Christa Lannom – Page 27

MAX Mindfulness: Taking Responsibility

By Dave Wine, President & CEO

One of the most difficult lessons for us to learn as human beings is that joy comes from taking full responsibility for ourselves. Ouch! That is not something we do well. We usually look for people, situations, and events to blame for our lack of joy. If only….If we just had….if that person would…. That is called projection – we project blame and responsibility away from ourselves and look for other things/people/situations to make us happy. Yet true joy and happiness can only come from within ourselves; and from our own beliefs, attitudes, and acceptance. When we fight against ‘what is’, we create depression, anxiety and fear. When we fully accept life as it comes to us, and accept full responsibility for our own feelings, beliefs and situations, that is really when we are in alignment and that alignment creates joy. It is a state of allowing or we could say, grace, or forgiveness. All of the great spiritual teachings point to this state of allowing as being “the God state” – that is, when our spirits are most aligned with God/Spirit, when we don’t look for happiness as coming from outside ourselves, but within ourselves which is when we are most aligned with God/Spirit/Higher Power – whatever words are most helpful for you to use. For me, personally, I call it Christ Consciousness – when I am most able to allow, forgive, express joy, and be loving and lovable.

We love our myths – Santa Claus, Fairy tales, the Easter Bunny. They are all attempts by us to find fulfillment away from ourselves and hope that “somebody” or “something” will shower gifts on us, give us what we want, reward us for behavior, make us happy, etc. The thing that really matters, however, is total self-responsibility that understands that it is our own state of mind (mindfulness) that leads to peace and joy. So we alone control our feelings, our thoughts, and our joy – somebody, something, or some situation does not control us or need to cause us to feel a certain way. Full responsibility is really freedom (because we own the control for how we feel) and so freedom is joy, but it is again the hardest lesson for us to learn. I am still learning it!!

David Wine

David is the President and CEO of the MAX enterprise, having served in that capacity since its formation in 2001. He has forty plus years of leadership experience in the business and faith-based worlds, being an ordained minister, having been elected to the highest position in his denomination, and receiving numerous awards and recognition for his leadership in the insurance industry. He currently serves on numerous boards in the church and insurance sectors. His hobbies include hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing as well as being an avid reader. David and his wife, Sharon, have three daughters, a son, and four grandchildren.

Cook Insurance and MAX Insurance Donate to Reaching All People Together (RAPT)

(CENTERVILLE, IA) – Driving to doctor’s appointments is not always an easy task for some patients who simply do not have a means of transportation. A local non-profit, Reaching All People Together (RAPT), does just that for Centerville residents on a regular basis. Thanks to a $1,000 grant from MutualAid eXchange (“MAX”) Insurance and its agency partner, Cook Insurance of Centerville, RAPT’s volunteer drivers will be able to provide transportation for patients to their medical appointments in the weeks ahead.

Dan Sales of Cook Insurance requested funding from MAX Insurance to help fund this important local organization. “RAPT is a program that we see as a value to the overall health of our community,” Sales said. “With the increased costs of driving, we want to see this program continue for many years to come and this grant would be very beneficial to the program. RAPT is one of the many programs in our area striving to make our community a better place for people of all ages and we are excited to support it.”

Sales is an independent insurance agent representing MAX Insurance in his community and surrounding areas. MAX Insurance of Overland Park, KS, is a unique fair, faithful and socially responsible insurance enterprise. Founded on religious principles, the company’s mission is to restore wholeness to communities and individuals in need. It lives out its mission through a variety of quality, fairly-priced insurance products, outstanding personalized customer service and its non-profit Mutual Aid Ministries (“MAM”) program.

“MAX is more than an insurance company. We truly care beyond the contract,” said David Wine, President and Chief Executive Officer. “That’s why we are excited to partner with Cook Insurance on this important project. When Dan told us about the RAPT program, we were more than happy to lend our support. It’s a wonderful service that helps many residents and makes a positive impact in their community.”

For more information:

Cook Insurance, email dlsales@cookins.us, phone 641-856-3375, website www.CookInsuranceIowa.com.

MAX Insurance and Mutual Aid Ministries, visit www.MAXInsurance.com.

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MAX Insurance and Porter-Takats Insurance Provide Grant to the Jay County Humane Society

(PORTLAND, IN) – Whether a family needs to make a tough decision to give up their pet, or a pet is found wandering the town, the Jay County Humane Society is there to help provide care for these animals. Thanks to a $500 grant from MutualAid eXchange (“MAX”) Insurance and its agency partner, Porter-Takats Insurance of Portland, the Jay County Humane Society will be able to provide food and bathing supplies for the animals in their care.

Laurinda Shope of Porter-Takats Insurance requested funding from MAX Insurance to help support this important local organization. “The Jay County Humane Society helps animals that have no place to go and also helps to keep the pet population under control,” Shope said. “Our agency has given cash donations to the Jay County Humane Society in the past and has also collected food, cleaning and bath supplies. We are excited to continue our support with a grant from MAX.”

Porter-Takats is an independent insurance agency representing MAX Insurance in the Portland community and surrounding areas. MAX Insurance of Overland Park, KS, is a unique fair, faithful and socially responsible insurance enterprise. Founded on religious principles, the company’s mission is to restore wholeness to communities and individuals in need. It lives out its mission through a variety of quality, fairly-priced insurance products, outstanding personalized customer service and its non-profit Mutual Aid Ministries (“MAM”) program.

“MAX is more than an insurance company. We truly care beyond the contract,” said David Wine, President and Chief Executive Officer. “That’s why we are excited to partner with Porter-Takats Insurance on this wonderful organization in their community. When Laurinda told us about the Jay County Humane Society, we were more than happy to lend our support.”

For more information:

Porter-Takats Insurance, email porter_takats@hotmail.com, phone 260-726-8414.

MAX Insurance and Mutual Aid Ministries, visit www.MAXInsurance.com.

Photo 1: Laurinda Shope of Porter-Takats Insurance with Anita Keddie, MAX Regional Sales Manager.

Photo 2: Laurinda Shope of Porter-Takats Insurance, Humane Society Employees: Cierra Castillo, Caleb Day, Julia Ashman (Shelter Manager)

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MAX Mindfulness: “Flow with Current”

By Dave Wine, President & CEO

In an earlier mindfulness communication I shared that I would write more about “letting go” which is also tied very closely to forgiveness. Probably the most important area we can ‘let go’ is our need to change everything and everybody, even those things we can’t possible change! We seem to have a particularly hard time of letting go of the need to change others whether it be our parents, children, spouse, co-workers, or others.

It is very important to understand the difference between influence and control. We can influence others. We can’t change them, however. Only we can change ourselves. Our spouse, co-workers and others can certainly influence us and we can influence them. The owner of change, however, is each person and if someone doesn’t want to change, nothing we do can change that! Indeed, the harder we try to change someone, the more likely they will not! We spend inordinate amounts of energy trying to do the impossible!

So a huge step towards peace is to let go of wanting to control others and wanting to change others. We are rowing upstream. Instead “flow with current” which means focusing first on ourselves, the only person we can change. As we become more compassionate, affirming, loving, and helpful our influence with others grows but remember the difference between influence and control/change.

Oh if I could only learn the lessons I teach!

Dave

David Wine

Epic and MAX Insurance Provide Grant to Kids in Christ Program

Epic Insurance presenting check — Donna Duncan of Citizens Insurance Services/Epic presenting check to Pastor Keith of Holland United Methodist Church

(HUNTINGBURG, IN) – For over 30 years, Holland area children have enjoyed nutritious meals, crafts, choir, Bible lessons and fellowship through the Holland United Methodist Church Kids in Christ program. Now, a grant from Citizens Insurance Services/Epic of Huntingburg and their partner insurance provider, MutualAid eXchange (“MAX”) will help continue this great tradition.

“Kids in Christ is open to all children throughout our community,” said Donna Duncan of Citizens Insurance Services/Epic. “It’s a safe place where the children can get involved, build lasting friendships and learn more about the Lord.”

Citizens Insurance Services/Epic is an independent insurance agency representing MAX Insurance in Holland and surrounding areas. MAX Insurance, based in Overland Park, KS, is a unique fair, faithful and socially responsible insurance enterprise. Founded on religious principles, the company’s mission is to restore wholeness to communities and individuals in need. It lives out its mission through a variety of quality, fairly-priced insurance products, outstanding personalized customer service and its non-profit Mutual Aid Ministries (“MAM”) program which makes grants to worthwhile community organizations recommended by its independent agents.

“MAX is more than an insurance company. We truly care beyond the contract,” said David Wine, President and Chief Executive Officer. “That’s why we are excited to partner with Citizens Insurance Services/Epic and the Holland United Methodist Church Kids in Christ program.”

For more information:
Donna Duncan
Citizens Insurance Services/Epic
600 East 6th Street, Suite B, PO Box 197
Huntingburg, IN 47542
812-683-2370
donnacitizens@gmail.com

MAX Insurance, www.MAXInsurance.com
816-215-5237

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