Thursday, September 30, 2010
Great Quote Thursday
Few Christians who view their work as a chore have much of a witness on or off the job- Larry Burkett
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Leadership Session with Tom Kilgore
Tom Kilgore, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), shared with some of our staff during a meeting yesterday morning. He is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and a man of much wisdom. Some of what he shared included the following:
Improvements must be quantifiable and noticeable.
Proper prior planning prevents poor performance.
Every organization must discuss substance and style. Substance is getting things done. Style is doing things the right way.
A motto at TVA- Better. TVA strives to be better every day. Every week. Every month. Every year.
What people help create, they will be committed to.
You are responsible for your own career.
Improvements must be quantifiable and noticeable.
Proper prior planning prevents poor performance.
Every organization must discuss substance and style. Substance is getting things done. Style is doing things the right way.
A motto at TVA- Better. TVA strives to be better every day. Every week. Every month. Every year.
What people help create, they will be committed to.
You are responsible for your own career.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Ephesians- Part 3- But God
On Sundays, we're continuing our study through the New Testament book of Ephesians. Here are some thoughts on this week's passage, Chapter 2: 1-10:
Paul expresses that we were, in effect, dead men walking. Zombielike. Without life. But God (v. 4), because of his great love for us, changed everything.
Often when the word "but" is used, it's not a helpful conjunction. Things usually transition toward the negative. For instance, sometimes when I need to apologize to my wife for something I've said, I'll often phrase it something along the lines of, "I apologize for what I said earlier, but the only reason I said it was......." and I get to take another attempt at pointing out something that I think was an issue. Most people when pulled over for speeding may admit they were speeding "but it was only 10 miles over the speed limit". Usually what comes after the word "but" is not good.
But when God did what only God could do, it was a beautiful moment. Because but for God's love, we would be without life. Dead men walking.
Paul expresses that we were, in effect, dead men walking. Zombielike. Without life. But God (v. 4), because of his great love for us, changed everything.
Often when the word "but" is used, it's not a helpful conjunction. Things usually transition toward the negative. For instance, sometimes when I need to apologize to my wife for something I've said, I'll often phrase it something along the lines of, "I apologize for what I said earlier, but the only reason I said it was......." and I get to take another attempt at pointing out something that I think was an issue. Most people when pulled over for speeding may admit they were speeding "but it was only 10 miles over the speed limit". Usually what comes after the word "but" is not good.
But when God did what only God could do, it was a beautiful moment. Because but for God's love, we would be without life. Dead men walking.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Book Review- Lee: A Life of Virtue by John Perry
A new release from Thomas Nelson's "The Generals" series, John Perry, author of the New York Times' bestseller, Letters to God, crafts a biography that highlights the virtues of Robert E. Lee. Drawing from his previous work on the life of Robert E. Lee's wife, Mary Custis Lee (Lady of Arlington), Perry sets about to defend the memory of the great Confederate general. For example, Perry notes on the back cover, "Lee considered slavery a moral outrage" and in the book's introduction, he notes that Lee "probably never owned a slave in his life". However, Perry also shares that Lee's wife (and Lee by marriage) inherited nearly 200 slaves from her father upon his death; there were always slaves serving in the Lee family home at Arlington; and a "servant" who had served the Lees at Arlington was alongside Lee throughout the Civil War. So while Lee may technically have never owned a slave, it is difficult to determine from the facts of his life that he considered slavery a "moral outrage".
This work, as well as the George Patton book in the Generals series, attempts to characterize and highlight the nature of both men as deeply spiritual. Yet in each book, the information the authors share is not entirely convincing. It's as if the authors desire to present the men as without fault. Also, in several portions of the book, the author comes across as an apologist for the causes of the Confederacy. This, in addition to the lack of historical notes or a significant bibliography, make this short volume a disappointment.
I reviewed this book in conjunction with Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program, was not compensated for this review and the opinions expressed are solely mine.
This work, as well as the George Patton book in the Generals series, attempts to characterize and highlight the nature of both men as deeply spiritual. Yet in each book, the information the authors share is not entirely convincing. It's as if the authors desire to present the men as without fault. Also, in several portions of the book, the author comes across as an apologist for the causes of the Confederacy. This, in addition to the lack of historical notes or a significant bibliography, make this short volume a disappointment.
I reviewed this book in conjunction with Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program, was not compensated for this review and the opinions expressed are solely mine.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Being the Church
As part of our church's efforts to "Be The Church", today a group of almost 40 young adults from Sevier Heights Baptist Church spent time leading worship, sharing the Gospel and feeding the homeless at a local ministry called Angelic Ministries as part of Angelic's weekly "Music, Message and Manna" program.
We had a great time. Doing good work. Being the church.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Fun on Friday
In response to last week's Fun on Friday, I've been informed by two friends that Wrangler really does make "Real. Comfortable. Jeans".
Interesting how as the Major League Baseball season winds down that the standings are always so tight. Announcers talk at great length about the games to be played as teams come down the stretch, with much emphasis placed on the last few games of the season. But when you think about it, a "meaningless" game in early May or a game during the dog days of August counts just as much as a game in the season's final week.
Interesting how as the Major League Baseball season winds down that the standings are always so tight. Announcers talk at great length about the games to be played as teams come down the stretch, with much emphasis placed on the last few games of the season. But when you think about it, a "meaningless" game in early May or a game during the dog days of August counts just as much as a game in the season's final week.
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