TheHighCalling.org: Attitude

Now That's a Fine Attitude (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:00:00 GMT

The story may seem a little fishy, but Jonah clearly heard God's call. So what did he do? He set sail in the opposite direction. What was God's reaction? He threw Jonah overboard where our would-be prophet was swallowed whole.

For three days, Jonah lived in the belly of a fish. After Jonah repented, the fish threw him up and out. So, Jonah got a redo.

This time Jonah followed God's call to go to Nineveh. He warned the citizens of their impending doom: God was not happy with them, and he would destroy their city.

The people of Nineveh recognized their evil ways. They turned away from evil and appealed directly to God to save their city. God showed them mercy.

Jonah, being unable to recognize the log in his eye, threw a fit. Instead of rejoicing at the salvation of Nineveh, Jonah was angry. God had shown mercy, and Jonah was disappointed probably because Jonah thought God's mercy made Jonah look like a chump.

God uses a parable to set Jonah straight. We're unsure about how that worked out for ol' Jonah. Then the book of Jonah ends with a question. God says, "Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

I see too much of myself in Jonah. I can relate to a guy who feels wronged. Like Jonah, I can build a pretty good case for myself. So when you're working up a good righteous anger. Maybe you ought to check your attitude and remember God's question to Jonah.

Cal Rogers (Audio)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:00:00 GMT

In 1911, Cal Rogers answered a national challenge to fly from New York to Long Beach in 30 days. Day one, he flew 105 miles. Day two, he crashed into a chicken coop. By day 30, he was only as far as Kansas City. He lost the contest, but he kept flying.

Crossing into California, his engine exploded. On day 84, Cal reached the finish line. His wreck of a plane was so battered and rebuilt—only the original rudder and oil pan remained.

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. Like Cal Rogers' airplane, our lives and bodies hardly resemble the condition in which we took off. So what? We patch, rebuild—we persevere—in the high calling of our daily work.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (Heb. 10:35-37)

Look Out for That Log (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Here comes that log again. You can follow the link to a recent post where I use a Eugene Peterson quote as illustration. Now Mark Roberts has written a piece about the log in his Daily Reflection at thehighcalling.org where he talks about hyperbole. Jesus uses this literary device to make his point more dramatically. He wanted people to pay attention to his point. Look inward first. Don’t look at others and see their faults. Come to terms with your own first.

We all have faults. Many we get from our parents. Since they are the people we’ve spent most of our lives around it stands to reason that they would burden us with excess baggage. They’ve given us many gifts to help us navigate through life’s difficulties but, unsuspected, the baggage comes along for the ride. If we ignore the baggage the ride can be bumpy and we repeat the same destructive behaviors causing pain to ourselves and others.

However, if we unpack the baggage one painful piece at a time we can change the ride. For many people the principles of AA have changed their lives. These are Christian principles packaged so that anyone can use them. They’re also sound psychology that helps people heal. Just as some fear overt Christianity others fear sound psychology.

Words (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Playing with language is fun. I like to use (or sometimes overuse) a pithy pun. When I was younger and deferred credit was popular in TV ads, I'd say goodbye to my dad as I was walking out the door for the evening.

He’d say, “By now.”

And I would respond, “Pay later.”

Currently, I have a new favorite. When I wish someone well, they'll often say, “You too.” I respond with a hearty, “Bono.” Very few people ever catch it. Maybe they think I’m speaking a foreign language poorly. Or perhaps there aren’t that many U2 fans out there. Probably they’re just not listening.

I like to listen to people and take them seriously in what they have to say. For example, I’ve noticed quite a few people use the expression, “I can’t complain.”

Sometimes I'll greet someone and inquire, “How ya doin’?”

And they reply “I can’t complain.”

That just opens a door for me. I respond, “Sure you can. It’s easy. Just give it a try. You might even feel better.” Usually people just look at me quizzically. Nobody ever takes me up on my encouragement.

Last week, things caught up with me. I pulled into a gas station and a friend was at the next pump as I was filling my tank. She asked “How are you?” I went into a discourse about how busy and frustrating my morning had been. When I finished and she had filled her car, she said, "I hope things get better for you.”

That’s when it hit me. I had just listed the longest complaint about trivialities ever. I rattled this off to someone who knew something about pain and suffering in her own life. She wished me well in my trivial pursuit. I felt like such an idiot.

Since I was feeling rather odd, I decided to read Ecclesiastes. Let me just sum things up with the closing verses of Chapter 5.

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Thirsting for God in Daily Work (Bible Reflection)

Ann Voskamp — Sun, 25 May 2008 06:00:00 GMT

We must drink. Or die.

Yet, dare I confess? Too often, miserably too often, I don't want to drink from His cup.

I thirst for God's goodnesses. I pant for his blessings. But to drink from his cup? I crave days laced with comfort. Fulfilling marriage with little self-sacrifice. Thoughtful children with meager investment. Successful work with quick shortcuts. That cup of salvation seems too heavy to lift to dry lips.

And I wonder: is it true too of the body of the Christ? "Many are eager to be happy with him; few wish to suffer anything for him," writes Thomas á Kempis. "Many will follow him as far as the breaking of bread, but few will remain to drink from his passion. Many love Christ as long as they encounter no hardship . . . "

But is that love?

Anxious to molt free of the tightening burden of annoying coworkers, aging parents, demanding children, the responsibilities relentlessly mounting, we plead, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." I make normal everyday problems into a Garden of Gethsemane. I writhe at the thought of daily dying. I pray, "Give us our daily bread, my expected luxuries, but no, I'll pass on the cup."

If I pray for no hardship, do I really love?

Aren't I the one who daily collects God's blessings like manna? Words from his Word, nourishment cupped in a bowl, lilt of birds lighting, sunlight pooling on floor, splash of sunset at day's end. Redemption. Mercy. Abundant life. I gather his gifts.

There are times, not frequent enough, when I rouse to it all and ask with the Psalmist, "How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?" (Ps. 116:12).

But the answer the Psalmist offers is the one that I too often choke on, can't quite get down. "I will lift up the cup of salvation" (Ps. 116:13). Is that why the cup is heavy, too painful to lift? Because in salvation, there is a dying to our wants. And an embracing of his.

So I let him spoon the words in deliberately. So I don't die. (And yet do.) I sit for hours, waiting for an appointment. A computer rebels before a deadline. A project unravels. He asks me to accept, lift, sip deeply, "How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup." Perhaps, in small, unremarkable ways, I too can enter into the communion joy of dying to self? A child wails and clings, and I'm late and the oatmeal burns. Again to open dry lips: "Give thanks for his torrent of good. Lift up the cup. Drink it all down." Perhaps, in this high calling to humble living, it is possible to remember daily his far greater sacrifice, his innumerable unmerited kindnesses, and choose to give thanks for whatever he gives in the moment—all of it.

Yes, to drink of his passion. In choosing to drink down the moments simply as they come, without chaffing, is this the wholesale gratitude he entreats of us?

Our Mercurial Nature (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Tue, 20 May 2008 06:00:00 GMT

As a kid I remember playing with mercury. It was fun how it seemed heavy, yet liquid. Tumbling in your hand, it rolled around amoeba-like changing shapes continuously.

In my daily life the same thing occurs with my attitude. Subtle things change the way I think, feel, and act. A criticism or harsh word can cause me to dwell on the negative. A smile or word of encouragement has the opposite effect. Even victory and loss by my favorite sports team can cause an attitude change.

Around our office, the accounting department handed out little badges with a moveable dial. The gauge on the badge was blue for minimum, yellow for medium, and red for maximum. The badge is called a Fun Meter, and people around our offices have been wearing them.

What struck me is how mercurial faith can be. One minute we strongly feel God’s presence. The next minute it’s like God isn’t even involved in our lives. I’m reminded of Ephesians 4. Paul says:

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:20-24.)

Amazing Resolve (Audio)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:00:00 GMT

The film Amazing Grace is about William Wilberforce, an 18th-century member of Parliament. Meeting with Christian leaders who were fighting to end the slave trade, he asks if he should give up Parliament to enter full-time church ministry.

They respond: “You’re having problems choosing whether to do the work of God or the work of Parliament? We humbly suggest you can do both.”

Wilberforce continued to fight slavery—always compelled by God’s call. Finally, in 1807, Parliament abolished the slave trade that Wilberforce had fought against for twenty years.

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. For William Wilberforce, faith and work were not mutually exclusive. Christian faith informs and shapes our professions—in the high calling of our daily work.

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. (1 Pet. 2:16)

Fear God; Honor Your Supervisor (Bible Reflection)

Rey Lopez — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:00:00 GMT

The CEO of a large, financial services company announced his early resignation without fanfare or explanation. He would retire three years earlier than he had previously committed. Reactions were mixed. During his tenure, he had strengthened the financial position of the company and led it to be recognized as a leader in customer satisfaction. But, he had also alienated many long-time employees.

Some were shocked and dismayed by the announcement of his retirement. Others—including some who profess to follow Christ—openly cheered the news of the CEO's departure. These people seemed almost gleeful. As I watched the varied displays and listened to the comments, particularly of those Christ-followers, something gnawed at me.

I thought, "There must be a better response for Christians to model to our co-workers than this."
In Paul's letter to the Christians at Philippi, he wrote, "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." (Phil. 4.8 , The Message)

We will often find ourselves working under the leadership of people whose integrity we question and whose decisions we disapprove of. Regardless of what we may feel personally, we are called to focus on what is noble, what is best, what is beautiful and praiseworthy. Paul's challenge still applies to each of us when we walk through the doors of our workplace.

Elsewhere in the New Testament, Peter calls his readers to show proper respect to everyone. He tells the early Christians to "honor the king." Peter was referring to one of the Roman emperors, and none of them were particularly strong candidates for "man of the year." Still, Peter beckons his audience to honor this leader.

We too can honor our leaders. We too can refuse to scorn them—even when we may question their integrity. Instead, we maintain our focus on "things to praise, not things to curse." We exhibit the grace and compassion that has been showered on us. When we do, we become powerful ambassadors of faith in our workplace.

Let's get practical about how to do this. Think about the way we speak of the leadership in our places of work. How do we react and respond to those who have been placed at the helms of commerce? Our actions and words will resonate more deeply and effectively than any stand we might pretend to take. Of course, this challenge extends far beyond the workplace, for leaders are in place at all levels of society.

But we can change the way we act at work right now. Those are the leaders we meet everyday.

What would the work week look like if we all committed ourselves to the best, not the worst? Think about it. This week, don't utter a single negative comment about the leadership where you work. Can you do it? Choose to focus only on what your leaders are doing right . . . even if it is only one thing.

Wouldn't that make the office a great place to be?

What Is The Log In My Eye? (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:00:00 GMT

In this season of political haggling, it becomes apparent that we have a tendency to gravitate toward what’s wrong with the other guy or gal. We rail against what others do. If only they lived like us, everything would be fine. We all have flaws, but we try to keep those hidden.

And that’s a good thing most of the time.

Problems occur when we try to judge others—and we all judge others. We judge who to let our kids play with. We judge who we choose to associate with. We judge people. What matters is how we judge people. Jesus warns us about this in Matthew and Luke.

Here’s how Eugene Peterson states it in The Message:

"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor."

This is a place where introspective prayer can help. In prayer, we become intentional about Christ revealing the log in our eye. We have to face it, confess it, and not be above it. Confronting our own faults in prayer makes it easier to extend grace when we deal with others.

It’s the heart of every relationship. It’s how we love one another.

My Life at Labor Temp (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:00:00 GMT

NOTE: This post is part of a group writing project for HighCallingBlogs.com called Lessons from Odd Jobs. Visit our main page to read more Lessons from Odd Jobs.

When I graduated from high school, there weren’t too many jobs to choose from. Unemployment was high, and the “Rust Belt” was beginning to show its colors. So, along with a couple of friends, I went downtown to a day labor service called Labor Temps. It opened my naïve young eyes. I worked at a job site tearing down a building. That was actually fun but sort of shady. Each regular employee received a check on Fridays. Then they walked ten feet from where they received their check and cashed it. No one ever left the building with a check. That was interesting.

Another time I worked for a moving company. We went out and moved welfare recipients. Narrow staircases, old buildings, and no air conditioning made for difficult working conditions. I noticed that their stuff was nice. Actually, some of it was nicer than the stuff we had at my house. That was interesting too.

When temp jobs didn’t come in, we sat and waited. One group waited down the street at a place where they could quench their thirst. I had not known that bars opened so early in the morning. And I sure didn't understand why anyone would frequent one. These weren’t young men looking to find any work they could. No, these were men approaching middle-age. That really got my attention. I wondered what they were doing with their lives. I tried not to pity them. I tried not to judge them. After all, times were hard. I wondered though.

Fortunately I didn’t have to dwell on things for too long at Labor Temp. After a few weeks, I got a job at a plating factory. Electro-plating nickel, copper, and chrome were its primary functions. The stench from that factory stays with me today. When I smell exhaust from a car, a whiff of chromium takes me back. I worked in plating factories for about three years. I don’t want to think about the long-term damage to my lungs or other internal organs. I was just happy to have a permanent job.

That was the best part about work in plating factories. I no longer went to Labor Temp. The temp work I did, the things I saw, and even some of the people made me sad. The world looked bleak, and work looked even bleaker.

But there was hope. I learned that no matter how much I detested school, it was really my only way out. I needed these jobs to pay for my education. I was grateful for the opportunities to earn a wage. I met many good people along the way and some unique characters that I remember fondly.

In the middle of all this, hope was a fast moving train, blurry and difficult to recognize. On the other side now, I can see the blessings more clearly, but I still remember the despair.

Blessing and despair are both important. Despair shows us a world without God—it's hell. But blessing connects us with the kingdom of God.

That's the end of my post, but as fellow High Calling Blogger Dan King says, this post is not just a message about what I've learned, it is part of a Group Writing Project Meme from HighCallingBlogs.com. The guidelines for this meme are simple:

1. Write a post about some strange job you’ve had and what you learned from it.

2. Link to this and other “Lessons from Odd Jobs” posts around the highcallingblogs.com network, or quote them in your post with proper attribution.

3. Tag your post “lessons from odd jobs”—if you use technorati tags or another form of meta-tags.

4. Tag other bloggers by linking to them in your post and inviting them to participate in the meme. Tag as many people as you like! So I am tagging...

5. Link back to the Lessons from Odd Jobs page in your post and email this month’s host at “Marcus AT highcallingblogs DOT com.” Linking back and emailing Marcus isn’t a requirement, it just helps us keep track of what’s going on.

Our Core Values (Wisdom from Howard E. Butt)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 06:00:00 GMT

The following verses represent the core values of the H. E. Butt Foundation—which include all Laity Lodge ministries and this website.

We value excellence:

Eph. 3:16-21: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

We value service:

Gal. 5:13-14: You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

We value unity:

Eph. 4:2-7, 11-13: Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. . . . It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

And we represent our three core values in different ways across different circumstances. Organizationally, we strive for excellence, service, and unity. Psychologically, we strive to work with authority in some areas, submission in others, and unity within ourselves as we switch between these roles. Theologically, we believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

May we hold fast to this vision in all of our programs in the years to come.

What Are Those Tabs? (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 06:00:00 GMT

At the top of each page on The High Calling you see eight "tabs" from Attitude to Excellence. Why are they there? That's a good question. What we've discovered is that people use these categories, or tabs, to navigate the site. This is a first in a series of posts highlighting a specific category.

You can "Take a Tour " of the site and each of the categories is explained there. I want to explain more about why they're there.

The first category is Attitude. If we don't get our attitudes right work can be a miserable place. Life's tough enough without carrying around a bad attitude. Attitude is simply how we choose to see things and interpret the effects of our environment. Over the years of working on this project I've been shocked by the way the audio spots have helped me shape my attitude. They've made me more aware of what a healthy Christian response should be in difficult circumstances. It's a step toward psychological health, not a pop-psychology approach to life. Instead it's one step toward emotional healing, which helps us focus on Christ and not the negativity of the situation.

We believe that Biblical grounding and psychological integration are mutually beneficial. The Bible is full of healthy and profound psychological insights. Beginning with the perfect relationship between the Father and the Son and through all our relationships the Bible gives us insights. These insights, which we freely acknowledge, are psychological in nature.

These healthy insights influence our behavior. Our behavior lived out reveals our attitude.

Perseverance (Audio)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Besides his regular job, Duane did freelance consulting from home. When a freelance client needed a quick turnaround, Duane promised to get it done.

Just as he finished the project before his regular workday, his computer burped. Suddenly, disastrously, Duane lost everything. His commute was miserable. He pounded on his steering wheel and drove too fast. Arriving at work, he took deep breaths. He considered his options . . . then asked his boss for permission to use a few personal hours.

And Duane started the project over.

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. Duane got creative in how to persevere. He met a deadline for one job without compromising another . . . it's the high calling of our daily work.

The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
(Prov. 10:9)

Giving Thanks for Faithful Leaders (Wisdom from Howard E. Butt)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

As I review the history of Laity Lodge, I am awed by what God has done over the years. From those humble beginnings in the 1960s, not really knowing how to manage a retreat center, until present day, God has so faithfully guided our steps.

We developed a strong vision, and that vision helped propel us into the future. We needed talented people to help us to fulfill that vision, and throughout these many years, God sent some truly amazing folks our way.

These faithful leaders came to Laity Lodge and left their footprints. If you look closely, you can see those footprints even now—at Laity Lodge, at Laity Lodge Youth Camp, at our new Laity Lodge Family Camp, at the Foundation Free Camps, even this website and The High Calling radio messages.

Faithful leaders have a way of touching our lives through their vision and service and perseverance. They have forever changed the way we think and moved us forward to new spiritual and theological heights. I am so very thankful for each and every one of them.

How to Build a Legacy (Audio)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Gene Bauer planted a garden of daffodils on a mountainside. Each spring that mountainside is awash in yellow. Visitors come to marvel at the beauty. And they come with questions. So Mrs. Bauer posted a fact sheet about her monumental daffodil extravaganza.

The fact sheet says:

More than 1 million bulbs have been planted.
The planting has been done over 46 years.
Some bulbs that were planted in 1958 are still blooming.
Gene Bauer selected and planted every bulb you see.

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. Mrs. Bauer's daffodils are a picture of how to build a legacy. Do a thing well. Stay faithful, plant carefully, persevere . . . and transform your surroundings in the high calling of our daily work.

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
his work will be shown for what it is . . . If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
(1 Cor. 3:12-14)

A Biblical Pattern for Conflict Resolution (Bible Reflection)

George Cladis — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables [literally: "be deacons"]. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word." What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

Acts 6:1-6, NRSV

In Acts, chapter 6, we have the election and ordination of the first Board of Deacons. The new committee was formed because of a dispute—sound like your church? There were two kinds of poor widows in the early Christian church: Palestinian (Aramaic speaking) widows and Hellenistic (Greek speaking) widows.

Palestinian widows were allowed to receive food "distribution" from the Jerusalem Temple unless they believed in Jesus as the Messiah; if they became Christians, they were banned from the Temple's Soup Kitchen line! Greek speaking widows of Judaism were already distrusted, regardless of their convictions about Jesus, and forbidden from receiving the Temple's distribution for the poor.

The early Church decided to take up a collection to help the new widow believers in Christ but they continued the Temple prejudice of giving only to the Palestinian widows! The Hellenistic widows were left with nothing from both the Temple and the early Church Food4Widows ministry. These widows complained to the Twelve (apostles) who seemed a bit annoyed but sympathetic to the concern: we need deacons [literally: table waiters or "hashers"]! And it is interesting to note that the deacons elected by the early church all have Greek names—one hopes the Palestinian widows would now get their fair share!

A helpful pattern emerges from this Scripture useful for work and every arena of life:

Listen Carefully: The disciples listened carefully to the concern, and they showed great customer service!
Assess Honestly: They recognized the inequity. Honest assessment is essential.
Discard Prejudices: They were willing to change old attitudes and prejudices in light of their new belief in Jesus.
Think Creatively: They created a new solution involving the whole group, a team elected from the people. Thereby, they resolved the problem.

God is at work changing your heart and now calls forth a new attitude and way of life to match the inner transformation. Are you ready for it?

Letting Go When It Hurts (Personal Reflection)

Tom Petersen — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

I have a long memory when it comes to work grievances. I can replay the slightest slight in vivid Technicolor, no matter how long ago it occurred.

I still remember the day when, new to the workforce, I had a war of words with my boss. He was upset because I had not performed to his expectations. I was upset because he clearly didn't know what he was talking about. I tried to explain my point of view in simple language that he could understand. But it was fruitless. He finally got so frustrated that he stuck out his tongue at me, and I decided it was time to work at some other lemonade stand that summer. My loser-head brother could find someone else to walk around the neighborhood with that stupid sign!

Holding on to the Hurts

I like to think I could forgive and forget, move on, and let bygones be bygones. (I'd probably have better luck if I knew what a "bygone" was.) But I hold on to my hurts way too long. My childhood setbacks are surprisingly fresh. I can still remember when my friend Pete broke my GI Joe by throwing it into the baseball pitch-back (because his precious kung-fu grip action figure was much too valuable to handle that way). I remember when the dodgeball team captain passed me over and instead chose Freddy Stender, who had a shoulder cast and a bad case of poison ivy at the time. I remember when Susan Koehler pushed me down on the playground in third grade just because I said she didn't smell like a girl. ("I meant it as a compliment," I told her years later when I saw her at a wedding. She looked at me with furrowed brow and said, "Who are you, again?")

Hurt in the Line of Battle

My recollected work hurts are just as fresh. I vividly recall every time I didn't get promoted when I thought I should, when the boss didn't compliment me, or when the cafeteria lady overcharged me for my apple fritter. I have a comprehensive mental tally of projects that should have been mine, honors that should have come my way, and corner office desks that I should be resting my feet upon. (And the very fact that I see myself lounging at the desk, rather than working at it, probably says something about why I'm not there right now.)

Working Wounded

When I talk with my colleagues, I notice that these remembrances of past wrongs are quite universal. We can easily recount the hurts we've suffered throughout our careers. We remember these pain points almost with pride. We point to them to justify why we perform below our potential or why we aren't as committed as we should be. After all, that bad thing happened to us in 1998!

I was beginning to think this pity party was permissible. Then I re-read the third chapter of Paul's letter to the Philippians. After recounting everything that he has lost in pursuit of Christ—and characterizing it as so much garbage in comparison to the joy of Christ—Paul focuses forward.

"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of [the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings] yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14, NASB).

Paul characterizes this forward focus as a sign of maturity, and he calls us to live up to what we have already attained.

He encouraged the same forward focus when he wrote to the church at Rome. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18, NASB).

Those passages give me pause. Perhaps there is a cost to holding on too long to the hurts of my past. Perhaps the benefit of letting go outweighs the excuses that I use to justify my problems. Perhaps I need to focus on the future, and let the past lie in the past.

My friend Susan Koehler seems to have moved on just fine, thank you.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

What hurts or scars do you need to leave behind in order to press on toward the prize?

We'd love to hear from you. Comment below, email us at TheHighCalling.org, or contact Tom directly though his blog at HisWork.Blogspot.com.

A High Calling Conversation (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

It struck me just the other day when my DSL connection went south and decided to stay on a long hiatus. I had a great opportunity to practice the high calling of our daily work. First, I dialed my local phone company for service on my broadband and was connected to Shane. Shane’s accent was distinctly south Asian. I tried to explain my situation to him so that we might skip some steps and go directly to the problem.

When I finished talking, though, Shane went ahead with his script. It was as if he never heard my explanation. I listened and told him once again that I had already completed those steps, and they did not resolve the problem. After several turns at this same dance, Shane informed me that my modem was bad and they’d send out a new one. I wasn’t happy about the prospect of two more days without an internet connection..

Shane helped me as far as he could then he gave me a new phone number to call after I received my new modem. I thought this new number was a more direct way to recover my migrated DSL, but it was the exact same menu as the previous call. I went through all the steps necessary and finally found myself speaking with someone named Sid. Sid too had a distinctly south Asian accent.

Once again I tried to explain my situation. When I finished, Sid continued reciting his script, and this time I listened. Finally, Sid determined that I needed to have my signal checked locally. In the next eighteen hours I would receive a phone call about the determination of my situation. Sixteen hours later, call received, problem solved.

Well, here’s where I saw the high calling of our daily work in action. I find myself on the phone speaking to two different gentlemen from India. They had a job to do and a very specific way to approach my problem. I tried to hurry the situation along by way of explanation, but I didn’t help. Instead, I showed a great deal of frustration and impatience.

My image of what takes place in India changed after reflecting on the way I treated Shane and Sid. Now, I imagine a bunch of tech people sitting around in frustration talking about crazy Americans. “They’re impatient. They jump into every conversation without listening and going through proper steps to resolve the problem. They are rude and yell about everything. I can only do what I’ve been instructed to do. These Americans are a very unhappy people who are very mean-spirited.”

I long to carry the love of Christ into every situation. It’s frustrating how often I fail.

Take Off Your Training Wheels (Bible Reflection)

John Hill — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMT

"Dad, I want to take the training wheels off my bike," my daughter said with a bit of hopeful fear.

I wasn't sure what to think. Was she ready? I didn't want her to get hurt, but I also knew she needed to break free and ride on her own at some point. "Are you sure you want to take them off, honey?" I asked.

"Yes Dad! I'm sure. Can we go get my bike now?"

So the wheels came off. There I was holding my daughter up on her bike as we stared down the long street in front of us. I think I was more scared then she was. She started to pedal, and I held her tight so she wouldn't fall. We made it a few houses down before we had to stop because Dad was out of breath. We went back and forth down the street that day. It was the best work out I have had in quite some time. She would, at times, begin to balance by herself. She wanted so bad to ride on her own, but it was not to be the day.

We went through this routine of Dad running beside the bike for a number of afternoons. My daughter was determined to ride her bike without training wheels. She kept telling herself, "I can do it. I know I can! I know I can!"

Then it happened! One afternoon, she climbed on her bike and faced that all too familiar street with her dad holding her up. She started pedaling, and she was off. I let go, and she kept on riding all by herself. She even came to a stop by herself without falling and was able to turn, stop, and start that afternoon. My daughter had persevered.

The author of Hebrews challenges us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Heb. 12:1). Yet how do we persevere through the journey we are on? So often, we look at the road ahead with the same hopeful fear that my daughter felt. We sit and stare down the road we are called to take by our God. Will we fall and get hurt? Will someone help us stay balanced, even for only awhile? Will we persevere?

As an introduction to perseverance, the author of Hebrews reminds us that "we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses" (Heb. 12:1). We do not have to run this race alone. A great crowd of faithful people have gone before us. They hold us up, just as I held my daughter, while we persevered on our road.

Hebrews reminds us that we are called to look "to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:2). Jesus did not endure his journey alone. He had the apostles, of course. But more importantly, he was balanced—with the Father on one side and the Holy Spirit on the other. He persevered through the cross and sits by the throne of God.

Is it time for you to take off your training wheels? God has promised he will run with you on the road. So run with perseverance the race marked out for you! The cloud of faithful witnesses will be there holding you up. When it is time, they will let you go to follow the path of Jesus, through the cross to your heavenly home.

You Want Attitude? I'll Show You Attitude! (Personal Reflection)

Erin McGraw — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

It doesn't take much. All I need is to hear somebody remind me to have a good attitude, and my bad attitude starts to simmer. Like he would know. Or, Don't you start on me. Or, She can't tell me how to think. And the winner of the bad-attitude sweepstakes: You want attitude? I'll show you attitude.

I'm not proud of these eruptions from my immature, teenage self, but they come whether I want them or not. I hear "good attitude" and I think of a kind of good-attitude cartoon, a clamp-jawed, rictus-grinning, self-appointed saint who always has a good attitude, no matter what. Too tired to work? Just make yourself do it. Disappointed by a failed job or romance? Pick yourself up, dust yourself off. Grieving a loved one? Time to get back to life.

Naturally, nobody wanted me to become this nasty caricature of virtuousness. Mostly, the person (often my mother) just wanted me to get the dishes washed. But there was something about the frequent advice to get a good attitude—the frequency of the instruction tells you how much I needed to hear it—that set my teeth on edge.

Somewhere I had picked up the idea that "a good attitude" was a false attitude, nonstop good cheer. I'll bet I'm not the only one who prefers not to be around this kind of enforced perkiness. Not only does predetermined merriment steamroll our true, complicated feelings, it affects everybody around us. If I'm refusing to acknowledge my own sorrow or disappointment, I'm not likely to have much margin for anybody else's.

I'm not sure about very much, but I'm pretty sure that Jesus never meant to call us to false good cheer. He had a word for this pretense: pharisaical. To put up a show of good spirits, to ignore the truth of our emotional situations, is a way of pretending to holiness, particularly if it allows others to admire our pluck. His call valued truth, and surely truth includes truth about ourselves.

If I admit to myself my disappointments—maybe I didn't get a promotion I'd hoped for, or maybe someone in my family has let me down—something genuinely good does happen to my attitude. My stiffness softens, and I can do necessary tasks better than ever. Working out of my whole self instead of dithering from a trumped-up idea of who I'm supposed to be, I can be humble in Jesus' own sense: truly and wholly closer to God.

As with most things that come from God, there's a bonus. When I'm working with a real good attitude, and not that awful, fake one, I'm open to other people. If the folks around me need attention or encouragement, I'm a lot more likely to see that. If people are calling out, I'm much more apt to hear them, and to want to answer. We're vessels, made to be broken. Our brokenness reminds us of who we are. Fortunately—this is my real good attitude speaking—God promises us we will be broken as often as necessary. I'll try not to pretend otherwise.

Can Attitude Be More Important than Fact? (Personal Reflection)

John Hoyt — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

On the wall above our copier at work is an encouraging statement by Charles Swindoll. I am not quite sure why it ended up over the copier but there it is, staring us in the face while we wait for our copies to print out.

Attitude

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think, or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company . . . a church . . . a home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

What struck me was the surprising idea that attitude might be more important than fact. Of course, Chuck Swindoll is writing from a Christian point of view, so his belief system revolves around the historic and experiential fact of the existence of a loving God who is behind and upholds all things. What if I doubt this premise? Could I still develop an attitude that transcends the difficulties and problems that I face? This is where we have to differentiate between idealistic and realistic attitudes.

We have all met the super-positive idealistic person who sees the silver lining to each problem and is blind to some of the hard facts which lurk just out of sight. Sooner or later the truth will come out.

On the other hand, a realistic attitude will tend to weigh the pros and cons of the situation. But what is realism? What are the facts? We need to look beyond the "immediate facts" that surround a situation to consider the "ultimate facts" which give meaning to the specific situation and then to all of life.

Dr. Francis Schaeffer, founder of L’Abri Fellowship, used to ask seekers "What is your final screen?" In other words, what is your final authority, your ultimate reference point? Christian answers to these questions make particular sense.

If our attitude is not founded on a reality that transcends the immediate situation, we are left with wishful thinking and a groundless faith. Quite simply, the Christian has every reason to have a realistic but also a vibrant, transcendent attitude that can meet situations with courage, compassion, and hope.

When we look at this bigger picture, we can base our attitude on the ultimate reality. We have a God who loves us, who has revealed himself in history, in and through the person of Jesus Christ. This resurrected Jesus is alive. Through the Holy Spirit, we can know him and the power of his resurrection so that "experience" can augment "ultimate fact."

Jesus expresses it graphically: "Whoever drinks the water that I give will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up into eternal life" (John 4:14). If this is true, it will profoundly affect our attitude.

When we know the risen Lord, we realize who is ultimately in control. He sets us free from worry about things that we can't control. And he leads us to an attitude of peace, so we can rest in him.

Enjoy Every Sandwich (Audio)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Singer-songwriter Warren Zevon had always avoided doctors. It ended sadly. In 2002, he was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He refused treatment. Instead, he began recording his final CD with friends like Emmylou Harris, Don Henley, and Bruce Springsteen. Late that year, Zevon was the only guest on David Letterman's show. Letterman asked him, "From your perspective now, do you know something about life and death that maybe I don't know?"

Zevon replied, "I know how much you're supposed to enjoy every sandwich."

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. Why wait for impending death to savor every bite of life? Warren Zevon's story illustrates that we should start now: Enjoy every sandwich . . . in the high calling of our daily work.

The fear of the LORD leads to life:
Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

(Prov. 19:23)

Grace in Place (Bible Reflection)

Kristin Huffman — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

In his book, Blue Highways, William Least Heat-Moon says, "The difficulty in any journey is not in its beginning, but in its continuing." As followers of Christ, we are on a journey—one that we all know can be difficult, challenging, and painful. Life is just plain hard sometimes, and even Christians struggle to make it through another day. We desperately need infusions of God's love and grace and power and hope and strength to take the next step on the road.

I celebrated the first day of fall at Lake Dillon, Colorado, a sparkling lake nestled in a valley with huge mountains all around. Overnight, rain had moved into the area, bringing intermittent showers and overcast skies. When I woke up, I saw that some of the clouds were sitting on top of the mountain peaks, little mounds of whipped cream on a hot fudge sundae. They just hovered there and then softly floated along their way, often leaving a dusting of white snow in their wake.

Christians need the cloud of the Holy Spirit to come and park over us, feeding us with nourishment and refreshment from above, giving us a dusting of new life.

God wants to rain down on our lives. He wants to hover over us, and he invites us to come to him, to open our hearts and let him fill us with his grace. Paul tells the Ephesians to "take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you" (Eph. 4:24, MSG).

When we make space for God, he comes inside and renews us from the inside out. There are timeless ways of making space for God, such as praying, worshipping, meditating, listening, studying, sharing fellowship, serving others, being out in nature. Experiment and see which way leads you into a deeper relationship with Jesus. He is always available, ready to shower us, but waiting for us to invite him in. Unlike the mountains that just sit there and catch a cloud whenever, we can receive the power and grace of God just by opening our hearts and minds and souls.

I once met a man who was a gentle and loving pastor and teacher who seemed to walk closely with Jesus. He typically wore navy blue or black slacks, and they always had round spots of white fuzz on the knees. What was with that fuzz? Why were his pants always like that? When I visited his home once, I saw that he had thick fluffy white carpet in his living room. The white fuzz on his knees was from kneeling on the carpet, praying. It was a sign of the practice of making space for God through prayer. His life of gentleness and love was another sign of the dusting of the Holy Spirit, the refreshment and hope that only he can bring.

May the Holy Spirit rest on you today as you open yourself to him.

Do You Have an Attitude of Gratitude? (Personal Reflection)

Olga Samples Davis — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

When my wonderful nephew successfully completed his first year at Emory University, he came to visit me. My mother, my sister, and I are part of his family that he ordinarily doesn't see. To my delight, this fine young man chose to visit us in San Antonio when he had so many other ways to spend his limited vacation time.

I thought a lot about his visit before he came. I knew we would work, play, sing, laugh, cook, read, write, and explore together. And it became the desire of my heart that he would learn new and old stories and teachings that can sustain him in valley-lows and mountaintop-joys. During our days together, my heart yearns to help him develop a deeper faith in God and a heightened understanding of his preciousness in the sight of God. Mother Teresa captures these personal feelings in words: "We can do no great thing, only small things with great love."

I wanted my attitude of great love to speak volumes by the end of his visit. I knew all the small things would determine success, so I made a simple plan. My goal was to pass on three lessons about "attitudes of gratitude" given to me throughout the years: gratitude for family, gratitude for community, and gratitude for everyday miracles.

Gratitude for Family
All the little things in my family life made great impacts, starting with simple prayer, courtesy, and respect. We were expected to complete all tasks in excellent fashion or we would do them again and again until we got it right. Little things grew into big things later—big things like a commendable work ethic and recognition for home training. We lived by the mantra, "No fun until the race was won." But when that race came to a close, a hug, kiss, or special touch awaited each who crossed the finish line.

Gratitude for Community
Alice Walker reminds us that "Anybody can observe the Sabbath, but making it holy surely takes the rest of the week." Very early we learned that community service began at home and expanded itself to the neighborhood every day—in every way. One always spoke to others with respect. A hand out and a hand up were given willingly—as were shared gardens and encouragement. A smile was as essential as patience, timeliness, and relentless faith.

Gratitude for Everyday Miracles
It can be difficult to see miracles at first . . . but they are everywhere. Waking up and being whole . . . nature all around greeting us in silence and sound. Companionship and communication in myriad ways. Even the deep gift of sorrow eventually finds a grateful soul. Our lists of thankfulness should be ongoing and continuous.

I had a good feeling about this time I was about to share with my nephew. Armed with great love and a commitment to find little powerful ways to show appreciation for family, community, and everyday blessings, I knew our journey could be beautifully memorable. Once again Mother Teresa reminded me of the challenge ahead: "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier." Indeed, when my nephew left, he was better and happier and more grateful for all shared. As was I.

Don't Let Worry Fill Your Work (Audio)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Imagine a dense fog blanketing seven city blocks to a depth of one hundred feet. All that fog condensed, scientists say, fills one single water tumbler. And there's a picture of worry: in the heat of fear and anxiety, a half glass of worry expands to cloud everything in our vision.

Someone has estimated that 40 percent of our worries never occur . . . 30 percent are already past . . . 12 percent are needless health concerns . . . 10 percent are petty. Only 8 percent of our worries deserve our attention.

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. Don't wander in the fog of the 92-percent-needless worry . . . and miss the 8 percent worth your trouble. It's the high calling of our daily work.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(Matt. 6:33-34)

Holy High-Low (Bible Reflection)

Tod Bolsinger — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

In poker there is a game called “High-Low” that gives two different people a chance to win the pot. Both the person with the highest hand and the person with the lowest hand split the winnings. On rare occasions, a person can have both the highest hand and the lowest hand (usually in the form of a 5-high straight, in case you were wondering), and that person rakes in all the chips.

For a while now, my family has been playing a kind of communication game that we call “high-low” at dinnertime. Every person has to check in and tell his or her “high” of the day and “low” of the day while we eat together. Those “high-lows” become the center of our sharing what happened in our days. Very often the “high” is “right now, eating and being together. And very often, the low is something different for each of us—and frankly, most of the time, we would rather not even talk about it.

It is tempting to think that the life of Christian faith is supposed to be nothing but “highs.” And if a “low” hand does appear, well, the only way to make it a “winner” is to pretend that it doesn’t affect us. We can be tempted to think the Bible even teaches this. In his earliest letter that we have, St. Paul writes to a fledgling group of Christians in Thessalonica, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thes. 5:16-18, NLT).

See, there it is. Be joyful. Pray. Be thankful. See. Nothing but good things. All “high” hands here. Or are they? Did you notice?

“Always be joyful"—not just when things are joyous.
"Never stop praying"—even in the midst of doubt and despair.
"Be thankful in all circumstances"—including thankless ones!

In other words, you have to pay attention to the “lows” as well as the “highs” in order to fulfill God’s will for you.

Technically, this spiritual poker game is called the spiritual discipline of examen, an end-of-the day reflection developed by St. Ignatius. And it is the very center of my prayer life. At the end of the day as I lie in bed, I pray, “Lord, help me look back on this day and see it clearly.”

Then I ask myself, What were the “consolations” of this day? When was I energized, alive, authentic, real, faithful, and responsive to the Spirit? When was I joyful, spontaneous, and open to others around me? When did I represent Christ well?

What were the “desolations” of this day? When was I drained and when did the day feel like drudgery? When did I feel angry, resentful, insecure, and defensive? When was I closed off to the Spirit and focused on my flesh? When did I “push” my agenda for the day? When did I cling to my “false self”?

And that awareness alone helps me be more focused on where I want to put my passion, energy, time, and resources. I pray prayers of thanks and confession, committing myself into God’s hands for sleeping and the next day.

This simple prayerful attentiveness brings all of life into focus every night in all of its mixed-bag muddledness. Every night I look back and see the way both moments of grace and challenges of the flesh. I see the miracles of ordinary living—like my teenager taking out the trash without being asked or the taste of a perfect summer tomato. These miracles are mixed in with moments of heartache and despair. And I realize how very often in life, all I can control is my awareness and my attitude, to pay attention to what is and respond according to the person that God truly made me to be.

Integrity Gets the Word Out (Bible Reflection)

Al Hsu — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:00:00 GMT

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . Our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers . . . The Lord's message rang out from you . . . your faith in God has become known everywhere . . . you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

(1 Thes. 1:2-10)

We can be thankful for many things—whether friends, family, experiences, or material blessings. But how often do we give thanks for someone's integrity?

This opening passage of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians is distinctive for its connection between thanksgiving and integrity. He thanks God continually for their work, labor, and endurance generated by faith, hope, and love. These character virtues, Paul says, manifest in their external behavior, and he commends their praiseworthy example.

Of course, the Thessalonians learned this from Paul. When Paul was with them, he walked his talk. The gospel came not with words only, but with power, the Holy Spirit, and deep conviction. He showed integrity by living a life that matched his spoken message. Paul and his friends both verbalized and modeled the Christian life.

But that's not all. There's a reciprocal, synergistic relationship between Paul's own integrity and the Thessalonians' integrity. We know from the book of Acts that Paul, Silas, and Timothy spent some time dwelling with the Thessalonians, interacting with their community in the daily stuff of life. They were not merely itinerant preachers who blew through town and ministered from an impersonal distance. They shared life together, which allowed the Thessalonians to see the reality of the Christian life lived out with holiness and integrity. The result was that the Thessalonians imitated Paul and modeled themselves after his example of following Christ. As Paul strove to live like Jesus, so too did the Thessalonians.

And then the ripple effect moved outward. The Thessalonians "became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia" (vs. 7). Thessalonica was the capital of Macedonia and its largest city. Achaia was the province immediately to the south, best known for its influential cities of Corinth and Athens. The Thessalonians' influence rang out beyond their own city into neighboring regions, throughout the whole of Greece. And perhaps beyond—it is unclear exactly what Paul is referring to when he says that their faith in God "has become known everywhere." Perhaps east to Ephesus or west to Rome. Word of mouth buzz about the Thessalonians' faith was widespread. (Indeed, Christians around the world know of them yet today!)

Paul's own mission team didn't need to publicize what was going on in Thessalonica, for others were already reporting it. Word of their reputation and integrity had spread.

Isn't this the case when something is so impressive, so amazing that you can't stop talking about it? Maybe it's a coffee shop that has great mocha or an online retailer with terrific customer service. A colleague tells you that you have to check out this blog, this movie, this book. A church that is so dynamic and exciting that people visit just to see what's going on. Satisfied customers are so impressed that they become loyal evangelists for the brand. We all know that some companies and organizations have buzz and excitement about them, while others don't.

Paul might say that it all goes back to integrity. Christians who imitate Christ and live with integrity have extraordinary impact on others. Word gets out—these people are different. Their work is stellar, their service is reliable, their example is inspirational. The more our lives model this kind of integrity, the greater our impact on the world around us. And for that, we and others can give thanks.

Christlikeness (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Content drives The High Calling of Our Daily Work website. Attitude is the single most popular content area. Why? It’s because our attitude shapes our work. The attitude we take colors everything we do. Take is the key because attitude is a choice. How we choose to respond—that’s attitude. Behavior, life experiences, role models, and motivations all shape our attitude. How we react to events reveals our attitude. In the end, though, attitude is about choice. It may be conditioned by outside influences, but it still comes down to a choice. We call it character. Our inner moral fiber determines our choices. These choices, taken together, reveal our character.

Our character influences the people and institutions we encounter every day. If Christians are to effect change in our society, it’s through the character of individual Christians. Christlikeness. Our role in society is—as the Thomas à Kempis entitled book says—The Imitation of Christ. Not in the mystic or passive sense but in the living, dynamic sense. Follow Christ. Read what Jesus taught. Struggle with the parables. Allow his teaching to change your life.

The character of one man changed the world one person at a time. That’s the only way we can make a difference. It’s the motivation behind The High Calling of Our Daily Work.

Does God Fix Copy Machines? (Personal Reflection)

Camy Tang — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 06:00:00 GMT

The book of Psalms has a whole slew of references to God enabling David (or the psalmist) to accomplish marvelous things like crushing armies, scaling walls, slaying dragons . . .

Okay, well, maybe not slaying dragons.

I know in my head that Christians can move mountains through God's power, which is totally beyond our comprehension. But to be honest, I don't particularly feel so full of faith that I can move mountains.

I can completely relate to the man who implored Jesus, "Help me in my unbelief!" (Mark 9:21-24). I don't want to doubt, but I can't seem to make myself stop trusting only in what I can see and feel.

Jesus said, "With God, nothing is impossible." That's all well and good, but what do I do? What do I do when the copier breaks down and I need 500 copies for a meeting in ten minutes? What do I do when I have to finish my report that's due in an hour? What do I do when I drop my assay plate, destroying six hours of work in one moment?

Let's back up a second. What words dominate those sentences?

I. Me. Myself.

Sure, work is stressful. God isn't exactly standing beside me in flowing white robes and zap! My copies are done, my report is done, my assay plate is un-dropped.

But when unexpected problems happen, the first thing that goes south is my attitude.

It becomes all about me, and my work, and my effort, and how it's all down the toilet. Wah, wah, wah.

With God, nothing is impossible. He won't always step in and zap! Suddenly the copier works, or the report due date is extended, or the assay plate is un-dropped (although trust me, I've prayed for miracles in the biology lab before).

However, I can stop focusing on myself—on what I can do, on what's being asked of me, on what I'll have to do in consequence. When I stop and rest and pray and make an effort to release my stress to God, then suddenly things don't seem as dire.

I can think more clearly, find other options (the copier on the second floor), focus my thoughts (if I type fast, I can get this done in time), even face consequences with a lighter heart (if I take these shortcuts, I can redo the assay plate in less time).

Maybe my better attitude is God's power working around me or flowing through me, although I don't feel like a superhero with super powers. But if I stop focusing on myself and focus on the awesome love and power of God, then it's easier to face the stress around me.

Although one of these days, I'd really like to see God fix a copy machine.

Keep Swimming (Audio)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Florence Chadwick was the first woman to swim the English Channel . . . in both directions. Now she would swim from Catalina Island to the California Coast.

The year was 1952. The day was dense with fog. The cold water was numbing. Florence could hardly see. She could hear rifles-shooting at sharks nearby. After more than 15 hours, it all became too much. Her trainer urged her on, but with no land in sight, her will was gone. Florence quit swimming.

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. That day, Florence Chadwick gave up one-half mile from her goal. When you're ready to quit, keep on swimming . . . the fog will lift and you'll see how close you are . . . in the high calling of our daily work.

Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win.
(1 Cor. 9:24)