Integrity Moments

Author Os Hillman wrote that our own strengths and talents often can be a barrier to our faith. When we are skilled in an area, it is easy to depend on that strength instead of depending on God. In Luke 5, Jesus challenged Simon (soon to be “Peter”) to trust God for his work outcomes. ... The post Our Own Effort appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In Arthur Brooks' book, From Strength to Strength, he references a study that discovered that 70% of workers say that the most important element to a happy work life is friendships at work However, 82% of all businesses in America are now led by solo entrepreneurs, with little opportunity to make or have friends at ... The post Looking For Help appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

When I launched a faith-based consulting practice, a partner helped me start the business. Six months later he returned to banking, while I carried on alone. Very alone. We had rented some space in a dreary basement of a bank building. Suddenly, I was isolated, lonely, and making decisions in a vacuum. As an introvert, ... The post We Are Not Meant to Be Alone appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Arizona Christian University's most recent American Worldview Inventory report addressed the level of Biblical worldview in eight different categories. For the marketplace, I believe their category, Lifestyles, Behaviors, and Relationships is critical. Unfortunately, according to the report, only 10% of adults are integrating the Bible into their behaviors and relationships. Our biggest opportunity, however, lies ... The post Making Disciples in the Workplace appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

We all want to imagine that our work is important and lasting. We want to make a difference. But the truth is that much of what we spend time working on won't last. Days before his death, Jesus was at the house of Simon when a woman poured out a jar of expensive perfume over ... The post Lasting Work appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

The executive erupted as the employee described the team's mistake. The executive didn't want to hear about what led to the mistake or how the team was working to mitigate the problem. He wanted the offending employee to feel his anger and the consequences of the error. How do you react when a team member ... The post Honest Mistake appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

As the time approached for the day long prayer retreat, I started having second thoughts. There were so many important things that needed done. Also, as an introvert, I relish my quiet time with God, while corporate prayer is more of a struggle. Despite my reluctance, I went, and left grateful. The time of prayer ... The post Building Community appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Jeff was expanding his tree service into a new city. While building his business there, Jeff met Bob, a young competitor. Jeff worked hard to build his business, but rather than trying to crush the competition, Jeff decided to mentor Bob. He even referred work to Bob's company occasionally. After Jeff died in a tragic ... The post Mentoring the Competition appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

For a while, I worked for a banker who had a fierce competitive rivalry with his cousin. There were seasons when the rivalry was more intense due to their personal conflict. My peers started realizing that if they had a loan prospect who was also getting a bid from our rival bank, they could stir ... The post A Fruitless Competitive Rivalry appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

As graduation season approaches, many college students may be excited about completing their education, yet also anxious about burdens they now face. Educationdata.org claims the average college graduate is now faced with $40,000 in student loan debt! Since two decades ago, the average student loan debt at graduation has increased 117%. Debt can crush hopes ... The post The Graduation Burden appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Many communities provide training for potential employees, as well as entrepreneurial training and support. However, Sherrod Brown, in an Inc magazine article, noted that a significant shift has happened in the marketplace requiring these programs to be redesigned. With the rapid growth in side businesses, many people now need workforce skills and business skills. Many ... The post Budding Entrepreneurs appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

When we formed an event team in St. Louis years ago, one of the first roles we filled was a Prayer Coordinator. Over the years we've experienced intense spiritual battles before events. At our first event our team had some major medical challenges brewing. We began funneling our prayer requests to our prayer team. The ... The post Enlisting a Prayer Team appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

My associate, Mike, and I were trying to find the Skywalk in downtown Des Moines without going outside into the torrential rain. We thought we had succeeded when we saw the S sign over a staircase. But then we discovered that the staircase was closed for construction. Mike asked a nearby construction worker if he ... The post Our Guide to the Skywalk appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Over 1200 people were packed into the Iowa Governor's Prayer Breakfast this year. One of the things I appreciate most about this event each year is that there are no denominational turf battles. Instead, it is an event for the capital C church. In John 17:20-21, Jesus said, “I pray also for those who will ... The post Workplaces Free of Denominational Battles appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Houston Christian University recently conducted a survey of Christian business leaders. One of the issues discussed was the challenge of living an ethical life in the workplace. The research revealed that sixty-one percent (61%) of Christian leaders feel that moral conflicts put the impact of their faith expression at risk. In my opinion, the core ... The post What Is Your Purpose? appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Nehemiah, Ezra, and the people of Israel, all experienced God's miraculous involvement in rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. Then Ezra shared God's Word with the Israelites, resulting in a time of repentance and revival. Rather than let this spiritual peak subside, Ezra pulled all the key leaders together to study God's commands and how ... The post Preparing Leaders for Action appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In Nehemiah 8, Ezra read from the Word of God for half the day, while Levites clarified what the words meant. I've been to church frequently, but I can never recall a time when the whole congregation begins weeping. But they did that day. Nehemiah 8:9 says, “Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and ... The post God's Word Brings Repentance appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Nehemiah, with God's help, remarkably rebuilt Jerusalem's walls in only 52 days. For most people it would be a time to celebrate. Instead, Nehemiah had a dream of rebuilding the whole city, not just the walls. But it was going to take the help of the people, money, and resources. Nehemiah realized he needed to ... The post Involving Everyone appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Jenny had a major decision to make about a new direction for the department she led. To help make sure she made the best decision, she embarked on an extended exercise of seeking input from others on what she should do. Unfortunately, she talked to so many people, with so many opinions, that she realized ... The post The Right Voice appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In his book, “A Man After God's Own Heart,” Jim George tells a story of an army officer in India who stopped to have his shoes shined by a poor boy on the street. The boy approached the task with such intensity and enthusiasm that the officer was amazed. He asked the boy why ... The post Jesus's Shoes appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

The organization was disappointed when a planned business acquisition fell through. Teams had dedicated hundreds of hours to organizing the transaction and working to finalize it. So, when it fell apart, the organization experienced a great sense of frustration and disappointment. But that disappointment was forgotten when a new opportunity arrived two years later. The ... The post Good or Best appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Jack was frustrated that his big plans for his business kept hitting roadblocks. It felt like every time he tried to move in a new direction; he fell backwards. He continually prayed for God to bless his plans, but those prayers weren't answered as Jack desired. Eventually he asked his Forum group for their counsel. ... The post Embracing Discipline appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

The biggest limiting factor in business leaders putting their faith into action is usually time. With the fast pace and demands of life, our tendency can be to become so self-absorbed, we don't see the needs of the people around us. As leaders, we need to listen and care for those we are called to ... The post Limitations to Faith in Action appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Throughout my career, I believed that education was important for my advancement. I pursued advanced degrees to do my job and to better demonstrate to executives my commitment to my work. I pursued my faith in the same way, continually reading and studying to build my faith knowledge. But simply trying to get smarter has ... The post Beyond Learning appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

I was thrilled to get my first job out of college, but it wasn't long before I wanted more. I wanted to be a leader. I thought being a manager would be the best way to assert my ideas and my will. I also desired the benefits I saw from moving up in the organization ... The post Being Sheep appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

As a young banker, I had lunch with a friend whom I hadn't seen since college. He was an aggressive new entrepreneur building a prosperous business. As we finished lunch he asked for my lunch receipt. When I asked why, he said, “I gather receipts to write off my taxes.” He laughed and said, “They ... The post The Tax Time Test appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

One of the benefits, Vermeer, an equipment manufacturer, discovered from integrating their faith into their culture came when they opened operations in a country hostile to Christians. Although Vermeer was limited in proclaiming their faith corporately, they marveled at how effective their employees were in modeling company values and their faith to their foreign employees. ... The post Modeling Values Abroad appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Doug Hundt, President of Vermeer's Industrial division, recently shared with me how Vermeer began with core values to remind their team of Vermeer's foundation of faith. But as the company grew, they needed to make their beliefs practical corporately, so they developed a Character and Behaviors document with related training. Their actions resulted in their ... The post Spreading Faith Corporately appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Nehemiah had an amazing 52 days. He had cast vision for people who didn't know him, yet he convinced them to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. This impossible task was made even more difficult due to his enemies constantly attempting to distract and destroy him. Additionally, there was considerable infighting. But the work continued with ... The post The Power of Co-Working with God appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Your enemies have no need to bother you when you're failing, but when you're experiencing success, look out. Nehemiah experienced some significant success on his project of rebuilding Jerusalem. As he neared completion, his enemies tried everything they could think of to distract or destroy Nehemiah. On multiple occasions, Nehemiah's enemies tried to draw him ... The post Overcoming the Enemy's Distractions appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In the book of Nehemiah, we learn that Nehemiah's preceding Governors had placed a heavy burden on the people by demanding onerous taxes and provisions. These leaders seemed motivated by self-interest. Nehemiah had the same taxing rights, but his motives were different. Rather than look to his own self-interest and grow his wealth, Nehemiah ... The post Limiting Personal Gain appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In Nehemiah 4, the Israelites rallied together to fight off their enemies while rebuilding Jerusalem's walls. But by Chapter 5, the strain of the work, plus the impact of famine, caused the people to begin complaining about the oppression they experienced by their own leaders. Due to oppressive debt, these leaders had put their own ... The post Confronting Internal Conflict appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Nehemiah had a vision of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. When it came time to start the actual work, Nehemiah decided to allow teams to work on specific sections of the wall. He could have had everyone work together on the entire wall. Nehemiah 3, however, reveals the brilliant part of Nehemiah's strategy. Nehemiah understood ... The post Leveraging Self-Interest appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

A fourth-century church manual, the Apostolic Constitutions, called Good Friday a "day of mourning, not a day of festive Joy." Historically, many have called Good Friday to be a day of sorrow and fasting. In our busy work activities, we rarely take time for reflection or sorrow for our brokenness and the brokenness of the ... The post Good Friday Mourning appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Today is Maundy Thursday. On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus, the Son of God, modeled for us a surprising act. In ancient times, Maundy, which means, “washing someone's dirty feet,” was one of the worst jobs a servant could be asked to complete. Yet, on Jesus' last night, He humbled himself and washed ... The post Maundy Thursday Surprise appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Recently, a new comedy club opened in our neighborhood. An advertisement led me to believe that the show may be family-friendly, so Kathy and I decided to give it a try. We were sorely disappointed. A small crowd had to experience vulgar and very offensive dialogue that left us disgusted. In contrast, my daughter gave ... The post A Contrast in Comedy appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Our work generates value in many ways, but we need to guard how we let it define us. In a recent Substack post, pastor and author Scott Sauls cautioned against measuring our value by our work. We become anxious, he wrote, when “we believe our worth depends on what we produce, how visible we are, ... The post Our Value appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Many in business have learned the hard way the importance of hiring people with strong character. God's view on integrity, however, is different from the world's view. Many universities teach moral relativism, allowing you to decide right and wrong. God's moral code, however, starts with the concept of fearing God. Fearing God is to ... The post Integrity and Fearing God appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

It's not uncommon for workers to see their work as the source of earthly rewards like income, insurance, or even a sense of purpose. But our jobs also can provide eternal benefits when we use our work circumstances to serve others. From customers, to coworkers, to supply chain partners, work puts us in contact with ... The post Growing in Faith appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

If you have ever wondered if God values work, consider the number of jobs he has held. In “Workplace Grace,” authors Bill Peel and Walt Larimore list nearly two dozen occupations of God, including landscape architect, judge, farmer, environmental engineer, teacher, and inventor. The creation story in Genesis recounts God's work. “This is the ... The post God's Job appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In the work world, we often succeed by creating something of value for others. We are rewarded when we identify a need and then create a solution to meet it. We credit success to our efforts. In his book, “On Being a Servant of God,” Warren Wiersbe encourages a different focus when we serve others. ... The post Be A Channel appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

If you wisely decide to only hire someone with strong character, the hard part is determining if the potential hire has integrity. In banking, I learned that running credit bureaus on loan applicants was the best predictor of the future because it revealed how they handled past adversity. In interviews, learning how your job applicant ... The post The Past Indicates The Future appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

While in college, I dreamed of taking a spring break trip to Texas but had no money. But then a man ran a red light and smashed into my car, resulting in me receiving an unexpected check! I had a decision to make: Do I repair my car, or, do I choose a week ... The post Youthful Adventure appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

When someone offers you unsolicited advice, how do you respond? Do you reject it out of hand? Or do you prayerfully consider that person's counsel, assessing how they came to that suggestion and the wisdom that they may offer? I was tasked with reorganizing a department when another manager shared his thoughts about things I ... The post Unsolicited Advice appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In a Wall Street Journal article titled, “It's Time to Start Tooting Your Own Horn at Work,” the author recommends developing a “brag book.” The author claims that it helps to keep track of our successes and testimonials for superiors or prospective employers. Many employers may remember yesterday's success but forget the five wins you ... The post Tooting Your Own Horn appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

One of my favorite Bible trivia questions is, “Who was the first person mentioned in scripture who was filled with the Holy Spirit?” Most people assume that it's Abraham or Moses. Instead, in Exodus 35:30, we learn, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ... The post An Important Workplace Calling appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

At 16 years old, Patrick was abducted from Britain and forced to become a shepherd in Ireland. But, it was during his time of tending sheep that his prayers resulted in his conversion to following Jesus. Eventually, Patrick escaped and returned to Britain. But then, through a dream, God called Patrick to return to Ireland ... The post St. Patrick's Day appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

It grieves me when someone tells me they refuse to do business with Christians because of past disappointments. I also have been disappointed by Christian business leaders, but likewise non-Christians have disappointed me as well. As followers of Jesus, we tend to have higher expectations of someone claiming to be a Christian. But refusing to ... The post Trust But Verify appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series we're talking about God's view on growth and multiplication. If you ask most business owners about their purpose for their business, they will often tell you that profit is their primary motive. God's view on the purpose for growing your business is much different. He desires us to use our business to ... The post God's Word on Growth and Multiplication: Part IV appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series we're talking about God's view on growth and multiplication. We've learned so far that God intended us to multiply and be fruitful and He desires to bless us by providing more provision. But God's abundant provision is usually tied to our obedience, and heeding God's warning. Last time we discussed the ... The post God's Word on Growth and Multiplication: Part III appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series, we're talking about God's view on growth and multiplication. Although God has some limitations on growth, today I want to emphasize that growth, or lack of growth, can be directly tied to God's favor. In Deuteronomy 7, God told Israel that obedience to His commands would result in the benefits mentioned in ... The post God's Word on Growth and Multiplication: Part II appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.