Apartment Living is Mission Field Ready

Apartment Life is a ministry that is going to blow your mind. Why, because it is so simple!

I believe the enemy has been hard at work in the living conditions of renters. Apartments used to be close together with common space on the roof or a courtyard. Today, you can literally come and go in many apartment complexes and never see your neighbor. The economic impact of this disconnect on the apartment communities - costly, high turnover.

The Jesus Follower solution? Plant Jesus following couples and friends in apartment complex and teach them to live with intentionality with their neighbors. Churches across this country have regular attenders who live in rental housing but are they living with a missional mindset? It is a high calling to be able to impact such a large amount of people without ever leaving home.

Apartment complexes embrace Apartment Life because of its mission to build community. Why do they embrace it? Is it because they care about community? Love? Relationships? Jesus? Their reasons may be different, but community in the apartment complexes increases retention, and retention improves profitability.

This is a great Kingdom idea that comes from a biblical world view, benefitting the believer and the non-believer. Are you living with intentionality where you live?

As Jesus Followers we have within us the answer to the problems our neighbors are facing. It's time we start sharing our answers. Apartment Life is one of those really great ways to get started. Hear that show by clicking HERE

https://apartmentlife.org/

Matt. 22:39

39 Love your neighbor as yourself

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!

Relationomics

You've heard the business motto:

The customer is always right and the customer comes first.

How's that working for us today? Not good, not good at all. The general market news media has one thing right, and it’s only marginally right at that. Corporate America has become a bastion of creating wealth and ignoring of people. Stock holders generally come before the customers and the employees.

As Jesus followers we know this is wrong. The economists are finally coming to their senses and seeing this is wrong as well. When the employees of an organization feel treated like a number, they respond like a prime number. They are lonely, with 1 as their only ally and the ability to divide and conquer is destroyed.

In contrast, when employees work in an environment where they are genuinely loved and appreciated, the bottom line is impacted exponentially. Is anyone talking about this impact? Will corporate America ever wake up and realize this?

Dr. Randy Ross is founder and CEO (Chief Enthusiasm Officer) of Remarkable!

We need Jesus Followers to start leading by loving, instead of leading by pressure. How did Jesus bring out the best in the 12 disciples? He loved them unconditionally and showed that with firm rebukes and a loving touch, then he died for them.

Willing to lead? Are you willing to die? Randy Ross and I talked about Relationomics this week. It is not a new concept but it can change the world.

Jesus Followers need to lead the way.

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!

Retirement Reformation

Retirement is under attack. Not by the media, the news, or even the government, but Satan. For far too many years, we've allowed the enemy to woo some of the most valuable citizens in the kingdom to sleep.

How did he do this? By providing social security and 401k plans by promoting retirement villages and neighborhoods, and by building freeways to retirement destinations like Florida and Arizona.

Why did the enemy do this?

The enemy has convinced "chronologically superior" people to check out, gather together in one place, sit back, relax, and enjoy the rainbows and unicorns of a well deserved rest. What the enemy knew then is what we now know full well. When the wise and experienced generations are distanced from the younger generations, they start to mimic the behaviors of Rehoboam and his "friends" (1 King 12:8).

ENOUGH.

Enough of believing the lies that retirement is well deserved. Enough of checking out. Enough of slipping quietly away.

ENOUGH.

This world is falling apart and YOU, the iRetire4Him Nation, are desperately needed. Reject the lies that you are not needed and embrace the Truth that you are a key to discipling (investing spiritually) and mentoring (living life in their midst) the next generations. If you step up, our country has a chance and the kingdom will again begin advancing with a tidal wave of strength.

You have an ally here on iWork4Him. We need you. I need you. Retirement Reformation is underway and you are cutting edge. Bruce Bruinsma talked with me on Wednesday about this very subject. Take a listen!

Added bonus - if you mentor and disciple a Millennial, at least you would have free phone tech support!

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!

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

• Join the iRetire4Him Nation - a community dedicated to encouraging and equipping you to live your retirement with purpose.

• Subscribe to the iRetire4Him Podcast!

Getting Old and Irrelevant, or Willing to Change?

It happens to all of us. God gives us a direction and we move toward that direction and eventually that new direction becomes routine. That routine has the danger of getting stuck in a rut.

What am I talking about? I know that it's happened to me at least three or four specific times in my life where God placed a ministry in my life and asked me to be obedient serving there for a season, but I didn't recognize the end of the season. Sometimes that ministry was in business, or the church, or my community, but it was still ministry.

Here's what I so often forget - what has a beginning, often has an end. What is relevant today, may not be relevant two years from now.

I need to be open to when the Holy Spirit tells me change is on the horizon. When God asks me to finish one task and move onto another, I need to be willing to let go and obey. I don't want to become out of date and irrelevant, or do things just because I've "always done it that way". Take for instance Sears and Kmart - they didn't adjust and now they are extinct.

The gospel is fresh and brings freedom in new ways every day. How is God asking you to bring that fresh Gospel message of freedom to the people you work alongside today? Is it a different approach than what you have done in the past?

Let's be open to change and realize that God is at the center of that change. He wants to be Relevant to those we work around each and every day.

Truth is truth and it's never changing. How the truth is presented may change. It was once from a street corner or a pulpit and today it may be online blogs and podcasts. Still the same message.

Are you stuck in a rut or are you willing to change?

Let go and let God lead you into new fresh waters.

Here's a few of our favorite resources to help you in a fresh way:

• The Pocket Testament League

• Right Now Media at Work

• Jim and Martha's book lists

Lamentations 3:23

23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

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!

Marriage Ministry is Marketplace Ministry

Contrary to popular opinion, which is worth just about two sea shells on the sea shore, I believe Marriage is the fabric of society. Now, marriage has been difficult since sin entered the world, but people always learned to love and adore their spouse, despite the difficulty. Prior to the late 1960's, Marriage held communities intact, allowed families to flourish, and kept kids in check through discipline. Since the destruction of marriage has been a focus of the enemy these last almost 50 years, (through the Women's Liberation Movement and the continued attach on manhood) our country has been spiraling downward. Suicide, Mass Murders, Depression, Joblessness, Hopelessness - have spun out of control.

What can we do about it?

What does this have to do with our ministry in our workplace?

I am glad you asked.

Did you know that the difficult questions like "why is this happening?" and "why does my life suck?", can be answered with one Word...Jesus. Jesus is the solution to all the world problems. True followers of Jesus can transform their part of the world each and every day. When someone finally surrenders their life to Jesus, it transforms their life, then their families, their neighborhoods, communities and so on. God created marriage to introduce Jesus to children. When a marriage destructs, kids are destroyed and kids start to question who God is and why He let their mom and dad split up.

You can make a difference. You are surrounded by hurting people at work, at home, and in your networks. They may be contemplating divorce, have gone through a divorce, or are the collateral damage of a divorce. Jesus Followers can love on those hurting around us and it will transform your workplace. Why? Because hurting people, hurt people. So, Loving people can work alongside hurting people and love them into relationship with Jesus. Check out Monday’s show from this week by clicking HERE - and the website - www.NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org - to learn more about the impacts of marriage on our society.

John 13:34-35

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

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 Book of John & Chocolate - What Do They Have in Common?

Intrigued aren't you?

Martha and I love to see people to read the Bible for themselves. In fact, when we find out that a friend or new acquaintance has never read the bible, we ask if it would be okay to get them one. We then ask them to start in the book of John the Apostle. John, as one of Jesus's best friends here on earth, writes about the compelling story of Jesus the Messiah and Savior. He makes it clear that Jesus claimed to be God, to be equal to God and John backs it up with seven miracles that Jesus performs, and the 8th being his resurrection from the dead. Jesus is quoted as saying - (Jim paraphrase):

" I am the Way(road), the Truth, and the Life, no man comes to be in relationship with my Father, but through putting his/her faith in me(Jesus)"

The book of John is a great way for people to get introduced to Jesus and to read for themselves who He really is. Please be open to buying someone a Bible, and lways buy one that is easy to read and understand. We recommend the NLT Life Application Bible.

So what does all this have to do with Chocolate? The Pocket Testament League ministry began in 1893 as the vision of a teenage girl named Helen Cadbury, daughter of the president of Cadbury Chocolates. She was so excited about sharing her faith that she organized a group of girls who sewed pockets onto their dresses to carry the small New Testaments her father had provided. The girls called their group "The Pocket Testament League." Using small membership cards, they pledged to read a portion of the Bible every day, pray, and to share their faith as God provided opportunity. Learn more by clicking HERE

The Pocket Testament is a small gospel of John that you can hand out easily to introduce someone to Jesus wherever you go. Today, on iWork4Him we get to talk with Mollie Yoder from Pocket Testament League about this amazing resource and how it can help you in your workplace. You can order some pocket Testaments today at PTL.org

Chocolate and the Gospel of John - both Life transforming.

Chocolate changes your shape, Jesus changes your life!

Hebrews 4:12 New Living Translation (NLT)

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Join us for the 2019 International Culture Shapers Summit - early bird discount before 2/1/19.

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!

A GIFT at Christmas

It’s the new year and we just celebrated Christmas. We all give and receive gifts at Christmas, but this year, I got to be part of giving the best gift I have ever given in my life. I hope you take time to read my story about a real-life God sized Miracle.

I call myself a Jesus Follower. I have for almost 40 years. My goal is for people to see Jesus in me in everything I do. My close friends are laughing because they know after 40 years there is still much to be worked on.  Jesus said in John 15:13 “13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. “Jesus lived that out in his own life by surrendering his life to the cross and dying for you and me. The Good News is that He conquered death and rose from the dead. If He hadn’t risen from the dead, he wouldn’t be a Savior and I wouldn’t be writing this. Jesus calls his followers to follow His example.  He always put others before Himself and He was always obedient to what the Father asked Him to do. I have a story to tell and it’s about eventual obedience and loving my neighbor as myself. As a Jesus Follower in America, very rarely do we get to live this out in a way that is life transforming.  My life has been transformed by a miracle.  The cool thing about the miracle that I got to participate in, you can experience it too.

If you’re one of those people who can’t stand to read a long post, just scroll down to the *** near the bottom now. Because what I’m about to tell you it’s quite a story. 

When you meet someone for the first time you never really know where it’s going to go, whether your friendship will last over the years and certainly over the miles when you move away. But I have this one friend, named Bill Boysen who is one of those friends that I’ve had for 30 years.

Martha and I moved from Minneapolis to Florida 15 years ago. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Minnesota, much to the contrary, I miss Minnesota every day. But it was because of Martha ‘s health that we had to move to a warmer climate.  It has been a great move for her health, in fact, as I write this, I sit outside in shorts and a T-shirt and it’s 70°. A little bit of a contrast compared to Minnesota right now.

I met Bill 30 years ago because he was a parent of a kid in our youth group at Trinity Evangelical Free Church, in Lakeville, Minnesota. Martha and I were doing volunteer work there, and Bill’s son Brian was invited as a guest to our youth group one night.

Our friendship was forged 30 years ago but grew over time through moments of adversity, moments of shared work experiences, as well as love for family in Minnesota. Over the last 20 years Bills kidneys became a real health issue for him. He inherited a kidney disease called Polycystic Kidney disease. When he turned 50 his kidneys started growing large cysts on them. Eventually they will grow to be over 30 pounds apiece.

As I mentioned earlier Martha and I moved away from Minnesota over 15 years ago, but Bill was one of those friends that never let me go. He kept in touch with me often as we talked about lots of life issues. Over the last five or six years however those life issues were often centered on his growing kidneys and his kidney failure. In October 2017 Bill let me know that he was being placed on the national kidney donation list. I immediately felt compelled to request a kidney donation kit. I never told Bill that, but I really felt that it was something I should do.

After receiving the kit, I got good at making excuses as to why it couldn’t be me. I just couldn’t get myself to go through the paces required because of our busy radio ministry schedule. I really wanted to do something to help, so in March 2018 we did a radio show highlighting Bill’s need for a kidney donor.  It was broadcast nationwide.  We had his daughter Nicole as a guest to talk about her Living Kidney Donor experience (She had the same disease and received a kidney from an amazing co-worker). We had a Dr. from Abbott Northwestern talk about the surgery and the need for donors, and Bill shared about his need. As the Podcast went out all over the world, several people responded and requested the living donor kits from Abbott Northwestern’s very own Susanna Gust (a living donor advocate).  As it turns out, one of Bills very close friends, a fishing friend from Canada named Bob, came forward and went through the entire process to find out if he could be a match to donate a kidney to Bill. Bob got to the very end of the process but in the end the match fell through. There was great disappointment all over.

In May of 2018 Bill’s kidneys were removed, because they were so large, over 30Lbs each and they were squishing (technical term omitted) his other organs.  Bill started dialysis, 3 days a week for 4 to 6 hours each time.  I would call Bill on his way to dialysis and he was upbeat but during and after, you could hear the life getting sucked out of him. Dialysis was a life extending treatment, but it also was life sucking.

During June and July and early August, Martha and I were on the road all over the Midwest with our radio show, iWork4Him. I mentioned to Martha that when we got home in early August, I would like to go through the process to see if I could donate my kidney to Bill. It was a long shot, as I didn’t even know my blood type at that point. Although, I thought from the beginning that God was asking me to do this and that I would be the donor.

Through 2 months of initial testing they determined that I was a pretty good fit. In order to solidify my ability to donate, the next step was to spend two days of “in the hospital testing” in Minneapolis. So, in early October we snuck into Minneapolis unannounced.  I just didn’t want Bill to get his hopes up until I was completely approved. We went through rigorous testing, well I should say I went through rigorous testing, Martha had to wait by my side for two straight days. At the end of the two days the doctors announced to Martha and me that I was a perfect fit to donate my kidney to Bill. (Emotions felt - Humbling, Amazing, freaked out, and irritated) The Doctor said I was as good a donor as a blood relative. However, this is the irritating part, they also said because I was 52 1/2 years old, I needed to have my colonoscopy before they would give me final approval to donate to Bill. That delayed everything until the end of October as we still had 20+ days of travel ahead of us. This wasn’t a deal killer, but it was something I had dreaded since I was a child. 

On 10/30 and 10/31 I did the Colonoscopy prep. On glass 15 of 16 I prayed hard and said out loud, “Bill, this might be a deal killer!  I never did drink glass 16!  I got the colonoscopy on Halloween – quite apropos really.  That process really deserves another complete Facebook post.  On November 2 I got the all clear, that I could donate my kidney to Bill. We were with Martha’s folks and sister when I got the news. I was so excited. After over 1 year of waiting, Bill would get some relief.

Remember, during this time I never once mentioned to Bill that I was trying to see if I could donate my kidney. Three days a week for up to six hours at a time, Bill was doing dialysis and it literally sucked the life out of him. I often talked to him before dialysis, and then after dialysis and I could hear the drain of energy from his body. I knew that if Bill got a kidney, he would get his life back.

I called Bill on November 2 to tell him that I have been approved to donate my kidney to him. It’s kind of surreal when I really think about it. We talked three times that day and Bill called back the next day to ask me if he been dreaming or if I really said I was going to donate my kidney. We prayed together often over these last five or six years for the kidney donor for Bill ‘s health. I never ever imagined that I was really praying for me.

Once we had the surgery date set for December 10, 2018, Martha and I had to scramble to get everything in place so that we could set aside the radio show for a month and focus on being a living kidney donor. What God had done in Preparing us for this month out of pocket is literally another piece of this miracle. While Martha and I were on the road this fall in September and October we gathered 26 completed radio shows from across the country that we didn’t have a plan for. But God knew we needed extra shows and those shows filled every empty spot we had from December 4 through January 4. Just another amazing part of the story.

To add a little intrigue to all this, how about a little skin cancer. While on the road in October, I grew a new mole on my forehead, so when we got home, I went in on 10/30/18 to have it check out. They sliced it off and sent it in for testing. More waiting. Now part of the process for donating was that I had to get a fresh tetanus shot and a flu shot. While at the doctor’s office getting those shots, I got a call from the dermatologist and I was told that I had skin cancer, the best kind to get, basil cell and that I needed a Mohs surgery to get the cancer site cleaned out.

“Cancer! Come on Lord, I’m trying to donate a kidney here, what gives?  I can’t take any more delays.  The COLONOSCOPY was enough. This feels like piling on!”  This is what I prayed that evening, during my frustration.

I worked on arranging the MOHS surgery for my skin cancer and they said they didn’t have an opening until 12/04/18. I emphatically told the scheduling clerk that 12/04 wouldn’t work. I told her I was trying to donate a kidney and I needed to have surgery and get healed up before 12/10.  She called back in 1 hour and someone had given up their spot so that I could get in on 11/16.  They got the skin cancer out with clean margins and 7 stitches later, I was off and running on our tight schedule for donating a kidney.

Other blessings came in the form of provision. A past living kidney donor set up a go-fund me, some gifts were given, and an amazing ministry called: Helping Hands set up a project and is still able to receive donations to help cover our out of pocket expenses that wouldn’t be covered by the procedure.

The week after Thanksgiving, Abbott Northwestern called, and they said they needed me to have more blood drawn and FedEx it to MN for further testing. Further testing that they said they were going to do in MN on 12/07 pre-op day, but they decided they wanted it sooner. Two days later, many trips to the clinic, and 10 more vials of blood and my donation was even more secure.

We left for MN on 12/3 after our radio show. Did a show in GA on 12/4 and traveled for IA to be with our daughter for a grand re-opening of the Iowa City Pizza Ranch. 12/6 we traveled the rest of the way to MN.

12/07 was pre-op day. As they had in October, they let me know that at any time, I could bail out and not donate for any reason and without any recourse. I reminded them that I am a man of my word and that when I let them take me through tens of thousands of dollars of testing I did it because I was all in from the beginning. Besides, I told Bill I was doing this. Fear never entered my mind and The Peace that Passes all Understanding was walking with me.  Pre-op was uneventful, and we were given final approval. 12/10 I would become a living kidney donor.

I had requested that on 12/9 Bill’s family and close friends and my family come together for a good old MN potluck and prayer time.  So many people had been praying for this donation, that we just all needed to be together one time before surgery. We ate and prayed, and Martha presented Bill and I these neat T Shirts you see in the pictures.  After the potluck we headed to Abbott to begin the surgery prep (read: more colon cleansing).  Oh, did I mention that we had car problems on the way north and while we were in the hospital, Bill’s mechanic Dann Kirschman from DNK Auto Repair repaired our van so we could return to Florida without issues – Thanks Dann!)

Sunday night 12/09 we ate at our favorite Uptown Restaurant – Famous Dave’s. Could have been my last meal, so I got to choose and I do love their ribs!

***

On 12/10/18 Martha and I were up by 4:30am to head to the hospital to donate my left kidney to my friend Bill.  I slept well the night before and was at total peace about the surgery.  We met Bill, his wife Marietta, his daughter Nicole, and his sister Sandy in the lobby of the hotel to ride together to the hospital. We held hands and prayed, posed for pictures by the Christmas tree and headed to the hospital. Once at the hospital Bill and I were split up to be processed and prepped. Things like super neat clothing needed to be put on, along with lots of needles and an IV.  This type of Stuff usually freaks me out, but I said I was willing, and I meant it. Didn’t mean I had to like it, but knew it was all necessary.  Dr. Stahler, my surgeon, came in to see me before surgery and prayed with Martha and me. It was something we had done together many times in prep for this Kidney donation.  At 7:38am I went back for surgery and the last I remember is them putting the mask on me to knock me out. The next thing I remember is waking up 4 hours later in post op feeling like I had done 1000 sit-ups.

In the recovery room, all I was concerned about was knowing if my kidney was working in Bill.  The detailed testing proved that my kidney was healthy, but that was no guarantee that it would work in my friend.  By 1pm I was in my room. I kept asking about Bill, but it wasn’t until later in the afternoon that I heard the good news. My kidney was in Bill and it was working really well. So well, that before the surgery was complete my kidney was producing urine inside Bill.
The first night, Bill’s new kidney cleaned out 8 liters from his body. (By the way, I thought the metric system was dead but apparently not in hospitals)

The rest has been recovery. As I write, it’s day 24 since surgery, and I am almost back to normal. A few more weeks and I am sure I will be.  The trip home in the back row of the van was easier than I thought.  Martha and our daughter Sarah might say differently as they were the ones driving.  We were blessed to be home in Florida by Christmas Eve.

I consider it an amazing privilege to donate my kidney to Bill. It is as a miracle that I was such a good match.  I see God had His hand in our friendship over 30 years ago and still does today. (Part of me lives back in MN) I get to check on my kidney as often as I want, and it is a miracle to hear from Bill how well he is doing. His health has an impact on his whole family.  I just can’t believe that my willing sacrifice is making such a difference. It didn’t bring Bill back to life, it brought life back to Bill.

I want others to learn something from this journey. God created each of us with two kidneys. Some of you need both of your kidneys, but most of us have two kidneys and could live with one and donate the other.

Organ Donation and Transplantation Statistics

• There are currently 121,678 people waiting for lifesaving organ transplants in the U.S. Of these, 100,791 await kidney transplants. (as of 1/11/16)

• The median wait time for an individual’s first kidney transplant is 3.6 years and can vary depending on health, compatibility and availability of organs.

• In 2014, 17,107 kidney transplants took place in the US. Of these, 11,570 came from deceased donors and 5,537 came from living donors.

On average:

• Over 3,000 new patients are added to the kidney waiting list each month.

• 13 people die each day while waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant.

• Every 14 minutes someone is added to the kidney transplant list.

• In 2014, 4,761 patients died while waiting for a kidney transplant. Another, 3,668 people became too sick to receive a kidney transplant.

You can experience a miracle too. Consider being a living Kidney Donor.  Yes, you will give up some free time for testing and recovery, but for such a small sacrifice, you can bring life back to a family member or close friend.

It is our Prayer that God will use our story to inspire thousands to consider donating a kidney to someone in need. Why else would God ask a Radio talk show host to step up.

I cannot go without mentioning that none of this would have been possible without my incredible wife of 32 years, Martha. This was just as much a sacrifice and commitment for her as it was for me. Martha, I love you and I am so grateful to have you by my side each and every day. Thank you for letting me donate my kidney to Bill.

Happy New Year to each of you. Let’s all practice putting others first this year and change your family, your workplace, your neighborhood and our nation.

God’s not done writing this story - so please stay tuned for more to be shared and unfold.

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!

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!

Merry Christmas Week!

Christmas Week. What a week it has been!

I loved Christmas as a kid because I loved new toys and clothes. Now I look forward to being with family and friends, kids and grandkids. The food is great, but the food is made best by those you share it with.

On Christmas Day we shared an interview we recorded with Brian and Gabrielle Bosche. This millennial couple is giving the GIFT of better understanding their generation to company executives around the country. Their goal is to show how to best utilize millennials as companies advance. It was inspiring to hear the Love that Brian and Gabrielle have for each other and for leaders everywhere. Their desire is to help leadership know, understand, and appreciate millennials.

What GIFT are you giving to your local community or favorite organization? Do you have knowledge and wisdom you can share? Can you be the next Brian and Gabrielle? Start pouring into others today and explore what GIFT you can be.

May the Blessings of family truly be that to you this week. Jim

Isaiah 9:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 For a child is born to us,

a son is given to us.

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!

Be Generous or Collaborate?

Generosity or Collaboration? Focus on one or both? 

I am struggling today to decide which one.  Earlier this week we heard from Bill High and Dan Baker about Generosity and how their two organizations - Helping Hands Charities and The Signatry -  fuel generosity through creative giving strategies.  These two organizations are pumped about helping you be more generous and minimize your taxation along the way.  Generosity should define you and me as Christ Followers and can be part of transforming communities.  Are you generous?

Collaboration within the Body of Christ is rare and unfortunate.  I believe the Holy Spirit of God is moving in miraculous ways to inspire and empower collaboration in so many sectors of the Body.  This week we got a chance to sit with Greg Leith and Chad Merrill about ERGON 412.  The story of 10 ministries coming together to be better as one rather than as 10, is truly amazing.  Collaboration means recognizing your gifts and sharing them for all to benefit.  It also creates synergy and economies of scale, which leads to good Stewardship of God's resources.  The impact is yet to be seen but it is a move of God fueled by His passion, His Spirit, and His resources.  Someone may push you towards collaboration within your local Body of Christ.  Don't resist - assist!

To equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
- Ephesians 4:12

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!