Integrity Moments

When we catch ourselves putting too much focus on our finances, scripture recommends generosity as a way to restore balance. The apostle Paul told the Corinthians to be a conduit for giving to others as a form of service and gratitude.  “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, ... The post Financial Worship Antidote appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

If you remember the parable of the talents, the last servant made excuses for his poor performance. Although this servant blamed his mistake on fear, it could have just as easily been due to laziness.  In the workplace, you can often identify the lazy workers by their multiple excuses. Some of them can get comical.  ... The post Excuses for Laziness appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Kathy and I hired a contractor whom we respected to do some work for us. Unfortunately, when problems occurred with his team's performance, we began having trouble with the contractor responding to our concerns.  We needed to have some tough conversations, but we were delayed week after week. It seemed our contractor had “stuck his ... The post Is Your Head in the Sand? appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Years ago, during a challenging economic cycle, my friend Jeff and I discussed the impact of the economy on ministries. Jeff shared that he and his wife had decided to significantly increase their giving, due to the economy and many struggling ministries.   A generous spirit is rare and refreshing.  Paul highlighted the generous spirit of ... The post A True Generous Spirit appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

For many small businesses, cash flow anxiety can cause them to be very reluctant to make financial commitments. At times, they may even be tempted to break their promises.   The Apostle Paul was concerned that the Corinthian church was about to break their promise. In 2 Corinthians 8, the Corinthians had made a pledge to ... The post Honor Your Pledge appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Ignaz Semmelweis was a Hungarian physician who implemented hand washing procedures for doctors at Vienna General Hospital. This new practice decreased the incidence of maternal death from 18% to 2%.   Sadly, the medical community was offended to be told that a gentlemen's hands could possibly carry disease. Doctors unanimously continued their deathly procedures.   Unfortunately, ... The post The Semmelweis Reflex appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Recently, I met with two friends separately who owned significant businesses, both forced into bankruptcy. In addition, both friends have multiple pending lawsuits.   Bankruptcy can leave a person feeling persecuted, lonely, and full of shame. It can be easy to wonder where God may be.   Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego bravely refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar's idol ... The post A Fiery Trial appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Following the driven career example set by his father, Eric saw his job at the property development company as the means to build the wealth he had been taught would define his personal success. So, he was devastated when the company shut its doors, forcing him to start over. But he took advantage of the ... The post Misplaced Trust appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

I was excited when I reached the savings milestone that I had pursued for years. Accumulating those funds felt like fulfillment of Psalm 128:2: “You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”  But the month I reached that milestone, a significant market drop caused a big loss in my portfolio. ... The post Fleeting Wealth appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Acts 19 describes the apostle Paul's disruption to the city of Ephesus. Paul's testimony about Jesus turned many away from the local cults, threatening the income of the silversmiths who were creating statues for idol worship. These craftsmen could not hear Paul's message because they were too fixated on how it impacted their work.  Jesus ... The post Financial Conflict appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

After a promotion, Quentin found himself in charge of an entire department, overseeing a large budget and more than thirty people. He took this good fortune personally and regularly communicated his esteemed place in the organization. He began talking pridefully all the time about “my team.” It rubbed people the wrong way because Quentin was ... The post appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

I was caught off guard the first time I received a financial bonus at my first “real” job. I had never worked for an employer that paid bonuses, so I was surprised to receive a letter from the company president describing a one-time payment in my next paycheck. The amount was small, but the appearance ... The post Bonus Distraction appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

When a new school year begins, an experienced teacher learns to hold a tight rein on student discipline. But later, their grip can be loosened as the class learns to obey directives.  My friend, Jim, as a seasoned executive, says that employers might consider this same tight-to-loose concept with new hires. Initially, weekly check-ins with ... The post Tight to Loose appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

When I was a single young banker, I attended the wedding of a friend. As I struggled to find a seat, the only person I knew was the new President of the bank where I worked at the time.   I had been in this President's office previously and saw him frequently in loan meetings, so ... The post A Snobby Banker appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Our team recently completed our annual two-day planning retreat. By far it was the most Christ-centered peaceful, unifying, and productive retreat I've experienced.   Each morning, we had an extended time of prayer, communion, and preparing our hearts. The biggest difference, however, was our team member's hearts were open to putting God first over our own ... The post A Peaceful Planning Retreat appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Unconventional Business Network has been partnering with two local Christian universities. We are excited to help students learn, prior to their career launch, why God's Word is a great tool for business.   For many years, I've helped business leaders later in their career embrace God's purpose for their work. Then, I can train them on ... The post Preparing the Next Generation appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Wheaton College's Center for Faith and Innovation performed a multiple-year research project to explore how faith manifests itself in business. They categorized faith activities into three distinct categories.  The final category is Internalized Faith.  This category is more challenging to identify. Being a company that is family-oriented, compassionate, or merciful may all be examples of ... The post The Way Businesses Integrate Faith: Part III appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Wheaton College's Center for Faith and Innovation performed a multiple-year research project to explore how faith manifests itself in business. The researchers categorized faith activities into three categories.  Operationalized Faith is our focus today.  These researchers discovered that some companies develop faith-rooted policies or practices. They labeled these operationalized faith.   Some of the examples are ... The post The Ways Businesses Integrate Faith: Part II appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Wheaton College's Center for Faith and Innovation performed a multiple-year research project to explore how faith manifests itself in business. The researchers categorized faith activities into three distinct categories: Embodied Faith, Operationalized Faith, and Internalized Faith.  Let's begin this series with Embodied Faith.   According to businessasmission.com, Embodied Faith is the most visible form of faith. ... The post The Ways Businesses Integrate Faith: Part I appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

A windstorm destroyed an entire wall of our deck. Kathy was adamant we needed to hire Christy's company to build a new one.   After contracting with Christy, I was concerned to learn that Christy's husband recently had a major health event. Christy's husband and his associate were supposed to perform the labor.   But I quickly ... The post Diligence at Work appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series we're discussing the challenge of being a good shepherd. The final challenge is in retaining the people God has called to your team.  Much earlier in my career, I had a person working for me who became verbally abusive and rude to multiple team members. This person added significant value to the ... The post The Shepherd's Challenge: Part III appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series we're discussing the challenge of being a good shepherd. Last time, we discussed the importance of caring for the needs of your flock.   Our second challenge is to create a peaceful and safe environment for your team.  Working directly with customers can leave some employees fearful and anxious. If they are not ... The post The Shepherd's Challenge: Part II appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Very few of us have experience as a shepherd, making it difficult to comprehend what God expects when He encourages us in scripture to be good shepherds.  In Jeremiah 23, God gives us a glimpse of the contrast between a bad and a good shepherd. In verse 2, Israel's leaders receive a warning, “You ... The post The Shepherd's Challenge: Part I appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

For many, I suspect Memorial Day suggests a recognition of the fallen soldiers from World War I, World War II, or Vietnam. But you might be surprised to learn that Memorial Day initially began after the Civil War.  From 1865 to 1868, multiple cities hosted ceremonies recognizing the soldiers who fought and lost their ... The post Memorial Day Beginnings appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In the latest American Bible Society “State of the Bible” report, we learn that Bible engagement continues to decline. In the decade before the pandemic, roughly 50% of adults used the Bible at least three or four times a year.   But since then, Bible use has slid to 38%. There is hope, however.   American ... The post The Movable Middle appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

A Harvard Business Review article titled, The Uniqueness Trap, discovered that many project managers believe their new project to be so unique that the processes need to be built from scratch. This requires significant resources spent creating brand new systems and processes.   These researchers discovered, however, that it's rare that these projects haven't been done ... The post The Uniqueness Trap appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

A Harvard Business Review article entitled, “How Salespeople Game the System” provided some wisdom on developing incentive and compensation programs for salespeople. Although incentive compensation plans can bear a lot of fruit, these researchers concluded that salespeople will try to find ways to game the system to increase their compensation.   These researchers discovered eight common ... The post Gaming the System appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

According to a University of Lausanne Switzerland study, managers that used Artificial Intelligence saved on average two hours and 46 minutes a week. But thirty-eight percent of those managers admitted that they squandered at least half of their time savings on unproductive activities.  For those managers who didn't squander the time saved, they typically just ... The post Investing Saved Time appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Recently, Kathy and I hired a company to do some work on our home. We interviewed multiple Christian led companies and chose the one who had the best reviews and who we thought was most likely to adhere to God's standards.   Unfortunately, we were disappointed in the outcome.  We tend to hope that if Christians ... The post Christians Who Disappoint appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

While finishing my undergraduate studies, my graduation date was set for December. My new job with a national CPA firm started in January.  My schooling was paid for by my hard work, some student loans, and in the final semester, through some desperate use of credit cards. My credit card repayment plan revolved around my ... The post From Graduation to Career appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

It was my first day starting work for a national CPA firm. I was anxious and excited for my post-college journey.   That first morning, we had a massive snowstorm, and I had never driven in rush hour traffic. I arrived two hours late.   The audit team I was assigned to had already left. In addition, ... The post My First Day appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

During my last semester in college, the University of Missouri hosted a recruiting event for many of the largest CPA firms. Some firms were not willing to interview anyone with less than a 3.5 grade point.   This left me with less options than some of my peers, so I needed to somehow set myself apart. ... The post Setting Yourself Apart appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Over the years, the car rental industry has consolidated significantly. Recently, I fell prey to the perils of consolidation.   When I went to pick up a reserved rental car, I discovered Avis, Budget, and Payless, who are all owned by the same company, were combined in one building. Although the brands were still distinct, there ... The post Customer Service Nightmare appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In his book, “King's Cross,” Tim Keller describes the rich young ruler asking Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life (Mark 10:17). Keller notes that the man has accomplished much in his life but recognizes that something is still lacking.  It's the same today. We can use our work to pursue all kinds ... The post What's Missing appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

My job was winding down as the company prepared to eliminate my position. It was a stressful time as I scrambled to find employment to support my family. I was praying fervently for God to provide the things I believed – that I “knew” – I would need to be satisfied.  But I was taken ... The post Salvation Not Situation appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

I think laughter can be a powerful spiritual tool.  In my book about work and faith, I opine that it's foolish for Christians to get too serious about work in this world when our destiny resides in another. So, see the humor in our work challenges and laugh.  Scripture cites many examples of joy as ... The post Laugh More appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In his book, “Life is Hard. God is Good. Let's Dance.,” Brant Hansen compares worrying about our situation to the gyrating and dancing that some bowlers do after the ball leaves their hands. No matter how hard they move or flex, their actions have absolutely no impact on the ball rolling toward the pins.  When ... The post Bowling Lesson appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Everyone wanted Darren on their work teams. He was positive, encouraging, and kind. Yet once you got to know him, you heard stories of the challenges he had faced in life, from childhood trauma to chronic health issues.   But Darren saw those things not as an excuse to complain, but as an opportunity to show ... The post Difference Maker appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

With hindsight, I can remember thousands of times when I acted selfishly or without integrity when dealing with coworkers. When I caught myself in those times, it was easy to pull back, feel like a failure, and stop trying.   Yet God doesn't define us by our failures. He is a God of compassion and restoration, ... The post Fresh Start appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Trade deficits haven't been discussed much until recently. Tariffs have forced business leaders to consider how they might be impacted by the price of foreign goods.  The Bible addresses a potential reason for trade deficits rarely considered - our lack of obedience to God's commands and principles.  In Deuteronomy 28, God outlines blessings and curses ... The post God's View on Trade Deficits appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Business leaders typically despise uncertainty. When taxes, tariffs, or government regulations are in flux, the uncertainty can bring commerce to a screeching halt.  This uncertainty puts stock markets at risk, as well as long-term investments in new projects. For those who place their hope in their wealth, financial uncertainty can shake their foundation.  1 Timothy ... The post Overcoming Uncertainty appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

My wife, Kathy, regularly calls business leaders asking how our team can best pray for them. Over the last year, Kathy has noticed one common request.   They often ask for prayers for their adult children. Many speak of children who have “ghosted them” due to political or social disagreements.   When Kathy delicately probes about the ... The post Social Media Deceptions appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

After twenty years in vocational ministry, Kathy and I have a habit of forewarning new hires at UBN to expect trouble. The enemy doesn't want our ministry to succeed.   It's not uncommon to watch new employees experience significant challenges. Challenges may be health related, household appliances breaking, or event persecution.  One of our employees ... The post The Fiery Ordeal appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Tom Ferguson, as CEO, led 11,000 employees for twenty-five years when he retired. He sent a farewell email to all his employees that also mentioned his faith.   When over 1,000 people responded with surprise that Tom was a Christian, Tom was devastated. He had led this company for decades with no obvious spiritual impact.  ... The post A Career with No Regrets appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series, we're sharing five reasons why integrating your faith and work has great value. The final reason is because God can transform entire workplaces.  Seth felt God was instructing him to stay employed at Home Depot until every employee heard about Jesus. Obediently, Seth began a Bible study, then a prayer group at ... The post 5 Reasons to Integrate your Faith and Work: Reason Five appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series, we're sharing five reasons why incorporating your faith into your work has great value. Reason four is that faith in the workplace changes lives.  I'd been hiding from God for twenty years when I started working for Gregg. When I needed answers to business issues, Gregg never shied away from quoting a ... The post 5 Reasons to Integrate Your Faith and Work: Reason Four appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series, we're sharing five reasons why incorporating your faith into your work has great value. Reason three is this: God's wisdom provides better results than any consultant.  In David Green's book, “More Than a Hobby,” he discusses his decision to close his Hobby Lobby stores on Sundays. Even though he learned it could ... The post 5 Reasons to Integrate Your Faith and Work: Reason Three appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series, we're sharing five reasons why incorporating your faith into your work has great value. The second reason is because God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.  In 1955, Stanley Tamm's heart was moved for the country of Columbia to know God. Stanley sought God with his request, but God told Stanley it ... The post 5 Reason to Integrate Your Faith and Work: Reason Two appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

According to Dave Hataj, founder of Craftsman with Character, and CEO of a gear manufacturing business, 65% of high school graduates will not go to college. Yet, manufacturers, and craftsmen, don't have enough young people to fill their open positions.   Dave realized that with training, encouragement, and bringing clarity of purpose to these young adults, ... The post Craftsman with Character appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

According to one La Croix International article, Michael Roberts remembers a gay colleague saying to him, “It's surprising that I can be openly gay at work, while you feel like you have to hide your Christian faith.”  Soon after, Michael started Faithforce, a Salesforce employee network of diverse religious backgrounds. Faithforce is part of a ... The post Launching Employee Affinity Groups appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Recently, I asked my friend, Steve, about the rising number of airplane crashes. As a pilot for over 40 years, Steve had an interesting perspective.  “The beauty of the air travel process,” Steve said, “is that every aspect has standard operating procedures. There's a detailed process for each step. Most pilots and air traffic personnel ... The post Standard Operating Procedures appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.