iWork4Him PowerThought

What's the difference between a career and a vocation?  Career is defined as an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life with opportunities for progress.  A VOCATION, on the other hand, is defined as a person's main occupation, especially regarded as particularly worthy and requiring great dedication.  WOW. That's a big difference.  We heard recently that as a Christ-follo...

In our 2021 book, iWork4Him , I wrote a chapter about the four lies we've swallowed that shape how we live out our faith at work – some of which I personally believed for many years. Over the last week, we have touched on each of these lies, and all of them have one thing in common: they strangle our faith. When we relegate Jesus to one day a week, we cut the world off from what it needs most: hop...

In our 2021 book, iWork4Him , Jim wrote a chapter about the lies we've swallowed that shape how we live out our faith at work. The fourth lie he wrote about was that the American Dream is biblical truth for Christians. Because the truth is, it's not. And more than that, it's not guaranteed! Material things will never bring true happiness or fulfillment and they should never be our end goal. After...

In our 2021 book, iWork4Him , I wrote a chapter about the lies we've swallowed that shape how we live out our faith at work – some of which I personally believed for many years. This third lie, I believed until I was 40! The lie was that you are a second-tier citizen in the Kingdom of God if you aren't s pastor or missionary. That somehow your life has less impact for God's glory if you aren't in...

In our 2021 book, iWork4Him , Jim wrote a chapter about the lies we've swallowed that shape how we live out our faith at work. The second lie he wrote about was that you should keep your faith at home because of the separation of church and state. This is one I hear all the time, but the truth is that when Thomas Jefferson wrote about this separation in 1802 it was intended to help protect the chu...

In our 2021 book, iWork4Him , I wrote a chapter about the lies we've swallowed that shape how we live out our faith at work – some of which I personally believed for many years. The first lie I wrote about was that work is work and church is church . They have nothing to do with each other. When we live under this lie, we start to believe that living a life of faith at work will keep us from achie...

Let's be honest – we're all guilty of gossip at one time or another. This sneaky little sin often creeps in as grumbling, complaining, ranting, or venting- especially if we've had a hard day at work. Although gossip may seem small, but the truth is, it's not. I read an article by Erik Raymond the other day where he writes, "Gossip is the Devil's Ponzi scheme to get rich quickly on disunity." And g...

What is the number one goal of most businesses? I'll give you a hint: it starts with a "P" and it ends with "-ofit." That's right, the marketplace is built on profit - on financial gain. But God calls us to a different kind of business: the business of people. Kingdom minded businesses are founded not on a bottom line, but on a bottomless faith. They are all about ETERNAL profit. In Matthew 16:26...

We recently talked with Brenda Long, the Former Director of Infrastructure Operations at Food for the Hungry, about what it takes to end an issue as large as global poverty – her answer: partnership and cooperation. When we face enormous tasks - like ending hunger or bringing the gospel to every tribe, tongue, and nation - we must remember that we are simply a part of the solution, not the whole t...

You've probably heard the phrase, "actions speak louder than words." And as true as that may be, our words are still a vital part of our testimony! What we say and how we say it can either build up the people around us or tear them down; draw them to Christ or push them away. Ephesians 4:29 says, " Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words w...

The other day I heard about an easy conversational tip to help build quick relationships with new people no matter what situation you're in – from the office to the bus to the breakroom! It's called the FORD Method. The FORD Method is an acronym where the "F" stands for Family, "O" for Occupation, "R" for Recreation, and "D" for Dreams. By asking the other person questions in each of these four ca...

Have you ever found yourself caught up in petty workplace rivalries? If you have, then you know that they can get ugly – fast! When we play the comparison game, it's easy to spend more time looking over at our neighbor's desk and critiquing their work than actually focusing on doing our own work with excellence. In 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 the Apostle Paul writes, " We hear that some of you are liv...

What do you see when you look at your boss, coworkers, or employees? Do you see annoyances and frustrations, or do you see the image of God? As Christians, we believe that God creates all people in His own likeness, each one worthy and inherently valuable. And what's more, each person is also loved by God! Romans 5:8 says, " But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sin...

In our book, iWork4Him, Bob Willbanks writes about how he was "miserably saved." A condition where one is focused more on a life guided by the American Dream than on a life guided by Jesus. This mindset may have brought Bob worldly success and riches, but it also led him down the road of alcoholism, cost him his first marriage, and almost cost him his second. He was on the fast track to disaster u...

In Matthew 10:27, a lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. The answer: " You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself ." God wants your whole life; He isn't interested in just a part of it. He doesn't just want your Sunday mornings. He wants it all . Tw...

During the work week, most people spend 40 hours at their job, 40 hours sleeping, and 40 hours for everything else – including commute time, chores, eating, hobbies, relaxation, and family time. This means, the greatest sphere of interpersonal influence you have is probably your job. Tracy Matthews from Attune said in a recent interview that, " Time spent at work typically consumes the largest sha...

Too often, when we hear the word "generous" we think only of financial giving. But what if God is calling us to be generous with our whole lives – not just our bank accounts? Proverbs 11:25 says, " Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. " What if we redefined generosity as anything that refreshes those around us? In other words, taking time to listen,...

If I had a quarter for every time I'm talking with someone about work and they say, "I just wish I knew what my purpose was," I would be a very rich man. We have been fed a lie in America that there is one exact job that God is calling us to, and if we miss that career path, we have somehow missed His purpose for us. But in Matthew 28:16 Jesus gives us the ultimate calling. He says, " Go and make...

In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, " Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me ." In other words, if you are going to follow after Jesus, you have to be willing for faith to cost you something. Drew Crandall from North East Christians at Work told us in a recent interview that, " It's relatively easy to be a Christ-follower at church on the weekend. But expor...

When you are faced with a difficult person, a disagreement with your spouse, an unfair situation at work, or a complaining coworker – what is your initial response? Is it to open your mouth? Or is it to open your Bible? Too often we speak out of anger, frustration, or even a misguided sense of justice, without first seeking out the heart of our Heavenly Father. This type of response – more often t...

The International Encyclopedia of Human Geography defines Worldview as, " a set of beliefs or a mental model of reality that influences the way people perceive, think, know, and act in the world." When was the last time that you really considered how you view the world? What are the things that influence how you think and act in the workplace on a daily basis? This week, we want to invite you to r...

Have you ever left a conversation where you felt like the other person really understood you and cared about your life? If you have, chances are good that the reason you felt this way was because they genuinely listened to you. The truth is, it's impossible to get to know someone when we do all the talking. Instead, we have to ask questions, pause, and listen to the answer without interrupting or...

Most companies are run with one thing in mind: the bottom line. According to the world, the most important measurement of a truly successful business is profit. But what if money and profit margin aren't how God defines success? Almost every Kingdom-minded company that we've interviewed over the last nine years has said that, in the end, successful and healthy business is all about people  over  p...

We spend more than one-third of our life at work.   Yet sadly, Barna research shows nearly two-thirds of churched adults say it has been at least three years or more since they heard church teachings on work and career,   and yet, the workplace is where most Americans spend the biggest share of their waking hours.  What can YOU do, to introduce your church to the importance of faith and work?   In...

Relationship. Relational.    Is there any better word to describe Christianity that sets our "religion" apart from all others? Our faith is based solely on relationship. And is there any better model for us to follow?   In our life, in our work?  And the basis of this relationship model is LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others,...