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  • Chad Dollahite 1:40 pm on April 24, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , , work   

    Illustration: On the Way to the Barn… 

    There’s an old story about a farmer who one morning decided to plow the south forty acres.  His tractor needed oil, so he started for the barn to get it, but on the way noticed that the pigs hadn’t been fed.  Near the corn crib was a pile of sacks, reminding him that the potatoes were sprouting.  But, on his way to the potato pit, he passed the woodpile and remembered that the kitchen stove was burning low.  While picking up the wood, he saw that one of his chickens was ailing, so he dropped the wood to doctor the chicken…and so it was till the end of the day, and he still hadn’t oiled the tractor or plowed the south field.

    Is your Christian life like this trip to the barn?  Do you have grand visions of great service that never gets done?  Have you found too many “other things” to do that interfere with your goal of being a productive servant in God’s kingdom?

    The only way you and I will “get to the barn” of Christian service is to get our priorities in order.  The farmer in the story didn’t have any priorities.  He just flowed with the tide of events around him.  Our life contains plenty of “pigs to feed,” “wood to cut,” and “chickens to doctor.”  But, we can’t allow them to get in our way of serving God.  If we will make the commitment and extend our effort, God will make a way for us to “get to the barn.”    —George Miller

    “Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver. And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” (1 Kgs. 20:39-40a)

     

  • Richard Mansel 10:00 pm on April 3, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: disability, , work   

    Recognize Your Limitations 

    Expectations and what our bodies will allow are frequently in conflict.

    Someone expects us to get a certain level of work done and we are fearful that we cannot meet that goal. As a result, our fight or flight response elevates our blood pressure and our bodies experience great stress. In time, they begin to break down from the overload of chemicals in our bodies.

    These expectations can be deadly if we do not manage them properly. We do that through exercise, breathing techniques, quiet time and connecting with God in prayer and Bible study. We rise above the stressors and find calm through Christ (Psalm 37:14; Psalm 46:10).

    We must realize our limitations. We can only do what we can do. For those who suffer from health problems, this is even more pronounced. We constantly feel guilty if we are not able to do as much as we need to do. Yet, we cannot help our families or our Lord if we can’t function at all.

    We must learn to pace ourselves and place ourselves in God’s hands (Matthew 11:28-30). Being honest with ourselves and with those around us is a scary proposition. We don’t want to disappoint others. Nevertheless, doing the best you can with 60% is better than falling far short of 100 %

    We work smarter, not harder and within the limitations of our bodies. This requires great trust in God (Hebrews 11:6). We must also realize that fallible humans are not as understanding as our infallible God.

    However, we only need to be concerned with what we can control, as frightening as that sounds. This requires a lot of faith!

    Finally, those who depend on us may have to change their expectations and allow us to reorient ourselves to our new reality.

    Health problems are what they are and they create new parameters that we must live within or face perpetual frustrations and failures. The choice seems clear.

    Trust yourself and be hones with what you can do. However, we must be courageous not to sell ourselves short. Pushing towards our limits builds character. Yet, we cannot become carried away.

    Be wise in everything.

     

  • John Henson 11:56 am on April 2, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , work   

    Providence moving 

    When Ralph Hart, of the Southside Church of Christ in Manchester, Tenn. and I were in central Russia in 1999, it seemed the pressure being brought to bear by the Russian Orthodox Church brought more people our way.

    This was shortly after the government recognized the Orthodox Church as Russia’s national religion. Russia’s government and the Orthodox Church always shared a rather close relationship, even during the days of the Communist Party.

    Police officers came to our room one morning while we were having breakfast and told us our lives had been threatened. But we continued to teach.

    Not long after that, the following year I think, the church was planted there in Sosnofka. God be praised for his amazing ways!

     

  • Mike Riley 2:36 pm on April 1, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , assistant, attractive, , department, deplore, , engineering, , flirt, , terminate, , work   

    Persecution Or Ridicule? 

    Back in February 1996, over 550 employees were terminated from El Paso Natural Gas Co. I was working as an administrative assistant for the engineering department manager. He was a well-known womanizer. Flirted with just about every attractive woman in the building where we were located.

    He knew of my faith in Christ and in the church of the New Testament. He also knew that I deplored what he was doing behind his wife’s back. So, when the came time for cutting employees, I was unfortunately one of them. Even though I told him I would gladly move to Houston, Texas where they were going to move their home offices – it didn’t make any difference to him at all. He wanted me out of his sight.

    I firmly believe that he was persecuting me for standing up for what was right according to the Scriptures. I made him feel guilty, but not guilty enough to stop doing what he was doing.

    What was even more amazing, was that he claimed to be religious – was a member of a well-known denomination – but obviously didn’t follow their doctrine regarding faithfulness to his wife.

    He later was promoted from manager to a vice-president and retired a few years ago as such. Guess those flirting escapades paid off.

     

    • John Henson 3:31 pm on April 1, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      I don’t think his promotion meant that, brother. “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction,” Psalm 73:18. On the contrary, you certainly have risen above him in the eyes of people you’ve never met, including me. I’m proud of your determination to overcome!

  • Mike Riley 10:51 am on March 12, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: abound, , , , , , , , , , , , well-wishes, work, ,   

    Appreciation To My Many Christian Friends 

    As most of you know, today is another birthday for me. Actually, I’m celebrating the third anniversary of my 22nd year + 1. :)

    There are many Facebook friends that I wrote personal notes to this morning, thanking them for their well-wishes for me on this day.

    A person can never have too many friends. I pray that I’ll be a true and faithful friend in return.

    Thank you TFR friends for your friendship as well. You are a bright light in an otherwise dark world. May God richly bless you and your work in the kingdom. I’m reminded of the encouraging words of the apostle Paul:

    “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

    Lovingly,

    Mike Riley

     

  • Richard Mansel 7:48 am on March 5, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , older men, work, young men   

    Someone Needs to Step Up 

    At the congregation where I preach, we always gather at the end of winter to rake the leaves around the church building. Today is that day. This year, things are different, however. We have a great group of men but some of them, me included, have had health problems and cannot do as much as we could in the past. Therefore, I told some of the younger men that they needed to step up and do more, as a result.

    Isn’t that the way it should be in the Lord’s church? We need to be preparing our younger men to be leaders, so we will have a next generation. Yet, the older men are accustomed to doing everything and they can inadvertently form a clique and exclude the younger men. Accordingly, they are never trained and are unaccustomed to being involved. We must correct this blind spot immediately.

    The young men need to step up and the older ones need to allow them in to their circle, so the Lord’s work can continue and thrive.

     

     

    • Tim Hester 8:00 am on March 5, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Good points Richard. As a matter of fact the article I wrote for this weeks bulletin is entitled “Who’s Going To Fill There Shoes”.

    • Tim Hester 8:08 am on March 5, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Sorry that should be: “Who’s Going To Fill Their Shoes.”

    • Richard Parsons 8:46 am on March 5, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Yes Richard, that is exactly the way it should be in the Lord’s church.

      I grew up in a congregation where the young men were included and trained in every area of church work; from maintenance on the building to the actual work of the church. We have a small congregation and it is easier to include everyone. I have seen the younger men kind of get lost in the “shuffle” in a larger congregation. I remember the older men teaching us about how important it was that we learn to do the Lord’s work so we could carry on when they were gone. We continue to include and train our young men. I guess we are the older ones now.

  • Ron Thomas 3:22 pm on February 27, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , work   

    Gospel Preaching Consisted of (in brief, Acts 13) 

    1. The work consisted of the Holy Spirit calling for the setting aside of two men (servants) (Acts 13:2, 13).
    2. This work consisted of traveling (Acts 13:4, 6, 14).
    3. This work consisted in the proclaiming of God’s word in the synagogue (Acts 13:5, 14-41).
    4. This work consisted in resisting (Acts 13:6-12).
    5. This work consisted in using the miraculous to harm another, but in this there was a “sign” (Acts 13:12).
    6. This work consisted in perseverance (Acts 13:42-43).
    7. This work consisted in the use of symbolism (Acts 13:51).
    8. This work consisted in joy with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52).

     

  • Mike Riley 11:09 am on January 6, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , older, , precious, , , , , reclaim, , , , , work,   

    Waste Time? Never 

    The older I get, the more I realize the less time I have on earth, and thus, the more I realize how precious time is: http://mbriley.preachersfiles.com/2007/02/11/appreciating-the-value-of-time/. Once time is gone, it can never be reclaimed. Do I waste time? Not that I know of. I’m always busy taking care of my wife, working in the yard, paying bills, grocery shopping, preparing daily meals, studying the Bible, writing articles, reading good books and publications produced by faithful proclaimers of God’s word, preaching and teaching. Doing all of this plus working as a library substitute for our local school district, keeps me plenty busy – never have time to be bored, that’s for certain.

    I do watch the news and weather on television, plus two weekly shows, NCIS and Criminal Minds. Don’t know if that’s wasted time or not, because both shows motivate me to use my mind in figuring out the plots.

     

  • Glenda Williams 2:19 pm on October 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , work   

    A marital sacrifice 

    When Paul came to Corinth the Bible says he found a certain Jew named Aquila with his wife Priscilla and came unto them. Because they were of the same craft, he abode with them. They were tentmakers. (Acts 18:1-3) The Bible tells about Paul preaching and what he went through, but verse 18 says Paul stayed there a good whle, and then left the brethren and sailed into Syria and with him, Priscilla and Aquila.

    I have always found this interesting that Priscilla and Aquila left their home, and perhaps an established business, and followed Paul to Ephesus.  He left them and sailed from Ephesus and went down to Antioch. From there Paul went about preaching and strengthening all the disciples.  Then we find Apollos coming to Ephesus and preaching. There Priscilla and Aquila heard him and took him aside to teach him the way of the Lord more perfectly.

    Pulling up roots and moving to me is a marital sacrifice, but a needed one, if a person wants to be in the preaching profession.

     

  • Richard Mansel 10:32 am on October 2, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , work   

    Proud 

    I’m at the building writing a manuscript for a lectureship. We have a carload of Ladies who are at a Ladies’ Day in Savannah. A man is cutting the grass at the building and two more are doing repairs and cleaning the baptistry for our meeting that starts tomorrow. When brethren act on their own, it is a beautiful thing!

     

  • Laura 5:32 am on October 1, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: work, work ethic   

    Work Ethic and the Christian 

    What does the Bible have to say about a Christian’s work ethic? I’m beginning to think that maybe this is an area the church has been remiss in teaching about. I’d say we need a sermon, but at this point, I suspect we need an entire 13-week series of Bible studies on it! Give me your thoughts.

     

  • Ed Boggess 8:02 am on September 13, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: freeloading, , work   

    Freeloading – JAM 

    Darrel Brown, 53, was convicted of defrauding the Veterans Administration of more than $700,000 by feigning paralysis for more than twenty years. Before his regular visits to a VA hospital Brown would bind his legs and arms tightly for days to induce a temporary atrophy and insure the ruse could continue. He then took to a wheelchair and appeared as if he was paralyzed. It never ceases to amaze me to what lengths some folks will go to avoid doing an honest day’s labor. Brown worked harder trying to avoid work than if he were to take a job and earn a living and now that he is exposed for the thief and fraud he is, he will be making his future in a federal prison. Let all beware that actions have consequences; if not here, certainly in eternity. This is Just-A-Minute with Ed Boggess

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 8:24 pm on September 6, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , every good work, , work   

    Labor-Day-themed article, “Work Is Good” 

    Many modern societies like the U.S. are turning toward a philosophy of entitlement, expecting the government to guarantee basic personal needs. Governments encourage such attitudes. The more money they can generate through taxes, tariffs and fees, the more power they accumulate.

    God created man as a creature of work. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were given the responsibility of tending the garden of Eden. After the Fall, man’s work became onerous and difficult, and this area of his life, as were all others, was adversely affected. But the inherent goodness of work was not changed.

    Read the rest of the article HERE.

     

  • Richard Mansel 4:46 pm on August 31, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , work   

    “Life is not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it’s about doing, being and becoming.”

    Mike Dooley via Twitter
     

  • Mike Riley 3:21 pm on July 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , layoff, , pace, , , work   

    The Difference In Generations 

    The Nudge asks, “How is your life different from that of your parents?”

    My life has experienced the following which my parents did not have to experience 50-80 years ago: (More …)

     

    • missdisplaced 8:24 am on July 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      “There’s no question in my mind that our society is being “dumbed down”

      I’ve often though this. However, the numbers of Americans with college degrees has increased dramatically over the last 40-50 years. In fact, it has increased SO much that a Bachelors barely means anything anymore-virtually ALL jobs require one.

      In my parent’s generation a college degree really meant something because so few people actually went to university. What we are finding now is that those college degrees do not lead to better jobs and better pay. My parents barely graduated high school, yet they had a better quality of life than me with my postgraduate education.

      • Mike Riley 9:08 pm on July 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        Yes, I agree with you wholeheartedly. Your parents had a better quality of life because they set the right priorities, and money wasn’t one of them. Back in my day (the 1940′s & 1950′s), God and family were far more important than money. Money was just a vehicle to get from point A to point B. Today, it’s become an all-consuming desire for many folks – a sad scenario to say the least.

  • Mike Riley 2:37 pm on July 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , hard, , middle, , tough, work,   

    What year to live? I would have enjoyed living in the middle to late 1800′s during the cowboy era: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy – they worked hard, but they played hard as well. They were a tough breed – had to be in order to survive.

     

  • Ed Boggess 11:03 am on June 1, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , work   

    Work ethic? – JAM 

    Why is California in financial crisis? One reason is the Los Angeles School District pays almost $10 million a year to about 160 teachers and staff who are forbidden to do any work — those subject to discipline but whose cumbersome “due process” and appeals take years to carry out. One teacher, Matthew Kim, fired by the school board in 2002 for allegedly sexually harassing students, still receives $68,000 a year, plus benefits, and by union contract interpretation cannot be called on to perform clerical or other non-”professional” duties during the appeal. Isaiah spoke of a day when dark is called light and light dark; bitter is called sweet and sweet bitter; and that day is now. This is Just-A-Minute with Ed Boggess

     

  • John Henson 6:02 pm on May 27, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , work   

    When is our moment on the mountain? 

    Going to the mountains in North Carolina was always a favorite vacation for my family. We particularly enjoyed Grandfather Mountain, Maggie Valley and the Blue Ridge Parkway all in North Carolina. When it was time to go home, we never wanted to leave.

    But if we were to continue our schoolwork and our lives, we had to come down from the mountain and go back to work.

    In Luke 9, Jesus spent some time on a mountain being glorified and transfigured. Transfigure means to have one’s appearance changed. Even Jesus’ clothes became white. Peter was so impressed with what happened, he wanted Jesus to allow him to build three “tabernacles,” or tents for the Lord, Moses and Elijah. It was then that God spoke from heaven saying, “This is my beloved son: hear him!”

    For Jesus, it was time to come down from the mountain. It might have been great to linger in the glorious spotlight, but Jesus was sent to the world to complete his work. So, Jesus decided to leave the mountain and come back down where people needed him.

    Jesus was teaching his apostles an object lesson in what the kingdom meant. Being in the kingdom meant work and service. While the apostles argued about who was going to be greatest in the kingdom (Luke 9:46), Jesus took a child and demonstrated greatness in the kingdom is humbling oneself as a servant. Jesus said, “he that is least among you all, the same shall be great,” (Luke 9:48).

    But, isn’t that what Jesus was pointing to earlier in the chapter when he talked about carrying a cross daily? Didn’t he twice before, in verses 22 and 44, point to the cross and plainly tell his disciples he would suffer and be delivered up into the hands of men who wanted to kill him? But, that was precisely why he came into the world, wasn’t it? He came into this world to give himself as a sin sacrifice for us all.

    Jesus said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it,” (Luke 9:24). People hoard their lives, but do not want to lose them. They are not willing to give their lives in the service of God and their fellows. As Christians, we must be willing to spend our lives serving God and people, for that is what Jesus did. If we spend all of our lives in the service of others, are we not like our Savior, who spent his entire life helping us and providing us with forgiveness of sins?

    Isn’t that our moment on the mountain?

     

    • Mike Riley 9:16 pm on May 27, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Yes, John, I believe helping others is indeed “our moment on the mountain.”

  • Mike Riley 2:49 am on May 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , first, , , , work   

    There are two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.

    Indira Gandhi, Indian prime minister (1917-1984)
     

  • Richard Hill 1:09 am on May 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , work   

    Have I Got A Deal For You! 

    I’ve been out for a while. Though I’ve tried to read most of the posts, I ran short of time to write anything. Today I was rained out. I’m done running errands, so I’m relaxing now.

    The good part? There are times, though not as many as some might think, when the farm has few demands. During those times I’m free to do any number of things. I particularly enjoy taking time to study and consider Scripture. I’ve also had opportunity to go on, even lead campaigns. Ron, Stephen, and I work with Exhibit Evangelism at the IL State Fair in August. Farming usually allows me to be there a number of the 12 working days. Many other jobs would not.

    The bad aspects of my job. There are times work takes all my time. As Randal indicated, my job, grain farming, is not a 9 to 5. The most pressing time is fall. Still, most years, despite the push to get it done, it’s very satisfying work for any number of reasons.

    Tasks are often repetitive, yet there’s always “the light at the end of the tunnel,” knowing you will soon finish with this job and move on to another. Hands on, working completely through from start to finish is quite gratifying–at least most years.

    Clean up at the end of the season is not fun. The worst job is cleaning out the bottom of the legs. Grain legs are tall metal tubes housing cups on a belt that elevate the grain vertically. The grain in the bottom swells and rots with each rain until, well, it’s just hard to describe. Maybe each of you could take a turn visiting me after harvest and I could give you first hand experience in the clean up. Of course, this would take a number of years to work each of you through the process. Although teaching someone new each year has it’s difficulties, I’m a patience teacher. Only one stipulation–those who have already taken their turn can’t talk to the ones who haven’t yet. Whadda ya say? Deal?

     

  • John Henson 3:48 pm on May 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , work   

    The good and bad of my work 

    The good of my work is the wonderful opportunity of having time to study God’s word and find little nuggets of gold I’ve never considered before.

    Saturday, I was studying Luke 9, using William Barclay’s Bible studies series as a guide when I noticed something he pointed out in the book. Barclay said Jesus came down from the mountain of transfiguration to resume his work. It must have been wonderful to be up there with Moses and Elijah seeing the glorified Son of God, but it was just as important to come down and start working again.

    Then, the apostles turned to one of their favorite themes: which one was going to be the greatest in the kingdom. Didn’t they listen to Jesus in 9:23-27? Did they not understand the significance of Jesus coming down from glory to continue his service to God and man? Didn’t they understand why Jesus pointed the way to the cross in verse 44? Would they understand the figure of the child Jesus would show them?

    Can we understand how great the call of service is?

    The bad part of my work is seeing the same kind of failings in some of my brethren and wondering if they’ll ever understand.

    So, I’ll keep trying.

     

  • Mike Riley 1:22 pm on May 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: boss, disorder, , forbearance, , , , perfectionist, work   

    The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly 

    When I first saw today’s nudge, I immediately thought of the old Clint Eastwood movie, “The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly.”

    Stephen has pretty well summed up my thoughts on the subject of the good and bad of work. The most difficult part of a work environment (the ugly), is not the work itself, but the people with whom we work. For example, it’s very difficult to get along with a boss or co-worker who is a perfectionist, or one who has a bipolar disorder (I worked with one for two years), so there is a lot of forbearance, longsuffering, and forgiveness that must take place in the work environment (Colossians 3:12-13). It’s not an easy task in working with some folks, thus the need for much prayer, not only for ourselves, but for those with whom we work (Romans 12:12).

     

    • John Henson 3:57 pm on May 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Brother, I’m sure it was challenging to work with someone like that, but I’d say you used it to build your faith and patience. I thought it was impressive to read three very important words in your post: forbearance, patience (longsuffering) and forgiveness. You’re an amazing person, MIke.

      • Mike Riley 4:03 pm on May 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        John, appreciate the compliment, but I’m not very amazing, just resilient! :)

    • Richard Hill 2:14 am on May 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Mike, most of my life until the last couple of years, I’ve worked through the winter at part-time jobs. That placed me in a lot of interesting work situations. I use the word, interesting, loosely as it’s reminiscent of what you’ve described.

      Solomon was right. There’s nothing new under the sun. The things you don’t think people will do or say, have been done and said!

  • Stephen R. Bradd 1:03 pm on May 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , work   

    God designed our minds and bodies for work. When we are active mentally and physically, we are likely to feel our best. There is no intrinsic downside to work, as I see it. However, one who is undisciplined can burden himself with busyness without much real productivity. There is also the risk of such a one working hard, but neglecting other aspects of his stewardship (e.g., responsibility to family). In our era, however, there is more risk of one being lazy or distracted with the cares of the world than working himself to death with skewed priorities. Balance (self-discipline) is required, and let us remember that our true “rest” is yet to come.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 11:54 am on May 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , work   

    Daily Nudge: work balance — and news 

    The Monday moans are loud, but what is the real balance of work, good and bad? Tell us, from your experience and from your study of the Word, the real scoop on the 9 to 5 (Richard H. say, “I wish!”).

    I’m very much out of the loop during my travels, so tell me some news of the churches.

     

    • Mike Riley 1:35 pm on May 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Randal, like the old saying goes, “No news is good news.” As far as I know, everything is going well with the churches here in our area.

  • Glenda Williams 2:52 am on April 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , work   

    Picking cotton for pay 

    When I was 15 years old I wanted an Elba Tiger jacket like some of my friends at school. We were poor, but mother figured out a way I could earn the $8.00 needed to buy my jacket.  Our neighbor had a small cotton field that he needed help picking the cotton.  Mother took me down there one afternoon and approached our neighbor about letting us help pick his cotton. He was glad to have us. 

    The thick, long sack hung over my shoulder and the opening rested on my right side. It must have been at least 8 feet long. I drug that sack down the row and with ungloved hands picked cotton every afternoon after school. Each day they weighed my bag and cotton. Little by little I continued to make money until I got the amount needed for my jacket.

    That was my first paying job.  Today cotton fields are so pretty to me.  Enjoy the picture I have made of a cotton field near Elba, Alabama.

     

    • Glenda Williams 3:07 am on April 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      If you double-click on the picture, it should enlarge. I was just thinking that we can’t have snow this far south but we can certainly have pretty white cotton fields.

    • Richard Hill 12:59 pm on April 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Cotton has to be the most beautiful crop at harvest time. Corn and bean fields look really pretty when they are just hitting their full height and are the most green. At harvest they just look dead.

      Thanks for the pic!

  • J. Randal Matheny 10:09 pm on April 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , work   

    Earn while working 

    My first paying job was picking and chopping cotton (and chopping soybeans). By hand. I must have been 12-13 years old when I started earning money for it. Until then I think I just got in the way. With my cotton money I bought my first and only bicycle at Wright’s Store in Lafe. My mom wanted me to wait and go into Paragould and look around, but the money was burning in my hand. It was a good bike though; I kept it for a number of years and rode it everywhere.

    After that came sporadic mowing of lawns, work in Ben Franklin’s Five and Ten, the old Kroger’s store and a local restaurant. My first job after college and marriage was the real sustainer — barely — of our new life together: telemarketing, commission only, with a company that sold coupon booklets. (Remember those?) I did so well selling (but not earning), they offered to set me up with my own team of people, but that was that last thing in the world I wanted.

     

  • Laura 7:12 pm on April 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , pay, work   

    First paying job? 

    Technically, my first paying job was feeding the neighbors cats, followed by baby sitting. Neither did I do frequently or regularly, so one could hardly think of that as earning any kind of living. The first real, steady job I had was working at a local greenhouse and floral shop. I worked there beginning with when I could drive and continued through much of college. I started out sweeping floors and potting plants. As I proved my ability to handle responsibility, I was given more important tasks. When all was said and done, I had done just about every job there except for cutting checks to pay the bills and the employees. That included working with the wealthy customers to decorate their home for elaborate parties and directing weddings. The job paid minimum wage, regardless of what I did or how hard I worked, but it was good experience and a nice steady paycheck. Still, it was good incentive to do well in college so I could get a higher paying job!

     

    • Mike Riley 7:50 pm on April 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Laura, did working at a greenhouse and floral shop turn you into a “green thumb?”

      • Laura 7:54 pm on April 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        It did at first. My plants thrived and bloomed like crazy. Then children happened, and I stopped paying attention to my plants. I lost my green thumb.

  • John Henson 12:32 pm on April 20, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , work   

    My drive to “work” is not much more than five or six miles. The radio doesn’t work, so if I want music, I must sing. I keep the windows up to avoid offending the ears of others. While writing this, I thought of what Randal wrote about the residence of his books. It’s the same for me. Even in the computer age, preachers still have books. Even though we all have computers and Bible software programs, we still have books. Interesting…

     

    • J. Randal Matheny 1:34 pm on April 20, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Some books, and some of the best, aren’t available in software: TDNT, BGAD, L&N, TLNT. And I still don’t quite trust electronic Bible searches. How do I know some glitch isn’t keeping me from all the occurrences of a word? Schmoller for me!

      • John Henson 5:47 pm on April 20, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        Are you sure some of those abbreviations aren’t railroad company names?

        • J. Randal Matheny 8:49 pm on April 20, 2010 Permalink

          Ha! Hey the railroad company here, which a brother in Christ works for, is MRS. Really!

  • Larry Miles 12:18 pm on April 20, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , work   

    17 miles on Mon-Friday to my job as Security Officer for Brantley at UPS Centenial and about the same on Saturdays to the Valley Station WalMart– Drive a Security Car around lot for 8 hrs. Both jobs I can listen to my I Touch with the Bible on it plus music and Bible Teaching and at UPS can bring LapTop in with me– Need more hours as I am only getting 30.5 hrs instead of the 40 I got before taking off to take care of my Aunt this past Fall/winter.

     

  • Glenda Williams 1:14 am on April 13, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , work   

    American Soldiers Need our Help 

    Word has come that our soldiers wounded while fighting the war in Afghanistan need our help. When one soldier was asked recently (name withheld) what he would like in a care package being prepared for him, he replied, “Don’t send me anything. Send oversized t-shirts and pajama pants for the wounded soldiers who are being shipped out to the large hospital in Germany. They are leaving with only a sheet over them.”

    Roger McCaleb of the Summerdale church of Christ, P. O. Box 314, Summerdale, AL, 36580, is spearheading a drive to collect these items, or accepting donations to purchase the items, and will ship them. A label will be ironed in each garment with “Church of Christ. God loves you and so do we.” For further information call: 251-626-9578.

     

    • J. Randal Matheny 10:02 am on April 13, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Glenda, is there a PayPal account that people can use to donate?

      • Glenda Williams 12:53 pm on April 13, 2010 Permalink | Reply

        I am checking on that now, Randal. Should know something later in the day. Good idea.

  • Mike Riley 1:32 pm on April 2, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , work   

    I’d rather give up my computer. My car is a necessity to get to work and bring in some money to sustain my family, the computer is not a necessity.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 11:05 am on March 30, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , work   

    Daily Nudge: best job — and news 

    Great job

    Your best job?

    What’s the best job you ever had? asks the Nudge today. Of course, we’re interested in knowing why you thought — or think — it the best job.

    It must have been the rain during the night, but I slept hard and well, more so than usual. I’m a good sleeper, but last night seemed to be especially good. Raring to go today.

    And I should be, with my long to-do list, getting my book finished and in to the printer, getting ready to travel, yet again (sigh), to the U.S. for fund-raising, getting even a bit of work done around here as the church looks for another meeting place and takes care of other details and the inevitable red tape of life.

    For all that, yup, I got the best job of all, serving the Lord according to my capacities.

    News? News? News? (Did you see that I just asked for news, three times?)

     

  • Stephen R. Bradd 10:26 am on March 29, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , work   

    I enjoy Mondays as much as any other day. To supplement my income, I work all day on most Mondays as a bookkeeper for a brother in Christ who owns a trucking company. It’s busy work–paper sorting, data entry, filing, doing payroll, taxes, etc.–but I enjoy it. It’s a change of pace for me each week. It gives me a chance to listen to audio CDs from Polishing the Pulpit I’ve purchased over the years and also to Rush Limbaugh & Dr. Laura.

     

  • J. Randal Matheny 10:10 am on March 29, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , work   

    Daily Nudge: Mondays — and news 

    Monday mornings

    How do you face Mondays?

    Your Daily Nudge: How do you face Mondays? Many people dread picking up the weekly work routine. Just this past week an Internet friend said something to the effect of Monday being merely a way to get to the weekend. So what do you think of Mondays? How do you approach this second day of the week that starts your school or work schedule? Maybe it’s related to the way we look at work, reckon?

    My only news: I preached yesterday morning while almost the whole time a small child screamed. Not cried, but screamed. The mother took him out after a while but where we meet, there’s not much place to go. I felt sorry for the tyke. And for the listeners.

    My sermon? “Acts 2:38, Revisted.”

    What’s your news? Surely something has happened in your congregation or area churches.

     

    • Glenda Williams 2:14 pm on March 29, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Randal, I never hear a child cry in church without thinking of Bert Thompson preaching in a meeting where we were one time. After he got up to speak a child started crying. He looked right at the mother, didn’t say a word and WAITED!!! When she took the child out, he continued. He was soft-spoken and even though he was miked, I guess he didn’t want the interruption.

  • Glenda Williams 5:13 pm on February 28, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , work   

    People who are soul-winners stand out in our congregation 

    Ten people in our congregation are actively teaching people every week. That number does not include those who are doing other things to promote the church and create good will so more doors will be opened. Four have been baptized this month.

     

    • Mike Riley 8:19 pm on February 28, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Glenda, this is indeed great! If all congregations of the Lord’s people had just ten people doing what the ten people are doing in the congregation that you are a member of, just think how many souls could be brought to Christ.

  • Laura 12:14 pm on February 28, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , work,   

    What stands out about our congregation? 

    I think one of the biggest things that stands out about our congregation is the percentage of workers. I’ve heard it said, and even seen in some places, that 10% of the people do 90% of the work. Not so in Purcellville. We certainly have some who are not actively engaged, but a very large percentage of the congregation is busy working on something and are willing to work when called upon. For example, we have so many ladies who want to teach, that we’ve started rotating teachers in and out of the children’s classrooms. Yet we only have about 38 or so adults in the congregation.

     

  • Mike Riley 2:40 pm on February 27, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , steady, work,   

    My most positive word today? The word, “steady.” Years ago, we had a member of our congregation by the name of Tom Porterfield, who has since gone on to be with the Lord. When I would ask him every Sunday morning how he was doing, he would reply with a simple, “I’m steady.”

    Brother Tom was indeed “steady.” Even though he was up in years, he’d be present at every worship service of the Lord’s people. He was truly an inspiration and godly example of “steady” service to the Lord, and we greatly miss his presence when we assemble today.

    Brethren, like brother Tom, may we be found to be “steady” – “Steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58-NKJV).

     

  • Mike Riley 11:50 am on February 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , work   

    A spiritual task that I dread? If I were a preacher, preaching at a funeral would be the spiritual task that I would dread, especially if the deceased was not a Christian. Since I’m not a preacher, I really don’t have a spiritual task that I dread. Working for the Lord is all good!

     

  • Mike Riley 1:08 pm on February 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , dressed, , , work   

    My favorite Biblical plant is the beautiful lily (Matthew 6:28-29-NLT).

    “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.”

    If God takes care of the beautiful lily, even though it doesn’t work or weave, what makes us think that He will not provide the necessities of life for us, His children? All we have to do is simply ask in faith, and we will receive (cf. Matthew 7:6-11).

    God is indeed good! (Mark 10:18).

     

  • Ron Thomas 10:13 am on February 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: determination, , , work   

    Mind to Work 

    You build your wall and others of the land, not associated with you and the work you do, look on and mock the effort. If it were not for the fortitude you have within, the wall you worked on building would not be completed. When there is within the people a mind to work, what can’t be done? When there is a mind to work, walls can be rebuilt; when there is a mind to work, disagreeable people can be circumvented; when there is a mind to work, those around will notice and be encouraged by it. We may not want to build a wall, we may not want to circumvent those who oppose, and we may feel much too weak to have others look at us in a positive way. When we feel all this can much good be accomplished?

    We need to rebuild what we allowed to be destroyed within us that is good.

     

    • Mike Riley 1:15 pm on February 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Ron, There’s some great teaching here regarding having the mindset to work. Appreciate you posting it for our consideration.

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