Month: July 2011

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Ask The Expert

What is it about our pride that keeps us from asking for help?

Last night at work, apparently there were some “issues” going on with some of our “stuff”. Evidently this had escalated for several hours and several people had been involved in the troubleshooting.   In this case, let me say as humbly as I can, I happen to understand this “stuff” extremely well.  Someone not as humble as Moses and myself may say that I would be an expert on this topic. 

However, throughout this struggle the team had only one of them asked for any assistance.  The leader of the band continued to lead them in some very interesting directions and ask several questions that were tangential to the problem at hand.  Now, I am well aware that sometimes the best way to learn is to figure it out for yourself, and I am also well aware of the intangible effect of politics, however for this little bit of encouragement today, I want to assume no wind, and assume no judgement of the players involved in yesterday’s deal to make a point that we all can relate.

We do this stuff all the time.  The expert on a topic is within our grasps, but we don’t ask.  We drive around in circles instead of consulting a local ( well, at least the men do).  We fall into holes, we waste time, we beat our heads on the wall, we will do anything but ask for help.

And then, there is this jewel, written in red and spoken by the Son of God himself:

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9-10 

 
So on this Friday, here is just a simple reminder that the Creator of the Universe, has invited you to ask for help whenever you need it. Let’s not let our pride or whatever get in the way, and let’s use this blessing we have to gain the wisdom and assistance that is waiting!

13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13New International Version (NIV)

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Salty Springs

Last night I received an email about a project I am working on at work.  The email was changing some of the structure of the project and had some statements in it that could seem to be giving praise to those who don’t deserve it.

For some reason, my first instantaneous reaction was one of outrage and frustration.  But then I quickly stopped myself.  Why should these things upset us so much?  Lets look at the facts, the project was still being completed, the direction and strategy for the work was still on track and heading in the same direction.  Why did it matter who, and how?

I started thinking about my post from Tuesday about Micah 6 and what we really are here for.  I started thinking about Matthew 5, which I has just spend 30 minutes in conversation about, and I very quickly realized – this did not really matter, and in acutallity was a great time to help shine the light of Christ. 

For some reason its such a struggle for us to see past the noise of this world, and to concentrate of the important things, and to deal with conflict in a way that still brings glory to the Creator and deflects from us.

So, because of these thoughts,  two verses have been flitttering around in my head, so I thought I would share those today:

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. John 15:10 NIV

 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12  New International Version (NIV)
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From Bored to Boldness

Yesterday I found myself sitting in a meeting room bored to tears listening to the ramble of the meeting. It was not that what was being discussed was not important or that the topic itself was uninteresting. It was the approach and the logistics of the meeting. Tired and exhausting.

Then this morning while preparing for some other work I have to do i stumbled on this post. It’s an org chart from Disney from 1943. How creative how fresh and how new.

There are so many days when life feels like an old traditional boring organization chart. Our job is to bring salt, to bring creativity and to bring a refreshing newness to each day. Of course that is always marinated in the love from the Christ.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV

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Checked in at Lame

I love this whole social media concept of checking in.  I haven’t used Foursquare, or Yelp yet, although it’s on my to do list.  I have been using the check-in feature on Facebook and it’s a great way to let people know all the cool places you go and where you are.

But one thing I notice is that no one checks in at work.  Whats up with that?  I guess we have Adam to blame! You know the whole work curse thing!  We spend the majority of our lives at our place of employment, but we don’t allow ourselves to acknowledge the significance.  As a matter of fact the one time that I did notice that one of my friends ‘checked-in’ at his workplace, the one comment on that post was “Lame”.

So I was thinking today that I would check in at work, and I would check in with one thought on my mind – this one from Micah:

8The LORD God has told us what is right and what he demands:

“See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.” Micah 6:8 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

I determined this morning that this may help take some of the lameness out of the whole work thing, since it might just possibly help me look past the curse and to the influence I could exert on those people around me.  Maybe those concepts will make the work check-in just as interesting as the other fun places we go.  Well, who am I kidding, checking in at work will probably always be lame, but considering  justice, mercy and humility might change the way we consider the time we am there!

Give it a try.

Oh and here is an alternative ending!

 8But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,

what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously. Micah 6:8 The Message

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Magnetic Inspiration

Last week, I was cleaning up some stuff in my office, and reorganizing my mind at work when I stumble upon some old word magnets I used to use for inspiration.  I had taken them down in frustration a few years ago when I was feeling very selfish and uninspired.  But last week I put them back up and I hope they will spark you either by what they say, or maybe you will find some words that motivate you through out the day.

The words on the magnetic – Today: live, give, reach, do and solve are simple verbs to help remind me of how I should be spending my day , today.

  1. Live the day to the fullest
  2. Give to others
  3. Reach out to others
  4. Do what needs to be done
  5. Solve problems with creativity

That’s a pretty good list.  Those simple verbs are just enough to give me a reminder with each email, instant message and choice throughout the day of my potential impact on others and they help focus me to make sure that I am getting the most out of each day.

Yes, yes, a little cheesy, but whatever it takes to keep the days moving in the right direction!

So with that a few simple short and powerful verses to get your going on Monday!

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.Psalm 90:12

Each man’s life is but a breath.
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth not knowing who will get it. Psalm 39:5-6

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.John 10:10 ESV

A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Ephesians 4:32

Today !  Live, Give, Reach Do and Solve!