Merely Talking
Oct 20, 2010 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
“In all hard work there is profit,
but merely talking about it only brings poverty.”
Proverbs 14:23 (NET)
“Merely talking about it.”
Solomon could have been talking about Twitter or Facebook status updates. In fact, his verse would easily fit in the 140 characters of a Tweet.
Do we spend more time talking about the stuff we have to do / the stuff we are doing / the stuff we just did than we spend actually doing the stuff? I know that is my natural propensity. In January, I made a resolution not to check email, Twitter, or Facebook in the mornings (with the exception of quick “Happy Birthdays”). Over the year, my commitment to this has waned and I not only start my day with these little addictions, but I keep coming back to them all day long.
Today I am starting over.
I found a great tool I am hoping will help. It’s called “Self Control” and it’s not just a fruit of the spirit, it’s a piece of software. I have been testing it for the last couple days and I really like it. It blocks certain websites for a set period of time, allowing you access to the rest of the web. I like this because I had been using a software called Freedom that blocked the entire internet. That hosed me up because I use the web for too many other things, especially when I am doing message prep.
So as of today, I plan on doing a quick blog post in the mornings, throwing out some birthday cheer, and then shutting down Facebook, email, and Twitter until after lunch. I figured I’d “Apply my Team” (that’s you) to this particular area of sin. The added advantage is by posting this out there, I now have a couple thousand people who can keep me accountable.
Tags: facebook, personal, productivity, social media, twitter, work
Work and Recession: To those of us who have jobs
Feb 25, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
With the current economic crisis affecting the auto industry, it seems like more and more the spotlight is pointing to Lansing.
A pastor friend of mine in Florida shot me an email the other day. It read simply:
Every time I hear about the ‘woes of Michigan’ I say a prayer for you:) Hope all is well with the family and church.
On a daily basis I am talking about the economy with someone. And since this has been on my brain a lot lately, I thought I’d take a couple days to blog through what I have been thinking. Actually, I want to throw out some verses and with them some thoughts. I am not going to get political or take sides except God’s side. :)
Today I want to write to those of us who have jobs. Our job may be secure or it may be on the line, but for right now we are doing OK.
As employees, Scripture has a lot to teach us. I’ll just hit on two principles that I think are significant right now.
Work Your Tail Off
Colossians 3:23-24 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
As Christ-followers, we should strive to be the best employees our companies have. It doesn’t matter if we are flipping burgers, performing heart surgery or stocking the shelves at Wal-Mart. The “Master” we are serving at our jobs is Jesus. So when we slack off on our job, when we complain about our job, when we do a half-ass job, we are doing so not just to our earthly boss but to Jesus.
Right now, job security is pretty tenuous for many people. Poor job performance should never be the reason a Christ-follower is fired.
Help Those in Need
2 Corinthians 8:14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.
Right now those of us with jobs are faced with an awesome opportunity! We have the chance to let the Gosple pour out of our lives as we take care of those in need. If you have plenty (read: “a job”), share with those who need it (read: “those without jobs”). This isn’t socialism, it’s living the kind of life Jesus has called us to live. Even if it means sacrifice, take care of those in need.
And who knows? With this economy, Paul may be right–there may be a time soon when you need help.
“Good works and paying the bills”
Jan 19, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
This is the title of an article I was interviewed for by the AP: With recession threatening donations, churches balance good works, paying the bills.
It’s quite ironic because I am in a series at Riv where “Good Works” and “Giving” are both topics.
It’s a great article (and they interviewed my friends Devin Hudson and Dave Travis as well).
Here’s a bit about the Church of Greater Lansing Project:
On Christmas Eve, members of Riverview Church in East Lansing and Holt, Mich., were asked with little advance notice to join 25 churches in raising $40,000 to replenish the local food bank.
The church, which has an average age of 27, raised more than $20,000 on its own, flooring pastor Noel Heikkinen. He said year-end giving was consistent with years past, and the church projects a 10 percent budget increase this fiscal year, even as the state of the auto industry has church leaders worried.
“People catch a spirit of generosity,” said Heikkinen, whose church also supports an area AIDS network. “They get excited about being generous, and it spills out into other areas of their lives.”
UPDATE: Devin found the article in a few more places: Yahoo, MSNBC, Google News
