'Let a man examine himself…'.
At the end of the year we are usually scrambling to get everything on
our to do lists out of the way and cleaned and tidied up for a fresh
start in the New Year. I also notice that at the end of the year there
is a mad dash to use up all of the health reserve money that has been
saved up tax-free throughout the year. I always thought that it must be
interesting for doctors who get this year-end set of appointments for
examinations, whether people need them or not. The end of the year is
when most of us do the self-examinations of ourselves. We reflect back
over the past year and evaluate how we did in life, work, spiritually,
financially, etc. and we then set our goals for the New Year, some being
called our "New Year's Resolutions". This self-examination is good.
Paul calls for us to do this continually in I Corinthians 11:28. David
Wilkerson, the author of The Cross and the Switchblade and former pastor of
the Times Square Church in New York City said, "Paul further urges us,
'Let a man examine himself…'. The Greek word for examine here means
'scrutinize, test.' The apostle is saying, 'Test yourself—see if you’re
walking according to God’s Word.' We’re to constantly ask ourselves, 'Am
I changing? Am I becoming more loving and tenderhearted? Am I treating
my family and friends with godly respect? Is my conversation becoming
more righteous?” These are great questions of self-examination as we
head into our new year of work life.
As we set our goals for the person
we want to be at work and to be a person who works to their purpose, we
can be assured that our constant self-examination and adjustments and
corrections are the way that God wants us to live and pursue His
righteousness. So, set those goals this year with confidence and great
expectations that this New Year will be a year of positive change for
each of us.
Reference; I Corinthians 11:28 (New Living Testament)
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
day 1044: Fairness
"The LORD demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness."
Last week, there was a significant ruling against the global bank, UBS. It's a long and arcane tale of many years of a group of people scamming the LIBOR ( LIBOR is the London Interbank Offered Rate and among the most common of benchmark interest rate indexes used to make adjustments to adjustable rate mortgages). What had happened was a group of people were colluding to sway the rate up or down in their favor and then would invest on the knowledge of what the changes would be. The best explanation I heard of what was happening was that it would be like taking the international kilogram weight standard (which happens to be a piece of metal that is locked in a vault in Switzerland) and each day shaving off a little bit or adding some weight and then gauging all of the weight measurements for the day off of the adjusted standard. Imagine that for a day, a pound of coffee could be sold at its' full price, but the manufacturer was able to package an ounce less than a full pound. There would be a lot of savings in material and as such, a lot of money to be made. So, that is what happened and some guys got caught with their hands in the cookie jar. What can cause us to lose sight of fairness and take advantage of others? It can only be greed and our self-serving attitudes. Let's never lose sight that we must be fair in all that we do, or we risk the loss of reputation, or worse.
Fairness can feel hard to know but when in doubt we must return to the One who holds the ultimate scale for all of us. We are fortunate that we have God's Word and presence in our lives to help us determine what is truly fair and equitable. That said, we all know where the bright line of fairness is and that we cannot cross. Our example as believers is important and crucial in furthering God's Kingdom. Let's at this year-end take an extra assessment of ensuring that we are being fair and equitable with all of those around us, in our work and at home.
Reference: Proverbs 16:11 (New Living Translation)
Last week, there was a significant ruling against the global bank, UBS. It's a long and arcane tale of many years of a group of people scamming the LIBOR ( LIBOR is the London Interbank Offered Rate and among the most common of benchmark interest rate indexes used to make adjustments to adjustable rate mortgages). What had happened was a group of people were colluding to sway the rate up or down in their favor and then would invest on the knowledge of what the changes would be. The best explanation I heard of what was happening was that it would be like taking the international kilogram weight standard (which happens to be a piece of metal that is locked in a vault in Switzerland) and each day shaving off a little bit or adding some weight and then gauging all of the weight measurements for the day off of the adjusted standard. Imagine that for a day, a pound of coffee could be sold at its' full price, but the manufacturer was able to package an ounce less than a full pound. There would be a lot of savings in material and as such, a lot of money to be made. So, that is what happened and some guys got caught with their hands in the cookie jar. What can cause us to lose sight of fairness and take advantage of others? It can only be greed and our self-serving attitudes. Let's never lose sight that we must be fair in all that we do, or we risk the loss of reputation, or worse.
Fairness can feel hard to know but when in doubt we must return to the One who holds the ultimate scale for all of us. We are fortunate that we have God's Word and presence in our lives to help us determine what is truly fair and equitable. That said, we all know where the bright line of fairness is and that we cannot cross. Our example as believers is important and crucial in furthering God's Kingdom. Let's at this year-end take an extra assessment of ensuring that we are being fair and equitable with all of those around us, in our work and at home.
Reference: Proverbs 16:11 (New Living Translation)
Thursday, December 27, 2012
day 1043: Instantaneous
"Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared."
Blame it on Amazon Prime. We now expect that our purchases should be almost instantaneous. When we now go online to a site and see that it will take more than two days for something to arrive we might end up looking elsewhere until we find a retailer who will make the delivery happen as fast as we desire. Of course, this doesn't always work out as planned. I made a "last minute" Christmas gift decision for Patti. The package was promised to be delivered by December 20th. Plenty of time, I thought. The 20th passed, the weekend was here, it became the 24th and I saw from the FedEx tracking that the package went out on the truck at 7:06AM for delivery later that day. No sweat, it would make it. At 8:00pm on Christmas Eve I went back online to track the package only to find that the driver had returned to their depot without delivering the package. After a frustrated call with one of their customer service reps, I was told, "the driver just ran out of time:" As hard as that was to accept as a reasoning, that sometime happens; we all just can run out of time. The lesson here is that what we promise to our consumers, let's be cognizant of their expectations and how we manage them. What I would have preferred was to have been called the morning of 12/24 and given the choice of a 12/26 delivery or driving to the FedEx service center and picking up the package myself. With that choice, instantaneous, would have been my decision.
God is not always about instantaneous and I do sometimes ponder why, when made in His image, we are so much about instant gratification. Possibly, this flaw of ours was the real reason that Eve took the fruit. So, here we sit, wanting God to answer all of our prayers today. Sometimes He does and it certainly was in Jesus' way to heal and cure the sick on the spot. But, today, we sometimes just have to wait, be patient, and assure that our faith is strong and able to withstand doubts and fears. This week, as we think about the coming goals for 2013, it would be unrealistic to think that they will all instantaneously be achieved. Many times, the best in our lives comes from the wait and the journey to get there. So, let's not be too caught up on the instantaneous but instead put our time frame in His hands.
Reference: Matthew 8:3 (New Living Translation)
Blame it on Amazon Prime. We now expect that our purchases should be almost instantaneous. When we now go online to a site and see that it will take more than two days for something to arrive we might end up looking elsewhere until we find a retailer who will make the delivery happen as fast as we desire. Of course, this doesn't always work out as planned. I made a "last minute" Christmas gift decision for Patti. The package was promised to be delivered by December 20th. Plenty of time, I thought. The 20th passed, the weekend was here, it became the 24th and I saw from the FedEx tracking that the package went out on the truck at 7:06AM for delivery later that day. No sweat, it would make it. At 8:00pm on Christmas Eve I went back online to track the package only to find that the driver had returned to their depot without delivering the package. After a frustrated call with one of their customer service reps, I was told, "the driver just ran out of time:" As hard as that was to accept as a reasoning, that sometime happens; we all just can run out of time. The lesson here is that what we promise to our consumers, let's be cognizant of their expectations and how we manage them. What I would have preferred was to have been called the morning of 12/24 and given the choice of a 12/26 delivery or driving to the FedEx service center and picking up the package myself. With that choice, instantaneous, would have been my decision.
God is not always about instantaneous and I do sometimes ponder why, when made in His image, we are so much about instant gratification. Possibly, this flaw of ours was the real reason that Eve took the fruit. So, here we sit, wanting God to answer all of our prayers today. Sometimes He does and it certainly was in Jesus' way to heal and cure the sick on the spot. But, today, we sometimes just have to wait, be patient, and assure that our faith is strong and able to withstand doubts and fears. This week, as we think about the coming goals for 2013, it would be unrealistic to think that they will all instantaneously be achieved. Many times, the best in our lives comes from the wait and the journey to get there. So, let's not be too caught up on the instantaneous but instead put our time frame in His hands.
Reference: Matthew 8:3 (New Living Translation)
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
day 1042: Rule of Reciprocity
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the
essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets"
Christmas has passed and the presents are open and it's time to think about thank you cards being sent. Why do we send thank you notes? It comes down to it's in our culture and that we do actually follow the rule of reciprocity. This example was taken from a recent NPR story by reporter, Alix Spiegel.
"In 1974, Phillip Kunz and his family got a record number of Christmas cards. In the weeks before Christmas they came daily, sometimes by the dozen. Kunz still has them in his home, collected in an old photo album.
"Dear Phil, Joyce and family," a typical card reads, "we received your holiday greeting with much joy and enthusiasm ... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's. Love Lou, Bev and the children."
The cards from that year came in all shapes and sizes, but the basic message was the same. The writers wanted Kunz to know that he and his family were cared for, and also they wanted to share their own news. They included pictures of family members and new homes and smiling graduates with freshly minted diplomas. It all seems pretty normal, except for one thing: Kunz didn't know any of them.
Kunz was a sociologist at Brigham Young University. Earlier that year he'd decided to do an experiment to see what would happen if he sent Christmas cards to total strangers. And so he went out and collected directories for some nearby towns and picked out around 600 names. "I started out at a random number and then skipped so many and got to the next one," he says. To these 600 strangers, Kunz sent his Christmas greetings: handwritten notes or a card with a photo of him and his family. And then Kunz waited to see what would happen.
"It was just, you know, a shot in the dark," he says. "I didn't know what would happen."
But about five days later, responses started filtering back — slowly at first and then more, until eventually they were coming 12, 15 at a time. Eventually Kunz got more than 200 replies. "I was really surprised by how many responses there were," he says. "And I was surprised by the number of letters that were written, some of them three, four pages long." Why would someone send a three-page letter to a complete and total stranger? Why did so many people write him back at all?"
And, today the Kunzs' continue to receive those cards.
How often do we think of the rule of reciprocity for our businesses? The rule is the same for businesses as individuals.
As believers we know the rule of reciprocity as the "Golden Rule". We also know that we don't give to be given to, but instead we give because of the ultimate that gift that was given to us. As we begin to think about the coming year and we set our goals, etc. let's consider how we can mesh the rule of reciprocity and the Golden Rule even more so in our lives.
Reference: Matthew 7:12 (New Living Translation)
Christmas has passed and the presents are open and it's time to think about thank you cards being sent. Why do we send thank you notes? It comes down to it's in our culture and that we do actually follow the rule of reciprocity. This example was taken from a recent NPR story by reporter, Alix Spiegel.
"In 1974, Phillip Kunz and his family got a record number of Christmas cards. In the weeks before Christmas they came daily, sometimes by the dozen. Kunz still has them in his home, collected in an old photo album.
"Dear Phil, Joyce and family," a typical card reads, "we received your holiday greeting with much joy and enthusiasm ... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's. Love Lou, Bev and the children."
The cards from that year came in all shapes and sizes, but the basic message was the same. The writers wanted Kunz to know that he and his family were cared for, and also they wanted to share their own news. They included pictures of family members and new homes and smiling graduates with freshly minted diplomas. It all seems pretty normal, except for one thing: Kunz didn't know any of them.
Kunz was a sociologist at Brigham Young University. Earlier that year he'd decided to do an experiment to see what would happen if he sent Christmas cards to total strangers. And so he went out and collected directories for some nearby towns and picked out around 600 names. "I started out at a random number and then skipped so many and got to the next one," he says. To these 600 strangers, Kunz sent his Christmas greetings: handwritten notes or a card with a photo of him and his family. And then Kunz waited to see what would happen.
"It was just, you know, a shot in the dark," he says. "I didn't know what would happen."
But about five days later, responses started filtering back — slowly at first and then more, until eventually they were coming 12, 15 at a time. Eventually Kunz got more than 200 replies. "I was really surprised by how many responses there were," he says. "And I was surprised by the number of letters that were written, some of them three, four pages long." Why would someone send a three-page letter to a complete and total stranger? Why did so many people write him back at all?"
And, today the Kunzs' continue to receive those cards.
How often do we think of the rule of reciprocity for our businesses? The rule is the same for businesses as individuals.
As believers we know the rule of reciprocity as the "Golden Rule". We also know that we don't give to be given to, but instead we give because of the ultimate that gift that was given to us. As we begin to think about the coming year and we set our goals, etc. let's consider how we can mesh the rule of reciprocity and the Golden Rule even more so in our lives.
Reference: Matthew 7:12 (New Living Translation)
Friday, December 21, 2012
day 1041: Watching For The Light
The last few years have caused any of who work to stop and rethink
everything. We have had to rethink our company directions, the access
to capital, the loyalty of our customers, the regulations that comes
with doing business and all these and more causing a lot of us to
rethink our careers and the feelings we have about the jobs currently
hold. At the end of the year, it is always a good time do an inventory
of how the year has unfolded and take stock of how things have gone. For
many, and at least 1 out 10 Americans, this past year has still not gone well
in the job market. What has happened to us has not been any fun and it has taken
its toll emotionally collectively and individually. It seems everyone
has been touched by the economic woes, or knows of many who have. As we
finish a year with anticipation, we look for the light at the the end of
the tunnel and expect for it to show up for us at any moment.
I again
reflect on the night of Christ's birth when the shepherds were in the
fields, going about their work. Their work being hard, dirty, lonely
and not on the list of most desired jobs. When, suddenly they were
exposed to a new light, a light from heaven that revealed to them
something that would forever change their lives and the course of
mankind. These were just men going about their jobs, that day being just
like all others, when they began to see things in a different light.
That is what God does for us. He gives us through free will the ability
to go through our daily lives, to do our jobs, and chart a life course.
And then when we have drifted or out there where it is lonely, dirty
and undesirable, He will give us His light to find our way to, and back
to Him. His light shines as brightly today as it did over 2000 years
ago in Bethlehem. All we need to do is look for it and follow. Today,
we start Christmas week. Can you look for the light to follow this week?
This will be the last post until after Christmas as we celebrate together with family and friends the birth of Jesus! I wish you a Merry, Merry Christmas!
Reference: Luke, Chapter 2 (New Living Testament)
Thursday, December 20, 2012
day 1040: Who Is Really First?
"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
In business we have become conditioned to think that it is with the people at the top that the best things happen. The press and the media always profile the CEO and Board Members but rarely are the rank and file or front line employees profiled, talked about or given the spotlight. I appreciate the CEOs who go out of their way to make sure that it is their employees who get the credit when the credit is due. But too many people try and take the credit and we when we see that happening there is a resentment than can build up and an attitude within the company that no matter who does what that the person at the top of the organization chart will take the credit. When this infiltrates the culture it is nearly impossible to remove it going forward. What is also scary is that this can sneak up on companies and because leaders don't see it, they may never know it is there, but the employees do. Any of us who are in leadership positions or who are even thought of as leaders on the team of our peers, need to be very sensitive and cognizant of not allowing ourselves to fall into the trap of taking credit. Amazing things are happening to all kinds of people in the company and sometimes even the most fascinating and exciting things can happen to those in the most unlikely positions.
It is this time of year when we study the Christmas story. It is made clear to us that the most lowly of the least desired jobs were the first to be told of the birth of Jesus and see him in the manger. The shepherds who were just out doing their jobs in the middle of the night were chosen to be the ones to go and find Jesus. How come the angels were not sent to Kings, CEOs, and people in important positions? Because, God was telling us once again that He is there for us all and He can't see organization charts, hierarchies, or amounts on W-2s. The angels revealed themselves and the birth of Jesus to the right people, because as we read in Luke Chapter 2, they were frightened and amazed. I only wish I could have heard their first hand account of that night. I suspect that any King or CEO listening to their stories wished they had been able to have been there. This week as you work, remember it is not who we think who has the most amazing things happen to them. Take a moment to recognize those who may feel like they get left out or forgotten. One word of encouragement and thanks this week could make a difference and they may well see your faith and belief coming through your words and actions.
Reference: Luke Chapter 2 (New Living Testament)
In business we have become conditioned to think that it is with the people at the top that the best things happen. The press and the media always profile the CEO and Board Members but rarely are the rank and file or front line employees profiled, talked about or given the spotlight. I appreciate the CEOs who go out of their way to make sure that it is their employees who get the credit when the credit is due. But too many people try and take the credit and we when we see that happening there is a resentment than can build up and an attitude within the company that no matter who does what that the person at the top of the organization chart will take the credit. When this infiltrates the culture it is nearly impossible to remove it going forward. What is also scary is that this can sneak up on companies and because leaders don't see it, they may never know it is there, but the employees do. Any of us who are in leadership positions or who are even thought of as leaders on the team of our peers, need to be very sensitive and cognizant of not allowing ourselves to fall into the trap of taking credit. Amazing things are happening to all kinds of people in the company and sometimes even the most fascinating and exciting things can happen to those in the most unlikely positions.
It is this time of year when we study the Christmas story. It is made clear to us that the most lowly of the least desired jobs were the first to be told of the birth of Jesus and see him in the manger. The shepherds who were just out doing their jobs in the middle of the night were chosen to be the ones to go and find Jesus. How come the angels were not sent to Kings, CEOs, and people in important positions? Because, God was telling us once again that He is there for us all and He can't see organization charts, hierarchies, or amounts on W-2s. The angels revealed themselves and the birth of Jesus to the right people, because as we read in Luke Chapter 2, they were frightened and amazed. I only wish I could have heard their first hand account of that night. I suspect that any King or CEO listening to their stories wished they had been able to have been there. This week as you work, remember it is not who we think who has the most amazing things happen to them. Take a moment to recognize those who may feel like they get left out or forgotten. One word of encouragement and thanks this week could make a difference and they may well see your faith and belief coming through your words and actions.
Reference: Luke Chapter 2 (New Living Testament)
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
day 1039: Office Gift Time
"But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this
kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
By the end of this week people will be leaving for the Christmas week, so between now and Friday whatever gifts that are going to be exchanged in the office will likely be given. As such, the business media pulls out their annual stories about the gifts that are given in the office and what is appropriate and what is not. Some companies have their own rules around what can be given to vendors or customers and those policies have to be followed. But few talk about what is okay to pass along to other co-workers, the boss, and subordinates. I was never much of a gift giver but if I did give a gift I played it safe and I would give, for example, the same book to all my direct reports. The reason we have to play it safe is that even a gift can be misinterpreted or worse yet animosity can be created if one person gets one gift and another gets something else. So, whether we like it or not, we even have to think hard about the gifts that we give at work. Another reason, I guess why we call it work.
Here is a set of appropriate gifts that you can give to anyone and a set of gifts that can be given all year long, every day, to everyone. No, they are not Harry and David fruits. They are even better. The fruits of the spirit are the gifts that are all age, people and job appropriate. We read in Galatians 5:22; "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." I cannot imagine a better set of gifts to give to others for this coming year. And how these gifts would multiply if we were able to give them daily and consistently. As we think about what it is that we can give to others, before we go to the superficial and the ones that are soon forgotten, used up, or thrown away, think about the gifts that you have as a believer and follower of Jesus and see if you can't start giving these gifts away, right away, even starting today.
Reference: Galatians 5:22 (New Living Testament)
By the end of this week people will be leaving for the Christmas week, so between now and Friday whatever gifts that are going to be exchanged in the office will likely be given. As such, the business media pulls out their annual stories about the gifts that are given in the office and what is appropriate and what is not. Some companies have their own rules around what can be given to vendors or customers and those policies have to be followed. But few talk about what is okay to pass along to other co-workers, the boss, and subordinates. I was never much of a gift giver but if I did give a gift I played it safe and I would give, for example, the same book to all my direct reports. The reason we have to play it safe is that even a gift can be misinterpreted or worse yet animosity can be created if one person gets one gift and another gets something else. So, whether we like it or not, we even have to think hard about the gifts that we give at work. Another reason, I guess why we call it work.
Here is a set of appropriate gifts that you can give to anyone and a set of gifts that can be given all year long, every day, to everyone. No, they are not Harry and David fruits. They are even better. The fruits of the spirit are the gifts that are all age, people and job appropriate. We read in Galatians 5:22; "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." I cannot imagine a better set of gifts to give to others for this coming year. And how these gifts would multiply if we were able to give them daily and consistently. As we think about what it is that we can give to others, before we go to the superficial and the ones that are soon forgotten, used up, or thrown away, think about the gifts that you have as a believer and follower of Jesus and see if you can't start giving these gifts away, right away, even starting today.
Reference: Galatians 5:22 (New Living Testament)
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
day 1038: Cliffs
"All living things—the fish in the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals
of the field, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all
the people on earth—will quake in terror at my presence. Mountains will
be thrown down; cliffs will crumble; walls will fall to the earth."
And so, we face yet another "cliff". The media likes to find names and monikers for events that signify "the end". This time it is the "Fiscal Cliff". While I don't want to make light of the decision that our government officials need to make, I do think that it is good to recognize that each of us in our businesses reach our own "cliffs" and have to decide in what direction we are going to proceed. What we have learned to do is to minimize the impact and severity of these decisions to everyone in the company. In the Boardroom or the Executive Suite, these types of decisions are made routinely. The old saying is, "no one wants to see inside of the sausage factory". That is a true statement and in business decisions or areas where before there is agreement, there is disagreement, that holds even more true. What the media and government are doing to us today is putting us down on the sausage factory floor and pulling us all through the dysfunction. It is fair to say, that if we were spared this, that our confidence in those making the decisions, might well go up. We know this in business and it is a good thing to remember as we go through our own business "cliffs".
In God's Word we are reminded of many "cliffs" that were faced, fought, won and lost. God has not hesitated in showing us the results of disobedience through time. He also has shown us what the future will look like after He comes again. But instead of letting us sit and wallow in fear and anxiety, He gives us promises of His grace and redemption. The human experience is about facing "cliffs" and if we believe, trust and follow in Him those "cliffs" are nothing more than obstacles that will be overcome, challenges to be met, and moments to stand strong and tall in our faith. Let us each face forward with confidence and assurance to the "cliffs" that are in front of us at work and at home.
Reference: Ezekiel 38:20 (New Living Translation)
And so, we face yet another "cliff". The media likes to find names and monikers for events that signify "the end". This time it is the "Fiscal Cliff". While I don't want to make light of the decision that our government officials need to make, I do think that it is good to recognize that each of us in our businesses reach our own "cliffs" and have to decide in what direction we are going to proceed. What we have learned to do is to minimize the impact and severity of these decisions to everyone in the company. In the Boardroom or the Executive Suite, these types of decisions are made routinely. The old saying is, "no one wants to see inside of the sausage factory". That is a true statement and in business decisions or areas where before there is agreement, there is disagreement, that holds even more true. What the media and government are doing to us today is putting us down on the sausage factory floor and pulling us all through the dysfunction. It is fair to say, that if we were spared this, that our confidence in those making the decisions, might well go up. We know this in business and it is a good thing to remember as we go through our own business "cliffs".
In God's Word we are reminded of many "cliffs" that were faced, fought, won and lost. God has not hesitated in showing us the results of disobedience through time. He also has shown us what the future will look like after He comes again. But instead of letting us sit and wallow in fear and anxiety, He gives us promises of His grace and redemption. The human experience is about facing "cliffs" and if we believe, trust and follow in Him those "cliffs" are nothing more than obstacles that will be overcome, challenges to be met, and moments to stand strong and tall in our faith. Let us each face forward with confidence and assurance to the "cliffs" that are in front of us at work and at home.
Reference: Ezekiel 38:20 (New Living Translation)
Monday, December 17, 2012
day 1037: Children - Special Post
"And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me."
Today's post is a little different than usual.
I don't know why but it was never in God's will for Patti and I to have children of our own. But that doesn't mean that we didn't have the love for children in our hearts. We have done our best to live out that love through our nieces, nephews, students and the children that we teach in Sunday School. Out of this caring place in my being for children is a grief and mourning for those kids, and their families, who were killed in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday. What a stark reminder it was to all of us that protecting over the lives of our next generation is so, so important. There are no easy answers and each is fraught with challenges but we can all agree, I hope, that we cannot allow our children to grow up in a world of fear and danger. As business leaders and influencers we can take some of what as been given to us and allow ourselves to be required to make a difference. Many people, all doing something, can make a difference.
Jesus cared so greatly for children and He many times used them as an example of how our faith was to be modeled after their innocence against disbelief. I am comforted today that I know those children of Connecticut played together in His arms on Friday morning. We each can find a way to do our part to make this world better while we are here. I implore all of us to find our way today and to give some of ourselves to solve the those issues that put our children in harm's way.
Matthew 18:5 (New Living Translation)
Today's post is a little different than usual.
I don't know why but it was never in God's will for Patti and I to have children of our own. But that doesn't mean that we didn't have the love for children in our hearts. We have done our best to live out that love through our nieces, nephews, students and the children that we teach in Sunday School. Out of this caring place in my being for children is a grief and mourning for those kids, and their families, who were killed in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday. What a stark reminder it was to all of us that protecting over the lives of our next generation is so, so important. There are no easy answers and each is fraught with challenges but we can all agree, I hope, that we cannot allow our children to grow up in a world of fear and danger. As business leaders and influencers we can take some of what as been given to us and allow ourselves to be required to make a difference. Many people, all doing something, can make a difference.
Jesus cared so greatly for children and He many times used them as an example of how our faith was to be modeled after their innocence against disbelief. I am comforted today that I know those children of Connecticut played together in His arms on Friday morning. We each can find a way to do our part to make this world better while we are here. I implore all of us to find our way today and to give some of ourselves to solve the those issues that put our children in harm's way.
Matthew 18:5 (New Living Translation)
Friday, December 14, 2012
day 1036: Holiday Parties
"So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can." |
Tonight is the prime night for seasonal holiday office parties. All across the country today there will be assistants and event planners getting ready for the "big night". For some, it is the event of the year and they are excited about dressing up and having a night out without the kids. For others, going to the annual party is a requirement and they dread having to attend. But, all the same, it is great for people to get together outside of work and to share some good time together. Each time this year, we can read also about the career warnings of the annual parties and what behaviors are accepted and which are not. Inevitably there will be that one person who has too much of the fun and ends up with an appointment with HR on Monday. I was once taught that nothing good in our careers happens after 9:00pm. I think this rings very true for the holiday party, or for any party outside of work when co-workers are in attendance.
God has given us this life to enjoy and be happy, but there is a bright line that we as believers must know and hold when it comes to the fun in this life. At the holiday party, there will be others watching to see how we behave and handle ourselves when the party starts. Of course, we can have fun, but if we stray from our self-control and act in a way that is unfitting of the example that we work so diligently each day to build and maintain, then we not only let ourselves and God down, but we run the risk of causing someone else who has been watching and evaluating whether or not this life is for them, to turn away and be jaded and cynical about what it means to be a believer. So, have fun but also remember that tonight's celebration and this season is about the birth of Jesus and that we are at His birthday party. How would we celebrate if He was in attendance?
Reference: Ecclesiastes 3:12 (New Living Translation)
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
day 1033: Cover Ups
“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins."
If you have ever worked in a high-growth and fast-moving company, you know that the oxygen that fuels the fire is growth. Nothing covers up problems like growth. When growth is present, the scrutiny on hiring decisions, compensation, promotions, purchasing, travel, anything where money is spent, goes way down. When in growth mode, the answer is usually “yes”. Yes, growth masks lots and lots of mistakes and insecurities. The issue with this is that as soon as the growth slows down or worse, stalls, all of the lack of process, bad decisions, bloated structures, etc. can fall under the proverbial roosters coming home to roost. In what feels like a nanosecond, we find ourselves trying to rationalize costs, defending hires, hanging onto projects, cutting projects, squeezing every penny, etc. Everything goes from awesome to ugly in short order. So, what are we to do in the growth years? This is the time of continued discipline and attention. It does not mean that we shouldn’t make hay while the sun is shining, but it is a time when we must ensure that when the growth slows that we haven’t overextended ourselves so much that we have to make a course correction. It is surely easier said than done but it is extremely important that we learn the lesson that growth is not the cover up strategy that we want to latch onto.
There is only one great cover up that is appropriate to become attached and addicted to and we read about this in 1 Peter 4:8; “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." Yes, love is a great mask for so many things. Unlike other drivers that are temporary or are so fleeting, love is consistent and can be spread to cover everything. The Bible is not saying that we should go and sin and let love be the cover up of our sins. Instead, what we are reading is that if we truly love Him and God’s love comes through and there is a transfer of that love truly to other people, that there are many sins that we will never commit because they just can’t be committed when you thoroughly and truly love another. The love of God is at the root of everything we can do if we will only allow it to cover us and become that which we desire and hold dearly day in and day out.
Reference: 1 Peter 4:8 (New Living Testament)
Monday, December 10, 2012
day 1032: Wait On It....
"Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains."
How often are we willing to be patient and just be content to wait? Not often, I know. I had coffee last week with the CEO of a pharmaceutical company and he was sharing with me the business cycle of an industry where "hurry up and wait" is part of the business. It was fascinating to hear him describe the process to get a drug or treatment to market. A drug-trial might well take a decade of research, development and testing only to find that some part of the trial doesn't pass the F.D.A. or a problem arises. Even when this is the accepted pattern that everyone expects, it can still be frustrating. Biotech and Pharma are not alone. It can take any one of our products, services or offerings a long time to come to market. The question we must ask ourselves, is how do we handle this time of waiting? We can take the path of frustration, or we can, like the CEO I met, use that time to focus down even more on the next project or to hone the launch steps that are universal to any product to be taken to market. Waiting doesn't have to be like the days when we watched fathers sit anxiously in maternity wards twiddling their thumbs and reaching heights of anxiety. We can turn waiting time that is given to us by a boss, a customer, a regulator, a lender, an investor, or an employee into times of great productivity and anticipation. Is there something in your business today that needs to be waited on and you can flip the table to the positive?
James reminds us of the waiting we all must do until our Lord returns to get us. There is no more positive and exciting waiting than for Him. Jesus uses the parable of the harvest many times in His teachings. The harvest cannot be hurried and if it is, then the fruit or the vegetables come without taste or full growth. Our lives are a time of waiting on the Kingdom of God and we must show the godly virtue of patience and understanding, always looking for the best and anticipating His return. Let's wait together for His full glory to arrive, but in the meantime, let's use every hour we have to increase and further those who will receive Him when he does return.
Reference: James 5:7 (New International Version)
How often are we willing to be patient and just be content to wait? Not often, I know. I had coffee last week with the CEO of a pharmaceutical company and he was sharing with me the business cycle of an industry where "hurry up and wait" is part of the business. It was fascinating to hear him describe the process to get a drug or treatment to market. A drug-trial might well take a decade of research, development and testing only to find that some part of the trial doesn't pass the F.D.A. or a problem arises. Even when this is the accepted pattern that everyone expects, it can still be frustrating. Biotech and Pharma are not alone. It can take any one of our products, services or offerings a long time to come to market. The question we must ask ourselves, is how do we handle this time of waiting? We can take the path of frustration, or we can, like the CEO I met, use that time to focus down even more on the next project or to hone the launch steps that are universal to any product to be taken to market. Waiting doesn't have to be like the days when we watched fathers sit anxiously in maternity wards twiddling their thumbs and reaching heights of anxiety. We can turn waiting time that is given to us by a boss, a customer, a regulator, a lender, an investor, or an employee into times of great productivity and anticipation. Is there something in your business today that needs to be waited on and you can flip the table to the positive?
James reminds us of the waiting we all must do until our Lord returns to get us. There is no more positive and exciting waiting than for Him. Jesus uses the parable of the harvest many times in His teachings. The harvest cannot be hurried and if it is, then the fruit or the vegetables come without taste or full growth. Our lives are a time of waiting on the Kingdom of God and we must show the godly virtue of patience and understanding, always looking for the best and anticipating His return. Let's wait together for His full glory to arrive, but in the meantime, let's use every hour we have to increase and further those who will receive Him when he does return.
Reference: James 5:7 (New International Version)
Friday, December 7, 2012
day 1031: Rolling Workers
"The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields"
To what extent will be go to attract and hire the best of the best? For many companies there is a bright line of how far they will go and then they accept the talent level they can attract and work with what they have. What happens though is the impact of supply and demand always takes over and companies are forced to adapt and change if they want to keep up. In 1998, Silicon Valley was on fire. The Internet boom was in in full force and technology companies could not find enough good people. In synch with the high demand and low supply we saw a rise in company perqs and benefits. One of those discussed back then, but never widely implemented was transportation to and from work - San Francisco to the Valley and back. That seemed like a good idea, but a step too far. Fast forward to 2012. Highways 101 and 280 between San Francisco and multiple points in the Valley are now filled each morning and evening with chartered, leased or owned luxury buses that transport workers up and down and the Peninsula. These buses are tricked out with wi-fi, coffee, food, etc. For many, the day now starts when they climb on the bus and doesn't end until they leave the bus, with the corresponding commute time considered part of the work day. Whatever it takes to get the best? What benefits and perqs need to be established to be the employer of choice are constantly in motion. Knowing and understanding what they are and how far you as an employer can go is important in the challenge of hiring the best and the brightest.
In Matthew, Jesus tells us that the workers are always few. He obviously was not talking about software engineers in Silicon Valley. He was talking about the harvest of souls to believe in Him and expand His kingdom. Those workers in high demand are us! The supply is not enough so we must multiple ourselves. The benefits and perqs that God provides for us to join His forces are unmatched. And, like the companies of today that provide for door to door service, our God is better than that; He provides for us 24-7 with all that we need to have the abundant life. Let's consider today that we "work" for the best anyone could ever imagine and that we should be grateful and willing to work hard on His behalf. As we roll through this day and finish this week, let's do so well and with the purpose of bringing glory to Him in all that we do.
Reference: Matthew 9:37 (New Living Translation)
To what extent will be go to attract and hire the best of the best? For many companies there is a bright line of how far they will go and then they accept the talent level they can attract and work with what they have. What happens though is the impact of supply and demand always takes over and companies are forced to adapt and change if they want to keep up. In 1998, Silicon Valley was on fire. The Internet boom was in in full force and technology companies could not find enough good people. In synch with the high demand and low supply we saw a rise in company perqs and benefits. One of those discussed back then, but never widely implemented was transportation to and from work - San Francisco to the Valley and back. That seemed like a good idea, but a step too far. Fast forward to 2012. Highways 101 and 280 between San Francisco and multiple points in the Valley are now filled each morning and evening with chartered, leased or owned luxury buses that transport workers up and down and the Peninsula. These buses are tricked out with wi-fi, coffee, food, etc. For many, the day now starts when they climb on the bus and doesn't end until they leave the bus, with the corresponding commute time considered part of the work day. Whatever it takes to get the best? What benefits and perqs need to be established to be the employer of choice are constantly in motion. Knowing and understanding what they are and how far you as an employer can go is important in the challenge of hiring the best and the brightest.
In Matthew, Jesus tells us that the workers are always few. He obviously was not talking about software engineers in Silicon Valley. He was talking about the harvest of souls to believe in Him and expand His kingdom. Those workers in high demand are us! The supply is not enough so we must multiple ourselves. The benefits and perqs that God provides for us to join His forces are unmatched. And, like the companies of today that provide for door to door service, our God is better than that; He provides for us 24-7 with all that we need to have the abundant life. Let's consider today that we "work" for the best anyone could ever imagine and that we should be grateful and willing to work hard on His behalf. As we roll through this day and finish this week, let's do so well and with the purpose of bringing glory to Him in all that we do.
Reference: Matthew 9:37 (New Living Translation)
Thursday, December 6, 2012
day 1030: Happy Birthday SMS and Merry Christmas
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
From TechCrunch:
"On December 3rd, 1992 in the little town of Newbury, Berkshire, a UK programmer sent his best mate a few lines of greeting using a unique new technique called Short Messaging Service. The programmer, Neil Papworth, was a test engineer for the Sema Group, and sent the message via PC to the phone of Richard Jarvis, a Vodafone employee. The message was “Merry Christmas.” Vodafone intended the service as a fun and easy way to communicate internally. That obviously wasn’t the case. It took seven years after that first message for texting to take off, but now nearly 8 trillion messages cross the air every year. Adults 18-25 send 133 messages a week each. SMS was, at least in Europe, popular for a number of reasons. Before inexpensive service plans, a single ring to a person’s phone from yours was used as a sort of signal that you had arrived or that you wanted to chat. This gave way to texts, which were often cheaper than “phone impulses,” relegating voice calls to the back burner. SMS began with pagers which, in turn, got their start in telegraphy and telex. Messages like 911 and 07734 (read it upside down) were ways to send quick notes to friends. This led to “text pagers” and the first BlackBerry, a two-way pager launched in 1999, with its “druplet” keyboard. Text, in many ways, became the preferred mode of communication in business and between friends."
It struck me that centuries and generations later, a soon to be standard way of communicating world-wide and the way many of us stay close and personal, all started with two very important words: "Merry Christmas". And as we know, Immanuel who came, for whom we celebrate Christmas, means that "God is with us". As we start this day and the rest of the month, how uplifting and powerful could it be if we started all of our communications, with "Merry Christmas" as a reminder of why it is that we celebrate this special month and that He is with us, even closer than that next text message.
Reference: Matthew 1:23 (New Living Translation)
From TechCrunch:
"On December 3rd, 1992 in the little town of Newbury, Berkshire, a UK programmer sent his best mate a few lines of greeting using a unique new technique called Short Messaging Service. The programmer, Neil Papworth, was a test engineer for the Sema Group, and sent the message via PC to the phone of Richard Jarvis, a Vodafone employee. The message was “Merry Christmas.” Vodafone intended the service as a fun and easy way to communicate internally. That obviously wasn’t the case. It took seven years after that first message for texting to take off, but now nearly 8 trillion messages cross the air every year. Adults 18-25 send 133 messages a week each. SMS was, at least in Europe, popular for a number of reasons. Before inexpensive service plans, a single ring to a person’s phone from yours was used as a sort of signal that you had arrived or that you wanted to chat. This gave way to texts, which were often cheaper than “phone impulses,” relegating voice calls to the back burner. SMS began with pagers which, in turn, got their start in telegraphy and telex. Messages like 911 and 07734 (read it upside down) were ways to send quick notes to friends. This led to “text pagers” and the first BlackBerry, a two-way pager launched in 1999, with its “druplet” keyboard. Text, in many ways, became the preferred mode of communication in business and between friends."
It struck me that centuries and generations later, a soon to be standard way of communicating world-wide and the way many of us stay close and personal, all started with two very important words: "Merry Christmas". And as we know, Immanuel who came, for whom we celebrate Christmas, means that "God is with us". As we start this day and the rest of the month, how uplifting and powerful could it be if we started all of our communications, with "Merry Christmas" as a reminder of why it is that we celebrate this special month and that He is with us, even closer than that next text message.
Reference: Matthew 1:23 (New Living Translation)
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
day 1029: In The Know
"I am not saying these things to all of you..."
Why is there so much power in being in the know? The number of hours and the energy spent in any given week where people are jostling for the position of being in the know, would be mind-boggling if it was measured. I imagine if we each spent a few minutes thinking about the people in our company we would come up with more than one name of a person who has become known for this trait. Because I am in church on Sunday mornings, I end up using the DVR to catch up on the Sunday morning talking heads shows. Actually it's a better way to watch the programs because you can compare what the same person might have said across more than one network interview. This last Sunday all the focus was on Secretary of the Treasury, Tim Geithner. What the interviewers were trying to get, at the bottom line, was some kind of information, a piece of data, a word from him, that would put them and their viewers in the know in some way that everyone else wouldn't get. It didn't happen this past Sunday, but we can count on them trying again next week and the week after, etc. It's the same in business. Someone, or a group of people, are always trying to get in the know and one-up everyone else. We have to be ready and able to deal with this and also not get caught up in the game. It is a game for sure and an energy-sucking, culture damaging game at that.
In John, Jesus put a few of disciples in the know when he told them how to spot who it was who would betray Him. While it is not good for us to spend out time here on earth, trying to get in the know, as it relates to our Heavenly Father, we can't ever get enough of what He is trying to say to us. Why Jesus revealed Himself to the Disciples was because He wanted to show them (again) an example of how they could see the work of God and believe in Him. That is what He does as we get to know Him better and better. When we are in the know with God, we see His works and miracles and can only believe that these come from Him. It's an amazing paradox and gift He has given us; the more we are in the know - the more we can be amazed and in awe of what He can do. This is the season to get to know Jesus better than ever!
Reference: John 13:18 (New Living Translation)
Why is there so much power in being in the know? The number of hours and the energy spent in any given week where people are jostling for the position of being in the know, would be mind-boggling if it was measured. I imagine if we each spent a few minutes thinking about the people in our company we would come up with more than one name of a person who has become known for this trait. Because I am in church on Sunday mornings, I end up using the DVR to catch up on the Sunday morning talking heads shows. Actually it's a better way to watch the programs because you can compare what the same person might have said across more than one network interview. This last Sunday all the focus was on Secretary of the Treasury, Tim Geithner. What the interviewers were trying to get, at the bottom line, was some kind of information, a piece of data, a word from him, that would put them and their viewers in the know in some way that everyone else wouldn't get. It didn't happen this past Sunday, but we can count on them trying again next week and the week after, etc. It's the same in business. Someone, or a group of people, are always trying to get in the know and one-up everyone else. We have to be ready and able to deal with this and also not get caught up in the game. It is a game for sure and an energy-sucking, culture damaging game at that.
In John, Jesus put a few of disciples in the know when he told them how to spot who it was who would betray Him. While it is not good for us to spend out time here on earth, trying to get in the know, as it relates to our Heavenly Father, we can't ever get enough of what He is trying to say to us. Why Jesus revealed Himself to the Disciples was because He wanted to show them (again) an example of how they could see the work of God and believe in Him. That is what He does as we get to know Him better and better. When we are in the know with God, we see His works and miracles and can only believe that these come from Him. It's an amazing paradox and gift He has given us; the more we are in the know - the more we can be amazed and in awe of what He can do. This is the season to get to know Jesus better than ever!
Reference: John 13:18 (New Living Translation)
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
day 1028: Wide Shoulders
"The government will rest on his shoulders."
Any job that we do well comes with responsibility and accountability. I can't think of any job where something is not expected from the person doing the job. Even if the work is just sitting around at a desk (like a security guard), the person doing the job has to show up at the assigned time and stay through the scheduled work time. And while there are many jobs where at the end of the day, the work is left at the workplace, even that work can have us at the end of the day or into the night, rethinking the day and playing back what we did to make sure we didn't mess up or forget something. As we gain more responsibility, we take on more and more of the burden that comes with that responsibility. We even talk about it openly at work when we say, "to do that job you have to have big and wide shoulders". This comes from the story and image of Atlas holding up the globe on his shoulders. Some days it feels just like that and that weight can feel overwhelming. On those days we are best reminded of what Jesus came to take upon His shoulders. Hundreds and hundreds of years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah wrote that a child would be born and he would not only bear the weight of the lives and souls of each of us, but He would also be the bearer of all that we know. In Isaiah 9:6 we read these words that are so familiar to us at this time of year;
"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
As a child born into the world, Jesus was given the government of our world to rest squarely on His shoulders. As you think about the pressures, the stress, the problems, the challenges, the needs of others and the obstacles in front of you, don't forget to rejoice that God gave us His Son who has already taken all of the biggest and toughest challenges on His shoulders for us. And what He is asking from us daily, is to just keep loading Him up. His shoulders are big enough for us to give all that we have to Him. He never shrugs and He never tires. He holds it all up, for us. So as we think about the baby Jesus over this month and we celebrate His birth, let's also remember that this little baby took it all for us, gave His all for us, and waits on us to give Him more. There is nothing we should let sit on our own shoulders that distracts or detracts from us accepting the gift of His love and living the abundant life that He wants us to have.
Reference: Isaiah 9:6 (New Living Testament)
Any job that we do well comes with responsibility and accountability. I can't think of any job where something is not expected from the person doing the job. Even if the work is just sitting around at a desk (like a security guard), the person doing the job has to show up at the assigned time and stay through the scheduled work time. And while there are many jobs where at the end of the day, the work is left at the workplace, even that work can have us at the end of the day or into the night, rethinking the day and playing back what we did to make sure we didn't mess up or forget something. As we gain more responsibility, we take on more and more of the burden that comes with that responsibility. We even talk about it openly at work when we say, "to do that job you have to have big and wide shoulders". This comes from the story and image of Atlas holding up the globe on his shoulders. Some days it feels just like that and that weight can feel overwhelming. On those days we are best reminded of what Jesus came to take upon His shoulders. Hundreds and hundreds of years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah wrote that a child would be born and he would not only bear the weight of the lives and souls of each of us, but He would also be the bearer of all that we know. In Isaiah 9:6 we read these words that are so familiar to us at this time of year;
"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
As a child born into the world, Jesus was given the government of our world to rest squarely on His shoulders. As you think about the pressures, the stress, the problems, the challenges, the needs of others and the obstacles in front of you, don't forget to rejoice that God gave us His Son who has already taken all of the biggest and toughest challenges on His shoulders for us. And what He is asking from us daily, is to just keep loading Him up. His shoulders are big enough for us to give all that we have to Him. He never shrugs and He never tires. He holds it all up, for us. So as we think about the baby Jesus over this month and we celebrate His birth, let's also remember that this little baby took it all for us, gave His all for us, and waits on us to give Him more. There is nothing we should let sit on our own shoulders that distracts or detracts from us accepting the gift of His love and living the abundant life that He wants us to have.
Reference: Isaiah 9:6 (New Living Testament)
Monday, December 3, 2012
day 1027: A Walk Worth Taking
I've been known to say that our careers are much like running a
marathon, because just like a marathon, being 26.2 miles, a career of
26.2 years (and more) is no matter how you add it up, long. And we don't
really run our careers, we more walk them through and do the best we
can to keep at it when the hills are in front of us, when we are in the
valleys and when the long, unbending road in front of us seems only to
end where our eyes can't see any further. This is our career. It's a
long walk for all of us regardless of what our careers are and how many
changes we have along the way. And in some years, like this one, I know
of many people who have felt like it has taken all they have to just
keep one foot in front of the other. My favorite movie of all time is
Lawrence of Arabia. I don't know why, but some of the scenes in the
desert and the long journeys that they take in that movie have always
stuck with me. Maybe because the movie is so long too, I don't know, but
I know that I have felt on more than one occasion that like the movie,
the future was nothing but a mirage on the horizon and that there
couldn't possibly be that much distance between here and there. One
foot in front of the other has been a mantra for me on more than one job
and one part of my career. Our careers are long walks that if we don't
know where we are going and why, can for many days, weeks, months or
years, seem intolerable.
I wonder if this is how the Wise Men (the Magi) may have felt in the middle of their journey to see Jesus. Here they were, three men who decided to follow a star, a light in the sky, to see where it shone, to see if a prophecy was true. I have often wondered why others didn't do the same. If there was this bright light in the sky and there was legend, lore, prophecy that this would happen, why didn't many more didn't follow to see, if for nothing else, if the prophecy was true? My conjecture is that the three wise men were not the only ones who traveled to find the star, they were the just the only three who finished the journey. If it was like theologians and historians say it was, this was a multiple year trip, that was far from easy and in fact was from such a distance and terrain difference that the scenes in Lawrence of Arabia would look easy. Suffice to say, it was a long, long walk and only three finally showed up.
We can take a lesson about our careers from the Wise Men. They followed what they believed to be the light and the steps of the Lord. They did not give up. They did not turn back and while they may have doubted along the way, they showed up in a spirit of appreciation, awe and gift-giving. Every day in our jobs we take steps along the way, steps that can be leading the right way, or the wrong way. Regardless, it is a long, long walk that we are on and if we don't follow the light we have been given, if we don't persevere, if we don't stay true to the real purpose, then we will miss out on the gift-giving that comes from giving glory to God in all that we do. There was a reason we call them the "wise men". They gave us a lesson of wisdom that we should never forget.
Welcome to the Christmas Season!
Reference: Matthew 2:1-2 (New Living Testament)
I wonder if this is how the Wise Men (the Magi) may have felt in the middle of their journey to see Jesus. Here they were, three men who decided to follow a star, a light in the sky, to see where it shone, to see if a prophecy was true. I have often wondered why others didn't do the same. If there was this bright light in the sky and there was legend, lore, prophecy that this would happen, why didn't many more didn't follow to see, if for nothing else, if the prophecy was true? My conjecture is that the three wise men were not the only ones who traveled to find the star, they were the just the only three who finished the journey. If it was like theologians and historians say it was, this was a multiple year trip, that was far from easy and in fact was from such a distance and terrain difference that the scenes in Lawrence of Arabia would look easy. Suffice to say, it was a long, long walk and only three finally showed up.
We can take a lesson about our careers from the Wise Men. They followed what they believed to be the light and the steps of the Lord. They did not give up. They did not turn back and while they may have doubted along the way, they showed up in a spirit of appreciation, awe and gift-giving. Every day in our jobs we take steps along the way, steps that can be leading the right way, or the wrong way. Regardless, it is a long, long walk that we are on and if we don't follow the light we have been given, if we don't persevere, if we don't stay true to the real purpose, then we will miss out on the gift-giving that comes from giving glory to God in all that we do. There was a reason we call them the "wise men". They gave us a lesson of wisdom that we should never forget.
Welcome to the Christmas Season!
Reference: Matthew 2:1-2 (New Living Testament)
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