The organization was disappointed when a planned business acquisition fell through. Teams had dedicated hundreds of hours to organizing the transaction and working to finalize it. So, when it fell apart, the organization experienced a great sense of frustration and disappointment. But that disappointment was forgotten when a new opportunity arrived two years later. The new transaction brought significantly more ...
I was thrilled to get my first job out of college, but it wasn’t long before I wanted more. I wanted to be a leader. I thought being a manager would be the best way to assert my ideas and my will. I also desired the benefits I saw from moving up in the organization – more money, prestige, and ...
If you have ever wondered if God values work, consider the number of jobs he has held. In “Workplace Grace,” authors Bill Peel and Walt Larimore list nearly two dozen occupations of God, including landscape architect, judge, farmer, environmental engineer, teacher, and inventor. The creation story in Genesis recounts God’s work. “This is the account of the heavens and ...
In the work world, we often succeed by creating something of value for others. We are rewarded when we identify a need and then create a solution to meet it. We credit success to our efforts. In his book, “On Being a Servant of God,” Warren Wiersbe encourages a different focus when we serve others. Instead of adopting a “manufacturer ...
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 ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
