Book: "Courageous Follower"
Need to align scripture with the many good points this author makes.
Following well, I believe, is the biggest missing item in today's culture of leading, leaders, and leadership.
ttp://leadingwellbyreadingwell.blogspot.com/2009/05/book-courageous-follwer-dynamicsby-ira.html
http://leadingwellbyreadingwell.blogspot.com/2009/05/book-courageous-follower-by-ira-chaleff.html
Following well, I believe, is the biggest missing item in today's culture of leading, leaders, and leadership.
ttp://leadingwellbyreadingwell.blogspot.com/2009/05/book-courageous-follwer-dynamicsby-ira.html
http://leadingwellbyreadingwell.blogspot.com/2009/05/book-courageous-follower-by-ira-chaleff.html
The Other Six Days by R. Paul Stevens
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 the 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
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 the 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
WorkLife Viewpoints: What Happened After the Manger?
Thursday, December 25, 2008
This WorkLife Viewpoint was written by Ed Noble, Teaching Pastor, Journey Community Church, San Diego, CA.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE MANGER?
This time of year we get lots of reflection and comment on the events of the first Christmas and its significance. I think that's great. It helps us think about why Jesus came.
But what happened after the manger? Well, Jesus was baptized at about 30 years of age (taking all the factors into consideration, He was probably close to 33 when He was baptized), but we don't hear much about what happened in between.
There's a reason for that. There is a serious absence of biblical data. That is clearly not the focus of the gospel writers.
But another reason is that they assumed that their original audience knew basically what the life of a Jewish boy would be like.
One of the details that are germane to our thinking about the workplace is this: JESUS HAD A JOB - HE WORKED, AND NOT IN "PROFESSIONAL MINISTRY".
We know that it was standard for a Jewish father to pass on his trade to his son. So have you ever reflected on the fact that of all the precious seconds that Jesus was here in the flesh, Jesus spent more of them in the workplace than teaching and preaching? There are a lot of lessons we can draw from this. May I suggest one?
Obviously, the three short years that Jesus spent actually preaching, teaching, healing, training and equipping, were enough for Him to finish all that God had for Him to do (John 17:4).
So, Jesus was no less significant or "called" than those of us who spend all of our time in these activities. The time He did spend was exactly what God had for Him. So it is with you and me. Some of us are called to spend all our time in "traditional ministry".
The majority of us spend a smaller percentage of time in these activities. That doesn't mean we are any less called, any less significant, any less eternity impacting than those of us who are called to spend a higher percentage of time in "traditional ministry".
The key is to be faithful 100% of the time in what God has asked you to do - to be ready for those moments when God may have something unusual for which he has been preparing you. That could be on your very next workday. So, fellow Christ followers, let's do whatever we do, whether it looks like the first thirty years of Jesus' life or that last three, with 100% faithfulness, ready for the moments He will bring our way for His glory. Bless you as you walk with Jesus at Work.
Resources:
His Church at Work - http://www.hischurchatwork.org/
Hill Country Bible Church's WorkLife mininstry - http://www.hcbc.com/templates/System/details.asp?id=28485&PID=398977
This WorkLife Viewpoint was written by Ed Noble, Teaching Pastor, Journey Community Church, San Diego, CA.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE MANGER?
This time of year we get lots of reflection and comment on the events of the first Christmas and its significance. I think that's great. It helps us think about why Jesus came.
But what happened after the manger? Well, Jesus was baptized at about 30 years of age (taking all the factors into consideration, He was probably close to 33 when He was baptized), but we don't hear much about what happened in between.
There's a reason for that. There is a serious absence of biblical data. That is clearly not the focus of the gospel writers.
But another reason is that they assumed that their original audience knew basically what the life of a Jewish boy would be like.
One of the details that are germane to our thinking about the workplace is this: JESUS HAD A JOB - HE WORKED, AND NOT IN "PROFESSIONAL MINISTRY".
We know that it was standard for a Jewish father to pass on his trade to his son. So have you ever reflected on the fact that of all the precious seconds that Jesus was here in the flesh, Jesus spent more of them in the workplace than teaching and preaching? There are a lot of lessons we can draw from this. May I suggest one?
Obviously, the three short years that Jesus spent actually preaching, teaching, healing, training and equipping, were enough for Him to finish all that God had for Him to do (John 17:4).
So, Jesus was no less significant or "called" than those of us who spend all of our time in these activities. The time He did spend was exactly what God had for Him. So it is with you and me. Some of us are called to spend all our time in "traditional ministry".
The majority of us spend a smaller percentage of time in these activities. That doesn't mean we are any less called, any less significant, any less eternity impacting than those of us who are called to spend a higher percentage of time in "traditional ministry".
The key is to be faithful 100% of the time in what God has asked you to do - to be ready for those moments when God may have something unusual for which he has been preparing you. That could be on your very next workday. So, fellow Christ followers, let's do whatever we do, whether it looks like the first thirty years of Jesus' life or that last three, with 100% faithfulness, ready for the moments He will bring our way for His glory. Bless you as you walk with Jesus at Work.
Resources:
His Church at Work - http://www.hischurchatwork.org/
Hill Country Bible Church's WorkLife mininstry - http://www.hcbc.com/templates/System/details.asp?id=28485&PID=398977
Practicing Christianity
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:
http://leadingwellbyreadingwell.blogspot.com/2008/09/book-joy-of-fearing-god-by-jerry.html
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)
http://leadingwellbyreadingwell.blogspot.com/2008/09/book-joy-of-fearing-god-by-jerry.html
Leading, Influence and Control
Daily we all influence and through this influence, we in turn lead others. Not always, but normally.
Example: years ago, in around 1980, I was with a group of people and one them was women 8 month's pregnant. When the waitress came to ask for orders, the pregnant woman orders a beer. The waitress takes everyone's order and walks off. A few minutes later, she comes back a let's everyone know that she does not agree with the pregnant woman's choice to drink while pregnant and that another waitress, who feels it is not her place to make such a "judgement," will be taking over the table.
Now, let's take a look at all the influencing that took place during this 5 minutes and what it led to.
Example: years ago, in around 1980, I was with a group of people and one them was women 8 month's pregnant. When the waitress came to ask for orders, the pregnant woman orders a beer. The waitress takes everyone's order and walks off. A few minutes later, she comes back a let's everyone know that she does not agree with the pregnant woman's choice to drink while pregnant and that another waitress, who feels it is not her place to make such a "judgement," will be taking over the table.
Now, let's take a look at all the influencing that took place during this 5 minutes and what it led to.
- obviously there was the influencing by the pregnant woman's choice to order a beer
- there had been other influences in the waitress' life that led her to be influenced to voice her opinion and not just give up the table to another waitress because of those past influences that led her to the convictions to begin with
- the waitress was influenced by the pregnant woman to give up her table, thus, her tip from a large group of people
- the new waitress was influenced
- others at the table were influenced to discuss and even verbally express judgement on and ridicule the 1st waitress
- at least one person, me, was influenced enough by the 1st waitress to remember 25+ years later the event. I had never considered, up until then, the dangers drinking brought to an unborn fetus. Those thoughts and concerns were not part of my thought patterns at that time in my life, but yet, I'm influenced by the actions of another with such an exchange of words and actions.
Now, replace the word influence with lead.
In the same exercise, take either word and replace with the word influence or lead with control and you'll find them not near the same. The only person that controls us is ourselves. We have choices. We have free will. There are of course consequences to choices. But, just because some leads, or influences, us doesn't mean with have to follow. We might loose friends, or a job, or "respect"....but we have control over how we are influenced.
Book: Lasting Investments
page 53 "Ministry must have as its long-term eternal focus either evangelism or discipleship as defined by Jesus in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Ministry has as its goal to enlarge and mature the body of Christ. Is feeding the hungry a ministry? Yes, if its focus is eternal. But if it is only to fill empty stomachs, then it is just a good deed. So, ministry is determined not just by what we do by why we do it."
That's good stuff. He goes on to quote a friend, Walter Henrichsen: "The secular becomes spiritual if done for the eternal, and the spiritual or religious becomes secular if done for the temporal."
http://leadingwellbyreadingwell.blogspot.com/2008/07/book-lasting-investments-by-kent.html
That's good stuff. He goes on to quote a friend, Walter Henrichsen: "The secular becomes spiritual if done for the eternal, and the spiritual or religious becomes secular if done for the temporal."
http://leadingwellbyreadingwell.blogspot.com/2008/07/book-lasting-investments-by-kent.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)