by David Scott Robertson
1. YOUR COURAGE - Boldly accept new challenges and job assignments with zeal and without complaining.
2. YOUR MATURITY - Resist getting caught up in office gossip and limit your speech to encouragement and affirmation of your superiors and co-workers.
3. YOUR HUMILITY - Serve your boss and co-workers whenever possible. The pathway to greatness is paved with humility.
4. YOUR WINNING ATTITUDE - Be a "can do" person. If you are a Christian, God says you "can do all things through Christ who strengthens you" (Philippians 4:13).
5. YOUR PROGRESS - Learn your job well and become good at what you do. If your name is on the project, let it be done right and to the best of your ability. Take a few moments each day (even on your lunch break) for professional development. Read the manual - take the tutorial - enroll in the class.
6. YOUR TENACITY - Never give up. Never let the title "quitter" apply to you. Most difficult tasks get done only through dogged determination and perseverance. Do this consistently, and guess who will earn the reputation of being a valued employee?
7. YOUR COMMITMENT- Avoid job-hopping. Stay loyal to your company, employer, or department head. Let your boss have confidence in you that when you commit to doing something it's as good as done.
8. YOUR ABILITIES - What are you especially good at or enjoy doing while away from the job? Baking? Writing? Music? Share some of who you are with those you work with.
9. YOUR TEAM SPIRIT - Those who add value to their employers are those who accept that the sum is greater than its parts. Necessary sacrifices are not deemed as unacceptable to the team player. Team players link their success with the fruitfulness of their work group.
10. YOUR FAITH LIVED OUT - This one is for Jesus. You take care of God's business and He will take care of your business. There are many, many ways to share your faith on the job in an appropriate and respectful way that is non-offensive and very effective.
DSR
6/20/04
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Monday, June 14, 2004
Prove That God Loves Me
by David Scott Robertson
I once was asked to prove the fact
That indeed my God was real;
To analytically explain
Exactly how I feel.
I responded, "Alright then,
I'll prove that God loves me;
That His love in fact is true
Though not His face I see."
So I began with a statement
To challenge this dear soul:
"Prove to me your mother's love
That it indeed was so."
"Why naturally," he said back
"My mother's love was true.
She showed me well in many ways,
But what has that to do…?"
"But still," I said, "what does that prove,
To confirm the love of Mother?
She may have said and done nice things,
But for proof I'll need another."
"Why that's an odd request," he said,
"For she told me many times:
'Son, I love you very much,
You're a precious love of mine.'"
I said, 'the words are beautiful,
But I can't help but see a flaw.
You don't present much evidence
That would hold up in court of law."
"That's okay," he said to me,
I still believe it in my soul.
My mother's love for me was real,
I know that I know that I know."
"Now that's the way that I see God,"
I said to the frustrated man.
"On the cross Christ died for me,
And on His Word I'll stand."
"Now," he said, "at last I see,
That love you cannot prove.
It is the act of believing by faith
That we receive God's love."
(Rom 5:8 NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
DSR
6/14/04
I once was asked to prove the fact
That indeed my God was real;
To analytically explain
Exactly how I feel.
I responded, "Alright then,
I'll prove that God loves me;
That His love in fact is true
Though not His face I see."
So I began with a statement
To challenge this dear soul:
"Prove to me your mother's love
That it indeed was so."
"Why naturally," he said back
"My mother's love was true.
She showed me well in many ways,
But what has that to do…?"
"But still," I said, "what does that prove,
To confirm the love of Mother?
She may have said and done nice things,
But for proof I'll need another."
"Why that's an odd request," he said,
"For she told me many times:
'Son, I love you very much,
You're a precious love of mine.'"
I said, 'the words are beautiful,
But I can't help but see a flaw.
You don't present much evidence
That would hold up in court of law."
"That's okay," he said to me,
I still believe it in my soul.
My mother's love for me was real,
I know that I know that I know."
"Now that's the way that I see God,"
I said to the frustrated man.
"On the cross Christ died for me,
And on His Word I'll stand."
"Now," he said, "at last I see,
That love you cannot prove.
It is the act of believing by faith
That we receive God's love."
(Rom 5:8 NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
DSR
6/14/04
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Character: The Fruit of Troubled Times
by David Scott Robertson
Psalm 105:17-22 (NLT)
Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them-Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
[18] There in prison, they bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. [19] Until the time came to fulfill his word, THE LORD TESTED JOSEPH'S CHARACTER. [20] Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door. [21] Joseph was put in charge of all the king's household;
he became ruler over all the king's possessions. [22] He could instruct the king's aides as he pleased and teach the king's advisers. (emphasis mine)
* * *
Joseph was a great man of God who did great things for God by the great power of God. But Joseph didn't achieve greatness overnight. It took troubles, turmoil, tears, and worst of all - time - to work this greatness into this eleventh son of Jacob.
The Bible describes this process simply by saying: "the Lord tested Joseph's character" (Psalm 105:19).
We can read over those five words in scripture in less than five seconds, but that does not diminish the years of grueling trials that Joseph had to endure to "pass the test" of character development that God had in mind for him.
Before Joseph could enjoy the pleasures of the palace, he had to first endure the pain of the pit, Potiphar, and prison, in that exact order (see Genesis 37). Why did the sequence of events have to play out that way? Answer: Because God was testing Joseph's character. Nothing builds character like adversity. It separates men from boys and the mature from the immature.
There is a universal fact that God knows about the man that He made. That fact is that a man's gifts, talents, and abilities are never, ever enough to fulfill God's destiny for his life. Until an individual's character catches up with his or her special God-given abilities, they will be in real danger of embarrassing themselves, adversely affecting those they influence, and in general thwarting God's plan for their lives. Sometimes God places a large call a person's life that will require a large amount of character to pull it off. (Consider that the next time you are facing tribulation.)
The solution? And God tested [____enter your name in this blank___]'s character.
How does He test your character? Whether we realize it not, we are already very familiar with the answer to that question! God uses your kids, your spouse, your boss, the police officer, the school crossing guard or the checkout clerk to test you - anyone or anything at all will do!
Whatever causes you aggravation, frustration, stress, or that pesky thing that gives you a tension headache, well that's just the ticket for God to use to test and build your character! How long you or I stay in the pit, in slavery at Potiphar's house, or in prison, I suppose depends on how fast we learn the lesson and pass the test!
Jesus knew and experienced this truth in that He realized there would be no crown without a cross. We are no different. God will stop at nothing to test your character because He knows this quality is essential to your handling success without it going to your head. If that happens (which can be summarized in the word "pride") you are headed for destruction and a downfall. God doesn't want that and neither do you.
So what do we do when God is testing our character? Learn! Obey! Submit! Repent! Be silent! Speak up! Generally whatever it is your flesh wants you to do in that ridiculously frustrating circumstance, do the opposite! Do the right thing! Do the godly thing! Do what Jesus would do!
The sooner you and I become excellent students in passing the character tests that crop up as "pop quizzes" several times each week (or each day) the sooner, I believe, God will move us along the pathway that leads to "the palace"!
DSR
6/13/04
Psalm 105:17-22 (NLT)
Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them-Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
[18] There in prison, they bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. [19] Until the time came to fulfill his word, THE LORD TESTED JOSEPH'S CHARACTER. [20] Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door. [21] Joseph was put in charge of all the king's household;
he became ruler over all the king's possessions. [22] He could instruct the king's aides as he pleased and teach the king's advisers. (emphasis mine)
* * *
Joseph was a great man of God who did great things for God by the great power of God. But Joseph didn't achieve greatness overnight. It took troubles, turmoil, tears, and worst of all - time - to work this greatness into this eleventh son of Jacob.
The Bible describes this process simply by saying: "the Lord tested Joseph's character" (Psalm 105:19).
We can read over those five words in scripture in less than five seconds, but that does not diminish the years of grueling trials that Joseph had to endure to "pass the test" of character development that God had in mind for him.
Before Joseph could enjoy the pleasures of the palace, he had to first endure the pain of the pit, Potiphar, and prison, in that exact order (see Genesis 37). Why did the sequence of events have to play out that way? Answer: Because God was testing Joseph's character. Nothing builds character like adversity. It separates men from boys and the mature from the immature.
There is a universal fact that God knows about the man that He made. That fact is that a man's gifts, talents, and abilities are never, ever enough to fulfill God's destiny for his life. Until an individual's character catches up with his or her special God-given abilities, they will be in real danger of embarrassing themselves, adversely affecting those they influence, and in general thwarting God's plan for their lives. Sometimes God places a large call a person's life that will require a large amount of character to pull it off. (Consider that the next time you are facing tribulation.)
The solution? And God tested [____enter your name in this blank___]'s character.
How does He test your character? Whether we realize it not, we are already very familiar with the answer to that question! God uses your kids, your spouse, your boss, the police officer, the school crossing guard or the checkout clerk to test you - anyone or anything at all will do!
Whatever causes you aggravation, frustration, stress, or that pesky thing that gives you a tension headache, well that's just the ticket for God to use to test and build your character! How long you or I stay in the pit, in slavery at Potiphar's house, or in prison, I suppose depends on how fast we learn the lesson and pass the test!
Jesus knew and experienced this truth in that He realized there would be no crown without a cross. We are no different. God will stop at nothing to test your character because He knows this quality is essential to your handling success without it going to your head. If that happens (which can be summarized in the word "pride") you are headed for destruction and a downfall. God doesn't want that and neither do you.
So what do we do when God is testing our character? Learn! Obey! Submit! Repent! Be silent! Speak up! Generally whatever it is your flesh wants you to do in that ridiculously frustrating circumstance, do the opposite! Do the right thing! Do the godly thing! Do what Jesus would do!
The sooner you and I become excellent students in passing the character tests that crop up as "pop quizzes" several times each week (or each day) the sooner, I believe, God will move us along the pathway that leads to "the palace"!
DSR
6/13/04
Monday, June 7, 2004
The Telemarketer
by David Scott Robertson
I got the call at an inconvenient time. I checked the caller I.D., didn't recognize the number, but decided to pick up anyway just before the call went to the recorder. Within two seconds I winced, realizing that I had been caught in the crosshairs of a telemarketer.
Now, I'm not one of those "just hang up on the telemarketer" kind of guys. I mean, there's a human being on the other end of the line. And please understand, I don't want to unfairly lump all telemarketers into one negative, stereotypic category. Some are excellent communicators offering a valuable product or service, and they do so in a respectful and conscientious way. Others are, well, like the call I got last night. Maybe he's called your house too.
This poor guy was peddling long distance phone service. He probably had a long shift to work, a car payment due, rent to pay, a cable bill looming, a script to read, and he had me on the line.
This man was bound and determined to get through his script. Each polite refusal only took him to another section of his script. Each objection I raised only seemed to add fuel to his fire to make a sale. Each additional minute I stayed on the phone was an enticement to him to go for it. This guy just wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
Finally, mercifully, when it became obvious that we were entangled in an epic battle of right and wrong (he was right and I was wrong), of good versus evil (he was good and I was evil), and he dejectedly began to realize that the thrill of victory was not going to be experienced in this call, then and only then did he begin to wind down the sales pitch. In discernable disgust, he at (long) last ended the conversation and released me from the surly bonds that had tethered me to my phone. Surely, given the sound of his sad voice, after ending the call he would excuse himself from his workstation and hands-free phone set and retreat to the restroom for a good cry. Yeah, right.
Now I understand the man had a job to do and he was only trying to make a buck. He was just what his employer was looking for when he posted the ad in the classifieds:
"Wanted: Growing Fortune 1000 company seeks energetic, aggressive person with excellent communication skills for telemarketing position. Must be able to handle rejection well. Work part-time from your home. Day and evening shifts available, excellent benefits, pay commensurate with experience. Call…"
The boss found a guy that could handle a conversation like this:
TELEMARKETER: "Good evening sir, are you busy?"
AVERAGE JOE: "Why yes, I'm giving CPR to a man right now."
TELEMARKETER: "I understand sir, but this will only take a few minutes. May I interest you…?"
The kid got the job and now he was calling me. His trainer more than likely had told him the longer you keep them on the phone the higher percentage of your closing the deal.
All this to say that this young man, all humor aside, reminded me of me. He reminded me of me in my early days of witnessing to sinners about Jesus.
A pagan could have very well written a similar article about me back in my early days of "evangelizing" substituting "the gospel" for the product or service and me in the place of the telemarketer. He could have entitled the article "The Evangelist."
For if the truth were known, I have been rude, crude, and socially unacceptable in "sharing my faith"--all in the name of the Lord, mind you! And I did it "in love"!
Actually, I did NOT win friends or influence people when I was trying to ram and cram my belief system down another citizen's throat. I did not populate heaven with another soul for whom Christ died by tactfully forcing them to listen to my religious script. What I did do was soothe my religious conscience by "witnessing" and doing my "evangelism thing." I was caught up in "cold calling" on obvious sinners who obviously needed eternal life through Jesus, and I was the conductor passing out tickets to heaven.
Now, on the other hand, if a friend of mine were to call one day and tell me he or she had discovered a product or service that had benefited them and they wamted to recommend that I try it, I probably would. But the operative word in the previous sentence is the word "friend."
Friends have influence; friends have relationship; and sooner or later, friends tell friends about Jesus.
Food for thought: Why not consider laying aside memorized "scripts of evangelism" and be real instead? Be yourself. Or better yet, try to be like Jesus, the Friend of sinners.
DSR
6/7/04
I got the call at an inconvenient time. I checked the caller I.D., didn't recognize the number, but decided to pick up anyway just before the call went to the recorder. Within two seconds I winced, realizing that I had been caught in the crosshairs of a telemarketer.
Now, I'm not one of those "just hang up on the telemarketer" kind of guys. I mean, there's a human being on the other end of the line. And please understand, I don't want to unfairly lump all telemarketers into one negative, stereotypic category. Some are excellent communicators offering a valuable product or service, and they do so in a respectful and conscientious way. Others are, well, like the call I got last night. Maybe he's called your house too.
This poor guy was peddling long distance phone service. He probably had a long shift to work, a car payment due, rent to pay, a cable bill looming, a script to read, and he had me on the line.
This man was bound and determined to get through his script. Each polite refusal only took him to another section of his script. Each objection I raised only seemed to add fuel to his fire to make a sale. Each additional minute I stayed on the phone was an enticement to him to go for it. This guy just wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
Finally, mercifully, when it became obvious that we were entangled in an epic battle of right and wrong (he was right and I was wrong), of good versus evil (he was good and I was evil), and he dejectedly began to realize that the thrill of victory was not going to be experienced in this call, then and only then did he begin to wind down the sales pitch. In discernable disgust, he at (long) last ended the conversation and released me from the surly bonds that had tethered me to my phone. Surely, given the sound of his sad voice, after ending the call he would excuse himself from his workstation and hands-free phone set and retreat to the restroom for a good cry. Yeah, right.
Now I understand the man had a job to do and he was only trying to make a buck. He was just what his employer was looking for when he posted the ad in the classifieds:
"Wanted: Growing Fortune 1000 company seeks energetic, aggressive person with excellent communication skills for telemarketing position. Must be able to handle rejection well. Work part-time from your home. Day and evening shifts available, excellent benefits, pay commensurate with experience. Call…"
The boss found a guy that could handle a conversation like this:
TELEMARKETER: "Good evening sir, are you busy?"
AVERAGE JOE: "Why yes, I'm giving CPR to a man right now."
TELEMARKETER: "I understand sir, but this will only take a few minutes. May I interest you…?"
The kid got the job and now he was calling me. His trainer more than likely had told him the longer you keep them on the phone the higher percentage of your closing the deal.
All this to say that this young man, all humor aside, reminded me of me. He reminded me of me in my early days of witnessing to sinners about Jesus.
A pagan could have very well written a similar article about me back in my early days of "evangelizing" substituting "the gospel" for the product or service and me in the place of the telemarketer. He could have entitled the article "The Evangelist."
For if the truth were known, I have been rude, crude, and socially unacceptable in "sharing my faith"--all in the name of the Lord, mind you! And I did it "in love"!
Actually, I did NOT win friends or influence people when I was trying to ram and cram my belief system down another citizen's throat. I did not populate heaven with another soul for whom Christ died by tactfully forcing them to listen to my religious script. What I did do was soothe my religious conscience by "witnessing" and doing my "evangelism thing." I was caught up in "cold calling" on obvious sinners who obviously needed eternal life through Jesus, and I was the conductor passing out tickets to heaven.
Now, on the other hand, if a friend of mine were to call one day and tell me he or she had discovered a product or service that had benefited them and they wamted to recommend that I try it, I probably would. But the operative word in the previous sentence is the word "friend."
Friends have influence; friends have relationship; and sooner or later, friends tell friends about Jesus.
Food for thought: Why not consider laying aside memorized "scripts of evangelism" and be real instead? Be yourself. Or better yet, try to be like Jesus, the Friend of sinners.
DSR
6/7/04
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