"Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away."
I write Purposed worKING, not for those who lead churches or ministries (although I appreciate their readership, comments, guidance and feedback) but for those who are like me who go about our daily routines from Monday through Saturday in the world of secular work and business. On this "Leap Day", of a "Leap Year", it is important to remember that each week when we leave our Sunday services and we "leap" back into the world that is outside of the four walls of our weekly worship and teaching, that this leap is always a big and important one. If you happened to watch the Academy Awards this past Sunday night, you would have seen a special segment done by Cirque du Soleil. About half way through the segment, Patti pointed out that they were doing all of their high wire acts, over the audience and stage, without a net. It was with that recognition that it became really engaging and interesting. What is it about the courage of that type of leap that makes others watch in awe? Each week, we take that same leap. We put ourselves, as believers, back into situations where we are in the world around us that like gravity, wants to pull us down. Yes, we always have the safety net of Christ under us, but when making the leap we still cannot be foolish and we must be disciplined, focused and determined.
We are given the words of Paul on how to ensure that our leaps we make, do not allow us to come into harm's way. Let's consider Paul's words above on this "Leap Day" as we think about how move through the gift of life and the freedom of choice that we have been given. Let us also consider that if we successfully, courageously and consistently continue to make that leap in the right way, that others might also watch in awe and curiosity of the strengths of our beliefs.
Reference: 1 Corinthians 7:31 (New Living Testament)
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
day 834: Co-Working
"We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God's field, God's building - not ours."
Let me start by saying that I admittedly am not the greatest at co-chairing work or activities. Call it "controlling" or "selfish" or whatever, but I like to be assigned something, be held accountable for it, and then know that it succeeds or fails based not on the dependency on others, but on what I know will get done or not. But, that is not the way of the world. While yes, every business or organization has someone who ultimately makes the final call, that is only one person and all the rest of the people must work together well and balance each other in decision-making input, etc. So, my own weakness can get in the way of the organization's overall effectiveness and it is something that I must check regularly. We should all check this because when running most effectively, organizations will have a team of people who play off of each other and by the time the final decision needs to be made there is usually more consensus than not. That is when you know a team is really co-working well together.
Paul called upon his co-workers to understand how important it is for us to partner in the work of the Kingdom. What Paul points out to us is that our co-workers in God's work don't belong to any of us here on earth, but instead, belong to God. A new acquaintance of mine is working on a "business book" for churches. I've helped her title the book, "Leading the Called". It is different when someone feels called into God's Kingdom work. But, let's never lose sight that we also are doing Kingdom work each and everyday and that we as believers take our time, talents and treasures into the world each and every day. How we partner with others and how we take and follow our directions from God can have huge impact on the advancement of God's Kingdom. Let's not forget that God has invited us to be co-workers with Him in the field that he is preparing for the tremendous harvest to come and that today is day of His work, not just ours!
Reference: 1 Corinthians 3:9 (New Living Testament)
Let me start by saying that I admittedly am not the greatest at co-chairing work or activities. Call it "controlling" or "selfish" or whatever, but I like to be assigned something, be held accountable for it, and then know that it succeeds or fails based not on the dependency on others, but on what I know will get done or not. But, that is not the way of the world. While yes, every business or organization has someone who ultimately makes the final call, that is only one person and all the rest of the people must work together well and balance each other in decision-making input, etc. So, my own weakness can get in the way of the organization's overall effectiveness and it is something that I must check regularly. We should all check this because when running most effectively, organizations will have a team of people who play off of each other and by the time the final decision needs to be made there is usually more consensus than not. That is when you know a team is really co-working well together.
Paul called upon his co-workers to understand how important it is for us to partner in the work of the Kingdom. What Paul points out to us is that our co-workers in God's work don't belong to any of us here on earth, but instead, belong to God. A new acquaintance of mine is working on a "business book" for churches. I've helped her title the book, "Leading the Called". It is different when someone feels called into God's Kingdom work. But, let's never lose sight that we also are doing Kingdom work each and everyday and that we as believers take our time, talents and treasures into the world each and every day. How we partner with others and how we take and follow our directions from God can have huge impact on the advancement of God's Kingdom. Let's not forget that God has invited us to be co-workers with Him in the field that he is preparing for the tremendous harvest to come and that today is day of His work, not just ours!
Reference: 1 Corinthians 3:9 (New Living Testament)
Monday, February 27, 2012
day 833: Pump Decisions
"...Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you."
Wow, has the political rhetoric heated up over no other than the price of a gallon of gasoline at the pump! It is true if we step back and look at it that a one dollar difference in gas prices, depending on your consumption patterns, but on the average, is much more value, or costly, than a change in our taxes. I have read that a one dollar swing can equate to a $100 billion dollar tax increase/decrease. So, most Americans would like a lower gas price, if for nothing else, it makes the goings-on of their everyday lives cheaper. I also see (and tend to agree more) that if we want to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels (wherever in the world they come from) that there must be a lessening of dependence on that form of energy and we must make some new decisions at the pump. Behavior change is hard, and we all know from the Great Recession that when things get tight economically we can learn how to do with less and we make choices. I don't know the answer on gas prices as it is way above my macro-economic understanding, but I do believe that we continue to chase after something that will someday, in how many generations I don't know, be gone and in the meantime, we should do what we can to look towards other ways, like renewable energy, to fulfill those needs. We grapple with this as consumers and we also have no choice but to grapple with this as businesses.
Teaching in Sunday school yesterday (1st-6th graders) we learned about faith and how to put faith into action. What was great about that lesson, in comparison to the energy source/use questions we face, is that faith is the greatest renewable. When we become believers, we do so by faith. From there, God gives us an unending pump to draw from. Faith doesn't run out, no matter how far you drill to find more. In fact, the more you draw upon it, the more that will be there for us. We are all given the opportunity to capture and bring to life as much faith as we desire. One person is not given more than another. It is only that one person will rely on it more than someone else, thereby giving them more and more to draw from. So, today, let's pull up to the "Faith Pump" and fill it up, and keep coming back for more and more and more, without reservation, and without a worry that it will ever run out.
Reference: Romans 12:3 (New Living Testament)
Wow, has the political rhetoric heated up over no other than the price of a gallon of gasoline at the pump! It is true if we step back and look at it that a one dollar difference in gas prices, depending on your consumption patterns, but on the average, is much more value, or costly, than a change in our taxes. I have read that a one dollar swing can equate to a $100 billion dollar tax increase/decrease. So, most Americans would like a lower gas price, if for nothing else, it makes the goings-on of their everyday lives cheaper. I also see (and tend to agree more) that if we want to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels (wherever in the world they come from) that there must be a lessening of dependence on that form of energy and we must make some new decisions at the pump. Behavior change is hard, and we all know from the Great Recession that when things get tight economically we can learn how to do with less and we make choices. I don't know the answer on gas prices as it is way above my macro-economic understanding, but I do believe that we continue to chase after something that will someday, in how many generations I don't know, be gone and in the meantime, we should do what we can to look towards other ways, like renewable energy, to fulfill those needs. We grapple with this as consumers and we also have no choice but to grapple with this as businesses.
Teaching in Sunday school yesterday (1st-6th graders) we learned about faith and how to put faith into action. What was great about that lesson, in comparison to the energy source/use questions we face, is that faith is the greatest renewable. When we become believers, we do so by faith. From there, God gives us an unending pump to draw from. Faith doesn't run out, no matter how far you drill to find more. In fact, the more you draw upon it, the more that will be there for us. We are all given the opportunity to capture and bring to life as much faith as we desire. One person is not given more than another. It is only that one person will rely on it more than someone else, thereby giving them more and more to draw from. So, today, let's pull up to the "Faith Pump" and fill it up, and keep coming back for more and more and more, without reservation, and without a worry that it will ever run out.
Reference: Romans 12:3 (New Living Testament)
Friday, February 24, 2012
day 832: Looking For Holes?
"People with good sense...earn esteem by overlooking wrongs"
When someone spends their time trying to find the wrongs versus the rights and spends an inordinate amount of time trying to find the defects in something that overall is very good, we might hear this saying, "stop trying to find the hole in the doughnut". From my experience there are many people at work who like to spend their time trying to find the hole in the doughnut and they miss all of the good in the activities and results around them because they turn their focus towards the negative and the activities that might have been done better, but in totality, don't mean much. But, these people do have an impact on others around them when they keep searching for the hole and they miss the opportunity to provide praise and positive reinforcement to others around them for a job well done. Whenever we run up against these people it adds stress to our day and we can end up feeling like with these people we have to work to not lose versus work to win. I worked alongside a person like this once and I dreaded each meeting with him. I knew going into the meeting that he would spend all of the time we had trying to find what was wrong versus right and at the end of the meeting I would come out with a list of unimportant things that I would have to go chase down with answers, etc. He did this because it was his nature to want to throw the wrench in the works and he thought that this was his value-add. And because he did it to everyone, everyone felt the same about him. He loved to focus on the hole in the doughnut.
We are told that we aren't to be these kinds of people. In Proverbs 19:11 it says, "People with good sense...earn esteem by overlooking wrongs". This doesn't mean that we are to turn our heads and ignore those things that are wrong and hurtful to others, but it does mean that we are to accept that no one who walks this earth, other than Jesus was, can be perfect and we need to have an understanding nature towards others. In his book, Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling, Andy Crouch says, "If we are known mostly for our ability to poke holes in every human project, we will probably not be known as people who bear the hope and mercy of God". Amen! Today as you complete the workweek, think about your attitude towards others when they bring you their work. This next week see if you can ignore the holes in the doughnut and instead focus on the good of the whole. What others see from you will be different and definitely noticed!
Reference: Proverbs 19:11 (New Living Testament)
When someone spends their time trying to find the wrongs versus the rights and spends an inordinate amount of time trying to find the defects in something that overall is very good, we might hear this saying, "stop trying to find the hole in the doughnut". From my experience there are many people at work who like to spend their time trying to find the hole in the doughnut and they miss all of the good in the activities and results around them because they turn their focus towards the negative and the activities that might have been done better, but in totality, don't mean much. But, these people do have an impact on others around them when they keep searching for the hole and they miss the opportunity to provide praise and positive reinforcement to others around them for a job well done. Whenever we run up against these people it adds stress to our day and we can end up feeling like with these people we have to work to not lose versus work to win. I worked alongside a person like this once and I dreaded each meeting with him. I knew going into the meeting that he would spend all of the time we had trying to find what was wrong versus right and at the end of the meeting I would come out with a list of unimportant things that I would have to go chase down with answers, etc. He did this because it was his nature to want to throw the wrench in the works and he thought that this was his value-add. And because he did it to everyone, everyone felt the same about him. He loved to focus on the hole in the doughnut.
We are told that we aren't to be these kinds of people. In Proverbs 19:11 it says, "People with good sense...earn esteem by overlooking wrongs". This doesn't mean that we are to turn our heads and ignore those things that are wrong and hurtful to others, but it does mean that we are to accept that no one who walks this earth, other than Jesus was, can be perfect and we need to have an understanding nature towards others. In his book, Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling, Andy Crouch says, "If we are known mostly for our ability to poke holes in every human project, we will probably not be known as people who bear the hope and mercy of God". Amen! Today as you complete the workweek, think about your attitude towards others when they bring you their work. This next week see if you can ignore the holes in the doughnut and instead focus on the good of the whole. What others see from you will be different and definitely noticed!
Reference: Proverbs 19:11 (New Living Testament)
Thursday, February 23, 2012
day 831: Inventory Management (redux)
So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern."
I have a friend who owns a small business that has been in the family for nearly 50 years. The company is successful on all fronts and has gotten there because my friend, who is the CEO and owner, decided long ago that they would not be able to compete with big guys if they tried to do the same thing, but instead, they would take a different route and become the best in the business in the things the other guys couldn't do because they were too big. What my friend determined was that his little company would be the best at real-time, or just-in-time, inventory management and customer service. If a customer wanted to order something on the spot as a custom item, my friend's business would be able to fulfill that order without hesitation while the big guys would say they couldn't do custom orders. The way his small company is able to do this, in a way that is affordable, is that they have figured out how to manage their inventory and suppliers so that they only have on hand what they need and if they need something different, they can access it within hours, not days or weeks. While this sounds like a simple and elegant way to do business, it is actually very, very hard to manage. Anyone who knows anything about inventory management knows that having the balance between what what you need and what you forecast you are going to need and being able to fulfill the needs with littlest amount of inventory on hand is both a real skill and art.
I have been reflecting on the business balancing of inventory needs and the application of this to our work lives. Our lives are like managing inventory in a warehouse. We all have needs and we all have the things of life that we have to draw upon; housing, shelter, food, resources, etc. However, God wants us to manage our worries and our needs just like my friend manages his business, just-in-time and on-demand. We read in Matthew 6:31-33; "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." What these verses say to me is that we are to let God be the Warehouse and Inventory Manager of our lives. We are supposed to let Him worry about the supply and demand and know that if we are working towards the Kingdom of God that He promises, always, that the needs will be me, just-in-time!
Reference: Matthew 6:31-33 (New Living Testament)
I have a friend who owns a small business that has been in the family for nearly 50 years. The company is successful on all fronts and has gotten there because my friend, who is the CEO and owner, decided long ago that they would not be able to compete with big guys if they tried to do the same thing, but instead, they would take a different route and become the best in the business in the things the other guys couldn't do because they were too big. What my friend determined was that his little company would be the best at real-time, or just-in-time, inventory management and customer service. If a customer wanted to order something on the spot as a custom item, my friend's business would be able to fulfill that order without hesitation while the big guys would say they couldn't do custom orders. The way his small company is able to do this, in a way that is affordable, is that they have figured out how to manage their inventory and suppliers so that they only have on hand what they need and if they need something different, they can access it within hours, not days or weeks. While this sounds like a simple and elegant way to do business, it is actually very, very hard to manage. Anyone who knows anything about inventory management knows that having the balance between what what you need and what you forecast you are going to need and being able to fulfill the needs with littlest amount of inventory on hand is both a real skill and art.
I have been reflecting on the business balancing of inventory needs and the application of this to our work lives. Our lives are like managing inventory in a warehouse. We all have needs and we all have the things of life that we have to draw upon; housing, shelter, food, resources, etc. However, God wants us to manage our worries and our needs just like my friend manages his business, just-in-time and on-demand. We read in Matthew 6:31-33; "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." What these verses say to me is that we are to let God be the Warehouse and Inventory Manager of our lives. We are supposed to let Him worry about the supply and demand and know that if we are working towards the Kingdom of God that He promises, always, that the needs will be me, just-in-time!
Reference: Matthew 6:31-33 (New Living Testament)
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
day 830: 800 Million
"And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come."
In a few weeks Facebook will become a publicly traded company. When they do so they will being used by over 800 million people. There is no other social network that has gotten this many users. Are there any other companies who have this many customers? It's amazing that they have been able to amass this many users in less than 10 years of business. At 800 million people they are close to reaching 1/7th of the world's population. As they go on their road show with investors, you can imagine that their growth story has them reaching a much higher percentage of the population than where they are now. How big can Facebook be? I think as big as people are looking to be connected with each other to share experiences. A friend, and well-known technology thinker and I were having coffee last week and we were discussing the legitimacy of the communication of the online world versus the spoken word, we landed on, while different and maybe more superficial, it is a now important form of communication and relating that is not likely to go away any time soon.
At my church in San Francisco, http://cornerstone-sf.org , we recently updated our website to better position our church in our community and tell our unique story. This is an important activity for a church. I know so, because this past weekend while we were in Tahoe I wanted to go to church and the way I found the church that I ended up attending was by searching on the internet and browsing through the different websites until I found the one that "felt" most like the one that I wanted to attend. As I walked into the church (a high school auditorium) on Sunday, I already had a sense and feel for what the church would be like. While not perfect, it did live up to what they marketed online. In Matthew Jesus talks about when we will see His Kingdom come, letting us know that this will happen when everyone on the earth has been given His message. Before the internet, before Facebook, that seemed so far off and dependent upon missionaries carrying the Word to the farthest flung parts of the world. But what if Facebook hits two, three, four, or almost seven billion people. Could it be one of our messages that post or we forward to a friend that ends up being the one? Let's let that thought sink in and consider how important our words can be.
Reference: Matthew 24:14 (New Living Testament)
In a few weeks Facebook will become a publicly traded company. When they do so they will being used by over 800 million people. There is no other social network that has gotten this many users. Are there any other companies who have this many customers? It's amazing that they have been able to amass this many users in less than 10 years of business. At 800 million people they are close to reaching 1/7th of the world's population. As they go on their road show with investors, you can imagine that their growth story has them reaching a much higher percentage of the population than where they are now. How big can Facebook be? I think as big as people are looking to be connected with each other to share experiences. A friend, and well-known technology thinker and I were having coffee last week and we were discussing the legitimacy of the communication of the online world versus the spoken word, we landed on, while different and maybe more superficial, it is a now important form of communication and relating that is not likely to go away any time soon.
At my church in San Francisco, http://cornerstone-sf.org , we recently updated our website to better position our church in our community and tell our unique story. This is an important activity for a church. I know so, because this past weekend while we were in Tahoe I wanted to go to church and the way I found the church that I ended up attending was by searching on the internet and browsing through the different websites until I found the one that "felt" most like the one that I wanted to attend. As I walked into the church (a high school auditorium) on Sunday, I already had a sense and feel for what the church would be like. While not perfect, it did live up to what they marketed online. In Matthew Jesus talks about when we will see His Kingdom come, letting us know that this will happen when everyone on the earth has been given His message. Before the internet, before Facebook, that seemed so far off and dependent upon missionaries carrying the Word to the farthest flung parts of the world. But what if Facebook hits two, three, four, or almost seven billion people. Could it be one of our messages that post or we forward to a friend that ends up being the one? Let's let that thought sink in and consider how important our words can be.
Reference: Matthew 24:14 (New Living Testament)
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
day 829: Space Colonies
"Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”
Happy belated President's Day. As Patti and I were driving back from a long weekend in Tahoe yesterday we reflected on the fact that we celebrate President's Day in the U.S., but we don't really celebrate the living Presidents. Why not have them come together to be honored in some way and thanked for their service? Guess not. Not in our day and age. In one of the Presidential GOP debates that happened in the backyard of Cape Canaveral, Florida the candidates talked of the importance of space exploration and even the colonization of the moon. While many may think this is crazy, it was not that long ago that our country leaped forward in science, technology, engineering and math, because we pushed to put Neil Armstrong on the moon. The common goal galvanized us and from that activity many inventions and technology advancements came about that we now use today in our everyday lives. Space exploration can be big business if we figure out the right goal to be agreed upon and then align and go.
When Jesus was emerging as a teacher and being followed, many of the Jewish leaders looked for the Messiah to be the person who would become the ruler of the Jewish people here in earth to remove the oppression of Roman rule. Jesus refused their offers and let it be known that His Kingdom was not of this world. When He said that, He did not mean that His Kingdom was in outer space. He was talking of the Kingdom of Heaven and also the Kingdom that is Him in each of our hearts and souls who believe and follow. But, it is similar to our human desires to wonder, explore and try to understand the space beyond this earth, that God wants us to wonder, explore and try to understand His Kingdom beyond this earth. As we step into this day let's explore what our role in His Kingdom can be today. Let's listen to what we are being told to do and allow that one act or word of appreciation, understanding, or compassion to be a part of the building of His Kingdom here on earth.
Reference: John 18:36 (New Living Testament)
Happy belated President's Day. As Patti and I were driving back from a long weekend in Tahoe yesterday we reflected on the fact that we celebrate President's Day in the U.S., but we don't really celebrate the living Presidents. Why not have them come together to be honored in some way and thanked for their service? Guess not. Not in our day and age. In one of the Presidential GOP debates that happened in the backyard of Cape Canaveral, Florida the candidates talked of the importance of space exploration and even the colonization of the moon. While many may think this is crazy, it was not that long ago that our country leaped forward in science, technology, engineering and math, because we pushed to put Neil Armstrong on the moon. The common goal galvanized us and from that activity many inventions and technology advancements came about that we now use today in our everyday lives. Space exploration can be big business if we figure out the right goal to be agreed upon and then align and go.
When Jesus was emerging as a teacher and being followed, many of the Jewish leaders looked for the Messiah to be the person who would become the ruler of the Jewish people here in earth to remove the oppression of Roman rule. Jesus refused their offers and let it be known that His Kingdom was not of this world. When He said that, He did not mean that His Kingdom was in outer space. He was talking of the Kingdom of Heaven and also the Kingdom that is Him in each of our hearts and souls who believe and follow. But, it is similar to our human desires to wonder, explore and try to understand the space beyond this earth, that God wants us to wonder, explore and try to understand His Kingdom beyond this earth. As we step into this day let's explore what our role in His Kingdom can be today. Let's listen to what we are being told to do and allow that one act or word of appreciation, understanding, or compassion to be a part of the building of His Kingdom here on earth.
Reference: John 18:36 (New Living Testament)
Friday, February 17, 2012
day 828: Cogs and Gears
"And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."
It's day 828 for Purposed worKING and a perfect day to write about cogs and gears. One of the Oscar nominated movies for best picture is the movie, Hugo. If you have not seen it, you should. It takes place in a train station and most of it inside of the tower that holds the gears and cogs of the train station clock, Among many things that we learn in this movie, we learn that the intricacy and precision that goes into ensuring that cogs and gears work in synchronization is in itself an art. The same can be said for how organizations work. The gears and cogs must mesh and synchronize otherwise there is organizational dysfunction and chaos. Those who go to school to manage and lead are granted bachelors or masters in science, but in reality, we still know it is an art to make organizations work well.
Being that today is day 828 then it is only appropriate that we turn to Romans 8:28 to see how God makes the cogs and gears of our world work together. God tells us that all things work together for the good for those who love the Lord and work towards His purpose. If we zoom out and think about our life, our work, who we are, as being one of the cogs, or one of the gears in God's perfect Kingdom, then we can understand why He wants and needs us to synchronize to His will. We are His work of art and we are to play our part in the good that He has brought the world. As we do our work that we are called to do, let's be sure that bringing glory to Him by using our time, talent and treasures to His purpose becomes a cog and gear that He can work with perectly!
Reference: Romans 8:28 (New Living Testament)
It's day 828 for Purposed worKING and a perfect day to write about cogs and gears. One of the Oscar nominated movies for best picture is the movie, Hugo. If you have not seen it, you should. It takes place in a train station and most of it inside of the tower that holds the gears and cogs of the train station clock, Among many things that we learn in this movie, we learn that the intricacy and precision that goes into ensuring that cogs and gears work in synchronization is in itself an art. The same can be said for how organizations work. The gears and cogs must mesh and synchronize otherwise there is organizational dysfunction and chaos. Those who go to school to manage and lead are granted bachelors or masters in science, but in reality, we still know it is an art to make organizations work well.
Being that today is day 828 then it is only appropriate that we turn to Romans 8:28 to see how God makes the cogs and gears of our world work together. God tells us that all things work together for the good for those who love the Lord and work towards His purpose. If we zoom out and think about our life, our work, who we are, as being one of the cogs, or one of the gears in God's perfect Kingdom, then we can understand why He wants and needs us to synchronize to His will. We are His work of art and we are to play our part in the good that He has brought the world. As we do our work that we are called to do, let's be sure that bringing glory to Him by using our time, talent and treasures to His purpose becomes a cog and gear that He can work with perectly!
Reference: Romans 8:28 (New Living Testament)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
day 827: Build To Suit
"And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth."
Commercial real estate seems to be on the rebound. While beleaguered with the same mortgage backed securities issues that the residential market faced, the commercial market has seemed to fair better and we are seeing a return to pre-recession activity. While still not out of the hole the market is getting better. Commercial real estate owners are risk takers. They purchase properties, not knowing who the tenants may end up being and sometimes they have to actually build out their properties to meet the needs for potential long-term tenants. This is called "building to suit" and it involves capital and operational risks. While it may look easy to own commercial property it takes being more than just an owner, it means being a builder of not only a property but of a broader business venture.
What God is doing for each of His believers and followers is "building to suit" a Kingdom for us and that Kingdom is being built out each and every day by the way that we spread His Good News and model His life in ours. We get to be a part of this Kingdom building with no risks attached. All we have to do is believe and follow. We must ask ourselves, are we participating in His Kingdom building at the level that He expects or are we off building something else? Each day that we have is an opportunity to not be missed.
Reference: Ephesians 1:10 (New Living Testament)
Commercial real estate seems to be on the rebound. While beleaguered with the same mortgage backed securities issues that the residential market faced, the commercial market has seemed to fair better and we are seeing a return to pre-recession activity. While still not out of the hole the market is getting better. Commercial real estate owners are risk takers. They purchase properties, not knowing who the tenants may end up being and sometimes they have to actually build out their properties to meet the needs for potential long-term tenants. This is called "building to suit" and it involves capital and operational risks. While it may look easy to own commercial property it takes being more than just an owner, it means being a builder of not only a property but of a broader business venture.
What God is doing for each of His believers and followers is "building to suit" a Kingdom for us and that Kingdom is being built out each and every day by the way that we spread His Good News and model His life in ours. We get to be a part of this Kingdom building with no risks attached. All we have to do is believe and follow. We must ask ourselves, are we participating in His Kingdom building at the level that He expects or are we off building something else? Each day that we have is an opportunity to not be missed.
Reference: Ephesians 1:10 (New Living Testament)
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
day 826: More Wisdom
"And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'"
"That would not be wise" seems like an easier statement to make than, "That would be wise". We are braver to call something "not wise" as it takes experience and confidence to make the counter argument. In the business world we can watch these statements align with level and job title. At the top we hear more, "That would be wise" than we do further down the organization chart. In fact, I would go as far to say that the word "wise" probably doesn't show up in our vocabulary until well into our careers and until we are in positions of leadership and have been around the block a few times. The same can be said for businesses and how they relate to other companies within our industry or in a broader arena. I am reading Ron Suskind's book, "Confidence Men", and no where better can it be seen than when the financial "masters" gathered together during the financial crisis that there were those who could use the word "wise" and others couldn't. It's a fascinating dynamic in business to watch. Those who confidently and credibly can use the word "wise" early in their careers are few and far between and likely, if they are humble and true to a strong set of values and principles that they will not compromise, will end up in a/the big job someday.
God cuts through it all for us and tells us His own secret by telling us what is true understanding and wisdom. I love that He bluntly tells us that true wisdom is the fear of Him and to forsake evil is real understanding. At the most foundational level it is here that we can build the platform of our lives. When we seem to be floundering or swaying, let's return to our core and strengthen ourselves here first; with true wisdom and real understanding. From the core out comes all else. For us to be the strongest that we can be in the workplace with our work being truly purposed, the core must be strong. What better day than today to start strengthening.
Reference: Job 28:28 (New Living Testament)
"That would not be wise" seems like an easier statement to make than, "That would be wise". We are braver to call something "not wise" as it takes experience and confidence to make the counter argument. In the business world we can watch these statements align with level and job title. At the top we hear more, "That would be wise" than we do further down the organization chart. In fact, I would go as far to say that the word "wise" probably doesn't show up in our vocabulary until well into our careers and until we are in positions of leadership and have been around the block a few times. The same can be said for businesses and how they relate to other companies within our industry or in a broader arena. I am reading Ron Suskind's book, "Confidence Men", and no where better can it be seen than when the financial "masters" gathered together during the financial crisis that there were those who could use the word "wise" and others couldn't. It's a fascinating dynamic in business to watch. Those who confidently and credibly can use the word "wise" early in their careers are few and far between and likely, if they are humble and true to a strong set of values and principles that they will not compromise, will end up in a/the big job someday.
God cuts through it all for us and tells us His own secret by telling us what is true understanding and wisdom. I love that He bluntly tells us that true wisdom is the fear of Him and to forsake evil is real understanding. At the most foundational level it is here that we can build the platform of our lives. When we seem to be floundering or swaying, let's return to our core and strengthen ourselves here first; with true wisdom and real understanding. From the core out comes all else. For us to be the strongest that we can be in the workplace with our work being truly purposed, the core must be strong. What better day than today to start strengthening.
Reference: Job 28:28 (New Living Testament)
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
day 825: Understanding
"But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living."
"I just don't understand", says the new employee. The boss of the employee pauses for a moment and knows that she needs to slow down and take a few more minutes to clarify and reinforce the point, but she is busy, late for a meeting with her boss, and she just can't "afford" the time. So, instead of fixing a time to talk later or direct the employee to someone else, she says instead, "Don't worry about it. You and I can catch up on this later." And then she whisks off and the new employee who is excited and anxious at the same time about his new job, goes on about his job, doing what he can without really understanding what it is that he specifically is to do. If this scenario doesn't feel familiar then I would be surprised. Understanding is hard to get to and we take it for granted that others will understand and since it is so hard to get to an "understanding" we seldom go the whole way to nail it down once and for all. Understanding can be a competitive advantage if we just take the time to make sure that everyone truly does understand what to do, when to do it, and how to do it to a level of shared satisfaction.
We are told in Job that we can't find understanding and wisdom from the living. While this, on the surface, seems to not be so, when we consider a deep and true understanding and wisdom of our lives, we can see why this statement is true. This is why God gave us His Word. Written long before us by ones long gone, we can find the wisdom of God there. Each day, each of us, face a set of work and life challenges that we know if we had more understanding and wisdom that we would be able face these big and small things in a way that would allow us to conquer whatever is given to us. Before we take on today, let's take just a few minutes to ready and arm ourselves with His Word to move us through today.
Reference: Job 28:12-13 (New Living Testament)
"I just don't understand", says the new employee. The boss of the employee pauses for a moment and knows that she needs to slow down and take a few more minutes to clarify and reinforce the point, but she is busy, late for a meeting with her boss, and she just can't "afford" the time. So, instead of fixing a time to talk later or direct the employee to someone else, she says instead, "Don't worry about it. You and I can catch up on this later." And then she whisks off and the new employee who is excited and anxious at the same time about his new job, goes on about his job, doing what he can without really understanding what it is that he specifically is to do. If this scenario doesn't feel familiar then I would be surprised. Understanding is hard to get to and we take it for granted that others will understand and since it is so hard to get to an "understanding" we seldom go the whole way to nail it down once and for all. Understanding can be a competitive advantage if we just take the time to make sure that everyone truly does understand what to do, when to do it, and how to do it to a level of shared satisfaction.
We are told in Job that we can't find understanding and wisdom from the living. While this, on the surface, seems to not be so, when we consider a deep and true understanding and wisdom of our lives, we can see why this statement is true. This is why God gave us His Word. Written long before us by ones long gone, we can find the wisdom of God there. Each day, each of us, face a set of work and life challenges that we know if we had more understanding and wisdom that we would be able face these big and small things in a way that would allow us to conquer whatever is given to us. Before we take on today, let's take just a few minutes to ready and arm ourselves with His Word to move us through today.
Reference: Job 28:12-13 (New Living Testament)
Monday, February 13, 2012
day 824: Orderly
"Jesus replied, 'All those who love me will do what I say."
I am just returning from a week in the United Kingdom. It was for fun but I continued to get some exposure to how business is done differently in other parts of the world. If there is a place in the world where business is "orderly", it is in Great Britain. When something does go awry, it's a big deal and there is lots of public scrutiny, as we have recently seen regarding the hacking of the news corps. Even watching the BAFTA Awards last night on TV demonstrates how things can be done well when orderly and without fanfare or hyperbole. There is a time to be orderly and respectful of rules, and that should be more often.
Jesus taught us to be orderly people. In John 14:24 he didn't "suggest" what we are to do, he "told" us and it's very clear that we are to do what He says. And yes, if we follow His orders then the rest of our lives will become orderly in way that will be pleasing to Him and the example to others that we want to demonstrate. How then can we take his command more seriously and consistently? We start by starting this week, this day, with His discipline of diving into His Word to learn more. Let's start there and now with His Word being ordered first and foremost in our minds.
Reference: John 14:24 (New Living Testament)
I am just returning from a week in the United Kingdom. It was for fun but I continued to get some exposure to how business is done differently in other parts of the world. If there is a place in the world where business is "orderly", it is in Great Britain. When something does go awry, it's a big deal and there is lots of public scrutiny, as we have recently seen regarding the hacking of the news corps. Even watching the BAFTA Awards last night on TV demonstrates how things can be done well when orderly and without fanfare or hyperbole. There is a time to be orderly and respectful of rules, and that should be more often.
Jesus taught us to be orderly people. In John 14:24 he didn't "suggest" what we are to do, he "told" us and it's very clear that we are to do what He says. And yes, if we follow His orders then the rest of our lives will become orderly in way that will be pleasing to Him and the example to others that we want to demonstrate. How then can we take his command more seriously and consistently? We start by starting this week, this day, with His discipline of diving into His Word to learn more. Let's start there and now with His Word being ordered first and foremost in our minds.
Reference: John 14:24 (New Living Testament)
Friday, February 10, 2012
day 823: Babble On (redux)
"Let's build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies - a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world"
Every company has their own language. What I mean by this is that each organization, over time, will establish their own terminology, slang and acronyms for what happens in their business. I have been doing some work recently with a company that has lots of words that mean one thing to them, but nothing to those who are outside of the company. The other day they shared a job description of a position they are sourcing and as I read the job description, I couldn't understand what the real work was to be done because it was so full of acronyms that I would have needed their internal acronym dictionary to translate what they meant. The same thing can be seen and heard in the resumes and interviews of people who have worked for the same company for many years. They describe themselves and their experiences in the language of the organization and the person on the other end doesn't stop them to ask what these things mean. They just stop listening to them like they would anyone who was speaking a foreign language they couldn't decipher. It's interesting how organizations get to this place. Some form of familiarity and internal self-importance develops that allows them (most times from the leadership) to develop this personal language. What is wrong with this, you might ask, as you read this, thinking about the familiar terms within your organization? There is nothing wrong with it per se, other than it can be very alienating to new people who join the business or change groups within the company.
There are many organizations who don't realize that this hurdle can be a big one for initial success of people and can be an early warning sign of becoming a closed and unwelcoming culture who is also becoming too internally self-focused versus customer and external market-focused. We have an example of this even in the Bible when the people of Babylon felt that they were becoming so important that they said among themselves, "Let's build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies - a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world". And we know the rest of the story about what happens when God sees this self-aggrandizing, God-independent attitude. Today, think about the attitude and words that you use with others on the job. Are they inclusive, welcoming, humble and open? Or, is the attitude of I/we are more important than you/others and the words used have the other person sitting across the desk or reading the email, thinking to themselves, "do I really belong and am I welcomed here?" As those who are striving for our purpose to be fulfilled in our work, let's not be the ones that help build the towers of babble, but instead be ones who others see as people with arms wide open and words of caring, and people there to help others be better in their work and lives. Never forget that others are always watching...and listening.
Reference: Genesis 11:4 (New Living Testament)
Every company has their own language. What I mean by this is that each organization, over time, will establish their own terminology, slang and acronyms for what happens in their business. I have been doing some work recently with a company that has lots of words that mean one thing to them, but nothing to those who are outside of the company. The other day they shared a job description of a position they are sourcing and as I read the job description, I couldn't understand what the real work was to be done because it was so full of acronyms that I would have needed their internal acronym dictionary to translate what they meant. The same thing can be seen and heard in the resumes and interviews of people who have worked for the same company for many years. They describe themselves and their experiences in the language of the organization and the person on the other end doesn't stop them to ask what these things mean. They just stop listening to them like they would anyone who was speaking a foreign language they couldn't decipher. It's interesting how organizations get to this place. Some form of familiarity and internal self-importance develops that allows them (most times from the leadership) to develop this personal language. What is wrong with this, you might ask, as you read this, thinking about the familiar terms within your organization? There is nothing wrong with it per se, other than it can be very alienating to new people who join the business or change groups within the company.
There are many organizations who don't realize that this hurdle can be a big one for initial success of people and can be an early warning sign of becoming a closed and unwelcoming culture who is also becoming too internally self-focused versus customer and external market-focused. We have an example of this even in the Bible when the people of Babylon felt that they were becoming so important that they said among themselves, "Let's build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies - a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world". And we know the rest of the story about what happens when God sees this self-aggrandizing, God-independent attitude. Today, think about the attitude and words that you use with others on the job. Are they inclusive, welcoming, humble and open? Or, is the attitude of I/we are more important than you/others and the words used have the other person sitting across the desk or reading the email, thinking to themselves, "do I really belong and am I welcomed here?" As those who are striving for our purpose to be fulfilled in our work, let's not be the ones that help build the towers of babble, but instead be ones who others see as people with arms wide open and words of caring, and people there to help others be better in their work and lives. Never forget that others are always watching...and listening.
Reference: Genesis 11:4 (New Living Testament)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
day 822: Smart Meters
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and power to do what pleases Him.”
Companies are full of power hoarders. No, I am not writing about those servers, computers, or machinery that suck power like never before. I am writing of people who hoard power and put that need for power above all else. We all know someone who has this trait. We usually don't like them much, but we have to tolerate them, especially if they are really good at what they do. If we could put people "smart meters" inside of our companies so we could identify where the power hoarders are, then think of the politics and crazy stuff that happens that could go away. It's important that we as either leaders or employees understand that power is a critical area to monitor to be sure that it is well-directed, well-intentioned and values and principle based as we desire it to be.
Our power as believers comes from Jesus. We have His power to keep us going when it feels nearly impossible to do so. We just need to plug into Him and allow Him to do His work in and through us. We can be our own "smart meters" and be sure that we are letting the right power flow and the wrong power be curtailed. To be most powerful for Jesus we have to meter ourselves. Let's be sure today that we are not after power for ourselves but instead are looking to Him for the power in our lives.
Reference" Philippians 2:3
Companies are full of power hoarders. No, I am not writing about those servers, computers, or machinery that suck power like never before. I am writing of people who hoard power and put that need for power above all else. We all know someone who has this trait. We usually don't like them much, but we have to tolerate them, especially if they are really good at what they do. If we could put people "smart meters" inside of our companies so we could identify where the power hoarders are, then think of the politics and crazy stuff that happens that could go away. It's important that we as either leaders or employees understand that power is a critical area to monitor to be sure that it is well-directed, well-intentioned and values and principle based as we desire it to be.
Our power as believers comes from Jesus. We have His power to keep us going when it feels nearly impossible to do so. We just need to plug into Him and allow Him to do His work in and through us. We can be our own "smart meters" and be sure that we are letting the right power flow and the wrong power be curtailed. To be most powerful for Jesus we have to meter ourselves. Let's be sure today that we are not after power for ourselves but instead are looking to Him for the power in our lives.
Reference" Philippians 2:3
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
day 821: Arguing For Truth
"For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth."
I've been doing some work with a very successful company who's corporate culture is based on finding, knowing, speaking and operating to the truth. I've introduced a number of people to the company and after meeting and learning about the culture they can't help but compare their own corporate culture to what they have just seen. Usually it is not a favorable comparison. Many cultures do the opposite of looking for the truth. Instead, they don't want to have tough conversations, or ask hard questions, or call someone on their opinion because they don't want to hurt their feelings, or the discussions can never get beyond judgement or evaluation. But, defining truth and then working towards that definition can yield amazing findings and results.
John Stott, who recently died, was the rector of All Souls Church in London from 1921 until last year. He was a prolific writer and had much to say about truth and what we can do to argue for the truth of Jesus by being practical and smart in our persuasion. In Christianity Today he wrote; "I'll give you one quick example. You cannot force people to go to church by legislation. You can't force them to rest on Sundays. Nor can we simply quote from the Bible as if that settles the matter. But we can put forward our best arguments. We can argue that psychologically and physically, human beings need one day's rest in seven, and that is it socially good for families who are separated during the week to have a day together on Sunday. We can argue for legislation that protects workers from being compelled to work and encourages family life. In this example, we're neither imposing our Christian views, nor quoting the Bible dogmatically. We are simply using every argument - physical, psychological, sociological -in order to commend the wisdom and truth of biblical teaching. Why? Because we believe in the power of truth."
Reverend Stott's good words fit for our Purposed worKING. Let's not miss the opportunity to argue for the truth.
Reference: 2 Corinthians 13:8
I've been doing some work with a very successful company who's corporate culture is based on finding, knowing, speaking and operating to the truth. I've introduced a number of people to the company and after meeting and learning about the culture they can't help but compare their own corporate culture to what they have just seen. Usually it is not a favorable comparison. Many cultures do the opposite of looking for the truth. Instead, they don't want to have tough conversations, or ask hard questions, or call someone on their opinion because they don't want to hurt their feelings, or the discussions can never get beyond judgement or evaluation. But, defining truth and then working towards that definition can yield amazing findings and results.
John Stott, who recently died, was the rector of All Souls Church in London from 1921 until last year. He was a prolific writer and had much to say about truth and what we can do to argue for the truth of Jesus by being practical and smart in our persuasion. In Christianity Today he wrote; "I'll give you one quick example. You cannot force people to go to church by legislation. You can't force them to rest on Sundays. Nor can we simply quote from the Bible as if that settles the matter. But we can put forward our best arguments. We can argue that psychologically and physically, human beings need one day's rest in seven, and that is it socially good for families who are separated during the week to have a day together on Sunday. We can argue for legislation that protects workers from being compelled to work and encourages family life. In this example, we're neither imposing our Christian views, nor quoting the Bible dogmatically. We are simply using every argument - physical, psychological, sociological -in order to commend the wisdom and truth of biblical teaching. Why? Because we believe in the power of truth."
Reverend Stott's good words fit for our Purposed worKING. Let's not miss the opportunity to argue for the truth.
Reference: 2 Corinthians 13:8
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
day 821: Grouping
"Jesus called his twelve disciples to Him..."
Over the past few weeks we have watched what can happen when people group together over a cause. Whether you agree with the decisions or not, they both are useful examples of how in today's age of social media what can happen when a group of people, whether they know each or not, come together in solidarity. When decisions are about to be made, or when decisions are made that people don't agree with, and the public opinion is galvanized through tools such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. then these groups become very influential and powerful. Advertisers and concerned parties are watching to see what matters and who cares. We cannot underestimate the power of grouping as it relate to how consumers relate to our products, services, brand and company.
As believers we also bring power and influence in our solidarity. A small group of people who bring to others a consistent example can be very compelling. Sociologist Robert Belair of Princeton University said, "We should not underestimate the significance of a small group of people who have a vision for a just and gentle world. The quality of a whole culture may be changed when two percent of its people have a new vision." Jesus knew the power of a group. He called twelve together and brought to them a new vision of the world. As we look around in the office, is there a small group of believers that you can group with? There is a difference to be made by doing so.
Reference: Matthew 10:1
Over the past few weeks we have watched what can happen when people group together over a cause. Whether you agree with the decisions or not, they both are useful examples of how in today's age of social media what can happen when a group of people, whether they know each or not, come together in solidarity. When decisions are about to be made, or when decisions are made that people don't agree with, and the public opinion is galvanized through tools such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. then these groups become very influential and powerful. Advertisers and concerned parties are watching to see what matters and who cares. We cannot underestimate the power of grouping as it relate to how consumers relate to our products, services, brand and company.
As believers we also bring power and influence in our solidarity. A small group of people who bring to others a consistent example can be very compelling. Sociologist Robert Belair of Princeton University said, "We should not underestimate the significance of a small group of people who have a vision for a just and gentle world. The quality of a whole culture may be changed when two percent of its people have a new vision." Jesus knew the power of a group. He called twelve together and brought to them a new vision of the world. As we look around in the office, is there a small group of believers that you can group with? There is a difference to be made by doing so.
Reference: Matthew 10:1
Monday, February 6, 2012
day 820: When It Rains It Pours
"You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Let your light shine so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven."
When I was growing up, I always found it curious that Morton Salt's logo was a girl with an umbrella standing in the rain and the theme was, "When it rains it pours". I never quite understood it as the idiom typically references when one bad thing happens and then another comes, that with the trouble piling up we say, "When it rains it pours". What did this have to do with salt? Also, doesn't salt dissolve and become lumpy and clogs a shaker when it gets wet? So, I never got it. I have learned that in the early 1900's that having salt that didn't clump or solidify was a novel thing and Morton was trying to tell us that their salt flowed freely, and I suspect too freely some times against expectations. There are all kinds of ways that company's position themselves and what we want to do is to ensure that our positioning is as clear and concise as we can make it. In this age of 140 characters we have to be sure that we get it right and tight.
When Jesus told us that we are the salt of the world, those who were listening at that time would not have thought about salt being able to flow freely. That is a new definition for us and one to consider in our time. While we are to be the salt of the earth to be a part of stopping the decay that is all around us, and through our examples we also add positive flavor to the world around us, we can now think about how we are to be sure and freely flow our faith to others. We should not let our faith get clogged in the shaker of life. Maybe this is what God is saying to us today? He's trying to shake us up to get us flowing freely so when we let him reign, we pour Him out of us.
Reference: Matthew 5:13-16
When I was growing up, I always found it curious that Morton Salt's logo was a girl with an umbrella standing in the rain and the theme was, "When it rains it pours". I never quite understood it as the idiom typically references when one bad thing happens and then another comes, that with the trouble piling up we say, "When it rains it pours". What did this have to do with salt? Also, doesn't salt dissolve and become lumpy and clogs a shaker when it gets wet? So, I never got it. I have learned that in the early 1900's that having salt that didn't clump or solidify was a novel thing and Morton was trying to tell us that their salt flowed freely, and I suspect too freely some times against expectations. There are all kinds of ways that company's position themselves and what we want to do is to ensure that our positioning is as clear and concise as we can make it. In this age of 140 characters we have to be sure that we get it right and tight.
When Jesus told us that we are the salt of the world, those who were listening at that time would not have thought about salt being able to flow freely. That is a new definition for us and one to consider in our time. While we are to be the salt of the earth to be a part of stopping the decay that is all around us, and through our examples we also add positive flavor to the world around us, we can now think about how we are to be sure and freely flow our faith to others. We should not let our faith get clogged in the shaker of life. Maybe this is what God is saying to us today? He's trying to shake us up to get us flowing freely so when we let him reign, we pour Him out of us.
Reference: Matthew 5:13-16
Friday, February 3, 2012
day 819: The Power Of Search
"Teacher", the blind man said, "I want to see!"
Our business lives changed forever in 1996 when two university graduates created a software product called "Backrub". A year later the named changed and it is now a household word. We know it as Google. Today, businesses would have a hard time running without Google. The other day I needed to review the operating instructions of an old piece of machinery. I didn't even bother to go and look for the operating manual as within minutes I had what I needed online and that started with my search on Google. The power of search is the backside reward, or maybe why Sergey and Larry originally named the product "Backrub". Search results in retrieval and few things are more satisfying than finding what you need faster and easier than you expected. We've become pretty adept in the business world of using search to our advantage but there is still volumes of knowledge to be made available.
God asks us to always be searching for Him. In the Book of Mark we are given the account of Bartimus who sought out Jesus as Jesus walked through the streets. Bartimus was blind so he had no other way to search other than to yell out repeatedly,"Jesus, of Nazareth!". He was told to calm down, be quiet and to shut up, but he wouldn't relent. Finally Jesus head Him and through Bartimus' faith, his eyesight was given to him. The point is that Bartimus knew the power of search. Without committing himself to searching for Jesus he would have remained blind. There is a powerful message in here for us. Let's today recognize the power of our searching!
Reference: Mark 10:46-52
Our business lives changed forever in 1996 when two university graduates created a software product called "Backrub". A year later the named changed and it is now a household word. We know it as Google. Today, businesses would have a hard time running without Google. The other day I needed to review the operating instructions of an old piece of machinery. I didn't even bother to go and look for the operating manual as within minutes I had what I needed online and that started with my search on Google. The power of search is the backside reward, or maybe why Sergey and Larry originally named the product "Backrub". Search results in retrieval and few things are more satisfying than finding what you need faster and easier than you expected. We've become pretty adept in the business world of using search to our advantage but there is still volumes of knowledge to be made available.
God asks us to always be searching for Him. In the Book of Mark we are given the account of Bartimus who sought out Jesus as Jesus walked through the streets. Bartimus was blind so he had no other way to search other than to yell out repeatedly,"Jesus, of Nazareth!". He was told to calm down, be quiet and to shut up, but he wouldn't relent. Finally Jesus head Him and through Bartimus' faith, his eyesight was given to him. The point is that Bartimus knew the power of search. Without committing himself to searching for Jesus he would have remained blind. There is a powerful message in here for us. Let's today recognize the power of our searching!
Reference: Mark 10:46-52
Thursday, February 2, 2012
day 818: From Worship To Workplace
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever"
Yesterday on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle's Bay Area section there was a story titled "From worship to workplace". The article detailed about how an old abandoned Catholic church in San Francisco had been purchased by a group of investors who are now renovating it to turn it into a start-up incubator. That means that when the building is all done what was once a place of worship will be a place of businesses teaming with young entrepreneurs with new ideas and racing to market. Once again this goes to show how powerful the environment can be and why people want to work in creative and non-traditional spaces. It's in these places that maybe the best thinking occurs, where the mind is freed or triggered to be able to have the room to ideate. We don't have to go buy and rehab churches for creative space, but finding ways to break the conventional could yield some interesting results.
I also like the article's headline because it is a good reminder that this is what we actually do every week; we go from worship to workplace and we choose whether or not we will stay in a worshipful attitude on Monday or leave it behind until next weekend. King David tells us his approach to life when he praises God for all the great things that He does for him and David knows that he will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. While in a few months a bunch of start-up employees will be working in a former house of worship, we can now dwell in the house of the Lord today, tomorrow and forever. What a promise and assurance that God has given us! Are we taking full advantage of the house of the Lord for our lives? Let's try and be people who don't find any distinction or distraction between worship and the workplace!
Reference: Psalm 23:5-6
Yesterday on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle's Bay Area section there was a story titled "From worship to workplace". The article detailed about how an old abandoned Catholic church in San Francisco had been purchased by a group of investors who are now renovating it to turn it into a start-up incubator. That means that when the building is all done what was once a place of worship will be a place of businesses teaming with young entrepreneurs with new ideas and racing to market. Once again this goes to show how powerful the environment can be and why people want to work in creative and non-traditional spaces. It's in these places that maybe the best thinking occurs, where the mind is freed or triggered to be able to have the room to ideate. We don't have to go buy and rehab churches for creative space, but finding ways to break the conventional could yield some interesting results.
I also like the article's headline because it is a good reminder that this is what we actually do every week; we go from worship to workplace and we choose whether or not we will stay in a worshipful attitude on Monday or leave it behind until next weekend. King David tells us his approach to life when he praises God for all the great things that He does for him and David knows that he will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. While in a few months a bunch of start-up employees will be working in a former house of worship, we can now dwell in the house of the Lord today, tomorrow and forever. What a promise and assurance that God has given us! Are we taking full advantage of the house of the Lord for our lives? Let's try and be people who don't find any distinction or distraction between worship and the workplace!
Reference: Psalm 23:5-6
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
day 817: Mental Assent
"For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved."
Trying to get people to move from compliance to real commitment is a constant challenge for any business or organization. We do the best we can to describe what is most important to us, paint a vision of the future, and then hire the people we think have the most passion and commitment. But, even when we think we have it all right, we get it wrong somewhere along the way and we end up spending a whole bunch of time re-convincing someone, or worse yet, having to deal with a people problem. What we want to move people from is working solely with their heads and hands to adding working with their hearts. To make this happen, we must reach and touch them where they are, deep in their values and principles. If we can align there then we have the best chance of having someone truly commit to the business and task at hand. These means starting with knowing what we truly believe about the business and then communicating that to others in way that they identify and believe for themselves.
This past week in the Sunday School class I teach, the title of the lesson was "Heart Faith or Mental Assent". As I taught the children about the difference, I realized that all of us could use the lesson to be repeated to us. It's not enough to just say we believe and then let our actions say the opposite. When this happens it brings to question from those around us about what is real and what is not? So often it is easy to just mentally agree with something but never let it take root within us so that it affects our actions. It is in our actions that our belief can be seen and where our faith is grounded. It's a great question for each of us today...where are we mentally assenting and where are we truly believing?
Reference: Romans 10:10 (New Living Testament)
Trying to get people to move from compliance to real commitment is a constant challenge for any business or organization. We do the best we can to describe what is most important to us, paint a vision of the future, and then hire the people we think have the most passion and commitment. But, even when we think we have it all right, we get it wrong somewhere along the way and we end up spending a whole bunch of time re-convincing someone, or worse yet, having to deal with a people problem. What we want to move people from is working solely with their heads and hands to adding working with their hearts. To make this happen, we must reach and touch them where they are, deep in their values and principles. If we can align there then we have the best chance of having someone truly commit to the business and task at hand. These means starting with knowing what we truly believe about the business and then communicating that to others in way that they identify and believe for themselves.
This past week in the Sunday School class I teach, the title of the lesson was "Heart Faith or Mental Assent". As I taught the children about the difference, I realized that all of us could use the lesson to be repeated to us. It's not enough to just say we believe and then let our actions say the opposite. When this happens it brings to question from those around us about what is real and what is not? So often it is easy to just mentally agree with something but never let it take root within us so that it affects our actions. It is in our actions that our belief can be seen and where our faith is grounded. It's a great question for each of us today...where are we mentally assenting and where are we truly believing?
Reference: Romans 10:10 (New Living Testament)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)