When someone offers you unsolicited advice, how do you respond? Do you reject it out of hand? Or do you prayerfully consider that person’s counsel, assessing how they came to that suggestion and the wisdom that they may offer? I was tasked with reorganizing a department when another manager shared his thoughts about things I should consider. My first reaction ...
While in a season of struggling to find God’s direction for my work, a friend recommended I take a spiritual retreat. I was intrigued but unfamiliar with how to go about it. He pointed me to a retreat center that I had driven by many times but hadn’t bothered to investigate. The center’s director was incredibly helpful and set ...
A recent post by religious statistician Ryan Burge analyzed Christians’ fear of death. Across denominations, it appears people are less fearful of dying as they get older. Perhaps these older adults can look back with satisfaction on their lives, or perhaps they have grown more confident in God’s promises as they have aged. Regardless, understanding the limits of our ...
The New York news conference to announce the merger of two companies was a big event, designed to garner news coverage from major financial media. The mood was celebratory, as executives boasted about a bright future for the merging companies and their expectations to generate customer benefits and shareholder value. Many months later, after regulators denied the transaction, the ...
In 2001, I owned a consulting practice that morphed into less consulting and more ministry. God’s blessing on those ministry activities led to forming a nonprofit today called Unconventional Business Network. During that transition I wanted to assure that I was following God’s vision rather than mine. I fasted, prayed and journaled. The result was a document outlining God’s vision ...
It’s hard to know whether the plans I develop for the New Year are from me or from God. I’m a very optimistic person so my plans can lean towards being unrealistic. Yet, a common question is, “If I’m carrying out God’s purpose, wouldn’t He provide all that’s required?” Although I don’t have all the answers, what has helped has ...
The vision of Unconventional Business Network is that every business leader would become a Christ-centered catalyst for workplace transformation. The foundation of our vision is being Christ-centered. As we reflect on the birth of Christ, I’m reminded of the shepherds who were in their workplace tending sheep. When the angels proclaimed that the Messiah had been born nearby, the shepherds ...
As we celebrate Christmas Eve, imagine the day before Jesus’ birth. Joseph had been leading a donkey for likely five days as he and Mary made the 90-mile trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem. All so that Rome could tax him more money. The final insult to this long trip had to be when these travelers found no place to ...
One of the most dangerous aspects of AI will likely become our dependence upon AI rather than on God. Google gave us the search engine, but AI takes the search engine far deeper by providing prescriptive directives and knowledge based on research. Each day it becomes easier for me to type in any issue into my AI engine seeking ...
In his book, “Why Your Work Matters,” Tom Nelson recounts the Exodus story of God’s anointing on two men – Bezalel and Oholiab – for special service. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have chosen Bezalel… and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—” ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
