October 16: Boss' Day

 

October 16:  Boss’ Day

Boss’ Day was created by Patricia Bays Haroski in 1958 when she registered it with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce while working as a secretary at State Farm Insurance. The date she selected was her father’s birthday, due in no small part to the fact that she was working for him at the time.

There is a critical lesson here for us.  It is easy to see those in authority over us as tyrants, or as people who only want to use us.  There are times when this may in fact be the case.  But as Christ-followers, we have a unique obligation when it comes to work, and a unique opportunity. 

The obligation is clear:  “Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.” (Colossians 3:22).  Expressions like “suck-up” or “brown-noser” come to mind.  It’s easy to approach work as a dodge, a means to the end of getting what we want.  But our attitude and behavior at work is a direct reflection of our view of God.  God has designed the universe to run on the basis of roles.  Some are in authority over others.  To embrace and reflect that, even when those in authority are not the best, is critical in our relationship to them, to ourselves, and to God.  Treat your boss with the dignity and respect you would God Himself. 

The opportunity is our witness to the world.  It’s easy to love and serve a wonderful boss.  But for those who follow Jesus, we have a different call:   “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.  And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.  (Luke 6:32-36).  Let’s use this Boss’ Day to let our lights shine even brighter.

October 15: Conflict Resolution Day

October 15:  Conflict Resolution Day

Embroiled in any conflicts today?  Then you probably haven’t woke up yet!  Conflict seems endemic to our lives and our world.  Two places seem especially hard hit, families and The Church.  Too often the fruit of those conflicts are devastating, ending in divorce, estranged children, church splits, and blocking on social media. 

Conflict Resolution Day is a global event, intended to promote the concept of peaceful conflict resolution. Created in 2005 by the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR), it is now an annual celebration. 

Rather than think in general terms today, I want you to pick one relationship.  Just one.  What will you do, starting today,  to move toward resolution?  As always, God’s Word provides a way forward.  Let’s unpack what needs to happen.

First, identify the root cause.  What, really, is the problem?  “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?” (James 4:1)  There is the culprit.  This is where we must begin.  What part must I own? How have I let my emotions take over?  What have I said and done that I now regret?  Where must I seek forgiveness?

Second, but very much related, we need to confess that our pride is keeping us from moving forward.  Pride is ugly.  It was at the root of Satan’s fall from grace, and it is precisely what keeps us from receiving God’s sustaining grace.  After revealing the root cause of our conflicts in James 4, James goes on to say in verse 6: But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Third, you need to go to that person.  Humbly, emotions checked at the door, you need to go and seek reconciliation.  And you need to do it now.  Christ urges us in Matthew 5:23-24:   “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” 

Finally, follow this simple process, especially as it relates to conflicts in the church.  DO NOT TRIANGULATE!  Never talk to someone else about how hard it is with "so-and-so."  Your first words must be to “so-and-so.”  Matthew 18:14-17 lays out the process:  “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” 

Today, determine that there will be no more talking behind someone’s back.  No more gossip.  No more whining disguised as a “prayer request.”  Instead, determine to resolve conflict God’s way.  After all, “blessed are the peacemakers.” 

October 14: World Standards Day

 

October 14:  World Standards Day 

Have you ever considered that part of your destiny is to establish standards?  You were created for that very purpose.  Ephesians 2:10 is crystal clear: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  Imagine it.  We were created not merely to provide the moral standards, but to walk in them. And all this happened before we were even a twinkle in our parents’ eyes. 

Throughout the world, there is a set of standards that have been established that companies, organizations, and industries have all agreed to hold up. These standards have been established by mutual agreement between these organizations as part of their participation in the ISO, the International Organization for Standardization. It was these kinds of standards that helped drive the industrial revolution, and today it drives the advancement of all technologies from automotive to telecommunications. World Standards Day celebrates the work of these men and women, and the contribution their work makes to the world at large. 

Funny thing about good standards.  They are hard to hide.  In Paul’s encouragement to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:25 he notes “So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.”  Here is the question.  How can we be people who conspicuously elevate God-honoring standards without being jerks?  For me at least, that’s a tough one!

I think two simple words can point us in the right direction:  teach and model.  The hard part is teaching without being “preachy” and modelling without being “showy.”  Pray for a humble and wise heart.  Ask God’s Spirit to give you what you need to be winsome, to be engaging and loving as you teach and model God-honoring standards.  Remember, most often good behavior is caught before it is taught.  On this world standards day, let God’s people rise up and determine that no one will outdo us in doing good.  And let’s rely on God to be humble and loving as we do so.  Of for the day when we will celebrate God’s Standards Day.  Press on.  It’s coming.

October 13: Train Your Brain Day

 October 13:  Train Your Brain Day

Each day, one “muscle” shapes everything we do and how we experience the world around us. It isn’t an actual muscle, but it is easily more powerful than even the strongest muscle. Our mind can make us sick, or make us well, it can drive us to see deception and paranoia in the actions of others, and it helps us make sense of the world around us. Train Your Brain Day recognizes the power of the mind, and how training it can change our lives dramatically. 

Science tells us that we use only a small percentage of our brain.  Have you imagined what a fully functioning, untouched-by-sin brain could do?  Could we move objects with our mind, dematerialize, or even fly?  While still the stuff of science fiction, the fact remains that we need to train our brains now with one goal in mind.  Transformation. 

Romans 12:2 gives us clear marching orders.  “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 

Would you like to know God’s will for your life?  In the broadest sense, we already do.  1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, and 1 Peter 2:15 all make clear that God wills for each of us to become like Christ, to give thanks in all things and to do good works so that others might believe.  But our daily walk is another matter.  What job should I take, who should I marry, what major purchases should I make, what school should I go to?  Questions like these and a thousand more abound.  How can we discern God’s will in these things? 

By training your brain.  Simple, but not easy.  Two things are critical.  First, we must implore God’s Spirit to help us break the habit of thinking like the world, and instead, thinking like Jesus.  “We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).  Only God’s Spirit can properly oversee our brain training. 

Second, we must treat God’s word for what it is—sweet honey, precious stones, pure gold.  I know.  I struggle as well.  But we must commit time every day to reading, listening to and studying the word of God. Under the supervision of the Holy Spirit, it is unparalleled in re-training our brains to think and feel and act like Jesus Himself.  So today, recommit to training your brain.  Do so, and your spirit at least, will fly.

October 12: Columbus Day

October 12:  Columbus Day

The first celebration of this holiday occurred in 1792, when New York’s Colombian Order, Tammany Hall, held an event to observe the historic landing’s 300th anniversary. Although during this time period it was celebrated unofficially, it did not become a federal, official holiday until 1937 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

Since then, our nation has been engaged in what is known as “revisionist history.”  Rather than attempting to describe historical events in context, based on the writings of those involved, we have begun to rewrite history.  The outcome has been a disaster.  We have begun to judge all historical figures and events by today’s standards.  In other words, unless people living hundreds, sometimes thousands of years ago, embraced today’s standards and values, they are deemed less than human.  Slavery is a classic example.  As evil an institution as ever existed, slavery was practiced by every civilization and every people since time began.  Today, we recognize this terrific sin for what it is.  

This is no way absolves those from the past!  They will be held responsible before God for the choices they made.  But as cultures evolve and as nations live out the true meaning of their ideals, things change, often for the better, as in this case.  To hold the founders of our country to a standard that did not exist in their own day is historical irresponsible.  A classic example is the current 1619 Project.

This practice is no more pronounced than in the treatment of Christopher Columbus.  He is currently portrayed as a genocidal, racist maniac who willfully and gladly enslaved and decimated vast numbers of indigenous peoples.  As Christ-followers, it is critical that we learn from the past.  It is incumbent upon us to carefully exegete history. 

This means that we have one primary responsibility, and it’s a tough one.  When you study history, rely as much as possible on primary sources.  That means, read what Columbus himself and his contemporaries wrote.  This is true for the study of all history.  That can be tough because writing styles, idioms and figures of speech often leave us wondering what we have read.  But we must rediscover this fundamental method for the study of history.  

Accounts of the past, written by those who did not live it, are always biased.  Always.  This is why it is critical that we look to the past as recorded by those who were there.  The same can be said for our study of God’s Word.  So, this Columbus Day, Google the writings of the man himself.  What you will find is quite different than what you read in today’s history textbooks.    

October 11: World Coming Out Day

 

October 11:  World Coming Out Day

God is a sexual being.  Say what?  No, He does not have genitals.  But it is no accident that when God determined to create a being made specifically in His image, this is what we read:  “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,^[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” ²⁷ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27)

Up until that point, EVERY creature was created male and female.  Why make a point of that in this context?  Because being male and female, in relationship to one another is at the very heart of what it means to be created in the image of God!

Now, flip ahead to Genesis 3.  Where does Satan specifically attack humanity?  He approaches Eve, and Adam is standing right there!  He attacks our understanding of our roles, and our relationship to one another as men and women.  There has been Hell to pay ever since.  Satan’s vicious and hate-filled attack on God’s creation is centered on sexual confusion and brokenness.  That is by design.

Further proof of the centrality of our sexuality is found in 1 Corinthians 6.  There we read:  “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)  Sexual sin is not “worse,” but it is more profound.  It is an assault on our very nature, the heart of being in God’s image.  It is especially destructive and hurtful, unlike every other sin.  Again, this is by design.  Satan delights in our pain and confusion and suffering.  This is in large part why we celebrate sexual brokenness of all kinds.  Coming Out Day was created by Rob Eichberg and Jean O’Leary as a result of the March on Washington DC for Lesbian and Gay Rights on October 11, 1987.

There is no question that the vast majority of sexual sin has been perpetrated by heterosexual males.  But all sexual sin, including homosexual behavior, bestiality, transgender confusion, adultery, pornography, etc. are an assault on who you were created to be.  As believers, we must continue to extend compassion without compromise.  Welcome those from the LBGTQ community into your churches.  Do your homework.  Read, become engaged, and above all, offer the grace that God offered to you in the midst of your own sexual brokenness.  But never embrace or promote the idea that sexual brokenness, in any form, is good or to be celebrated.  That is not love, it is a cowardly concession that only promotes more brokenness, pain, and suffering.

October 10: World Homeless Day

October 10:  World Homeless Day 

I work with the homeless almost every day.  Like so many things, my perspective has been shaped by my experience.  Over the years, I have come to love and respect those who are/were homeless like never before.  My heart also breaks for them.

That the poor and homeless have a special place in God’s heart is undeniable.  Both the Old and New Testaments urge us to care for them.  “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” (Isaiah 58:7)  “And one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:16) 
Actual care and genuine help are difficult, nuanced and challenging.  It is not about a handout or even a place to stay.  Immediate needs must be met.  Food and shelter are critical, which is why every church should have a good working relationship with food pantries and shelters.  Does yours? 

The greatest need is to identify what brought them to that point.  My experience has been that addiction issues, financial irresponsibility, even mental illness are often root causes.  There are those rarer occasions where someone or a family is taken unawares by circumstances beyond their control.  But most often, the homeless are that way because of poor choices or because of undiagnosed illnesses.

What can you do?  First, understand.  Roll up your sleeves and get involved with your local shelter.  Serve.  Get to know these people.  They are just like you in so many ways.  They feel and hurt and long for love as we all do.  Second, do your homework.  Learn the real statistics.  Read books like Toxic Charity and When Helping Hurts.  Do the most good for the most people in the best way. 

Most importantly, do all you can in the name of Jesus.  Religious do-gooders abound.  We don’t need more.  Homelessness is first of all an issue of the heart.  Hurts need to be healed,  habits need to change, and hope has to be real.  All of those are only truly possible when our hearts are changed by the power of the gospel.  Make a commitment today that your church, wherever it is, will step up to care for the homeless in new and more effective ways.  And never take having a roof over your head for granted again.