The Work Issue (September/October 2010)

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TAKETHIS JOBANDLOVEIT?

The King’s Men Study GuidesWALKING WITH THE MASTER & SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

The King’s Men is a series of discussions, studies, and activities thatwill engage men in a life of freedom, risk, sacrifice, and significance.

Using the 7 Promises of a Promise Keeper, menwill journey through the life of Jesus and discoverhow He prepared His followers to be men the

world would describe as those“who turned the worldupside down.” (Acts 17:6)

These small groupresources will help you andyour men’s group continuewhere the conference left off.

Resources sent to your home

SEVEN Magazine, Men of IntegrityDevotional and World ClassSpeakers... Relevant biblicalresources for your daily walk.

Discipleship Training Unleashed

A weekend retreat where you can experi-ence in-depth training to discover how tobecome a better equipped Godly man.

Walking With You…

Visit www.PromiseKeepers.ca FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT

PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA CAN DO FOR YOU AND YOUR CHURCH.

MISSION: To ignite and equip men to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ – resulting in homes, churches, workplaces, communities and nations impacted and shaped by the grace of God through the lives of men.

seven – issue fourteen september–october, 2010 page 3

SEVEN is a Christian magazine for Canadian men that exists to help men lead more fulfillinglives and leave enduring legacies.

The name reflects the sevenpromises that form the basis of thePromise Keepers organization,which works with churches tominister to men across Canada.

one – A Promise Keeper iscommitted to honouring JesusChrist through worship, prayer, and

obedience to God's word in thepower of the Holy Spirit.

two – A Promise Keeper iscommitted to pursuing vitalrelationships with a few other men,understanding that he needsbrothers to help him keep hispromises.

three – A Promise Keeper iscommitted to practising spiritual,moral, ethical, and sexual purity.

four – A Promise Keeper iscommitted to building strongmarriages and families throughlove, protection, and biblicalvalues.

five – A Promise Keeper iscommitted to supporting themission of the church by honouringand praying for his pastor, and byactively giving his time andresources.

six – A Promise Keeper iscommitted to reaching beyond anyracial and denominational barriersto demonstrate the power ofbiblical unity.

seven – A Promise Keeper iscommitted to influencing his world,being obedient to the GreatCommandment (see Mark 12:30-31)and the Great Commission (see Matt 28:19-20).

Publisher: Brian KoldykManaging Editor: Doug KoopPulse Editor: Robert White

advertising account executives: WILLIAM LEIGHTON: [email protected] FRIESEN: [email protected] HICKS: [email protected] otherwise indicated, neither ChristianWeek nor Promise Keepers Canada guarantee, warrant, or endorse any product, program, or service advertised.

editorial advisory boardKIRK GILES: Promise Keepers Canada JEFF STEARNS: Promise Keepers Canada PHIL WAGLER: Kingsfield Zurich MC SANDRA REIMER: Reimer Reason Communications DOUG KOOP: ChristianWeek

Distributed by promise keepers canada1295 North Service RoadPO Box 40599Burlington, ON L7P 4W1(905) [email protected]: Please send address changes to PO Box 40599, Burlington, ON L7P 4W1

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columns

5 PK PodiumEnjoy your job… without beingdefined by it.

6 Sex TalkFlirts, wives and workplace porn

26Money Matters Keep your life in balance

27 Out of My DepthReversing the Dilbert Principle

30 What Women WantTurn on time

departments

8-12 PulseCurious events. Interesting people. Good ideas.

13 ReviewsHow to quit the right things, mobilize men, parent well and argue effectively

28 Power PlayTools. Toys. Technology.

c o n t e n t s september – october, 2010

on the cover

14–24 The Work IssueGod loves work. Do you? Do you love it too much? Not enough? Meetsome people who are getting it right.

features

14 Take this job and love it Any man can make any job an active arena of personal fulfilment and effective Christian witness.

17 Being a Christian in a difficult workplace Be true to yourself, say Christians in unwelcome work settings.

20Christian bosses in work-a-day world How do Christian bosses balance the drive for profit with the costly demands of people?

24Faith and footballIsrael Idonije won’t let a violent game get in the way of his faith.


My first real job was picking up thegarbage strewn across the parking lot ofthe trucking company my dad worked for.After about half an hour, I realized thiswas not what God was calling me to.

The next time I found myself workingregularly was in the role of telemarketer.Yes, I was one of “those people” who callat the most inappropriate times. Again, I did not see this as my life’s calling (not that there’s anything wrong with being a telemarketer).

Most of us have had jobs that we do not enjoy. Some men reading this articlemay even find themselves in a job they donot enjoy right now.

Whether we enjoy our work or not, it is easy to simply exist on our jobs. It is

easy to go from one day to the next withwork being just a part of our life routine.

For others, work becomes almost anobsession. These men are defined by their success at work and are driven toaccomplish more.

What is your attitude towards yourwork? Neither of the attitudes described

above are healthy. The men whosimply “exist” while at work

are living with no purposeor joy. Those who are

obsessed usually fallinto the trap ofmaking work andachievements theirgod rather thanseeing their work asone part of the wholelife God hasdesigned for them.

For the man whodoes not enjoy hisjob, or who feelsstuck in the routine

of it, I want to encourage you in two ways.First, all of life—including our work—is tobe an act of worship to God (Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 3:23). You can live withpurpose in your work because you arehelping to build the world God wants built.

Second, there is a Biblical principle thatwhoever is faithful in a little, God willentrust with more. While at work, give ityour all (including your attitude) and seehow God provides other opportunities foryou to use the talents He has given to you.

For the man who is defined by hissuccess at work, I want to encourage you toask the question: “What do I get from mywork success that I’m not getting fromGod?” You see, at the heart of the manwho is defined by his job is a man who isnot at rest spiritually. He has not yet cometo a place of peace that he is God’s son—no matter what results he gets from work.

It would be wrong for me to talk aboutwork without recognizing the thousands ofmen who are currently unemployed. I amsure that there are many days where youfeel like a failure. God has chosen you tobe His son. He does not view you as afailure. God’s love for you endures forever. I want to encourage you to keep searchingand seeking employment while trustingyour heavenly Father to provide for yourneeds every day.

Work is a gift from God designed toallow us the opportunity to show the worldhow God is also a worker. Live your life tohonour Him and you will have purpose inyour work and freedom to enjoy your jobwithout being defined by it.

Kirk Giles is president of Promise Keepers Canada.He and Shannon have been married for 15 years.They are the parents of four children, ages 7-14.

PK P o d i um

by Kirk Giles

Enjoy your job……without being defined by it.


One of my coworkers in my office isflirting with me. I am married and want tostay married. I don’t want to make a bigdeal but I am really nervous about sayinganything. Should I talk to my boss, talk toher with my boss, ignore it?

What you’re experiencing is verycommon in the workplace. Remember, an adulterous woman intends to make youfeel special (Proverbs 7:15). Any time awoman gives you attention, you shouldhave a big red flag. The devil often showsup in a different guise to rob you of yourspiritual authority (Rev. 2:26).

When a woman flirts with you, alwaystalk positively about your wife. If shecompliments you on something, say: “My wife likes that about me as well,” or,“My wife is to blame for this great tie.” Andany time a woman talks negatively abouther husband, refuse to go there at all.

If the woman persists, then confront her and say: “This is an inappropriateconversation I don’t want to continue,”and walk away. That sends a clearmessage that you are not an easy target.She is looking for easy targets, notsomeone to fight for. If a flirtatious womanis still pestering you, it is now time toapproach your boss. When you do, haveclear examples and exact dates.

Honestly, however, some men send out energy these women pick up on. If you’re lusting after someone, you maynot be the victim of this woman; she maybe actually responding to your lust.

If you’re privately using porn andlusting, expect temptation to answer your knock at its door. In this case, getaccountable to another man to end yoursecret world so you can be strong againsttemptation. There’s nothing like calling aguy and saying, “A girl is flirting with meand telling me I am wonderful” and thenhaving your accountability person laughand say, “Come on, you’re really not thatwonderful.” It gets you out of any stuporthe other woman can cause.

I am in university and have been datingmy girlfriend for about a year. I just metsomeone who makes me question if Ishould still be with my girlfriend. How do I know if I should break up or stay together?

At your age, all of us navigate thequestion, “Is this the right one for me?”Begin by observing how you arrive atdecisions. If you make decisions based on how you feel, you will like whateverwoman is kind to you that day. If you makeemotional decisions, you’ll struggle withadultery and all kinds of other issues.

If, however, you make decisions onprinciple—such as what kind of charactershe has; what kind of mother she will be;her values; if she is attractive to you; and you both have a reasonable amount in common—you will be content. Noticealso how she relates to her friends andauthority in her life.

Last but not least, this choice is theLord’s, not yours to make. A good wifecomes only from God. She’s a gift. Ask the Lord directly and ask those whoare spiritually mature and have spiritualauthority over you. Deeply consider thatthe Lord knows what you need for a 50- to70-year marriage. What you want and whatyou need may be different. He is the oneyou want to obey.

If you can sincerely know it’s God’s willto break up—do it. Don’t break up becauseof another woman. That lacks characterand you most likely will regret the choice.These are the kinds of challenges thatdefine your story as a man. Write it wisely.Others are reading the epistle of your life.

I’m an employer. How should I deal withemployees looking at porn at work?

I wish I heard this question more often.Actually the largest downloads ofpornography are during regular businesshours. That’s right: While you are payingthat person an hourly rate or salary, theyare busy downloading pornography.

Let’s look at this issue proactively andreactively. On the proactive side, I wouldstrongly suggest you have a porn blocker,monitoring or accountability software onall your work computers including laptops.If you own the company, you can make thisa company policy. You would be wise tohave a clear policy allowing you to monitoryour employees’ computers. This shouldbe signed upon employment or when thepolicy is established. It should also includethe course of action that would beimplemented if this policy is violated.

Here you also might want to consult anattorney. Some employers will requestcounseling, evaluation and even three-dayintensives for sexual addiction or otherissues. You will need to be clear about thenumber of offenses that will determinetermination. If an employee needs a freeassessment, offices like ours can providesuch a service.

If you request counseling, make sure in your policy that the employee signs arelease of information so you can haveresults of the evaluation and expectedtreatment. You can be compassionate inthis situation, but firm enough to protectother employees and your business. Such proactive policies can also helpprove due diligence legally to minimizesexual harassment charges. As a Christianemployer or employee I stronglyrecommend not staining your testimony at work with this issue.

by Doug Weiss

sex talk

Flirts, wives and workplace pornTemptations abound at work, at home, at school

Douglas Weiss, Ph.D. is a Licensed Psychologist and Executive Director of Heart to Heart CounselingCenter in Colorado Springs, CO. He has appeared on Oprah, Dr. Phil and many other national mediaappearances. Contact him by email at [email protected] or visit his website atwww.drdougweiss.com.

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p u l s e

UNKNOWN BUSINESS GROUP LOOKS TO EXPANDA little-known Canadian business association will rely on Keith

Knight’s 40 years of communications’ experience to raise itsprofile. Knight became executive director of the CanadianChristian Business Federation (CCBF) in July, replacing HansVander Stoep, who retired after 23 years at the helm.

Knight has a “lifelong passion for writing.” He began his career as a cub reporter for the Dunnville Chronicle in 1969,spending a number of years in various reporter and editorpositions until 1976. That’s when the daring 26-year-old boughtthe Calvinist Contact (eventually the Christian Courier) and built a publication company around it.

“The company became so profitable and so busy I spent moretime doing business than writing,” recalls Knight. He sold thecompany and returned to journalism. After a while, he melded hispassions for church and communications as the communicationsdirector for the Christian Reformed Church in Canada. The

Presbyterian Church in Canada came calling two years later andKnight spent nine years as their communications director.

After leaving the Presbyterians, Knight became a consultant—which led to his contact with the CCBF. “At a small meeting with afew people over lunch they said ‘we really need someone to takeover the reins of the CCBF.’ So I said, ‘let’s talk.’ We talked. Itclicked and here I am.”

The CCBF was started in 1983 by Christian business leaders—most with a Christian Reformed background—who wanted a placeto talk about the connection between faith and profit. Eventhough it has a mailing list of 600 and 12 chapters that meetmonthly across Southern and Central Ontario, the membership-driven CCBF remains fairly unknown.

“It’s all about raising a profile, telling our story,” says Knightabout his new role. “It’s also a marriage of the church and of faith.How, as Christians in business, do we tie in our faith to what wedo every day? How do we live our faith?”

To grow the CBBF, Knight will focus on developingrelationships. Like connecting a young entrepreneur just startingin the import/export trade with an experienced mentor. Or helpingdevelop intern programs for business students at Christianuniversities in Edmonton and Hamilton.

“My greatest fear—and my delight—is that I won’t be able tokeep up with the demand for membership,” says Knight. And tomake the CCBF truly Canadian, moving beyond its currentmembership base, he’s already hired provincial directors inAlberta and B.C. “To build connections with people who are inbusiness, to find someone else with the same concerns is veryvaluable.”

For more information, check www.ccbf.org.

CHECK THIS OUT, DADA new study by researchers at the Université de Montreal

found fathers, more so than mothers, tend to let toddlers takemore risks and explore—something that equips youngsters for the challenges of life ahead.

“The less protective the parent, the more exploratory thebehaviour in the child,” says Daniel Paquette, a psychologyprofessor at the university. “For a child to become self-confident,the parent mustn’t be too far or too close.”

The study is part of an emerging line of inquiry called“activation theory.” This theory stresses the importance of risk-taking and competition in early childhood development. It’s theflip side of the 20th-century “attachment theory”—which fed thebelief that primary caregivers fulfill a child’s emotional needs and guarantee survival.

To test their hypothesis, Paquette and his colleagues, placed kids aged 12 to 18 months, each with a parent, in riskysituations—near toys at the top of a stairway, say, or in a roomwhere a strange adult enters. They then measured the

by Robert White PULSE Editor

Curiousities. Personalities. Ideas. Information.

Keith Knight: Helping Christians in business link faith with life.


responses of both the parent and child.The researchers found fathers were more likely to give the

child space to take risks. More importantly, they identified a linkbetween this arm’s-length style of parenting and the intrepidnessof the kids.

That doesn’t mean men should nap when on daddy duty. Noone’s interest is served when a child falls down the stairs. But itdoes suggest hidden virtue in hands-off child-rearing—and a littleless guilt when something shiny grabs a dad’s attention.(Maclean’s)

MORE THAN HORMONES MAKE A MANWhat makes a man? For Dr. Louann Brizendine, it’s not much

more than hormones. The MD, who specializes in neurobiology,has dissected men in her new book The Male Brain. ForBrizendine, it’s all nature, no nurture; her neuropsychiatric viewhas a way of reducing men to what can be proven clinically.

The approach has its faults, but Brizendine offers a freshalternative to the current gender neutral vision adopted by mostwomen’s studies departments. Each chapter covers men at adifferent stage in their biological development. Starting with achapter entitled “The Boy Brain” and ending with “The MatureMale Brain,” Brizendine explains the hormonal influences in the

brain using stories of her patients and neuroscientific theoriesthat address specific behaviours.

An example is Brizendine’s explanation of why adolescentboys tend to tune out female voices. She uses a study whichexamines male and female brain activity as the subjects listen toboth music and white noise. The results show male subjects’brains deactivate while hearing white noise.

So why can’t 14-year-old Jake quite follow his friend Zoe’schatter? Testosterone. Testosterone causes him to interpret thecadence and acoustic of the female voice as white noise. Mothersacross Canada will be relieved to know there’s a scientific reasonwhy their teen sons aren’t listening.

To be fair, it’s not a neurobiologist’s role to assess culturalinfluences, social science or the spiritual side of happiness. Forwhat it is, Brizendine’s book is fine, if simplistic—science with acandy-coated veneer. Certainly, our culture gives Brizendine briskbusiness: We refuse the wisdom of the ages, having traded it infor a measured scientific approach to every aspect of life.

Given this reality, it’s good news that science and statisticsconfirm what our grandmothers knew all along: men and womenare different and they think and act in different ways.

Political philosopher Harvey Mansfield and author ofManliness puts it this way: “In the case of manliness, the sciences


on a whole confirm common sense; they generally repeat thecommon-sense view that the sexes differ: men more aggressive,women more caring.” Since our culture appears to have forgottenthis, perhaps Brizendine can be forgiven for framing her work asrevolutionary. (Charles Andreasen is a researcher with the Institute of Marriageand Family Canada. Reprinted with permission)

CANADIAN CITIES GET MARKS FOR FAMILY-FRIENDLINESS The Institute of Marriage and Family Canada has graded

Canada’s cities for family-friendliness. Getting an A overall wereVancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Kitchener and Guelph.

Cities were marked on five items: community feel, educationchoice, cost of living, economic strength and family independence.Some cities had marks in one or two of the criteria. Winnipeg, forone, has the lowest cost of living in the country while Ottawa-Gatineau has a lot of green space and high levels of charitablegiving.

At the bottom with a C were Saguenay, Trois-Rivières, Saint John,New Brunswick, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Thunder Bay. Therewasn’t one city that got an F grade overall. But some cities failed inindividual categories. Abbotsford-Mission in British Columbia, forexample, registered a very high homicide rate.

“It’s fair to say all Canadian cities are great places to live ininternational comparison,” say study authors Rebecca Walbergand Andrea Mrozek.

“The grades are an indication of places where the economy iseven stronger, where there’s more population growth, lower taxes,lots of green space and lower commute times—the sorts of thingsthat make it easier to thrive in a great community.”

For the complete study checkhttp://www.imfcanada.org/article_files/JUNE_2010_Final.pdf

MEN WHO STARE AT SCREENSResearchers have spent lots of time looking at how active men

are. But few have examined how active men aren’t. Scientists fromthe University of South Carolina and the Pennington BiomedicalResearch Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, however, recentlydecided to take a look.

In a study published in Medicine and Science in Sports andExercise, they reported that men who sat the most had the greatestrisk of heart problems. Men who spent more than 23 hours a weekwatching TV and sitting in their cars (as passengers or drivers) had a 64 per cent greater chance of dying from heart disease thanthose who sat for 11 hours a week or less.

What was unexpected was that many of these men alsoexercised. Quite a few said they did so regularly and led activelifestyles. The men worked out, then sat in cars and in front oftelevisions for hours, and their risk of heart disease soared,despite the exercise. Their workouts didn’t counteract the ill effects of sitting.

The amount of time most Americans spend being inactive has risen steadily in recent decades. A 2009 editorial in the

p u l s e

British Journal of Sports Medicine reported that, on average, adultsspend more than nine hours a day in ‘‘sedentary activities.’’

The physiological consequences are only slowly beinguntangled. In recent animal studies, when rats or mice weren’tallowed to amble normally around in their cages, they rapidlydeveloped unhealthy changes in their muscles. The animalsshowed signs of insulin resistance and had higher levels of fattyacids in their blood.

Scientists believe the changes are caused by a lack of muscularcontractions. Your muscles, unused for hours at a time, change insubtle fashion, and as a result, your risk for heart disease,diabetes and other diseases can rise.

You can, however, get rid of the dangers of inactivity withseveral easy steps. Look for ways to decrease physical inactivitybeyond 30-minute workouts. Stand up. Pace around your office.Get off the couch and grab a mop or change a light bulb the nexttime you watch “Dancing With the Stars.”(www.newyorktimes.com)

FATHERHOOD: THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLDAfter spending a busy Father’s Day with his two boys, Sojourner

editor-in-chief Jim Wallis got up early the next day to hearPresident Barack Obama’s fatherhood speech at the Boys andGirls Club in Southeast Washington, DC. Here are excerpts fromWallis’ blog on the event.

“It felt like an honour to be invited and a great opportunity tohear the president talk about how important he thinks fatherhoodis for the country. We expected just to be part of the audience andwere surprised to be asked to sit in the front row of the stage rightbehind the president.”

He spoke about the difference in having a kid and being afather: “The fact is, it’s easy to become a father, technically—anyguy can do that. It’s hard to live up to the lifelong responsi bilitiesthat come with fatherhood. It’s a challenge even in good times,when our families are doing well. It’s especially difficult when times are tough, families are straining just to keepeverything together.”

From our vantage point, we could see the faces of the dads,moms and kids who filled the auditorium. Their nodding heads,knowing smiles, and hearty applause indicated they knew exactlywhat the president was talking about.

“Here’s the key message I think all of us want to send today tofathers all across the country: Our children don’t need us to besuperheroes. They don’t need us to be perfect. They do need us tobe present. They need us to show up and give it our best shot, nomatter what else is going on in our lives. They need us to showthem—not just with words, but with deeds—that they are alwaysour first priority.”

Sitting there, just a few feet from thepresidential rostrum, thewords that

came next seemed to me to be among the most important he’llever speak: “Over the course of my life, I have been an attorney,I’ve been a professor, I’ve been a state senator, I’ve been a U.S.senator—and I currently am serving as president of the UnitedStates. But I can say without hesitation that the most challenging,most fulfilling, most important job I will have during my time onthis earth is to be Sasha and Malia’s dad.”

I believe he means that. I believe it in part because that’s the way I feel about being Luke and Jack’s dad. Of all the thingsI’ve ever done, this is the job that now feels like the mostimportant one to me. It’s also the greatest privilege and blessing I’ve ever had.

When he finished, Obama turned and came to greet the peoplein the front row on the stage. When he got to us, he shook myson’s hand and said, “Hey Luke, it’s great to finally meet you.What grade are you in now?”

“That was awesome, Dad,” he whispered as the presidentwaved and walked away. “I’m never going to wash this hand.”

For the complete text, check http://blog.sojo.net/2010/06/24/ -fatherhood-the-best-job-in-the-world/

NEW DADS CAN GET THE “BABY BLUES” TOONew dads, along with new moms, can suffer the “baby blues”—

or post-partum depression—new American research suggests.Researchers at the Eastern Virginia Medical School looked at data from 43 studies from 16 countries. They found about 10 per cent of fathers experience depression before or soon after their child is born.

This is about double the number of men generally who sufferfrom depression each year. Researchers James Paulson andSharnail Bazemore say this “represents a significant healthconcern” in a report published in the Journal of theAmerican Medical Association. Upwards of 30 percent of new mothers experience post-partumdepression.

“Becoming a parent is one of the biggestchanges both men and women can go through. Yet there’s still very littleunderstood abouthow it impactsmentalhealth.Or how


many people will experience a perinatal mental health problem,”says Bridget O’Connell with the English mental health non-profitgroup Mind.

“New parents can be faced with sleep deprivation, changes inlifestyle, changes in their relationship and new responsibilities allat once. We don’t always remember this will be an issue for menas well as women.”

Paulson and Bazemore say their findings show more needs tobe done to assist at-risk fathers, especially since there’s growingevidence early paternal depression can have a major negativeimpact on their children.

http://www.todaysfamilynews.ca/Family/

ACTUALLY, REAL MEN DO CRYThe Bible sends confusing signals. At times Christ behaved like

a lion. He rebuked; He cursed; He knocked over tables. At othertimes He was like a lamb. He healed; He blessed; He wept openly.The paradox extends to the Epistles, where Paul’s words

encourage us to belamblike, but hisactions are those ofa full-mane lion.

So whenministers exhort us to “be a man likeJesus,” which oneare they talkingabout—the Lion ofJudah or the Lambof God? One day Idecided to examinethe gospels throughthe lens of thisparadox. It wasn’tlong before Idiscovered anancient map tomanhoodembedded inMatthew’s gospel.

The map recordsthree spiritualjourneys all the

great men of Scripture have walked. The first is found in Matthew 1-7—where Christ is mostly a lamb. In His second journey, Matthew8:25, we find Him transformed into a lion. Then in Matthew 26-28, He walks a third journey, becoming lamblike again.

After I discovered the journeys, it was a simple matter to turn them into a real ink-on-paper map, named Submission,Strength and Sacrifice.

Submission=lamb. When teaching young believers, emphasizesofter, submissive themes like brokenness, dependence andweakness; the fruit of the Spirit; and the submission of our wills to Christ.

Strength=lion. As young disciples mature, shift your focus tostrength. Teach them how to discern and execute a life of mission,when to pray and when to confront, and the value of tough love.

Sacrifice=lamb. Mature believers should be taught to sacrifice.Help them learn how to pour their lives into others, how to lovedeeply and how to die (to selfishness) so others can live.

I believe these three journeys are the key to transformingordinary men into spiritual champions. Together they form thetemplate of male spiritual development left to us by Jesus. Thethree journeys may be the lost path of discipleship that so manyhave been searching for.

David Murrow is author of Why Men Hate Going to Church andyou can find out more about this map for manhood atwww.threejourneys.com. (Ministrymagazine)

NEW ZEALAND DOG SHOOTS OWNERA New Zealand man has good reason to question whether his

dog is truly his best friend—the family pet shot him in the backsidein a potentially fatal accident.

The 40-year-old man was sitting in the backseat of his car whenthe dog stepped on the trigger of a loaded .22 rifle and shot him.The wounded man was with a group of friends who had justfinished killing and butchering a domestic pig. He thought the riflehad been unloaded.

He was rushed by helicopter to a nearby hospital where doctorssaid he underwent surgery to remove a bullet from his left buttock.A local police constable said the man was lucky not to have beenmore seriously injured.


I QUIT: THE DAY I STOPPED PRETENDINGEVERYTHING WAS FINE AND CHANGEDMY LIFE, MY MARRIAGE AND MY CHURCHBy Geri Scazzero with Peter Scazzero

Keeping up appearances can be veryhard. “This is a book about following Jesusand summoning the courage to quitanything that does not belong to Hiskingdom or fall under His rule,” writes GeriScazzero. “Traditionally, the Christiancommunity hasn’t placed much value onquitting.” Scazzero, who serves alongsideher husband Peter as a teaching pastor atNew Life Fellowship Church in New YorkCity, has a lot to say about when to say “nomore,” and how to say it for the rightreasons. Stop pretending everything is fineshe says. Quitbeing afraid ofwhat othersthink. Quit lying.Quit dying to thewrong parts ofyourself. Quitdenying anger,sadness andfear. Quitblaming. Quitover-functioning.Quit faultythinking. Quitliving someoneelse’s life. “My greatest goal is authenticlove—love of God, myself and others,” shewrites. “Practicing the ‘I quits’ has been onof the most significant means to that end.”

MOBILIZING MEN FOR ONE-ON-ONE MINISTRYBy Steve Sonderman

“Ministry is like football. It’s hard. Itrequires coaching. Support. Protection.Goals. It cannot be played solo. Yet in thechurch we often send men out to ministersolo.” Veteran men’s ministry pastor SteveSonderman’s new book tackles thisproblem, providing a manual of instructionabout building a support team so that no

man is leftalone or behind.“This book isabout how youcan have aneffectiveministry to menin your sphereof influence,”he writes. “Nomatter youroccupation, age,denominationor ministrytraining, you

have an incredible opportunity to changethe course of another man’s life.” He isconcerned that many men are “just toobusy and caught up in temporal issues toreally pour our lives into others,” and he’dreally like that to change. Mobilizing Menoffers practical guidance for those whoheed this call, including good informationabout leadership development, discipling,effective small groups and a wealth ofinsight about helping men of various agesand at different life stages.

PARENTING BEYOND YOUR CAPACITY:CONNECT YOUR FAMILY TO A WIDERCOMMUNITYBy Reggie Joiner and Carey Nieuwhof

Here is a message from twoexperienced dads (both are pastors) whoare eager to figure out how to love God andtheir families better, and to help others dothe same. Both are absolutely convincedyou can’t go it alone. No matter how goodyour parenting skills, partnering withothers who canalso haveinfluence onyour child isimportant. Andbuildingrelationshipsbetweenparents andthe church is a

great way to go about it. “When youcombine the light from a faith communitywith the heart of a caring family, youexponentially expand your potential tomake a difference in the life of a child.” Theauthors are hopeful that readers will beable, among other things, to “stay focusedon what really matters for your children’sfuture,” and to “learn to lead yourself as aparent.” Nieuwhof is the lead pastor ofConnexus Community Church withcampuses in Barrie and Orillia, Ontario.Joiner is the founder and CEO of thereThink Group in Georgia.

EVIDENCE FOR GOD: 50 ARGUMENTS FOR FAITH FROM THE BIBLE, HISTORY,PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCEEdited by William Dembski and Michael Licona

Do you have a lot of questions aboutGod? Are you looking for evidence you canget a handle on? Do you find rationalarguments convincing? Ifso, this collection of 50answers to frequentlyasked questions could be agodsend. Christianphilosophers addresstopics including theproblem of suffering andevidence for an afterlife.Scientists offerexplanations to nearly 20questions about the originof life, eugenics and muchmore. Biblical scholarstackle a host of difficultissues related to Jesus and the Bible. Howcredible are Jesus’s miracles? Were Hisresurrection appearances simplyhallucinations? Is Jesus superior to allother religious leaders? Is the Bible todaywhat was originally written? Why do wehave so many translations? This is not acomprehensive defense of the Christianfaith, but the editors are hoping this bookwill serve “as a springboard into theexciting and fruitful field of apologetics.”

Argue. Mobilize. Parent. Quit.

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by Carson Pue

Today I’m what we might call aprofessional minister. But earlier in my lifeI owned an interior design business. Sincethen I have often reflected on how muchmore effective my “ministry” seemed tobe when I was working in “business.”

As a businessman, if I invited a friend toattend a special meeting with a big namespeaker, he was much more likely torespond with “Sure!” When I became a

pastor, it was like Ihad “Christian”attached to myforehead like afigurehead on thebow of a Vikingship. If I want toend a conversationwith a personsitting beside meon a flight, all I haveto do is answer thequestion, “What doyou do?” with, “I’ma minister.” If youcan say, “I am abusinessman,” you

are better positioned to talk about things offaith with seemingly fewer barriers.

In the past two years the number ofbusiness leaders I’ve heard speak abouttheir desire to leave their occupation and“become a minister” has astonished me.What’s with this? Theologically this is justwrong. We are all ministers. So on behalf ofpastors, forgive us if you have ever beenmade to feel like your occupation issomehow a lesser calling than vocationalministry.

Consider carefully. When I was discerningif God was calling me to full-time vocationalministry I sought counsel from manypastors. One senior Christian leaderresponded, “Carson, we already haveenough pastors and if God is calling you tothat He will chase you down and make itso. Until then, I want to release you fromyour pursuit and leave that to God. Youmight be more effective for the Kingdomserving as a godly businessman rightwhere you are.”

Most men have a fear hidden deep inthe recesses of our lives. That fear is thatwe will die one day without having made asignificant difference. I think this is thereason that Frank Capra’s bittersweetdrama It’s a Wonderful Life Christmas moviehas been treasured for over 50 years. JimmyStewart’s character touches on that fearand correctly portrays our search formeaning to be found in what we do.

The average working Canadian willspend more than 90,000 hours on the jobduring his or her lifetime of employment.Technology and our working longer canstretch the amount of time spent workingto well over 100,000 hours and cause us tospend more than 50 per cent of our wakingtime at work.

In contrast, we spend less than two percent of our working years at church—about4,000 hours. So why do we spend so muchtime focusing our attention on churchwork? Do we really think that being a pastoris more significant than being a real estateagent, plumber or contractor?

TAKE THIS JOB


Do we really think that being a pastor is moresignificant than being a real estate agent, plumber or contractor?

God loves work. God is not a stranger towork. Jesus was a carpenter, and when Hewas baptized the Father expressed that Hewas already pleased with His Son longbefore He had performed miracles ortaught what we have recorded in the NewTestament.

The Old Testament’s first mention ofhumanity begins with work. Adam and Evewere gardeners. The foundational truth isthat work is good. It becomes wrong whenwe get anxious about it; when we don’twork at all; when we become compulsiveabout it; or lethargic and lazy. Work hasdignity, as it is part of God’s purpose. Godworks, and we are created in His image.

Yes, the disciples were called to putaside their normal occupations (fishing,tent making, tax collecting) to work inanother way. There is a place for this, butnot in a hierarchical manner as one beingmore important than another.

Paul himself spoke about thetemptation to leave one’s employment byasking us to serve where we are and to liveout our calling in whatever situation wefind ourselves. “Nevertheless, each one

should retain theplace in life that theLord has assignedto him and to whichGod has calledhim… Each oneshould remain inthe situation whichhe was in whenGod called him.” (2 Cor. 7:17, 20)

So how can westay working wherewe are placed andlearn to love it?

Understand thatyour work is a divinevocation. Your job isnot something youtake on to fulfillyourself or family: Itis a response to Godcalling you to assist a portion of hisKingdom. Bring some definition to your“call” by writing out a personal governingset of values in the form of a missionstatement.

In 1991 I wrote in my journal: “To bringabout biblical life change in unchurchedmen and women internationally throughencouraging leaders by modeling,mentoring, and teaching the Word of Godin a credible contemporary manner.” Sincewriting that statement I have lived it whileworking for three different employers. Ifyou establish your core values, theybecome the point of integration in all thatyou do.

Remember that you are a co-worker withGod. In your job you link the inner life withouter life, the place where most of yourfriends and colleagues live. You are not inthis alone and we need not fear. You canwork each day as a testimony of hope forthose working with you and watching youdaily. Live and work each day choosing totrust Jesus with every aspect of your lifeand through extending God’s grace. Create

environments of freedom for yourcoworkers to explore commitment andfaith in a safe environment.

View the clock differently. There are twotypes of time. There is our ordinary time(chronos) but be open to the invasion ofsignificant time (kairos). It is a lifeperspective. If we live by the clock we ask,“What time is it?” With kairos time we ask,“What is this time for?” Of course yoursalary is based on clock time, but the valueis found in waiting and anticipating akairos moment in your day.

Use your gifts. The parable of the talents(Mark 25:14-30) is a message about usingour gifts and abilities as stewards of a trustrather than furthering our personal gain.God entrusts the gifts and talents you usein your occupation to you and He wantsyou to use them for the furthering of HisKingdom work.

Remember who your boss is. Ultimatelywe are accountable to Jesus. It is to Himthat we will render account for how wehave stewarded our gifts. Even the lowliestof workers, slaves, are told, “obey yourearthly masters in everything, and do it notonly when their eye is on you and to wintheir favour, but with sincerity of heart andreverence for the Lord. Whatever you do,work at it with all your heart, as working forthe Lord, not for men, since you know youwill receive an inheritance from the Lord asa reward. It is the Lord Jesus you areserving” (Col. 3:21-23).

AND LOVE IT?

Work with love towards others. There areso many opportunities to love those weare working with and for. Learn people’snames, start friendships, smile, shakehands and learn to pay attention to whatGod is already doing in helping andhealing, in liberating and cheering otherson! Keep God’s work at the centre and yourpersonal gain at the periphery. Thecharacter of your work is not shaped byaccom plishments or possessions but inrelationships. You have a chance to makea mark in someone’s life and this can bringgreat meaning to so-called secular work.

Financially support your church and bless additional Christian ministries. Partof the mystery of God’s work today is that itcombines those with the passion andskills to do the task with those who havethe resources to make it happen. Workbecomes more than a chore when youknow that a significant portion of theproceeds of your labour are being used tomake it happen. It gives every paychequemeaning beyond the temporal and propelsit into the eternal.

Integrate prayer into your work life. Whileyou may not have the freedom to makethis a public practice of your business, allof us can pray personally. Bring your workto Christ.

Commit yourself to the development of people. Those around you at work werecreated in the image of God—regardless oftheir current behaviour. They are of infinitevalue to God, and should be to you too. Be a part of creating a learning environ -ment around you. Mentor others in skillsand life and speak about accountability in terms of stewardship of gifts. By doingso you can infuse work with meaning bothfor yourself and others.

Don’t try to do it alone. We are not meantto do life alone. We need the encourage -ment and accountability of other Christiansaround us. Perhaps it is time for you toseek out a Christian mentor, or pulltogether a group of peer mentors who canhelp you understand and integrate thepersonal, relational, technological andeconomic aspects of your job—as Godwants you to see it.

Carson Pue is president of Arrow Leadership andis called to develop leaders worldwide. He is thebest selling author of Mentoring Leaders: Wisdom for Developing Character, Calling andCompetency (Baker).


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TAKE THIS JOBAND LOVE IT?


After more than three decades in lawenforcement, there isn’t much that DanParkinson hasn’t seen. From domesticassaults to murders, he’s encounteredhumanity at its best and at its very worst.But as a Christian, Parkinson has also hadto work hard to remain true to his beliefs.

Parkinson, the Chief of Police of theCornwall Community Police Service ineastern Ontario, says that he has neverhidden or shielded his faith. But comingup through the ranks, he remembersstruggling with living out his religiousbeliefs when many others around him

looked down on faith.“My wife had been saved 12 years

before I was moving toward [making acommitment for Christ],” says Parkinson.“At that point in my life, I was workinghomicides and there was a strongChristian, Alf Thomas, in our group. Some

Let your light shineBe true to your faith and yourself, say Christiansin unwelcoming work settings

by Joe Couto

Ontario MLA Cheri DiNovo (left) says Christian faith drives the cause she fights for.Co

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of the guys talked about Alf, sayingsomething to the effect that, ‘You can’ttrust Alf. He’s a Christian. He’ll tell thetruth.’”

Parkinson remembers being struck thatthis man of faith was being distrusted byhis policing colleagues because his strongmoral beliefs permeated his work as policeofficer. It also set Parkinson on “a course ofaction to be like [Thomas]” and make acommitment for Christ.

Not easyBeing a Christian in a tough workplace

is not easy. People of faith are increasinglysurrounded by co-workers of manydifferent faiths or no faith at all. Economicpressure to produce more with less alongwith personal life issues such as longerwork hours, families where both parentswork, and technology that keeps us “atwork” even outside the office make livingout one’s faith harder than ever.

Martin Reimer, who does property

maintenance work in Kitchener, Ontario,says that as a Christian, he feels he has tochallenge managers, co-workers and evencustomers when they use foul language orengage in behaviour he considersharassment. “I believe that Christians haveto behave properly, according to theirfaith,” he says. “I am very upfront aboutthings that are wrong and let people knowit.”

Reimer, who immigrated to Canadafrom Mexico, admits that some people areshocked that, as a Christian, he wouldpush back when it comes to selfishattitudes and foul language, and that hehas felt harassed because of his attitude.But he also says that he has earned hisboss’s trust on account of his faith.

Doing what’s rightDr. Lisa Barrow is a Healthy Workplace

Consultant and author who has worked forFortune 500 companies and experiencedthe incredible pressures of living out faith

in a hostile workplace. As a Christian, shebelieves that being known as a person offaith in a workplace where “doing what’sright” may put you into conflict withmanagers and workers can be devastating,especially when the conflict turns into aform of bullying.

“Bullying impacts everyone,” saysBarrow. “If you have strong moralconvictions and your work culture says it’s okay to steal and you stand up againstit, it sets the foundation for bullying.”

Part of the problem, she says, is thatCanadians are “losing our civility”—thoseshared values that set out what is “rightand wrong.” Stealing, gossiping andundercutting our co-workers can putChristians in a difficult position of either“going with the flow” or standing up fortheir religious convictions.

Another important driver making itharder for Christians in the workplace istechnology. Barrow suggests thatworkplaces have become “dehumanized”and that our BlackBerry devices andlaptops have become “extremities.” If people are “extensions” of their devices,it becomes easier to treat (or mistreat)them as “inanimate objects,” she argues.

Bullying behavioursA 2009 Workplace Interaction Survey

developed by LMSB Consulting found that individuals can experience a numberof “bullying” behaviours if they are singledout for abuse such as threats toprofessional status, personal humiliation(e.g., name calling), isolation at work,overwork and destabilization (e.g., notreceiving credit for work).

Many Christians are reluctant to marry their professional positions to theirpersonal faith. If society demands thatfaith remain private, then being a “publicChristian” might be a stumbling block toprofession success.

In his book Anointed for Business,

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Let your Light shine

Evangelist and author Ed Silvoso encourages Christians to transform their workplaces.

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evangelist Ed Silvoso, founder andpresident of Harvest Evangelism, identifiesfour types of Christians in the workplace: 1)Christians who simply try to survive andhave no desire to let their faith shine intheir work (and often, for their life ingeneral); 2) Christians who live by Christianprinciples, are ethical people but oftendon’t actively let their faith shine in theworkplace; 3) Christians who live by thepower of the Holy Spirit, incorporating theirfaith into every aspect of their lives—including work—by their actions andwords; 4) Christians who transform theirworkplace; a by-product of the point above,such individuals actually change lives(professionally and personally) within their workplace.

Christians are found in every one of thegroups developed by Silvoso. For some,like Cheri DiNovo, being a Christian in theworkplace takes courage and conviction.First elected as a New Democratic PartyMember of the Ontario legislature in 2006,DiNovo was already well-known as asocially active United Church ministerbefore her election. Leaving faith at home when she goes to work isn’t anoption for DiNovo.

“Politics is a ministry. Whenever I’minvolved in partisan or even interpartywarfare, I remember who I am,” says the MPP for Parkdale High Park.

DiNovo was in the corporate worldbefore turning to the ministry in1992. But in her youth, shewas on the streets at age15 and usedrecreational drugs.Now her faith drivesthe causes she fightsfor. She admits that itisn’t always easybeing a strongChristian whosemoral convictions

propel her work in the legislature.“I have taken on a number of faith-

based issues for which I took flak from my own [party] colleagues,” says DiNovo.“But people of faith have to pray andwitness. I pray with my husband everyday,especially a joy and blessing on those who wish me harm.”

Being true to yourself and to your faithseems to be common advice by Christianslike DiNovo and chief of police DanParkinson. “People will know somethingabout you without you speaking,” saysParkinson. “Let your light shine.”

Joe Couto provides public relations and mediatraining through his Toronto-based company,Tourniquet Communications.

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DiNovo: “Politics is a ministry.”

Dr. Lisa Barrow is a healthy workplace consultant.

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Christian bosses don’t take Profits and people building matter more than evangelism

Jade Transport partners Greg Arndt (left) and Larry Dyck: “Jesus chose tough guys for his disciples.”

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Being a boss in business isn’t easy. Being a Christian in a secular workplacecan be complicated. Being a Christianboss in a work environment is anespecially demanding task. Businessitself can be very rough and tough, andthe people in it can be even tougher.

Larry Dyck is up to the challenge. The president and co-owner of JadeTransport Ltd. in Winnipeg has been in the rough and tumble of the truckingindustry for more than 40 years. “Truckers traditionally come from rough,tough places,” he observes. “But Jesuschose tough guys for His disciples. There’sa fallacy among a lot of Christians that ourfaith is all nice guy, non-aggressive. Meekdoesn’t mean weak. Meek and mild is notthe hallmark of Christianity.”

It’s the sort of emphasis one mightexpect from a Christian boss in a machoindustry. Jade is a liquid bulk carrier whoseaward winning, artistically decoratedPeterbilt trucks add dashes of colour onhighways throughout North America. When Larry bought the business from hisfather 25 years ago, Jade had three trucksand five trailers. Today the companyoperates 42 of its own trucks with another20 owner-operators under contract.

Dyck and his partner, Greg Arndt, areupfront about the source of the successesthey’ve achieved. They credit hard work,dedication, family values, honesty andintegrity stemming from their Christianworldview. Their religious beliefs aretransparent but not discriminatory. Likemost Christian bosses, Dyck and Arndt arehappy to have people who share their faithvalues working in the company. Christiansdon’t get a free ride, and non-Christianshave every opportunity to prove theirmettle. “This is a meritocracy,” says Arndt.“Christians don’t have the market corneredon skills and a good work ethic.”

And then there’s the small matter ofjustice and mercy, two solidly Christianprinciples that sometimes seem at odds.

“You’ve got to remember whose business it really is,” notes Dyck. “If you’re a stewardof God’s things, you have to take care ofthe stuff. Don’t overbalance to mercy. Dojustice as well. God established the rules.”

Throughout the years they’ve seensome of the rougher characters becomemore refined, and some of the Christianemployees slip away. They’ve seen toughguys respond well to mercy, and churchfriends simply expect it. “Being a witnessto non-Christian employees means therecan be no double standard,” explainsArndt. “We make these decisions on basisof job performance. We don’t offer specialfavours. It becomes about optics.”

Family plus valueThe issues are remarkably similar across

a range of different businesses. Matt Bondyis a Christian man trying to run a goodcompany in a competitive environment.And he too feels the tension between

doing the job right and doing the right thingfor people. “We are a for profit company,not a philanthropic organization,” hebegins. “ We expect to make a profit with the business.”

Bondy, 42, helped found InterpriseSoftware back in 1997. The Kitchener,Ontario-based business is growing in theheart of Canada’s answer to Silicon Valley,in the middle of the technology triangleanchored by RIM, inventors of theubiquitous BlackBerry. “After 13 years, wefigure any year now we’ll be an overnightsuccess,” observes Bondy. “We’re buildingslowly. We won’t over commit or oversell.We survived the dotcom bubble. The Lord’shad His hand on us.”

As a small company, he doesn’t expectto compete with all the perks that largercompanies dish out. Interprise does paycompetitively, maintains good equipmentand workspace and encouragesprofessional development. But the

faith for granted

by Doug Koop

Jeff Ehlers is keen to elevate the reputation of roofers.

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workplace culture is a key calling card. The web site trumpets the company’s corevalues, billing itself as a “family friendly e-commerce website development company.

“We only hire the best people and thengive them everything they need to achieveremarkable results. That does not include acell phone, because you should not bedisturbed when you are away from theoffice. It does not include free breakfastsand dinners, because you should not be atwork that long. It does not include weeklysocial events, because that would reallycut into family time.”

Bondy recognizes that any goodcompany invests in its people. “It’sanother area of ministry,” he says. “If we’re struggling with a particularemployee, I ask myself why that person ishere. In the process, I’ve seen myself gofrom ‘God, I don’t want this person,’ torealize that they have some thing valuableto add. When I look for what the Lord mighthave in mind, I realize a hard situationmight be a character investmentopportunity.”

And, he adds, “Just because someonecarries the label ‘Christian’ doesn’t meanthey have all the character traits. We’vehad non-Christians who were wonderfulworkers and Christians who weren’t.”

Above AllJeff Ehlers is a hard-working 28-year-old,

a family man who started a roofingbusiness in 2003 with one truck and twohelpers. Today his company, Above All, is operating with nine trucks and 24helpers, and will do about $2-million inbusiness this year.

He’s a church guy with a laid back wayof expressing his faith. He’d rather its fruitbe noticed. “From the beginning I’ve triedto figure out how to have a workplace thatisn’t overly ‘shouty’ that it’s a Christiancompany. But I want the principles to bethere because they are good life principlesthat apply to business.”

Early on he adopted the philosophy of


Matt Bondy (front right) relaxes with members of his Interprise Software team.

Allmar International chairman Ed Redekopp heads a large company with a deeply embedded culture of care basedon Christian values.

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trying to elevate people’s reputation of roofers, a labour pool notknown for refined manners. “Exceeding expectations” became the company motto and he sought to instill it at every level. For example, the company enforces a “no swearing” rule on thejob site. “We make the expectation extremely clear in the hiringprocess, and our foremen will give three or four warnings,” says Ehlers. “But if you can’t control your language on the job site,it’s reason enough to let you go.”

The result is good for business. “We get a lot of customerfeedback telling us how much they like the guys. They don’t blastmusic. They’re polite. No one is cursing. It’s important to thehomeowner and creates a good impression with the neighbours,which is important because that’s our future business.”

And it’s good for the workers. “Over the years we’ve had lots of guys come in. Right off the hop they see we run things a little bit different. Their first impression is that they like the group, the atmosphere and the workplace,” explains Ehlers, who isfriends with many of his workers. “People notice right away that there aren’t behind the scenes discussions and gossip. Stuff is in the open.”

And, he says, he and his foremen are interested in developingworkers as people, not just as labourers. “We try to get into theirlives a bit and encourage them to live a more rounded lifestyle. Ifwe notice a guy has nutritional problems, or stays up too late, wekind of go after that and show them there are more healthy ways.”

LegacyEd Redekopp is beginning to wind down his career as a

business executive. He is the chairman and co-owner of AllmarInternational, an architectural hardware firm with a presence in 15 Canadian cities and an overseas branch in England. Allmar employs more than 350 people and garnered annual sales of $92 million in 2007.

It’s a business that Ed, along with his brother Art, took overfrom their father, who launched it in 1957. And Ed Redekoppmaintains that the ongoing Christian influence is the legacy of the founder’s vision. He tells story after story about a dad whocame to a carefully considered decision to pursue business as a ministry calling.

“Integrating faith and work was huge to him,” he recalls. “Hisbusiness philosophy was rooted in his commission: ‘to do justice,love mercy, and walk humbly with God.’ That means you don’t takeadvantage of people; you don’t cheat; you aren’t dishonest,” saysRedekopp.

“To love mercy is probably the most important element when itcomes to employee relationships. They’re not just some assets ofproduction, but human beings with their own struggles in life. As their employer, Dad saw it as a ministry. He went the extra milewith people. He had a lot of patience. When they messed up, he gave them a second chance. He gave loans, and was willing to

do whatever it took to address the person’s need at the time. The result was very loyal employees,” he says.

The legacy is now hitting a critical transition as the businesshits the third generation. For the first time, the current president is not a family member.

“But our company culture reflects 53 years of having owners andmany of our managers who are people of faith,” says Redekopp.“We encourage people to integrate their faith into work. Theworkplace becomes a place where people can become quietwitnesses. It’s not about Bible-thumping or overt witnessing. It’s about acts of kindness and the absence of office politics,backbiting and intrigue.”

“Dad’s example left a big impression for me—caring for people;believing in what they could become rather than what they were;helping them reach their full potential. My brother and I want to dogood with business. It’s not just about making money.”

Christian bosses don’t take faith for granted


Israel Idonije plays on the defensive lineof the Chicago Bears, a team long knownas the Monsters of the Midway.

In most defensive sets, Bears headcoach Lovie Smith will have Idonije playtackle, coming up out of the three-pointstance. On others the big Canadian will beplaced outside as a stand-up rush end. Onalmost every special teams play, Idonije isthe first tackler downfield. At 6-foot-6, 280pounds, he’s not only huge, he’s fast.

For doing this—for violently chasingdown quarterbacks, tailbacks and puntand kick returners—the 29-year-old fromBrandon, Manitoba is paid handsomely.He signed a contract extension last yearthat keeps him on the Bears roster through2011. He will make $2.5 million this yearand next, and he also pocketed a $2million bonus for signing the extension lastseason.

It’s quite a dichotomy: A young manwho was raised in the church and still, tothis day, remains committed to his faith,playing a game that is based in emotionand violence with success the reward ofthe hardest and toughest.

“Football is a game and in some ways abusiness,” Idonije says. “It’s how I makemy living. I’ve been doing it for so longnow, I don’t notice the violence. I noticethe speed and skills of my opponents andteammates and I enjoy the man-to-mancompetition. God gives us particular giftsand I’ve used mine to play a professionalsport that I enjoy and that gives people agreat amount of entertainment. I’m not outthere to hurt people; I’m out there to get ajob done. It’s always been that way withme.”

Reluctant heroBorn in Lagos, Nigeria, and raised on

the Canadian prairies, Israel Idonije has

always been a reluctant football hero. Inhigh school, he wanted to be a basketballplayer. Michael Jordan was his favouriteathlete and he emulated the Chicago Bullsstar when he played at Brandon’s VincentMassey Collegiate.

But one day, as he walked down thehallway past the gym, the coach of the tinyschool’s new football team, Kevin Grindey,asked if he might have a minute of the big17-year-old’s time. Grindey, who had just re-started Massey’s defunct football program,made Idonije an offer.

“Come out for the football team,” hepleaded. “All I’ll ask you to do is play stand-up rush end. You can go chase thequarterback.”

Idonije wasn’t sure at first, but his mom,who wanted him to play every sport hepossibly could, was absolutely certain.“Play,” she said. And as a faithful andrespectful son, play he did.

He starred at the University of Manitobaand was scouted by the Cleveland Brownsat the East-West Shrine game. Afterspending time with the Browns in 2003, hewas eventually released and signed as afree agent by the Bears. He has been astaple of their special teams and thedefensive line ever since.

But how does a big man who was raisedby his parents in Brandon’s Tabernacle ofLove rationalize becoming a Monster of theMidway?

“I think being on a football team,working together with other men and beingin a locker room atmosphere is no differentthan working anyplace else,” Idonije says.“You just have to have an understanding ofwho you are and what you represent.

“I want to be known as a man of goodcharacter and I think, or hope, that that’show I’m perceived. Every day, I walk thewalk. I don’t waiver from my foundation.”

Serve familiesAnd that could be both “foundation,”

and “Foundation.”In 2006, he founded the Israel Idonije

Foundation to serve families andindividuals in disadvantaged communitieson both a local and global scale. Thefoundation consists of three programs:Street Love, C.A.R.E. Africa and IZZYz KIDz.

IZZYz KIDz has been incorporated intothe curriculum of five grade schools inChicago and Winnipeg and strives toprovide lessons in leadership, takinginitiative and working hard on thefundamentals of good scholarship andgood sportsmanship. Idonije has builthomes in Africa, visited schools all overNorth America and providedunderprivileged kids with the tools tosucceed.

And yet, by his own admission, he’s“not preachy.”

“Just because you go to church doesn’tmean you’re a Christian,” he says.“Christianity isn’t about religion; it’s aboutyour personal relationship with the Lord.It’s no different than football. Everyone canhope and wish the best for everyone, butultimately your own actions will determinethe result. You have to walk the walk everyday. You have to live your life as a Christian,not just go to church once a week andassume you’re Christian.”

Off the field, Idonije not only runs hisfoundation, but also invested in a businessthat makes one-piece communion cups—with the cup, the juice and the wafer all inone package. He’s a regular at the Bears’Bible study every Thursday and attendsPastor John Hannah’s New Life Covenant,an evangelical church in Chicago with morethan 10,000 worshippers.

“[Teammate] Tommie Harris introducedme to Pastor Hannah,” Idonije recalls.

by Scott Taylor

don’t Let a LittLe VIOLENCEget in the way of your faith

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How Canada’s Israel Idonije balances the NFL with his Christian faith.


“When you’re a pro athlete, worshipping inone place can be difficult. But we attendwhenever we can. I’ve also gone to someof the churches of my really good friends.My father is now a minister in a programcalled Streets of Love in Brandon. Going tochurch and taking part in Bible studyclasses are things that have always beenimportant to me.”

As the Bears get set for a season thatalready has Idonije excited (“With theacquisition of Julius Peppers, I think we’regoing to be a great team, capable of goingback to the Super Bowl,” he says), his newChristian business, his foundation and his

commitment to the Lord keeps himfocused on the Lord’s teachings every day.

“To me, church is pivotal,” says Idonije.“You must have your family to love andcherish and look to for support, but youalso need a church family. And if you don’thave that church family, it will make yourlife more difficult in those times when youaren’t successful and aren’t doing well.”

Scott Taylor is a Winnipeg-based sports reporter,columnist and broadcaster. His profile of ShaneDoan and a conversation with Jarome Iginlaappeared in SEVEN earlier this year.

Chicago Bears defensive lineman Israel Idonije on a mission to Nigeria earlier this year.

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Keep your life in balanceFinancial balance is an important part of a balanced Christian life.

It is often said that balance is the key tohappiness … and so is living the life Godhas planned for you. Financial balance isan important part of a balanced Christianlife.

Life can sometimes be like the balancescale our grandmothers used when bakingyears ago, with many different aspects ofour beings coming together to balance andform the people we are. We work and play,rest and expend energy, commune withour bodies and souls, exalt in joy and feelsorrow.

Basically, balance is the state thatsomeone achieves when all of the aspectsof life and self are in harmony.

While balance is necessary to have asatisfying, energetic and joyful life, it’s upto each person to determine what balance

means to them. But like many people,nothing can push and pull us more off-balance than financial demands thatchallenge and wreak havoc on ourrelationships, health and career.

So that’s why it’s important to devote asmuch attention to your family’s financialhealth as you do to your physical health.

When your family’s financial house is inorder, you are better able to care for othersthe way God calls us to. It involves, notonly supporting the work of the Lordfinancially and looking after our family’sneeds, but also caring for the lessfortunate in our world.

Paul Emerton is a Certified Financial Planner andTrainer at FaithLife Financial.www.faithlifefinancial.ca

by Paul Emerton

money matters

Tips for balancing workwith “the rest of our lives”

• If you must bring work home, give it only an allotted amount of time.

• When on vacation, do NOTwork part time or answer office e-mail.

• If overtime is necessary, do not commit every weeknightto it. Your family and friendsdeserve more of your time than just weekends.

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Reversing the Dilbert PrincipleGod is more intent on changing our minds than our circumstances.

There’s a man in my church—let’s call himDilbert—who almost every week asks meto pray for him about his job. He loathesit, top to bottom: the pay, the hours, theworking conditions, the staff relations.Mostly, he loathes his boss. She,according to him, is mean and cheap andnever once satisfied.

The first few times Dilbert asked, Iprayed mild, vague prayers. Basically, I asked God to change his circumstances.Give him a new job, or at least a new boss.

But now I’ve stopped those prayers.And I’ve started asking Dilbert to changehis mind, with God’s help.

Partly, this was a theological move.Biblically, God is more intent on changingour minds than our circumstances. We aretransformed, according to Romans 12:2, bythe renewal of our minds, not the alteringof our circumstances—except, of course, inthe ultimate senses that in Christ we havebeen transferred from death to life.

But partly, this was a practical move. I sensed that Dilbert had a near bottomlesscapacity to be unhappy in any job. In fact,the more I got to know him, the more Irealized he had an aversion to workbordering on pathology. He dreamed ofendless leisure. His ideal world involved alot of late mornings, a lot of late nights, a lot of movies and not much else.

The most basic thing about God is thatHe’s a worker. The most basic thing aboutus being made in God’s image is that we,too, are workers. Adam was put in thegarden to “work it and take care of it.” AndEve was brought along, not first as Adam’sconversation or sexual partner, but as hishelper. There was a lot of work needingdoing, and these two resembled God themost when they were about it. Digging,

pruning, reaping, naming, they movedseamlessly in rhythm with the goodcreation.

I wrote a book on Sabbath-keeping afew years ago and tried to convince readershow important rest is. But I began with achapter about how important work is. Restis God’s gift to workers. Rest only derivesvalue from a world bent on doing its job. Ina world bent on maximizing leisure, onretiring at 30, on outsourcing everything,the Bible has another word: you don’twork, you don’t eat.

So the Bible has more to say about ourworking than our resting. Mindlessbusyness is roundly condemned inScripture (think: Martha), but even more so

is laziness (think: Proverbs, or many ofJesus’ Kingdom parables).

One of my favourite stories in the Bibleabout the value of work is the day Jesuscalls Peter, John and James to follow Him.The boys, fishermen all, have been up allnight working, with nothing to show for it.They’re tired and discouraged. When Jesusasks them to try again, Peter loudly

complains, but concedes just because“you say so.” They get out on the water,and the nets fill to bursting.

Then Jesus does a curious thing. Heasks them to leave it all—the fish, the nets,the boats. The work. He asks them to leaveall that and come follow Him. He hasanother kind of work for them. “From nowon you will fish for men.”

I used to read that and think that Jesuswas dismissing the value of the work oftheir hands. He’s offering them real jobsnow, important things to do. Now they getto work for the church!

But something else is going on here. IfJesus wanted to dismiss the value of theirwork, He wouldn’t have filled the nets forthem. He would have made His “come,follow me” speech at the lakeshore tothree men deeply discouraged, whoneeded no real prompting to quit. To threemen more than ready to take this job and shove it.

Instead, Jesus gives them their best day on the job ever. He gives them a tasteof how work is when it’s fun and time flies,when there’s no inter-office friction andpayday is a jackpot. And then He asksthem to leave it all. I think Jesus does this to force a real choice: do I leave a job I love for this trip into the wild? Do I quitthis work that now works, just because“you say so?”

Jesus won’t invite you to do anythingelse until you change your mind andactually learn to love the work you’realready doing. Then, whether He gives youanother job or not, you win either way.

Mark Buchanan is an author and pastor living onVancouver Island. He is the author of fivebestselling books including The Rest of God.

by Mark Buchanan

Out of my depth


The most basic thingabout God is that He’sa worker. The mostbasic thing about usbeing made in God’simage is that we, too,are workers.

INDESTRUCTIBLE BALLhttp://oneworldfutbol.com

A news segment on CNN showed youngrefugees in Darfur playing soccer with a“ball” made of trash tied up with twine. TimJahnigen, an inventor, songwriter andmusic producer, saw this game on TV andwas inspired to design a ball that wouldnever wear out, never go flat and neverneed a pump.

Tim’s idea came to life with researchmoney provided by the artist Sting. Inrecognition of Sting’s support, the ball wasnamed after his song “One World.”

The One World Futbol is designed tohave the same rebound characteristics of atraditional soccer ball, but it requires nopump and will never go flat even ifpunctured. It’s ideal for any playing surface,not just grass or regulation soccer fields—indoors, on concrete, on blacktop, ongrass, on a beach, on dirt or even on arocky field. The ball can withstand theharshest conditions without deflating.

When you buy a One World Futbolthrough the Buy One Give One program, asecond, identical ball goes to deserving

youth and communitiesaround the world.

NINJABREAD MENhttp://www.worldwidefred.com/ninjabreadmen.htm

Run, run as fast as you can, there’s noescape from the Ninjabread Men.

The classic gingerbread man tastes fine,but some people think he’s too soft. Hecan’t kick and punch his way out of a toughsituation. He can’t blend into the shadows.He doesn’t know how to handle a sword. Inshort, he’s not cut out for action.

Ninjabread Men, on the other hand, aresweet, stealthy warriors. Using this set ofcookie cutters you can make a batch, bakethem, then watch as they disappear.

THE GREAT SLEEPING BEARhttp://eikoishizawa.com

Imagine a sleeping bagthat looks like a bear. It’s big,it’s furry and it has sharp teeth.When you’re inside, it lookslike a bear has you in itsmouth. It’s like sleepingin a bearskin rug. As ofthis writing, The Great

Sleeping Bear is an art project, not apackaged product. But I am confident thatsomeone somewhere will see the photosand figure out a way to sell it. Meanwhile,think of all the ways this is simultaneouslyawesome, dangerous, fun and ridiculous.

ONE SECOND PLUMBERhttp://www.onesecondplumber.com

Last time our laundry sink clogged I hadnothing on hand to unblock the drain. Theplunger wasn’t enough. I needed help. AtHome Depot, I found various bottles andjugs of high potency drain cleaner. Mostwere chemical bombs, designed to corrodetheir way through the blockage. Pour in,wait a few minutes for everything to

dissolve, then rinse. That’s how I’vealways done itbefore.

Whileweighing myoptions, Inoticedsomethingnew: a slim


canister of compressed gas called OneSecond Plumber. It promised a quickunclog without chemicals. Compressedgas would do all the work for me.

At $20, One Second Plumber was moreexpensive than a jug of Clog-B-Gone, butthe label promised 24 unblocked drains forthat price, so I took a chance. Myadventure in home plumbing ended well,and I highly recommend One SecondPlumber, provided you learn from mymistake: I did not read all the instructions

before using One Second Plumber.Read all the instructions

before using One SecondPlumber. The label clearlysays that you should coverall overflow openings beforeusing the product. If you failto do this, you’ll get a face-full of whatever was in thedrain. You have to block allthe other openings wherethe forced gas can go in

order to focus the power ofOne Second Plumber down thedrain, where it belongs.

If you do that, the clog isblasted out in one second, andyou’re home free. No muss, nofuss and no chemicals. Onesecond and you’re done, andyou have 23 charges left.

SHAKE-TO-CHARGEBATTERIEShttp://www.mintpass.com

In 2009, a company calledMint announced a cool product

idea. Shakenergy is a tiny battery, inAA and AAA sizes, that charges itself whenyou shake it. The charger is build into thebattery itself. A little motion is all it takes tomake the battery work.

One year later, Shakenergy is still just anidea, but Brother Industries of Japan isshowing off a prototype of somethingsimilar. The Vibration Energy Cell comes inAA and AAA sizes, and charges itself when

you shake it.It can be a long road from prototype to

packaged product, but here’s hoping thatwe can get some of these into circulationsoon. They would be perfect for Wiicontrollers, TV remote controls and manyother low power devices that currently useAA and AAA batteries.

PATENTLY SILLYhttp://www.patentlysilly.com

US Patent 6982161 covers “A Processfor the Utilization of Ruminant AnimalMethane Emissions.” The patent is for adevice that traps cow burps and convertsthem into useful biofuel. At least, that’s theidea. Patently Silly is a book and a web sitethat explores the sublime and ridiculousthings that people have tried to patent.Whether you’re interested in a bettermousetrap, or something less practical,head for patentlysilly.com

CHEESEBURGER CUPCAKEShttp://cheeseburgercupcake.wordpress.com

The headline pretty much says it all.This site offers a recipe and assemblyguide for making cupcakes that look liketiny, delicious cheeseburgers. We tried

these at home.They’re a great,fun craft for kids,and make a greatconversationpiece at work orschool the next day.

My only complaintis that they don’t containany cheeseburger whatsoever.Fortunately, President’s Choice hasAngus Sliders—hamburgers that are aboutthe size of cupcakes. You can find themonline at www.pc.ca

Sandy McMurray, father of four, writesabout toys, gadgets and other fun stuff on his website FunSpot.ca

Reviews by Sandy McMurray

Great games. Great toys.Great gadgets.

powe r p l a y


Recently, while mulling over possibletopics for this column, I turned to myhusband and asked, “Keith, what’s theone thing about women that men mostwant to understand?” He chuckled andreplied, “That’s easy: how to get theirwives in the mood.” Then he paused andadded, “And let me read it when you’refinished.”

Ah, yes, what is that elusive switch youcan flick to turn women on? I wonder if youmen suspect we women have one, butwe’re all in a giant conspiracy to hide itfrom you, sort of like Samson and Delilahin reverse. You ask what our secret is, andwe tell you something innocuous, like “sexbegins in the kitchen.” So you barbecuesteaks and scrub plates, and then youflash us that knowing smile, and we sighand head to bed with a novel.

You ask again, and we tell yousomething else, like “I need romance.” Soyou bring home flowers and chocolatesand put on a jazz CD, and we head to bedwith the box of chocolates.

Nevertheless, you intrepid explorersdon’t give up, because you’re sure theanswer is somewhere! We just resisttelling you what it is, because once youknow, then like Samson our power is gone.

Right now, you likely feel like your wifehas all the power in the relationship. If youhave the higher sex drive, then that putsher in the driver’s seat. You’re forced tojump through hoops just in the hope thatshe might actually say yes. You guys mustthink that we revel in that power! We don’t.Honest. And if I could share any secretwith you, it would be this: we don’tactually know what that switch is, either.

After almost two decades of marriageI’ve decided that women’s sex drives aresuch a mishmash of competing elements

that only God knows what’s really goingon. We’re largely hormonal. We’re alsoemotional. And we’re spiritual. Get theright mix, and things fly! If one’s out ofwhack, you’re likely out of luck.

But I don’t want to leave you even moredepressed than you already were, so letme give you a few insights, with theunderstanding that these are not ironcladguarantees.

First, you need to understand howdistractible we are. We’re natural multi-taskers, and if we can multi-task duringsex, our brains will try, even if we don’tparticularly want them to. We could behaving a great time under the sheets whenthat meeting tomorrow with the schoolprincipal about little Johnny’s fightingenters the recesses of our brains. Andinstead of banishing it, we welcome it in!This is something serious, after all. Thatprincipal ignored all of our complaints ofbullying all year, and now she’s blamingJohnny when he starts fighting back? Whodoes she think she is? And what am I…

You get the picture? It’s not that wemean to leave you hanging. It’s just thatwhen something’s on our mind, it’s hardto get rid of it. We’re not compartment -alized the way you are. That’s why, if she’sbeen giving you all the right signals allnight, and you leap into bed in wildanticipation, she’s likely to snuggle upand start talking. And she doesn’t stop!You thought you were going to make love,and she’s trying to solve the world’sproblems.

But, guys, she’s not actually blowingyou off. She’s simply trying to deal with allthose pesky thoughts that are jumpingaround her brain, clamouring for attention,because if she doesn’t give them thatattention now, they’ll start lighting off

fireworks as soon as you start moreamorous pursuits. Deal with them first,and sex will likely be better. And besides,if she feels like you care about her feelings,then she’s going to be even more in themood!

If you want sex to go well, then, helpher have nothing to think about. Afterdinner, ask her about her to-do listtomorrow, and help her plan how to get itall done, so she doesn’t start writingshopping lists in her head while yourhands are wandering elsewhere. Take heron a walk so you can chat about all thethings she’s thinking about. Share withher some of your thoughts so that shefeels close to you.

And here’s the clincher: When you’refinally lying in bed, and everything’s beentalked over, take her hand and pray.I know prayer and sex seem like polaropposites, but when we feel close to youspiritually, we’re far more likely to want tojump you. So read a Psalm together. Takeher hand and pray out loud for her, foryour children, for your marriage, for herconcerns. And then look her in the eyes,tell her you love her, and really kiss her.

Now I hate to break it to you, but shestill may say no. But what you’ve done,men, is shown her that night that you loveher. And that is what God calls you to do,even if you get nothing in return.

Sheila is the author of several marriage books,including Honey, I Don’t Have a HeadacheTonight: Help for women who want to feel more inthe mood. You can find her speaking at marriageconferences around the country, or atwww.SheilaWrayGregoire.com.

by Sheila Wray Gregoire

Turn-on time

What women want

Is there really a secret switch? Try to find it.


PK@HomeResources for your daily walk…

Visit www.PromiseKeepers.ca to receive your copies.

World Class Speakers AudioMake the most of your

commuting time by listening to these inspiring messages

on the critical issues in your life.Available in a CD or

MP3 download.

SEVEN MagazineMen. God. Life.

A Christian magazine for Canadian men.Relevant, exciting

and biblical.

Men of Integrity DevotionalEspecially written for men,

personally challenging,eternally rewarding.

Available in a 60 Day Booklet or a daily e-devotion.


Some of the best times you’ve had have been up at the cottage … as a kid and now sharing those traditions with your own family.

But did you know that when you die, your children may have to sell the beloved cottage to pay the taxman – including capital gains taxes, probate fees and other estate costs? Keep the cottage in your family with life insurance. It’s a sharp financial tool.

We are a financial services company with a difference.

We offer a financial portfolio including competitive and affordable insurance and investment solutions that help you build a more secure future, plus we reach out to Christian communities and charities you care about.

Leave them more than memories of cottage life

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The Work Issue (September/October 2010)

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Transcript of The Work Issue (September/October 2010)