Mark Conner Current Issues

What Americans think of Islam


IslamBarna Report: In the aftermath of the Boston marathon bombings, the attention of the media and the American public quickly turned toward the faith and political background of Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Reporters honed in on Tamerlan’s apparently deep Muslim faith, especially analyzing if that faith had become radicalized in the last few years. Fair or not, pundits, experts, and the American public wondered—did the faith of the two alleged bombers have anything to do with the atrocity that occurred? If so, what did that mean?

It was yet another instance of American ideals and radical Islam clashing with one another. Since September 11, 2001, American attitudes toward the religion of Islam have been under increased investigation. Controversies surrounding al Qaeda action around the world (such as the recent attempt in Canada), the Ground Zero Mosque, the protests over the film The Innocence of Muslims, Pastor Terry Jones threatening to burn a Quran, or any number of proposed laws (like the one in Oklahoma) to ban Sharia Law in the United States, have all entered into the collective American consciousness. So what does America think about Islam?

A recent Barna study suggests one-third of Americans (33%) have a favorable perception of Islam, while slightly more (36%) say they have an unfavorable perception of the religion. Add to that the 31% who don’t know what they think about Islam, and you have a nation decidedly divided on how to deal with a religion that includes 1.57 billion followers worldwide.

Perceptions of Islam
Americans of all ages are fairly split on how they perceive Islam, though the general trend reveals older Americans have a less positive impression of the faith of Muslims. Only 5% of Elders—adults who are 67 or older—say they have a “very favorable” perception of Islam, compared to 14% of Mosaics—ages 18 to 28—who say the same. About one in five Elders also say they have a “very unfavorable” perception of Islam (21%), while less than one in eight Mosaics feel that way (13%).

There is also a political divide that defines people’s perception of Islam. In Barna’s research, the only group with a lower response of “very favorable” than Elders were people who identify as Republican. Half of political conservatives (50%) say they have at least a somewhat unfavorable perception of Islam, while only about in five (22%) political liberals say the same.

Religious ideology and affiliation also affects one’s perception of Islam. Evangelical Christians have the most unfavorable perception of Islam, with two-thirds of evangelicals saying they have an unfavorable impression (62%), and with four in ten evangelicals holding a very unfavorable perception (39%). Only one-fifth of evangelicals say they maintain a favorable view of Islam (22%). Conversely, only 7% of agnostics and people who identify with no faith say they have a very unfavorable view of Islam, and 17% say they have a very favorable view of the religion. In between these groups, about one-fifth of non-evangelical born again Christians say they have a very unfavorable view of Islam (20%)

Clergy Views of Islam
If religiously active Americans perceive Islam negatively, skepticism toward the Islamic faith is even deeper among Protestant faith leaders. In a separate Barna survey of pastors, almost three-quarters of Protestant clergy (72%) expressed critical views of Islam—saying they have somewhat or very unfavorable perceptions of the religion. According to the survey, pastors of mainline denominations tend to have a more favorable perception of Islam compared to other Christian leaders, with 68% reporting either a somewhat or very favorable perception of the Muslim faith. Non-mainline and Southern Baptist pastors have the most negative perceptions of Islam, with 85% and 92%, respectively, telling Barna Group they have either somewhat or very unfavorable perceptions of Islam.

Violence and Islam
Much of Americans’ concern over Islam has been a perception of violence. While more than half of American adults (53%) believe Islam is essentially a peaceful religion, a substantial minority—more than one in four of all Americans (26%)—associate Islam with violence, saying “Islam is essentially a violent religion.” Another one-fifth of respondents say they are not sure how to answer this question, which underscores that even while most Americans have come to a point of view on Islam, the jury is still out for millions of others

Among religious groups, the perception differs from group to group. While less than half of Protestant pastors (45%) agree with the statement “Islam is essentially a violent religion,” more than half of evangelicals (52%) say they agree with that statement. That percentage drops down to less than one-in-three (30%) when surveying non-evangelical born again Christians, and 26% of Catholics agree with the statement linking Islam and violence. An even smaller percentage of people (20%) who claim no faith (or are agnostic) say they agree with the same statement.

Only a little more than one in four evangelicals (27%) agree with the inverse statement, “Islam is essentially a peaceful religion,” while 62% of people with no faith or who are agnostic agree with that statement. Nearly half of non-evangelical born again Christians (47%) say they agree with the link between peace and Islam, and more than half of Catholics (59%) say the same. Of all Protestant pastors, well over half (62%) disagree that Islam is essentially a peaceful religion.

Politically, conservatives generally seem to believe Islam to be a more violent religion than do liberals. Nearly half of political conservatives (45%) agree with the statement “Islam is essentially a violent religion,” compared to 19% of moderates and 15% of liberals. Over three-quarters of people (79%) who identify as political liberals say they believe “Islam is essentially a peaceful religion,” compared with the 40% of conservatives who say the same.

There is also a steady uptick in agreement with the statement “Islam is essentially a violent religion” as responders get older—Elders are the most likely to agree with the statement (31% of these respondents agreed) while Mosaics are the least likely (20% agreed).

Is Peace Possible?
Three-quarters of all Americans (75%) believe “peace between Christianity and Islam is possible,” and that optimism plays out among the various demographic breakdowns as well. Even though nearly three-quarters of evangelicals (74%) believe that Islam is “anti-Christian,” Barna researchers found that seven in ten evangelical Christians believe peace between Christians and Muslims is possible. A full 85% of Mosaics believe peace between Christians and Muslims is conceivable, though only 63% of Elders say the same. That divide is echoed in the political realm, where 85% of liberals believe there is the possibility of peace between Christians and Muslims, compared to only 64% of conservatives who agree

Peoples’ view of Islam and hope for peace may be colored by attacks like the Boston marathon and 9/11 and the global reaction to Innocence of Muslims, which many people are willing to attribute to extremists. Nearly seven in ten Americans (68%) agree that extremists have unfairly distorted people’s perceptions of Islam (only 15% of Americans disagree)—it’s a sentiment held by the majority of liberals (86%) and conservatives (61%).

With a Muslim population in the United States estimated by some sources to be as large as seven million people, and as events across the Muslim world continue to touch American lives, public perception of Islam in the U.S. is an increasingly important religious indicator. David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group, commented on the findings. “The study raises questions for Christians in America. While Muslims remain a very small part of the entire U.S. population, the world is shrinking in many ways. Events like those in Boston focus the public’s attention on Islam. Increasing immigration of Muslims into the country changes population densities. The Internet and social media bring human beings of different faiths and contexts into closer digital proximity. And the implications of events in predominantly Muslim nations, including the Middle East, affect millions around the world. For example, how do U.S. Christians help support persecuted Christians who live in other countries, without demonizing Muslims at the same time?

“Christians don’t have to give up on their faith convictions, yet it is important to live and work compassionately and graciously with members of the second largest religion in the world. Some of the public’s response to the Boston attacks showed how easy it is to lump people into a group labeled as different and dangerous. Yet, it is important to see the human beings behind the Islamic label while discerning the fundamental differences between following Christ and Mohammed.”

[Source] 

Mark Conner Special Events

ANZAC Day

AnzacTommorrw is ANZAC Day here in Australia. ANZAC Day is commemorated in Australia and New Zealand on April 25th every year to remember members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who landed at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.

ANZAC Day is one of the most important days on the Australian calendar as we take time as a nation to honour those who courageously gave their lives for the freedom of others.

As Christians, ANZAC Day reminds us of Jesus Christ, who left the comforts of heaven to come to earth and give his life for the freedom of all.

For more information on ANZAC Day see the following web sites:

Why not consider attending a dawn service in your local area?

Mark Conner General Interest

Australia’s Population Reaches 23 Million People

OzThe 23 millionth Australian, due to arrive this week, could be a baby called Jack or even a young Pom.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics says the nation's population is set to hit 23 million people on April 23 at 9.57pm (AEST), but there's only a 40 per cent chance he or she will be home grown.

Migrants make up 60 per cent of Australia's population growth and the UK accounts for one in five arrivals.

If number 23,000,000 is born locally, there's a slightly better chance of it being a boy, with 105 males born for every 100 females, and Jack their most popular name.

Australia's population is increasing by 1048 people per day, or by 1.7 per cent a year, which equates to one new Canberra or three new Darwins per year.

The ABS now forecasts the population will exceed 40 million in the late 2050s.

Australia's median age has increased nearly five years from 32.7 to 37.5.

Western Australia is the fastest growing state, while Tasmania's population growth rate is contracting.

Tasmania's population increased by just 500 people last year, while WA is now growing by more than 1500 people per week.

More people are moving interstate to Queensland, while NSW had the highest departures to other states, with 1900 people leaving each week.

[Source]

Mark Conner Evangelism and Mission

30 Ways to be Missional in your Workplace

OfficeMany times it’s difficult to find practical ways to be a blessing in your workplace. Rapid pace, mounting deadlines, or co-worker conflict can often derail even the best of intentions to say and show the love of Jesus at work. Yet, it is important for us to know what it looks like to bring gospel intentionality to our jobs. 

Recently, Josh Reeves posted some very practical ideas for blessing others in the workplace. Hopefully this will help spark a few ideas for connecting with and blessing your coworkers. 

1. Instead of eating lunch alone, intentionally eat with other co-workers and learn their story.

2. Get to work early so you can spend some time praying for your co-workers and the day ahead.

3. Make it a daily priority to speak or write encouragement when someone does good work.

4. Bring extra snacks when you make your lunch to give away to others.

5. Bring breakfast once a month for everyone in your department.

6. Organize a running/walking group in the before or after work.

7. Have your missional community/small group bring lunch to your workplace once a month.

8. Create a regular time to invite co-workers over or out for drinks.

9. Make a list of your co-workers birthdays and find a way to bless everyone on their birthday.

10. Organize and throw office parties as appropriate to your job.

11. Make every effort to avoid gossip in the office. Be a voice of thanksgiving not complaining.

12. Find others that live near you and create a car pool.

13. Offer to throw a party for a co-worker who is having a baby.

14. Offer to cover for a co-worker who needs time off for something.

15. Start a regular lunch out with co-workers (don’t be selective on the invites).

16. Organize a weekly/monthly BBQ to make lunch a bit more exciting.

17. Ask someone who others typically ignore if you can grab them a coffee/drink while you’re out.

18. Be the first person to greet and welcome new people.

19. Make every effort to know the names of co-workers and clients along with their families.

20. Visit co-workers when they are in the hospital.

21. Bring appropriate drinks to work to keep in your break room for co-workers to enjoy. Know what your co-workers like.

22. Go out of your way to talk to your cleaning people who most people overlook.

23. Find out your co-workers favorite music and make a playlist that includes as much as you can (if suitable for work).

24. Invite your co-workers in to the service projects you are already involved in.

25. Start/join a city sports team with your co-workers.

26. Organize a weekly co-working group for local entrepreneurs at a local coffee shop.

27. Start a small business that will bless your community and create space for mission.

28. Work hard to reconcile co-workers who are fighting with one another.

29. Keep small snacks around to offer to others during a long day.

30. Lead the charge in organizing others to help co-workers in need.

Why not pick one of these ideas and act on it this week! 

[Source]

Mark Conner Family

Is BIGGER always Better? Beware the Relentless Pursuit of MORE

FishI love the story about the Harvard MBA who was in Mexico for his company. He saw a small Mexican fishing boat pulling up the dock and one solitary fisherman got out and held four huge fish on a stringer. The Harvard guy was amazed at the quality of the fish. He asked the fisherman, “How long did it take you to catch those?” He said, “About three hours.” “What are you going to do with them?” The fisherman said, “They’re going to feed my family.” The Harvard guy was intrigued and said, “What do you do with the rest of your time?” The fisherman said, “I sleep late. I play with my children, I have a siesta with my wife. I fish for a while then I go to bed.” The business side of this Harvard grad kicked into high gear. He said, “You could work nine hours a day and catch three times the number of fish! Then you could buy a second boat. Teach someone else to catch those quality of fish. You could buy a whole fleet of fishing boats. You could ship your fish to restaurants all over the world. You could move to New York, put your fish catching business on the stock market.” Before he even realized what he was saying the Harvard guy said, “If you work hard enough, long enough you can eventually retire by the coast, sleep late every morning, play with your children.” Hmmm …

[Source: Sermon by Brad Johnson from Saddleback on When Your Work Doesn't Work (May 2000)]

Mark Conner Personal Development

Are You a Workaholic?

W2Workaholism is probably the only addiction that is rewarded, affirmed & admired. It can be so easily masked as 'diligence'. Yet, without doubt, overwork leads to spiritual dryness and often to eventual relational breakdown. Being a workaholic is not just about working hard, which is a good thing. It's about working with a powerful underlying drive for approval and/or success.

Are you a workaholic?

 1. Are you always in a hurry?

2. Does your ‘to do’ list always have more on it than you could possibly accomplish in a single day?

3. Does doing nothing drive you up the wall?

4. Do you find it difficult to say 'No' to opportunities?

5. Do you feel guilty when you relax?

6. Do you frequently find it difficult to turn your mind off at night when you go to bed?

7. Do people around you tell you, you ought to slow down?

8. Do you procrastinate about taking holidays?

9. Do you have to get sick to slow down?

10. Do you ever take work business related reading material into the toilet? If you do, you are a confirmed and certified workaholic!

IF you answered NO to all of these questions, don't worry – you're okay! However, IF you answered YES to any of these questions, then you definitely need to evaluate the place that work has in your life.

Not convinced? Here is another list for your honest reflection. 

Signs of a Workaholic

1. Usually takes on more responsibility than he or she can comfortably handle.

2. Schedule is chronically overloaded.

3. Unable to relax.

4. Never satisfied with his/her attempts; always feeling they should have done better.

5. Always frustrated and burdened by the guilt of being imperfect.

6. Often haunted by low self esteem – though appears strong, decisive and positive.

7. Deep inside, may be highly insecure and yearning to be respected and valued.

8. Wants to be recognised as an important, successful individual.

9. Thrives on awards of excellence.

10. This person is driven.

11. May appear to others to be the epitome of stability, dedication and commitment.  However, his or her efforts are directed by a need to cover feelings of inferiority.

12. Those closest recognise the signs but usually the workaholic will not see it.

If you felt an 'ouch' when reading this (like I did!), then it's time to talk about it – with a close friend, a family member or a counsellor. Unattended, workaholism can do great damage to your life and those closest to you. In Old Testament times, they killed people who didn't keep the Sabbath. Today, we kill ourselves.

[Read about Your Work, God's Work]

Mark Conner Personal Development, Theology

Your Work, God’s Work (Pt.2)

WorkIn a previous post, we talked about God as a worker and the sacredness of
work, as well as God’s purpose for our work or business. Today we want to share
a few reflections on the integration of our work and our faith as followers of
Christ.

How You Work Matters

It's one thing to have a job and know God’s purpose for our
work. It’s another thing to consider how we
go about our work. God desires that we work with diligence, honesty and an
excellent attitude. This attracts God’s favour and makes the Gospel attractive
to a watching world. We are to serve people with love, as to the Lord.

1. Be diligent. Whatever
your job is, develop your skill and be excellent at what you do. Then go about
your work with all your heart, doing your very best, as to the Lord (Col.3:23).
Diligence outworks itself in practical ways such as: showing up in time,
respecting your boss or supervisor, exceeding expectations, doing your best,
taking responsibility for mistakes, sharing the credit, being a good team
player, resolving conflicts quickly, improving yourself, and volunteering for
extra assignments. Diligence attracts the blessing of God and the favour of people
(Prov.12:24; 13:4). You gain credibility by adding value to your workplace,
resulting in growing personal influence.

2. Be a person of
integrity. Integrity means there is integration between who we say we are
and who we really are. Honesty pleases God and can be a powerful witness to
others (Prov.20:23). Be wise in your relationships. Work hard, and not just
when the boss is looking (Eph.6:5-9. Col.3:22-25). Employers, do what is just
and fair when dealing with your employees (Col.4:1).

3. Be loving. God
calls us to serve others in love (Gal.5:13). Love, or how we serve and treat people, is to be our priority as followers of Christ (John 13:34-35. 1
Cor.13), and this includes our workplace. Daniel Goleman’s landmark studies
about people who are successful in the workplace reveal that “emotional
intelligence” (our ability to control our own moods and to get along with a
wide range of people) is twice as important as IQ (intelligence) and technical
skill.

4. Be a witness for Jesus
Christ. Our work provides us with an opportunity to mix with those who are not yet believers. Live
in a way that is attractive to them, then look for opportunities to share a
meal, to share your story, to share your faith, and to share about the good news
of Jesus Christ (Col.4:5-6. 1Pet.3:15). 

There's More to Life than Work

As important as our work is, there is more to life than
work. First of all, you are not your job.
It is interesting to note that when we meet other people, one of our first
questions (especially for men) often is, “What do you do for a living?” It is easy to become what we do. In contrast, God
desires our identity to be in who we are not what we do. What we do is to be
an expression of who we are. God does
not want our work to become an “idol” that becomes the primary source of our identity,
security and significance, leading to greed and workaholism. It is helpful to reflect
on why we do what we do and to inject
some fresh meaning and purpose into our work, beyond just making a living, climbing
the corporate ladder, and/or being “successful.” God is far more interested in who we are becoming than what we are doing for Him.

Secondly, you need to
rest. The Sabbath principle is as important today as it was when it was first given and it was made for our
benefit (Mark 2:23-28). On the seventh day, God “rested” from his work of
creation and declared the day “blessed” and “holy” (Gen.2:1-3). This principle was then reinforced
as the fourth commandment (Ex.20:8-11) which forbids
being “lazy” (you must work if you are able) or becoming a “workaholic”
(someone who never stops or slows down). Both work and rest are ordained and
blessed by God. 

Sabbath was a day of rest for the Israelites and violating
it was a serious offence (Ex.31:14. Num.15:32-36). It was a joyous holy day, a day of spiritual
refreshment, community worship, prayer, contemplation and community worship. Today
we no longer need to keep the literal Sabbath Day as Israel did (Rom.
14:5; Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:16). However, we can glean some very important
lessons from the principle of the Sabbath Day for our lives. We can and
should reclaim Jesus’ liberating view of the Sabbath as a “gift from God” for
our benefit and a time for “doing good”. This includes making church gatherings
a priority in our schedule (Acts 2:42-47. Heb.10:24-25), spending time reading
and meditating on God’s Word (Jos.1:8. Ps.1:1-2. 2Tim.3:16-17), creating
special times for family and friends, ensuring we get adequate time for rest
and relaxation, and taking time for reflection and contemplation (Lk.5:15-16.
Mk.1:32-39; 6:45-46). Rested workers are the most productive. Managing our energy as well as our time is a key to
effectiveness. This requires creating an appropriate rhythm between work and rest, and between activity and recovery.

[Quick Check: "Are you a Workaholic?"]

Finally, you need to
balance work with the others aspects of your life. Work takes a significant
portion of our time and can fill as much of our life as we allow it too. Family,
friends and our church are also vital aspects of our life. In his letter to the
Ephesians, the apostle Paul spoke about the importance of managing time
(Eph.5:15-16), then went on to speak about the priority of family life, calling
husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Eph.5:21 – 6:4). Andy
Stanley, in his book When Work and Family
Collide, notes that there is more work to do than we have time, so someone
will be “cheated”. Don't allow work to cause you to cheat God and your family. Create
boundaries. Draw lines. Determine when enough is enough. There is great power
in being content with the current level
of provision God has given us and then living within our means, rather than
continually striving for more (Phil.4:10-13. 1Tim.6:6-10).

Reflection Questions

1. If you were (or are) an employer, what qualities
would you look for in hiring an employee?

2. What are the affects of a Christian employee who
under-performs in the workplace?

3. The Bible tells us that Daniel was ten times
better than all the other advisors to the king in Babylon (Dan.1:17-21; 6:3).
What are some steps to developing excellence in our work?

4. Reflect on some workplace challenges, such as
dishonesty, gossip and sexual temptation.

5. What are some key principles for sharing our
faith in the workplace?

6. How can we avoid work becoming an “idol” (the source
of identity, security and significance)?

7. Think about the impact of the pace of life in a
mega-city such as Melbourne, with seven day a week trading, continually
accessibility due to technology, and continual entertainment access.

8. What are the consequences of neglecting the
Sabbath principle?

9. What specific practices can help us to embrace
the Sabbath principle?

10.  How
much work is too much? What are some practical steps we can take to ensure that
work doesn’t lead to us “cheating” God or our family?

11.  You
are offered a higher profile job with significantly more money in another city.
What other important factors should you consider before deciding whether to take the offer or not?

12.  Consider the quality of contentment and how it
relates to our work (read Phil.4:10-13 and 1Tim.6:6-10).

Mark Conner Music

You Raise Me Up

EagleOne of my favourite songs is You Raise Me Up as sung by Josh Groban.

Here are the lyrics.

YOU RAISE ME UP

Vs.1

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

Chorus 

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up… To more than I can be.

Vs.2 

There is no life – no life without its hunger;

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;

But when you come and I am filled with wonder,

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up… To more than I can be.

Kind of reminds me of the Spirit-inspired words of Scripture:

Isaiah 40:28-31. Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. NLT

May God raise you up today! 

Mark Conner Theology

Jesus’ and the Routine of Daily Work Life


JesusFor the first 30 years of his life, Jesus was boring.

He was an unknown carpenter who wasn’t doing “big” things for God.

He worked alongside his dad, using his hands to shape, shave and tack together pieces of wood. He quietly studied the scriptures, and grew in stature with God and men.

He didn’t have a public ministry.

He didn’t write any books, go on a conference tour, adopt an orphan, give away 75 percent of his income, or go on multiple missions trips. He loved the Lord with all his heart, honored his mother and father, and quietly went about his work.

Was Jesus wasting his life? Absolutely not.

He was doing exactly what God had called him to do. As his hands ran over rough planks of wood, he was quietly earning our salvation. Jesus, the lowly carpenter, the furniture maker, was as radical as they come.

And for 30 years he was quiet.

You don’t have to leave home to be crazy on fire for the Lord.

Jesus spent his first 30 years simply working and obeying. This tells me that it’s possible to be radical while changing diapers, or creating spreadsheets, or plowing snow, or doing whatever mundane task you are called to.

For the Christian, there is no such thing as insignificant work.

Being radical for Jesus means obeying Jesus, loving Jesus and proclaiming Jesus wherever we are, whether that’s in the mission fields of Cambodia or behind the counter at a coffee shop.

[Source]

For more about work, check out Your Work, God's Work.

Mark Conner General Interest, Humour, Personal Development

Work Trivia + Some Unusual Jobs in Demand

CareerThis week we've been talking about Your Work, God's Work.

Did you know that the average person today has 5-7 complete career changes in their life time? That's an average of 10 different jobs with an average of 4.1 years at each workplace. 

I sure help the average, having worked as a builder's renovator, a book binder, a printer, a music director, a youth pastor, a church administrator and now as a pastor for the last 18 years.

Maybe you've had lots of changes in career too or maybe you're one of those people who stick at something for a long time.

Just for a bit of fun, here are some unusual though highly paid jobs in demand here in Australia:

1. Senior Submarine Cook. When the Royal Australian Navy advertised that it was willing to pay up to $200,000 for senior submarine cooks, it attracted worldwide media attention. It seems that there aren’t too many individuals with the cooking skills and organisational ability to produce morale-boosting food in a cramped galley.

2. Shark Tagger. Those tags that allow marine biologists to track the movements of great white sharks don’t magically attach themselves. If you’re willing to haul a shark onto a boat and help with the surgical implantation of a tracking device before throwing it back in the water, you probably won’t find yourself competing for jobs with too many others.

3. Island Caretaker. Love the ocean, and want to live a permanent holiday life? This job requires one to explore islands, and discover areas for exploitation. One will require some basic skills, like carpentry, plumbing, communication skills etc, in-order to help the Island achieve its recreational potential.

4. Crime Scene Cleaner. Ever wondered what happens after all the dirty work has been done at a crime scene and who cleans up the mess? Crime scene cleaners do it, though they need the stomach for it, due to the emotionally challenging nature of the job.

5. Fortune Cookie Writer. If you have a creative mind and imagination, you can earn good money with this job too.

Anyway, it doesn't hurt to daydream occasionally. Maybe you need a new job OR maybe you need to go to your current job as a new person … with a new perspective. Any plain old job or task can become a calling or a vocation IF we see ourselves as sent on a mission by Someone important. Your Work, God's Work – you're on a mission from God. Go to it! 

Mark Conner Personal Development, Theology

Your Work, God’s Work (Pt.1)

WorkDid you know that the average person spends about a third of their life working, a third of their life sleeping, and the other third with family or friends (when they are not working or sleeping … or on the internet!). That mean’s that over half of our waking hours are spent in the workplace. Have you ever asked yourself what God's purpose for your work is? And how we can find more meaning and fulfillment in our work? These are some of the questions we’ll be discussing in this series.

God as Worker

In the beginning, God worked. Genesis shows us that the creation of the world is God’s “work” (Gen.2:1-3), undertaken within a regular workweek of seven days. Not only does God work, he finds delight and joy in his work. God then commissioned humans to carry on his work in paradise (Gen.1:26-28; 2:15). God works for us and we work for him, and he works through us (Ps.127:1).

In his book Every Good Endeavour, Tim Keller says, “Work did not come in after a golden age of leisure. It was part of God’s perfect design for human life, because we are made in God’s image, and part of his glory and happiness is that he works, as does the Son of God, who said, ‘My Father is always at work to this very day, and I too am working’ (John 5:17).” He does on to say, “Work is as much a basic human need as food, beauty, rest, friendship, prayer and sexuality … without meaningful work we sense significant inner loss and emptiness … we need work to thrive.”

Of course, sin has dramatically affected our world and our work. The curse of “thorns and thistles” (Gen.3:17-19) translates into relational problems as well as regular experiences of frustration, fruitlessness, lack of fulfilment and even meaninglessness. Work is not itself a curse, but it has been affected by the curse of sin.

Work as Sacred

God is interested in our work life. Unfortunately, many people have created a division between the “sacred” and the “secular”. This dualism is a product of Greek philosophy that has so influenced our Western worldview. Life is often seen as a series of boxes – one for family, one for work, one for friends, one for recreation, and one for religion (God or our “spiritual life”). As long as we prioritise correctly and make appropriate contributions to each box, life will work out for us. This results in compartmental thinking. In contrast, in the Hebrew mind, and from a Christian perspective, life should be viewed as one large circle with God in the centre. Everything else is to find its meaning and perspective from that centre. God wants to be involved in every area of our life – not just our spiritual life. All of life is sacred and God is interested in every dimension of our lives.

Brother Lawrence is well known for writing a little booklet that has touched millions of people’s lives. It’s called Practising the Presence of God. It’s about living with a greater realisation each moment of every day that God is with us and interested in doing life (including work) together with us. The apostle Paul put it this way: “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col.3:17).” Doing something in Jesus’ name means to do it in his character. It means doing it as Jesus himself would do it if he were in your place. Paul is saying that our entire lives – from the moment we wake up until the time we lay down to sleep – are to be lived out ‘in the name of Jesus’. That is what discipleship is all about.

[Read about Jesus and the routine of daily work]

The Purpose of Work 

1. To Glorify God

For us as followers of Christ, the entire purpose of our life is to bring glory to God – to display his nature and character to the world (1Cor.10:31). We are God’s representatives in every sector of our world and we need to represent him in such as way that we bring him praise and honour (Deut.4:5-8). The way we live, as well as the way we work and do business should attract people to God and give us opportunities to point people to Him. Who we are, how we work should please God and bring glory to him (Matt.5:13-16). There are many ways to do this, including (from Micah 6:8) acting justly (doing what is right, fair and equitable), loving mercy (being kind in the way we treat people) and walking humbly (avoiding pride and arrogance). Everything about us is part of God’s message through us to the world. How we treat others – our customers, our competitors and our community – speaks volumes to people (Col.4:5-6).

2. To Serve People

Every business, and therefore every job, exists to add value to people – to provide a service or a product that enhances people’s quality of life. The business or the industry you work in does not exist just as a way to make a living but as part of God’s plan for meeting the needs of people and making the world a better place. Your organisation exists for its customers not just its owners or shareholders. Great service creates not just customers, but raving fans who are so excited about the way they were treated that they brag about the organisation and its service. Think about Jesus who attracted crowds of people without all of our modern day marketing methods because he knew and met real needs and people kept spreading the word until he had more customers than he could handle (Matt.20:28). God wants us to do the same (Gal.5:13). When we make a delicious meal, clean a house, construct a building or create something of artistic beauty, we are doing kingdom business.

3. To Provide an Opportunity for Meaningful Contribution

God created us with the need for meaningful work. Part of our sense of significance comes from our ability to make a contribution to our world. It is part of God’s purpose for our lives. Your work has the potential to enhance your sense of dignity and contribution (2Thess.3:6-13), as well as providing an outlet for your skills and creative energies.

4. To Generate Wealth

In exchange for service or a product we receive payment of some sort. This is the principle of “fair exchange”. It’s okay to make a profit. Making a profit simply enables you to do business for another day. With the profit we make we can reward our ourselves, providing for our own family’s needs, as well as having resources to contribute towards God’s work in the earth (Deut.8:18).

[Read Part 2]

Reflection Questions

1. Think about your work – what do you enjoy about your job and what is frustrating about it?

2. What does the fact that God is a worker tell us about his nature and character?

3. Although, God gives dignity and purpose to our work, we know that sin has affected everything. Reflect on the challenges and potential frustrations of work in a fallen and broken world (read Gen.3:16-19 and Ecc.2:17-20).

4. Consider the common divide between “sacred” and “secular.” What are some practical ways we can include, and be more aware of, God in the daily routines of our lives?

5. What does it look like to do our daily work “in Jesus’ name?”

6. How can our work bring glory to God (read and reflect on Deut.4:5-8. Matt.5:13-16. Micah 6:8. 1Cor.10:31 and Col.4:5-6 for some ideas)?

7. What are some criteria to consider when contemplating a potential job or career choice?

8. How can retirees continue to make a contribution – without retiring from life?

Recommended Reading

Every Good Endeavour: Connecting Your Work to God's Plan for the World by Timothy Keller

God the Worker: Journeys into the Mind, Heart and Imagination of God by Robert Banks

Business through the Eyes of Faith by Richard C. Chewning

Redeeming the Routines: Bringing Theology to Life by Robert Banks

[Read Part 2]

Mark Conner Spirituality

3 Great Questions to Start the Day

ReflectI like to start each day with some time alone … with God. I read and reflect on the Scriptures (check out the CityLife Bible reading schedule for 2013) as a means of connecting with God. I also like to write my thoughts out in a journal. Sometimes I'll just record what has been happening and what's coming up in the day ahead. I also like to make use of questions. Here are my favourite three:

1. How do I feel?

We often live at such a fast pace that we are not even aware of what is happening inside of us. This question forces me to slow down … to look beyond what I am doing or even what I am thinking to see what I am feeling. What emotions are swirling around inside of me? Give them voice and then reflect on them. Don't try to evaluate them or fix them. Just feel them fully. Emotions are indicators (like a dashboard) of what's happening deep inside our heart. Give them attention. The Old Testament Psalms are a vivid example of this.

2. What do I want to say to God?

Tell God what you feel. Pour out your heart to him. Be open and honest. Share your concerns and worries. Share your joys and triumphs. Share your defeats and failures. He knows it all but there is something powerful in expressing it to Him. Prayer is simply conversation with God. Write your thoughts out, speak them out in your mind, or give voice to them. Once again, the Psalms demonstrate this profoundly.

3. What does God want to say to me?

God's Spirit lives within us and he knows the thoughts and mind of God (see 1 Corinthians 2). Ask God to speak to you. His words usually come like a steady flow of thoughts that are not premeditated. Just write or type what you feel or sense. Then you can evaluate it. The enemy always come to steal, kill and destroy but God comes to gives us life (John 10:10). The enemy always condemns – a general feeling of never being good enough – while the Spirit always convicts – a very specific thing with a required response. Remember, God has revealed himself to us as a Trinity – One God existing in three persons: our Father, Jesus as our Saviour, and the Spirit as our Helper. Join in the fellowship and partnership of God today. God's Words are Spirit and life. See them as your daily bread, bringing nourishment to your soul.

Questions are powerful. Ask them and then see what God does.

Have a terrific day!