The Evolution of Christian Branding

November 23, 2015 By JBW

Remember that fish-shaped thing, that cute little symbol that is supposed to be associated with Christianity? It is called the Ichthys,which is really an anagram made up of five Greek letters that mean “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” The Ichthys apparently dates back to the first and second century, when Christians had the misfortune of being hunted down, tortured and killed by Roman rulers. These fish symbols were like a secret code, letting them know when they were safe among other believers. Seeing... Read more

81% of Catholics Believe Their Work is a Calling From God

November 20, 2015 By JBW

One thing I have learned from those bloodthirsty media journalists is that if you want eyeballs to land on your website, then use a sensationalist, attention-grabbing headline. So. As luck would have it, I recently came across an enticing opportunity for making such an alarming claim when I saw a survey published by U.S. Catholicmagazine to coincide with Labor Day. The focus of the survey was on the readers’ perceptions of the intersection of their faith and their work. Surprisingly, the magazine reports that 81% of the readers who responded say they believe... Read more

Sometimes God Sneaks Up on You

November 18, 2015 By JBW

I took a vacation with God. It wasn’t anything elaborate or expensive. I simply felt like we needed time alone together – just me and God without the many distractions of work, emails, cell phone calls, and the beloved family. Let’s call it a Godcation. And why not? First there was the Mancation, which gained popularity earlier in the decade, where the guys would get away to blow off steam and escape the daily grind. Typically the Mancation involved outdoor adventures, or Harley rides, or... Read more

Unveiling the Truth

November 16, 2015 By JBW

This was originally supposed to be a featured at The High Calling Blogs website a few days ago, but it got buried, undoubdetdly because the word “stripper” is used. Well, we here at STC are certainly not prudes, so I am giving this post full frontal exposure. When I was an earnest young Christian man, I considered the possibility of pursuing a career in the ministry. But God said “No,” so I bravely pursued other options, and eventually pursued business. At first, the prospects... Read more

Scared of Layoffs? Take Some Advice from Jesus.

November 13, 2015 By Guest Contributor

Guest Blog posting today by Executive Leadership Coach, Dr. Stephen Payne. Even with a steady job, this recession is a real test of my faith. Just how will we all get through it? I know that some of the business leaders I coach are very worried about the future of their businesses. It seems that nobody fully understands what’s happening and the financial “experts” flip-flop regularly. I’m sure you see the same stuff as me—stock market, the bail-outs, the US... Read more

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Authentic

November 11, 2015 By JBW

Authenticity can be difficult to come by, even in the church community. Go figure. People prefer to hide the awful mess going on inside their lives, choosing to maintain some shred of perceived dignity rather than revealing the sober truth. The meager attempts we make at propping up an image of success is much more appealing than spilling the beans about the troubled marriage, the crippling anxiety, or the poor performance at work. But the stark truth is that all of us are struggling with something. People may be good at hiding... Read more

Are You Constantly Trading Up, or Living in the Moment?

November 10, 2015 By JBW

I have been thinking a lot lately about excellence. Not just at work, but in every area of my life — as a Christian, husband, father, friend, church volunteer, Board member, Starbucks customer… Do I truly aspire to excellence in the work I do? In the relationships I have? In every-day interactions with strangers? I guess this sudden conviction is a result of the convergence of many different coincidental situations, conversations, blogging comments, books and bible readings that ultimately leads... Read more

Do Not Worry (Oh, Really? That Might Be Easy for You to Say…)

November 6, 2015 By JBW

These are worrisome times we are living in. There is an unprecedented global financial crisis, economic recession, threats of terrorism, more and more layoffs, and a growing government deficit. It’s just bad news all the way around. Add this pile of stink to the routine madness that you and I deal with daily, as a matter of course. Like trying to raise decent kids, and maintaining a good marriage, and paying all the bills, and the house is always a mess, the... Read more

Respect the Right People

November 4, 2015 By Guest Contributor

Guest post by leadership coach and author, Dr. Stephen Payne. Charlie comes walking towards me waving the Business Section of the New York Times. “Our bank is going bust,” he says. “We’re being taken over by the government bail out. The people from Treasury are in our head office already. That’s it; we’re done for.”   “How can they decide so fast?” I say, a bit surprised to hear of a Government department moving quickly.   Charlie shakes his head slowly, “It... Read more

Have You Ever Run Into an Angel on a Business Trip?

November 2, 2015 By JBW

One week I took a train into New York City to attend a “Deal Making Conference.” I know, Ha Ha. Deal-making in the middle of a global depression, right? Trust me, there weren’t many deals getting done. All the same, thousands of men and women in their finest hand tailored suits eagerly descended upon an upper Manhattan hotel for two days, swarming in groups and in clusters, like bees pollinating a field of wild poppies. When it was all over, I took... Read more