Workmatters in Arkansas

NW Arkansas was beautiful and the people we met all over town were so nice. This whole week we listened to interviews with people from everywhere in the organizational chart, but the very top.

You see NW Arkansas is really on the map because it is home to Walmart, Tyson Foods and JB Hunt Transportation. All three companies had founders that loved Jesus and treated their employees well. So well, that people flocked from all over the country to be a part of their culture. Today, the communities of Rogers, Fayetteville and Bentonville Arkansas all reflect this attitude. Three families loved on their people and their customers and it has transformed a section of our country...literally. This community is being blessed by the choices of thousands who let their faith shine in all they do.

What's happening in NW Arkansas can happen all over the country. Jesus followers can help transform all 19,384 incorporated communities in America through their actions and attitudes. It's happening in NW Arkansas and it can happen in your city, will you let it?

This week's interviews were brought to you in partnership with Workmatters.

Matthew 5:16 -

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

PS! It’s Not too late to “Be The Gift” Donate now by click this sentence :)

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!

Are the Unions the Enemy?

Do you live in a state with many Unions, or are they rare in your neck of the woods?

I've lived in both: Minnesota has many Unions and Florida has few.

What I know as a fact is that Unions were originally created to protect workers. I also know that unions and management have struggled to communicate and love each other since their beginning. Nancy McDonnell with Value of the Person out of Pittsburgh, PA has a consulting firm that teaches Unions to love management and Management to love on their unions.

In this country we get so good at vilifying entities like corporations, Unions or The Management. Sadly, LOVE is not consistent with the rhetoric often espoused on the news. Nancy McDonnell is different. She wants to bridge the gap between two "Inanimate Objects" and turn the conversation into Love and Respect between people. People created by God.

It is hard to love people who disagree with us. However, Jesus demonstrated love towards the most disagreeable people, including the one sentencing him to death - Pontius Pilate. Who can you love today?

Matthew 5:44 New Living Translation (NLT)

44 But I say, love your enemies!

Pray for those who persecute you!

PS! It’s Not too late to “Be The Gift” Donate now by click this sentence :)

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!

Why We Work

Monday on iWork4Him we interviewed Dave Kahle about his Book : The Good Book in Business. In this book Dave makes a startling observation of scripture that I have never heard in a sermon, but I believe it to be 100% true.

In Genesis 1, God created Adam. He placed Adam in the garden that He has created and told Adam to work it/cultivate it. Dave Kahle goes on to make this observation and I paraphrase, God gave Adam work before he gave him a wife. It's as if God said to Adam:

"here is your work and by working you will be getting to know me."

We already know God is a worker and a creator, but did you ever think about God wanting to work with you? We do know that God took daily walks in the garden, Adam's workplace, so they could talk. Adam and Eve knew that sound, that's why they knew to hide when they heard it. Did you ever what they would talk about? Would it have been work? The work that God assigned Adam? The relationship they had with each other - co-workers?

God wants to be involved in your work. He wants to walk side by side with you and reveal himself to you as you work alongside Him.

Thanks, Dave Kahle for your perspective this week.

On a final note for today, I heard someone say a few weeks back "Prayer IS the work". Put that in context of your daily walk and it changes everything.

Genesis 2:15 New Living Translation (NLT)

15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.

PS! It’s Not too late to “Be The Gift” Donate now by click this sentence :)

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!

Power of the Relationship

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

This week we highlighted some amazing kingdom stories, including one that Felicity Dale shared with us from Austin, Texas. Felicity talked about the power of the small church, and unleashing this power on our communities.

Our mission is to impact the community by living out our faith in everything we do. Our Faith is demonstrated by the power of God directing our steps and guiding our actions. Are you motivated by Money or Fame or Job Status? What if we were motivated by those we can Love, make Smile, and find Purpose in living?

The power of the small church is the power of relationships.

When you really know someone, it makes a difference. In America most of us don't get outside of our homes and offices. We don't KNOW our co-workers and we don't KNOW our neighbors. When these people get to know you, they will be getting to know Jesus as well.

Let's all take time this Holiday Season to get to KNOW those around us. Everyone who met Jesus was NEVER the same, might that be true if they met YOU?

Hope you didn't eat too much turkey!

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!

Beyond the Headlines

Have you ever been watching TV and asked if there’s every any “good news”? This week on Wednesday we interviewed Bobby Lewis, a local TV Reporter for Channel 10 in Tampa Bay. Bobby has the unusual pleasure of highlighting positive things going on around Florida and bringing you those stories on the TV news. Bobby highlighted some of these stories in a book he wrote “Finding Joy Beyond the Headlines”.

Let me ask you - Are you able to find joy beyond the headlines and pressures of each day? Are you able to let the stress roll off of you when you remember that Jesus lived in this world too? The news back in Jesus’ day and today would actually be very similar. We get to choose how we respond.

Can you choose joy?

Romans 12:2 commands us to stop copying the behaviors and customs of this world and let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

Today is the day I’m going to gain a new perspective, looking for God beyond the headlines. Then I can be reminded that He is in control and He can use me if I’m willing…

1 Corinthians 9:23 New Living Translation (NLT)

23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

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!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like the Holiday's

The Holiday blues are a thing.

Many of the people we spend life with at work and in our neighborhoods and churches, are hurting. At the Holiday's that hurt is amplified and multiplied. Think about the people you know who have lost a child, a parent, a spouse, or a best friend in the last year. This Thanksgiving and Christmas may mark the first holiday without someone special. This can be a painful time for the ones left behind, they may even feel guilty for moving on and enjoying life.

Did you know that?

What about those we know who had terrible hurt, pain, or rejection in their family. The holidays can be a time where they either have to "suck it up" and pretend there isn't a problem or "go it alone" on the days of the year that NOONE wants to be alone.

THERE IS AN ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM - YOU.

As a Christ Follower we know Jesus is the answer to the pain, hurt, and loneliness our friends, coworkers, employees, or bosses are feeling. Jesus is the healer of all that is dark and ugly. Look around. Where will those you work alongside be spending Thanksgiving or Christmas? Do you know? Ask them "How do you spend the Holidays?" "Who do you spend it with?" "What are you going to be doing this year?" "Would you be willing to spend your day with our family?"

Let's start these conversations today.

Remember, you may be the only Jesus your co-workers, employees, bosses, and friends may ever meet. Invite them to spend life with you this Holiday Season!

1 Chronicles 16:34 New Living Translation (NLT)

34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

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!

Halloween - Behavior and Customs of this World

Growing up, we trick or treated, put up scary decorations, and watched scary movies to celebrate Halloween. However, when I surrendered my life to Jesus I realized that glorifying fear was only a tool for the enemy and it never drew me closer to God. So where is the struggle? Is it all fun and costumes and candy - or is there something more sinister about?

Forget the historical context. Why do we celebrate it today?

As a Jesus follower, I try to imagine if Jesus would celebrate Halloween right beside me? I don't think so. You see, he knows the truth behind fear, demons, Satan, fire and death. Jesus knows the reality and He died to rescue me from it.

So, why celebrate Halloween?

Does it help me share my faith with those at work? Maybe it would, if I were super intentional with my costume and rhetoric, but I'm pretty sure Romans 12:2 fits into the equation. Does celebrating Halloween cause me to conform instead of be transformed?

Not even Christmas is immune from Romans 12:2, but that is another blog for another time.

Every day when I wake up, I want to reflect on Romans 12:2.

For me, Halloween is a holiday worth avoiding. It's not harmless and can lead down a slippery slope to old ways of thinking. Just give it some prayer this week.

Romans 12:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

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!

Jesus is Freedom

Greetings from the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

Remember the Alamo! Texans fought hard for their independence from Mexico and fought to the last one. They believed in the dream of freedom and independence so much that they gave their lives for that dream.

What are you willing to give your life for?

Your family, a friend, and enemy? It would seem crazy to give your live for someone who mocks or tortures you for your threat to their political (religious) system. No, I am not talking about US politics, I am talking about Jesus. He gave up His life for you and me, and even His enemies.

We can gain freedom from sin and have a relationship with our Heavenly Father because Jesus was willing to give his life for us.

I'm thankful for those that have given up so much for me. Today I will choose to stand a little taller and share a little louder about the saving work of Jesus in my life. May the very presence of Jesus in me influence those I come in contact with.

I want my life to leak Jesus onto those around me!

Colossians 1:27 New International Version (NIV)

27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

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!

On a "Kingdom Company"

Deep in the heart of West Texas is where you will find Martha and I this week. We have been broadcasting from the Kingdom at Work workshop in Lubbock, Texas. This is the most unusual leadership workshop in America. We have been hearing from the leadership of Betenbough Homes about how they learned to be a Kingdom company. A few of my core values are Transparency, Vulnerability, and Boldness. I have been witnessing these core values in Rick and Holly Betenbough and Rick's Dad, Ron, as they share how they learned what it meant to run a Kingdom Company.

We often define a kingdom company by how much money is given away or how many ministry projects are completed. A true kingdom company is defined by generosity and a focus on the people that work within a company.

A kingdom company blesses everyone it touches:

Vendors, Customers, Employees.

A Kingdom company is focused on the priorities of God and bringing that influence into the marketplace through excellent work and a consistent godly reputation. There are more workshops scheduled for 2019.

If you want to hear how to make this work in your company, whether large or small, sign up for some time in Lubbock Texas at the next Kingdom At Work Workshop.

This experience has been transformational. No longer will I call them Christian companies but Christ Followers learning how to run Kingdom Companies.

Matthew 6:33 New Living Translation (NLT)

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

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!

This Movement is Sweeping the Nation

On the road again from Fl to IL and then Texas by weeks end. We made a pit stop at the Faith@Work Summit in Chicago this week. Chicago's own radio hosts Bob Lambert and Jennifer Villarreal joined us on the air Thursday. Their show: Faith Marketplace is the only other radio program we have found talking about faith and work!

As you hear the show with Bob and Jennifer, I think you'll be amazed like we were, that God had laid on their hearts the exact same mission that He had laid on our hearts, at exactly the same time. God is using Bob and Jennifer to focus on His movements in the workplaces of Chicago. Every Saturday they interview guests to share their workplace testimony.

My takeaway from the show?

There is a huge movement of God happening all over the country, and we are just one cog in a wheel that Holy Spirit is powering to mobilize an army of believers in the workplaces of the United States. He is moving and our part is sharing this movement with the world. If God can use us then He can use anyone.

Are you available to be used in your work?

Join the iWork4Him Nation and commit your workplace to Him each and every day.

Matthew 9:37 New Living Translation (NLT)

37 He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few.

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!