Just Do It- James 1 (Words Mean Things)

On Sunday, I began a new teaching series through the New Testament book of James, "Just Do It", based from James 1:22, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves". Here is a thought from Sunday and James chapter 1:

Words mean things. In v. 1, James calls himself "a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (depending on the version of the Bible you use, the text may say servant or bondservant). What makes this statement so striking is that James did not always have this respect for Jesus, who was his older half-brother. John 1:5 tells us that even Jesus' own brothers did not believe in Him. But all that changed after Christ's resurrection, when James saw that Jesus had resurrected as He said He would (I Corinthians 15:7).

Now, in James' defense, it had to be difficult to be the brother of Jesus. Many of us have a sister who is "the golden girl"; the brother who can do no wrong. But if your brother is Jesus, he really did no wrong. At some point, from someone in the neighborhood, James had to hear, "why can't you be like your brother" and really he had no chance to do that.

But to go from non-believer to believer to leader of the church in Jerusalem to a slave of Jesus Christ is an amazing transformation. The resurrection was a powerful event.

And words mean things.

Check Your Facebook Photos

In recent years, I am more and more frequently asked to serve as a reference for people I know as they look for a job or apply to a school. The schools are both undergraduate and graduate schools. Some are public, secular schools. Sometimes they are references for a seminary applicant. The job references range from temporary summer jobs to entry-level positions to attempts to make significant career upgrades and/or moves.

Whenever I am listed as a reference, that means that I know the applicant (hopefully he or she has contacted me regarding the reference listing in advance, if for no other reason than to let me know I may be contacted on their behalf) and it is basically anticipated that I will give the applicant a glowing review. This is the way the process has worked for ages. References almost always say only good things. It's expected.

However, if an employer is looking at potentially hiring you, in effect, investing in you, they should do their due diligence to check out everything they can about you. Think about it this way. Everyone attempts to look their best in an interview or when they walk in to apply for a job. Your references will only say positive things. You will say all the right things in an interview. Your prospective employer should attempt to gain all possible information about you. They may even check to see if you're on Facebook.

So if you are an applicant for a position, at any level, may I make a suggestion? Check your Facebook photos. So many people leave their Facebook photos open to view by any and all. Your Facebook photos show you as you really are. Or as you really were.

If you have "partying" photos from days gone by, and you don't do that anymore because of maturity or a major change of lifestyle, you'd probably be better off to remove those. If, in several of your Facebook photos, you're making silly faces or, even worse, some immature hand gestures that only your close friends know the meaning of (but ones that may look like gang related signs or racial slurs to a prospective employer), that may say something about you.

It might be well worth your time to check your Facebook photos.

Fun on Friday

Watched "Guru of Go" on ESPN this week. This ESPN 30 for 30 documentary chronicles the coaching career of Paul Westhead, a longtime and well-traveled college and professional basketball coach. Much of the documentary focuses on his years at Loyola Marymount University in the late 1980's and early 1990's, where he ran his high octane, fun-and-gun offense, "The System", utilizing the Philadelphia streetball skills of Bo Kimble and the late Hank Gathers. Interesting throughout, the portion dealing with Gathers on-court collapse and subsequent death is particularly intense. Well worth watching.

With the introduction of the new iPad, I can't help but wonder what cutting edge technology will look like when my sons are my age.

Hoping to find some time this weekend to get by Tom Black Track for the Sea Ray Relays.

Subway now serves breakfast. Is that really necessary?

I love the shade of the green grass in the springtime.

Don't know about you, but parking garages that leak when it's raining make me a little bit uncomfortable. It doesn't seem like it should really be "raining" inside the garage.

Great Quote Thursday

People who have integrity are consistent in what they say and do. People with integrity have this consistency, this predictability, this believability- Diane Peck

Book Review- When Leadership and Discipleship Collide

Authored by Bill Hybels, this short book is part of Zondervan Publishing's Leadership Library collection.

Drawing from the New Testament book of Mark, Hybels outlines several examples of how Jesus Christ chose to go against what would, in most cases, be readily accepted laws of leadership. Among these are:
Build a team of highly qualified leaders- not exactly what you would call the disciples
Keep up the momentum- sometimes Christ went away from the crowds to spend time alone in prayer
Avoid unnecessary controversy- Christ never shied away from addressing difficult topics

At the midpoint of the book, Hybels shifts to share some personal examples of times when he has been forced to choose between busyness (leadership, sometimes) and real ministry (discipleship). As you would expect, choosing to be involved in the lives of people, as Christ did, is always a good choice.

This good, though not outstanding, book is well worth reading, especially the section from the book of Mark. Plus, it can be read in less than an hour.

My Thoughts on the Final Four

Anybody but Duke.

Great Quote Thursday

It is the start that stops most people- Anonymous