What are we addicted to that hampers our efficiency at work?
Is my mind constantly watching out for pings..?
Am I totally focussed on what I am required to do ?....and then have time for my social or e-social life?
The reason I put that quiz up here is for us to examine our hearts...and see where our priorities lie ...along with our responsibilities.
Am I fulfilling my role...as a key-player in the work of God's kingdom?
Wherever I am placed...am I doing my best.
"For whatsoever you do , do it heartily , as unto the Lord and not unto men.."
This is one of the principles of BestChristianJobs...to work...as unto the Lord.
Let me remind you today, that you are unique....fulfill YOUR purpose.
Monday, September 29, 2008
How addicted are you? Socializing at work ?
21%
This quiz was provided by - Search & Social - Media Experts
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Set apart - fit for any good work.
21So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.
Taken from the book of II Timothy, the Bible.
When I began writing this post, I automatically went and italicised the words that represented the result and the words that were positive. Then I realised that this is how we sometimes read the Scriptures.
We want a good result and make the "honorable and noble" "consecrated and profitable" and "fit for any good work" stand out and take it to heart that that is how we are.
We tend to miss out what it takes to bring about the result. Even at work. We magnify the result and minimise the actual work or the path it took to bring about the result.
Here it says, whoever cleanses himself, separates himself from things that are ignoble, unclean, corrupting and contaminating influences.....will result in a vessel set apart for use by the Master, our Creator.
Phew! How hard it is ...I find myself doing things that I do not wish to do. I am unable to do things that I know I need to do.
Gossiping, slander, looking down on and shunning co-workers and bosses is not what we are called to do. We are to stay away from gossip, from murmuring against our superiors and from expressing contamination.
We are not to complain if we have to stay late to meet a deadline.
We are to help someone who is in need.
We are to love our neighbor.
We are set apart.
And the Master will use us for HIS GOOD WORK.
Wherever we are.
What a privilege to be chosen by the Creator of this universe.
Moreover He honors us. He loved us first.
For all those who work to spread His love and His Gospel, you are noble and set apart.
That means all of us. From a pastor, manager, director, business owner, carpenter, father, wife, son, teacher, doctor, nurse, shopkeeper, cook, trainee, customer executive, lawyer, politician, actor, musician, or just a no-one in your eyes........you are chosen. You are set apart. And you are a vessel of honor. Make yourself available for use by our Master.
After all the One who created us will know what we do best.
Taken from the book of II Timothy, the Bible.
When I began writing this post, I automatically went and italicised the words that represented the result and the words that were positive. Then I realised that this is how we sometimes read the Scriptures.
We want a good result and make the "honorable and noble" "consecrated and profitable" and "fit for any good work" stand out and take it to heart that that is how we are.
We tend to miss out what it takes to bring about the result. Even at work. We magnify the result and minimise the actual work or the path it took to bring about the result.
Here it says, whoever cleanses himself, separates himself from things that are ignoble, unclean, corrupting and contaminating influences.....will result in a vessel set apart for use by the Master, our Creator.
Phew! How hard it is ...I find myself doing things that I do not wish to do. I am unable to do things that I know I need to do.
Gossiping, slander, looking down on and shunning co-workers and bosses is not what we are called to do. We are to stay away from gossip, from murmuring against our superiors and from expressing contamination.
We are not to complain if we have to stay late to meet a deadline.
We are to help someone who is in need.
We are to love our neighbor.
We are set apart.
And the Master will use us for HIS GOOD WORK.
Wherever we are.
What a privilege to be chosen by the Creator of this universe.
Moreover He honors us. He loved us first.
For all those who work to spread His love and His Gospel, you are noble and set apart.
That means all of us. From a pastor, manager, director, business owner, carpenter, father, wife, son, teacher, doctor, nurse, shopkeeper, cook, trainee, customer executive, lawyer, politician, actor, musician, or just a no-one in your eyes........you are chosen. You are set apart. And you are a vessel of honor. Make yourself available for use by our Master.
After all the One who created us will know what we do best.
Monday, September 15, 2008
1IN THE beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth.2The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.
3And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.
4And God saw that the light was good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it; and God separated the light from the darkness.
5And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
God prepared, formed and fashioned the earth. He worked. And He rested.
Work. work. work. work. work. work. REST.
He worked six days and then rested. To work well, you need to rest well.
And God saw that it was good.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Position of Authority - peaceful
For those who hold positions of authority, there is an increased sphere of influence.
More people look up to you. Or maybe look up AT you. So we tend to lead two kinds of lives -- an outward ( where the sphere of influence can see) and inward ( where only those dear to your heart or just yourself can see).
Ultimately, the outward life is the life of witness. Where people look, learn and either follow or discard. The following Scripture gives us a new look on how a life of a leader should be.
In I Timothy Chapter 2, it says
2For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way.
Beautiful isn't it? Yet so far from the ideal.
There is so much pressure, so much to do, so many deadlines, people under us are so irresponsible ( we think) or I just want to get this over with so I can relax. Which mostly never happens.
So how do we live a life "undisturbed" ? and quiet ...................outwardly ?
The previous verse says,
"I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men..."
And the one after goes on to say,
3For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior,
4Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.
People who hold positions of high responsibility are required to PRAY.
Prayer makes you lead a life that is undisturbed as you have now handed over all your cares to the Highest Authority there is and you know He will take care. Once you know that you live a quiet life. Free of anxiety, clutter, pressure, attention-seeking behaviour, jealousy, anger and greed.
And inwardly?
In all godliness and reverence and seriousness. -- This is how we pray. We enter into a godly, revered, serious conversation with Him.
I said conversation. That means to also listen to what He has to say.
Because His words give you life, give you a peace and an understanding that no one can give you.
He leads and guides you. And you end up living in total and complete peace. There is nothing that can disturb you. If something goes wrong, HE turns it right and you just keep going.
And you can live a life worthy of your high calling. And your position doesn't really matter. Since you are in constant conversation with the Highest Authority anyway. That is a life that is really cool.
More people look up to you. Or maybe look up AT you. So we tend to lead two kinds of lives -- an outward ( where the sphere of influence can see) and inward ( where only those dear to your heart or just yourself can see).
Ultimately, the outward life is the life of witness. Where people look, learn and either follow or discard. The following Scripture gives us a new look on how a life of a leader should be.
In I Timothy Chapter 2, it says
2For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way.
Beautiful isn't it? Yet so far from the ideal.
There is so much pressure, so much to do, so many deadlines, people under us are so irresponsible ( we think) or I just want to get this over with so I can relax. Which mostly never happens.
So how do we live a life "undisturbed" ? and quiet ...................outwardly ?
The previous verse says,
"I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men..."
And the one after goes on to say,
3For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior,
4Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.
People who hold positions of high responsibility are required to PRAY.
Prayer makes you lead a life that is undisturbed as you have now handed over all your cares to the Highest Authority there is and you know He will take care. Once you know that you live a quiet life. Free of anxiety, clutter, pressure, attention-seeking behaviour, jealousy, anger and greed.
And inwardly?
In all godliness and reverence and seriousness. -- This is how we pray. We enter into a godly, revered, serious conversation with Him.
I said conversation. That means to also listen to what He has to say.
Because His words give you life, give you a peace and an understanding that no one can give you.
He leads and guides you. And you end up living in total and complete peace. There is nothing that can disturb you. If something goes wrong, HE turns it right and you just keep going.
And you can live a life worthy of your high calling. And your position doesn't really matter. Since you are in constant conversation with the Highest Authority anyway. That is a life that is really cool.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Threads
Sometimes you just connect,
like that,
no big thing maybe
but something beyond the usual business stuff.
It comes and goes quickly
so you have to pay attention,
a change in the eyes
when you ask about the family,
a pain flickering behind the statistics
about a boy and a girl in school,
or about seeing them every other Sunday.
An older guy talks about his bride,
a little affectation after twenty-five years.
A hot -eyed achiever laughs before you want him to.
Someone tells about his wife's job
or why she quit working to stay home.
An old joker needs another laugh on the way
to retirement.
A woman says she spends a lot of her salary
on an au pair
and a good one is hard to find
but worth it because there's nothing more important
than the baby.
Listen.
In every office
you hear the threads
of love and joy and fear and guilt,
the cries for celebration and reassurance,
and somehow you know that connecting those threads
is what you are supposed to do,
and business takes care of itself.
- James A. autry, Love and Profit, 1991:26
(Adapted from "The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make" by Hans Finzel. -- A good read.)
like that,
no big thing maybe
but something beyond the usual business stuff.
It comes and goes quickly
so you have to pay attention,
a change in the eyes
when you ask about the family,
a pain flickering behind the statistics
about a boy and a girl in school,
or about seeing them every other Sunday.
An older guy talks about his bride,
a little affectation after twenty-five years.
A hot -eyed achiever laughs before you want him to.
Someone tells about his wife's job
or why she quit working to stay home.
An old joker needs another laugh on the way
to retirement.
A woman says she spends a lot of her salary
on an au pair
and a good one is hard to find
but worth it because there's nothing more important
than the baby.
Listen.
In every office
you hear the threads
of love and joy and fear and guilt,
the cries for celebration and reassurance,
and somehow you know that connecting those threads
is what you are supposed to do,
and business takes care of itself.
- James A. autry, Love and Profit, 1991:26
(Adapted from "The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make" by Hans Finzel. -- A good read.)
Monday, September 1, 2008
Should I Have Quit My Job Over Pornography?
By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services
Q: About a year ago I gave my life to Jesus. I've been working in a convenience store, and a few weeks ago the owner told me to start showing some customers the pornography he's started carrying, and urging them to buy it (it makes him a lot of money). But when I refused he fired me. Was I wrong? -- M.R.
A: It is never wrong to take a stand for Jesus Christ -- which I believe you were doing in this situation. If you had followed his instructions, you wouldn't have been just taking their money (as clerks must do), but you would have been actively urging people to do something wrong: fill their hearts and minds with impurity and lust.
Remember too that those you worked with undoubtedly knew you claimed to be a Christian. What impression would it have made on them if you had compromised and urged people to do something you know is wrong in God's eyes? Either they would have decided your faith wasn't real after all, or they would have concluded God doesn't care what we believe or how we live. Either way, your witness for Christ would have been blunted.
Never forget Jesus' words to His disciples: "You are the light of the world. ... Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14, 16). God will honor us when we follow Him.
As a footnote, pornography has become a major problem in our society today, not just on the printed page but also through the Internet. It is one more sign of our spiritual emptiness, and our need to return to God.
May the prophet's prayer become ours: "Revive thy work in the midst of the years" (Habakkuk 3:2, KJV).
Q: About a year ago I gave my life to Jesus. I've been working in a convenience store, and a few weeks ago the owner told me to start showing some customers the pornography he's started carrying, and urging them to buy it (it makes him a lot of money). But when I refused he fired me. Was I wrong? -- M.R.
A: It is never wrong to take a stand for Jesus Christ -- which I believe you were doing in this situation. If you had followed his instructions, you wouldn't have been just taking their money (as clerks must do), but you would have been actively urging people to do something wrong: fill their hearts and minds with impurity and lust.
Remember too that those you worked with undoubtedly knew you claimed to be a Christian. What impression would it have made on them if you had compromised and urged people to do something you know is wrong in God's eyes? Either they would have decided your faith wasn't real after all, or they would have concluded God doesn't care what we believe or how we live. Either way, your witness for Christ would have been blunted.
Never forget Jesus' words to His disciples: "You are the light of the world. ... Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14, 16). God will honor us when we follow Him.
As a footnote, pornography has become a major problem in our society today, not just on the printed page but also through the Internet. It is one more sign of our spiritual emptiness, and our need to return to God.
May the prophet's prayer become ours: "Revive thy work in the midst of the years" (Habakkuk 3:2, KJV).
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