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.