Hard Work? A Blessing? Really?

Contributor: Bill Hercules

Work is a curse from the beginning of time.  Anybody agree with me?  I know…  Let’s just dig ditches like a chain gang – just because it’s fun and rewarding.  Any takers?  No?

So what’s the big deal, anyway?  What do they mean by working hard?  What about hardly working?  Well, it’s just as real as gravity.  Work is a divine curse, and you can’t escape it.  You can try and pretend, but in the end when things don’t get done, you show that you’re getting better at being lazy than being effective, and God isn’t pleased.  Bruno Mars?  Garfield the cat?  Unimpressive.

So, what does hard work mean?  Why even care?  Does it really matter?

Crastination – a twenty dollar word for the state of tomorrow.  Tomorrow is the sluggard’s best friend.  They are seen everywhere together.  The problem is that tomorrow never comes – it’s always tomorrow, and never today.  In the same way, the sluggard never gets fully satisfied.  Don’t believe me?  Read the Proverbs!

 “Well, I’m not like that.  I just have better things to do than work.”  OK, so what is the most important thing?  What’s the next?  And the next?  And so on?  Guess what?  You just had to work to figure that out!  Does someone feed you?  Dress you?  Bathe you?  Brush your teeth?  Chances are you’ve outgrown complete reliance upon someone else to constantly do for you.  In fact you’d be embarrassed if someone tried.  So then finish your maturing – grow up.  At some point in your life, you will have to be accountable for yourself.  The law of the land sets an age of majority, past which you are considered an adult, and are expected by society to contribute.

“OK, I’m not like that either”, you say.  Yogi Berra was a famous New York Yankee’s catcher from the 1950s, and he had an interesting way of expressing himself.  He’d say, “If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else.”  You need a plan, AND you need to work the plan.  There’s that word again – work.  Nothing gets done unless it gets done.  A plan without work is an unrealized fantasy.  Do you think that God didn’t work to create the earth and everything in it?  Do you think he just thought it up, and had minions do it all?  If so, then why did He rest?  He worked!  And the result was VERY good.  Check this out.  Do you think you’re more clever than God?

Here’s the hard truth about working:  Your employer hasn’t just created a job for you because he wants to employ you.  He’s expecting that you will generate value for him greater than what he’s paying you.  If you do, then he’ll likely keep you or promote you with more responsibility and authority.  If you don’t, then you’re gone.

Here’s an interesting idea:  that choice is yours.  Get your head into the game; do your job well; create value beyond your immediate compensation.  You’ll find yourself in a powerful position to generate more value than you’re being paid.  You may even be offered a better arrangement.

What do I look for when I hire people?

Character – Can I trust you with my money, my contacts, my reputation, and my resources?  Can I reasonably expect you to look out for my interests?  Will you be honest and trustworthy with me and others I care about?  Will you treat others better than yourself, while still advancing my business?

Creativity – Can I expect you to approach and solve problems by considering a variety of options, and then choosing the best one?  Can I trust you to “Just do it”?

Chemistry – Will you mesh well with others, and multiply everyone else’s effectiveness?  Life is a team sport, and so is collaborative working.

Competence – Do I think you have the necessary skills and judgment for the role?  Have you convinced me that you can get it done?

Notice this list is all about ME – my, mine, I, me, etc. – the employer’s perspective.  It’s not about you.  Ouch.  That’s a hard life-lesson.  Learn it soon, and you’ll go far.  Ignore it and you’ll be outmoded by the time your 30, and will have to fight for a long time to recover.

But what does God expect?  “Wait a minute.  I thought work was a curse – by God.  Does He expect me to choose to be cursed?”  No.  He wants to bless you by enabling you to bless others.  He expects you to work to help others help others.  The apostle Paul said it this way.

If God expects effective labor by everyone, then how arrogant must someone be to believe in being an exception?  Effective work is a matter of the heart.  It teaches you about yourself, your condition, your relationship with God, your relationship with others.  The choice is yours.

Impacting the Kingdom

Contributor: Megan Tucker

To be completely honest, when I was asked to write a post on how to impact the Kingdom as an individual stuck in the middle of being not quite a kid, but not quite an adult either, I wanted to say no.

My gut reaction was a screaming, resounding “absolutely not” because my first thought was “I don’t even do this, how can I write about it?”

For that brief moment, I listened to those discouraging, lying words that the Enemy spoke right into my ears.

You want to impact the Kingdom right where you are?  Don’t listen to Satan.  Don’t give any weight to anything that the Enemy whispers in your ears. 

You and I?  We are in this weird place in life where we desperately want to believe, and have others believe, that we are hot stuff and capable of doing great things for the Kingdom.  We want to be told that one day we will make a difference and that one day we will be able to look back and point to all the great things we did in life.  We want to point back at our careers, families, and accomplishments.

The only thing is, most of those big life-marker things happen after college.

Here’s a secret:  I’m impacting the Kingdom, and I haven’t even graduated from FCC yet.  If I believe that my big accomplishments and proud moments and game-changing decisions won’t come until after college, I’m just wasting my time.  If I believe that I will not make a difference until I have a piece of paper with some letters after my name, I won’t work for the Kingdom right where I am.

Satan will do whatever he can to get us to a place of discouragement, apathy, and contentment.  He tells us that we can’t do anything to impact the Kingdom right now because we’re not adults.  He tells us that there is someone more talented, more passionate, more capable than us.  He tells us we have nothing to offer.

Friend, he’s lying.  You have got so much to offer.  You’ve got time, and energy, and I’m sure that there is something you are passionate about.  You’ve got ears and eyes and maybe even hands and feet.  You are capable of much.

Want to make an impact in the Kingdom right where you are?  Open up those eyes and tune in those ears to the people around you.  Really see and hear what’s going on in their lives.  Most people just want someone to show that they care.  Most people just want to be heard.  Most people just want a friend. 

When you give another person your time, you tell them, without words, that they are worth it.  You tell them that they are important, and valued, and that what they have to say matters.  When you tell someone that they are important, valued, and that their words matter, they begin to believe it and live like it.  As they go and live knowing their values, they will go and in turn tell others that they have value.  When we know our value and our worth, we become confident in ourselves and our God.  When we become confident, we become bold.  When we become bold, things happen and lives change.

Want to make an impact on the Kingdom right where you are?  Offer your services.  Do you play music?  Find a venue in which you can share your talent with others.  Here at FCC, we have weekly chapels and coffee shops and are always in need of musicians to lead worship.  Are you good with children?  Why not offer to babysit for a professor or a family in your church?  Who knows, their night off could be the only chance they have to recharge.  They may come home refreshed from a night off from the kids and be more patient and gentle with them the next day.  Do you have a compassionate heart?  Find a place to volunteer at, like a homeless shelter, or a nursing home, or whatever it is that makes your heart ache to help. 

In offering your services for the benefit of others, you provide space for both yourself and the other person to grow, learn, and care for one another.  In offering your services to another, you are again sharing the message that they are valued.  What happens when people believe their value?  They live like it.

You have value.  You are good at something.  And, if you aren’t good at something, I’m more than willing to bet that there is something that you really, truly love to do.  I bet there is something that makes your heart beat a little bit faster and causes your eyes to light up. 

Do that.

Do that and share it with the people around you.  Don’t keep it hidden for yourself. 

Want to impact the Kingdom?  Offer your life as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.  Be above reproach.  Be excellent at what is good.  Cast away your idols.  Take up your cross, daily.  Don’t just say you love Jesus, believe Jesus, follow Jesus -- really live like you mean it.  Stop tearing your brothers and sisters down.  Stop complaining. 

Want to make an impact for the Kingdom right now?

Live as the child of God that you are.

Know who Christ says you are, and be that person.

You are a part of a royal priesthood. 

You are dearly loved, highly favored, and greatly blessed.

Live like it.

The Beard

   Contributor: Jordan Stancil

       Deep within the Old Testament, there is a portion of Scripture about David’s Mighty Men. They were the best warriors in the land and they fought for the honor of their King and Yahweh. My favorite verse describing them comes from 1 Chronicles 12:8. It says they were, “Mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were swift as gazelles upon the mountains.” These men not only were the best warriors in the land, but had the beards to back it up.

      One of the greatest perks of being a guy is the ability to grow a beard. Facial hair is a gift that not only benefits the one who possesses it, but all those around who get to see it. Honestly, it is hard not to admire a great beard.

       I imagine Jesus had the best beard the world has ever seen. In Luke, Jesus says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” This principle applies to every area of life. God has given people varying gifts, talents, and abilities and he asks us to leverage these things for His kingdom. Facial hair is no different. If you are a guy, at some point in your life you’ll have facial hair and you’ll have to learn how to manage it.

There are a few critical aspects of having facial hair.

     1.  Know your limits. Good facial hair doesn’t just happen over night. You’ll probably go through years of patches. Work with what you have.

     2.  Keep it groomed. If you are growing it out, please take care of it. It is hair and needs to be groomed. Shampoo and condition it. There is no need to make it look like you glued a carcass to your face.

     3.  It could define you. This is so true. Have you ever seen a man with a mustache. I’m not talking about the 24 hour mustache or a shark week mustache, but the mustache some guy has been sporting for as long as you remember. It has almost become as much his identify as his name. Just be careful with what you pick.

     4.  Humility. If you have a good beard, people will know it. There’s no need to talk about it. Facial hair is for gentlemen, not insecure boys. 

Styles

       There are dozens of styles of facial hair. Some look great and others not so much. Here are a few options to work with.

1.  The Beard. This is the most timeless facial hair a man can have. It’s the full montague. It has been displayed by Grizzly, James Harden, Duck Dynasty, and Dads that go on vacation.

2.  The Mustache. This might be the trickiest of all facial hair. It is simply a gift. Men respect it. Women don’t understand it. The mustache must be well maintained and cared for. Timing is crucial. If you try to grow a mustache before it is ready, you’ll just look silly. The best things in life are worth the wait. It will be. Mustaches have been flaunted by Walt Disney, the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line, and your dad during the nineties.

3.  The Goatee. Many people think they have a goatee, but they do not. A goatee is simply the facial hair on a man’s chin. It has been sported by goats, Abraham Lincoln, and medieval art of Satan.

4. The Van Dyck (or Van Dyke). This was made famous by Anthony Van Dyck, an artist and innovator of watercolor. The Van Dyke is simply the combination of a mustache and goatee. It has been worn by Tony Stark, Bob Mehlenbacher, and youth ministers across America.

5.  The Clean Cut. This is also an alternative. Clean cut is a classy look and might be your best shot at marriage. This is especially the case if you only have twelve hairs on your chin. Do what you have to do. After all, this was the look of Han Solo.

     

Whatever you decide to do with your facial hair, the most important thing to remember is hygiene and maintenance. I wish you the best of luck in all your facial hair endeavors.



A Recap on IMPACT

Contributor: Kellie Spencer

This year’s IMPACT weekend certainly didn’t disappoint! The highly anticipated three day event brought in over 950 students and sponsors to the campus of Florida Christian College. 

For the last 25 years the Sunbowl tournament (two-hand touch football) has been a staple during IMPACT, but the three-day weekend offers much more than just football.  This year we had a great lineup scheduled with Jeff Walling who brought us the Word and The Matt Estrin Collective who led us in worship.

Jeff Walling's enthusiastic style and dramatic delivery made him a great choice for IMPACT. Each night he brought depth and challenged the students to show God's love even when it's not the most popular thing to do. 

The Matt Estrin Collective is a band that hails from Journey Christian Church out of Greeley, Colorado.  They brought the worship dynamic to a whole new level this year with their passionate yet energetic approach.

Also featured in the program this year was Harris III, an illusionist.  His whole performance was not only to dazzle the students and have fun but his “magic” had a purpose and that was to “tell the truth about lies.”  He states, “Every moment of misdirection I create on stage has a purpose; every illusion is intentionally tied together to enlighten, to inspire others to see the deception around them, to learn the truth about lies…and discover their own purpose.”  It is safe to say that he not only brought an element of fun, but he also encapsulated the essence of what teens go through on a day to day basis on dealing with deception that made it easy to digest.

This year’s mission was Rapha House: Haiti Project.  This project was a direct result of FCC’s Justice D-Group and mission trip to Cambodia.  After the participants came back from the trip in the summer of 2011 they decided that there needed to be a safe house built in Haiti, and so the project was born.  The $1,700 that was raised at IMPACT this year will be sent directly to Stephanie Freed at Rapha House for the expressed purpose of building a safe house for the Haitian girls who are rescued from sex slavery. 

If you missed IMPACT this year you really missed an incredibly uplifting weekend!  This event is designed to be both physically and spiritually challenging for both students and adults and is also designed to provide an opportunity to share Christ with those who do not yet know Him.  Most importantly, however, IMPACT was originated to provide an opportunity for youth groups to build community through teamwork and competition so that everything done on the field and off can be done for the glory of God.  One thing if for sure, it was indeed a very IMPACTful weekend!

Community

Contributor: Andrew Adames

·         Growing up in the city was a real cool thing. I remember the sights, the sounds, and most importantly the people. We had a lot of pride for who we were. We were a community who loved one another. We lived on what was called “blocks”. Blocks were the street that your apartment or house was located on: it was your hood, it was your home. Our block had all kinds of people on it from all over the world. We would share our food, our clothes and our homes with everyone from our block. If someone from our block had visitors that came into town, they become one of us. We were a very tight community.

I remember one day when I was in 3rd grade and I came home from school and I couldn’t find my house key anywhere on me. I knocked and no one was coming to the door. I got real nervous and started to cry. At the same time my neighbor from around the corner was walking by and saw me and took me to his house and I called my dad from his phone and was able to get a hold of my dad. He swung by and picked me up and took me home. We didn’t have to worry about anything crazy happening because we always took care of each other.

Now this community that I was a part of, that was my family all occurred before I came to know Christ.

Now I am not trying to knock the Church or any believers with what I am about to say but the reality is that since I have been in Christ, I haven’t experienced the same type of love and community from the people of the Church.

Sadly I have seen a lot more separation than unity within the Church. Now if that is what I see as a pastor, I cringe when I think of what outsiders who don’t know Christ must see when they see us. In today’s culture I have seen more division and harshness between believers than anything else. With the inventions of social media platforms I have seen these avenues used more for division and gossip than I have for the glory of God.

I can’t even begin to tell you how important it is that we stay united as the body. In 1 Cor 12 Paul calls us the body of Christ. All of us who are in Christ are the body of Christ no matter what denominational background. I have seen us fight and tear one another apart over non-essential matters rather than love one another through our differences. It is vital for us to learn how to love each other through our differences. In the next chapter 1 Cor 13 Paul talks about love and how important love is and how without love we are nothing. I don’t think it's a coincidence that Paul wrote about unity in one chapter and love in the very next. Without unity it is impossible for us to know what love is and vice-versa.
Most recently I witnessed believers bashing one another over political views. Believers bashing each other… It hurts me to even type out that statement. We can’t let small things like our political differences separate us from loving each other. If we truly love Jesus and truly want to follow Him then we must be submissive to one another out of love and be united not only to Christ but also to each other. We can’t claim to be in Christ and not love one another. That’s nonsense right there. In a world with so much pain and suffering that has an end date, it is huge for us as the body of Christ to set the pace for those around us.

I believe in the phrase “speed of the leader, speed of the team.” We are called to be the lights in this dark world and to set the pace of our schools, jobs, churches and communities. The only way that we can win others for Christ is by showing our love for one another and being united.

One of the biggest things that we can do its to stop posting garbage on social media. I use social media to keep in touch with friends and to share some news and fun stuff. I don’t ever post anything that is going to bring someone down I don’t care how anonymous it sounds. If you have a problem with someone go right to them. Don’t be a punk and blow them up online. Be real with them in love. We have to pave the way towards unity by taking off the stuff that ties us up to ourselves and promotes our own agenda.

To this day I will never forget the unity of my block when I was growing up and how much I long to have those relationships within the Church. Imagine communities of believers who have the same mindset that my block did growing up: People who love each other, who open their homes up no matter what, who clothe, feed, and take care of one another. I believe that this is possible for us. Acts shows us in Chapters 2-4 what this image looks like. It’s time for the church to return to this example. Some churches have them and I give them props for that. We need more churches to exemplify that type of unity and love amongst everyone.

Grace and Peace

Jim Chesser Is My Friend

“Jim Chesser Is My Friend”

Dr. Les Hardin

Professor of New Testament

Florida Christian College

In the final scene of the movie Dances with Wolves, the Kevin-Costner-played hero, Shumanitutonka Ob Wachi (translated “Dances with Wolves”) is leaving the Native Americans that he has come to love, the people he belongs to, the tribe he has come to know as family.  Snow covers the mountains on either side of the valley.  He rides through the ravine, making his way back to the white man’s civilization in an attempt to secure civil rights and kindnesses from the American government on behalf of his people.

As he slowly rides out, he can barely control his emotions.  There appears on the point of a cliff at the head of the valley the native who originally caused him so much consternation.  Long black hair blowing in the breeze, his name is “Wind in His Hair.”  He sits on his horse, shouting at the top of his lungs at the man he originally hated, now come to love.  As he announces his respect for his newfound brother to the whole tribe, his words echo throughout the valley:

“Shumanitutonka Ob Wachi!  I am Wind in His Hair!  Do you see that you are my friend?  Do you see that you will always be my friend?”

Over and over he shouts it, and his words fill not only the valley, but the hearts of every member of this tribe.

“I am Wind in His Hair!  And Shumanitutonka Ob Wachi is my friend!”

With these words he sums up everything that he wants to say, but for which he can find neither the vocabulary nor the courage.  No other words do justice to their friendship.  No amount of explanation can accurately describe the connection they’ve come to know—the camaraderie, the struggles, the brotherhood.

This is the way I feel about my colleague and brother, Jim Chesser.  A 30-year ministry veteran and professor at Florida Christian College, Jim Chesser loved Jesus.  He loved his wife and kids, and always spoke of them with a twinkle in his eye.  He was kind and gentle, and generous the resources the Father had placed at his disposal.  Toward the end of his career he wanted to pass on the immense knowledge he had acquired about the faith and train young people for vocational ministries.  He got to spend the last years of his life doing what he wanted, and he did so until the day he died. 

Jim Chesser will be missed by the FCC community.  Each of us will have our varying reactions.  Some will weep, others will reflect, and still others will feast and celebrate his life and accomplishments.  We find ourselves caught between the now and the not yet, knowing that we will see him again—raised, in the body—but also knowing that such a time has not yet come.

As for me, I stand on the precipice of a cliff.  As Jim Chesser makes his final passage through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I am perched on the point, shouting repeatedly in the presence of the community: 

“I am Les Hardin.  And Jim Chesser is my friend!”

The Character of Contentment

Contributor: Kellie Spencer

How many times have you walked into your favorite store with intent to buy a particular item and ended up walking out with more shopping bags than you originally planned? It happens to the best of us. So when I reflect on the guilt I feel when the total “surprisingly” appears on the screen, the answer always seems to be whispering in my ear: contentment. Why is it that we always seem to want more than we have, or always wish we had someone else’s life? The answer: we are not content. So what exactly is contentment? Being happy with what you already have. This means that we are to constantly be in a state of contentment or expressing it by acting it out in our lives. Money, power, and greed are so commonly intertwined. The Bible tells us that money itself is not what will ruin a person, but rather it is the love of the abnormal pursuit of money that will corrupt (1 Timothy 6:10, NIV). Being content with what God has entrusted us is a spiritual battle and one you will have to be properly equipped for. In Hebrews 13:5 it says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,  ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you’.”