February 8, 2010 by Sam Bates
What an incredible day it was last Wednesday, Fe
bruary 5th at the Joseph Project 2010 Advance Workshop! There was great anticipation during the weeks leading up to this kickoff event. Seems like what you hear is how the economy is recovering. That may be true in some some quarters, but there are many others who are still trying to recover from the loss of their job. Another 300 people in fact were released from Wal-Mart the day of our event.
The room was packed with close to 100 people participating in the event. Lots of people came who had never been to a Joseph Project meeting before who hopefully have now found a welcoming environment that will provide helpful job search skills, networking opportunities, as well as hope and encouragement.
The program was very powerful. So much content was packed into these few hours that my head was about to explode by the end of all the sessions. It was clear that the presenters came fully loaded with their best stuff in an all out effort to help in any way they could. It is such an encouragement to see the heart of these people who only want to help and are willing to give so much. Thank you to all the speakers and panelists who went all out to make our sessions rich with practical comments and real world advice.
Friends, we are really counting on you to help us get the word out about the Joseph Project. No doubt you know someone who would benefit from attending. Please invite them and if at all possible, tell them you will come with them. YOU are the most powerful marketing tool we possess. Tell your church, community groups and any other organizations you are involved with about this opportunity to help so many that are traveling this difficult path of job loss. Please help us to get the word out that this is not a path you have to travel alone. Do it today!
Posted in Adversity, Economy, Encouragement, Hope, Job Search, Relationships, The Joseph Project, perseverence | Leave a Comment »
January 31, 2010 by David Roth
I’m sure none of you have any issues balancing your work life and home life, right? So we should just move on…
Right… out of the Seven Pillars of Faith and Work, the challenge of Balance dominates! That’s why we are excited that this Friday at our monthly Eight-to-Five event, I will have the opportunity to speak on this subject.
So…I am sitting here…with my family…watching the Grammy’s…working on this blog post. When my family asks me why I am working while we are watching the “Super Bowl of Music”?
Good night…we’ll continue this discussion throughout this week. Stay tuned!
God bless your week,
David
Posted in Balance, Seven Pillars of Faith and Work | Leave a Comment »
January 26, 2010 by David Roth
Every single Wednesday, we host The Joseph Project meetings for business men and women between jobs. Last week we had a very special speaker in Mr. Maxie Carpenter. He was surprised and moved by what he saw there. He has given us permission to share his Blog post following his experience at The Joseph Project.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I never cease to be amazed at the strength and potential of the human spirit!
I was invited to give a presentation today to a group that comes together for the purpose of providing support, encouragement and resources to marketplace professionals, who have been displaced in the recent wave of restructuring.
I don’t use the term “professionals” in an exclusive sense. Any of us that have had a position of responsibility in an organization for an extended period of years is, in my opinion, a professional. In fact, I wish more of us would embrace that mindset rather than thinking that a professional is just someone with specialized training that can only be attributed to a very few. This group of people were definitely professionals in every sense of the word and they came from all walks of life.
What overwhelmed me today was a conviction I felt in the room that derived from a group of people making a conscious choice to do everything they can to move forward as proactively as possible. Even more amazing was the fact that this group was doing so based upon a shared faith that their mutual experiences were purposed and part of a plan that held more promise than disappointment. As a believer, this resonated with me in a very unique yet familiar way.
The emotion of that conviction really overwhelmed me this morning to the degree that I had to compose myself before speaking. I was humbled and honored that I would be asked to share my perspectives with a group of people that have no idea how much they blessed my day and reinforced my own conviction to keep moving forward in faith regardless of the circumstances.
Posted in The Joseph Project | Leave a Comment »
January 15, 2010 by Sam Bates
Every now and then don’t you want to hear about a miracle that has happened is someones life? Its can be tough at times today to believe that miracles still happen. God is sovereign and he chooses the people, places and times, but miracles still happen.
We have all probably experienced things that thought to be miraculous. They don’t always have to be huge, blow you away types of miracles either. We tend to only think about the really big stuff that happens and classify them as a miracle. Many times, God uses the small seemingly insignificant things of life in which to work his miracles. I know that I have experienced some things in my life that seem to be miraculous. I’m sure if you thought about it enough, you would feel that as well.
On occasion, we hear about a miracle happening in someones life that we just have to sit back and be amazed. I wanted to share with you something I heard today that would definitely fall into this category. It is simply to incredible to not hear and I would hope this would be blessing to you today.
James Dobson played an interview on his show this morning that I want you to hear. If you don’t have time to listen to it right now, please come back to this at some point soon. You won’t want to miss this. Please click on link below to hear this amazing testimony.
Breaking the Silence
May God bless you today and hopefully you will be inspired like those spoken of in Luke 19:37.
When he reached the place where the road started down to the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.
Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Miracles, joy | Leave a Comment »
January 13, 2010 by David Roth
“…The few things we can confirm – yes the four-story Caribbean Market building is completely demolished. Yes it was open…”. I found a link through a Twitter post to a blog from missionaries on the ground in Haiti. The stories are heart breaking.
http://ow.ly/W00E
As marketplace believers, let’s join together to pray powerfully for the Haitians. We work in a mission field every day. But, we are also called to be in mission with people all over the world. Let’s pray for the Haitians, for the missionaries already on the ground there, for those trying to get there, for how we can help from where we are.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. Psalms 57:1
Posted in Adversity, Prayer, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
January 11, 2010 by Sam Bates
How are you sleeping these days? Ever troubled by insomnia? Anyone feel like they are working hard all day then laying awake worrying half the night? The bed looks so inviting. You climb in and fall asleep only to find yourself awake a couple of hours later, but it seems like you just shut your eyes. If you can’t immediately roll over and go back to sleep, for whatever reason, you begin to realize its going to be another long night.
The parade begins and a thousand different things start their march before your wakeful eyes.
What can be done? I recently heard about one guy who said, “When I can’t sleep, I just get up and sit in a chair until I bore myself to death.” Another reaches for an Ambien or some other kind of sleeping pill. Yet another tries to fill the wakefulness with some kind of late night TV or surfing the internet.
Having experienced a multitude of these kinds of nights over the years, I have learned a few things about how these wakeful hours can be more productively spent. Free from distractions of the day, it can be a perfect time for some reflective God-centered thought.
God is awake in the still of the night and is ready to hear from us. The time that I have spent during those wakeful times has proven to be so valuable. Think on God! Use this time to pray or maybe praise him with a favorite song or hymn. It has always been an amazing opportunity to get close to the Father. The quiet stillness seems to allow for a deeper focus and more penetrating praise.
David seemed to understand this when he said, “I remember you and meditate on you during the night watches.” And of Jesus we read, “he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God (Luke 6:12).
When I can’t sleep, it is amazing how giving this time to the Lord in prayer and praise will settle my my mind and before I know it, I am back to sleeping peacefully.
Posted in Contentment, Jesus, Peace, Prayer, music | 1 Comment »
January 7, 2010 by David Roth
OK, this week we have tried to give you some 2010 candy. Some solid ideas for crafting a special year. We focused on being an encourager, not judging others, and living with purpose one day at a time.
But all of that feels somewhat empty if there is no Jesus. If we just keep doing whatever it is we have been doing. Without growing in our relationship with God, these other goals are good, but not great.
So what does that look like? Let me share four tried and true ideas for you to consider.
- As disciplined and committed as you are to get up and go to work, use that same discipline and commitment to get up and go to God. The only way to build a relationship, is to spend time with that person. You will get out, what you put in.
- When you get there, have a plan to read the Bible. There is no formula. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. I am excited to be reading the entire Bible this year along with six business leaders in our executive small group.
- Be committed to prayer. Seek God’s will for your day. Pray for your marriage, your kids and your work. When you’re at work, teach yourself to pray breath prayers as you go through your day.
- Last, and this may be a big step for you, buy yourself a journal. Begin to write down what you are learning, what you are hearing. When you read that one special scripture, the one that was perfect for you that day, write it down.
There is so much more that could be said on loving Jesus more deeply in 2010. Maybe a fitting way to leave you is with the special words of Texas QB Colt McCoy, hurt on the third play of the last night’s national championship football game… “God is in control of my life.”
But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. Psalm 1:2
Posted in Bible, Jesus, Journaling, Prayer | 1 Comment »
January 6, 2010 by David Roth
We’re talking 2010 goals this week. How are yours? Written them down yet? We’ve talked encouragement… then judgment… today is TIME.
Short of our relationship with Christ, this may be THE issue of the year. Precious few of us have all that we need or use what we have wisely. It’s a source of great frustration and anxiety. We worry about tomorrow while we are still living today. We struggle daily to balance our work time, with our family time, with our me time.
For example, as I write this blog tonight so that you can read it tomorrow, I am missing a killer game of SORRY Revenge with my wife and 10-year-old son.
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived gave us some pearls on time. You need to read verses 1-8, but here is how he kicks it off in verse 1:
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun. Ecclesiastes 3:1
My goals on time this year are very simple. Maybe they will start your engines.
- Live one day at a time.
- Don’t waste a single day in worry, anxiety or negativism.
- Treasure time spent in relationship; never take it for granted, especially with family.
- Be intentional about investing time in: loving Jesus more deeply, my marriage, my boys, relationships, my work, and my body.
Lord, time or a lack thereof, is one of our greatest frustrations in this life. In 2010, will you give me strength to live just today…just one day at a time. And to live with purpose at work and at home. Amen
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
January 4, 2010 by David Roth
Yesterday we talked about focusing on Encouragement in 2010. That’s a logical place to start. It’s a feel good goal. But today? Let’s move on from milk to solid food! (1 Corinthians 3:2)
I have been processing deeply the last few weeks on this word JUDGMENT. As I held the mirror up to my face, I didn’t like the reflection. What I saw staring back at me was that judgment has become as natural as encouragement! In fact, when I really stared hard into the mirror, I saw that encouragement actually took intentional effort and judgment flowed effortlessly from my heart and my lips.
And, of course, the Bible is full of painful reminders about judgement…like this one from Jesus:
Do not judge others and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. Matthew 7:1-2 (NLT)
How about you? What do you see when you look in the mirror? It seems that being judgmental has become a normal rhythm in our marriages, our parenting, our friendships…and especially our work.
It can be even more difficult in our work. Why? Because there is such a fine line between performance evaluation and judgment.
So, what’s the answer? I can’t improve on Jesus’ words…The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
Jesus, thank you for shining your light on this word. It has become a normal, assumed part of my life. Everyone does it, so it must be ok. Jesus give me the courage in 2010…beginning today…to change the reflection in the mirror. To bite my judgmental tongue or bury my judgmental thought. Thank you Jesus…Amen
Posted in Judgment | 1 Comment »
January 3, 2010 by David Roth
Friends,
I am so excited to share with you today! The time between Christmas and New Years is always such a blessing. It represents the end of something tangible and real, and the beginning of a fresh new door to the unknown.
Since my crazy 20’s, I have carved out some me-time during this season to reflect on the year past, and write down some specific goals for the following year. My wife laughs at me every year as I come home from Common Grounds or the Library or some other thematic haunt like a conquering hero! So, for the next few days I will share a few thoughts about this year that I pray will be valuable to you.
I can think of no better place to start than this simple word…ENCOURAGEMENT.
Some people, a very few, are just wired for encouragement. It’s just how God made them. But for the rest of us, it takes great effort, doesn’t it?
A few days ago, I received a hand-written letter in the mail. How long has it been since you received one? Do you remember how you felt? In our twitter/fb/text/blog/email world, a letter is indeed something special.
Here is an excerpt from the letter:
“I wanted to thank you for your word of encouragement recently regarding seeking God in times of transition. I have found continued perspective from working through past WorkMatters Eight-to-Five podcasts, specifically providing insights into aligning my life’s activities with His plan.”
As you consider your 2010 goals, consider this powerful word, and what it could mean in the lives of the people you work with and live with.
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12:25 (NLT)
Father, we have so much to be encouraged about. Give us the motivation to share it with others in 2010. To be intentional about finding opportunities to encourage those we work with and for, as well as our family members. Amen
Posted in Encouragement, Goals | Leave a Comment »
What an incredible day it was last Wednesday, Fe
bruary 5th at the Joseph Project 2010 Advance Workshop! There was great anticipation during the weeks leading up to this kickoff event. Seems like what you hear is how the economy is recovering. That may be true in some some quarters, but there are many others who are still trying to recover from the loss of their job. Another 300 people in fact were released from Wal-Mart the day of our event.
