?“… I have learned,” writes Paul Stevens, ‘that it is not the amount of money we make, the?prestige of the job, or the social importance of the work that makes us?greedy or thankful. ?Instead, it is the predisposition of our soul. ?A heart of gratitude lies in being content with what we have and recognizing that everything that comes our way – including trials and setbacks – is a gift.” [Read more…] about ?Taking you soul to work? ? Persistent Gratitude (Chapter 20)
“Taking you soul to work” – Goodness: Unselfconscious Giving (Chapter 11)
According to Stevens and Ung the opposite of the deadly workplace struggle of greed is the fruit of goodness – the cultivation of a character that gives rather than takes.
Whereas greed speaks of the passion to possess, goodness speaks of, ‘… someone who gives rather than takes, who shares rather than hoards.’
How can we cultivate the fruit of goodness in our workplaces? ?How can we be people who enrich the lives of others? [Read more…] about “Taking you soul to work” – Goodness: Unselfconscious Giving (Chapter 11)
“Taking you soul to work” – Greed: The Desire for More (Chapter 2)
The second deadly sin of the workplace R. Paul Stevens and Alvin Ung target in?Taking Your Soul to Work. ?In the opening narrative, Ung poses the question, “I’m wondering if it’s possible to work in a highly paid job without becoming greedy?”??
After defining what greed/avarice is – channeling our desires for the things God has made rather than God himself – the writers ask where greed emerges in the workplace. ? [Read more…] about “Taking you soul to work” – Greed: The Desire for More (Chapter 2)
Exploring some common Workplace Myths
The creative people at Threads are putting together a very interesting series of blogs entitled “10 Myths about Work” (they were up to Myth #8 last time I looked).
Here’s how they introduced the series:
“Between leaving full-time education and retirement we?ll spend about 90,000 hours in the workplace. Work is a hugely significant part of life, but one that we don?t talk about all that much, let alone hear much teaching on at church. This mini-series tackles the top 10 myths about work ? common things that we can all fall into believing when we lose God?s perspective on our work. Join the debate ? let?s break the silence.” [Read more…] about Exploring some common Workplace Myths
“Taking you soul to work” – Joy: More than Happiness at Work (Chapter 10)
Last week, we looked at Stevens and Ung’s take in pride in the workplace. ?This week we skip ahead to Chapter 10 where the authors consider joy as the antonym of pride and the life-giving resource for workplace spirituality.?
Joy in the workplace – really? ?This sounds totally at odds with many of the popular sayings about work (e.g. ‘I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.’) and also our own experience particularly if we in a dreary, repetitious, soul-destroying environment. ?Where is the joy in that?? [Read more…] about “Taking you soul to work” – Joy: More than Happiness at Work (Chapter 10)
“Taking Your Soul to Work” (Introduction)
The opening words from Eugene Peterson’s foreword set the scene for this challenging but very helpful book:
“One of the most offensive and soul-damaging phrases in the Christian community is “full-time Christian work.’? Every time it is used it drives a wedge of misunderstanding between the way we pray and the way we work, between the way we worship and the way we make a living.? One of the achievements of the Protestant Reformation was the leveling of the ground between the clergy and laity.? Pastors and butchers had equal status before the cross, homemakers were on a par with evangelists.? But insidiously, that level ground has been eroded as religious professionals have claimed the high ground, asserted exclusive rights to ‘full-time Christian wiork,’ and relegated the laity to part-time work on weekends under their pastoral or priestly direction … This professionalization of religion is an assault on the integrity of the Christian community.” (p. viii) [Read more…] about “Taking Your Soul to Work” (Introduction)
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