed Chotia 082 554 4886 or Freddie Kapp 017 735 4444.

BUSINESS COLUMN:

Ons keuses het 'nrippel-effek

CONS of joining abusiness chamber

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