TheHighCalling.org: Professional Relationships

Friendship Teams (Wisdom from Howard E. Butt)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Should a boss ever become personal friends with his employees? Some management specialists say no, believing it makes tough decisions too difficult. I understand their point, but I think differently. The most effective organizations I've been a part of have been led by friendship teams.

My experience of people enjoying each other's company while working together began with my family. My parents played their appropriate roles as disciplinarians and moral guides, but that did not keep them from nurturing a close family culture of friendship. I remember walking the streets of Corpus Christi on grocery company trips—as a four or five-year-old—Dad holding one hand, Mother the other, and being swung between the two up over every curb. What exhilaration! The three of us (and my brother Charles and sister Eleanor as they came along) used to travel Texas highways visiting the stores—I was regularly taken out of school for a day or two on selected occasions. My mother prepared notebooks full of poetry and special stories for us to recite and read to one another. I will always remember Dad's booming voice declaiming, as from ancient Rome, Thomas Babington Macaulay's "Horatius":

Then out spake brave Horatius,
The Captain of the gate:
To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his gods . . .

When I finished my schooling and was ready to begin my working life, guess what I wanted to do? Go into the family business, of course. And I did, first managing a new store in San Antonio and then transferring to where the headquarters had moved, from the Valley to Corpus.

The 1940's-50's Baylor—and then southwide—Youth Revivals, which launched me into our subsequent and current ministries, were a team affair. I was the only layman—18 years old!—in a remarkable group of preacher-boys. We toured the cities of Texas and the South together, splitting up the speaking and leadership responsibilities—just a gang of fellows boosting each other, sharing our witness to the Good News.

The lay theological movement I've been a part of since then grew through the friendship team that led the Layman's Leadership Institutes. From 1956 - 1975 these sessions took place in a wide variety of locations, gathering key businessmen and professional people from across the nation. Duke McCall and Billy Graham with some of his team helped us get started. The key people were laymen themselves. Bill Mead, head of Campbell Taggart Bakeries, was pivotal in the effort, along with Fred Smith, Sr., vice-president of Gruen Watch Company. There were many others, like the apparel industry executive Maxie Jarman (famous for his shoes), the oil company magnate J. Howard Pew, and the pacesetting surgeon J.V.D. (Jack) Hough. As I played a key role in the sponsorship and leadership of these sessions, I grew close to many of these men. Every new Institute brought with it a celebration of friendship.

Reprinted from an article in the Summer 2002 Connections.

Learn to Love Annoying Coworkers (Part 2) (Personal Reflection)

Marlo Schalesky — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:00:00 GMT

<< Read Part One of this article.

2) GET BEYOND FAULTS

As I schooled myself to see Pam as "compassion," my next task was to learn to see beyond her faults and affirm her potential. Again, I thought of Peter.

I can almost see the scene as they reclined around the table, still scattered with bits of the Passover meal. Twelve disciples, grasping for their fair share, arguing about who was the greatest. And there was Peter, fiercely asserting that he was greater than all the others.

But Jesus knew better. Everything that was wrong with Peter would soon come to the forefront when he would deny Jesus three times. And yet, Jesus still saw the future "rock" in Peter. In Luke 22:32, He says, "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

Jesus didn't say, "Simon, you are such a wishy-washy, impulsive, emotional disciple that you won't even have the backbone to stand by me when I need you the most," (even though that may have been true!) Instead, Jesus prayed that Peter's faith, despite his failure, would become strong. Then, Jesus looked beyond Peter's faults and affirmed his potential—"Peter, despite your failure, you'll turn back. Then, be a rock to your brothers."

Could I look beyond Pam's faults and affirm her potential too? For me, it was so natural to dwell on what was wrong with Pam, to constantly ask, "What's the matter with her?" or "Why does she have to act like that?" until I could see nothing else. Even one such thought would poison my interaction with her, dispelling God's love just as surely as if I decided to hate her after all.

I needed to control my thoughts about Pam. As Paul says, "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5). To control my thoughts, especially when she was the most irritating, I began to pray for her to become "compassion," just as Jesus prayed for Peter.

For example, when she started to whine about another employee, I tried to squelch my exasperation and instead pray that God would give her understanding. Then, when she was kind to another employee, I tried to make sure that I commented on it. When she was helpful, I took the time to express my appreciation.

Choosing affirmation rather than criticism began to inspire small changes in Pam. Soon, she was complaining less and spending more time trying to be helpful. One day, she stopped me in the hall and asked, "What do you see in me, anyway?"

It was the opportunity I had been waiting for. "I see a person God loves," I said, "And I see the neat qualities he's placed in you. I wonder, will you let him make you into the person that both he and I see you could be?"

3) FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

In Luke 22:31-38 after Jesus' resurrection, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. When Peter says yes, Jesus says "Feed my sheep." In this scene, Jesus forgives Peter's past failure and commissions him to become the man that He has seen all along.

Like Jesus, I needed to focus on Pam's future and help her to become God's vision of her. I stopped saying, "Why don't you do this or that?" I began saying things like, "Mary's having a hard day, let's sit with her at lunch and try to make her feel better." When she complained about the temperature, I would say, "Let's see if other people are uncomfortable too." I was asking her, in a subtle way, to be compassionate to others.

These days, Pam sometimes still screams at honeybees, and she still likes the thermostat turned too high. But she's learning to see herself through God's eyes. Perhaps someday she'll be like Peter, with a solid, rock-like faith, and the compassion of Christ himself. And in the meantime, I am learning, little by little, to love her like Jesus loves her.

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Read more from Marlo Schalesky on her website and blog: http://www.marloschalesky.com

Learn to Love Annoying Coworkers (Personal Reflection)

Marlo Schalesky — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Let's face it. People are difficult to love. They whine, complain, they rarely listen. And what about all those annoying little habits? No matter how much of a "people person" you may be, there are still those who really get under your skin. For me, Pam was just such a person.

She sat across from me on the trolley at the company outing. A harmless honeybee buzzed down the aisle, and she screamed. I barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes in disgust. Back at work, another person disagreed with her, and she pouted for the rest of the day. Later she complained loudly about the temperature in the office, even though the rest of us were comfortable. In short, everything about her rubbed me the wrong way.

Yet, no matter how much she annoyed me, God kept thrusting us together. And all the time his words nagged at the back of my mind, "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen" (1 John 4:20).

Yikes! Hard words. It wasn't that I hated Pam, but I certainly didn't love her either.

How did Jesus love the less than loveable? During his earthly ministry, he was surrounded with annoying people. Like Peter. Impulsive, emotional, always speaking at the wrong time, Peter would have been a challenge for anyone. Peter was not so different from Pam. Yet Jesus saw more in Peter than his actions warranted. Could I see Pam the way Jesus saw Peter?

STEP ONE: FIND A GOOD NAME

What's in a name? In the gospels, Simon Peter resembles more the shifting sand than a firm, immovable rock. Yet, early in their relationship, Jesus renames Simon, saying "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matt. 16:18).

Somehow, Jesus saw past Peter's present faults and shortcomings and found the seed of who Peter would become under the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Then, Jesus chose to address Peter as if he had already become the rock.

What would I call Pam if I saw what she could become under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit? In my mind, I had been calling her "annoyer" and "petty complainer," but what did God see? As I prayed for God to show me one good quality, I began to see that her bothersome habits were partially the result of a sensitive spirit. With God's grace, that sensitivity could be transformed into a Christ-like compassion.

So, every time I saw her, I began to silently call her "compassion" and think of her as such. With her new 'name' firmly in my mind, I started watching for the glimmer of compassion I knew was in her. Soon, I found myself seeking out her company, and even beginning a real friendship.

Come back next week for two more great tips on how to love annoying people!

Jesus Creates Harmony from Tension (Audio)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Oberlin College once gave an honorary doctorate to Theodore Steinway—president of the company that crafted the world’s most prestigious pianos.

The tribute said, "In one of their concert grands, 243 taut strings exert a pull of 40,000 pounds. Theodore Steinway offers proof that out of constant tension can come rich harmony."

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. A workplace also produces tension. Christians, however, know the piano builder. Christ promises, "Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." When we focus on serving him together, he makes rich harmony . . . in the high calling of our daily work.

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matt. 18:20)

You’re Fired! (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:00:00 GMT

“You’re fired!” It may be an entertaining premise for a TV show but in real life there’s not much humor in it. Recently, I read an announcement by Zondervan, a Christian book publisher, had fired Scott Bolinder after nineteen years. He was executive vice president and publisher.

Although I don’t know Mr. Bolinder, his firing got my attention. Maybe it’s because I’ve been working at my job for twenty-three years, or because Scott, like me, is probably in his mid-fifties. It might be because I work in the publishing field. Whatever the reason, this dismissal hit me in a way that I felt compelled to post about.

Many people can relate to the emotion of being fired. Here are some thoughts and questions.

When is it appropriate to fire someone? The question itself can raise emotions. Some might say it’s never appropriate. When pressed, it might be okay to fire someone for doing something illegal or immoral.

How about poor performance? Is that a reason for firing someone? It could be—if performance standards are clear and the employee knows up front that failure to meet performance standards will result in termination.

What about philosophical differences? If the boss and the employee differ in direction and strategy for achieving success, is that a cause for firing? This is where the principle of biblical submission comes into play.

It is difficult to submit to authority. Jesus modeled it. Paul and Peter preached submission to the followers of the Way. We don’t like the word "submission," but throughout God’s story submission is present. From the Garden to the Promised Land, from David to Jesus, and from Peter to Paul—submission and its consequences advance God’s work.

So we submit to one another in love. Sometimes there’s injustice. Sometimes there’s pain. Sometimes there’s even death—death on a Cross. But in the end there is always grace, and that’s where we place our hope. Christ’s grace is sufficient.

Where is Your Mission Field? (Personal Reflection)

Bill Peel — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Most prominent Bible characters were not professional religious leaders. They had jobs in what many call the "secular workplace." For example, Abraham and Jacob were ranchers. Joseph, Daniel, and Nehemiah were in government service. Even Jesus spent 90 percent of his life living and working in a small business.

A lot of people have the idea that they must be in "full-time Christian work" for their work to have significance to God and his purposes. My friend Steve bought into this idea while on a short-term mission trip down the Amazon. His wife had coaxed him into it, and his worst fear was realized three days into the journey. The team leader asked him to share his testimony at a gathering in a fishing village. With no other choice, Steve worked with an interpreter and overcame his anxiety about sharing his faith. When the villagers responded to his awkward presentation of the gospel and trusted Christ on the spot, Steve's life made a one-eighty. To think that God could actually use him to affect someone's eternal destiny was astounding to him. He was one excited guy!

When he returned home, Steve shared story after story with his wife and announced that he felt a strong pull to the mission field. He even filled out a seminary application, to her dismay. But before he uprooted his family and quit his work as an Internet entrepreneur, Steve discovered that following Jesus is more about a heart change than a career change. God could certainly call him to the mission field, but first God wanted him to be a missionary right where he was with the people at his workplace and within his network of relationships. Steve began to see opportunities all around him that he had never seen before. He realized that his primary mission field was right where he worked and lived.

Like Steve, many Christians are oblivious to their most significant mission field. Just before Jesus departed the earth, he outlined his strategic plan for world impact to his disciples: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Jesus made it clear that his plan included the entire planet. But note that the retaking of the planet began with the people in closest proximity to his followers—Jerusalem, where they already spoke the language, knew the customs, and were known by their fellow Jews. The impact of faith on their daily lives was clearly visible to the people with whom they lived and worked.

You don't have to become a pastor or a missionary to work full-time for Christ. God's work is going on right where you are. Where is your Jerusalem, and who are the people God has called you to influence? Ask God to show you opportunities that you've never seen before.

A Punter's Take (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:00:00 GMT

A friend of mine sent along this quote from Hunter Smith, the punter for the Indianapolis Colts. Smith is speaking about his coach, Tony Dungy.

"He's changed the culture at the Colts. It's not that we're some religious organization that prays all the time and has Bible studies all the time. It's just that the way people live their lives—not all together, but certainly to a large degree—does honor and love God."

This is taken from an interview at Beliefnet conducted by Dena Ross. The entire article demonstrates Hunter's understanding of the high calling of his daily work.

Pride in Your Work Is No Sin (Bible Reflection)

Todd Lake — Sun, 11 May 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Pride is the sin we least like to see in others, and the one that we least notice in ourselves. No one wants to hear others talking about their accomplishments ad nauseum, but we give ourselves free rein to share the fascinating things we've had a hand in doing. According to the theologians, pride is the worst of the seven deadly sins. But unlike lusty escapades or greedy embezzlement, pride is not condemned outright by the work culture in which we live. In fact, many of us view our resume as a compendium of what others should most marvel at among our many achievements.

Pride puts us at odds with Jesus, whose sinless character he himself summed up in these words: "I am gentle and humble of heart" (Matt. 11:29). Pride also puts us in competition with everyone at work, for pride is a zero sum game. If my coworkers are outperforming me, so much the worse for my feelings about myself and them. On the other hand, if I am doing superior work, I feel justified in grabbing the credit.

While there is no call for being prideful about ourselves, there is a desperate need for us Christians to take pride in our work. As C. S. Lewis pointed out, God not only wants us to do good works, he wants us to do good work. When our Lord made wine from water, it was so good that even the wedding director felt the need to comment. Unfortunately, in most churches we have confused sinful pride about ourselves with godly pride in the work we are called to do. Why do so many Christians suffer through church programs that are sincerely awful? Because so many churches fear that striving for excellence would lead us into pride. They avoid that temptation by settling for mediocrity.

The right balance is of course struck by our Lord. He made the best wine, but used it as a "sign" (which is what John's gospel calls it) that God's kingdom was coming in its fullness. Outstanding work is a signpost pointing to God because it manifests the goodness and overflowing excellence of God's kingdom. Joe Namath was not at his best as a theologian when he said, "It's not bragging if you can do it." The fact is, it's not bragging if you give God the credit—not just in public, but in your heart of hearts. Excellence and achievement don't give us bragging rights against other vintners . . . or teachers, artists, doctors, or whatever our particular area of good work might be. Instead, St. Paul's command guides us: "let the one who boasts boast in the Lord." We have reason to be proud of what we do in the high calling of our daily work, and reason to be humble, since it is God "who works in us both to will and to work" (Phil. 2:13).

Now That's a High Calling (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:00:00 GMT

At two in the morning in the slums of Manila, a young boy was out on the street. When asked why he was not at home asleep, he replied quite proudly, "My brother is asleep now. There is no room for everyone in the house. When he wakes up and goes to work, it is my turn to sleep."

I heard this story at Laity Lodge from Edwin Mercado, a Jesuit priest from Manila, Philippines. He spoke recently at the Leadership Foundations of America Retreat. These are some great people who are doing incredible work in our cities.

That young boy in Manila was doing incredible work, too. And he was proud of his role in helping the family. His brother had a job, and it provided money for the family. The young boy's job was to give up his space in the house so his older brother could get the rest he needed to provide for the family.

In his talk, "Redeeming Our Cities," Fr. Mercado told another story about a beautician who lived and worked in the slums. She saw herself as one who provided beauty to women.

"If I can make them look pretty," she said, "they feel better about themselves. They are happier and do good things."

As a seminary professor, Fr. Mercado trains priests to work among the poor in Manila. Before they go out to serve, he warns them, "Do not think you are taking God to the poor. He is already there. Listen. Their stories will speak to you about God. Then you can serve them."

These are stories of the high calling of our daily work.

Consider the Culture of Your Workplace (Wisdom from Howard E. Butt)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Every organization, every institution develops a culture peculiar to itself. This culture is actually distinct from any individual in that particular organization. It can be either good or bad.

A good organizational culture builds you up. A bad organizational culture tears you down.

That is the reason the culture of your organization is so crucially important. Be very jealous of anything that might damage the progress you have made so far in the culture of your workplace. Work continually to improve the cultural ambience of the experience of those who work with you and of those you serve.

The culture of an organization is crucial to the health of the people who are involved in it. How's your health? Is the culture of your workplace therapeutic or destructive? What are you doing to improve the culture of your workplace?

Act First, Think Later (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Cartoon Caption: "Unless we receive the outstanding balance within ten days, we will have no choice but to destroy your credit rating, ruin your reputation, and make you wish you were never born. If you have already sent the seven cents, please disregard the notice."

It's easy to get indignant about how businesses treat us. They threaten, they cajole, they recite. But one thing we crave is people who listen. There is nothing more maddening than to have somebody go on and on without listening. The outsourcing of technical services is a terrific example. When we need technical support, we don't get to talk to a technician. Instead we get a script reader. They don't listen to our explanation about the problem, they take a keyword and launch into a script. Don't ask them to change the script. Interrupting only leads to the script reader starting over with the recitation.

I've even experienced the script reader in person. About a year ago I was stuck in New York City. The airport shut down. My luggage went with my family on the last flight out. But my plane was still on the tarmac when everything froze—literally. So I was stranded. And my connection to the outside world, my phone, had a quickly discharging battery, no spare, and no charger. After finding the last hotel room in Queens, I went out to find a phone store.

When I stepped into the crowed store, I found a representative script reader who was more than willing to sell me a new battery and a new charger. When she realized they didn't have the charger for my phone, she walked away. I wasn't leaving the store.

After several minutes in the crowded store, I found another representative. I launched in to my tale of woe and to my amazement the rep listened. Not only did he listen, but he replaced the broken cover on my phone. Then he went behind the counter, spoke to a woman I assume was the manager and returned. He had charged my battery, gave me a second old battery with a full charge (from discarded stock). And he found a charger for my phone. At the register, he billed me only for the charger. Everything else they had done for free.

By listening, he not only solved my problem but also gave me some peace. He listened and went out of his way to help me at a difficult time.

Through listening, we become attuned to the other person. We best live out our faith when we listen to others and answer their needs. But remember the main goal! Listen. Sometimes we get so intent on meeting another person's need that we never listen well enough to discover exactly what that need is.

Randy Glasbergen's cartoon made me chuckle, but it also started me on a good ramble. What are your thoughts on Randy's cartoon?

God and Vocation (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Here's another video of J. I. Packer from Laity lodge, "God and Vocation."

Rome Hartman, Executive Producer and Emmy Award winner (Interview)

Paul Seebeck — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 06:00:00 GMT

In 2007, Rome Hartman was hired by the British Broadcasting Company to develop and serve as executive producer of a new one-hour nightly newscast aimed at U.S. audiences. A multiple Emmy Award winner, Hartman was previously executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric and a producer for 60 Minutes.

Rome, why did you agree to do this interview?

I have a policy of saying yes to just about anything Howard Butt and the folks at Laity Lodge ask me to do. I'd cut Howard's grass if I thought it would make him smile. Howard's Laity Lodge Leadership gatherings have been a real gift to me. They've helped me figure out what the higher calling of daily work means, and how to live it out.

So what have you learned about "glorifying God in your everyday life?"

I think God gave me the tools to be a journalist, and I hope in putting these skills to use, I'm honoring him. It's about trying to be good at what I do, whatever the professional setting, trying to treat people well, and trying to tell the truth. But we're all "works in progress," aren't we? I've met a few people in my life who do seem to naturally radiate God's grace. But for me, it's a never-ending journey—an aspiration that I fail at pretty regularly.

How difficult was it leaving CBS after not being able to move the Evening News out of 3rd place?

It's hard anytime results don't live up to expectations. And it's frustrating to see your efforts misunderstood. But it's a tough business. I knew that going in. It's also good to have a regular reminder: "Hey, you. Yes, you. Remember, you're not in control." I also felt a wonderful outpouring of affection and appreciation from friends and colleagues at the very moment that I was knocked off the high-wire. I really felt like during that time of professional loss, I was reaping what I had sown. There was one note that rang through some of the 500 emails I received that first day. People felt that I had cared about them, tried to help make them better, that I had served them in some way. That was cool for me to hear.

What have you learned about God in the midst of all that you have experienced in broadcast journalism?

I find God in the people he's created—in their smiles, their kindness, in their God-given gifts, in their passion to accomplish. My jobs have allowed me to meet thousands of fascinating, inspiring people. One of the first stories I did as a producer for 60 Minutes was a profile of Thoralf Sundt, who was a neurosurgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He was able to fix aneurisms in the brain that other doctors wouldn't touch. People came from around the world to see him after their doctors had said to them, "I'm sorry." Dr. Sundt would routinely fix them and save their lives. I remember thinking as I stood there in his operating room, this man has truly found what it is God had equipped him to do and is honoring God by doing it day in and day out.

Any other stories stand out in your memory that reflect the kind of person you are?

In 1996, I produced a story about a program called STRIVE. It's a three-week-long work-readiness training program, which attempts to prepare some of the hardest-to-employ people in the country—folks with welfare, prison, and/or drugs in their past—for the world of work. This was just as federal welfare reform was taking effect. We filmed for three weeks in a classroom in the basement of a housing project in Spanish Harlem. Every day, these folks with problems that would have kept me from even getting out of bed came down those steps ready to learn and to improve their lives and their kids' lives. I've never been more inspired and never seen God at work more directly.

You've been incredibly busy launching this new world news program for the BBC. How do you find the right balance for your spiritual life in the midst of everyday challenges that work and family bring?

I'm afraid that often I don't find the right balance. I've been meeting with a group of guys for almost 20 years. When we started out, we spent a lot of time talking and praying about this issue: work-life balance. All these years later, we're still talking about that. We'll never get it right, but we'll keep trying. It helps to have a wife who supports your professional aspirations, but can also give you regular reality checks when you let things get out of whack or lose perspective.

I worked in New York for two years while my family lived in Washington, DC. We handled it and stayed strong, but only since it's been over have we been able to reflect on how hard it was on all of us. Home is just where I'm needed, and my wife, Amy, is whom I'm meant to be with. That has become really clear to me. I'm home now. It's so nice to see Amy, to sleep in my bed. It's exciting to enter into that phase of life with both of our sons in college, to watch them grow and learn and find themselves and become men.

At this stage of life—how thrilling it is to be engaged in providing a newscast at the BBC for an American audience?

It's an incredibly exciting opportunity, and a big challenge. The BBC is profoundly ambitious. It really does aspire to be the best, to cover the world better than any other organization. Americans need to know more about the world . . . to see smart and sophisticated coverage of places and people and issues and events all around the world. What could be better than to be in the middle of an effort to provide that?

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One of the questions Rome Hartman has heard the most over the years from Christians is this: How do you manage to be a believer in the mainstream media? Here's just part of his answer from Christ in the Workplace , a labor day sermon he deliver

The Unity of the Holy Spirit (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

In my last post, I ended with a comment about the tension between service and leadership. I said this tension is resolved through the unity of the Holy Spirit. Naturally, such a comment raises a few questions. So this post will address those questions.

What is the unity of the Holy Spirit? It's many things including the unity of God's people. There's the unity of Christ's Church in the world—the same church people have been trying to divide since the first century. So many times, we cling to our differences instead of Christ. This leads to separation and division. There is only one Church in Christ and that is possible only through the unity of the Holy Spirit. Our many churches are not the one. We're left to see how imperfect we are even in our worship.

The unity of the Holy Spirit is also seen in the paradox of the Godhead. God the Father is ultimate authority. In that authority, God entered human life through the Son, Jesus, who taught us true service to the Father's authority. But Jesus is the second person in the Godhead: "true God from true God." How can God submit to his own authority? It is the ultimate paradox. The tension of the paradox is resolved through the unity of the Holy Spirit. Read Ephesians 4:1-14.

In John 16:5-15, Jesus tells the disciples about the work of the Holy Spirit. It is through the Spirit that people know what Jesus teaches. The Spirit's work is a unifying work that enlightens our minds. Discernment, then, is a work of the Spirit. Understanding about how we should faithfully proceed is done through the Spirit.

We serve the authority of the Father. Through the Son, we see how to live out that service. In the Holy Spirit, we understand both that authority and service while living it daily. That's the high calling of our daily work.

J. I. Packer Video (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Laity Lodge has posted a series of short video clips of J. I. Packer discussing the high calling of our daily work. You can follow the link to view all the clips or just view the "Daily Work Is Ministry" video right now.

Dr. Packer is a warm, insightful and gracious man. He has been visiting Laity Lodge annually since 1966 where he encourages people in their faith journeys with great wisdom and disarming humor.

So what do you think? How is your daily work is a ministry?

Nothing Replaces Face-to-Face (Bible Reflection)

Chris Cree — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

We have more forms of communication available to us today than we've ever even imagined. The cost of connecting with one another over great distances is steadily going down as technology advances. And the options available to us are expanding nearly as quickly.

For thousands of years, there were only two choices for communication. Either you walked to wherever a person was and told them the message in person. Or you wrote it on a piece of paper and gave it to someone else to deliver. Now we've got things like email, cell phones, and instant messaging—often integrated on one device!

But the more technologically advanced our communication becomes, the less personal it is. There's so much more to our communication than just so many words.

Studies have indicated that 93% of communication effectiveness is determined by nonverbal cues. People who study this sort of thing have found the basic breakdown to be like this:

• 7% is the words we use
• 38% is voice quality
• The remaining 55% of communication depends on things like facial expression and posture

Think about the phrase, "Yeah, right." With different inflection in different circumstances, those words can mean exact opposite things. The phrase could be an agreement. But said sarcastically, it could mean, "There is absolutely no way I agree with that!"

Even back in New Testament times, folks like John knew the power of communicating in person. Take a look at how he ended two of his letters:

I have much more to say to you. But I don't want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.

(2 John 1:12, NLT)

I have much more to say to you, but I don't want to write it with pen and ink. For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.

(3 John 1:13-14)

John valued face-to-face communication with its high personal touch.

I can't tell you how many times I've cleared up a lengthy confusing email exchange with a simple phone call. Imagine how our understanding of Jesus might change if we could hear him actually say the words in Scripture.

When Jesus calmed the storm, was it the booming "BE QUIET!" we often hear portrayed? Or might it have been more like the way I sometimes tell my alarm clock to "be quiet" with a groan when it disturbs my sleep? Since he already had the authority of God, why do we automatically assume Jesus would yell?

The bottom line is this. Our written words can leave a lot of the message out. There is nothing wrong with high-tech communication. But we should remember to be like John and long to speak with each other face to face.

That's the only way to maximize the effectiveness of our communication. And then our joy will be complete.

Write a Letter (Audio)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

In his Little Red Book of Wisdom, Mark DeMoss laments the demise of letter writing. That's right: letters. Handwritten. On stationery. Sealed and stamped. Written with thought and often kept by their recipients.

A U.S. Post Office survey says that two-thirds of Americans don't expect to receive personal mail. But when they do, it makes their day. That hope, often, is what sends them to the mailbox. As Mark says, "A letter's impact almost always exceeds the writer's effort."

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. This week, reach past the keyboard to an ink pen. Handwrite a note. Say thanks or encourage someone. Email is faster, but a handwritten letter stays longer in the heart . . . in the high calling of our daily work.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
(1 Thess. 5:11)

What's Bugging Him? (Wisdom from Howard E. Butt)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

When we have to put up with each other, we learn to listen. We don't have a choice if we want to get anything done.

If you’re struggling to work with a guy on your team, stop thinking about yourself. Instead, try asking, "What's bugging him? What is it that I can learn about him that will enable me to understand him better so that I can love him and make peace between us?"

This ability to listen to each other is critical. It helps us get past the tensions and frictions. Some people we like; some people we don't. That just means we are human. But we can still be unified if we listen to each other.

"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." (Eph. 4:2-3)

from a talk at the Laity Lodge Staff Retreat on November 13, 2000 at Laity Lodge in Leakey, Texas

Seeing a High Calling (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMT

In the New York Times this week, Greg Bishop wrote an article about Green Bay Packers general manager, Ted Thompson. "A Scout at Heart Leads a Revival in Greebay " is a terrific article about maintaining focus in your work. In the article, Bishop makes clear Thompson’s single-mindedness on the job. Ted knew his call and stayed the course in the face of harsh public criticism.

It’s interesting that the Times published an article about a guy who was just doing his job. Yes, the Packers were in the NFC title game the next day. And Bishop’s story is found in the Sports section. But why write an article about the guy? I think the answer is found the final paragraph of Bishop’s article.

Thompson's friend, Mike Reinfeldt says of him, "A lot of his life, he’s been a special-teams player. A role player. The guy in the background." Here’s one role player who finally got some notice. It’s about time.

We don’t generally celebrate role players. Instead, we just lump them in with the multitudes who made it all possible. Grand platitudes about "the people who made it all possible" is usually the most recognition that they get. Rarely is the role player singled out for definitive contribution to the work. Rarely is the role player featured in a New York Times article.

So salute Ted Thompson for his devotion to his calling. Give a nod to Greg Bishop for noticing, even though it took Thompson becoming GM and leading the Packers in a big playoff game for Thompson to get his due.

Our work is not about recognition. It’s about calling. The high calling we receive keeps us focused at our work.

The Importance of People (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Ann, a colleague of mine passed along an article about Steven Bigari from Guideposts, January 2008, “People Come First.” Unfortunately, Guidepost doesn’t offer this story online—at least not for non-subscribers. So I dug around on the net because Steven Bigari’s story is such a great illustration of someone living the high calling of our daily work.

John Moore's business blog, Brand Autopsy, tells Steven’s story from a marketing viewpoint. This post about Steven Bagari includes Moore’s take on a New York Times article about Bigari. What’s Moore’s twist? He includes this bold statement, “Practice the Golden Rule.”

The Golden Rule is not some generic 7 Steps to a Good and Happy Life. It’s Biblical, a command from Jesus to treat others as we want to be treated. Moore points this out without preaching. He doesn't quote Matthew 7:12 or even Leviticus 19:18.

The Times article focuses on Bigari’s social entrepreneurship. Michael Fitzgerald writes about how Bigari’s practices help the working poor. The Times article doesn’t focus on Bigari’s faith, but Fitzgerald refers explicitly to Bigari’s church and its Reformed roots. The Guideposts article emphasizes Bigari's faith even more.

Three different sources tell the same story in three distinct ways. In all three instances, Steven Bigari’s faith comes through as an inspiration. His work calls us to action.

Flattening Silos Opens Communication (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

We launched our first ever Matrix Meetings at the H. E. Butt Foundation last week. No, we weren't reviewing scifi movies, but it was a terrific group exercise. Roughly, we have nine departments in our organization. Most of the departments work independenlty of each other. So last week we set aside a day when each department met one-on-one with another department. After a forty minute session, we rotated to another department meeting. It took our Controller to come up with the schedule to make it all happen, and the resulting grid gave us the matrix name.

The level of communication in these meetings was outstanding. With two campuses, one a six-building office complex and the other a nineteen-hundred-acre camp, we have some communication challenges. So a day set aside to talk face to face with each department was invaluable.

Each department presented their critical issues while the other department offered ways to help with those issues within their own department responsibilities. Then the roles switched. So by the end of the day we had the opportunity to sell our department strengths to each other and hear how we can be mutally beneficial in our work.

I referred to this day as "Silo Flattening." Like most organizations, we’ve built silos where we insulate ourselves from the rest of the departments so we can focus on our own work. Sadly, we can work hard to build effective silos. And we take little notice of the silos being built right next to us. Pretty soon, we have a farm full of silos, and nobody knows what all they contain. Our Matrix Meetings flattened some silos, and opened our communications so each department could share its riches with the others.

The whole process reminded me of a parable.

Jesus said, "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
(Luke 12:17–21)

Jesus Meets Miss Muffet (Personal Reflection)

L. L. Barkat — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Sitting on my private tuffet, I got a little huffy when I heard the news.

The director looked me straight in the eye, smiled a breezy smile, and said, "Oh, and don't forget to come early to make coffee. And bring some home-baked cookies."

My throat tightened, and my own smile faded. Who did I look like? Miss Muffet, come to share some curds and whey? Was there something in my demeanor that suggested I'd signed up to play hostess? I signed up to teach the Bible. Period. Let the snack people do the food stuff. They had put their names on the snack line. They were prepared to boil, chop, pour, and serve. I was prepared to dish out spiritual truth.

I went so far as to say it. "Can't the snack people do that? I'm really busy with the study preparations."

Now the director frowned. Clearly, she did not expect the snack people to do this job. They were going to be focusing on bushels of apples and boxes of graham crackers, to dole them out to more than a hundred kids. I was going to have to step up to the plate, so to speak, and serve the coffee and cookies. But I was not happy about it, nor did I plan to be.

It's true that I was part of a team, made up of men and women from our church. Each year, we take time off from our work to bring a soul-stirring summer camp to the community. We lay aside our regular jobs as managers and executives, homemakers and nurses, and join this group effort. Each person signs up for certain responsibilities, but as with any team event, there are gray areas where someone has to step in and do the unexpected odd job.

So here it was. The odd job of providing food for an adult Bible study that would run concurrently with the kids' program. But I was not in the mood for team spirit, not if it meant this stereotypical domestic service.

Instead, I braced myself to show up with coffee and cookies the next day, toting a secret attitude as creepy as Miss Muffet's spider.

Then Jesus sat down beside me.

That night, as I prepared the next day's study, I opened to the theme verse. ". . . the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). Not to be served, but to serve. To give, as a ransom.

I was chastened. Jesus gave his whole life, not just spiritual words or teachings, but his whole life. He let people like you and me shatter him to pieces so we could be put back together again.

Needless to say, I got the moral he was speaking to my childish heart. He served us so we could turn around and serve others, even in the simplest of team tasks, even in the unexpected odd jobs—whether they be part of a summer event or, more often, part of our regular workplace realities.

The next day I apologized to the director. Then I served up coffee and cookies. With a smile.

Read more from L. L. Barkat at her blog Seedings in Stone, part of the HighCallingBlogs.com network.

Word From Yale (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:00:00 GMT

In the November issue of Christianity Today, there is an interview with David W. Miller, the executive director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture. It's a thought-provoking piece that is directly on topic for readers of TheHighCalling.org. Take a look at the interview.

This is also a good time to remind readers about our own interview with David Miller and the sample chapter on "Faith at Work?" that he has graciously made available to us. (We've known David for a long time because he is a member of our advisory council.)

Finally, we encourage you to pick up a copy of David's book, God at Work: The History and Promise of the Faith at Work Movement. His book is not only an historical overview of the high calling of our daily work, but also a synthesis and helpful guide to the future.

That's a lot of links for just a few paragraphs. So here are the most important ones again as bullets:

David Miller's interview with Christianity Today
David Miller's interview with TheHighCalling.org
"Faith at Work?" a free sample chapter from David Miller's book
God at Work—a link to purchase David Miller's book on Amazon.com

The Hilarious and Sobering Parable of Jim Burge (Wisdom from Howard E. Butt)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 06:00:00 GMT

More than thirty-five years ago, when I was just out of school, I managed our company's newest store, San Antonio #8, 3910 McCullough Avenue. Our "Most Unforgettable Employee" was a big rawboned North Carolina boy, Jim Burge. He was the only grocery clerk I ever knew to stock one side of the bread rack, grab its top rail and vault to the next aisle's other side, over the whole shelf in the air. He was irrepressible, constantly a problem but always a delight. After some months as a stockman, he was trained to check. One morning I sat working in the store's tiny office on a balcony, up a flight of steep narrow wooden stairs just inside the wareroom door. Our bookkeeper came up the stairs to get me.

"A customer complaint," she said, and the expression on her usually smiling face warned me. Trouble below.

Starting down the office stairs, I saw the upset customer, a little timid-looking woman quivering with rage. In the back of my mind I remembered: Jim was on duty cashiering that morning, covering the store's front end.

"Mr. Butt, I want you to see what just happened to me at your checkstand." She thrust a big deep 1/4-pound heavy-duty brown paper sack at me. It was the kind of sack used only for our largest sales.

I opened it, peering down into its depths. There at the bottom of the bag sat one lonely little jar of pickles. Dimly in the darkness I could see the purple price stamp on its shiny white lid—"38 cents." I looked up at her quizically.

"Keep looking," said her frightened eyes.

I stuck my head back into the bag. Then I saw it. There, wound around the pickles like a coil, lay the cash register tape. I pulled it up. And up. And up. Like a long white snake it unwound, stretching from my upheld hand toward the floor.

Could it be? I dared to look.

Sure enough, from the top of the tape, descending in a penny cascade, each clearly printed entry: .01, .01, .01, .01, .01, .01, .01, thirty-eight times!

Immediately, I saw the scene: This poor depressed woman meekly pushing her cart into the check stand. Her major morning outing, itself a substantial challenge. Then Jim Burge. I could picture him welcoming her. She standing back, shy, him reaching down, picking the pickles up and putting them on the counter.

Most of the readers here are probably too young to remember those big stand-up NCR 2000 machines, dark, massive and tall, straight in back, curved in front; wrinkled black paint, prices flashing white behind the glassy top. Today everything is computerized, but back then registers could be coaxed, with rythmic finger-hand massage, to talk, sing, and dance, sort of early commercial versions of Rock and Roll. I could see Jim revving that NCR monster up to speed: Whackety, whackety, whackety, whack . . .

He turned his register loose on that poor unsuspecting woman like a machine gun.

Her pale white trembling could have been from loss of blood.

I got the picture. We walked together, she and I, from the back up to the front of the store, trailing the tape. To calm her down, to question Jim. It was deathly quiet as we walked. I'll never forget the color of his face. Beet red.

"Jim, please explain," I said.

"Mr. Butt, I'm really sorry. I feel so bad. I just got bored."

He just got bored.

All these years, Jim's story remains for me a parable. Why do we mow each other down? Why machine-gun our own troops? Why cut loose against each other? Because we're bored. And the opposite of boredom is not fireworks, it's relationships.

from a talk called "Jesus the Enabler" first delivered on February 23, 1981, at the Lay Theological Education Session in Houston, Texas

Dissolving Tensions in the Workplace (Personal Reflection)

Steve Gibson — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 06:00:00 GMT

I love the old cowboy movies where the cowboys would sing to the cattle at night to keep them from stampeding. I've had learn similar techniques in the workplace.

In the early days of my career, I always hated to see David, our controller, headed my way. I wish I could say that Dave was a mean, nasty guy. But he wasn't. David was a good guy. But I always felt he was meddling in my business. And, in my young, aggressive state, I didn't have time for people meddling in my business. I have a feeling he felt those shields go up when he came asking questions, and some of his own shields went up. So, while we were always friendly to one another, there was a certain tension building.

In most businesses, tensions build up between divisions. As an example, in publishing, the sales and marketing department is expected to sell books—lots of books. The product development department is expected to find and produce books that will meet needs and sell well in the market. However, when the pressure to make budget is intense, the sales folks may claim the books being published are not as strong as they should be. On the other hand, the product folks come back and claim the sales and marketing team never maximize market saturation. Such tension can be healthy, keeping everyone on their toes. However, it can also get out of hand.

Same is true with other departments. The controller and CFO have a job to do. They manage the accounting team and watch the budget closely. They often have the task of asking the tough financial questions, so many a manager and director tend to avoid them, if possible.

I'm not sure why, but one day I decided to take a different tack with David. Perhaps I realized tensions between Dave and I could easily escalate to a new level. However, more than likely, God was working on my conscience. After all, if I truly believed the words I preached, the Kingdom of God is about giving our lives away, not becoming overly defensive and stubbornly guarding our turf. So, I decided to purposely visit with Dave in his office and start asking for his opinion on certain business matters. For my young over-confident ego, it felt like torture.

But a funny thing happened. Dave warmed very quickly to these visits. He still asked the hard questions—that was his job. But the tension grew less and less. In fact, he started taking a sincere interest in my business and what I was trying to do. As David saw a different side of me, I saw a different side of David. Wouldn't you know it, I found a lot of what he said made sense. In fact, I became a more responsible business person through the process.

As a result, now, as a consultant, I often like to bring the controller and/or CFO into the sales and marketing discussions, when it makes sense. It makes for a great team effort and in a small way, brings unity to the company.

I learned many lessons through my experience. There are ways to influence those who seemingly oppose us other than being on the defense. It takes great wisdom, because every circumstance has its own unique curve in the road. However, such wisdom can change the people who oppose us—and it can change our thinking as well. The stressful world of the workplace is part of the Kingdom of God as much as any part of our lives. But in the crazy world of our daily work, that's easy to forget. Let us pray that God will grant us the grace to have a willing spirit toward those who make us uncomfortable, to listen and pray for wisdom and guidance. Often, the person who benefits the most may be ourselves.

Is there tension building in any of your workplace relationships?
How can those relationships better serve the Kingdom of God?

Learn to Accept the Graciousness of Others (Audio)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Benjamin Franklin, it is said, once had a powerful enemy in Philadelphia. He asked himself how he might lose this enemy, and he hit on an idea: Franklin asked the man who hated him to lend him a particular book. The man was flattered. And on the common ground between the book owner and the borrower, a friendship formed.

It's ironic that asking someone to help can lower walls. But it's true. People are endeared to us when they can do something for us.

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. I'm not suggesting you presume on others, let them do your work, or habitually ask for favors. I do suggest that friendships deepen when we accept the graciousness of another . . . in the high calling of our daily work.

He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious
will have the king for his friend.

(Prov. 22:11)

Moses and the Burning Water Cooler (Bible Reflection)

Helen M. Mitchell — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Moses was a common man whose relationships distinguished him as a man of God in the eyes of his followers. An obedient and humble servant of the Lord, he accepted his 40-year assignment to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. This "job offer" wasn't his first choice, but he wasn't about to cross God.

The organization Moses led was more than twice the size of Wal-Mart, which currently leads the list of Fortune 100 companies. Moses knew he did not have all the training and experience needed for such a big job. He constantly petitioned God for advice and direction, and he freely surrendered to God's will. I recently heard someone say, "God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called." Moses was about to learn that lesson.

This organization, called the nation of Israel, lacked a strategic plan, direction, and specific goals—for more than 40 years! Moses had to repeatedly restate the "vision" God had given him, sell and resell that vision, then ultimately ask the people to have faith and trust in God's plan. He spent much of his life dealing with those who just couldn't catch the vision, but he was always a living example of faith and obedience to God—and he required that of others.

All that time in the desert, Moses held the people accountable to follow acceptable behavior, goals, and objectives, and helped them become a nation under the laws of God. Ultimately, he led this organization to the point of a strategic acquisition of the Promised Land.

As Christians in the workplace, we follow a "high calling" to live out God's purpose for our lives. On God's scales, success is not measured in riches and power, but in relationships and service to others. And often there's a personal cost associated with turning from "earthly values" to "godly values."

Relationships at work can be difficult, but God chooses to work with and through people. It is through our own relationship with God that he provides direction in our work. It is through our relationships with others we can accomplish great things and glorify God. God wants to use every person at work, regardless of level, position, or title.

It's how we let God work through us in relationship with others that distinguishes us as followers of Jesus.

As Moses knew, people can be difficult to work with. But without relationships, how will they see our good deeds? Without relationships, how will we build the bridge across which we may one day share our faith? Next time you visit the office water cooler, remember to build a relationship or two. Remember Moses.

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

IAR at Work (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 06:00:00 GMT

When we talk about the high calling of our daily work, we're talking about the heavenly calling of Hebrews 3:1 and our faithful response. How we live in the world is the work God gives us to do.

The imagery that Jesus gives us is new wine skins. We don't pour new wine into old wineskins. Rather we take new wine and pour it into new wineskins.

In another passage, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born again in water and in Spirit (John 3). Then in Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul says, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self . . . to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self . . ."

All of these passages are reminders. It's About Renewal. IAR reminds us that we are made new in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. It's that truth people will see if we live the life Christ intends.

At TheHighCalling.org, we offer encouragement, personal reflection, Bible reflection, devotions, interviews, and blogs. All these resources are meant to help us renew our lives daily in the ordinary circumstances of life. We are talking about renewing every part of life, but we shorten this concept down to one phrase—daily work.

The concept of daily work isn't limited to a person's job. Certainly a job is part of anyone's daily work. But so is a person's time away from their job. We work out at the gym. We work in the home. And through everything, we work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12).

So it's about renewal. IAR. The renewal of the individual is the only way we can change the larger structures and institutions of the world. People make the difference. Jesus taught us that and showed us how. Love one another.

Creative Director (Ramblin' Dan)

Dan Roloff — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Right from the start, we see an interactive God who creates. Through his Word everything came into being. Now that's a creative director. Yet he allowed for co-creators. God even gave co-creators responsibility for all of creation. Then God established two simple boundaries and, of course, those got pushed. So there were consequences. God sought out the co-creators and told them they were banished from the garden and their work would be difficult.

So we work, and work is hard. But work doesn't separate us from the love of God. The story continues. God reaches out to us, his people. He sent a rescuer who has taken the burdens of his people and lifted them. He redeemed his people. We use work to bring honor, distinction, and exaltation to God.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Col. 3:23–24).

Deliver the Goods (Audio)

Howard Butt, Jr. — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 06:00:00 GMT

The Serum 25 Run is a brutal Alaskan dogsled trek, 768 miles. Each year, it honors the original Serum Runners. They carried lifesaving diphtheria medicine from Nenana to Nome in 1925.

Incredibly, 20 teams of mushers volunteered for that first journey! Battling the cruel Alaskan winter, they delivered the serum in six days—more than 100 miles a day.

Because of their heroism, only one life was lost to the disease. The dogsledders saved an entire town.

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. Twenty teams of dogs and men remind us self-sacrifice and teamwork can achieve wonders . . . in the high calling of our daily work.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Heb. 12:1)