Well-known blogger Sarah Bessey
"If teaching or preaching or writing or managing or leading or painting or film-making or delivering babies or studying astro-physics or whatever it is makes you feel more whole, then darling, do it all to the glory of God and you’ll see that the way it makes you come alive will stain your entire life with joy."
I do enjoy Sarah Bessey's writing, especially when she quotes one of my favourite authors, AS Byatt, AND when she basically summarises my book Workship.
Are leaders made or born? Author and TED speaker Simon Sinek dispels myths about leadership and reveals the one thing that good leaders always get right on this episode of Inside Quest with Tom Bilyeu. Combining aspects of biology and psychology within the context of the human condition, Simon Sinek's unique approach to leadership has revealed surprising insights on how humans interact in business.
A friend sent me this YouTube clip which is an EXCELLENT resource for leaders. It is about creating an environment where people can flourish. There is a section on leading Millennials (people born since 1984) which is really helpful. You can jump between the topics listed on the bottom.
Although Simon seems to imply that moral behaviour is a consequence of the environment; most of what he says has strong biblical foundations: we are social beings, our focus should be on loving/caring for those around us, we should be vulnerable about our mistakes and our need for help, the importance of work, and needing to develop meaningful relationships, as well as learning patience.
When we understand how people were created to be, we are better able to lead effectively.
A chaotic slum was transformed to a safe haven
I just found out about this amazing Christian organisation based in The Philippines. They have an inspiring vision, and mission and their values are hugely challenging.
OUR MISSION
Ending poverty for 5 million families by 2024.
OUR VISION
Gawad Kalinga is building a nation empowered by people with faith and patriotism; a nation made up of caring and sharing communities, dedicated to eradicate poverty and restore human dignity.
OUR VALUES
Padugo, Tataya Ako
*I commit to bleed for the mission.
Una sa Serbisyo, Huli sa Benepisyo
*I commit to serve rather than to be served.
Para sa Diyos at Para sa Bayan
*I commit to love God and my country.
Bayanihan
*I commit to challenge the impossible in solidarity with others.
Walang Iwanan
*I commit to leave no one behind.
A funny look at our temptation to become obsessed about our work. Another resource from RightNow Media.
Theresa May was launching a report by the Evangelical Alliance and the Lawyers Christian Fellowship when she commented that Christians should not fear speaking out in work and public spaces. Here are a couple of quotes from the article:
The report warns that society is forgetting "that its many freedoms derive from centuries of applying the Bible to public life".
It says: "Although these liberties have been hard-won, however, they can also be easily lost. If not attended to, they will wither away.
"Like a muscle, without exercise they will atrophy. The Bible tells us that we grow as we give, and the truth about our gospel freedoms is that ‘if we don’t use them we’ll lose them’.
"The lost need the gospel, so we need to be intentional about sharing it.
"We hope that this resource will inform followers of Christ about the freedoms we have to do this, and encourage confident and fruitful evangelism in every area of public life. Freedom, in every sense of the word, depends on it. So let’s speak up."
This is a great series of articles by Bob Thune on a practical theology of work. There is some deep wisdom and encouragement here.
What Are You Called to Do? A Theology of Work
Here is one of my favourite quotes: "It’s important that we see both the goodness of work in God’s original creation and the struggle of work under the Fall. If we only see the good, we’ll be frustrated when things don’t go as they should. If we only see the bad, we’ll have a hard time doing our work to the glory of God. Work is not all good, and it’s not all bad. It is part of God’s good creation, which has been tainted by the Fall. And God is at work to redeem work."
Interesting longitudinal research from the US about the growing embrace of work theology by pastors, leading to increased numbers of pastors preaching on faith and work. The latest study was completed in 2014.
However, those in the pews still may not be getting the message about the importance of their work:
"The research revealed that 70 percent of Christians do not see how their work serves God’s purposes, and 78 percent see their work as less important than the work of a pastor or priest."
Is the Gap Between Pulpit & Pew Narrowing? Read the Latest Research
Last chance to apply for The Hub 2017, located in Sydney.
The Hub is a program I mentor for ADM.
If you have an idea, a business, an art project, a ministry... then I would love to work with you in 2017 to shape and grow it, with God's help.
Applications close on 28th November.
The commitment is a 90-minute group time each week; 3 day-long intensives; and some one-on-one mentoring.
You will meet women entrepreneurs, as well as experts in business design, fundraising, marketing, legal requirements, and strategy.
You will also have access to a working space and meeting rooms, 5 days a week, in the CBD.
You will have the opportunity to pitch at ADM's annual funding event in September.
http://www.deaconessministries.org.au/public-engagement/
When you click on the link, scroll down for the online application form.
Here is a piece I wrote for The New Zealand Christian Network on the myths of faith and work:
The myths of faith and work...
The truth is...
This article refers to a study funded by Reventure and conducted by the well-respected Barna Group. Being a Christian makes a demonstrable difference in your working. This article captures some of the distinctives.
See the full article here.
Christian Workers Less Stressed & More Satisfied, Study Shows
By Clare Chate
Christians are more likely to enjoy their jobs and have greater work satisfaction than colleagues without faith.
That’s the finding of a new study by Reventure, a Christian-based organisation promoting a healthier work life.
The ‘2016 Snapshot of Australian Workplaces’ study explores workplace issues like job satisfaction, technology, productivity, and health.
Out of the 1000 people interviewed for the study, 300 were Christians, giving researchers the chance to look at how faith affects people in the workplace.
Lead researcher Dr Lindsay McMillan told Hope 103.2 that more than half of the Christians surveyed were satisfied with their jobs—compared to only 44 percent of the overall research group.
And 63 percent of the Christians enjoyed going to work every day, compared to only 53 percent of the general population of workers.
Here is an initiative of Grandview Baptist Church in Canada. Three social enterprises seeking to celebrate the good of work. Their mission and values:
What we aim to be...
We aspire to be a part of a healthy community where people are meaningfully and gainfully employed and where business practices embrace an ethical, social mandate.
What we're up to...
JustWork fosters dignified, gainful work opportunities for people facing multiple barriers to employment.
Here is a great list of ideas churches can do to help their congregations grapple with issues of faith and work. 'Theology of work' is a wonderful website.
Do you ever think that your work is insignificant. Here is the story of a woman who is "just a florist"...
Here is another piece on work/life balance, this time from Relevant Magazine, a great source of Christian thinking for Millennials. "Balance is a myth because work-life balance, and all of it’s assumed benefits, isn’t actually about balance. It’s about rhythm. And the natural rhythm of our life is something we, of the 21st century, traded away a long time ago."
The Myth of the Work/Life Balance - why finding a healthy schedule isn't really about "balance" at all
It was a real privilege to have a coffee with Davyn de Bruyn and hear his plans to change the way we imagine, buy and use fashion.
Really thrilled to have this piece on mentoring published today. How can we be flexible and yet enhance our mentoring relationships, since we all need the wisdom of others, and the opportunity to grow others?
The transformation of mentoring - The Gospel Coalition Australia
I find this image a really useful summary of the core of our vocation. Our sense of vocation is made up of our gifts and skills (good at it), experiences (paid for it), passions (love it) and where we see a need. As I start a Purpose Discovery course tomorrow night I am also convicted that this calling hits its sweet spot when who we are aligns with what God is doing in the world.
A Better Way to Live: 52 Studies in Proverbs and Psalms
I was really privileged to have a small involvement in this book finding its way to print.
This is the endorsement from faith & work legend Mark Greene:
‘Whoosh. Energetic, refreshing, rich in wisdom and compelling in application, Graham Hooper’s book displays a joyous ability to zoom into the heart of a proverb or psalm, zoom out to connect it to the wider witness of the Bible, and then pan across the centuries to our twenty-first century context and explore its implications for discipleship and mission with acuity and compassion, historic and contemporary examples, and his own wide-ranging life experience. Enjoy.’ - Mark Greene, Executive Director, The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
The Gospel Coalition has a series of interviews with people in different vocations looking at their vocation through faith-filled eyes.
Here is a link to more examples: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/tag/tgcvocations
Being a Nurse in a broken world
Part 2 of my article on the pressures for working women, where I look at how we can balance the enormous stresses faced by working mothers in addressing often competing demands of home, church and work.
