You can quote me on this, part deux

A quick add-on to yesterdays post…

As powerful as quotes can be in terms of enlightening and persuading others, have you ever noticed how few people seem to be able to quote (or paraphrase) scripture naturally into conversation? This is particularly important when talking with non-Christians who aren’t used to pulling numbered quotes out of their brains to apply in daily situations. For some reason, people think they need to introduce Biblical ideas differently than they would other ones.

Some seem to slow down their speech and breifly borrow Charlton Heston’s voice, “Well you know,the Apostle Paul wrote in First Thessalonians that Jesus will someday… COME FROM HEAVEN WITH A LOUD COMMAND!!” 

Or how about those folks that like to quote the King James version verbatim? “Well Bill, that’s a good question. I like to think of 1 Thessalonians 4:8 when God said, ‘He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”‘Uh huh. Okee-dokey.

The worst offenders are those that have actually gone to seminary (yes, me included) and have payed $40k to learn how to stop relating to all non-theologians. “Oh, you’re feeling like the world is turning for the worst, Mary? Well, allow me to reference the eschatalogical prophecies found in the Pauline epistles, specifically the fourth chapter of the epistle to the church at Thessalonia.” Oh, please do.

Moses made things pretty clear for the Israelites when he gave them God’s law. He told them that God’s words should “be upon your hearts” and he told the people to “talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deut 6:6-9). In other words, they should really know them and talk about God’s word and see how they apply in their lives.

If we aspire to be Bible quoters, we first need to be Bible-appliers… applying God’s word in our own daily lives and sharing relatable perspectives that are derived from doing so.

You can quote me on this.

Ever notice how often quotes get used in business language? Business talks and PowerPoints are peppered with quotes from modern day business gurus like Peter Drucker, Seth Godin, Malcom Gladwell and Bill Gates. Most are used to justify a key point, but every once in a while they just seem to do a great job capturing a big thought. I’ve had a favorite quote near my cube for the last few years by Michael Hammer. In his book The World Is Flat, he wrote,

“One thing that tells me a company is in trouble is when they tell me how good they were in the past. Same with countries. You don’t want to forget your identity. I am glad you were great in the fourteenth century, but that was then and this is now. When memories exceed dreams, the end is near. The hallmark of a truly successful organization is the willingness to abandon what made it successful and start fresh.”

I’ve found this quote relevant in many contexts, including at work, in politics, in family matters, and in our churches. In business, it’s a cry for reinvention. With respect to our spiritual lives, it can be a reminder not to live in the past.

It’s critically important to understand our history, both as individual Christ-followers and as his collective body here on Earth. We should always remember him (as we do in communion) and what he did for us when he was on Earth, as well as what he’s done for us in our lives as we’ve walked with him. But we shouldn’t stop there. Do we spend enough time dreaming of what God will do, and whether or not we might get to help play a part in his plans? I know that I don’t. Many of us fall into the trap of thinking too fatalistically about the future, as if it’s going to hell in a handbasket and God has nothing wonderful in store until the Jesus returns. As the great William Carey once said, “Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God.”

In Godly matters, history builds our trust and cements our faith, but it’s the future that evokes hope and inspires action. When our memories exceed our dreams, the end is near.

A ready explanation

One of the most important pieces of scripture for any Christian in the workplace is found in 1Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” In fact, 1 Peter 3 is worth a read if you’ve not yet read it. Peter tells us earlier in this chapter that we should be live in harmony with those around us, being “compassionate and humble”, and when people ask us why we are hopeful people, we should be prepared to tell them about our faith in a manner that is gentle and respectful.

And how should we prepare our explanation? Personally, I’m not big into academic explanations - I’d prefer something sincere. I once heard a pastor say that coming to faith in Christ is the realization that we are far more sinful than we’d ever imagined, but far more loved (because of our redemption through Christ) than we’d ever dare dreamed. I liked that.

As far as learning resources, the book of Romans (particularly chapter 5) is a great explanation of the Christian faith, although it should be noted that it was directed towards a first-century Jewish audience so some of the references might not make immediate sense without a study bible. For me, beyond reading the Bible itself, I’ve really enjoyed a couple of “apologetics” resources, including the book Case for Christ by Lee Stroebel. I know that the book A Ready Defense by Josh McDowell is another popular resource. Also, if you’ve not yet checked it out, go to www.gotquestions.org. In particular, I like their question of the week which can be found at: http://www.gotquestions.org/questweek.html. Anyone else have any favorite resources?

Whether we rely on Biblical references or apologetics resources, the key is that our explanation of our faith is genuine and in our own words, because just when you least expect it… someone will ask.

And that’s a good thing.

 

Hypocricy in the church

We’ve all seen them - people claiming to be Christians, or churchgoers, or “religious” (a term that I’ve always shied away from) but don’t have a clue what it means to live lives in obedience to Christ. They show up to church and are willing to judge others for not doing so, yet can’t seem to forgive others, show mercy or act sacrificially.

My friends, in marketplace terms, these folks are our competition. As we pray for our coworkers and try our best to represent (re-present) the grace of Jesus to those around us, we are sometimes overshadowed by those who mis-represent what it means to be a Christian. Unfortunately, even in a world of Mother Theresas, it would be the lone, coiffed, money-grubbing televangelist that would garner the most attention.

Jesus didn’t exactly appreciate the hypocrites of his day either, most of whom were religious leaders (Pharisees).  The entire 23rd chapter of Matthew is about hypocritical church leaders, and one of his choice comments is found in Matt 23:25-26,

“How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy - full of greed and self-indulgence! Blind Pharisees! First wash the inside of the cup, and then the outside will become clean, too.”

Many have turned from God because of the actions of hypocrites in the church, and we should be on guard at work. We should first be on guard not to be chumming around the workplace with those that behave this way or else our own integrity could be marred. Additionally, and even more importantly, we should guard against the “yeast of the Pharisees” (Matt 16) in our own hearts. Sometimes our own behaviors betray us, and little is more impactful to our workplace ministry than rooting them out.  Jesus said that when the inside of the cup becomes clean, the outside becomes clean too. We can lean on that bold prayer that King David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24, lest we become the competitor among us.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Wronged at work

One of the best parts of working in corporate America is that it gives us the chance to be involved with people that we’d probably never spend time with outside of work. However, one of the downsides of working in corporate America is… that we work with people we’d probably never spend time with outside of work.

Although work is “work” - that seemingly distinct world where we make money to afford our real lives - it actually constitutes a large portion of our real lives whether we like it our not. It isn’t just somewhere we go to use a computer and sit through project meetings, it’s a place where we spend large portions of our time with people who might not always live their lives as we live ours.

As such, most of us at some point or another will be wronged by a boss or a co-worker. Sometimes issues arise out of misunderstandings or genuine differences in opinion, but every once in a while we encounter someone who is simply selfish and malicious. Most people aren’t primarily motivated by selfish ambition and most aren’t emotionally reckless, but there are unfortunately a small number of people whom are, and this has been a problem since the beginning of time. David wrote Psalm 55 after he was betrayed by someone he felt was a close friend. We wrote in verses 20-21,

“As for this friend of mine, he betrayed me; he broke his promises. His words are as smooth as cream, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!”

When this happens, we should remember that God loves justice and loves it when his people act justly (Micah 6:8). Jesus told us that blessed are those “who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matt 5:6), and that those who are persecuted and insulted will also be blessed, for they will rewarded in heaven (Matt 5:10-12).

What he asks of us in these situations is to not give into revenge, but to forgive as we’ve been forgiven (which does not mean subjecting ourselves to repeated abuse), and to work under God’s direction. David advises us to hold on to God when the ground is falling out from under us. He says, “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” (Ps 55:22)

Blessed to be a blessing

I got a call from a friend at work today who told me an interesting story. He said that he’s been thinking lately about how blessed he is and he’s felt compelled to do something special for someone else. After looking around the house at all the material items he’s collected over the years, he put some stuff for sale on Craig’s List. Once the stuff sold, he wanted to direct the funds somewhere special, so he prayed that God would give him a new opportunity to share. Not very long after that, he got a call from a friend of his who wanted to participate in a walk benefiting a hunger relief agency and was looking for financial sponsorship. Bingo! My friend felt that his prayer was not only answered promptly, but he felt good about supporting his friend in his desire to provide meals for the hungry. 

I was reminded of a phrase that our pastor often uses - that we are “blessed to be a blessing.” We know that from whom much is given, that much is required (Luke 12:48). And while many of us tithe from our incomes, we might not stop to think about how our jobs themselves are blessings. Our jobs, whether they seem like it in the moment or not, are incredible blessings for reasons other than the income they provide. They are opportunities for us to develop and use our skills, they are opportunities to be involved in the lives of others, and they allow us to have a special role in shaping the history and culture of the places where we live. So every once in a while I think it’s a good thing to ask ourselves, “How can we use these blessings  - the income we receive and the others blessings of work - to be blessings to others?”

How We Learn

Someone once told me that if I want to fix something mechanical (not my forte), that I should stare at it for at least a full minute. That advice has helped me much more than my Time/Life Homeowners Fix It book that sits on my bookshelf. By staring at whatever I’m trying to fix, I can begin seeing the interconnectedness of its elements, and that provides me the contextual understanding necessary to arrive at a solution.

The same dynamic happens with workplace learning. I’ve been through training courses and business classes hoping to just learn the content, but soon forgot most of it because I didn’t immediately get to use it. For me, the best learning opportunities are those that comfortably immerse me in a topic, orienting me and giving me a confident foundation to build upon, not those that try to make an expert out of me. In much simpler words, practical learning is not focused on remembering all the answers, but knowing how to ask the right questions.

I think the same is true about living out our faith at work. Solomon teaches us in Proverbs 9:10 that, “Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding.” (and when you read “fear” think of being in utter awe of the immensity of the ocean, not the terror of a chainsaw-wielding lunatic in your front yard).

To be an effective Christian in the workplace doesn’t require starting seminary courses. It starts with being in awe of the Creator of the universe who stepped into his creation in order to redeem us. It’s through that understanding, that incredible foundation of grace, that we know what questions to ask, what choices to make, and how to gain that which is “more valuable than gold and rubies” - wisdom.

Work - life balance

This is an outta-whack week for me. My work schedule is packed, I’ve got two meetings at a nonprofit organization that I work with, and I’ve got three different church meetings/events that I need to be at. A few weeks of this is okay, but if I was this busy for an extended period, I’d certainly have to cut back on the important things (like blogging).

Maintaining a work-life balance is exceptionally important. This is particularly true in new marriages or when you’ve got kids at home that (despite their seemingly complex needs) rely so heavily on quality time with their folks for their development. Back in ancient Israel, new husbands got quite a gift from the Lord in the form of this piece of Hebraic law.

“If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.” (Deut 24:5)

While most employers don’t seem to be particularly interested in honoring this little bit of scripture, most do have a heightened awareness of the high burnout rates among workaholics and the costly toll that can create for an organization. If, like me, you occasionally struggle with striking the right balance, check out this good resource that I found from the Mayo Clinic. It’s quite good, although it dances around the one key thing that we sometimes must do - standing firm and telling an employer “no” when work demands begin to seriously compromise our family lives or our ability to take a Sabbath.

Fireproof bridges

Did you ever have that girlfriend or boyfriend that you just couldn’t seem to stay broken up with when you were younger? Well, I’m beginning to see a parallel in the workplace.

I got talking with a friend who leads some of our new-hire training today and he mentioned to me that when we lose new-hires to other jobs, its almost always to their old employer. As I pondered that, I bumped into another old friend who had just returned to the company after working elsewhere!

You know the drill. A company offers you a job, and you think you’ve won the lottery. You take your job on romantic carriage rides and take closeup pictures of the two of you with your digital camera. After a while, the romance wanes but you’re happy not being on the market, searching Monster for available hotties. Pretty soon, you can’t figure out how this slouch of a job ever earned your affection in the first place and you are just certain that there’s truckloads of hot prospects waiting for you to become free. Ah, romance.

But who am I to talk? I was an intern at our company in college and then left after the summer. I came back the next summer and left again. Then I came back as a contractor, finally got hired, only to leave the company five years later to go back to school. Then, you guessed it, I came back to the company less than a year after getting my MBA. The lessons in all of this?

I learned two. First, our capacity for taking our employers for granted is pretty darned high. The cliche is often true - it’s not always sunnier on the other side of the street.  Second, it’s best not to burn your bridge because you might find yourself doing an about-face as you take that last step off of it.

James tells us in James 3 that, “the tongue is a flame of fire” that can set those bridges ablaze. Being thankful and keeping our tongue in check is key.  Paul tells his friends in the Colossian church in Col 3:16-17,

“Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise… And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

Yep, that should pretty much keep us out of trouble.

Age and advice

 

I recently got reading yet another article about the generational dynamics happening within today’s workplace. It seems that this is the topic-du-jour right now, and on one hand I’m sick of reading about it, but on the other hand I’m fascinated by it. With millions of Baby Boomers exiting the workforce and only about half as many Gen X’ers to take their place, companies are facing both a knowlege-management crisis and a talent crunch. Well, at least they will until the mammoth number of Gen Y’ers flood the workplace. If those Baby Boomers would have only had their kids before their mid-thirties, we’d have a little smoother transition here.

This particular articlefrom Businessweek made an interesting observation - that younger workers (Gen Y or Millenials) are ignoring traditional hierarchical protocols and shooting off e-mails and phone calls to senior Baby Boomer leaders in order to tap into their expertise on various subjects.  Good for them. I’m all for them breaking down the boundaries and asking some VP for a little bit of knowledge if they need it.  I hope that this trend continues. Among the Baby Boomers in leadership that I know, I’ve witnessed a strong desire from them to pass on their wisdom to others before they reach retirement. I also got in a chat with our Western Canada sales manager recently and he told me about how “mentorship contracts” are becoming all the rage at the energy companies in Calgary. Baby Boomers are put on contract immediately after retirement to spend time in the office doing nothing but mentoring younger employees who need their help. Brilliant!

King David (who as King of Israel and father of wise Solomon should know something about providing counsel), wrote in Psalm 37:30-1,

“The godly offer good counsel; they know what is right from wrong. They fill their hearts wtih God’s law, so they will never slip from his path.”

What a good observation for all of us, young or old. I’ve been very blessed over the years to not only have older co-workers that were willing to teach me a thing or two, but a few Christian ones whose advice and wise counsel have made a real difference in my life. I hope that as I grow in my career that I can share a little something with some younger folks that are willing to ask. That is, if any of them are willing to bother with an ancient Gen X’er…