This week fun bit o’ information comes to us courtesy of Lynn Taylor, author of the book “Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job”. Let it be known for the record that I love my boss (God), I don’t think anyone in the office is childish, and I haven’t even read Lynn Taylor’s book. (I don’t read nearly as much as I would like to)
According to a survey issued by Taylor, employees spend 19.2 hours a week worrying about what their bosses say so or do. 13 of these hours come during the workweek and 6.2 of them come during the weekend. Taylor states, especially in this economic climate, that employees “have to set limits as you would with a child.” Her approach comes in form of a handy acronym: “C.A.L.M.”.
First, you must “Communicate with your boss bravely, openly, honestly, and frequently.” You must Anticipate – “be aware of problems before they escalate and have solutions ready”. One must also Laugh to relieve tension and create “a better atmosphere”. Finally, an employee should “Manage up by using negative and positive enforcement for certain behaviors.”
Reading the article about Lynn Taylor on walletpop.com, several principles from scripture came to mind. The one regulation that one might believe stands in opposition to scripture is “Manage up”. While we can’t manage God, we can certainly manage our view of Him and how we interact with Him. God isn’t constantly waiting for us to make mistakes so that he can issue punishment. (Jer. 29:11) God is not looking for blind, fearful devotion. When Jacob wrestled with an angel in Gen. 32, he was rewarded. We should constantly be wrestling with our concept of God, re-examining why and how we dedicate our lives to Him.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
A Hostage's Survival Guide
This week I’d like to share with you a few tips for surviving a hostage situation. Let’s hope you’re never in one, but at least you’ll know how to stay alive. These are tense times in our world, with levels of stress, angst, and general political unrest rising constantly. You never know when that next trip to the bank or shopping mall will turn in to an all out hostage crisis. This information comes from the NYPD negotiation team.
First, don’t try to be a hero. Second, do what you are told. Don’t speak unless you are spoken to, and then only when necessary. Get comfortable but always keep an eye on your captor. Don’t make suggestions, as you’ll be blamed if anything goes wrong. Don’t try to escape unless you are absolutely positive you’ll be able to. Even then, you should think twice. Let medical needs be known in a matter of fact way. Be observant, memorizing the captors’ faces, names, etc. Only answer “yes” or “no” if you are the end fielding questions from the authorities. Finally, don’t be argumentative and hit the floor when help comes.
A lot of the comments on this article suggested that if you know you are going to die, you should attack your captors like some of the 9/11 victims did. Other comments suggested that these tips are intelligent and contrast many of Hollywood’s representations of hostage crises. I often consider how Jesus handled his captivity. In Isaiah 53, Jesus is likened to “a lamb to the slaughter”. He could have escaped, but he said nothing. There are times in our lives where we have to take a stand and sacrifice ourselves for others. There are other times when we need to endure until help arrives. In Matt. 4, Jesus endures tremendous temptation until Satan leaves him and angels come to attend him. For now we are help captive in our bodies. If we carry on, we will be saved.
First, don’t try to be a hero. Second, do what you are told. Don’t speak unless you are spoken to, and then only when necessary. Get comfortable but always keep an eye on your captor. Don’t make suggestions, as you’ll be blamed if anything goes wrong. Don’t try to escape unless you are absolutely positive you’ll be able to. Even then, you should think twice. Let medical needs be known in a matter of fact way. Be observant, memorizing the captors’ faces, names, etc. Only answer “yes” or “no” if you are the end fielding questions from the authorities. Finally, don’t be argumentative and hit the floor when help comes.
A lot of the comments on this article suggested that if you know you are going to die, you should attack your captors like some of the 9/11 victims did. Other comments suggested that these tips are intelligent and contrast many of Hollywood’s representations of hostage crises. I often consider how Jesus handled his captivity. In Isaiah 53, Jesus is likened to “a lamb to the slaughter”. He could have escaped, but he said nothing. There are times in our lives where we have to take a stand and sacrifice ourselves for others. There are other times when we need to endure until help arrives. In Matt. 4, Jesus endures tremendous temptation until Satan leaves him and angels come to attend him. For now we are help captive in our bodies. If we carry on, we will be saved.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Team God
An interesting debate has arisen among many of my friends and associates. The split seen among my peer group is reflective of a larger split facing the entire population. I do not speak of race, economics, or other common sources of division. I refer to the Conan vs. Leno controversy that has infested my news gathering experience. For those of you who don’t know (kudos to you for having actually important matters occupying your time), Jay Leno’s current 10:00p talk show will be moved to 11:30 after the Olympics and Conan O’Brien is to be moved to 12:00p. However, Conan has stated that he is not willing to inhabit this time slot and might leave NBC if negotiations fail.
One commentary compared this situation to telling your wife that you will be marrying someone new in 5 years whom you’ve become interested in. Your wife decides to get in shape and others start to take notice of her. When 5 years has passed, you try to work out an agreement to keep both relationships.
Needless to say (sorry polygamists!), it is not in one’s best interests to have two wives. God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman. (Matt. 19) God isn’t a fan of divided interests. He values loyalty, commitment, and discipline. Matthew 6:24 tells us, “no one can serve two masters.” You can’t “have your cake and eat it too” so to speak. Sometimes the offerings of the world are mighty tempting. It often seems like the bigger, better deal or the greener grass is offered outside of God. However, us Christians make a covenant with God. A covenant isn’t something you can slip in and out of. Imagine how angry your spouse would be if you told him/her that you want to marry someone else. Now imagine how the all-powerful God feels when you chose to leave Him.
One commentary compared this situation to telling your wife that you will be marrying someone new in 5 years whom you’ve become interested in. Your wife decides to get in shape and others start to take notice of her. When 5 years has passed, you try to work out an agreement to keep both relationships.
Needless to say (sorry polygamists!), it is not in one’s best interests to have two wives. God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman. (Matt. 19) God isn’t a fan of divided interests. He values loyalty, commitment, and discipline. Matthew 6:24 tells us, “no one can serve two masters.” You can’t “have your cake and eat it too” so to speak. Sometimes the offerings of the world are mighty tempting. It often seems like the bigger, better deal or the greener grass is offered outside of God. However, us Christians make a covenant with God. A covenant isn’t something you can slip in and out of. Imagine how angry your spouse would be if you told him/her that you want to marry someone else. Now imagine how the all-powerful God feels when you chose to leave Him.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Someone Has a Stinky Kitty!
In case I haven’t mentioned it before, I will remind you that my life is chock full of awkward moments. I don’t know if I have more than my fair share, but these moments come ridiculously often in my daily interactions with other human beings. Let’s just say if I ask someone for a synonym of awkward, he or she replies, “Your life”. This morning’s awkward moment was not nearly embarrassing as many others, but it was uncomfortable nevertheless. The following story, which you’d know if you followed me on Twitter or Facebook, mentions urine. I hope that doesn’t offend you and lead to yet another awkward moment.
I took all three of my pets to the vet this morning. I carried the cat in first, sharing in pet related conversation with other pet owners (awkward conversation, I should add). I went to get my dogs and came back to find the cat had covered herself in urine. She is an extremely clean animal and has never done this before. Her formerly fluffy, now soaked body made its way around the vet’s office covering everything in urine and filling the air with a horrendous scent. I apologized at least 40 times. To make things worse, I was very tired and fell in to a guilt-induced trance. While I was thinking about how remorseful I was, the veterinary assistant asked me if I had any questions. I believe that I stared her straight in the face for at least 10 to 15 seconds before giving an answer.
I don’t think life has to be as awkward and guilt ridden as we sometimes make it. In Romans 8 we learn that because of Jesus, we do not face condemnation. John 8:36 tells us that the Son has made us free. We should live like we are free, excited about who we are and how God can use us to do his work. If we live sincerely by faith, we live with a clean conscience. (Heb. 10) We don’t have to worry about what other people think of us because God thinks well enough of us to set us free from sin and guilt! Hold your head up high and know you’re saved!
I took all three of my pets to the vet this morning. I carried the cat in first, sharing in pet related conversation with other pet owners (awkward conversation, I should add). I went to get my dogs and came back to find the cat had covered herself in urine. She is an extremely clean animal and has never done this before. Her formerly fluffy, now soaked body made its way around the vet’s office covering everything in urine and filling the air with a horrendous scent. I apologized at least 40 times. To make things worse, I was very tired and fell in to a guilt-induced trance. While I was thinking about how remorseful I was, the veterinary assistant asked me if I had any questions. I believe that I stared her straight in the face for at least 10 to 15 seconds before giving an answer.
I don’t think life has to be as awkward and guilt ridden as we sometimes make it. In Romans 8 we learn that because of Jesus, we do not face condemnation. John 8:36 tells us that the Son has made us free. We should live like we are free, excited about who we are and how God can use us to do his work. If we live sincerely by faith, we live with a clean conscience. (Heb. 10) We don’t have to worry about what other people think of us because God thinks well enough of us to set us free from sin and guilt! Hold your head up high and know you’re saved!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
We Are All Supermen
Jeff Wise’s book, “Extreme Fear: The Science of Your Mind in Danger”, discusses how our bodies respond to hazardous circumstances. Wise uses several real stories as the framework for his exploration. In a chapter entitled “Superhuman”, an ordinary man performs an incredible feat of strength to rescue a cyclist who has been run over by a car. Tom Boyle, Jr. and his wife were leaving the shopping mall where they had just had dinner. They heard a Camaro squeal its tires as it shot onto the avenue. Tom looked up to see a shower of sparks fly up from beneath the Camaro. The Camaro had hit a cyclist and pinned him beneath the vehicle. Boyle, without thinking, ran towards the Camaro, reached under its frame, and lifted the vehicle off of the 18-year-old cyclist. Boyle held the car’s front end up for about 45 seconds while its driver pulled the cyclist to safety. Boyle, no weakling, was able to lift a 700 lb. barbell. A stock Camaro weighs 3,000 lbs. Something extraordinary happened to the body of Tom Boyle.
One of my personal goals is to view others and myself the way that God sees us. God knows our potential. Too often we sell ourselves short thinking we’ve worked ourselves in to an inescapable corner, unable to accomplish anything great. We think of ourselves and others as too old, too young, too stupid, too weak, or too inexperienced. God always seems to choose the least likely heroes. When the Israelites were led out of Egypt, God didn’t find the best speaker. When Samuel looked for a new king, he wasn’t to select the tallest or strongest man. When Jesus hand picked his apostles, he didn’t ask for a resume or good references. He chose fishermen and tax collectors. Today he chooses you!
One of my personal goals is to view others and myself the way that God sees us. God knows our potential. Too often we sell ourselves short thinking we’ve worked ourselves in to an inescapable corner, unable to accomplish anything great. We think of ourselves and others as too old, too young, too stupid, too weak, or too inexperienced. God always seems to choose the least likely heroes. When the Israelites were led out of Egypt, God didn’t find the best speaker. When Samuel looked for a new king, he wasn’t to select the tallest or strongest man. When Jesus hand picked his apostles, he didn’t ask for a resume or good references. He chose fishermen and tax collectors. Today he chooses you!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
2010: ?
Wow, it seems like it’s been quite a while since I last sat down and cranked out an article. In the meantime between this article and the last, I’ve been thinking about the future. This is a typical and often dangerous habit of many. 2010 is nearly upon us and the future has not turned out quite the way many have predicted. “Project Plowshare” was an effort to use atomic explosions in large construction projects. (boston.com) Many predicted that if dynamite worked well for demolition, nukes would get the job done in a fraction of the time. Speaking of jobs, the 40-hour workweek, mandated during the Great Depression, was supposed to have been reduced to 30 or even 20 hours. It was once assumed that we’d be retiring around the time our first gray hairs started to appear.
Scientists, learning more and becoming more curious about animal behavior and even animal psychology, speculated that if could figure out the vocabulary, we’d be speaking to dolphins and whales. There are probably people out there that do believe they can speak fluent whale or dolphin. I predict that in 2010, these folks will not be invited to many dinner parties. They certainly won’t be arriving to the parties in flying cars, often thought to be the next logical leap forward in common transportation. Many hypothesized that there would also be more marriage choices in 2010, including polygamy. They came close, but will receive no cigar.
As I have mentioned in several past articles, we can’t predict the future and don’t need to spend nearly as time worrying about it as we do. Jesus gives some great instruction on how to deal with worry in Luke 12. He tells us to avoid greed, consider God’s provisions for all of his creatures, give to others, and seek out the kingdom of heaven. Our personal futures often don’t turn out the way we would like them to. In God, they don’t have to. “God works for the good of those that love him.” (Rom. 8:28)
Scientists, learning more and becoming more curious about animal behavior and even animal psychology, speculated that if could figure out the vocabulary, we’d be speaking to dolphins and whales. There are probably people out there that do believe they can speak fluent whale or dolphin. I predict that in 2010, these folks will not be invited to many dinner parties. They certainly won’t be arriving to the parties in flying cars, often thought to be the next logical leap forward in common transportation. Many hypothesized that there would also be more marriage choices in 2010, including polygamy. They came close, but will receive no cigar.
As I have mentioned in several past articles, we can’t predict the future and don’t need to spend nearly as time worrying about it as we do. Jesus gives some great instruction on how to deal with worry in Luke 12. He tells us to avoid greed, consider God’s provisions for all of his creatures, give to others, and seek out the kingdom of heaven. Our personal futures often don’t turn out the way we would like them to. In God, they don’t have to. “God works for the good of those that love him.” (Rom. 8:28)
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Conniving Kittens
Today I read an article (cracked.com) that proves to me that cats are indeed maniacal masterminds bent on world domination. I was a little shocked to discover that some of my cat’s adorable actions serve more purposes than making me say, “awwww” or get out the camera for a YouTube video. A recent study (that’s how you know it’s serious) revealed that people can tell the difference between a cat’s average meow and a meow that is pleading for food. Apparently, there is a remarkable similarity in frequency between this soliciting meow and a human baby’s cry. Cats adjust their meow to manipulate us! Another fact that I found disturbing is that when a cat rubs itself against you, it is not showing affection. It’s marking ownership! Powerful scent glands that a cat uses for communication are located on the tail, the side of the body, and the face. When a cat rubs itself on you, it is leaving its unique scent.
Cats, like many other animals, employ mimicry as a form of defense. When a cat puts its ears down, shows its fangs, squints, and hisses, it is trying to resemble a snake. It’s a fact that just about every member of the animal kingdom fears snakes, not just Indiana Jones.
Finally, you may have seen or heard of cats bringing dead animals to their owners. This is not simply the presenting of a gift. Cats do the same thing to their young to provide training. When your cat drops a dead bird on your foot, it is telling you that you are a terrible hunter and need to learn to feed yourself. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul talks about false apostles. There are quite a few people attempting to win our loyalty. Whether an affiliation is to a political party, church, or simply a brand name, we have to be discerning as individuals. Instead of accepting everything on a whim or at face value, we should carefully make sure that everything we do is according to God’s will. If we are not identifying the truth, we are looking at Satan as an innocent kitten.
Cats, like many other animals, employ mimicry as a form of defense. When a cat puts its ears down, shows its fangs, squints, and hisses, it is trying to resemble a snake. It’s a fact that just about every member of the animal kingdom fears snakes, not just Indiana Jones.
Finally, you may have seen or heard of cats bringing dead animals to their owners. This is not simply the presenting of a gift. Cats do the same thing to their young to provide training. When your cat drops a dead bird on your foot, it is telling you that you are a terrible hunter and need to learn to feed yourself. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul talks about false apostles. There are quite a few people attempting to win our loyalty. Whether an affiliation is to a political party, church, or simply a brand name, we have to be discerning as individuals. Instead of accepting everything on a whim or at face value, we should carefully make sure that everything we do is according to God’s will. If we are not identifying the truth, we are looking at Satan as an innocent kitten.
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