Summer Vacation Atheist

SUMMER IS HERE! THREE CHEERS FOR SUMMER! 

Why is it that we love summer so much? Well, we get to go outside all the time. We get to see neighbors that we don't get to see very often. We get to go places and do things and take our kids with us - like summer vacation trips to Disney World and trips to the beach. Summer just seems like a time where everybody lets loose and enjoys life. It's those three months of freedom that we long for all year long. Time to shut off real life and go into vacation mode!

But let me ask you a question: When you go into vacation mode, is your spiritual life still switched on?

If I'm honest, in many of my past summers, I went on vacation and switched off my faith life. All I wanted to do was get out, enjoy, and forget about work and all the stressors of the day. I didn't think about going to church on vacation. I didn't think about sharing my faith on vacation. I certainly didn't think about the gospel on vacation. I was basically a summer vacation Atheist.

But here's the deal, just because it's summertime doesn't mean that God's inspired incidents don't still happen. Just because its summertime doesn't mean that intentional moments of living out our faith shouldn't still be happening. When we bring our kids along with us, it doesn't mean that there aren't still teaching moments. In fact, I'd argue that summer, with our relaxed psychological state, is the PERFECT time to teach our kids that God is still present in times of rest. That is super important!

When God created Adam, what was the next full day for him? Was it a day of work in the garden? No! Adam's first full day on earth was a day of rest. Rest is important, but rest was designed for us to reconnect with God.

So, this summer, as you head out on vacation, or out for a barbecue, or a picnic, keep your life of intentionality on. Watch and see who God places in your path. Look for times that God brings people in front of you who are hurting and hopeless and lost. Let your faith shine even in those vacation moments! And when you are relaxing at home or on a trip, ask God to come and saturate your heart and mind with His peace. If you struggle to balance your work and rest or if you want to make this summer one of unprecedented connection with Christ – I encourage you to pick up a copy of our new book iWork4Him and bring it with you on vacation or share it with a friend. Inside, I wrote about the vital subject of faith and rest – one that is arguably as important as the subject of faith and work.

Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Nobody Says on Their Deathbed, “I Wish I’d Worked More”

Newsflash: nobody ever got to their deathbed, and in reflecting on their lifetime, said to themselves, “Boy, I wish I had spent more time in the office!”  No one ever said that. They said, “I wish I spent more time with family. I wish I spent more time having fun. I wish I spent more time relaxing.” They don’t say, “I wish I spent more time working.”

I encourage you to pause for a moment and consider this:

It’s already mid-summer. How have you spent your time so far this year? When you look at your calendar and your priorities, do they line up?

One of the things I found myself (and really speaking for Martha as well) is that we love to work. We could happily work all the time, but is that right? “I don’t think so, Jim!” When our kids were at home, we had to look at our calendars and prioritize our kids. We always made sure that we had dinner together. We always made sure that we had some family time each weekend. Our kids needed to know they were a priority. Now that our kids are grown and gone, we need to make sure they still know they’re a priority. So, we take time every year to visit them, their spouses, and their kids, and in-between, we make sure that we call them regularly. With our aging parents, we make sure we’re investing in them while we still can. We don’t want to get to the end of our lives and say, “I wish we hadn’t worked so much.” It’s a real danger for us.

So, what about you? As you look at the first half of your summer, were your family, spouse, and kids a priority in your schedule or just an afterthought? When you look at your calendar, what does it say about what you value? I know it’s not easy, but I can tell you this: it is worth the time and investment to re-do your schedule to ensure that your family knows they are a priority. Too many families and marriages are broken apart because our work demands too much of our attention.

The root of the destruction of our country can be directly tied to the destruction of the family over the last 60 years. Free sex, free love, no-fault divorce, and workaholism don’t lend to healthy family environments. As Jesus-followers, we know that it was God’s plan to build community around families. Is that your plan? Can you be a blessing to your community by making your family a priority?

And here’s the good news - If you need to make some changes, you still have half the summer left to do it!  Psalm 90:12 

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

For more ideas on balancing your priorities and investing well in your faith, family, community, AND work – check out our new books iWork4Him, sheWorks4Him, and iRetire4Him.

 Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Ministry Starts at Home

Jesus saved me. He saved me from my sin, He saved me from an eternity of separation from Him, and He saved me from myself. Jesus is my LORD, and He has called me to love others in the same way He loved, to serve in the same way He has served. But what exactly does that look like in our day-to-day lives?

Today I want to share with you a bit of my personal story.

Martha and I have been married for 35 years, but we have known each other for almost 39 years. Both of our parents are in their 80s and starting to slow down. Meanwhile, all three of our kids are now speeding up, getting married, and raising their own kids. It's an odd thing to live between – the letting go of your children so that you can increasingly serve your parents. And although Martha's folks live nearby for roughly eight months a year, my folks live 2300 miles away. The reality is that we can't serve them equally, but we do our best to serve them as they need it. And it isn't easy. But it's vitally important.

I know what you're thinking; Jim, what does that do with us living out our faith at work?

Here's the truth: we can be great, big Jesus followers at work, but if we neglect our family, it discounts our witness and testimony.

1 John 4:11-12 says, "Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us." In other words, the way that you love your family should be an extension, an expression of God's love for you. And if it isn't, then your life is not expressing the gospel in its fullness.

I remember when I was 13 years old, my Dad said, "Jim, it's all great the ministry stuff you are doing in the community, but I'll believe it's true when I see you living it out at home." So, next time you are contemplating if you should serve on a committee at church or the board of a non-profit or volunteer some hours at your favorite charity, first ask yourself, what is the condition of your family and how can you serve them like Jesus FIRST?

Learning how to honor God in all areas of our life, starting at home, is undeniably a challenge – the kind of challenge that takes a lifetime even to begin to figure out. But it's essential. If you are looking for some ways to begin, I highly suggest picking up a copy of iWork4Him. We wrote this book as a guide to help you get a jump start so that your testimony is powerful and effective in every sphere of your life – both work and home.

Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

The Power of Holding Loosely

Over the last few weeks, I have been telling you a little of the back story of how the Lord prepped our hearts to be Christian Radio Talk Show Hosts. Here's a little more of that story:

Before Martha and I took the Crown Financial Ministry's course in 1999, we were already avid tithers. We tithed out of obligation but we never missed a check. I was almost militaristic or legalistic about it.

However, we were not generous.

Over the last 20 years, Martha and I have learned to be generous, learning that nothing we have is really ours but God trusts us to steward it. The Lord may ask us to give something away or He may allow us to keep it but either way we needed to hold on lightly. Many times over the last 20 years the Lord has asked us to give more than we were comfortable with.

Why were we obedient?

The more we generously gave, the less the money and possessions had a hold on us. Being generous literally changed our perspective on earthly things. We realized that all we accumulate here on earth would eventually end up in a landfill or someone else's garage. Why not give away what we don't need so that our stuff doesn't own us. It has been a great lesson.

Martha and I are asking you to be a partner with iWork4Him. We are asking you to consider giving generously for the next 3 years towards iWork4Him, so that we can share the message of iWork4Him with the Millions of Christ Followers around this country.

We need your help.

Trust the Lord to provide in order for you to partner with us. We have seen Him do it time and time again. We need 367 partners giving an average of $100 a month for the next 36 months to expand across the country and touch the lives of millions.

Please pray about it and consider what God wants to do.

www.iWork4Him.com/donate

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Gathering at Home with Coworkers

One of the things Martha and I have learned is the power of the kitchen table. When people are surrounded by good food and friends, conversation happens. Good solid transparent conversations can happen when our feet are under the table.   We learned this years ago and the power of the kitchen table never subsides.

Let me encourage you first to put that power into play with your own family.  

Have dinner together every night. Watch it change the atmosphere in your household.  Invite your neighbors over for dinner, just like they used to in the old days and watch it change the atmosphere in your neighborhood.

Now for the THROW DOWN.  

Invite your coworkers and their families over for dinner. Develop genuine relationships over dinner with them and watch it transform your workplace.   Workplaces are so easy to remain at a comfortable distance with people. When you break down that distance with good food over the kitchen table you will see the power of God transform those that you love on in your home.

Take a look at your kitchen table tonight when you get home. Is it cluttered and piled high with junk or is it a welcoming place for conversation and the eating of good food. Clean it off and start inviting people to your table. Watch the Lord do amazing work in your life and the lives you share your table with. This is an iWork4Him plan of action.

1 Corinthians 10:31 English Standard Version (ESV)

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Mid-Summer Doldrums

I grew up in MN. Everybody thinks that MN is cold and snowy, but let me tell you about the summer doldrums in MN.  I’ll never forget the summer I was 8 years old and my family moved to MN from MD. It was so hot the semi-truck dented the driveway from the 108 degree heat.  On those hot days, my mom called it the summer doldrums.  It could be too hot to truly do much of anything – even as a kid, causing boredom and lack of purpose.

I came to learn that the temperature often rose over 100 degrees during a MN summer and well below 0 in the MN winter!  How do you ever get used to that sort of temperature swing?  Hardiness. You can’t be a wimp and deal with that cold or that hot.

Isn’t that a lot like being a Christ Follower?  

Our temperature swings in the Spirit. Some days we are really hot and some days we are really cold, but most of the time we are kind of tepid (lukewarm).  To live out iWork4Him, I think God wants me to be hot, which takes a lot of prayer. Prayer can fuel my energy and enthusiasm and my ability to be obedient. 

I don’t want to be in a “Christian Doldrum”.  

Not hot and not cold but not really allowing my faith to impact what I do every day!  What can we do to avoid the doldrum?  Start Praying for our co-workers and/or employees today. Watch as our faith grows and watch the workplace transform and the doldrums melt away. 

Happy Mid-Summer!

Revelation 3:16 New Living Translation (NLT)

16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Birthday Week Contemplations

It’s my birthday week.

A few years ago I didn’t even know what a birthday week was, but now I take full advantage of it.  Did you know that celebrating a birthday month is a thing!  I digress, as I turn 52 and lean into my 53rd year, I pause to reflect on the incredible life I have lived and the impact that Jesus has had on me.  

Soon it will be 40 years since I trusted my whole life to my Lord, Jesus Christ.

In that 40 years, Jesus has taken me through some pretty intense adversity and shaped me. His focus has been on changing my heart and deepening my relationship with Him.  God is not impressed with my acts (religion) but with my heart.  While this is transforming, quite frankly it’s also frustrating.  When my heart is focused on Jesus, the neat things that I want to do, flow more naturally out of me.  

What are you focused on?

Your heart or your religion?  

Don’t waste another minute.

Start working on your relationship now.  My heart really started to radically transform when I gave the Lord the first hour of every day.  Try it. I am a new person because of Jesus and my time with Him is never enough.

Happy birthday Week to me.

Proverbs 15:8 New Living Translation (NLT)

8 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
    but he delights in the prayers of the upright.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: To transform Christian-run businesses through mentoring Christian Business Owners (CBOs) by incorporating the servant leadership of Jesus Christ in their businesses, their home life and their walk with Christ.

The Rebellious Israelites and Me

This morning I read the passage in Numbers chapter 13 and 14 where Moses sent out the 12 representatives to scout out the future land of Israel.  Joshua and Caleb were part of the 12.  Moses asked them to bring back proof of the great produce of the land because God had said the land flowed with milk and honey.  For the next 40 days these 12 men scouted out the land, the people, the cities and the produce.  They grabbed one cluster of grapes so large it took 2 men to carry, as well as some pomegranates and figs.   They returned to report what they saw to the people of Israel and Moses.  They all describe the incredible bounty of the land, but 10 of them focused on the giants and walled cities they encountered and believed could not be conquered.  Caleb declared that if God was with them, nothing could stand in the way of taking the land. The report of the 10 basically incited a riot of the people and they cried all night long, longing to be back in Egypt where they could have died, but not in battle.  

Do you find this incredible like I do?

The People of Israel had seen God wipe out the Egyptian armies, they saw the Red Sea part, they ate manna and meat from God’s hand.  They saw God cover the Tabernacle by day with a cloud and by night  with a pillar of fire.   Yet, they doubted God could deliver the land that He had promised.

I find it easy to criticize the people of Israel and their lack of faith in God, yet right now I am doing exactly the same thing.  I have seen God do so many incredible miracles in my life. In just the last 5 years of iWork4Him radio, Martha and I have witnessed miracle after miracle.  Yet I still doubt, and complain, and sometimes even long for the life I once had where I didn’t have to live by faith. 

In the words of Joshua, Son of Nun in Joshua 24:15  

“Today I declare, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

He is faithful and He is merciful and He is gracious to me even when I have so little faith. Choose today who you will serve.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: To transform Christian-run businesses through mentoring Christian Business Owners (CBOs) by incorporating the servant leadership of Jesus Christ in their businesses, their home life and their walk with Christ.

Ground Hogs Day and the Holy Spirit

Happy Ground Hogs Day! 

You may be asking yourself"

“What does Ground Hogs Day have to do with the Holy Spirit?”

I am about to tell you. 

My presumption is that Ground Hogs day was invented by some very bored people in PA who grew weary of winter and one day they noticed a ground hog stick its nose out of the ground.  Whether it was sunny that day or cloudy, the observers made a prediction of 6 more weeks of winter or winter was over.  Either way, they made it up. Why 6 weeks instead of 4 weeks or 8 weeks. Ground Hogs don’t know. For that matter, neither do the highly paid weather professionals with millions of dollars of weather equipment.  Weather is unpredictable and powerful and not subject to the whims of a ground hog.  It is important to note that for the last 20 or 30 years – they plant Punxsutawney Phil in a hole that is surrounded by cameras and millions of people watching. It’s all staged and it has no bearing but it makes for ?great? TV? Or at least distraction from the winter months.

The Holy Spirit

In the Jim Brangenberg Bible Paraphrase I hear Jesus saying in the Book of John:

“I must go so that the Holy Spirit can come. If I am here, He can ‘t come and you need Him because He will live in each one of you with power and strength. You will be able to do even greater things than I have been able to do because of what I am about to do – Die and Raise from the Dead – and the Holy Spirit will do those incredible things through you.” 

(Read John 16 for yourself in your favorite translation)

It seems however, that we have forgotten those words. We often discount this truth and replace it with a more rational, reasonable, predictable Holy Spirit that doesn’t make us uncomfortable.  We talk about the Holy Spirit at church but then tend relegate Him to the back row and ignore His presence in our lives.    Just like the ground hog we have placed the Holy Spirit in the spot light only for show.  However, the Holy Spirit is like the weather. Unpredictable, Powerful, Unexplainable.   Does He effect your life this way?

Perhaps one of Bill Murrays greatest movies, and he had many, was the movie Ground Hogs Day.  Many of you will go look that up and watch it today.  He got stuck in a time loop doing the same things every day, living in meaningless and having to wake up to the music of Sonny and Cher every morning.  Then one day things changed for him.  Today could be your day to let things change.  Wake up to a new song!

I am a follower of Jesus, and it is because of the incredible things that He did for me.  Everything about me should be changing and that change is driven by the power of the Holy Spirit. I want to stop relegating the Holy Spirit to a fairy tale status and never view the Bible as just a book of history.  The Bible is a life handbook and it says the Power of the Holy Spirit is life changing.  Let’s be Led by God’s spirit today and not pretend that we believe a ground hog. I want to go all in for Jesus today, be transformed and let His overwhelming unpredictable Holy Spirit power change everything about me.  What about you? 

For the Kingdom

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: To transform Christian-run businesses through mentoring Christian Business Owners (CBOs) by incorporating the servant leadership of Jesus Christ in their businesses, their home life and their walk with Christ.