The Tax Man

Tax Day is May 17th this year… weird. Another Covid Anomaly. When most of us hear the words “Tax Man” or “Tax Return Filing Day,” we get heart palpitations. Why? Because we’re afraid to owe the government money. Now, imagine that your business files its tax return and finds out it owes an enormous amount of money, the kind of amount that would keep you up at night trying to figure out how you could ever pay it. You lay in bed filled with fear and dread because the taxman always gets what’s his - no matter what... kind of like a horror story.

That feeling, its nothing compared to judgment day.

You see, we all actually DO have a debt we can’t pay. When we have to account for the way we spent our lives, it will become clear that we all have a load of sin… and the cost of it is death. Many of us have lived our lives imagining a cosmic scale at the end of it all, hoping that our good deeds outweigh our bad and thus give us a ticket to heaven... but that turns out was a lie because God’s standard is PERFECTION. Our sin is a debt with a guaranteed death sentence, and there is nothing we can do to pay the bill, good deeds and all. Now that is a horror story.

You can’t pay God back with your good deeds, you can’t scam the heavenly ledger, and you sure can’t escape the death sentence delivered. It’s hopeless.

But then Jesus rescued us! He said, “I will pay the sin debt for you; you just need to give your old life to me in exchange for a new one that comes without a death sentence.”

That is good news! I owed God an unpayable debt, and then Jesus paid for it all!

It’s like a millionaire came into your business and said, “I want to pay for that ridiculously enormous tax bill.” Can you imagine the relief? The Gospel is that but a trillion times more! Yet all around you are other people who don’t know the truth about their death sentence yet. They think they don’t own anything or that their good deeds will outweigh their bad when giving an account. They have been lied to and misled by the enemy of their souls, who wants them to live in ignorance until cosmic Tax Day is upon us and it’s too late.

But guess what? God put you right where you are – your job, your neighborhood, your friends – so that you could go and give the good news to those who need to be delivered from death to life. Everyone is searching for hope these days. With so many dead from COVID-19, millions of people have realized that life is fragile and can be lost at a moment’s notice. There has never been a better time to share the Gospel.

Look around you. Do all your co-workers know your story? Do you love them enough to be vulnerable in order to deliver them from a death sentence? Be a warrior and rob Hell of another resident!

But make sure you pay your taxes.

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!

Not today SATAN!

Does your faith cost you anything? Let me ask it another way, is it costing you anything to live out your faith in your work?  Are you facing any opposition, conflict or adversity because of your faith?  

In John 16:33 (NLT) Jesus says “ 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Let’s look at this verse through the lens of our work.  It says we are going to have trials and sorrows in this world, so I guess that means at work too!  The copier might break, an employee might get sick, the budget for the school district might get cut, the economy might tank, any of these situations can bring us trials and sorrows.  How we live out our faith and respond to these issues can either push people away from Jesus or bring them closer.  Jesus encourages us to take heart, because He’s overcome the world.  So I guess we can too.  We can have peace in Him and still deal with the trials. 

Trials can also come because of our faith.  Standing up for truth at work can bring adversity.  Working with integrity when it affects the bottom line can bring struggle.  What is it for you?  What decisions are you making at work because of your faith that bring trials and sorrows?  I am no theologian but I have been walking as a Jesus follower for 40+  years.   What I know is that the closer and bolder I am in living out my faith, the more opposition I face and the more trials I will experience. The adversity meter ramps up when my faith activity meter peaks out.

So I ask you again, does your faith cost you anything?  Are you living out your faith in such a way that the enemy is taking notice? If the answer is “Nope”, ask the Lord to show you what actions to take. You were sent to you work on purpose for a purpose. Put your faith into action and you will see Him bring results, even amongst the trials and sorrow.

Let’s ramp up our faith at work and make it necessary to wear the shirt “Not today SATAN”!

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!

Keeping it Simple

Are you stressed?  Are financial pressures causing you to eat too much?  After watching the evening news do you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders?  When you look at your calendar of video meetings, are you burdened by the unending tasks?  Maybe it’s the uncertainty of the future that keeps you up at night.

Jesus Said in Matthew 11:28-30

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

The yoke is a farm tool used to join animals together to pull an implement. If paired well, the animals can work well together.  The yoke is a workplace tool in scripture and it still is today.  Jesus is giving us a picture of walking side by side in a yoke with him.  He is willing to bear the burden with us. His ultimate goal is rest for our weary souls.

Jesus did not intend for us to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. He intended to bear the entire weight of sin on his shoulders and then walk through life with us, aiding us in dealing with our burdens. We never have to carry about burdens alone, his yoke is easy to bear and the burden He gives us is light. 

So keep it simple. Rest. Breathe Deep the breathe of God and realize that when we approach work from an earthly perspective, we run out of steam and are harried and stressed. When we work from a heavenly perspective, we work from a platform of victory and with the realization that our Savior wants to walk with us in our work.  Listen to His voice and remember His words

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

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!

Mental Toughness – Extra Effort

What's the difference between believing in God and trusting God?

A San Antonio business owner named Darryl Lyons got to find out.  

Living in the mid-west at the time, with a pregnant wife, and a young daughter, they experienced several years of business and personal upheaval.  He says he spent these years handling things his own way, through his own personal motto:

Mental toughness, extra effort.

And now, that motto was useless.

At lunch with a mentor one day, God spoke to him through his mentor’s counsel. God said

“Darryl, are you done yet?  Are you done trying to do things out of your own strength?” 

Darryl says he finally understood and submitted to God’s word over his life, and professional plans. He was presented with a unique opportunity, and from the world’s perspective a no-brainer: to go work as a fat cat on Wall Street with a huge salary.  But much prayer and God’s question to him about being done, set him on a path to choose what was best for his family: To stay in San Antonio, and start a family-centered Financial Advisory Group.

Matthew 6: 33 advises us -

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Darryl discovered in his life and work, just how true this passage is.  So how about YOU? Are you just believing IN God, or are you really living as though you TRUST God?

You can still believe in God and still be doing most things from your own knowledge and strength. But TRUSTING God is going ALL IN. It’s putting His plan, His will, His way before ours.

So dear reader, are YOU done yet?

Listen to the iWork4Him interview with Darryl Lyons.

About the Guest Blogger, Caroline Mendez, National Brand Ambassador, iWork4Him

Caroline’s Mission: To raise the visibility of Christian Women in Leadership. She is passionate about empowering each woman she meets to be free from that which keeps them oppressed.

A High Calling - Your Workplace

Last fall we spent almost a week in San Antonio, Texas at the C12 Headquarters. I am passionate about this "Biznistry". C12 Group disciples Christ Following Business Owners and leaders to become Kingdom Leaders, who create a Kingdom Culture in their workplaces ,so that the Kingdom of God can advance. While in San Antonio, we interviewed a financial planning firm owner that focuses on middle class clients, not the uber rich. We interviewed the president of a University that was founded to train those in service focused jobs like airplane mechanics. We also spent time with a local businessman who immigrated from Mexico. We heard his story and why he came to America before interviewing several C12 Employees.

Perhaps my favorite interview of the week was with Mike and Jacqui Sharrow. They lead C12 with their selfless actions and attitudes which are reflected throughout the organization and the country. Keep these two in your prayers as they strive to deliver discipleship to Christ Following Business Owners and Leaders and raise their 2 girls, too. Mike and Jacqui are unique servants of God who have experienced incredible adversity and at such a young age realize the high calling of God on their lives.

Are you pursuing your high calling?

As you begin this new year, stop and take time to do some personal inventory. Are you using the gifts, talents, and abilities that God equipped you to use. We have all been called to a workplace that is a true place of ministry. May God bless you this year as you pursue that High calling in your life.

Romans 11:29 New Living Translation (NLT)

29 For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn

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!

Debt - But Everybody is Doing It

I've been thinking back to 1999 when Martha and I were up to our eyeballs in debt.

In 1994 we built a house beyond our means and started a business solely on credit. I was addicted to having a new car all the time and we ate out more often than we ate in. In all, our spending was out of control. It was all fueled by the wrong idea that we were the owners, we thought we knew everything and never considered that the bible had answers to our money problems.

We had lived without a budget and spent beyond our means and we were headed for disaster.

After completing our Crown Financial course in the spring of 1999, Martha and I committed to getting out of debt. We prayed:

"Lord we need your help getting us out of debt. We know that out of control spending got us here. We also believe that if you ever call us to do something out of the box for the Kingdom, we don't want our debt to keep us from obedience. Please help".

We decided to sell our dream house, and make some major changes, but in a period of 15 years the Lord helped us get completely out of debt. No debt! No credit card balances, no debt on cars or our home, and we had college money set aside for our 2 kids remaining at home. Tell me that wasn't miraculous.

What's the point?

In 2016, just 17 years after our extensive biblical financial training, 2 years after becoming debt free, and 3 years after going on the air for iWork4Him, God asked us to go all in and quit our jobs and start expanding the message of iWork4Him across the Nation. The kicker? We did it! But it was only possible because God had changed our hearts toward money and we were willing to be obedient and get out of debt.

For the past 5 ½ years we have encouraged and equipped Christ Followers all over Florida and around the country (and around the world!) with the message of iWork4Him. However, millions more need to hear the message that their work matters to God and that their workplace is a place of ministry. Would you partner with our ministry for 3 years?

Be 1 of 367.

We are asking 367 iWork4Him listeners/followers to become partners in this ministry by making a commitment of $100 a month for 3 years. It's a big deal, I know. Please pray about it.

Jim

www.iWork4Him/donate

Proverbs 22:7 New Living Translation (NLT)

7 Just as the rich rule the poor,

so the borrower is servant to the lender.

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!

Know It All

"I know everything the Bible has to say about giving!"  

In 1998 I actually said that, and meant it. My friend Greg was hounding Martha and I to join a Crown Financial Ministries group at our local church in Lakeville, MN.  I didn't see any reason to get involved because I read my Bible all the time and had consistently tithed for over 20 years...but he wouldn't give up.  I finally relented and Martha and I joined a Crown Financial Ministries study at our church. It involved a ton of bible memorization and bible study, hard work and perseverance.  We learned so much and our lives were never the same again, and if I haven't said it lately....thanks Greg for insisting that we attend.

We saw money like we were owners not stewards, and we learned that debt was a curse from God to the Israelites.  We learned to budget and to stop trying to keep up with the "Jones's" because their finances were a mess too. More than anything we learned the gift of tithing, not the requirement of tithing.

Tithing reminds us who the owner is and it is the only math equation that does not make sense in the universe. 100-10=100.

Over the years we have had the privilege of supporting many missionary endeavors through our tithes and offerings.  This has blessed us, given us a connection to the work being done and helping that work to continue.  For the first time, we are asking others to help support us through our "Be one of 367" campaign to help iWork4Him not just continue but thrive and grow.  Will you consider becoming an iWork4Him Partner for the next 3 years?  To learn more CLICK HERE.

Next week I will tell you about getting debt free - really.

Would you consider being 1 of 367? We need 367 iWork4Him Partners to step up and commit to giving $100 monthly to iWork4Him so we can bring iWork4Him to the Nation. CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

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!