Podcasts about our work

n this solo episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse Schwamb dives into a theological exploration of work as an extension of Christian calling that extends far beyond paid employment. Building upon their previous discussion about vocational choices for Christians, Jesse addresses the question: "Does a Christian's work ever cease?" Through careful examination of Ephesians 2:8-10 and other passages, he argues that while the nature of our work may change through different seasons of life—including retirement, caregiving, or illness—God has prepared good works for believers to walk in throughout their entire earthly journey. The episode offers both theological foundations and practical guidance on how Christians can approach all forms of labor as worship, finding purpose and meaning in every season of life. Key Takeaways Good works are not the basis of salvation but its goal—Christians are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), not by works, yet they are saved for good works that God has prepared in advance (Ephesians 2:10). The Christian's work never ceases but changes form—Whether in paid employment, retirement, caregiving, or even during illness, God has prepared meaningful work for believers in every season of life. All work has spiritual value when done unto the Lord—The Reformed tradition elevates all forms of work, not just paid employment, as having potential to glorify God. Prayer is a significant and valuable form of work—Even those who cannot engage in physical labor can participate in the vital spiritual work of intercessory prayer. Good works offer multiple benefits to believers—According to the Westminster Confession, good works manifest gratitude to God, bolster assurance of faith, encourage other Christians, adorn Christian doctrine, silence critics, and glorify God. Christian workers should be distinctively different—Believers can stand out in the workplace by being fair and committed, genuinely caring for others, demonstrating generosity, remaining calm under pressure, and being authentic about their faith. Finding our identity in Christ transforms our approach to work—When we place our ultimate treasure in heaven rather than earthly gain, we can approach our labors with greater peace, purpose, and freedom from anxiety. Elaboration on Key Points The Christian's Work Never Ceases but Changes Form Jesse challenges the modern Western notion that work is merely a season of life that eventually ends with retirement. Instead, he presents a more ancient and biblical perspective: that work never ceases but merely takes different forms throughout our lives. Using Paul's metaphor of "walking" in the good works God has prepared (Ephesians 2:10), Jesse explains that our journey continues throughout life, with the landscape changing as we move through different seasons. Whether we're in paid employment, caring for loved ones, serving in retirement, or confined to a bed during illness, God has prepared meaningful work for us to do. Even those who are physically limited can engage in the vital work of intercessory prayer, which Jesse describes as "the kind of work that is so glorious... that while it exhausts us, it exhausts us in a way that brings us the greatest kind of sleep or refreshment." This perspective eliminates the anxiety many Christians feel about the purpose of their later years and affirms the ongoing value of their contributions to God's kingdom regardless of their physical capacity or economic productivity. Good Works Offer Multiple Benefits to Believers Drawing from the Westminster Confession of Faith, Jesse outlines six significant benefits of good works in the Christian life. First, good works manifest our gratitude to God for the gift of His Son—they become tangible expressions of thankfulness for salvation. Second, they bolster assurance of faith by providing evidence of God's work in our lives. Third, good works encourage other Christians toward greater acts of Christ-centered love, as we witness the transforming power of the gospel in one another. Fourth, they adorn the doctrine of God our Savior, making abstract theological truths visible and attractive to others. Fifth, good works silence critics who devalue biblical Christianity by demonstrating its positive impact. Finally, they glorify God by displaying His transformative work of love in our lives. These benefits apply to all forms of work—paid or unpaid—and give eternal significance to even the most mundane tasks when done unto the Lord. As Jesse emphasizes, "There are no mundane things. There are no small works... There are just these small things that come alongside with the great work that God has done already in our lives." Memorable Quotes "Good works aren't bad when they're seen as the goal of salvation, not its ground. The goal, because it's worthwhile to want to worship God and to obey him by doing good works." "Keep walking on that journey knowing that God all along the way has already prepared good works for you to do because he loves you and because this is our opportunity to worship him together in everything that we do." "When we are performing this work for God, he assures our faith. He refreshes us in it. He exhausts us in the best possible way so that we might love him more, cherish him more, encourage one another more, and really come to understand his character more forthrightly."   Full Transcript [00:00:08] Jesse Schwamb: Keep walking on that journey knowing that God all along the way has already prepared good works for you to do because he loves you and because this is our opportunity to worship him together and everything that we do. [00:00:32] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 459 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse, and this is the podcast where the tulip never wilts. Hey, brothers and sisters. [00:00:48] Recap of Previous Episode [00:00:48] Jesse Schwamb: So in this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, this solo episode, I'm gonna wrap up a conversation that Tony and I just had in the last episode and set us up, wet Your Appetite for a whole brand new series. [00:01:03] Jesse Schwamb: That's gonna be starting in the next episode. So you find yourself bookended by two really great things. One, a great conversation we just had about the Christian and work. Are there jobs that really Christians shouldn't have? Because it takes us away from what it means to serve the Lord vocationally, as strange as that sounds. [00:01:22] Jesse Schwamb: So if you didn't hear that, you're gonna wanna go check that out before you listen to me, wrap all of us up right now. In fact, here's what you should do. Stop everything you're doing, unless it's operating a vehicle or a backhoe. Power those things down. Get off the side of the road, then go to reformed brotherhood.com and you can find all of the episodes living out there that we've ever recorded, including the one from last week, and I believe will be greatly blessed by hanging out with some of those conversations. [00:01:49] Jesse Schwamb: So go and do that first. [00:01:51] The Christian's Work and Retirement [00:01:51] Jesse Schwamb: On this episode, I'm gonna talk a little bit as a follow up about. Does the Christian's work ever cease? Is there a time, because we just spoke about vocational work and work for which we're remunerated, where once that goes away, what happens next? Is it a different kind of work? [00:02:07] Jesse Schwamb: Is it no work? Should we be the kind of people that are trying to pursue an end to that remunerated work as quick as possible? Is that okay? What happens if we can't be compensated for our work anymore? What happens? We're gonna reason from the scriptures a little bit more about work, our calling and all of that by way of vocation. [00:02:26] Jesse Schwamb: And part of this conversation has actually come from a larger conversation. So one of the greatest and best things about this podcast, something I wanna boast in right now, because it has nothing to do with Tony or me, and that is. There are lots of people listening, brothers and sisters from all over the world who gathered together and debrief. [00:02:47] Jesse Schwamb: Talk about the episodes, hang out and talk about life, share funny stories, share prayer requests, support one another. And you can do that by joining our little group on a messaging app called Telegram. So in fact, here's the second thing you should do. If you go to T Me Reform Brotherhood one more time, T Me Back slash Reform Brotherhood, slap that bad boy in your favorite browser, and that'll give you a link to our little corner of this messaging app. [00:03:13] Jesse Schwamb: And there's a channel within that app just to talk about. The various episodes as a way of interacting with all of us, and as a result of the episode that we recorded last about this idea of vocational work and calling, how does that all come together? Brother Joshua posed an excellent question, which is in part the reason for the conversation I'm about to have with you all, and that is what happens. [00:03:33] Jesse Schwamb: When we retire, or what happens when we desire to set aside sufficient resources if we can, so that we can get to that place as soon as possible. What then what about work or what if we have to care for a sick, sick, loved one? Or what if we have to come and take responsibility for our family in a different or unique way that takes us away from work where we're not being paid for things in the same way anymore? [00:03:52] Jesse Schwamb: What happens then? So we are going to get to all of that on this little brief little episode that's gonna sit in between the end of our conversation on work and the beginning of our brand new series, which, you know, you want me to tell you what it is, but I'm not gonna do it. It's just not gonna happen on this episode. [00:04:09] Jesse Schwamb: So you're just gonna have to sit in that anticipation waiting. Waiting for it to come next week, but for now, let's talk a little bit more about work. [00:04:17] Good Works and Salvation [00:04:17] Jesse Schwamb: And let me start with a, a phrase that's like so obvious, but you can say it with me if you want, because we have to agree on this. At least that good works aren't bad. [00:04:27] Jesse Schwamb: I mean, good works aren't bad. They're good. By definition it seems like self-reinforcing. And as Christians, we should want to do those good works. Now, I haven't said what the good works are, haven't even explained really. Although we, Tony and I talked about this before, how they really fit into that pattern and that normative behavior of the Christian life. [00:04:44] Jesse Schwamb: But can we just agree that if the Bible is saying there are good works for us to do, then they must be good. And they must be there for a purpose. They must be there for a reason and we can't debate that. Just because we're not saved according to our works doesn't mean that we shouldn't be concerned about pursuing a life of joyful obedience to God's word. [00:05:01] Jesse Schwamb: I mean, this is why Jesus like emphatically states in the gospel. If you love me, you'll keep my commandments in obedience. However frail it is. However much we stumble, however feeble we are in actually executing it is our evidence. Our love for God and for his son Jesus Christ. So far from undermining the gospel of grace, good works are the perfect compliment to the gospel, and this is why good works are good. [00:05:29] Jesse Schwamb: So to be clear, good works are bad when they're seen as the basis of salvation. And I think if you've been with us for any length of time or you're familiar with the reform. Theological movement. If you've been steeped in the scriptures, you're gonna find that kind of compulsion, that pull that says like, well, I understand that when I use my good works as a means of somehow Meritoriously earning my salvation, they cease to be good. [00:05:54] Jesse Schwamb: This is why, of course, Jonathan Edwards called Good works of this nature, only glittering sin because they're, they have no power to redeem. They have no power to save. They have no power to. Transition yourself into some kind of a righteous sense or rubric. It's impossible. They will not do that. They do not serve that purpose. [00:06:12] Jesse Schwamb: A person is not saved by works, but by God's grace through faith in Christ. [00:06:17] The Role of Good Works in Christian Life [00:06:17] Jesse Schwamb: So this is the time where we have to love ones. Go to Ephesians chapter two. It's impossible for me to continue without at least sharing this good news. If you need to hear this again, and this may be a well rehearsed verse or a well rehearsed writing from the Apostle Paul to you, but I ask that you hear it again. [00:06:32] Jesse Schwamb: If you can with these ears that are unstopped, that are almost fresh with excitement for this really good news, this is what Paul writes to the church and Ephesus for. By grace, you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not as a result of works so that no one may boast. [00:06:51] Jesse Schwamb: For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. I mean, there's so much there that is. Lovely and refreshing. And freeing. It's not works righteousness, it's not meritorious. Salvation is clearly not of our own doing. It's not the result of these works, even the faith through which we receive salvation is a gracious, gracious gift from God. [00:07:21] Jesse Schwamb: So what a just burden taken off of our shoulders. The mantle has been removed from us. To somehow even equate or think that, well, if I have a good day and I've done a lot for God, he must love me more. I must be more ingratiated towards him, even if I have the sense that. I feel closer to him. Hopefully that closeness is the sense of joy and obedience. [00:07:40] Jesse Schwamb: And now where we get the sense that, well, because I've done something for God, he ought to do something for me or me more favorably disposed towards me. All of that is nonsense and that way just. Total foolishness and madness lies. Instead, when we turn that into our rejoicing first for the faith itself by which we receive from God, that grants us access to this great salvation. [00:08:02] Jesse Schwamb: When we see that as a gift first, then all of this other mongering for responsibility and trying to placate through the things that we can do and having this sense of guilt in our minds about what we should have done or what we did not accomplish, or even if in our own obedience toward Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we've fallen short. [00:08:20] Jesse Schwamb: We can still find there is this gift for us and the gift of salvation is ours in Christ through faith, not by works. It's very, very clear in what Paul writes to the church here as fallen creatures, even our best efforts are completely laced with sin. This also is, by the way, a really great kindness of God that we can never really be contrite enough in our coming before him and, and even in our humility, we probably can never be humble enough. [00:08:47] Jesse Schwamb: So the fact that God accepts because of Christ us into the family of God without having to put upon us this burden that you must be sorry enough for your sin, or you're not repentant enough, you haven't expressed the severe and necessary amount of contrition to really placate and understand that you have cosmically committed treason against the all powerful God of the universe. [00:09:13] Jesse Schwamb: Who could stand underneath that kind of weight. And the answer is no one, but by the grace of God through Jesus. So it's amazing. That when we start to think about work, what we find is that God is first doing all of the work in us, and we see that the first work is not our work, but his work, the secondary work, this means of obedience, of showing, our gratitude of expressing praise and worship. [00:09:37] Jesse Schwamb: Must, I think, necessarily be manifest in work that is labor of some kind, because God has first expressed himself in that kind of labor. And second, he's given it to us to do as an experience into his very being and his character, but also in service to him and to those who are around us. I promise I'm getting to all of this good stuff about what does this practically mean, but all this I think is so necessary for us. [00:10:02] Jesse Schwamb: To really set the proper understanding for what it means to have good work to do and to do this work. So these good works provide no basis for boasting because they're utterly worthless to save. They have worth in other ways, but it just turns out they're worthless In this way. It's a bit like if you take your, take your, whatever your domestic currency is, whatever the currency you, you transact in, I live and hang out in the United States, so my currency is the US dollar. [00:10:24] Jesse Schwamb: If I take a bunch of dollars with me and I go travel almost anywhere else in the world. There's a small chance they'll be accepted. And I realize I've picked the wrong currency for this metaphor at this point, but if I let, let's say, let's just pick a different one. Let's say that you live in Zimbabwe or you just happen to have a bunch of Zimbabwean dollars hanging out in your pocket. [00:10:42] Jesse Schwamb: I'm sure some of you do, and you take that currency and you come to the United States and you wanna go buy something, those dollars will not work. They just won't work. Nobody will accept them. They're worthless. They're without value. Now, do they have value? In a certain sense, of course they do. In that domestic currency, in that homeland they do. [00:10:59] Jesse Schwamb: And in the same way, though, of course, slightly different here, our works are these expression of. Obedience of love for God. But the minute we try to exchange them for salvation, what we're gonna find is God says that's worthless here. And it again, is a fool's errand to build your entire life on some kinda system or belief that says, what I'm doing is earning these dollars, making these good works, performing these things. [00:11:22] Jesse Schwamb: So I'll have gathered to myself all of this currency, which I'm then going to use to buy my salvation now, I think even in my own ears, that sounds ridiculous to say, and yet so many of us. Get caught up in that. And if we don't get caught up in whole, we sometimes get caught up in it peace wise, because again, we have a sense that, well, if I've been a particularly good Christian today, doesn't that mean that God is more happy with me? [00:11:45] Jesse Schwamb: And Paul says, no, you have been saved as a gift of God. It is his gracious act that through faith you have been given salvation, and that faith was not of your own. That itself as well was a gift. It's gift upon gift upon gift. And so even the work itself is shaped. By the sense that all that God gives us and him doing all the verbs is his gifting. [00:12:09] Jesse Schwamb: So good works are gonna provide no basis for boasting because they are worthless to save. And the only foundation for salvation is Christ, we're saved by his works, not ours. If you're looking for that good, that first, that perfect work, the thing that you could latch onto, the thing that you would say this, I'm gonna hang my hat. [00:12:27] Jesse Schwamb: And all of my life on the work that you're looking for is not the one that you can accomplish. It is the one that Jesus has already done on your behalf. So that's why I always think when I see those W wait, they're not as prevalent anymore I suppose. But do you remember a time loved ones when like the ubiquity of the WAJD bracelet and I always thought about the question, what would Jesus do? [00:12:49] Jesse Schwamb: And to me, the answer I give now somewhat tongue in cheek is everything and it's already been done. And so that is really the promise. The great blessing of the gospel that now we are saved for works and boy does that preposition make a difference. Like we should be underlining that, like putting that gilded gold in our Bibles like we are saved now for God works good, works are not bad then when they're seen as the goal of salvation, not its ground. [00:13:14] Jesse Schwamb: I wanna say that again because I think that might sound a little bit funny to some, but I've long really come to cherish this idea that it is the goal but not the ground. The goal, because it's worthwhile to want to worship God. And to obey him by doing good works. And Paul gives us an avenue in which to travel and to understand this and to reason it from the scripture so that we can be confident that that's exactly what God intends for us. [00:13:37] Jesse Schwamb: And so again, while these good works aren't meritorious salvation, they are a necessary component of Christian faith. And the first important thing that we ought to mention here. Is that when we think about work, it's not that like the reform tradition, that that theological perspective has somehow elevated work for remuneration. [00:13:55] Jesse Schwamb: I, I don't think that entirely was the whole emphasis of talking about vocation in that kind of theological sphere. That is, we have a bunch of Christians and they have to do work to survive, and some of them are cobblers and of them are cooks and some of them are cleaners. And so what we really need to do here is make sure that people understand that whatever you're getting paid for God has made you to do. [00:14:15] Jesse Schwamb: And that is not a great thing. That's all true, but the goal wasn't just to elevate that style or type of work that is the work for which you get compensated. It was to elevate all work, all work of every kind, all labor of every kind, because God is big enough that every bit of labor paid or unpaid in direct service for somebody. [00:14:34] Jesse Schwamb: Fortunately, there is no compensation or in service to someone for which there is that all of that work. It does give God glory if we mean it to. And so this is why they do all things. Whatever you do, whether you eat or whether you drink, all of even these tiny things roll up into this argument from the lesser to the greater all of work is for God's glory. [00:14:53] Jesse Schwamb: And so to tip my hat a little bit here, then I think an answer to, to Brother Joshua's question, and in a nice compliment to what Tony and I were talking about last week, there is no end to the Christian's work. There's just different types of work. Oh, we'll get to that. I'm a little bit ahead of myself here. [00:15:08] Jesse Schwamb: But of course we find in Ephesians two, it's important to understand this because there's so much of the dynamic of good works in the Christian life that are being explained there. And of course we learn that good works are the result and not the cause of being new creations, and they're testifying to the fact that we have been redeemed. [00:15:24] Jesse Schwamb: So our lives might reflect craftsmanship and character of God. So amazing, isn't it? That God has given work, that work is not a four letter word, that labor is good labor of all kinds. Is good because it's reflecting the craftsmanship in character of God in unique ways. That is like apart from doing work from this work which God has called us to, from traveling in it through our lives and participating in all kinds of different work, that there's something that would be missing in our exemplifying, the craftsmanship in character of God. [00:15:56] Jesse Schwamb: And so we see that apart from Christ. We can do nothing that pleases God, but in Christ. And here's a great promise. We are created to perform God honoring acts of obedience in Christ. We can be confident that God accepts our weak and wobbly efforts. You know, Paul further goes on to talk about good works, a result of God's pattern for the Christian life. [00:16:15] Jesse Schwamb: We don't need to wonder what God requires from us. He's told us in his word, good works are deeds done in conformity to God's word. Now the beauty of that is. That we have this pattern for the Christian life in which Paul is saying, and I think this is really helpful for our conversation, that all of the things that God has given us to do, he's already prepared. [00:16:39] Jesse Schwamb: He's already me and plus it. He's already set the table for us. He's already put all the things in place. He's already organized all the details. And he says that because he's done that we are now free to walk in them. And I interpret that walk as this idea, which I think is very particular to the way that Paul is writing here. [00:16:57] Jesse Schwamb: It's a word of encouragement that is speaking of more of a marathon and rather a sprint. So of course, like a lot of times in the West, we think of our work as a season of life in which we're doing something in service for a company and for others, creating value, which is good. All of these things can be in service to God, of course, especially when they're in honoring. [00:17:15] Jesse Schwamb: With a full counsel of the scriptures and that when we do those things, that time will end and then we start to think about what work do have left. Whereas really, of course, a more ancient way of thinking about work was that it never ceased. It was of different kinds, and we know it was of different kinds because of this idea of walking that is like you never says stop the walk. [00:17:32] Jesse Schwamb: It never says take a break. It says you're gonna continue throughout your life in this metaphor of. Your journey of life being a walk, and as that walk changes, as the landscape undulates, as you move and transverse over different geographies on this walk in this metaphor, there's no doubt that the work will be different. [00:17:50] Jesse Schwamb: And there may be a season when you no longer have to work and be compensated, but it doesn't mean, of course, that the work ends. In fact, the work is still there. It's a different kind. And we don't want it to go away, in fact, and we don't want it to feel, uh, like it should be a, a lesser thing because it's not because we've been given in this verse the sense that this is the pattern that's been given to us. [00:18:12] Jesse Schwamb: It's the value of walking the pathway of obedience. And Paul makes it manifold. In fact, the Westminster Confession of Faith, which I'm 17 minutes in and you can mark your clock. That's the first time I mentioned it. I've gotten there already. Loved ones. Don't worry, we're always gonna bring in a confession. [00:18:27] Encouragement and Assurance Through Good Works [00:18:27] Jesse Schwamb: And on this week, it's the confession of faith from the Westminster states that there are at least six benefits of good work. So here these out, this is just my quick rundown of what the Westminster puts forward thinking about these good works and when you hear these benefits. Think about them in the broadest way. [00:18:41] Jesse Schwamb: That is like, think about how these benefits apply to all kinds of work, not just like your nine to five, but like of course your family society and the church and your work there is needed both because it is an exemplification of obedience to Christ, but also because it is accomplishing good and creating value. [00:18:58] Jesse Schwamb: So the first is that good works manifest our gratitude to God for the gift of his son. Now think about this. If that's true, that this in a concrete way. No matter what, we're able to do that we, if we're doing these good works, we're showing gratitude to God. Why would we ever want those good works to go away? [00:19:14] Jesse Schwamb: Why do we wanna break that pattern? We don't want to. And again, this gives a, a high level, a high calling to all the things that we can do, both like again, in our paid work and then thereafter. Or even if we, we never have paid work that all of these things, there's something for us to do here and it manifests our gratitude to God and the gift of his son. [00:19:32] Jesse Schwamb: The second thing is good work's, bolster assurances of faith. So it is the Christian who in obedience to Christ has a compulsion is as Paul would say elsewhere, hemmed in by the love of God to work towards a specific end in love and service toward others. That is a good work. And when we're doing that good work, there's a mutual kind of reinforcement that occurs that as we humble ourselves before God and that we work to. [00:19:57] Jesse Schwamb: Or to obey him and that we walk in the good works that he has prepared for us, that we find that we are sure that God is who he is, that his character and craftsmanship is, is in fact manifest in us and demonstrated by us. And in this way as we worship him, we find that our faith grows. Especially perhaps when we're called to do things that are difficult or we're called to participate in work, especially in the church, that requires some kind of leap of faith and we're in so doing where we must trust God forthrightly. [00:20:27] Jesse Schwamb: We find that doing those good works bolster our assurance of faith. Number three. Good works are a means of encouraging other Christians toward greater acts of Christ-centered love. There's so much in Hebrews chapter 10 that we could talk about there. This is an incredible idea that when we work towards obeying God laboring on his behalf in all of the spheres of life, to which he has given us to participate in that Christians receive this as a. [00:20:55] Jesse Schwamb: Form of encouragement. You know, think about how you've seen the testifying work of somebody else in your church, in their patience, in their kind behavior. You know, we often speak about a person who is graceful, and by that of course, we mean there's a beauty to their outer movement, as it were. That's maybe they're a graceful dancer. [00:21:11] Jesse Schwamb: Maybe they're a grace or a baseball player, but you'll find that you can apply this word in so many ways whenever you are trying to really show that somebody in their outward movements does things particularly well, or just with ease or in a way that conveys a certain kind of beauty. When we say that somebody is gracious, what we essentially mean is that there's a beauty to their inner movement that is, that the exemplification of who they are in Christ is so firmly rooted in solid, that the way they behave in situations and circumstances clearly shows. [00:21:43] Jesse Schwamb: That there's something different about the way that they process the world and in the way that they work. And when we see that we are prone to be encouraged to see that God is real, that he does intervene and interact in situations that he does, in fact still do the most miraculous thing ever, which is take the sinner, take the gospel abuser, take the unregenerate, and perform that surgical movement. [00:22:05] Jesse Schwamb: Where that heart of stone is replaced with one of flesh, it's the greatest miracle in the entire universe. And so when we're seeing that work exemplified, we're allowing ourselves to participate in encouraging our brothers and sisters. Fourth good works are concrete avenues for adorning the doctrine of God, our savior in life, in ministry. [00:22:25] Jesse Schwamb: So again, it's uniting this idea of who we are, that we say we are, who we are in our transformation regeneration, marrying that up with work. And this is, again, why a. All of this reform of theology elevates work to this place of saying, whatever you do, you can do it to the glory of God and you ought to, you ought to be thinking that way because this is the way God intended all the things that we do to be done. [00:22:47] Jesse Schwamb: So idea of like when Paul says, like, pray without ceasing, be constantly in the Lord. I think in some ways what he's saying is. When you shift your mindset to recognize that there are no mundane things to do because God has prepared all those things ahead of time, they're, they're mundane, maybe in their smallness, in our own like really myopic kind of human natural man perspective. [00:23:06] Jesse Schwamb: They are certainly not mundane with respect to the power of love that may be communicated in them with the encouragement that flows out of them, and with the expression of gratitude for God, our savior and his son. All of those things are high and lifted up worthy of exaltation and call worthy of all of our efforts. [00:23:23] Jesse Schwamb: And so there we find that there are really no mundane things. There are no small works as it were. There are just these small things that come alongside with the great work that God has done already in our lives and our expression of that first work that he has done. So Fifth Good Works, silence critics who devalue the goodness of biblical Christianity. [00:23:43] Jesse Schwamb: You know, there's a lot here that we could talk about. Jesus was so outspoken about what it meant for his followers to adorn themselves to be in Christ, and in so doing, they were gonna be these lights set on a, like a city on a hill for all to see. And sometimes as Christians, we get a little, eh, strange about this kind of thing, don't we? [00:24:01] Jesse Schwamb: Because we, we wanna be careful that we need to be humble. You know, we, we want to make sure that as we're serving God, that we are not boasting in that in any kind of way, and yet there is something here where we ought to be giving and testifying to why we do certain things. I've been thinking about this a lot because I think it's one thing for us to say, well, we wanna live in such a manner. [00:24:21] Jesse Schwamb: We wanna do our work in such a manner, whatever that is, so others know there's something different and, and this is noble and honorable. I think what's even better is to let them know why it's different. Sometimes you shouldn't wait for somebody to ask. You know, if it's clear that you're doing something and you wanna express why we're doing it, say, I'm, I'm doing this 'cause Jesus loves me, he's changed me, and Jesus loves you. [00:24:39] Jesse Schwamb: I mean, this is okay to say loved ones. And I think in doing that, making that connection clear, what it's gonna do is it's going to make sure that those who would say like the, the Bible is antiquated out wounded document. It's a document that's filled with strife. It's a document that pits won't people against one another. [00:24:54] Jesse Schwamb: It's a document that is not progressive enough. What they'll find instead is. When our good works, our truly good works are accompanied by a verbal testimony of why we do these works in obedience to God for, because of his great love for us. It will discredit those who would say all of those things. It turns away a. [00:25:14] Jesse Schwamb: All of the critics would say that the Bible is, is not relevant, that Christians are too, uh, bigoted, that we are the kind of people that are too hypocritical. Instead, when we acknowledge that we are far from perfect, but that we have a perfect savior when we talk about our weak faith, but that our, the faith that we have is not in its size, but in the size of the savior. [00:25:34] Jesse Schwamb: When we can say all these things alongside of our efforts to be obedient. Being humble, asking for forgiveness, seeking repentance from those whom we hurt, that in this way, we are again doing all of the things that are the theology of the cross, that even in our small weaknesses, even in our great failures, what we find is God does more than just to fill in the gaps He overflows with through the power of His Holy Spirit into a powerful testimony into the lives of others with whom we interact, and especially in the things that we do. [00:26:05] Jesse Schwamb: So six. And lastly, this is from the Westminster. These benefits of good works. Last Good works glorify God by displaying his work of love in our lives. I think we often forget about this. That God has given us work because he loves us. Of course, God is always working. There's something beautiful about the fact that God is ever present in our lives working in our hearts. [00:26:29] Jesse Schwamb: And sometimes of course, as the, the older reformers have said, he lays us over the Anil, as it were, and he hammers on us, and those are painful times. And other times he's really polishing up our sharp edges or sanding off those places where we need a little bit of attention. But everywhere he's working in us and what a blessing that he never stops, isn't it that he comes to us constantly because he loves us. [00:26:51] Jesse Schwamb: He refuses to leave us in a state that is less than the abundant life. Now we know that we will never accomplish that, this side of glory. But what a benefit that God never gives up on us. That he continues to show his great love for us in how he attentively comes into our lives to hone us in this progressive sanctification, whereby his work doesn't stop. [00:27:13] The Unending Nature of Work [00:27:13] Jesse Schwamb: And so because his work doesn't stop. Neither does ours. So the beauty of this is for anybody else, for us, for brother Joshua, for those who are thinking about, you know, what if I, I want to maybe try to set aside more resources now so I can stop my work of re of compensation to do other things, I would say. [00:27:31] Jesse Schwamb: Well, Godspeed by, by the power of God, I, I hope that happens for you. And what about those who would say, well, my work is gonna have to be caring for a loved one who's ill? I would say that is great and good work. What about those for who are retiring now or thinking about retirement? What's left? Tons. Of good work. [00:27:48] Jesse Schwamb: I think we know this. Now, what about for those who are in the final stages of their life, those who are not ambulatory, maybe those who are weak, maybe those who are ill themselves. There is still good work because the work that God gives us is not the heavy kind that causes our bodies or our minds to be crushed in despair, to have to till the ground as it were in such a way that it leaves us lacking replenishment instead, even for those. [00:28:16] Jesse Schwamb: Who are saying, what is my place when my body is wasting away? [00:28:21] The Value of Prayer in Our Work [00:28:21] Jesse Schwamb: When I'm having a, a season of sickness and I feel like there's nothing I can do, there is so much that the church needs from you in particular, especially your work in prayer. And again, I think we've been outspoken. Prayer is absolutely a work. [00:28:34] Jesse Schwamb: If you don't believe me, just. Try to pray. So just being able to participate in something like that, which is in many ways maybe the greatest calling. I, I always think about this phrase, when we work, we work, when we pray, God works. And so just the act of saying I'm gonna devote myself in prayer, in intercessory prayer for my church, for my community, for my family, is a kind of work that is unparalleled. [00:28:58] Jesse Schwamb: And so if that's the work that God has given you to walk in right now. Then would you please do it? Because it is the season to which he's called you because he's with you on that journey. And Paul says, wherever you go, wherever you are walking, God has already prepared before you get to the next stop sign, before you get to the next wave point, before you get to the next pin drop. [00:29:17] Jesse Schwamb: God has already prepared for you good works, and you're mealing to walk in them. [00:29:22] Finding Joy and Refreshment in Labor [00:29:22] Jesse Schwamb: And so the work of prayer by itself is the kind of work that is so glorious, like all the work of Christ that we find refreshment and it changes. There's a theme here, like all of our work changes because when we are doing it onto the Lord, we're doing it with him in mind when we're understanding that this is our obligation, but also our greatest privilege, that while it exhausts us. [00:29:41] Jesse Schwamb: It exhausts us in a way that brings us the greatest kind of sleep or refreshment. Does that make sense? We ever had like a really great day at work where, you know, I, I worked hard and I did work worth doing, and in that I felt that there was a sweetness. In fact, Ecclesiastes five 12 says, sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich man will not let him sleep. [00:30:05] Jesse Schwamb: This idea that. Why as we work, as we labor for God, that he does restore us, he gives us joy and satisfaction in that work. And again, there's this, all this mutual reinforcement, this kind of self-fulfilling and reinforcing idea that. When we are performing this work for God, he assures our faith. He refreshes us in it. [00:30:24] Jesse Schwamb: He exhausts us in the best possible way so that we might love him more, cherish him more, encourage one another more, and to really come and understand his character more forthrightly. [00:30:34] Living Quietly and Minding Your Affairs [00:30:34] Jesse Schwamb: I like what Paul says in one Thessalonians chapter four, aspire to live quietly and to mind your own affairs. I mean, that's. [00:30:42] Jesse Schwamb: Good advice for all of us, mind your own affairs and to work with your hands as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. So we talked before about what it means, that really in our work, we ought to care for those who we love. We ought to make sure that we can provide for them, but there will also be seasons. [00:30:59] Jesse Schwamb: One, there will be others who need to provide for us. And so in so doing, again, we're honoring God by walking in this path that he has given us, uh, to do. I like this. There's a couple of other great verses I think that are helpful for us to really think about what it means to have good work to do and to understand that good work. [00:31:17] The Blessing of Giving [00:31:17] Jesse Schwamb: Here's from Acts chapter 20. Paul says, in all things I've shown you that by working hard in this way, we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus. How He himself said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. So think about that there. There is an expression right there about work and what is this working hard. [00:31:35] Jesse Schwamb: It's to help the weak and to remember the words of Lord Jesus Christ. It is more blessed to give, to receive than to receive. Love always leads to giving for God. So love the world that he. Gave, and I think part of this good work that God calls us to is just giving. And so like right now, you may be in a season where you are giving of your labor in return for compensation, for that labor, but presumably there will, and there should come a time when you'll be giving it and you'll not be receiving that. [00:32:00] Jesse Schwamb: But it doesn't lessen the work. It doesn't take it away. It doesn't mean that it's not necessary anymore. We ought to continue to pursue that because love always leads to giving. Now I want to just finish our short little time together today as we've reasoned, hopefully. [00:32:15] Practical Ways to Exemplify Christian Values at Work [00:32:15] Jesse Schwamb: In a profound way from the scriptures helping us to be encouraged in this work by just a couple of things that if you are thinking in the sense of what can I do right now in my work of all kinds to exemplify and to be driven by unique view of humanity and a love rooted in the wisdom of the cross to stand out, what, what can we do as Christians, practically speaking. [00:32:37] Jesse Schwamb: To take everything that Paul has just given us here, appreciating this beautiful pattern that work is just gonna be part of our lives forever. And by the way, loved ones I, I have a strong conviction that in the new heavens and new Earth, that work will still be present there in a fully orbed and fully expressed, fully realized way that it's not capable today because of everything being mined by sin. [00:32:59] Jesse Schwamb: But then we're gonna find that this is just like an amm bush. It's the taste that. The thing that's coming for us, the appetizer of how work is gonna be fully satisfying, fully encouraging, fully joyful, and a full expression of how God has made us to do things. One of those things again are laboring in prayer, laboring on the construction site, laboring on a desk, laboring in the education and the teaching and ammunition of children. [00:33:24] Jesse Schwamb: All of these things are just really, really good. So what are a couple of things that we can do? Well, here's some things that that come to my mind. The first is that I think Christians can be known as the most care fairing and committed kind of people. So. Think about it this way, driven by the father's love and his acceptance of us through Jesus, we can be the kind of people that are known as fair, caring, and committed to others. [00:33:52] Jesse Schwamb: Since we know the depths of our own sin and the magnitude of God's grace to us, we can be ready to forgive and reconcile with others, and we should be quick to do so if we're doing that in their work environments. Whatever that environment is, there's no doubt this is gonna draw some fair amount of attention. [00:34:07] Jesse Schwamb: We may actually, and this is gonna sound a little bit wild. We may even have opportunities to take risks for the benefit of others. Now imagine it this way. Let's say that everybody has somebody to whom they're responsible and almost everybody else has somebody who's responsible to them. So think of it this way, if you are leading any kind of group of people, formerly or informally, you may have a unique opportunity to take risks on the behalf of those people. [00:34:30] Jesse Schwamb: Now, that may be may mean advocating for them. It could mean yielding to them, even if you have a hierarchical position that's above them. But more than anything, it could mean that you actually take a risk to take responsibility at times. So it's possible that let's say you're a leading a team and you're a place of work, and one of the people who is responsible to you, that is one of the people who reports to you, makes a mistake. [00:34:52] Jesse Schwamb: Let's say that the person that you are responsible to, your boss finds out about this. There's lots of ways you could go about this. Now, you may feel that you want to be easy just to say, well, this wasn't me. It was their fault. But consider how a Christian might approach this in love. It's possible that it may be entirely appropriate for that leader to take responsibility for the mistake, not taking blame for it, but taking responsibility for it as an act and expression of what it means to be fair, caring, and committed to others. [00:35:20] Jesse Schwamb: And now this may mean that if you were that person, you might lose a little bit of cloud to the organization. You might use a little bit of reputation or ability to maneuver within the organization, but there could be a very powerful, could be testimony in your ability to risk yourself for others in a way that I believe, again, is walking in this path of good works and that you are reasonable people. [00:35:41] Jesse Schwamb: You can sort out, I think in a situation like that. What kind of responsibility you might have, but I think it's important for us to consider that we may have that kind of responsibility and that to be known as fair, caring and committed to others. To advocate for them to again, forgive and to reconcile, and then sometimes to take risks of opportunity for the benefit of others is something that is unique to the Christian. [00:36:00] Jesse Schwamb: I think we at least agree on that, that kind of response to a s. We'll be wholeheartedly unique. [00:36:06] Generosity and Kingdom Living [00:36:06] Jesse Schwamb: I think we also need to be known as generous and depending on the context and opportunity, generosity at work can be expressed in so many different ways. Managers can be generous with their advice, their access, their investment in people. [00:36:17] Jesse Schwamb: All of us can be generous with our time, our money sharing our resources. Sacrificially. If you're a small business owner, and this is gonna sound wild, but let's, let's talk about kingdom living for a second. Loved ones like I presumably you're listening to this because we're not just satisfied with the small things. [00:36:31] Jesse Schwamb: We wanna think big in what it means. For the gospel to go out, for Jesus to be known. And so in this context of being generous, maybe it means if you're a small business owner, that you're willing to take less personal profit to benefit your neighbors or your customers or your employees. You know, I think of this company called a Go. [00:36:47] Jesse Schwamb: Which is a wooden toy company and it's, it was founded by a couple of Christians and driven by their Christian faith. They intentionally take smaller profit margins to benefit the people of Honduras where the wood is sourced and to create an employee savings program for them. I mean, that what a remarkable thing what, what a counter-cultural expression of what it means to be doing good. [00:37:08] Jesse Schwamb: Work. And so we can also grow and show our generosity to our colleagues by loving them outside work. You know, cooking a meal, preparing a meal for them when they have a child or attending a funeral if they lose a loved one, grabbing dinner with them if they're struggling, joining their club sports team, attending their wedding. [00:37:23] Jesse Schwamb: You know, generosity during, after work hours is a testimony of love. It shows that you see them as a whole person, not merely as like a productive asset or just a colleague. So I think we should push back a little bit on being generous and maybe sometimes I, I wanna say this. Gently because we are a benefit ourselves in this podcast of this, but not just with your money, especially with your time and maybe with like your attentional focus, maybe with your prayer time. [00:37:47] Jesse Schwamb: Maybe with your labor, in your prayer closet, that of all the things you could focus on, how often are we praying for our colleagues, like really praying that they would come to see the gospel in us, that we would be courageous in expressing that gospel and that God would arrest their hearts, which snatch them up and bring them into his kingdom so that all of our workplaces would be filled, uh, with Christians, that they would be everywhere. [00:38:08] Jesse Schwamb: Doing all kinds of things in som, much as God calls us to those things in submission to him, an expression of who he is and in obedience to what he's done for us. Here's another thing. I think this is a big one. It's one that I struggle with in my own life. [00:38:23] The Importance of Calmness and Authenticity [00:38:23] Jesse Schwamb: So I think another place, another way in which we can really stand out as Christians in our good work is to be known as calm. [00:38:30] Jesse Schwamb: Poised in the face of difficulty, failure or struggle. This might be the most telling way to judge if a person is drawing on the resources of the gospel and the development of their character. And this goes back to this idea of like, what does the a voracious person mean? It's, it's somebody who has like that inner. [00:38:47] Jesse Schwamb: Beauty expression of inner inner beauty. You know, how do we act when our boss passes over us for a promotion? How do we act if we fail to get that bonus we expected or, or if like a colleague is placed on a team we want to be on, how do we respond to those things really reveals where we placed our hope and identity. [00:39:03] Jesse Schwamb: And that can be a whole nother. Podcast. But if it's true that we have rooted ourselves, grounded ourselves, securely in Christ, then that is the supreme treasure that we have, and then everything else should be like, oh, that's no big deal. It's not to say that we're not gonna have big emotions, but even as we experience those big emotions, part of what it means to be humble is to come before God and say, God, I'm feeling this way. [00:39:26] Jesse Schwamb: And I'm a contingent being and I'm upset about this. Would you help me to reveal your gospel in this situation? And what a blessing in our progressive sanctification where God moves us into that space so that what becomes normative is when everybody else is losing their minds, when everybody else is gossiping, when everybody else is complaining. [00:39:46] Jesse Schwamb: What everybody else is pushing back here is the Christian who is resolute in firm and is speaking words of life. Encouragement into their workplace or those whom they're doing their work, who is speaking the gospel to them, who is calm and is poised and is ready to lead in such a way that brings value to everybody, helps 'em to find the true security in the situation and is not willing to compromise by participating in a meaningless backtalk. [00:40:12] Jesse Schwamb: That is an incredible testimony, and there's no doubt it's gonna cause us to stand out. There is something about this placing value that I think is important to mention. And I think I mentioned this before, but Tony's not here and I'm just talking. And so my experience, my professional career is all in the realm of finance. [00:40:30] Jesse Schwamb: So I've gotta use this because I think about this a lot and it's certainly relevant to us thinking about where is our value. [00:40:38] The Concept of True Treasure [00:40:38] Jesse Schwamb: I find it so interesting. That in the sermon on the mound. And when Jesus is speaking about treasures, he doesn't completely say that we should forsake treasures. Have you ever thought about that? [00:40:50] Jesse Schwamb: So instead of saying, you know, listen, don't worry about the treasure, just focus on me. Don't try to go after things. Just focus on me. And somebody says, listen. Listen, listen. You're going after the wrong treasure. So don't go after treasure where you know a moth or Russ is gonna destroy it or where like you're gonna be worried. [00:41:09] Jesse Schwamb: A thief is gonna break in and steal it. All those things are not just temporal, they can be taken from you. In fact, they, they will be taken from you. This is the wild part to me. He says instead, rather than do that, here's what you should do. Seek after the treasure that's in heaven. In other words, the proclivity to want to grab hold of valuable things and to keep them close to you, that is not bad in and of itself. [00:41:32] Jesse Schwamb: It's that you are focusing on the wrong thing that you want to grab and hold close. Seek after those treasures in heaven. And I can tell you why. This just shows the brilliancy with which Jesus knows us because he has created us loved ones, and in our fallen state, he's so kind to condescend to be like us, yet of course, without sin. [00:41:50] Jesse Schwamb: And in that he expresses a great knowledge of who we are and how we are. So. There's a very famous study done, actually very many versions of this study done, and what they'll do, and you can play along, I know I've done this before, but as you're sitting there listening to my voice play along with the scenario that I'm about to give you, and you can answer for yourself what you would do in this situation. [00:42:11] Jesse Schwamb: There's no right or wrong answer. So here's the situation. Researchers gave per people two options. They said, you, I can either give you a thousand dollars for sure, or. Or we can play a game. We'll flip a coin. If the coin is heads, you get $2,000, but if the coin comes up, tails, you get nothing. So the choices were you could have a sure thousand dollars or you could risk it. [00:42:39] Jesse Schwamb: And with a coin flip, a fair coin flip, you could get either $2,000 or zero. Now I'll pause. What would you prefer if you're like most people? You would take the sure $1,000 because you'd rather have for sure a thousand dollars in your pocket than giving up the gamble. Even though you could get twice as much the gamble of $2,000 or zero, who wants to walk away with zero when somebody's like, I'll give you a thousand dollars for certain. [00:43:06] Jesse Schwamb: Most people would prefer the certainty. Now those who are like keen have a turn of mind for mathematics are gonna realize that on average, those two options are exactly the same. So whether you get a thousand dollars. For certain, you got the a thousand dollars on the other option, half the time you'll get zero. [00:43:23] Jesse Schwamb: Half the time you'll get a $2,000. If you average those out, that's sequel to a thousand dollars over the long term. So there's something interesting there too, isn't it? See how our minds are working that we prefer, we are loss averse. In other words, we do not like loss. In fact, there's a very famous. [00:43:39] Jesse Schwamb: Theorem about this that says the pain of losing a dollar is twice as great as the pain of gaining one. And this is why it's so hard. If you have a retirement account, you have investments somewhere. When you look at your accounts and the numbers are down, you feel particularly awful. And when they're up, you feel good, but not that great. [00:43:54] Jesse Schwamb: Uh, this is the idea of. Being a loss averse. Now, here's the other thing that these researchers did. They flipped the whole scenario, and I'm gonna give you one more thing to think about. So rather than talking about gains, they said these people, okay, here's your choice, and you have to choose one of these. [00:44:09] Jesse Schwamb: Either you can take a sure loss of a thousand dollars, or you can take a gamble. And you can take a, we'll flip a coin and if it comes up heads, you'll lose $2,000. But if it comes up tails, you will lose zero. So again, here are the two options, but now we're talking about losses. You either have to take a loss of a thousand dollars for certain, or you could take the gamble, flip a fail fair coin, and you could lose $2,000 or you might lose nothing if it comes up tails. [00:44:42] Jesse Schwamb: Now what would you do? Now if you're like most people, what these researchers found is people gravitated toward taking the risk. That is, they chose the option when they said, let me flip the coin, because at least if I flip the coin, there's a chance I might not lose anything. I know I might lose $2,000, but I would rather take the risk of losing 2000, but have the opportunity to lose nothing than take the sure loss of a thousand dollars. [00:45:05] Jesse Schwamb: So here's what's crazy about all this. Here's what it teaches us, is we make the wrong choices all the time. You know, technically speaking, when it comes to gains, we should prefer the risk, the risk of zero, because you started out with zero, so you're not better. You're not worse off by having zero, and if you win, you get $2,000. [00:45:22] Jesse Schwamb: But when it comes to the loss, we should take the sure loss of a thousand dollars because we might end up having a loss of $2,000. We tend to behave poorly given the situations. This is an example of loss aversion and risk aversion, and Jesus knows this. That's the brilliance of it, of course, because he says, I know that your hearts will be troubled by losing your treasure. [00:45:45] Jesse Schwamb: So here's the thing. It's not the treasure that's bad, it's that you're putting your faith, you're going after the wrong thing. So loved ones. When we find ourselves rooted in Christ, when we find our identity right there in him, when we are sure that all that we have is in the heavenly realms and therefore everything else can float and fl away, then we find ourselves able to be the kind of people in our workplaces where we're calm, poised in the face of difficulty failure, or all kinds of challenges. [00:46:14] Jesse Schwamb: One more thing I would encourage you with, and that is just be known as authentic and integrated. This goes back to something Tony and I have really challenged ourselves with so much, and that is some Christians aren't very open about their faith at work and others talk about it all the time, but act and speak in ways that marginalize nonbelievers. [00:46:30] Jesse Schwamb: We should, of course, be really wise about how we share the reason for the hope that we're, we have when we're at work. But staying silent isn't an option. If we wanna be authentic people, we have to bring our whole selves to work. I think this is where we all, at times could use a little work. I, I've barely been encouraged by brothers and sisters who are far better at this than I, where. [00:46:50] Jesse Schwamb: They're really good at explaining why they do something, and perhaps they've been building a relationship with non-believers, serving them, working with them. And, but when the right opportunity approaches when the moment arrives, they're right there with their explanation. They're quick to say, it's because Jesus loves me. [00:47:06] Jesse Schwamb: They're quick to talk about the transforming power of the gospel. And it's not in a way that's overbearing. It's not in a way that seems disingenuous or somehow like they're, they're shoehorning in some kind of, you know, bully pulpit testimony. Instead, it's a natural expression. Because they were ready and willing and brave. [00:47:22] Jesse Schwamb: To do that. So we've got to be known as authentic and integrated, and that integration is just as important as the authenticity. What, what is the good, what is the point of doing many of these good works if there is not a commensurate explanation or expression of why we are doing them, because. Plenty of people who are non-believers also do good work. [00:47:42] Jesse Schwamb: This is part of the common grace that God has given to all of our world and to the entire universe writ large. So in that being said, sometimes we just need to say, this is why I'm doing it. And it's possible that probably people are sometimes thinking, I have no idea why this person is doing this, but I'm not gonna ask them. [00:47:57] Jesse Schwamb: 'cause that's super weird. So by us stepping forward and saying, listen, I love you, God is good to me, uh, there there's a God over the universe who saved me. I was in this pit of despair and he's taken me out of that pit. My work, the things I do, I do now for him. I do it not just because I wanna provide for my family, but because I love God. [00:48:16] Jesse Schwamb: I want to be obedient in worshiping him, and part of how I worship him is doing my work this particular way. That's why you see me. Work like this. What a beautiful thing. Loved ones. [00:48:25] Final Thoughts and Encouragement [00:48:25] Jesse Schwamb: So there's so much I think for us to think about here. I could go on and on, and at this point, this is no longer a short episode. [00:48:32] Jesse Schwamb: You've gotten almost 50 minutes of me just talking. So I want to thank some people for good works right now. And that is. For those of you who have joined in the Telegram chat and are hanging out. Thank you. I really appreciate that. And there's so much good conversation going on there. Again, I gotta plug it. [00:48:48] Jesse Schwamb: If you haven't, if you're not in there, you're really missing out on this experience. It's not just hearing Tony and I talk. It's coming alongside and being integrated with all kinds of other brothers and sisters. So do yourself and us a favor and go to T Me Rhyme, see t me slash reform brotherhood and come hang out with us in addition. [00:49:10] Jesse Schwamb: I'm so grateful for all those who contribute to the podcast financially to make sure that just keeps going. If you've ever wondered like, how is this all free, and there's a website where I can go surf the back catalog@reformbrotherhood.com and it just shows up in my podcast feed, and it doesn't sound like they're in a tin can somewhere or in a hurricane recording this. [00:49:28] Jesse Schwamb: How does all of that happened? It happens because there's so many lovely brothers and sisters who's come alongside and said. Yeah, you know what? After all my responsibilities, I have a little bit left over and I wanna make sure that this thing just continues to keep going. And so I say to you, thank you so much. [00:49:43] Jesse Schwamb: If you would like to be a part of that and I challenge you, come join us in giving toward the podcast, Tony and I do. And there's somebody I love, our brothers and sisters who do as well. That's what makes this happen. You can go to patreon.com, reformed brotherhood, so we've got all kinds of good stuff coming up. [00:49:59] Jesse Schwamb: I love the fall season, autumn in the Western hemisphere here, because it feels like a reset in many ways. Like the kids go back to school, the weather changes depending on where you are, the

New episode of Our Work out today: Redefining Leadership – Women, Connection & Impact.In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Pocha — CEO of Discover Saskatoon, storyteller, and passionate community leader — for a honest conversation about what leadership means for women. We talk about leadership, relationships, pressure, and purpose — and how women can reshape leadership by choosing collaboration over competition.Topics we explore:·        Unique experiences for women in leadership·        The missing variable - connection to ourselves, each other and nature·        The “viper theory” — how scarcity affects women's dynamics at work·        The solution - from “me vs. you” to “us together”·        The hardening that happens in leadership — the importance of staying open ·        Regenerative economics and building systems that heal·        Real partnership and sacred masculinity·        Gratitude for pressure — and letting it break us open·        Downtown revitalization and community storytellingOne of my favorite quotes from Steph:“Pressure is a gift... I hope these pressure-filled, fractured environments enable a place for me to exist that continues to break me open.”Filmed: June 2025Note: The ideas shared here are my own and may not necessarily reflect the views of any organization I am affiliated with. Please extend the same consideration to my guests.

Dwell - Part 3Satisfied Days | Psalm 90:13-17Preaching: CT EldridgeBig Idea: Dwelling in the Lord makes life ultimately redemptive1. God Provides Relief in Our Struggles2. God Provides Joy in Our Days3. God Provides Meaning in Our Work

The Value of Our Work

Boasting in God and His Work, Not Ourselves or Our Work Please turn to 2 Corinthians 10. Our sermon text is chapter 10 verses 8-18. That is on page 1150. As you are turning there, be reminded that the apostle Paul has been defending his apostleship over and against the false apostles. This morning's reading continues the contrast between true and false apostles. These verses focus on boasting and comparing. In whom should we boast and with whom should we compare ourselves. Listen for those things as I read. Reading of 2 Corinthians 10:8-18 Prayer As I was studying this passage, I realized that it's pretty relevant for our church's 5th anniversary. I promise I didn't pick this text for that purpose. And then as I studied it, more, I realized, oh this is actually pretty convicting. I was reflecting back on all the feelings I was going through when we were organizing. This is going back to 2019 and early 2020. A big one was fear of failure. I had read that something like 80% of church plants don't make it. That was hard to consider. My temptation, like other pastors, is to connect my identity to the success or failure of the church. When things are seemingly going well, it's tempting to think that somehow it's due to my gifts or leadership. And on the other side, when things are seemingly not going well, the temptation is to feel like a failure instead of turning to Christ and relying on him. So that was one thing. But also, I had feelings of rejection. Like when a person or family was exploring churches, but decided to go to another church, it was (and it still is!) easy to feel a personal rejection. Related to that, it has been tempting to compare myself with other pastors or compare our church with other churches. I have struggled with those but especially when we were beginning. I've had to ask myself some hard questions. 1. Is my identity wrapped up our church instead of Christ? That's a hard question for any pastor. 2. Do I have a worldly understanding of success and failure? That's another hard one. Am I focused on numeric growth or, instead, spiritual growth? 3. Am I comparing myself with others or looking for affirmation from others instead of from Jesus? Those are hard things to ask. The reason I'm bringing these up is because our text this morning asks and answer some of these very questions. Now, to be sure, none of us are apostles. No, Paul had a special ordained role as one of the apostles called by Jesus himself. Moreover, the office of apostle concluded in the first century when the Scriptures were complete. However, even though none of us are apostles, the foundation that Paul laid for the church, and the pattern that he modelled as a faithful shepherd certainly apply to us today. In these verses, as Paul compares the true apostles to the false apostles, we can see the pattern. On the one hand, God glorifying, Christ exalting ministry and on the other, man-centered, self-exalting ministry. As we work through this, my hope is that we, as a church, can hear and apply these words to us. In the outline provided, you'll see 3 questions. 1. Whose standard are we using? 2. Whose glory are we seeking? 3. Whose message are we proclaiming? Actually, I want to extend that third question. Whose message are we proclaiming and what mission are we pursuing? Pencil that in. Again, whose standard, whose glory, whose message, and what mission. 1. Whose standard are we using? So, #1 whose standard? We've already considered that the impostors in Corinth critiqued Paul because he appeared weak in the flesh. Look at verse10: “For they say, ‘His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.'” There are really three critiques here. 1) Paul was physically weak or at least he came across as wimpy; 2) his speech was unimpressive. In other words, because he didn't use all the rhetorical devices of the era, he was therefore sub-par... and 3) he was self-contradictory. His letters were strong but that wasn't matched by a strong in-person impression. That last one is addressed directly in verse 11. Paul writes, “Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.” He was saying to them, you may have an impression of weakness when we are in person, however, we are living out our boldness in our lives when we are with you. And make no mistake, we are prepared to speak with the same boldness if necessary. What was the false apostles standard? How were they evaluating Paul? And the answer is, they were using the world's standards. They were comparing Paul to what they considered superior. Verse 12 gets to the heart of their problem. It says, “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” They were measuring themselves with one another. Their standard did not come from God, it came through their worldly comparison. I think we can all understand the temptation. Our natural sinful disposition is to look to others. We constantly measure ourselves by what we see around us. I was recently reading a book that identified the 10th commandment – do not covet – as the consummate problem with the entire world. The author was saying that man's covetous heart is the source of all evil and war and anger and stealing and adultery. Someone has something that we don't have and we want it. We want to be better than and stronger than and more prominent than and more popular than our neighbor. Do you see how that is true? A covetous heart leads to ungodly and self-centered thoughts and words and actions that betray God's standard of righteousness. Now, I do not believe the 10th commandment is the only path to sin and evil in the world. I think the 1st and 2nd commandments are also an entry point into corruption and evil. The 1st and 2nd commandments are about having no other god and not making or worshiping an idol in the place of God. But for sure, coveting was a big problem in Corinth. The false apostles coveted what Paul had – they wanted his authority and popularity. And so what did they do? They turned to each other and the world's standards… and they undermined Paul, whom God had ordained as faithful and true. Last month, something really sad and unfortunate happened. A prominent pastor in the reformed church world was found to be slandering other pastors. He had created multiple anonymous X accounts, and he was using those fake accounts to criticize and undermine other pastors. This pastor was doing the same thing as the false apostles in Corinth. He was elevating himself and suppressing others. Now, that's a negative example and I think it's a rare example. At least, I hope. A more common example is when we envy the so-called success of other churches and try to mimic their tactics. In other words, when we see or hear of another church attracting a bunch of people, we think, what are they doing that we could also do or even do better? On my way here last week, I drove by a big church. Lots of cars were pulling in. And there was a guy with one of those giant bubble makers. You know, with the rope, and it makes big ubbles. And I thought, do we need a giant bubble maker? Just kidding. Actually, I was a little irritated because one of the bubbles popped on my car. On a serious note, much of today's church growth movement is focused on external things. It's just a modern version of what the false apostles were doing. Today it's about emotionally driven and high production experiences; or innovations to attract people; or it's a focus on feel-good messages that avoid difficult topics like sin and judgment and repentance and holiness; Now, I am not saying that we shouldn't be thoughtful and engaging in the responsibilities God has given his church. We definitely should. Rather, I'm saying that our natural sinful proclivity is to turn to the world's standards and approach which includes compare ourselves to others. It's one of my temptations and I think probably to some extent, a temptation for all of us. Instead, we should be looking to the Lord and his criteria. That begins by seeking to be faithful to him and to his ways and to his purposes rather than the world's. Instead of being man-centered we should seek to be God glorifying. We should focus on the Gospel – our utter need for God's grace in Christ because of our sin and God's judgment. In our practices, we should submit them to God's Word. Those are just a few. So, whose standard are we using? Are we following God's standard which he has reveled to us in his Word, or are we following the world's standard, comparing ourselves to one another? 2. Whose glory are we seeking? #2. Whose glory are we seeking? Are we seeking God's glory and are we boasting in him, or are we boasting in and exalting ourselves? You heard the word boast in these verses. It's used 7 times. In fact, the theme of boasting will continue into chapters 11 and 12. And we get the sense that Paul doesn't even like the word boasting. But because the so-called super apostles were boasting, Paul needed to correct their misguided boasting by presenting what they should really be boasting in – which is the Lord. By the way, let me give you a definition of the word boasting. The Greek word boast is to brag about, or rejoice in, or have confidence in something. To boast is to lift up something or someone as exceptionally noteworthy. Paul is saying all throughout these verses that our boasting needs to be in the Lord and his work. Nowhere in these verses does Paul commend himself. Rather, he directs their attention to the Lord and what the Lord commends. Let's look at two examples here. First, verse 8. Paul writes, “For even if I boast a little too much of our authority.” Do you hear that uneasiness. But listen to what he says next,  “which the Lord gave….” You see, he focuses on the Lord. It's not a self commending authority, but an authority that the Lord gave. Verse 18 is similar. “For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” The impostors were boasting in their own self-assigned authority. It was not a God-ordained authority. They were putting each other on a pedestal. I don't know if you'll remember this from chapter 3, but they even had letters of recommendation to somehow prove their authority in the church. It was all very self-serving and not God glorifying. It's kind of like they were applying for a job. You know the drill. The way to get a job is self-promotion. You put together a resume or a CV. You have to include all your expertise and credentials and education and certifications. Then if you get an interview, you basically have to talk about why you are the best… or at least the best fit for the job. It's a little uncomfortable, isn't it? …because you are essentially boasting about yourself. That's the way the world works, and it's hard to break out of that mindset in ministry. It's not that Paul didn't have the credentials. Actually, in the next chapter he is going to be clear about his credentials. Rather, what he is emphasizing is that we need to direct our attention to the Lord. It is his work, not ours. It's his work in us, his work through us, and he is the one to be exalted in it. Let me put it this way: No heart transforming work happens in anyone's life by man's work. No, it is the work of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit that turns hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. Furthermore, there is no sanctification in one's life that happens by our will, no, rather it is likewise the ministry of God's Word through his Spirit that matures us in Christ. Our church is here today, not because of anything that any of us did. I am not saying that seeking to be faithful to fulfill God's call for the local church is not important. It is important. But there have been many faithful church plants that have closed. There was a church plant in Lilburn that closed a couple of years ago. It was a daughter church of Perimeter in John's Creek – Perimeter is a sister church of ours. And I remember a very meaningful comment by Perimeter's church plant director. As they prepared to close their doors, he encouraged them that their labors were not in vain. No, rather that the Lord had been faithfully at work during the time of their existence as a church. And furthermore, he said, that when that great day comes when Christ returns, the work that the Lord did through their church plant will be celebrated… celebrated as part of the broader kingdom work of God throughout the world. It was a great reminder that it was the Lord's work. That's hard to get our minds around because we often apply the world's criteria of success and failure. But we can still boast in what God has done in that community and the lives of his people. The key verse is right there in verse 17. It's a quote from Jeremiah. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” Paul is clearly boasting here. But he is boasting in God's authority over his apostleship, and he is boasting in the Lord's work in Corinth. There is only one place to direct our boasting. It is to the Lord. What he has done and is doing. So, whose glory are we seeking? Are we seeking our own glory? Are we commending and boasting in ourselves or are we seeking to give glory to God and his work? 3. Whose message are we proclaiming and what mission are we pursuing? Which brings us to the third question. Whose message are we proclaiming and what mission are we pursuing? We've already seen throughout 2 Corinthians that the false apostles were not only promoting themselves, but they were proclaiming a false gospel. Their gospel was about power and it was about prestige. It was not about the true Gospel of Christ crucified and the weakness and suffering and humility that comes from that. Furthermore, their mission was to build up themselves and their little kingdom. We're not given any sense in 2 Corinthians that the false apostles desired to spread the Gospel. Paul focuses on these things in verses 14 and 15. And they merit a little explaining. He says in verse 14, “we are not overextending ourselves as though we did not reach you.” What he means is that they had a vested interest in Corinth. Corinth was under their oversight. They were not interjecting themselves into the situation in Corinth without warrant. On the contrary, they had come, as it says, “all the way to them to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Paul and the others had sacrificed much to bring the Gospel to them and had labored many months to establish the church. When Paul planted the church in Corinth, he was there for 18 months. Of course he desired to see the church in Corinth prosper. And there are two things on his mind. First, he wanted them to be firmly established with the Gospel message and, second, he wanted them to participate in the Gospel mission. The message of the Gospel and the mission of the Gospel go hand and hand. As Paul said in his letter to the Romans in chapter 1, “The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.” Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. He wanted to see the Gospel message go to the ends of the earth. And he wanted the Corinthians to help. That is what the second half of verse 15 means. “our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged.” In other words, as you grow in your faith, we hope you will take the Gospel to other communities around you and thus enlarge what God began. And then look what he says in verse 16, “so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you.” When the church in Corinth matures in Christ and stabilizes, two things will happen. First, the Gospel will spread in southern Greece. And second, Paul, Timothy, Titus, and the others will no longer need to focus their efforts on Corinth. They will be able to take the Gospel to other lands that have never heard of Jesus Christ. A church that loses the Gospel message loses the Gospel mission. You may have heard this, but a couple of months ago, the mainline Presbyterian denomination in the US ended its foreign mission's agency. They let go their remaining 60 missionaries. Over the last 100 years, they had slowly lost their belief in Jesus as the only hope for salvation. And with that loss of message, they slowly lost the purpose of missions. If there's no message, then why bother with the mission? When the so-called super apostles infiltrated Corinth, not only did they distract the church away from the truth, they also distracted the church away from its mission. And it furthermore required a lot of effort from Paul and others, which distracted them from their broader mission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Are we seeking to be true to the message of the Gospel and faithful to our mission to proclaim it to all the world? Conclusion To recap: 1. Whose standard are we using? Are we comparing ourselves to others using the world's standards or are we seeking what the Lord commends and has designed for his church? 2. Whose glory are we seeking? Are we boasting in ourselves , or are we boasting in the Lord and his work, recognizing that in him and through him and to him are all things? 3. Whose message are we proclaiming and what mission are we pursuing? Are we being faithful to the hope that is found in Christ alone and faithful to the great commission… or is the message and mission waning in our lives and church? Every church needs to be constantly evaluating and re-evaluating these questions. I don't know what plans the Lord has for us over the next 5 years. But my prayer is (1) that we would not align ourselves to the standards of the world, (2) that we would boast in the Lord and his work, and (3) that we would be faithful to Christ, seeking to be a light of his Gospel to our neighbors and taking that Gospel to the “lands beyond” as the apostle put it. In all of it, boasting in the Lord. Amen.

Redemption Part 1 – The Gospel and Our Work by Christ City Church Dublin

 Was Albert Einstein's brilliance a solo act… or was someone quietly working beside him—only to be forgotten by history?In this episode of An Ounce, we uncover the story of Mileva Marić: Einstein's first wife, a brilliant physicist, and possibly the uncredited partner behind one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of all time.From love letters filled with equations to the mystery of a missing diploma and a vanished child, this story raises one bold question:Who really wrote E=mc²?________________________________________

LORD OF ALL OUR WORK (EPHESIANS 6:5-8) Let me ask you an important question about your relationship with Jesus Christ.  Is Jesus Christ the Lord of all of your life?  Is He the Lord of all of your wealth?  Is He the Lord of all of your worship, is He the Lord of all your family, and is He the Lord of all your work?  This is an important question for us today, because if Jesus is not Lord of all of your life, then He is not Lord at all.  Jesus will not be Lord over a divided kingdom that is your life.  He will not share His throne with Satan. Today, Paul writes to us about making Jesus Christ the Lord of All of Our Work. Now, most of the people who are listening to me, who are adults, have a job. You are employed.  Either in a secular job, or a spiritual job.  You see, even for those who have retired from their secular job, they still have a role, or a job, assigned to them by God.  There is no retirement in the service of the Lord.  If you are still breathing, then God has a job for you. Let me ask you, is your job, that you spend a third of your life at, really meaningful to you, or is it just something that is necessary, and perhaps very boring?  How would you like to have that boredom changed to blessing? How would you like to have that drudgery turned to delight? How would you like to have that monotony turned into something that is momentous, and exhilarating, and thrilling, and meaningful?  You might say, in order for me to do that, then I would surely have to change jobs.  Maybe not. I want to show you today how you can take your job, no matter what it is, if it is not immoral, and translate it from the secular to the savory; and how your job can become a ministry, how your job can become the temple of your devotion and the lampstand for your witness. I believe that is exactly what the Apostle Paul is talking about here when He is talking about slaves serving their masters for the glory of God. It is an important Biblical truth that God chooses ordinary people, gives them supernatural power, and does extraordinary things through ordinary people.  But listen. Here is the secret. God does extraordinary things with ordinary people in ordinary places.  Click on the play button to hear a message on how you should see your job, whatever your job is.  As a partnership with God.  As a service to yourself, and service to others, and as the lampstand of your devotion. This is a live recording of The Master's Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS. Amen.

I. Our Work in Building I. The Biblical Principle II. Our Dependence on Jehovah III. The Encouragement He Gives

A new MP3 sermon from Immanuel United Reformed Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Lord Created Us to Find Joy in Our Work Speaker: Rev. Richard Wynia Broadcaster: Immanuel United Reformed Church Event: Prayer Meeting Date: 4/3/2025 Bible: Ecclesiastes 3:9-4:12; Matthew 16:24-26 Length: 31 min.

Sahil Adeem and EON have done a podcast against me, this is my response and an exploration of Sahil Adeem's identity crisis.The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperienceTo support the channel:Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912Patreon.com/thepakistanexperienceAnd Please stay in touch:https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperienceThe podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications. Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikhFacebook.com/Shehzadghias/Twitter.com/shehzad89Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC44l9XMwecN5nSgIF2Dvivg/joinChapters:0:00 Responding to Sahil Adeem12:58 Sahil Adeem against Sindhis17:00 Sahil Adeem's social media campaigns23:27 Adeem Hashmi and Sahil's identity crisis31:30 Eon Podcast, Insecurities and Conspiracy Theories38:00 Psychology and Fake Experts42:00 Pakistan's Identity Crisis45:00 Our Work

Love Bomb 2025 - Matthew 5:13-16 - from the series of Topical Teachings with Skip Heitzig from Calvary Church.I. Our World is DarkII. Our Walk is DifferentIII. Our Work is Demonstrated

The Fórsa trade union has instructed its members in the civil service to resist efforts by two Government departments to reduce their number of remote working days. Our Work and Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan is in studio

Eva Oh and Vex of Four Chambers dive into a conversation about the sometimes messy and always fascinating intersections of sex, art, and identity. From how performance challenges embodiment in sexuality, to how burnout hits when your work revolves around desire. We journey through Vex's cyber goth era and chatroom nostalgia to inducing lactation for a porn series, as she opens up about her values, and the shifts shaping porn today. Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/evaohMore on Eva Oh: https://eva-oh.com HIGHLIGHTS:Here are the timestamps for the video episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.(00:00:00) - Welcome. What is #teakink(00:00:23) - Meet Vex of Four Chambers and a Thought on Hawking Porn vs Fashion(00:01:40) - The Point of Four Chambers and Hotness?(00:03:40) - Order, Mess and Truth in Sex and Our Work(00:06:30) - What Vex is Hiding, Sexual Performance vs Embodiment(00:10:20) - Who Are We Really? How Vex is Using Weed in Self-Discovery(00:13:20) - Our Relationship to Surrender and Burnout(00:16:00) - Vex's Craving for the Physical(00:18:00) - Eva's Burnout Strategies and Meditation(00:20:45) - Vex at 12 in Habbo Hotel Chatrooms, the Internet as a Portal and Weirdness(00:26:20) - Vex's Draw to Cyber Goth Culture and Darkness(00:29:00) - Boredom and Craving Storytelling(00:30:50) - The Void, Cuckolding and Leaning into Despair(00:37:10) - How Making Porn Has Changed Vex's Life and Values(00:39:30) - The Disappearance of Pornography?(00:41:30) - Chatrooms to Camming to Tumblr Porn to Four Chambers(00:45:05) - What Sex Work Taught Us About (Lack of) Freedom, Society and Meta(00:51:40) - Our Longing for Undocumented Experiences(00:55:00) - The Substance, Doppelgänger by Naomi Klein and Being 'Palatable' as Women(00:57:24) - Managing Mobile Phone Usage and Dating Younger(01:01:00) - Exploring Archetypes and Fucking with Mommy Issues(01:06:00) - Inducing Lactation for the Porn Series 'Maman'(01:12:30) - Popular Porn Categories(01:15:00) - Eva's MILF and Digital Detox Plans

Our Work and Technology Correspondent, Brian O'Donovan.

This week, I welcome my friends and IFJA colleagues Andy Carr and Joe Shearer back to the show to help me close out the year with a breakdown of the Indiana Film Journalists Association's Ten Best Films of 2024. Timestamps Show Start - 00:28 Introducing the Guests - 02:42 Spotlight on Our Work in 2024 - 08:09 Movies We'd Add to the List - 18:35 Best Film Finalists - 28:50 Civil War - 29:15 Conclave - 37:06 A Different Man - 45:43 I Saw the TV Glow - 53:51 Exit Joe - 1:01:16 Mars Express - 1:02:16 News Break: Nolan's Odyssey - 1:08:20 Nickel Boys - 1:13:07 A Real Pain - 1:19:50 Sing Sing - 1:25:20 Runner-Up: The Brutalist - 1:29:48 Winner: The Substance - 1:35:15   IFJA Thoughts - 1:43:36 Closing the Ep - 1:47:24 Patreon Clip - 1:51:28   Related Links Start Your Podcast with Libsyn Using Promo Code OBSESS Christopher Nolan's ‘The Odyssey' Revealed: Next Film Is ‘Mythic Action Epic' Shot With New Imax Technology   Andy's Letterboxd Odd Trilogies Cinema Komorebi: Grand Prix (1966) – Part 1 Odd Trilogies - Episode 91: Kurosawa's Shakespeare Trilogy (with Matt Hurt)   Joe's Letterboxd Joe's Writing on Midwest Film Journal The Marvelous Ms. Meryl: The River Wild (1994) Denzelmber: Ricochet   Indianapolis Theaters Alamo Drafthouse Indy Obsessive Viewer - Alamo Drafthouse Indianapolis Preview Kan-Kan  Living Room Theaters Keystone Art  Flix Brewhouse   My 2024 Podcast and Writing Archive One Year of Criterion Channel - Dec 24, 2023 - Dec 23, 2024 Movies I Own But Haven't Watched/Rated Yet   Support Us on Patreon for Exclusive Content Official OV Merch  Obsessive Viewer Obsessive Viewer Presents: Anthology Obsessive Viewer Presents: Tower Junkies As Good As It Gets - Linktree   Follow Us on Social Media My Letterboxd | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter/X Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | TikTok | Tiny's Letterboxd   Mic Info Matt: ElectroVoice RE20 into RØDEcaster Pro II (Firmware: 1.4.4) Andy: Samson Q2U via USB in Google Meet Joe: Tonor USB Microphone via Google Meet   Episode Homepage: ObsessiveViewer.com/OV459   Next Week on the Podcast OV460 - Nosferatu (2024) & Babygirl (2024)

Our Work and Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan reports.

Our Work & Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan has the latest on the ballot.

9:05 – 9:22 (15mins) Weekly: Karen Kataline -@KarenKataline More info on Karen: www.karenkataline.com  9:41 – 9:56 (15mins) Trevor Loudon, @TrevorLoudon1 trevorloudon.com spokesman for the film, Beneath Sheep's Clothing founder of the New Zeal Blog.PLUG FILM: Beneath Sheep's ClothingWe Won the Election But We Haven't Defeated the EnemyAmericans Must Stay Engaged and Continue to Fight. Our Work is Just BeginningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Faithful Agent Podcast, Garrett Maroon discusses the calling of Christian business owners to pursue excellence in their work. He emphasizes that excellence reflects God's character, serves as a witness to others, and is a means of stewarding the gifts God has entrusted to us. Through biblical teachings, Garrett encourages listeners to focus on the input of their work rather than the output, highlighting that faithfulness and excellence are key to glorifying God in all endeavors.TakeawaysChristian business owners are called to excellence.Excellence reflects God's character and nature.Our work serves as a witness to others.We should strive for excellence in all areas of life.The input of our work is what honors God, not the output.Excellence is a way to steward God's gifts wisely.People are watching how we conduct ourselves in business.Excellence honors God, even in mundane tasks.Faithfulness is more important than worldly success.Focus on excellence and faithfulness in all we do.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Excellence in Business02:18 Reflecting God's Character through Excellence09:51 Our Work as a Witness to Others20:49 Stewarding God's Gifts through ExcellenceConnect with Garrett on social! InstagramLearn how Garrett is gathering Christian agents all around the globe to be in business together with the 2:10 Collective at eXp - 210collective.comCome to the Faithful Agent Conference - faithfulagent.com/conferenceHelp us fund the continued work of The Faithful Agent by sending us your Hampton Roads and Richmond, VA buyer and seller referrals! https://faithfulagent.com/referralJoin our Facebook community to meet other agents who share your work and your faith! facebook.com/groups/thefaithfulagent Want to join a local Faithful Agent group to meet believers in your area? Check out faithfulagent.com/local-groups

It relates to passengers booking through 3rd party websites. Our Work & Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan explains.

Our Work and Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan has been going through the comptroller and Auditor General's (C&AG) Report On The Accounts of The Public Services for 2023.

Gianna, Michael, and Jason discuss the challenges of being image-bearers in different work environments and the temptation to prioritize career advancement over living out new creation values. They explore the idea that work is a form of worship and how it should be done with excellence and for the glory of God because work is not just a necessary evil or a means to an end, but a noble calling that reflects the values of new creation. They conclude with examples of how individuals can live out the new creation in their work, even in challenging circumstances.Chapters00:00 – Introduction08:00 - Approaching Work with Worship and Service15:27 - Challenging the Notion of Retirement in Heaven19:16 -Living Out New Creation in Our Work25:19 - Expanding Eden Through Our Work33:36 - Living as the New Creation in Our Vocations37:32 - Challenges of Being the New Creation in Different Work Environments52:11 - Work as a Form of Worship55:36 - Excellence and Humility in Our Work01:06:08 - Serving Others as the New Creation in Our Work

Adam Bastock was enjoying a successful career in digital marketing when he realised the planet was in crisis and decided to do something about it. In 2020 he set up Small99 with a mission to help the UK's small businesses become more sustainable and reduce their carbon footprint. He's gone from strength to strength since then. Adam is the brain behind People, Planet, Pint – a social meetup for anyone concerned about climate change and sustainability. Originally devised as a meetup after COP22 in Adam's hometown of Glasgow, PPP has gone on to operate in 75 cities across 10 countries. Community, it's clear, is a great catalyst and enabler of change. In this episode Jen, Cat and Dom chat with Adam to hear how SME's are responding to the climate crisis and what role he thinks communication plays in successful community building and behaviour change. About Adam Adam is the founder of Small99. Small99™ is helping small businesses to take positive action to reduce their carbon footprint to become more sustainable and profitable. Vision - Our Ambition To create the Small99™ Carbon Reduction Community – a positive and energetic force that supports small businesses to make their vital contribution to the UK's carbon reduction targets. Mission At Small99™ we provide practical support, tools and local meetups to start 1 million small businesses on their path to net zero by 2025. We're doing this because existing guidance often overlooks small businesses, yet 99% of businesses in the UK employ fewer than 49 employees - together they can make a huge contribution to reducing the UK's carbon output. Our Story Small99™ is helping small businesses to take positive action to reduce their carbon footprint to become more sustainable and profitable. The UK's small business community has the power to make a vital contribution to our carbon reduction targets. Small99™ is creating a movement for change – a movement that is empowering small businesses by creating a portfolio of practical tools, support and networking opportunities. The Small99™ process is practical, approachable and, importantly, it aligns with the targets of companies like Microsoft. It enables small businesses to evaluate their footprint, set targets for reducing it and measure their progress. The Small99™ team is ambitious for change and aims to connect with one million businesses by 2025 – businesses that can, with our help, improve their sustainability and profitability and help the UK meet its carbon reduction targets. How we do it You can join us at our People, Planet, Pint™ events held across the UK and internationally. They're a great way to meet other small businesses, to share your challenges, ideas and experiences so that you can learn from others. You can attend one of our CRAB (Carbon Reduction Action Box) workshops where, in a couple of hours, you can create a baseline for your carbon reduction plan, scope your next steps and make some good connections along the way. You can access our online Carbon Reduction Measurement tool to help you take action and monitor your progress. It's a simple, effective and accessible and provides the information you need to plan for and reduce your carbon Footprint. You can get expert support from our team when you need help to stay on track. You can estimate your digital carbon footprint quickly in detail too. Already, we've engaged with more than 9,000 businesses in the past 2 years through our workshops, tools and events. We organise around 60 events a month across the world to bring small businesses together - including Chicago, Singapore and Australia. Join the Small99™ Carbon Reduction Movement – it's simple, accessible anddesigned to help you and your business to become more sustainable and Profitable.   Our Work Small99 has directly trained over 6,000 businesses in the past 2 years on the topic of Net Zero, focusing on small businesses that were feeling overwhelmed and confused by the existing guidance available. Adam Bastock, Small99 Founder, studied at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leaders (CISL), and has since worked with multiple organisations throughout the UK under the Small99™ brand. Some of Small99's partnerships include: “Net Zero 360”, with Clean Growth UK, to guide hundreds of businesses to measure and reduce their footprint. The development and delivery of lightweight, first step, sustainability workshops with Small Business Britain. “Step up to Net Zero” with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, a fully funded placement program for 60 businesses. Scottish Council of Voluntary Organizations, to develop tools for “Growing Climate Confidence”, a ‘where to start' resource for the third sector.   For full details, see “Our Work”.

Our Work and Technology Correspondent, Brian O'Donovan, is at IALPA headquarters at Dublin Airport

Our Work and Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan reports.

Integral Theory: A Map for Understanding Our World, Our Work, and Ourselveshttps://practicalintegral.comIn this conversation with Lee Mason, we explore the integration of Integral Theory into healthcare. Lee describes how the Integral map provides an elegant and understandable map that helps us better understand ourselves and our world. By understanding the different perspectives, stages, lines, types, and states, we can navigate the apparent complexities of our work in an increasingly diverse world. The Integral map provides a very practical tool that can become an important foundation in our work as compassionate and wise healers.00:00 The Evolution of Scientific Perspective: From Bacon to Modern Wisdom00:42 Introducing the Healers Council: A Journey into Modern Healing Wisdom01:19 Lee Mason's Integral Healing Journey: From Physical Therapy to Integral Theory01:47 Exploring Integral Theory: A Comprehensive Framework for Healing02:38 The Personal Journey: Lee Mason's Path to Integral Healing10:58 Understanding Integral Theory: Quadrants, Intelligences, and Levels28:45 Applying Integral Theory to Healthcare: A Holistic Approach47:27 Levels of Development and Spiral Dynamics in Healing57:56 The Evolution of Societal Worldviews59:08 The Birth of Scientific Revolution and Industrialization01:01:43 Rise of Equality Movements and Woke Culture01:04:11 Emergence of a New Level of Awareness01:08:55 Exploring the "Colors" and Values of Different Levels01:20:44 Understanding Personality Types and Their Impact01:27:29 The Significance of States in Integral Theory01:39:44 Applying Integral Theory to Healthcare and Personal Growth

What bearing does our work have in light of eternity? How does our theology of heaven shape the way we show up to the needs of the world in the here and now? Tune in to hear an honest and eye opening conversation with Jordan Raynor, author, speaker, and Executive Chairman of Threshold 360. In this conversation we discuss 'The Great Commission', Heaven, and Jordan's most recent book The Sacredness of Secular Work: 4 Ways Your Work Matters for Eternity (Even When You're Not Sharing The Gospel).   Resources: Continue your learning, check out "The Gospel for Our Work" by Ryan Tafilowski. Episode Note: Jordan Raynor referred to the "Romans Road" throughout this episode, which may not be familiar to all listeners. It is an evangelism method developed in 1970 by Dr. Jack Hyles that uses verses from the book of Romans to walk a person through the process of salvation. Learn more about the Romans Road today.

Our Work & Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan tells us about GamerFest and the growing gaming industry here

Our Work and Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan reports from the Forsa conference in Killarney.

1.  Baba Ali - Heart Racer. 2.  Like A Motorcycle - Cruel. 3.  Spiritual Cramp - Whatever You Say Man (feat. White Reaper). 4.  Corridor - Jump Cut. 5.  Penny Arcade - When The Feeling Is Gone. 6.  Crumb - The Bug. 7.  Female Gaze - Severance. 8.  Cherry Glazerr - Dosed. 9. ANI -  Forever 10.  Markus Midnight - Rhythm of Our Work. 11.  Dancing Plague - Shadow Self. 12.  Shannon & The Clams - Real Or Magic. 13.  Cults - Crybaby. 14.  The Shacks - For Real. 15.  Sean Nicholas Savage - Screamo - Video Mix. 16.  Urban Heat - Seven Safe Places. 17.  St. Vincent - Big Time Nothing.  18.  Nilüfer Yanya - Like I Say (I runaway). 19.  Ora Cogan - Feel Life. 20.  Fat Dog - Running. 21.  Die Spitz - Hair of Dog. 22.  Sham Family - Community Service. 23.  Dog Date - Xipe. 24.  mprovement Movement - On the Bus. 25.  Brooks Nielsen - Without Eyes.

Our Work and Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan looks ahead to today's cabinet meeting.

Infertility is life-changing, let's talk about what that feels like!From physical changes in your body to emotional changes in your sense of purpose, infertility can MESS with YOUR LIFE.  For many the first step in figuring all this out is going to a Fertility Doctor!  So in this episode, Jesse and Doug are joined by Dr. Lora Shahine Dr. Lora Shahine is a fertility doctor, author, and speaker who shatters stigmas about miscarriages and fertility. She is double board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as obstetrics and gynecology. She is a leading voice in the infertility community.Together we explore what it's like to struggle with the life change of infertility from the perspective of patient and doctor.  Follow Dr. Lora Shahine on Instagram HEREGet connected with Dr. Lora Shahine by visiting her website drlorashahine.comUniquely Knitted is a registered Non-Profit Organization dedicated to providing emotional support for people suffering from infertility, miscarriage, and loss. We believe that infertility doesn't have to feel this way forever, together we can change the experience of infertility for ourselves and others! Learn more at uniquelyknitted.orgJoin a Process Group uniquelyknitted.org/programs/process-groupsSupport the Podcast and Our Work uniquelyknitted.org/donate

Our Work and Technology correspondent Brian O'Donovan reports.

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Maternal Health Initiative is Shutting Down, published by Ben Williamson on March 15, 2024 on The Effective Altruism Forum. Maternal Health Initiative (MHI) was founded out of Charity Entrepreneurship (AIM)'s 2022 Incubation Program and has since piloted two interventions integrating postpartum (post-birth) contraceptive counselling into routine care appointments in Ghana. We concluded this pilot work in December 2023. A stronger understanding of the context and impact of postpartum family planning work, on the back of our pilot results, has led us to conclude that our intervention is not among the most cost-effective interventions available. We've therefore decided to shut down and redirect our funding to other organisations. This article summarises MHI's work, our assessment of the value of postpartum family planning programming, and our decision to shut down MHI as an organisation in light of our results. We also share some lessons learned. An in-depth report expanding on the same themes is available on our website. We encourage you to skip to the sections that are of greatest interest: For people interested in the practicalities of development work, we recommend 'MHI: An Overview of Our Work'. For those interested in family planning programming, we recommend 'Pilot: Results', 'Why We No Longer Believe Postpartum Family Planning Is Among The Most Cost-Effective Interventions', and 'Broader Thoughts on Family Planning'. Finally, for those interested in broader lessons around entrepreneurship and organisation-building, we recommend 'Choosing to Shut Down' and 'Lessons'. Why we chose to pursue postpartum family planning Why family planning? Pregnancy-related health outcomes are a leading cause of preventable death among both mothers and children. In 2017, almost 300,000 women and girls died due to either pregnancy or childbirth ( WHO, 2017). Cleland et al. ( 2006) estimate that comprehensive access to contraception could avert more than 30% of maternal deaths and 10% of child mortality globally. Contraceptive access provides a wide range of other potential benefits, the most significant of which may be increasing reproductive autonomy for women who want to space or limit births and currently have limited options for doing so. Why postpartum (post-birth)? Postpartum family planning (PPFP) - that is, integrating family planning guidance into postnatal care and/or child immunisation appointments- has been identified as an effective way of increasing contraceptive uptake and reducing unmet need ( Wayessa et al. (2020); Saeed et al. (2008); Tran et al. (2020); Tran et al. (2019); Pearson et al. (2020); Dulli et al. (2016). The maternal and infant mortality risks from short birth spacing make the postpartum period a potential point of particular value from increased contraceptive access. Demographic Health Survey (DHS) analysis suggests an 18% increase in neonatal mortality, 21% increase in child mortality, and 32% increase in mortality risk from births that occur within two years of a prior pregnancy (Kozuki and Walker's 2013; Conde-Agudelo et al. 2007). While it is often an official policy that family planning counselling should be included in postnatal care (Ghana Health Service, 2014), the consistency and quality of family planning services in the postpartum period vary in practice ( Morhe et al. 2017). MHI: An overview of our work Charity Entrepreneurship ( AIM) recommended postpartum family planning as part of the 2022 Incubation Program through which MHI was founded. As such, MHI has had an explicit focus on postpartum family planning work since its beginning. We spent our first few months interviewing a few dozen experts, getting up to speed with research in the field, and selecting priority target countries. Based on this work, we visited Sierra Leone and Ghana in...

Our Work and Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan reports.

Our Work and Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan explains the events that led to the resignation of RTE chair Siún Ni Raghallaigh.

Our Work and Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan reports.

In this first Sponsorship Spotlight, Sarah features Jimmy Casas, educator, author, publisher, nationally known and celebrated public speaker, leadership coach, and friend. Jimmy is the owner of J Casas and Associates, an executive leadership coaching company and ConnectEDD, a publishing company. Jimmy is known for his educational leadership books Culturize: Every Student, Every Day, Whatever it Takes, and his most recent book Recalibrate the Culture: Our Why, Our Work, Our Values. He is a loving father of three adult children and stepdad to two sons, a devoted husband, son, and a champion for students and educators across the country.  In this episode, we discuss: His own journey of being sponsored to become an author and book publisher, Jimmy's sponsorship of several key women in his own life who he continues to elevate and partner with in his work through both his businesses,  And we hear awe-inspiring details about how Jimmy intentionally elevated female leaders, creating opportunities and a greater diversity of representation at his school and in his business.  Connect with Jimmy J Casas and Associates ConnectED Publishing Jimmy on Twitter Jimmy on Facebook Jimmy on Instagram Jimmy on LinkedIN Mentioned in the Episode: In AWE of Khela Casas In AWE of Joy Kelly Connect with Sarah Johnson: Sarah's Website Sarah on Twitter Sarah on IG Sarah on LinkedIn Sarah on Facebook In AWE Podcast Subscribe to Sarah's Podcast The ranking of this show is 100% tied to subscriptions and reviews. You can help amplify more women and reach more who need their messages by subscribing to the show and leaving an honest rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. Connect with Jimmy:Need a high-energy, authentic presenter for your organization? Contact Sarah Johnson for presentations on Going Beyond Balance, Leadership Foundations, Affirming Purpose, and many more.Review the Podcast --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inawepodcast/message

1-28-24 | Part 3 of our Colossians sermons series, "We Struggle in Our Work". Today's Bible verses are Colossians 1:24-2:5. When Paul wrote his letter to the church in Colosse from prison, he taught them that Christ is all that matters. Not religious rituals, not current culture teaching, but Christ is enough.  This series looks verse-by-verse in the book of Colossians to see what the Holy Spirit is telling the Church about how to live as the body of Christ.

Our Work & Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan

Our Work and Technology Correspondent Brian O'Donovan brings us the details

Sermon Text: Colossians 3:22-4:1 Sermon Title: “Work as Witness” Sermon Slides: SLIDE 1 – Today's Big Idea: Since Jesus has Risen from the Dead, Our Work Must Also Rise with Him… Even if Our Circumstances Haven't. SLIDE 2 – Genesis 3:17-19 – “And to Adam he said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you … By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground …” SLIDE 3 – Romans 8:20-21 – “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” SLIDE 4 – Sermon Point 1 – Our Work in a Fallen World … Has Been Redeemed by the Risen Lord (Col. 3:22 and 4:1) SLIDE 5 – Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” SLIDE 6 – 2 Corinthians 4:5 – “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants [slaves] for Jesus' sake.” SLIDE 7 – 1 Corinthians 9:19 – “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” SLIDE 8 – 1 Corinthians 7:22 – “For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.” SLIDE 9 – Sermon Point 2 – Our Work in a Fallen World … Should be Motivated by the Risen Lord (Col. 3:23-25) SLIDE 10 – Galatians 1:10 – “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” SLIDE 11 – 2 Peter 1:10-11 – “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” SLIDE 12 – Luke 16:10-12 – “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much … If you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?” SLIDE 13 – 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 – “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” SLIDE 14 – Five Uses of This Sermon for Your Life SLIDE 15 – Employees: Our Danger is to Underperform and Fail to See Past our Earthly Bosses. SLIDE 16 – Bosses: Our Danger is to Overcorrect and Fail to See Past our Earthly Employees. SLIDE 17 – The Key to our Work is Not Earthly Success, but Godly Faithfulness. SLIDE 18 – Christians: The World is Watching our Work. Who is it Witnessing to? SLIDE 19 – Amid Work Injustice – God is Calling us to both Pursue Flourishing and Endure Persecution. SLIDE 20 – 1 Corinthians 7:21 – “Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)” SLIDE 21 – Romans 12:21 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

How do we receive freedom from frustration at our job? Mike Yoder speaks to the importance of devoting our work fully to the Lord, and how when we integrate faith into our work, we can see His Kingdom break out in powerful ways in his message, "Freedom in Our Work."

Zenja Glass speaks at Women's Day Event on 9-9-23 for the Churches of Christ Women's Conference.  This was a live in-person session. Subject: The Sacredness of Our Work. Are you aware the world is watching us? They are searching for living examples of Jesus Christ! We all have something to offer, even if all we have to offer is a broken vessel. Listen and be encouraged.Note: The waitlist for Mindset Mentorship for Personal & Professional/ Entrepreneur & Business Development is located at ZenjaGlass.comWhere to Purchase “necessary.”Available as a paperback worldwide via Amazon.Also available as an audiobook exclusively on ZenjaGlass.com Join My Text Community. Text "Ready" to: (+1) 847-648-9118Where to Find Me:Zenja Glass: https://www.ZenjaGlass.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zenjaglassInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ZenjaGlassFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/zenjaglass.fb YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/zenjaglassTwitter: https://twitter.com/zenjaglass Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ZenjaGlassPinsListen to Unlocking Greatness Podcast with Zenja Glass on your favorite streaming platform! Now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music/Audible, and More. Visit: https://zenjaglass.com/podcastsNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline:1-800-273-8255 or text/call 988Much love,Z. Unlocking Greatness Podcast with Zenja GlassThank you for listening. To sign up for mentorship, order “necessary.”, request Zenja Glass for a speaking engagement, or perhaps send her a word of encouragement, visit: https://www.ZenjaGlass.com

Taylor, who is transgender, suffers from chronic fatigue, is in a wheelchair, and is fed through a feeding tube to her stomach. Every year she has to speak to a new doctor for her annual checkup and explain again what they don't understand about her condition. Our Work together is mostly on one specific doctor who pushed her away, bullied her, then laughed at her. Taylor suffers from seizures due to these misunderstandings and then has to spend days of setbacks in bed. Do misunderstandings cause you occasional setbacks? Join Taylor and me as together we explore the cause of her suffering.   Don't miss Byron Katie every M-T-W, 9-10 am Pacific Time. Register: athomewithbk.com   If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends to join us. Follow Byron Katie on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Byron Katie's Books: “Loving What Is” (New Revised Edition) “I Need Your Love—Is That True?” “A Thousand Names for Joy” “A Mind at Home with Itself”   The Work App is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The Work of Byron Katie is available at thework.com.

Join me on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip Mid-Year Check-In It's hard to believe the summer is half over already! Where did the year go? I don't know about you, but I'm a goal-setter, so mid-year is a good time to check in on my progress. Like most years, I've had a lot of unexpected things come up. It's a process of learning to roll with the changes and adjust as I go. As I evaluate how to move forward for the rest of this year, I thought it would be a good time to share a few tips I've learned to help you reach your goals. Make Progress with Micro-Habits One method of goal-setting is to set up micro-habits. Rather than setting ourselves up for failure with a huge goal we likely won't reach, where can we create micro-habits to set ourselves up for a nearly 100% win? Those have a surprisingly compounding effect. Micro-habits are small actions that help lead us towards our goals. They're easy to accomplish consistently and have a compounding effect. 7 Steps for Setting Micro-Habits for Success Assess Your Progress: Look at your goals from the beginning of the year. Are you on track? Have you accomplished what you hoped for by now? Don't be too hard on yourself if your progress isn't exactly where you expected it to be. Instead, use this time to evaluate, adjust, and adapt. Be Flexible Choose to adapt when life throws unexpected things at you. Keep pushing forward and don't give up. Be Deliberate When unexpected opportunities or hurdles come, deliberately decide where these things fit in the bigger picture. Be sure to pace yourself and take a rest when you need to. Be Intentional Be intentional when choosing your micro-habit. Consider the larger goal of who or what you want to become and identify a habit that will help you get there. Define and visualize where you want to be in the next month, three months, or by the end of the year. Be Strategic Identify areas where consistent action will have a meaningful impact on your larger objectives. Then integrate micro-habits into your existing daily routine by choosing a trigger. A trigger is a specific time or event in your day that serves as a reminder to do the new habit. Be Accountable Setting goals, micro-habits, and triggers is only half the battle. We all need accountability to stay on track. If you need an accountability partner, shoot me an email. Stay Clear on Your Vision Make sure your bigger purpose is clear. Why are you doing this? What will this move you closer to? That will help you stay motivated and on track. The key is to set a trigger and stick to it, because it takes about a month for a behavior to become a routine. By setting deliberate micro-habits strategically aligned with our bigger picture, we can actively work towards becoming better versions of ourselves each day. And you don't have to do it alone; I'm here to support you.  Keep pushing forward; you've got this! To read today's full episode: Mid-Year Goal Check: Assess Your Progress and Set Micro-Habits for Success To watch and share my TEDx Talk, The Real ROI of Grant Writing.   Challenge Question: What micro-habit will you commit to every day for the next 30 days? Resources Mentioned: Other Grant Writing Simplified podcasts to help you reach your goals: Leadership Lessons from a Green Beret: How to Lead for Success Master of One: The Role of Excellence in Our Work 5 Easy Grant Writing Tips to Build Strategic, Lasting Relationships Go to MyEasyGrant.com to find, cultivate, and apply to relevant foundations using Easy Grant by Sparrow Nonprofit Solutions. Watch and share my TEDx Talk: The Real ROI of Grant Writing Connect with Teresa Huff: Website: www.teresahuff.com Watch the TEDx: The Real ROI of Grant Writing Take the Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer? Social: LinkedIn Community LinkedIn Instagram Pinterest YouTube Get on the Fast Track to Grant Writer: www.teresahuff.com/vip

How does your faith impact your work? And what does God say about it? Join us tonight as Jason Dunn continues our series “Got To Get You Into My Life” where we'll look at Our Work. Jason Dunn

Fountains   Series - Commissioned: Connecting Our Faith and Our Work   Brandon Cobb   John 4:6-14, 39-42   Connecting our faith at our jobs can be confusing and unfulfilling. This message unpacks practical steps to truly seeing Jesus in and at our jobs.   Give to support the ministry of Renaissance Church: https://renaissancenyc.com/give   Keep up with Renaissance by filling out a connection card: https://renaissancenyc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/5/responses/new  

Rest   Series - Commissioned: Connecting Our Faith and Our Work   Jordan Rice   Exodus 20:1-2 & 8-11, Mark 2:25-28   Rest is an act of faith.   Give to support the ministry of Renaissance Church: https://renaissancenyc.com/give   Keep up with Renaissance by filling out a connection card: https://renaissancenyc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/5/responses/new