Happy New Year! 

I thought it'd be fun to go back and highlight  the communication tips and Grace Talk Soup Shows of 2008.  First I'd like to run through all the highlights from my Communication FUNdamentals blog Tuesday Tips:  From JoJo's Purple Crayon...

In January of 2008 I began a series of series.  lol  Every so often I felt the Lord leading me to write a series of tips or articles. Some have later turned up in Art of Eloquence studies or have become studies of their own.  The first series of 2008 was one I called "How to Avoid an Argument"   There were nine tips posted over nine weeks, but here are a few: Not every argument should be "won" and Avoid Attacking the Person; Focus on the Issue.

On April Fool's Day appropriately enough, I posted some statistics that reveal how we often are not communicating well even though we think we are: How Well Do We Communicate?

I also posted some real life miscommunication issues.  These were every day situations in which the person didn't communicate well to me which caused frustration in my own life.  One such situation was when I was called for Jury Duty!

Another Tuesday Tips Series I posted was called "A Day Without Communication is Like...IMPOSSIBLE!" This series covered the importance of communication in marriage, parenting, witnessing, learning skills, college prep, job interviews, career success, business ownership and friendship. 

In July of 2008 I posted a very practical tip that reminded us all to remember that we are Posting to the World!  A situation had come up in which I was excited to participate in an online event but I wasn't able to figure out from the post when I should attend.  The poster forgot that she was posting to the world and didn't include the time zone.  I never did listen in!  :(

Another topic I took on was the anger I find so often these days in our emails and online social networking or blog sites.  One was back in August that asked "Is it OK to blast someone? It's just an email, isn't it?"  

My next 2008 Tuesday Tips Series was called "Words Mean Things" where I went through some of the most misused words.  The first few in the series was Natural and New and Literally!

My next series of tips will be turned into a new eBook shortly.  It was called "21 Days to More Godly Communication".  Here is the first post from Psalm 34:13 which says "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceipt."

I received a lot of feedback on these recent articles both on and offline: "Are we too broke to pay attention?" and "How to say what you mean in 140 characters or less".

I pray these articles and tips have helped you and your family communicate more effectively this year.  I look forward to serving you again next year with a whole new series of tips and fun. 

Please feel free to post your comments here and tell me what you liked about 2008's Tuesday Tips and what topics of effective communication you would like to see covered in 2009.  It has been my distinct pleasure in serving you this year. 


And here is The Best of Grace Talk Soup from 2008!

Almost every Thursday you will find me Boldly Serving Up God's Word with a Side Order of Grace and Humor over on Grace Talk Soup.  Since CHRISTmas and New Year's fell on a Thursday this year, I decided to take the last two weeks off.  You will find me back on Grace Talk Soup each Thursday starting again on January 8th, 2009 with an all new season of show topics and guests.

 
Each year the Lord gives me a new task or two.  Almost two years ago, that task was Grace Talk Soup.  I began in March of 2007 with my Premiere Episode  which you can listen to by clicking on the orange "listen" button next to that episode down under Past Episodes on that page. 

Since this is New Year's Day, I thought I would reflect a little bit on this year's amazing line up of guests and important topics on Grace Talk Soup that my guests and I have shared with my listeners. 

On this page, under Past Episodes, you can still listen to 12 Habits of a Wise Woman with TEACH Magazine publisher Lorrie Flem, In the College Prep Trenches with my daughter and Talking to Your Kids About Strangers with Tamara Walker of MomRN. 

On this page, under Past Episodes, you can still hear the shows: Communication and Menopause, When the Lord Asks You to Step Down, What if You Pray with Pastor Bob Cushman and The Making of Write Shop Primary!

On this page, under Past Episodes, you can listen in to my most recent shows like: Remembering 911, Staying Close While They're Away, Should Christians Celebrate Halloween, this year's Art of Eloquence Birthday Bash, my Thanksgiving show What Are You Thankful to God For?, my special edition show with author Stephen Kendrick creator of Fireproof and The Love Dare, Making the Bible Come Alive: Isreal and my Merry CHRISTmas Show!

They are available 24/7 on audio so you can listen in at any time.  Do mark your calendars for Thursdays at 8am PST/11am EST to join me live so you can participate in the discussions and ask questions of my guests.

It's been my pleasure serving you your Grace Talk Soup this year and I pray that you join me in 2009 as I am Boldly Serving Up God's Word with a Side Order of Grace and Humor!

Please join me this year each day as I blog daily about communication skills in a fun and creative way over on Communication FUNdamentals and each Thursday morning at 8am PST for some Grace Talk Soup as I share more Communication FUN!

JoJo Tabares
Art of Eloquence

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