I first read this book in 2004 after receiving the book from Don Harris. Don had heard Dennis speak at DTS' Leaderboard.
The principles Mr. Bakke used to run his business are....profound. While I have attempted to use many of these in my company, Alethes LLC, I have found them to be difficult. I suspect the difficulty is in part due to the culture. It is undoubtedly also do to my lack of spiritual maturity.
While the book was a great addition to what I had been learning about God's intention for me in the workplace, it was listening to the CDs of Dennis' Leaderboard class (thanks Don for the loan of those CDs) that made a profound impact. This led me back to the book and workbook.
I'll comment more on this book in my notes from the workbook.
Danny
Book titled "Doing God’s Business: Meaning and Motivation for the Workplace" by R. Paul Stevens
The author is the instructor for the April, 2008, class at BGU.
I'll summerize what I've read by quoting from the books "epilog:"
"The contemplative Leaders are saints dressed in ordinary business suites. They know the complexity of working in the real world of trade-offs, deals, and half-truths and they live by grace, God's gratuitous unselfing of himself that enables them to go the extra mile, to offer extraordinary service, to see the slimiest competitor as one made in God's image, albeit distorted and twisted.
The contemplative leader know themselves to be deeply approved by God.
They know it is not work itself that makes them acceptable to God and that the most menial seeming job is meant to please God.
The contemplative leader knows that God is present in the marketplace, have gospel confidence and their identity is not wrapped up in making the best deal, or advancing up the corporate ladder, or owning more than others.
The contemplative leader is acquainted with compromise but are never of touch with God.
The contemplative leaders prays; lifts everything up to God - meetings, contacts with others, decisions, and intercession for the company or institution; engages in spiritual warfare because he/she faces a multi-level resistance from the world, the flesh, and the devil Deals with the world by non-conformity (Romans 12:1-2), yet loving the world as God does; deals with fallen structures by engagement and transformation, making a difference where they can by participation and sometimes by non-violent suffering; deals with the flesh by crucifying the flesh (not the body but life lived without God and turned in on oneself) and by walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5:24-25); deals with the devil by the Word and prayer."
If this book is an indication of the class led by Professor Stevens, I'm going to need to buckle-up.
I'll summerize what I've read by quoting from the books "epilog:"
"The contemplative Leaders are saints dressed in ordinary business suites. They know the complexity of working in the real world of trade-offs, deals, and half-truths and they live by grace, God's gratuitous unselfing of himself that enables them to go the extra mile, to offer extraordinary service, to see the slimiest competitor as one made in God's image, albeit distorted and twisted.
The contemplative leader know themselves to be deeply approved by God.
They know it is not work itself that makes them acceptable to God and that the most menial seeming job is meant to please God.
The contemplative leader knows that God is present in the marketplace, have gospel confidence and their identity is not wrapped up in making the best deal, or advancing up the corporate ladder, or owning more than others.
The contemplative leader is acquainted with compromise but are never of touch with God.
The contemplative leaders prays; lifts everything up to God - meetings, contacts with others, decisions, and intercession for the company or institution; engages in spiritual warfare because he/she faces a multi-level resistance from the world, the flesh, and the devil Deals with the world by non-conformity (Romans 12:1-2), yet loving the world as God does; deals with fallen structures by engagement and transformation, making a difference where they can by participation and sometimes by non-violent suffering; deals with the flesh by crucifying the flesh (not the body but life lived without God and turned in on oneself) and by walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5:24-25); deals with the devil by the Word and prayer."
If this book is an indication of the class led by Professor Stevens, I'm going to need to buckle-up.
Why take this course?
In summary:
I became a "praticing Christian" in late 1989 and was led to a Bible study "Your Matters to God." This was a video/workbook instruction spun off of the book with the same title authored by Doug Sherman and William Hendricks. During the next few years I participated and/or led numerous of these studies while steadly pursuing what it means to work and lead according to Biblical principles.
In 2003 I began a quaterly class presented by the Center for Christian Leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary. The class, THE LEADERBOARD, was sponsored in part by Howard Hendrick, "the Prof," who is a DTS professor and father to William Hendricks.
A speaker at the 2004 Leaderboard was Dennis Bakke, successful businessman and author of "Joy at Work." Though I did not attend, a friend brought me the book and I later purchased the workbook.
One of the 2007 Leaderboard sessions led me to the Bakke Graduate University's Theology of Work course.
The reading for the preparation has been extensive (see list at BGU website) but incredible.
Note: while I do not have an undergraduate degree and thus not taking the class for credit, I will be completing all the coursework for review.
Why take this class, or any such class? Because, I know I need to be transformed through the renewing of my mind. I know I need to be reminded of what is good and true. I know I need help in being a Godly worker, employee, boss, businessowner. I know I am not well equipped in these (and other areas). I don't have the training I need to "soften peoples hearts to the point they ask about Christ." If I live a normal life span, I will likely spend another 30,000 hours in the workplace and I want those hours to be for the glorification of God; I want it to be about Jesus.
And, I struggle with the mainstream teachings, or lack of, in this part of my life. I struggle with much of what is being taught by those that are focusing on workplace ministries. And I know I am likely very wrong by struggling.
Why am I taking this class? Because I want to really know what it means to live out Matthew 28:18-20 and Colossians 1:28-29. I want to know about real discipling, baptizing, and teaching and presenting every man complete in Christ.
God has called me to work and I know it has to be more than what I've been doing. I know it is more about Him, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. I know it is about loving Him and loving others.
Thus, this is in part why I'm taking this class.
Pray for me as I complete the reading, the coursework, the class in April, and as I learn how to love Him more.
Danny
I became a "praticing Christian" in late 1989 and was led to a Bible study "Your Matters to God." This was a video/workbook instruction spun off of the book with the same title authored by Doug Sherman and William Hendricks. During the next few years I participated and/or led numerous of these studies while steadly pursuing what it means to work and lead according to Biblical principles.
In 2003 I began a quaterly class presented by the Center for Christian Leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary. The class, THE LEADERBOARD, was sponsored in part by Howard Hendrick, "the Prof," who is a DTS professor and father to William Hendricks.
A speaker at the 2004 Leaderboard was Dennis Bakke, successful businessman and author of "Joy at Work." Though I did not attend, a friend brought me the book and I later purchased the workbook.
One of the 2007 Leaderboard sessions led me to the Bakke Graduate University's Theology of Work course.
The reading for the preparation has been extensive (see list at BGU website) but incredible.
Note: while I do not have an undergraduate degree and thus not taking the class for credit, I will be completing all the coursework for review.
Why take this class, or any such class? Because, I know I need to be transformed through the renewing of my mind. I know I need to be reminded of what is good and true. I know I need help in being a Godly worker, employee, boss, businessowner. I know I am not well equipped in these (and other areas). I don't have the training I need to "soften peoples hearts to the point they ask about Christ." If I live a normal life span, I will likely spend another 30,000 hours in the workplace and I want those hours to be for the glorification of God; I want it to be about Jesus.
And, I struggle with the mainstream teachings, or lack of, in this part of my life. I struggle with much of what is being taught by those that are focusing on workplace ministries. And I know I am likely very wrong by struggling.
Why am I taking this class? Because I want to really know what it means to live out Matthew 28:18-20 and Colossians 1:28-29. I want to know about real discipling, baptizing, and teaching and presenting every man complete in Christ.
God has called me to work and I know it has to be more than what I've been doing. I know it is more about Him, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. I know it is about loving Him and loving others.
Thus, this is in part why I'm taking this class.
Pray for me as I complete the reading, the coursework, the class in April, and as I learn how to love Him more.
Danny
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