Profits Only? Business Purpose-for-others (telos) and need for a third indicator of Success.

Many companies today focus on profits as if that is the key indicator of the corporation's success. Profits are important--it shows that the company is a viable company, the leadership is competent, the business is stable and sustainable, and so forth. This is necessary to attract capital to gain more investors and for further and future growth of the company. But profits alone do not demonstrate the complete picture when we're talking about the "health" of the company today and for the future.  

A secondary indicator these days is around social impact and environmental responsibility of the business. Investors want to know, for example, the footprint and impact of the company on the environment and society as a whole.  Chris Houston in his Ebook "For Goodness' Sake: Business for telos" discusses the importance of the purpose of the business.   Houston clarifies that "society is not asking for the business case for purpose.  What society is in fact demanding to see is the purpose case for business." (39)  Houston argues that "we need businesses that relentlessly deliver on a telos to serve others." (43) Telos being: 

A Greek word meaning "intended end." Applied by Aristotle to humans, telos implies a life of virtue, lived for the good of others. Telos has an inherent benevolence and a predisposition towards the common good. It is most precisely defined as a purpose-for-others. Every telos is a purpose, but only the rare purpose is a telos. (44)

For the business to formulate and live out its telos "involves the reformulation or clarification of the very identity of the organization and its primary reason to exist." (45) Customers want to know that you care about society and them as a customer. Yes, positive social impact is indeed important and serving others (its purpose-for-others) is of utmost importance.  It's important that everyone in the company understands and owns the purpose (telos) of the business and brand.  

I want to propose a third indicator of importance that can better the long-term success of a company that demonstrates the true "health" of the business and it relates to its people.  Houston does touch on it, but I want to call it out more explicitly.

Over the past years, employee engagement sits around 30% engaged, with the remaining 70% disengaged or actively sabotaging the company (20%?). That's 3 out of 10 employees that are actually engaged in their work.  (Cf. Gallup)

A company can be making money and even have a compelling purpose; however, if a company's employees are not engaged in their work--is it truly a viable company?  My challenge to today's business leaders is to publicly publish your quarterly/annual earnings with your employee engagement survey results. Yes, show your profits and let the world see how engaged your employees are.  I have a feeling that doing so probably scares leadership more than how much money they not making.  I believe transparency and openness will build greater trust with your employees, customers, as well as investors--real investors.   It demonstrates publicly what you value as a leader, how you are making a difference in the lives of the people that work in your company, how you are investing and caring for your employees, and what you're doing to make your company the best place to work. More, it shows that you can be trusted, you are accountable as a leader inside and outside the company, you are willing to listen, and you're not afraid to admit failure. Measuring and disclosing the company's employee engagement helps leaders understand whether employees are in fact aligned and living out the business purpose-telos, be transparent with the challenges, and work towards creating a plan for how to resolve those challenges.  Furthermore, doing so will demonstrate character, vulnerability and humility--again, trust and whether you can be trusted as a brand and business will be a key competitive differentiator in today and future markets.  

When businesses focus solely on profits (and sadly, many companies still do), a company will unfortunately rot from the inside.  A company that focuses solely on profits will become irrelevant and also loose the customer's interest. To regain momentum towards a more healthy business will be a insurmountable task at that point.  I hope leaders have the courage to be different-different where both profits, purpose and people are top priorities and focus.   Essentially, investors and customers want to know about your product as well as its profits, its telos, and the people behind the brand.  When you focus on these three factors, profits will come and continue come--I believe it. More importantly, employees will be more engaged (and with more joy) and passionate with what they do because you genuinely care about them as persons--they will champion the company and work to delight customers. Moreover, when profits, purpose and people are valued and aligned, people in and outside the company will want to invest in your company. 


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For Goodness' Sake - "You don't need to be the CEO...(Telosity)

Chris Houston on making a difference wherever you are in the company doing what you do already-You don't need to be the CEO to make a difference.  You can influence and be an agent for change today.

http://www.telosity.net/you_don_t_need_to_be_ceo_to_make_your_company_better

Head to the link above and get his free Ebook on Telosity.net

Join the movement in transforming our workplaces!

7 Questions to Ask yourself when Engaging "Millennials"

While a catchy title for today's blog post, I find categories such as "Millennials" unhelpful especially when the term has more of a negative connotation today.  Our society is increasingly marginalizes people (and groups) by creating these categories.  There is a deep need for communities that exemplify encouragement, support, collaboration, and empowerment at its core--fundamentally, communities built on trust and authentic relationships.  We are all made in the image of God.  Categories and labels seek to divide and separate. 


In Scripture, we read of the relationship between The Apostle Paul and his young disciples Timothy and Titus who traveled, ate, and spent life together.  Because of Paul and his investment and pouring his life into in these two young men, Timothy and Titus became heavyweights (in their own ways) in proclaiming the gospel to the people of their time and building up the early Church. 

Today we are faced with a challenge of how to work together--cross-generations.  There is also a significant need for mentors and coaches.  In order to create more engaging work environments and church communities, we need to make a dramatic shift in our cultures.  I've compiled a list of seven questions to help spur dialogue for moving forward together.   Actually, I don't think these questions are specific to "Millennials".  Importantly, the questions are to help us listen better to each other and listening together.   Here we go:

1.  How well are we communicating the purpose and why?

Rather than telling others what to do or dictating how another should live their life, how are we helping others discover for themselves who they are and who God has called them to be and do?  Rather than tell them what needs to change, begin with explaining the Why and implications, but let the other person come up with the action plan and application. Simon Sinek Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action and Ken Costa Know Your Why: Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling in Life have books on the subject.  More, we also need to be communicate the vision and bigger picture of God's mission, and how we participate in God's mission. 

2.   How are we creating a work environments and faith communities that value people as inherently valuable? 

People (not their wallets, not their gifts, not talents and abilities) are not a resource and a means to an end.  Are we valuing each person as an individual created by God and in God's image? Are we valuing their individual gifts and strengths--there is no hierarchy of skills that God appreciates more or less.  We are the body of Christ.  Do others feel that they are valued? It's not good enough that they know--they really need to experience it.  Importantly, while we are a body/community/team/company, we are also made up of individuals made uniquely by God.  Everyone is a child of God.  

3. Do we trust others and empower them to do it? 

Trust and empowerment is essential for developing people to become mature followers of Jesus and grow into confident mature adults.  This means believing in the person, and allowing the person to carry out what they believe to be the best actions forward.  I say "best" because in reality, there is no "right" action forward.  In other words, to empower them to make a difference and release them to do it.  I believe that those same individuals, when empowered, will commit to the initiative and find ways to make it happen when they believe in the purpose themselves and when others believe in them.  This also means providing the support, resources, and encouragement when the other encounters failure.   As part of this, how are we coaching and mentoring others--investing in them as they discover God's calling for themselves?

4.  What are their values and what do others actually value? What is their passion and God's calling for them as best as they can discern at that moment?

Everyone's values are different.  What we think is important to another person, is likely not what is important to them.  This requires listening--really listening.  This means understanding the ways a person is appreciated, motivated, and rewarded; this requires knowing them as individuals.   For example, While I enjoy a cup of espresso, don't buy a coffee card for someone who doesn't drink coffee.  More, God's calling for everyone will also be unique and it is important to understand (and help others to discern) God's calling for them as best as they can discern at that moment and to support them in their calling; The big mistake is to impose or rush a person into what we think God is calling the other person to.  Be patient with others.  It's a life long journey. 

5.  Are we creating environments where each person has a voice and creating spaces where new ideas can be expressed and questions can be asked? 

Environments that exude trust, collaboration, and openness allow for a free-flow of ideas and individual expression of who we are uniquely created by God.  This includes, creating spaces where people can practice their craft. More, to create spaces where people can ask questions without being judged or criticized. Learning includes learning about failure and how to fail well. Learning is also more effective when a person discovers the answer themselves rather than having answers fed to them all the time. 

6.  Do we invite those on our communities to help define what the path forward looks like?  

Rather than having an agenda and setting a path for others to follow; sometimes leadership does require that, however, how are we facilitating in those discussions for how to move forward together before presenting the path forward? How are we discerning God's call for the community together and coming along side each other for the journey forward.  This includes listening to the cries and concerns of the people.  

7.  Lastly, how are we living out these values and being a positive influence to those around us?  

This is about having integrity and being authentic persons.  Our theology and what we believe informs our actions, and our actions demonstrate what we believe.  More, we need to have the courage to demonstrate vulnerability, humility, and openness with our lives. 

I hope the list of 7 questions is helpful; definitely not an exhaustive list.  

Who are the Paul's in your life? Who are the Timothies and Tituses who are in need of a mentor and coach?  Who are your co-partners in the journey?

"Be the change that you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

I Stand Near the Door - Rev. Samuel Moor Shoemaker

Rev.Samuel Shoemaker (1893-1963) was the rector at Calvary Episcopal Church in New York and co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. 

The Poem "So I Stay Near the Door-An Apologia for my life" known better as "So I Stand by the Door" written by Shoemaker in 1958 highlights his motto for ministry.  This poem acts as a daily reminder of what it means to "incarnate Christ" to my neighbors--'tis also my place to "stay near the door."

I stay near the door.I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out,The door is the most important door in the world—It is the door through which people walk when they find God.There’s no use my going way inside, and staying there,When so many are still outside, and they, as much as I,Crave to know where the door is.And all that so many ever find is only the wall where a door ought to be.They creep along the wall like [the blind].With outstretched, groping hands,Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door,Yet they never find it . . .So I stay near the door.

The most tremendous thing in the worldIs for [people] to find that door—the door to God.The most important thing any [person] can doIs to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands,And put it on the latch—the latch that only clicksAnd opens to the [person's] own touch.[People] die outside that door, as starving beggars dieOn cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter—Die for want of what is within their grasp.They live, on the other side of it—live because they have found it.Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it,And open it, and walk in, and find Him . . .So I stay near the door.

Go in, great saints, go all the way in—Go way down into the cavernous cellars,And way up into the spacious attics—In a vast, roomy house, this house where God is.Go into the deepest of hidden casements,Of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood.Some must inhabit those inner rooms,And know the depths and heights of God,And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is.Sometimes I take a deeper look in,Sometimes venture a little farther;But my place seems closer to the opening . . .So I stay near the door.

The people too far in do not see how near these areTo leaving—preoccupied with the wonder of it all.Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door,But would like to run away. So for them, too,I stay near the door.

I admire the people who go way in.But I wish they would not forget how it wasBefore they got in. Then they would be able to helpThe people who have not even found the door,Or the people who want to run away again from God.You can go in too deeply, and stay in too long,And forget the people outside the door.As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place,Near enough to God to hear Him, and know He is there,But not so far from men as not to hear them,And remember they are there too.Where? Outside the door—Thousands of them, millions of them.But—more important for me—One of them, two of them, ten of them,Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch,So I shall stay by the door and waitFor those who seek it. ‘I had rather be a door-keeper . . .’So I stay near the door.

(source: http://dickb-blog.com/samshoemaker3.html) 

Learning a new craft

Blogging is a new craft for me. I am fine with admitting that I am learning.  Learning means I will not be good at what I do, yet.  I've read that it can take up to 10,000 hours of practice in order to master something.  And the only way I will  improve is if I keep on writing.   I'm glad you are on this journey with me-patient with me. Those of you who are following me this early on in the journey have a glimpse into the process of growing to be a better blogger. You get to read and see my mistakes-my failures. 

Today I'm planning, sitting down with a cup of Starbucks and jotting down ideas for the next series of posts.  Mapping out ideas, listening to God's voice and seeking to hear and cries of our generation.

I encourage you to learn a new craft. Have courage to fail. If you are also new to blogging, let's journey together.

Galatians: Faith through Love-Love with Faith

The key issue in Paul's letter to the Galatians was whether to obey the Jewish law and whether a person was justified by doing the law or through faith in Jesus Christ.  Paul's point was that if you want to rely on works to save you, then do the law but also you make sure you do it all--or be cursed (Gal 3:10).  Rather, Paul argues, live life in Christ--Living in the Spirit.  In other words, don't turn following Jesus into legalism. If the law has been essentially fulfilled in Christ, it means being in relationship (reconciled) with the Godhead rather than following rules or thinking that you can achieve salvation by completing a to-do list.  

ἀλλὰ πίστις δι’ ἀγάπης ἐνεργουμένη. (Gal5:6b)
(but faith working/made effective through apage-love)

Indeed we are justified by faith in Jesus (Gal 2:16).  However, it is agape-Love with Faith, and faith through love--those things are inter-related and inter-connected.  Likewise, it is faith AND action; Action AND faith.  It's a false dichotomy to pitch one against the other. We can believe in all sorts of things, but until we take action to live out that belief, adopt new attitudes and habits, and change our underlying motivations--it's all cerebral; nothing in us in fact changes.  It's also a false dichotomy to pitch the sacred against the secular and to make doing sacred activities (or spiritual activities) somehow more important to God.  That said, it's a gospel only focused only on Social Justice is also of concern; in other words balance and holding those in tension is important.  remembering, God is sovereign over ALL creation.  Further, it is not a blind faith we're after where we simply follow and believe something because someone has told us to--we need to check it out ourselves and we need to own it. The Holy Spirit helps us through this. 

It's important to highlight Galatians 3:26/Galatians 4:7, when Paul states that "So you are no longer a slave, but a son [and daughter], and if a son [and daughter], then an heir [and heiress] through God."  Freedom arrives when we stop living life as a list of to-do's but by believing in Jesus through faith.  That said, freedom doesn't mean we can do whatever we want--it does come with responsibility; through love, serve one another (Gal5:13)--to love your neighbor as yourself (Gal5:14).  Also, don't grow weary of "doing good" as Galatians 6:9-10 says. Our new identity (we are new Creation Gal6:15) by which we live each day--we are free from slavery, and we are sons and daughters, heirs and heiresses to the creator God.  How are you embracing your new identity in Christ?

But what is the gospel--"good news"? It's often simplified to be believing in Jesus and all your life troubles will be resolved.  Yes, but that's a truncated gospel; that's like reading Galatians without reading the rest of the Bible.  Whenever Jesus gave parables, it was about the "Kingdom at Hand" (Mark1:15).  In the Lord's prayer, we pray "your Kingdom come." More, the gospel is truncated because it doesn't explain WHY it's good news--meaning it is disconnected from the larger narrative of God's plan from creation to the telos (end purpose) and God's mission (missio Dei).  It is declaring publicly that Jesus is King-King of the cosmos, and his Kingdom is inaugurated here on earth today.   The end of the narrative has been revealed in Him. Death and Sin have been conquered.  Satan has been bound and conquered because of Christ and what Christ has done.  It needs reminding that it is not what we do, but what God has done from the beginning--God is the one who is first faithful, and therefore, we can be faithful in our every day living.  We get to be a part of God's family and we have free access to God because of Christ. We also participate in God's mission. 

In the workplace, there's not much joy in what we do if all we're doing every day is following a list of to-dos; but if following a list of to-dos gives you joy (cf. Brother Lawrence)--that's good!  But I feel something is missing if we're not able to express our unique gifts and talents, live out our calling, express our creativity and imagination, be challenged where we need to live in dependence in God every day, and to thrive in what we do--something is missing.  I am certain though that we will not be effective leaders if all we're doing is dictating rules for others to follow; and reprimanding others or making them guilty if they don't.  Neither will a business last if everyone in it is focused on serving themselves.  Galatians challenges us not only to live life differently (life in freedom) but also challenges our attitudes about our work and how we lead and interact with people in our day to day lives.  More, to live life in Christ and in the Spirit.  Further, our work doesn't define us, but faith necessitates change in us and change in how we approach work and treat others.

When we Serve Someone we Serve another who Images God

When we serve another person, we serve one who also Images God.  To serve another requires us to do it with humility, with honor, and with love and grace.

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux wrote, regarding humanity made in the image of God, that while our imaging may be tarnished and corrupted by sin, it is not destroyed.  Christ's incarnation as human, and willingness to be like us (sleep, eat, play) but for Christ (the perfect and sinless God-man) to redeem and rescue humanity, demonstrates God love for humanity and the whole of creation.  Matter matters to God-- He, being God becomes flesh.  More, the Resurrection, and our future resurrection, directly opposes the false belief of us dying and going to Heaven.  We don't go to "heaven" (maybe temporarily) but it isn't where we dwell eternally.   There is a new (renewed) Heaven and new Earth.  The New Jerusalem (a city!) comes down to earth.   

This has profound implications in how we treat each other, and how we care for the marginalized, the elderly, the ill, the orphans, and others.  Importantly, when we embrace each other as one who is made in the image of God, we are to value everyone that we encounter each day as God values them.     

I am reminded of this when my Indian friends greet me.  "Namaste": meaning, to see God's image in the other person.  Let us serve and love each other with Namaste.  

V is for Victory -Leadership of Geese

From experience, leadership is knowing when to lead and when to be a follower.  If a leader is always in front, they will burn out.  When leaders are always in front, others are less inclined to grow because they are always depending on the leader to make the decisions--it only builds dependency on the leader. Leaders are always looking for opportunities to develop other leaders and empowering others to step up to lead.  A healthy balance of knowing when to lead and when to follow is always necessary especially if the intention is to journey together for the long haul.  When leaders are following, they don't disappear but are cheering others along, supporting the team, and serving them along the way. Importantly, willing to take the blame even when others fail and to work together to make things right when things do go sideways.

This is best​ illustrated by geese flying in a V formation going south every winter.  I love watching them every winter--hundreds of them--take off and begin their long journey.  The leader leads in front, taking the brunt of the wind for a while.  The rest of the flock draft behind the leader.  When the leader becomes tired, another steps up almost without hesitation and goes to the front.  As they fly, they call out to one a other as if to cheer each other on and to let the current leader know they are ready to step up to take on the challenge.  They're always ready to support each other. They need each other.

It's okay to take a break and let someone else lead for a while.  Be a cheer-leader! It takes genuine humility in order to be a follower. We're in it together for the long journey. When we do so, we are also putting our trust in God-God is sovereign and works even when we're not.  It demonstrates that we also trust those whom we work with.   And when Spring comes, we do it all over again. 

Faith and Work - everyday living

The photo is a reminder that our Lord Jesus is the Son of God, second person of the Trinity, and both God and Man, worked as a Carpenter. 

Adam and Eve were gardeners. Moses and David tended sheep.  Simon and Andrew were fishermen. John and his brother James also fished.  Ruth worked in the fields.  Paul made tents. 

God desires us to work--purposeful work. The Hebrew word "avodah" means both worship and work.  In other words, in our work we also worship our God.  Lest us not forget the importance of our daily work--for it is not simply work or just a job that we do everyday; we participate in God's work and God's mission into the world.

damonmak.blogspot.com my blog on faith and work is live. #faithwork #faith #work #leadership #thriving #thriveandhelpothersthrive #workplacetheology #buildingforthekingdom #theologyofwork #vancouver #damonmak #dmakdamon #damonmak.blogspot.com

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We believe that God is present in ...

The gospel, "good news" is about Jesus and about his inaugurated Kingdom here on earth. In its original meaning, the evangelion was the announcing of a new ruler-a cosmic ruler.  It is good news because a new King-Jesus the eternal King-reigns above any power or government or leader.  A new age indeed has begin at the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.  It is also good news because sin and death have been defeated; the curse of death, and the bondage of sin has been defeated on the cross.  God has been faithful and accomplished his plan of rescue, redemption, and reconciliation through the God-man Jesus.  And God sends another, the Holy Spirit who takes us into the world-to engage the issues, to be light in darkness, to do our best to transform society, and to maximize God's shalom everywhere we are and go. 

A powerful prayer found in the Iona Abbey Worship book nicely summarizes our participation in God's mission.  

We believe that God is present in the darkness before dawn; in the waiting and uncertainty where fear and courage join hands, conflict and caring link arms, and the sun rises over barbed wire. We believe in a with-us God who sits down in our midst to share our humanity. We affirm a faith that takes us beyond the safe place: into action, into vulnerability and into the street.  We commit ourselves to work for change and put ourselves on the line;to bear responsibility, take risks,live powerfully and face humiliations to stand with those on the edge; to choose life and be used by the Spirit for God's new community of hope.

Amen.

- Iona Abbey Worship Book (c) 2001 The Iona Community

Be faithful to your calling. It is not going to be a smooth light journey and will require perseverance.  Suffering may be the new norm for those that follow Christ. God has empowered you with whatever is needed for the mission and with you through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit-have strength and courage. 

But Isn't Having Ambition wrong?

Being Christian for the longest time meant being nice, submissive, passive, non-confrontational, and generally about being a good person; well, yes and no.  The church has a lot to say about piety and spending time praying, reading scripture, and doing work in the church (meaning the four walls of the building)--these are good practices; that said, what does God have to say about the day to day work that we spend years doing in the workplace? I assure you, there is a lot that God has to say and is really the purpose of this blog.  When it comes to ambition, it's often given a negative connotation as if desiring success is un-Christian, and unholy.  If success becomes an end itself, surely that needs correction; however, if we are the sons and daughters of God, ambassadors of the Kingdom, priesthood of believers, made in God's image, our identity in Christ must give us the confidence to do well, to work hard, and to even to do well financially; these things need not be something we need to be afraid of or shy of.  Again, I need to re-emphasize that i'm advocating for some sort of prosperity gospel.   Neither am I advocating that the doing of works saves us in the end. 

Ken Costa in his book God at Work: Live Each Day with Purpose  has this amazing quote on ambition and I commend to you.

"If our ambition is aligned with what God has called us to do, then we are right to ask for his blessing on it so that we can make a difference in the world and bring him glory." (38)

It is also worth checking out the God at work website https://www.godatwork.org.uk/ for more articles and inspiring videos.

Don't be afraid to ask God what our hearts are telling us. Be specific even with our prayers. Write it down in your journal and pray about it daily. God can say No--But what if God says YES and decides to bless you so that we thrive in that work. How different would our lives be?

Each day we should work with the confidence that God is with us, in us and works through us. We cannot work without Him--we participate with Him, and we work together as the Body of Christ. Each day we should also seek God's heart in all matters, and do our best to bring glory to Him in the work that we do. It is important to understand our passions and our motivations and seek counsel from others if necessary to make sure it is aligned with God's heart. Have faith to do it and living out our calling. And we empowered by the Holy spirit to do so--prompting us, guiding us, leading us, encouraging us. It is not enough to simply know this, but deeply and believe that you can achieve much greater things than Jesus himself. Jesus did say it himself:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will [he/she] do, because I am going to the Father." John 14: 12.

Be the light that inspires Hope in Others

Be the light that inspires hope in others.  When others are down, encourage them.  Stand alongside others and journey together.  We can do it! #motivation #leadership #inspiration #vancouver #vancity #faithwork #friends #inspire #encourage #makeadifference

A post shared by Damon Mak (@dmakdamon) on Apr 14, 2017 at 5:36pm PDT

Passion vesus Pay (Compensation)

I believe we should always strive to do work that we are passionate about.  However, when we talk about following our passion and doing work that is inline with our, we immediately ask the question "what about pay and compensation?" We may be very passionate about what we do but it doesn't pay very well or pay at all.    Do we forgo pay and chase our passions? The reverse of this is where we are paid well, yet what we do does not align with our passions but we also need to make sure our kids or parents are cared for. Is it right to then neglect our responsibilities of caring for our families, or rack up lots of debt in order to fulfill our passion?  We should do whatever it takes to fulfill our passion, right?  I think the answer in fact lies somewhere in between–in other words, balance.  

Bill Hybels, founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington Illinois writes in his book  Simplify: Ten Practices to Unclutter Your Soul (paraphrasing Paul the Apostle 1 Tim 5:8) "Put passion aside if you must (at least for a season), and put food on the table.  If you're called to provide, you must provide, even if you cannot do so in your area of passion.  That's your first priority." (102)

Hybels has a wonderful summary (107):

Low Pay + High Passion = Supplement Your Income.

• If we are passionate about what we do but it doesn't pay well, we may need to find other part-time work in order to continue doing what you do.

High Pay + Low Passion = Supplement Your Passion. 

• You may be paid well, but you do less-enjoyable work.  Firstly, all work is God good in God's eyes and can glorify God.  Staying in your job also doesn't make you less faithful. You may choose to volunteer in work that is aligned with your passion.  You can still put food on the table, while pursue your passion.  

You don't have to sacrifice your passion neither does sacrificing pay make you more holy or faithful.  Be open and flexible.  Find ways to enjoy your job–rather, love your job.  Find ways to do work that is inline with God's calling for you–work that you are passionate about.  You are doing God's work in the world.

FaithTech.ca Conversation Night in Vancouver

What does Faith and Technology have to do with each other? Why does God care about technology? How and can we bring glory to God through technology? How can God use technology to advance the gospel? I believe God invites us all regardless of what you do into the redemptive and transformative work--that includes technology, software, and engineers.  

This is a wonderful time to engage with other Christians and technologists in the discussion as well as how we can make an impact to the city of Vancouver. James Kelly (Waterloo, Ont) founder of FaithTech.ca will be hosting an event in Vancouver Coast Church May 13, 2017.  

Get more information and tickets to the FREE event can be found here: 
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/faithtech-vancouver-conversation-night-tickets-33170098658

DATE AND TIME

Sat, 13 May 2017

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT

LOCATION

Coastal Church

1160 W. Georgia St.

Vancouver, BC

To be made in the Image of God (imago Dei) is to Reflect

After the six days of creation, God creates humanity.  In Genesis 1:27, we are told that God created humanity in His image (imago Dei)-male and female He created them.   To be made in God's image has several implications.  

We are to be like God in that we share in the like-ability to create and design, the like-ability to order, and to multiply and grow. We are also made to reflect God back to God, reflect His image to the rest of humanity, and to reflect His image into creation. 

We are neither created to reflect ourselves nor are we created to reflect or do the work of creating and ordering alone without God--That was the Fall.  Neither do we reflect God's image only as men or women only; It is only when all humanity as men and women coming together in co-partners and in participation with the Creator, do we image our Creator.  

Today because of Christ, we are reconciled with God.  We join in union and participation with the Godhead in His redemptive and trans-formative work.  We are empowered by the Holy Spirit.  We build for the kingdom! We build together. Our work matters to God and has eternal significance because we are made in the image of God.

StrengthsFinder 2.0 Focus your Strengths

A friend of mine got together over coffee last week.  We met each other at a coaching course.  In that class we did one of those personality assessments and we had a lot in common.  My friend asked me about StrengthsFinder 2.0 and whether I did the assessment; while I had the book for several years, I've never gone through the assessment.  The assessment is based on Clifton StrengthsFinder.    I finally got to it and here are my Strengths.

1. Strategic
2. Connectedness
3. Ideation
4. Woo
5. Belief

Yeah, the results sound like me--at least the current me.  I don't think those would have been my strengths ten years ago.  I think that has a lot to do with my self-awareness, self-reflection, and wrestling with my identity issues.   It will be interesting how this will change again in the next ten years.

Have you done StrengthsFinder 2.0? What are your strengths? Do we have anything in common? If we have matching strengths, i'm curious to know what career you're in and how your strengths are used in the work that you do.  More importantly, how do your strengths align with your calling or vocation?  

Soul and the City (June 22, 2017) - City in Focus Event

City in Focus’ mantra is to care for the soul of the city through conversation, connection and compassion.  At this event we will explore ways in which our urban landscape shapes and defines our spirit and relationships with one another.  Vancouver has a reputation for being a lonely and a sometimes isolating city.  Charles Montgomery will address these issues through the lens of urban design, architecture and  behavioural economics.  Our hope is that attendees will be challenged and inspired to reflect on ways in which they can create community and connectedness in their own lives.

Charles Montgomery creates transformative conversations about cities, science and human well-being. Charles is an award-winning author. He helps planners, city builders and regular people find new ways to see and change the world around them. He and his team also create participatory programs where people use their own cities as laboratories. His latest book, Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design, looks at how lessons from psychology, neuroscience and design activism can help all of us fix broken cities and improve our lives. (Read the review in the New York Times.)

WHEN: June 22, 2017 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

WHERE:  Rennie Collection at the Wing Sang

51 E Pender St

Vancouver, BC V6A 1S9

Canada

COST: $25

More Information: Soul and the City (City in Focus)

The Decline of Religion in Canada or Not

My summary and reflection from a City in Focus sponsored event at St. Mark's College Vancouver by Dr. Angus Reid on "Faith and Society: How the forces of a new era will reshape individual and collective religious experience in Canada".

http://www.cityinfocus.ca/2017/05/05/the-decline-of-religion-in-canada-or-not/

Building up People to Build for the Kingdom

If you’ve had conversations with me, you probably will get a sense that I’m passionate about integrating our faith with our work.  I believe that God has created us to steward creation well, and to thrive in the areas of business, arts, education, music, and so forth-wherever God calls you to be for building God’s Kingdom and to bring glory to Him.

In business, it’s important to do your market research and to spend the time to develop an effective marketing campaign to promote your product; It’s also important that you also believe in the product(s) that you are selling.  And while companies spend thousands of dollars (and even millions) on marketing, resources are not spent on investing on their employees.   This is not only about skills development.  It’s about building trust and truly believing in your employees and caring about their success as employees-to thrive in what they do and to thrive as holistic persons (spiritual, physical, and mental wellness). When you equip and empower your employees, and to love them and believe in them, your customers and their family and friends will notice.  

#faithwork #buildforthekingdom #thrive #shalom #workplacetheology