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Archive for the ‘Jesus’ Category

“Merry Christmas” in the Marketplace?

Posted in Christmas, Jesus, tagged , , , on December 9, 2012 | 2 Comments »

I heard a great story last week that you need to hear. Every time I meet with Mark Carter, a young professional friend of mine, he has a story from the marketplace. This one was classic.

Mark was driving through the drive-thru of a national burger chain. When they handed him his food, the worker at the window cheerfully said, “happy holidays!” Most of us would simply say “you too.” Not Mark. Being a very intentional marketplace Christian, Mark casually replied, “I’m curious, why do you say happy holidays instead of merry Christmas?” The young girl, being caught a bit off guard by the question said, “well, that’s just our policy. You know, we don’t want to offend anyone.”

Without being rude or pushy, Mark’s response was classic. “Well, I’m a Christian and that offends me.”

christmas graphic

I’m not trying to start a debate about companies replacing Merry Christmas with Happy Holidays. But Mark’s story was a powerful  reminder to me that even in the marketplace, without Jesus, there is no “happy holiday.” If you are a follower of Christ, December 25th is your holiday! It’s a holy day to celebrate the birth of the man who gives us hope.

So for the next 15 days, each time you walk into the marketplace, be proud of your holiday. When you say “Merry Christmas”, say it with pride and meaning and purpose.

Merry Christmas!

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Changing Interruptions into Opportunities at Work

Posted in Attitude, Boss, Encouragement, Faith and Work, Jesus, Work, tagged , , , , , on September 24, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Have you ever had one of those days at work where you have more work than you can actually do?  And then something comes up that is totally unexpected and unplanned and throws a wrench into your plans? It could be another job assignment, someone who walks in your office who needs to talk, an unexpected phone call, or maybe a sick child.

Image

How do you handle interruptions?

I’m a type A person, and very task-oriented. And if I have something that needs to be done, it’s on a list.  Between my personality and my list, I’m a working machine. So you can imagine what my reaction often is when something unexpected comes up.  I’m sure I send out all the wrong signals – looking at my watch, my phone, acting perturbed, etc. Not pretty.

Today, it hit me.  Could these so called interruptions really be opportunities that God has placed in my day and He wants to see how I handle them? Ouch.

Do you have these same challenges? Are you SO focused on your work that you’re put off by God’s interruptions? Here are some suggestions to help you (and me) better handle interruptions at work.

  1. W.W.J.D – How many times do you read in the bible that Jesus would stop whatever he was doing to heal, to encourage, to show love. His day was full of interruptions, but it’s also where He had some of His greatest impact.
  2. Don’t ignore the small stuff. In Matthew 25:23 it says, “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” If God presents a situation and I ignore it, how can He trust me with something bigger?
  3. Show compassion. “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’’ Matthew 25:40
  4. God will redeem your time. “God will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10

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5 Things to Consider While Locked in a Stairwell

Posted in Adversity, Jesus, Marriage, Prayer, Relationships, Time, tagged , , , , , , on September 8, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Being locked in a stairwell was not on my list of things to do this morning. As I sat on those cold concrete steps, God taught me a few lessons I thought worthy of sharing with you.

  1. Be thankful you stopped at Starbucks first.
  2. Be thankful you didn’t leave your phone next to your keys.
  3. Be thankful your wife has a sense of humor.

Seriously,

  1. Slow down! I am always thinking, always moving forward. What am I missing?
  2. Why am I where I am right now? Beyond the obvious stupidity answer, the stairwell has reminded me that God allows things to happen in my life to get my attention.
  3. Quiet time! Ironically, the reason I am locked in a stairwell at work is because I came here to deliver a book to a business leader I met with yesterday. Title of the book? “Quiet Time”! We need to find a quiet place (like a concrete stairwell) to talk and listen to Jesus.
  4. Who are my 2? When I got locked in the stairwell, my first phone call was to my awesome wife. But who would my second call go to? Who is the brother (ladies … sister) who I have developed a relationship with, who I have invested time with, who I can share the real me with … that I would call to save me from my stupidity?
  5. Did I mention slow down?

“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”   Matthew 6:33

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What if there was no Jesus?

Posted in Jesus, Leadership, tagged , , on October 10, 2011 | 1 Comment »

We are blessed to have ESPN Basketball Analyst, Jimmy Dykes, share today as our guest blogger.

This past weekend, I was watching a college football game, when a coach was asked at halftime, “How does the loss of your starting quarterback affect you?” The coach answered quickly, “nothing changes,” and walked away.

Maybe that coach was not completely honest, maybe he was. But the thought did occur to me that we often find the value we place on something, after it is gone. If that is true, how would you answer this question if asked at this point of your life:

“If there was no Jesus, how would it affect you?”

Would anything really change? Would how you live your life be altered at all? Other than a possible weekly routine of going to church, would your life really be different?

Before rushing to a quick answer, think about it… If there was no Jesus available for the rest of your life, would it really make a difference? Or would your  answer be just like that head coach’s…”nothing changes”?

If that starting quarterback truly was a difference maker, and that coach was able to be completely honest in his answer, you would expect the response to be something other than, “nothing changes.” You would expect words like:

  • Everything is different,
  • he was our hope,
  • our leader,
  • our difference maker,
  • everything we did was centered around him,
  • if we don’t have him….we really have no chance,
  • we could afford to lose anything else, but not him.

A coach would never say that on national TV for obvious reasons, but I have to think at times, that would be their honest, authentic response.

What would be our honest authentic response? Is Jesus really our difference maker, hope, leader? Is everything we do centered on Him? If we did not have Him, would we really have a chance? Could you afford to lose anything except Him?

Take time to think about this question. Then think back over the course of the past 2 weeks. Is there enough evidence in your life to support your answer? Is Jesus more than just another player to you? Or would your answer honestly be, “nothing changes,” and then slowly walk away?

God Bless, Jimmy Dykes

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Are You Courageous at Home and Work?

Posted in Culture, Faith, Family, Friendship, Influence, Integrity, Jesus, Job Search, Marriage, Money, Parenting, Prayer, Trust, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 6, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of one of the most important days of my life. On October 5, 1991, Theresa and I said “I do and I will”!

In honor of that day 20 years ago, we spent the entire day together just having fun. We reflected on the past 20 years. We looked at old pictures, we told stories, we laughed, we questioned why on a few things that have happened in our lives. We shared two fabulous meals. We visited the site of the soon to open world renowned Crystal Bridges Museum.

And then we went to the movies. But this was not just any movie. This was a movie about life. About the very fabric of why we are here. About our marriages, our children, our work, and our faith. About being COURAGEOUS in living with great purpose in each of those arenas of life.

You may be familiar with the organization that also brought us the movies Fireproof and Facing the Giants. These are powerful examples of using media to impact our culture in positive ways.

For men and women, but especially Dad’s, take the time this weekend to see this movie. I find it impossible to believe that your life at home and at work will not be profoundly impacted.

Proverbs 22:6

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Inspiration for Relationship with God at Work

Posted in Adversity, Faith, Faith and Work, Family, God, Influence, Jesus, Relationships, Seven Pillars of Faith and Work, tagged , , , , , , , on September 20, 2011 | 1 Comment »

We are blogging this month on the first of  Seven Pillars…Relationship. Specifically, how we can walk with God all day, every day, but especially in our work. But it’s hard, isn’t it? The menial tasks. The grind. Deadlines. Worry. Money…and the list goes on.

But God calls us to see it differently, doesn’t he?  He calls us to see our work as a blessing, not a curse. To understand that our work is a mission, or at least it can be if we let it. To treat our work as worship to Him.

Do you need some inspiration to see a higher purpose in walking with God at work? Watch this video. Watch it to the end because it’s the last five minutes that really matter.

Now…what do you do with what you just witnessed?

How can your life and your work have deeper meaning?

What does your relationship with God look like now?

It’s up to you…

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’  Matthew 25:23

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Why Don’t I Abide with God at Work?

Posted in Faith and Work, God, Jesus, Relationships, Seven Pillars of Faith and Work, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 14, 2011 | 2 Comments »

As we discuss the Relationship Pillar and this idea of abiding with God at work, the first question has to be…why don’t we do it?

We talked about this question in several discussion groups at last week’s Eight to Five event. Here are some answers:

  • Fear -  it could cost us something… relationship, $, promotion, job!
  • Busyness - #1 reason? We are going 100 mph all day long.
  • Enemy - you think?
  • Guilt – can’t live up to it; I don’t need that remorse.
  • Don’t think about it - literally, we just don’t think about God at work.

What do you see in yourself or others that keeps us from abiding with God at work?

Be thinking about this powerful truth:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me [abide] and I in you,     you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:5

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Watching the Game Film

Posted in Encouragement, Faith, God, Jesus, Marriage on August 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

What would happen if your work today was captured on video? I’m talking every minute…all day long. Every conversation. Every decision. Every action. Every reaction. Every thought (are you kidding me?)… all captured on video. Then tomorrow, we sit down together and watch the game film!

Monday night, I attended an incredible event…Raise the Bar Rally in northwest Arkansas. The organizing team, led by ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes, were praying for 700 men to come to a night of hope, challenge and change.

1,400 showed up! Four men shared personal real life stories that were as real and painful and direct as you can imagine. In addition, several current and former University of Arkansas coaches and athletes shared challenges via video.

Of all of the impactful words spoken, Jimmy Dykes shared one that really stuck with me. Watching the game film. He talked about how painful it is to see the mistakes you made and to see how you can get better. But that wasn’t the challenge. The challenge was “what are you going to do about it?” You have to act to get better!

Can you take some time this week to get quiet…and watch your game film? Where do you need to raise the bar? Write it down. Pray about it. Ask God for the wisdom to know what to do…and the courage to do it!

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”   James 1:22

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Today you will be…

Posted in Heaven, Jesus, Work on April 22, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Can you imagine the feeling he had? He was a criminal, a sinner (like you and me), hanging on a cross. Can you imagine the feeling of hearing Jesus say to you, “…today you will be with me in paradise”?

This is a perspective we may not often take here on this Good Friday.

As I read this scripture this morning, wanting to somehow imagine what Jesus felt 2,000 years ago, the story of this man hanging next to Jesus grabbed my attention. Do you know what was powerful about his story? Even in his sin (like we have), even in his own suffering (like we do at work sometimes)…he had the courage to ask, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

So today, as you do your work on this holy day, maybe in a quiet moment…whisper “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

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60 Days…Merry Christmas

Posted in Jesus on December 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Friends,

No fancy e-cards to wish you merry Christmas. Just this simple note to say how blessed we are to share this work with you to empower each of us to “bridge the gap between our faith and our work”.

May Saturday be a blessing like none other this year as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

To a fresh beginning,

David

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