Years ago I use to pump gas in the mountains of Oregon. One night a car with two nuns came in and I filled up the gas tank. When I was finished they gave me a credit card to pay the bill. I went into the shop and processed the credit card. After they signed it I ask them “When the Rapture happens who pays the bill”? I think they were a bit stunned at the question what they lacked was a sense of humor.
Tag Archives: Business
Expectation Overload
With a binding minimum wage of w the marginal cost to the firm becomes the horizontal black MC ‘ line, and the firm maximises profits at A with a higher employment L . However in this example the minimum wage is higher than the competitive one, leading to involuntary unemployment equal to the segment AB. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I just read a post from a man who is in a leadership position. It seems that today’s competitive environment has caused him to consider his role in the company. One day he prepares his resume for another place of employment. Another day he finds the strength to continue. I couldn’t find a place to add a comment for his post. So I “Liked” it in the hopes that he would come to see who visited his post.
I have two things of importance to lay against this problem.
1. When I first became a Christian I endured the obvious turmoil that the Lord brings to a sinner’s soul. Often I considered leaving because I wasn’t fit for the positions they gave me to fill. Then one day it came to me that, though I was severely unfit for my post at least I cared about fulfilling it. And if I abandoned my seat I wondered who would come along to fill it. In the end it wasn’t enough to sincerely care. The position demanded fulfillment. And this brings me to point two.
2. I have found that the lie of competition and demand are far too much pressure for a man to rely on. What I mean is that people often expect too much from us. They see a need and, apparently, they have found a body to fill that need. Now it is up to the individual who is being pressed to make a choice; “Do I continue, knowing that I can’t do what they ask? Or do I resign and accept something that I know I can accomplish with faithfulness.”
If the seat I hold is too much for me I will not fulfill the expectations. How is that much different from having someone who lacks devotion fill that post? We are forced to lay aside the demands of our culture of perfection and seek a place where we best fit. The Lord will lead us there. Bottom line, are we willing to lose so that we can become more efficient, according to the skills the Lord has given us?
I have found that losing hurt deeply. But I wonder how much more damage I would have done to others had I stayed where I didn’t belong. Now I am in a place where I can contribute with ease.
It is my sincere hope that this post will help someone deal with the problems associated with unreasonable expectations, whether they come from inside us or from others.
Resolve
Leave a message! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I know that others will have their own testimony. But I am so filled this morning that I find it necessary to dump some words. Rather than leave them clinging to the walls, dripping from the ceiling, or hidden in the carpet, I thought it good to place them here.
I am consumed with the things of God. And I find it so beautiful that this causes me absolutely no shame. In fact, I would rather that the consuming become a raging fire within me that will never quench.
As I said, I know that my brothers and sisters have the same testimony. But I just couldn’t leave those words unspoken.
I looked to the right of the screen to see what tags I would connect to this post. I smile as I look at them. I say to myself, “Fine! All of you are welcome to support what I say here. Come take your place, that this message might be available to every possible search a man might make. Isn’t that the purpose of this message?
May God be Glorified by His servant. Though I may well be least among His people, yet I rise a million miles from where He found me groveling in my own putrid mess. Glory to He who is the Living God! Amen.
Silence Can Murder
No Corruption (Photo credit: Ann Douglas)
Socrates was charged and put to death for corruption of the youth. Apparently he incited them to contempt of leadership by his words against unjust laws and rulers. With amazement I have to say, “What did he do but point out the obvious?”
If a leader is worthy of contempt what is the harm in pointing it out? It is not a charge that should be laid against the one who speaks. It is a charge against the corrupt leader. The one who speaks is only pointing out what is well known and true. It is the
Portrait of Socrates. Marble, Roman artwork (1st century), perhaps a copy of a lost bronze statue made by Lysippos. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
obligation of the corrupt leader to change his ways.
Yet corruption often leads to power and influence. So to point out the faults of those who attain power by means of corruption are likely to wield that power against truth sayers. My reply is, “What is that to me? I’m going to die anyway. Let them come and assail me for telling the truth. At least I will have done my duty. That cannot be said of those who took oaths of truth and shed them as soon as they put the robe of office on their shoulders.”
I confess that I am so very frustrated at the lack of leadership from those who know better. But hasn’t that been the case since the time of Adam? The frustration is a shared cloak which all men of truth wear. One thing comes to mind that bears saying. If I were as I am and placed in a populous advantage I would not be alive today. Here I am to speak out and I find a twinge of shame in that statement.
You who hold a place of leadership should be speaking out strongly against the corruption in leadership. But you often resort to simply maintaining peace among the people under your charge. You turn inward in hopes of establishing stability for those who will listen to you. All the while the corruption grows to near riot right outside the walls of your sanctuary. You teach them righteousness and peace while you make no attempt to shine a light on the corruption of this world.
You know who you are. I know who I am. Neither of us is the other. And I do not judge you for what you are doing. But will you judge me for pointing this out?
Have We Forgotten Something?
Image via Wikipedia
A man went to the town’s banker. He had known that this man was willing to help men start businesses. The two sat down at the desk and bantered the man’s ideas for a business. Having been part of thousands of successful businesses, the banker listened and gave advice to the business man. Later, in that encounter, the banker pulled out two bundles of money. One bundle was small and the other was much larger. He placed the smaller bundle on the desk in front of the business man. The larger bundle was placed on the right side of the desk near the banker’s elbow.
The business man smiled with a smile that belongs to a man of hope. When they finally stood to end the conference, they shook hands and the banker watched the business man leave. Reaching out, the banker took the larger bundle and put it back where he had gotten it from. 5 years passed and the business man had lost his business. Through no fault of his own, the economy and society had changed. His business no longer found a welcome at the wallets of the people.
One day, while having lunch with a friend, the business man saw the banker sitting by himself with his meal. The business man went over to the table and thanked the banker for having helped him experience 5 years of profitability. “Without you I would never have purchased my house. Though I eventually lost the business, I am happy with what you were kind enough to help me start.” The banker just smiled at the business man. “I’m glad to have been of assistance”, the banker said. ” But you would still be in business had you asked me about the other bundle of money I had drawn out when you came to me.” The business man looked at the banker with a puzzled look. “What are you talking about?” The banker told the business man that he was ready to supply far more money if he had only been asked.
We come to God and receive answers to our prayers. And we go out and accomplish a great deal. How much blessing was there left on the table?
Asked to Haul too Much too Far?
Image by TruckPR via Flickr
Give me a load to pull, and ‘ll start thinking of what it will take to get it there. How many days will it take? How much fuel? What roads I’ll have to use. But this information can be gained. And I come to have confidence that the load will arrive as planned. That is, if nothing unseen stops me. So I hook the load and start off with a freedom of conscience and no worries other than the immediate concerns of traffic and such.
But what if I hooked a load with a half tank of fuel, and was told to take that load 3000 miles. I would expect that there would be a fuel stop somewhere. But what if they expected me to provide the money to buy the fuel? Let’s see: 200 gallons at 4.00/gal, and 7 MPG. Um, can I talk to someone about this? The load is going to go a certain distance then it’s gonna just stay at that certain distance.
Most people approach God like this. They think they have been asked to be “good” and perfect in everything they do in order to please the Holy Lord of Life. But just like that load I was asked to haul, someone else provides the money for the fuel. Someone else provides the truck, trailer, load, seatbelt, radio, and everything but my body and mind. In the case of God, however, He even provides the body and mind for the trip He demands from us.
If you want to treat God as a distant person who is only a task master, demanding certain things you can’t do, then fine. But you alone suffer under the burden He has not asked you to haul.
By His Grace.
Words From There 