Archive for May, 2010
Overly obsessed with excellence
We recently did 360 degree evaluations in my office. In the feedback I received, phrases like “able to take projects to the next level,” “gets a lot out of her team,” and “accomplishes the task at hand” repeated themselves over and over, as did phrases like “too direct,” “incredibly strong personality,” and “has a hard time making people feel comfortable in a meeting.”
These painful—I mean helpful—insights got me thinking about the underlying standards that drive my actions. [Read more at highcallingblogs.com]
A very personal faith and work talk
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share this online, but what the heck, I have never held back before. I had an opportunity to give a talk at the quarterly staff chapel at Point Loma Nazarene University (where I work). It was a personal talk about what I learned about having a dream for your life after my dad passed away.
I hope you will get to know me even better by hearing some personal stories about my dad and me. The powerpoint I used was mainly photos. You can’t see them in the video, so I’m linking to them here.
Faith and Work Sermon Series
My church, Harbor Presbyterian, just finished up a sermon series on faith and work.
Topics were:
The Gospel Reverses the Curse on Work
I Hate My Job
I Hate the People I Work With!
Prayer for military, police, and fire fighters
The latest industry prayer we prayed during our church service:
Father in heaven, we offer thanksgiving for our military, police, and fire fighters. Those in these fields fight crime and fires here… and enemies abroad. From the desk to the front lines—logistics and communications, military doctors and lawyers, administrative support and strategy planning—thank you for these men and women. They serve and protect us, maintaining peace in our communities and around the world. Lord, you are our ultimate protector, and these men and women are blessed to partner with you. Your protection often comes through those you have placed in these roles.
We are humbled by the sacrifices made by these men and women and their families—sacrifices sometimes beyond what any of us could imagine. What an amazing picture of your sacrifice to save and protect us all, Lord! Please protect them as they serve—emotionally, mentally and physically. Strengthen their marriages and their relationships with their children. Grant peace amidst the uncertainty of where and what their next orders or call will be. Help them find a community of Christian support wherever they go. Comfort them when they are lonely.
Lord, when the tasks feel mundane, help them remember the honor in their work. Help them resist mediocrity and strive to work with excellence. Inspire them to take initiative despite inefficiencies—and let their initiative be recognized and rewarded. Open to them opportunities to serve in ways that use their talents and passions.
For those in command, we pray that they would be wise and just. For those lower on the chain, help them model Christ’s humility. Help all to remember that ultimately they are serving you.
And we pray for our veterans, many who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from seeing unthinkable things. Others have severe physical and mental injuries. Give them an extra measure of your grace and hope.
Remind us all to express gratitude to the men and women who serve so faithfully. Thank you, Lord, for your protection and your unfailing love. May we be inspired to love and fight for justice in our own areas of influence because we have seen the love you and these folks have shown us.
We pray these things in Jesus’ name.
