iBookPoints, LIfe@Work - 3: Four Tools

Note: direct quotes from book in italics.

David’s life was a success because he found

and fulfilled the mission God had for him.

David delivered Skill@Work: Skill is understanding something completely and transforming that knowledge into creations of wonder and excellence.

David evidenced Calling@Work: Calling is God’s personal invitation for me to work on His agenda, using the talents I have been given in ways that are eternally significant.

David modeled Serving@Work: Serving is the art and act of focusing on someone else’s interest instead of your own.

David displayed Character@Work: Character is the sum of my behaviors, public and private  consistently arranged across the entire spectrum of my life.

It's interesting that the authors have labeled skill, calling, serving and character as "tools." When I first read this book over 6 years ago, I don't know that I noticed and didn't this time until I was preparing to present these points to a group of business people.

Tools. Skill, Calling, Serving and Character are tools. Yes they are.

Read more on Life@Work - click here

iBookPoints, Life@Work - 2: Misunderstood Territory

What sermons have we heard lately about the

inherent value and beauty of work? What books

 have you read lately that celebrate the "God-ness"

of a good day's work for a good day's pay?

 Life@Work - page 14

Note: direct quotes from book in italics.

History is filled with strong beliefs overturned because of misconception. What secular vs the sacred misconceptions do you have about "work?" Maxwell, Addington and Graves, lay-out in Life@Work  five myths some tend to live by (I'm reminded of Chris Thurman's book "The Lies We Believe).

Myth 1 - Work is a Four-Letter Word: we think work is a necessary evil, putting our time in to receive the prize (money and what it will purchase). Spiritually, we figure it's part of the Fall's curse.

Not so. Work was part of creation. Adam and Eve were working in the garden long before the Fall. They were given authority and dominion.

People who take this myth to heart think of work as something they must "endure" because Adam and Eve bought into Satan's great lie.

Myth 2 - Work is Enemy Territory: Here, the belief is that work is "worldly." It's part of the secular world and opposite of what Christians are about (sacred).

The authors point out "This approach is totally counter to Scripture. This dichotomy - this split between the sacred and the secular - does not occur in God's Word. In fact, Scripture spends a good deal of ink and paper making the point that these two should be tied together - that work is part of God's everyday involvement with people."

Myth 3 - Work is Salvation: This is where work becomes God. It's about Work, Success and Ambition. All with upper-case letters. Identity becomes wrapped up totally in the job, the career.

"The truth is that work is a great environment in which to discover God and glorify God, but it is not God." - page 17

Myth 4 - Work is the Last Priority: Work isn't the last in a list of priorities after God, family and self. God is the priority and there is no number 2, 3 and 4. Putting it in a list, it's not surprising so many of us struggle with the why-we-work syndrome, looking for passion in our work. God should be  the priority, in everything we do.

"The truth is that work is part of a balanced approach to life and God - His Spirit, His truth, His love. When we go to work, God should not be left behind in the family Bible on the nightstand next to the comfy chair where we have our daily quiet time."

Myth 5 - Work that is Anointed Always Spells Success: "a God-filled work life does not always equate with career success. Unfortunately, many kingdom messengers offer that as a bait.....What Charlie is seeking is not a Christian key to unlocking worldly success, but God's key to unlocking His intended design for our work, whatever its circumstances or outcomes might be."


To that end....


You can purchase Life@Work by clicking here

iBookPoints, Life@Work - 3: Charlie's Five Feelings

Charlie lives in all of us. We are all struggling

to live with the same tension as Charlie.

Life@Work - page 5

Note: direct quotes from book in italics.

Five common feelings:

Feeling #1 - I am tired of juggling two worlds. It takes imagination and determination to connect Sunday mornings' sermon to Tuesday's day at work. They talk different languages...Different parts of me live in each one.

No wonder so many leave the church, the relevance doesn't "seem" to be there. Even for those that connect well, much of that goes away once kids leave home and start there own families.

Feeling #2 - I need my work to have more meaning. Does "my work really matter to God?

I want my life to count. Who doesn't? I don't want it to be a waste....Sometimes it feels as if I am fighting a lost cause....I am investing forty, sixty, sometimes even as much as eighty hours a week of my prime time and energy, but for what?...I know one thing for sure: doing something you feel doesn't matter definitely isn't fun.

Feeling #3 - I need a clear picture of what being a Christian on the job looks like. How do I practice being a Christian at work? It has to be more than prayer, a lunch Bible study and "turning another cheek."

If I don't know what being a Christian looks like at work, how can I expect those around me to know what being a Christian is from my work?...how will others see Him through my work?

Feeling #4 - I need a faith that makes a difference in my life and my job. Frankly, my work life needs all the help it can get. If my faith can't help, then what hope do I have?

Feeling #5 - I feel I am not receiving any help to bring my two worlds together. Common sense tells me I'm not alone, but it sure seems that way most of the time. Are there other Christians struggling with these two worlds? Am I making too much of this? Am I wrong? When I do hear about work from church, it is usually couched around working in the church. But that is not where I work every day....Like Charlie, I feel as if I have dual personality disorder.

I remember almost walking out of the church for good when the pastor said each and every one of us needed to be doing something for the "church" even if it was coming in early on Sunday mornings to water the plants.

How do I bridge the gulf between these two significant parts of my life?


To that end....


You can purchase Life@Work by clicking here 

iBookPoints, Life@Work -1: Charlie Love vs Charlie Money

In "Life@Work," Maxwell, Addington and Graves tell the story about Charlie. Charlie's a successful businessman and Christian. He's recently found out that his employees refer to him as either Charlie Love or Charlie Money. This depends upon "who" shows up at work.

Addington and Graves are consultants who help business people integrate biblical wisdom and business excellence. They tell the story, apparently true, about Charlie asking one of them, in a group setting, how he should handle his dilemma. Before they could answer, Mike, another Christian business man said...

"Charlie, I know exactly what you need to do. Charlie Love

needs to drag Charlie Money down to the basement and kill

him. If not that, then chain him up  and never let him out.

That's the only way you're going to survive!"

The authors tell how deathly quiet the room became until all eyes turned to Addington/Graves who said..

"Charlie, I could not disagree more with Mike."

John C. Maxwell, Stephen R. Graves and Thomas G. Addington have written one of the most important books to ever breach this subject. It's well written, thoughtfully laid-out and touches real-life matters such as skill, calling, serving, character and church.

I'll give some BookPoints here over the next few weeks as I explore the Life@Work subject in my weekly Christian business networking group.

Pray for me!

Explore God, Now the Word?

(11/3/2013 edit to 10/27/2013 post)

A Christian business networking group I frequent recently finished the "Explore God" series. I have to remember it was meant to be purposefully exploratory and without being confrontational.

The 7 week series was good, in a "hmmmm" sort of way. I do admit though that I was looking forward to it being over. The desire to dig deeper, to ask questions and not, caused some struggle. Especially when confessed believers spoke up about not reading scripture, and their thoughts about scripture. I think that's what I struggled with the most, yet, it opened my eyes and heart to some new thoughts. My "thinking" is different and I'll be practicing Proverbs 25:2 ("In His glory, God conceals matters. The glory of kings is to search matters out.") a bit around what I observed.

Others were on a different path altogether. Some regular attenders to this weekly meeting missed most if not all the series. I think it was that uncomfortable.

For me, the biggest hmmm or aha was connected to the width of thoughts from the group, especially those that come across as spiritual, even Christian believers. The difference I believe is connected to reading scripture.

Explore God, the series, was a reminder for me that Christianity, the religion, is practiced from many foundations. It's not easy and the depth is massive. Yet, to the normal observer it's a wide playing field of variances, feelings and beliefs (I don't have a problem with those who call Christianity a religion because that's what many people practice it as. Telling them it is something else only widens the cavern).

I've been blind to the number of Christians who don't read the Word that is the basis for their "religion." (Maybe if they read the Word, if wouldn't be a religion?) Yet Christ is the Word. He was there in the creation. His Word is the basis for life eternal. I know beyond any doubt but that comes from faith. It comes from exploring that faith. A faith that comes from renewing my heart, soul, strength and mind through the living, testing and studying of that faith.

It's a tough grip.

Maybe we should next "Explore the Word?"

To that end....

The word of God in creation. Christ

The work we do seems so tied to this matter of creation, re-recreation, creation regained. And Christ, the Word that's Him. It's all tied through Him - just saying!

"Creation Regained" by Albert M. Wolters

"This book is an attempt to spell out the content of a biblical worldview and its significance for our lives as we seek to be obedient to the Scriptures." - from page 1

Right Thought

"Blessedness, not material possessions is the measure of right thought; wretchedness, not lack of material possessions, is the measure of wrong thought." - James Allen. 

Danny L. Smith

512-773-6528

"The top 1% of successful entrepreneurs build themselves ahead of their business."

Notes fm Stanley's "Success God's Way" - 4

What Jesus Taught About Money, page 108

4. Jesus taught that we are to be faithful stewards of all that we have, regardless of how much or little we have.

Luke 15: 10-12

DLS - I've been unfaithful on both extremes: with abundance and little.

Thankfully, God doesn't abandon me as I want to abandon those who could and don't give to me (ex. hire, refer).

His gate is small and path is narrow, but His grace is wide.

Thank you Lord.

A success scripture

Notes fm Stanley's Success God's Way" - 3

What Jesus Taught About Money, page 106

3. Jesus taught that those who give generously to the Lord will receive generously. 

"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over into your lap. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38

DLS - I struggle here mentally, even emotionally. My thoughts and feelings (really? both? Double note-to-self to ponder that)....my thoughts and feelings get wrapped up around "tit-for-tat," I do this and God does that, prosperity theology....

"...For the measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38

....Measure. Same measure. A givers gain thing?

Notes fm Stanley's Success God's Way" - 2

What Jesus Taught About Money, page 104

2. Jesus taught that we err greatly when we hoard our wealth and fail to give generously.

Luke 12: 16-21

Matthew 6:19-21

Malachi 3:8-12

DLS - well, that sits differently this fine morning that when I first read these pages a few months ago. Much more to consider!

Ponder this - Giving...is all about money, or time also?

Notes fm Stanley's "Success God's Way" - 1

What Jesus Taught About Money, page 103

1. Jesus taught that the pursuit of wealth must never be our #1 priority.

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the world, and loses his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26

Page 104 - Jesus was never really concerned with how much money a person might have or not. Rather, He was concerned with the attitude toward money.

DLS - this attitude goes for an abundance or lack of; money in general. The right attitude can only come from God, through Jesus Christ, with the urgings of the Holy Spirit.

Note: during the past 6 months, in addition to Stanley's book, I've read some books on "thinking," including "Physcho-Cybernenics," "As A Man Thinketh," Piper's "Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God," Maxwell's "How Successful People Think" and currently reading "The Science of Getting Rich."

Praying for a much deeper awareness of success, money and the glorification of God. What does He want me to believe, to know?

To that end.....

Success, wealth and seeking....

The more wealth one has, the more he should be spending time in prayer and the study of scripture, seeking to know God and His purpose - Charles Stanley

Profound.

Why haven't I grasped this before now? Have I heard it? Have I ignored it?

Or was I not asking the right questions?

Not digging deep enough?

Pondering Stanley's statement.

Pondering these words....Fear and Wisdom

Where God is, there exists the fear of God, 

which is the beginning of wisdom

- Tertullian of Carthage, c. 197

Fear and wisdom. Connected to success? One morning this week I prayed for "good conversations." That day was a good day, but only because I ended up in some tough conversations that went well. It was a successful day and I'm glad I listened to that nudge. Praying for good conversations are becoming another norm.

Fear and wisdom, success. The thinker reads Proverbs 1:7 and wonders about the meaning of "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." The second part makes sense, the first..not-so-much.

Thinking about recent success and failures this morning I was drawn to Proverbs in "Ancient Christian Commentary." It's always interesting to read what these guys wrote 1500 to 2000 years ago about scripture; more evidence there's nothing new under the sun.

Fear and wisdom, success. I'm not sure why I was so drawn to Proverbs 1 and these readings, but like the nudge about having good conversations, I'm paying attention. And praying.

Bede the Venerable (c. 480) said there were two things that constitute the fear of the Lord;

1. the servanthood which is called the beginning of knowledge or wisdom and,

2. the friendship which accompanies the perfection of wisdom.

To that end........make it a great day

Unlikely Success word - Weakness

After asking for the thorn to be removed, God said to Paul "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in your weakness."

These ponderings on success have been good. I'm not sure I had any expectations and not entirely surprise about connecting this word "weakness" to success.

Andy Stanley makes the following points about weakness I tie to my thoughts on success -

"- God is going to showcase himself in my weakness if I'm willing to take NO for an answer

- His strength will overcomes my weakness

- Some things may not be healed, or worked out, or get better, or come back together...but God will showcase His power if we allow Him

- I can't experience God's sustaining grace while resisting His will"

Lord, give me the strength to be weak, to wait on your Grace. I pray for the strength of experiencing the success that comes from the grace of Your will in my weakness.

Great SUCCESS word - "Authenticity"

Danny L. Smith
512-773-6528

"One cannot long out perform their own self-image" - Maxwell Maltz

"You'll be the same five years from today, as you are today, except for what you listen, what you watch, who you associate with, and what you read" - Zig Ziglar

F I D O (forget it, drive on)

Well done, good and faithful servant

Dreaming for me this week. Or I thought about them differently. My "big" dream is to hear those words "well done good and faithful servant." Those words could come in the next second or years from now, but it wasn't until this week that it came to mind the process of another event. The "event" was a conversation and I wanted to react with a "are-you-kidding-me," or even harsher response. Instead, I thought about that dream of hearing those words, asked a few questions and the end was much more amiable.

Another event occured that was more "goal" oriented and if it wasn't for another Big Dream I have, I would have likely felt a bit defeated, let-down and thinking about how to re-group. If I were goal oriented I would have gone through the process of resetting the goal, its date and a host of other factors that seem to surround "good-goal-setting."

Instead, the dream is in place and looking back I realize my "FIDO" (forget-it-drive-on) style worked well. The missed "goal" was barely a bump.

...........Writing this and I'm thinking back through other conversations and events this week and I'm coming to realize how much success I had due to my dreams.

Dreams.

To that end.....dream well

Words to ponder

These thoughts about success have dug into areas of wisdom. Not the earthly type.

Wisdom that comes from above to believers.

Wisdom that comes from asking "is this a wise decision" and listening to the Holy Spirit.

Words to ponder - Success. Wisdom. Asking. Patience. Listening. Margins.


To that end....

Danny L. Smith
512-773-6528

"One cannot long outperform their own self-image" - Maxwell Maltz

"You'll be the same five years from today, as you are today, except for what you listen, what you watch, who you associate with, and what you read" - Zig Ziglar

Do you not give thought to wisdom...the state of your soul?

Good sir, you are an Athenian, a citizen of the greatest city with the greatest reputation for both wisdom and power; are you not ashamed of your eagerness to possess as much wealth, reputation, and honors as possible, while you do not care for nor give thought to wisdom or truth, or the best possible state of your soul? - Socrates
 
 

Philosopher Tom Morris writes, "Socrates' firm belief was that wealth does not bring about excellence, but excellence brings about wealth and all other public and private blessings known to man. It was the state of our soul that was important to Socrates. The inner life of each Person. Greatness of spirit. Wisdom. Inner excellence. When you give precedence to the inner, both inner and outer fall into place."

The beginning of this journey to find success' right place in my head and heart has been refreshing. Three reads specific to this subject I'm in are...

- Success God's Way, by Charles Stanley
- True Success, by Tom Morris
- Celebrate Recovery Bible

I've also found myself deep into some good reads about "thinking." These might be the most important stop-offs.

To that end.....Success!

Success, thinking on it

I also came to see the importance at the present time of thinking

clearly about what success is and about how we can attain the

most satisfying and sustainable forms of it in our lives. I came

to realize that we all need to philosophize about success.

- Tom Morris, PH.D., Public Philosopher, Advisor

Success, thinking on it. I think I don't really get the whole meaning of success. But....I pray that changes. I want to think success is

- a process
- a journey, not a destination (I hate cliches)
- glorifying God (what does that really mean?)
- being happy (?)...that is dependent on so many things (right?)
- well done good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21) - this is my ultimate desire, the final success

You, I, get the point. So what about the THINKING? Thinking on success?

I think God

- has built into me (us) a deep desire for success
- has given me his Work to call and challenge me to obtain success
- wants me to depend upon Him
- has equipped me for success with gifts and talents
- has given me the desire to acquire the knowledge to renew my mind and be transformed
- has given me the Holy Spirit to enable my success

I think I'm struggling with achieving the success God has available for me because I

- have still have a distorted Biblical view of work and success
- have self-limiting beliefs that are negatively impacting my success
- have self-imposed "lids" that keep me from rising up to challenges
- have miss-managed and even wasted bad experiences
- am carrying unnecessary baggage
- should stop waiting for the "right time"

To that end....Lord, thank you for continuing to love me. I believe you've built a desire for your success in me so I'll act. Thank you for being patient with me as I keep trying to do this on my own. I give my success to you, pray I move forward in your power and glory. I give you my thinking about success. In your Son Jesus' name,

Amen



 

Success. Where's its place?

Can success and a Godly life truly be reconciled?

Absolutely - Charles Stanley

What does God say about success? Is it a contradiction to live a Godly life and pursue success? Many people think so. And that's just wrong.

I don't believe it's a coincidence that I've been attracted the past few weeks to books that include matters on this subject. This morning I had the thought "what do I think about being successful?"

A re-work of Lunch 'n Learn materials and brought to mind the roadblock matter of "the fear of success."  I ask attendees in my Guerrilla Marketing workshops why people fear success and had never gotten a good answer, though many acknowledge it's existence and some admit it's impact on their life. You can see the realization in their eyes! But, for a long time I'd never been able to really identify a cause of the problem (I hadn't really considered at the time I encountered the roadblock).

Until one participant answered "It's a Biblical thing. We've been wrongly taught things like 'a rich man can't get into Heaven' and that's subconsciously sabotaging us."

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for
someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. - Mark 10: 25

Wrongly understanding that verse and one can/will subconsciously sabotage their success. And Satan wins.

I'm seriously afraid I have a problem with success, subconsciously. Subconsciously I believe I struggle with some things Biblically about God's will in my life. I don't have a good grip on the problem, but I'm coming to realize how real it is and expect I'll uncover others also.

God made us in His image. He was successful. I want to understand and accept a truthful definition of success. This is where I'll drop anchor, search out, pray, ponder and write about here for a few weeks.

Let me know what you think of success. Let me know what you think of what I find out, my thoughts about success. I know they haven't been near accurate up until now.

To that end....Lord prepare my heart to receive Your word, THE true word about success. Help me practice Your will.

....lead a quiet life

I've been on a journey to "raise my lid" for a long time. This road has led me to places like 

- My work matters to God

- In His Glory, God conceals matters. The glory of kings is to search matters out (Proverbs 25:2)

- Staying in the box. Digging deeper to discover the real me God made in His image 

- God intends me to experience a Sabbath rest. And not just on Sundays

- That God's intended doctrine of work includes a good practice of rest

.....and then this morning, journaling my thoughts as I read "The Accidental Pharisee" I come across this scripture - 

"and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you" (1 Thessalonians 4:11 NIV)

Now that leads me to slow down for a time of pause and reflection specifically about "purpose." There's even some thoughts of validation streaming in!

To that end...

"Leadership develops daily, not in a day" - John Maxwell

In His Image...Gaining insight and being reconstructed

We are at this moment as close to God as we
really choose to be. True, there are times when we
would like to know a deeper intimacy, but when it comes to
the point, we are not prepared to pay the price involved. 

- J. Oswald Sanders

Continuing from the previous post about insight, some use the think-out-of-the-box approach to stretching ourselves. I have a hang-up on the thinking-out-of-the-box "fad." My experience is it leads to lack of responsibility and fickleness. Yes, fickleness. LOL. Instead of digging into life, thinking-out-of-the-box allows one to escape the struggle of reality. Oh, and this thinking of mine isn't something new. See my profile and the "In-the-Box-Thinking" blog I started years ago (now DannyLSmith.com).

Thinking-out-of-the-box doesn't cause one to stretch. Thinking-out-of-the-box only adds to the confusion. When I want stretch myself, I stay-in-the-box and dig deeper. God made me in His image. I need to raise my lid, from within...searching for the answer inside...that causes a stretch you can't even imagine.

God tells us we are "made in His image" at least 6 times in the Old and New Testament. Wow. What does that really mean, to be made in His image? What would it have been like with sin? What would it be like live, and see ourselves "in His image?" That takes some digging through a mess of things we've piled into our "box."

How glorious that would be, to discover how glorious He made me. Proverbs 25:2 says "In His glory, God conceals matters. The glory of kings is to search matters out." I think that means from the inside-out, gaining insight and being reconstructed. And to Mr. Sanders point, am I willing to pay the price for the intimacy of the reconstruction?

To that end....

The Fine Art of Insight

Vast knowledge of Bible facts won't make anyone more insightful

- Charles R. Swindoll in Hand Me Another Brick.

My friend Charles Middlebrooks gave me Swindoll's book in 1996. Cathy, Austen, Bear and I were moving back to Austin. We weren't sure about a lot of things, including where to live, job stabililty  and little insight. A travel trailer at the South Austin KOA ended up being our home for 21 months.

Insight increased during this time. 15 years later, a lot of living and I don't have the fine art part down, but it's a clearer picture. Paul Martinelli on the subject of will (God's vs mine), says, "the more time I spend with God, the time I invest with Him, the more I recognize His voice, His will." Yes, absolutely.

The more time I invest with Him....That's getting into the fine art Swindoll's talking about, the reinstruction of the people he labels the last seven chapters of the "Book of Nehemiah." What happens when we invest time with Him? Insight, and we become reconstructed.

Insight.....is it attainable? I believe it is, and in abundance. Having good insight can take time and more than a little extra pause, prayer and pondering will help. Taking time to remove the clutter (another Martinelli lesson) helps me to be more creative (what God wants...us to expand His creation, to dig...and clutter stops that digging like a limestone in the Texas Hill Country).

Reinstruction...how much? As much as it takes. There are some days where I wake up and think.."ug...I didn't go to Heaven. Now I have to do this all over again!" But every so often, and they're happening more and more, I seem to get-it. That restful feeling describe in Hebrews. That's powerful and I know the reconstruction is working from the inside-out....I'm learning to use what's "in-the-box" first.

Swindol ends his insight chapter, The Fine Art of Insight, with

...insightful leadership is attainable..but no one has a corner on the virtue. It is available to all who are willing to pay the price. Insight not lonly gives you good perspective on the past and the ability to face the future with confidence and vision, it will also give you an honest appraisal of yourself...

To that end...have a great Sunday

True success....a conception of what we want

"Condition One of true success: we need a clear
conception of what we want, a vivid vision, a goal
or set of goals powerfully imagined"

- Tom Morris is True Success

...a vivid vision, a goal, as set of goals...powerfully imagined. That's a dream. I need a dream. I have a dream. The goals will come about, the growth will happen...because I have a dream to hear these words -

"Well done good and faithful servant"

Pause and let life catch-up

Sometimes one needs to just pause and let life catch-up.

The past 11 hours has been one of those times; busy week, working on filling events, planning more events, data base problems, need new loans, new loans, working through appraisal problems, need documents from client, more blending of the two-faces-of-social-media, desire to help new people, 4 mastermind groups, am I spending enough time in scripture and prayer, bombing in Boston, explosion in West, what do I need to pay attention to, what's working, market smarter not harder, whoops...should have been more attentive to Cathy, didn't see any of the kids/grandkids this week, Randy seems to be doing ok, butt-dialed my Mom and acted like it was on purpose, hmmm...mower setting in middle of back yard and I didn't put it there, forgot to buy picture hangers last night, home office desk is mess/cluttered cluttered...has been for weeks, what is that telling me, social media marketing has been slack for 2-3 weeks, what's up with that, Chick-fil-A Leadercast, need to pay attention to May calendar, newsletter, data base. STOP....pause, reflect, pray...let life catch-up.

Browsing through previous writings in this blog and I ran across this 2008 post. I remember when Ted Lesley recommended the book to me...I was setting in my truck outside church. I was likely in a pause and reflect mode then also.

Good to ponder on....

2008 Notes from "The Joy of Fearing God" by Jerry Bridges

page 162 - If we express our fear of God by keeping all His decrees and commands as Moses said (Deut 6:2), then we must give attention to our interpersonal relationships.

Consider, for example the following from Romans 12:

• Love sincerely (v9), Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (10)
• Honor others above yourself (10)
• Share with others in need (13)
• Practice hospitality (13)
• Bless those who persecute you (14)
• Rejoice with those who rejoice (15)
• Mourn with those who mourn (15)
• Live in harmony with one another (16)
• Do not be proud or conceited (16)
• Do not repay evil for evil (17)
• Seek to live at peace with everyone (18)
• Do not seek revenge (19)
• Overcome evil with good (21)

From 9/18/2008 http://in-the-box-readwell.blogspot.com/

So much to learn!

Thank God for His grace and mercy.

To that end....

Things a wife wants to hear...

If you're wife is standing, you should be also.

- Doug Sherman in 

"Your Work Matters to God" Bible Study

I'm not sure if that's exactly how he says it, but that's how I remember Doug saying that 20+ years ago. It was another moment where I almost got up and walked out. Seriously? Does he really mean that? How about now, I wonder if he still feels that way?

Hmmm...that's another question I'll ask him if I get the chance.

My feelings have changed over the years because yes, I believe it. The depth and width of practicing such is usually beyond me, but I do have flashes of clarity every so often.

Here are some other quotes...

Doug Sherman - "As men, we need to go through re-entry on the way home each day."

Stormie Omartian - "The top 4 things I wife wants to hear from her husband:
- I love you
- You look beautiful
- The bills are paid
- I'm praying for you"

To that end...I'll be sure and say 1, 2 and 4 today (working on 3)

Theology is not a private reserve of theologians

This is another required reading for the Theology of Work class at Bakke Graduate University. The author is also the Professor at BGU and Regents College.


From the back cover......"Stevens challenges the idea that a select few are called to minister to others and argues that the clergy-laity division is not only biblically wrong but practically counterproductive. "Professor Stevens lays out the complete argument that a person's 'calling' is a call to salvation, holiness, and to service. He also insists that "calling" is to before do."

Anyone wrestling with whether or not their work is their ministry will want to read this book and consider, even challenge, Stevens' points and references.


In this 255 page read, scripture is referenced over 800 times and at least 50 different pages mentions the Holy Spirit.


Chapter 2, Reinventing Laity and Clergy is a must read. He starts the chapter out with this provocative quote from Karl Barth....


Theology is not a private reserve of theologians. It is not a private affair for professors....Nor is it a private affair for pastors...Theology is a matter for the church. It does not get on well without professors and pastors. But its problem, the purity of the church's service, is put to the whole church. The term 'laity' is one of the worst in the vocabulary of religion and ought to be banished from Christian conversation.


From post on Reading Blog

Don't let criticism crush your creativity

Thanks to Tim Hetzner, President of Lutheran Church Charities

 for his article that prompted my thoughts on this matter.

In A Closer Walk Catherine Marshall writes, 'One morning last week God gave me an assignment for one day. I was to go on a "fast" from criticism. I was not to criticize anybody or anything. 'For the first half of the day I simply felt a void, almost as if I'd been wiped out as a person. This was especially true at lunch. I listened to the others and kept silent. In our talkative family nobody seemed to notice. Bemused, I noted that the Federal Government, the judicial system, and the institutional church could apparently get along just fine without my personal observations! But still I did not see what this "fast from criticism" was accomplishing - until mid-afternoon. 'In the afternoon God gave me a new vision for my life. And it had His unmistakable hallmark on it - joy! Ideas began to come to me in a way I hadn't experienced in years. Now it was apparent what the Lord wanted me to see. My critical nature had not solved a single one of the multitudinous things I had found fault with. What it had done was to stifle my own creativity.'

Creativity is a huge part of marketing smarter and when we're cynical and critical about our competition, ourselves and well....., it stifles our energy and thoughts.

To that end....stay focused on your competitive advantages!

(this is a re-post from 1/14/12 in my blog Market-Smarter)

Sacred Work: Maturing

We tend to judge others based upon actions, ourselves upon intentions.

In a short conversation with Jim Butt (@JimButt3) on Friday he said "It's good to see how you've become more alive with your Christian walk in the last 2 years."

I was thankful, but also a bit stunned. Was he saying I wasn't always this forthcoming? I thought it was well known by anyone around me for very long that I was a believer. But, thinking about the period in my life when Jim and I met, I realized what he was saying. My feelings were I've been this way for years. My thoughts instantly jumped to a different period when we regularly talked about glorifying God through policies and procedures, prayed before meetings and even had people leave the company because of our beliefs. When I took someone to lunch, anyone, I'd say "I hope you don't mind but since I'm paying, we're praying." And I bought a lot of lunches in those days!

But....that was more "before" when I was a CEO with 8-10 direct reports and over 400 hundred employees. Things changed, surroundings changed, people within my daily circle shrunk. Two years ago I was trying to find myself, my dream and a new plan.

My mission has been intact; make a difference (Colossians 1:28,29) but I was struggling with how to do that in my new role. Ha! I wasn't sure what my new role was. Sometimes one day-at-a-time was just too long. I wasn't as open with my testimony as I had been. John Piper says "God is most glorified, when I'm most satisfied, in Him." I'm afraid I was not well satisfied.

But, that's when "the rubber meets the road" and one learns to put one foot in front of another, pause, pray, reflect and let life catch up. Those are the times we learn to be, in the words of John Eldridge, "alert and oriented x 5." Or not.

I thankful for these times, all times, God wants me to "....search the matters out" (Proverbs 25:2) and I know now that as much as I was worshiping Him and searching Him out before, I'm closer to Him today. God has led me through new times and my heart, soul and mind have been strengthened.


Thanks for the compliment and reminder Jim.


To that end.....blessings and God's mercy.

Intelligently cultivating thoughts

The workplace is today the most strategic arena

for Christian thinking and influence

- Doug Sherman and

William Hendricks

It's a powerful claim to declare the workplace to be the most strategic arena for Christian thinking and influence. Seriously, if it's true, where's the evidence of this activity? Thinking and influence become two very powerful words when combined with "and."

In his classic As a Man Thinketh James Allen writes "Man's mind may be likened to a garden , which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continues to produce their kind."

I've been challenged this week, from a stage, but also by my own thoughts to

• think
• cultivate
• produce

My prayer today is, in the spirit of Colossians 1:28 and 29, that I'd think about life and purposefully cultivate my thoughts. I pray that I come to really realize the potential God has given me and that I'm able to influence others to dream, think and reach their potential.

To that end

Do right now well

Our grand business is not to see what lies dimly at a

distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand

- Thomas Carlyle

When I can't make a decision about tomorrow; I need to remember to just live for today. If today's too long; live in this moment.

Do right now well.

If it's a struggle, don't waste it. The struggle could be the prize and missing that prize would be a strategy. Don't stop three feet from gold.

Father, give me today my daily bread - Matthew 6:11

To that end

(this a re-post from Do right now well at www.DannyLSmith.com)

The four questions that will shape your destiny

There is no personal benefit in believing that there is

a God who cares unless we realize that He cares for us personally.

- Ed Silvoso

I read that statement, skimmed the chapter for the four questions and thought "true." As I then went about some other things, I started thinking "why was I so quick to agree, and who wouldn't?"

The realization that so many people don't know, or don't agree, or don't know enough, haven't searched out enough to agree - well, it's puzzling. And sad. But then, the way I act much of the time...if I really understood how much He cared, would I act that way? Would I have so much uncertainty? Would I be so..............!

Is there a God?

Does God care?

Does God care for me?

Does God care about what we do?

I know a lot of people who believe there's "a" God, but with each question get farther away from the real yes.

Heavenly Father. Give me today my daily bread. I know You are the one and only God, my Father, my Savior. Thank You Lord. I know You care and care for me, and I know you care about what I do.

Thank You for Your grace and mercy. Thank You for dying for me, for coming to life again and going to prepare a place for me. Thank You for sending Your Spirit to help me through the day, to provide that daily bread.

I lift up to You those reading this that don't know you. I pray they would come to know You through Your death on the cross. I pray we all come to know You closer and know how much You care for us.


To that end.........Amen


(this is a re-post from The four questions that will shape your destiny at www.DannyLSmith.com)

If I ever write a book on "God and Work" it will be named..

Sacred Work: What If God Intended Work to Make You Holy More Than Happy?


These are some highlights of what I've learned about God's view of work over the past 23 years -

• God is a worker. Always has been, still is
• God created man and woman as His co-workers
• Before the fall, God created work
• Work is not the result of the curse
• nature of work is good, not evil
• work became hard after the fall
• Through work we,
• serve others
• meet our personal and family needs
• earn money to give to others
• take what God has made and re-create new products and services
• Christ's death did not change work, but the worker
• Ghrist gives the worker the opportunity to be back in the right relationship with God
• Christ wants to transform me as a worker
• The Hebrew word for "to work" "to serve" and "to worship" is the same
• In the New Testament, the focus of worship shifts from the temple to Jesus. Through my belief in Jesus, and with the help of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent, I can worship God anywhere.

And, I've learned God wants me to have a proper balance with all areas of my life, including my family and resting.

And prayer. What a difference pausing and praying makes to my work, my life. That time in the morning, on and off during the day, it makes a difference that goes past happy.

So what if work is more about making me holy?

To that end.......

My name is Andre Agassi...I play tennis...and I hate it

"My name is Andre Agassi.....I play tennis for a living, even though I hate tennis. I hate it with a dark and secret passion, and always have." - from the opening paragraph of his autobiography "OPEN"

WOW! What a shocking statement from an incredible athlete who reached the pinnacle of his field.

How do you feel about your job? Do you hate your job/career, but continue to because of.......? Do you strive to be the best in the world at what you do, yet hate it? Agassi, while he hated playing tennis, he felt he had a job to do, a mission to fulfill. How do you feel about your job, or career? Do you feel you're called to do what you do? Do you struggle with the purpose - the why?

Or...are you just not sure why you don't do better than you do? ...your not sure what job you would even really want to do, even if you had a choice. You've heard about callings but have no idea what it means; you keep asking "what am I supposed to do with my life?"

Maybe you "I keep waiting for God to show me what he wants me to do, so for now I just do this."

Or...you're in the perfect job, but know you can do better than you do; you've leveled out, no longer and can't figure out why and not sure what to do about it.

Agassi's story is not unique. There are plenty who are incredibly good at what they do, yet dislike the job in some form or fashion. Yet, they're feel stuck.

Maybe you're not really that good at your job, don't have the best competencies? Yet through the efforts of yourself and/or boss/others, stay on the job or in the field.

Or...are you without a job and wondering all of this on top of needing to make your financial ends meet?

Genesis says "The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground....The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it..." (Gen 2:7, 15) And then sin happened and God cast man and woman out of the garden. In no uncertain terms He let them know things were going to be hard.

But God didn't cast us out without giving us some help. Part of that help comes from the Holy Spirit, Another part from the Bible, a book full of instructions though about life and work. A book about people working and how to make a bit of sense to the whole matter.

Help also comes from other men and women. Some who are pastors and teachers. Others who are friends. I've found teachers through many really good books on this subject of God and Work. Three teachers/authors are Addington, Graves and Maxwell. In their book Life@Work they help us identify and put together the fragmented parts of our lives.

The reader is asked "which of the following do you most identify with?"

- I'm fatigued from juggling two worlds

- I need more meaning from my work

- I need a clear picture of what being a christian on the job looks like

- I need a faith that makes a difference in my job and life

- I feel like I'm receiving no help connectin my worlds

Using the lessons from Life@Work we'll explore more about what the Bible says about work, jobs and careers in the coming weeks. You can also find more on this subject at http://godandworkmatters.blogspot.com/.

And we'll explore what it means to find,understand, accept and fulfill that mission.

I welcome your comments below, emails and calls.

To that end.....