Living a Fully Integrated Life

Kathy Book was a high-level manager in a nationwide grocery chain. Outside of work, she was a Christian, but while she was at work, she didn't act so "Christian." But everything changed one day when her boss pulled her aside to have a hard conversation.

In Chapter 21 of our new book, iWork4Him: Change the way you think about Faith and Work, Kathy writes, "my manager pulled me into her office and said 'I know you go to church, serve at youth group, and feed the homeless but why are you a different person when you are here at work?'"

Talk about a wake-up call! At the time, Kathy didn't know how to respond. But eventually, she quit her job to figure it out. During this transition period, Kathy really discovered what it means to be a Christ following woman in the Marketplace. A revelation that ended with her starting a ministry aptly called Women in the Marketplace.

Kathy's experience isn't an anomaly; my own story mirrors it in many ways (minus the "woman" portion, of course). What about you? Do the people you work with on Monday see the same person that your pastor sees on Sunday?

Kathy Book's contributor chapter in iWork4Him is all about living an integrated life. A life where faith impacts and influences everything. And, interestingly enough, Kathy not only started the ministry of Women in the Marketplace but also recently turned the ministry over to a new leader so that she could back into the Marketplace and put all she'd learned about living an integrated life into action back in the grocery chain world. Talk about a major turnaround!

So, do you need to quit your job to figure out how to live an integrated life? Lucky for you, the answer is NOPE. iWork4Him and thousands of other ministries and podcasts have dedicated themselves to equipping you to live out your faith vibrantly in the workplace! To find a voice that will inspire you all week long, check out the Awaken Podcast Network – the home of over 130 faith and work podcasts, or pick up a copy of the iWork4Him book (bonus, CLICK HERE to get the first chapter for FREE.)

Learn from Kathy and others like me because Jesus saved all of you, especially your workplace you. Why? Because God is love, and God's will is for everyone you encounter on a daily basis to meet Him through you.

 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!

Is Your Faith for Everyday or Just Special Occasions?

Remember hat racks? Those racks that allowed us to collect various types and styles of hats, hang them up, and then pull from our collection depending on our mood and outfits? Although hat racks may be a little less common in today's world, I think the metaphorical "hat rack of life" is still very much in use.

Why? Because life demands that we wear many different "hats,"… sometimes even more than one hat at a time! For me, it's the Director Hat, the Husband Hat, the Dad Hat, the Grandpa Hat, the Speaker Hat, and so many other hats. So, which one do I wear every day? Which one should I be wearing every day? Now that is a good question.

Martha wrote a chapter in our book entitled sheWorks4Him: Embrace your calling as a Christian Woman at Work. Her chapter was titled "What hat do I wear today?" She wrote about her literal hat collection as a teen (which I got to see when we started dating) and how the hat she wore depended on the day's activity. But no matter what hat she wore, people told her she looked good in a hat. I agree. But in the chapter, Martha also talks about one specific metaphorical hat: her Faith Hat. She dives into the question of when the right time to wear this particular hat is; is it a hat for Sundays? Or for every day? Does it get changed out or taken off for work, or socializing, or other activities? Can it be worn with other hats? You'll have to get the book to read the whole story and see where Martha lands with this. Oh, and bonus - there are 18 other Christian Working Women stories in there too!

But for now, let's get back to that Faith Hat. When you left for work today, did you put on your Faith Hat, or did you leave it home? Is your Faith Hat in a hatbox where it is neat and can't be crushed or wrinkled? Do you only bring it out on Sunday, or is your faith hat on all the time, wrinkled and worn but shaped by being used in all kinds of circumstances, especially work time?

For decades I went to work with my Faith Hat neatly tucked away on a shelf. Please don't make that mistake! Your Faith Hat should be the hat that is a part of every moment of life. Your friends/coworkers/bosses/clients/vendors desperately need to see you wearing your faith at work so that they can encounter Jesus through you. In addition, when you actively put on your faith each day, you are covering yourself in the truth of God's promises.

The Apostle Paul states it this way in Ephesians 6:13,17

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

So, put on that Faith Hat – aka the helmet of salvation - and wear it proudly! Oh, and be sure to download the first chapter of sheWorks4Him for FREE by clicking here.

• 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 American Dream of Retirement is a Nightmare

I've written about this in the past, but it bears repeating: for followers of Jesus, our future, after we are done with a full-time paying job, isn't destined for 30 years of vacation. And frankly, 30 years of vacation isn't a dream. It's a nightmare. 

Martha and I live in Ft. Myers, Florida. We have lived in Florida – the bastion of retirement in the United States - for almost 20 years now. So many people dream of retiring in Florida, where the weather is always lovely (and it is compared to so many other places) and where the beaches are clean and the grass is always green. Where golf courses are plenteous, and the taxes are lower. Florida is undoubtedly one of the best places to retire… however, 30 years of vacation is not that amazing, no matter how pleasant the weather is.

We have lived in neighborhoods filled with predominantly retirees for almost two decades, and I'm here to report that the American Dream of Retirement is an illusion. Living a life with no purpose other than to play golf or tennis every day and eat out every night gets old fast. I can't tell you the number of times that a neighbor has told me how bored they are with retirement. It's why Martha and I wrote the book iRetire4Him. Because here's the thing, God's purpose for you doesn't end when your employment does. The work of Jesus isn't confined to 9-5, and your calling doesn't retire.

The book iWork4Him was written to address the question, "why do we work, and how do we bring our faith into our work?" So, a natural follow-up was the book iRetire4Him: Unlocking God's Purpose for Your Retirement, which was written to address the question, "what is God's will for me after I'm done working?"

iRetire4Him is for anyone who has faith in God and is retired or contemplating retirement in the future. Inside, we deal with the lies that the world sells us around retirement and present tons of suggestions on how to make your retirement a time of great purpose and impact… not just a long stretch on the sidelines.

So, I want to end this blog with a question: Why do you want to retire?

Is it because you hate your job or because your life lacks purpose, or because you are plain and simple, just tired? If so, find a way to get refreshed that doesn't require you to sit out of the most important things in life. God has a plan for you, and it lasts until the very last day you breathe. And I seriously doubt that plan involves you checking out for 30 years until He takes you home. It's time to seek His plan so that you can have the best retirement possible… not a 30-year nightmare!

• Jim

CLICK HERE TO GET THE 1st CHAPTER OF IRETIRE4HIM FOR FREE

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!

We've Been Lied To

Most people who believe in Jesus think that to have a Kingdom impact and make a difference in the lives of others, they need to quit their jobs and go work in a ministry. It’s sad, but it’s true. If I had $100 for every time I have heard this, I would be driving a sweet new Honda Odyssey.

Martha and I recently released a trilogy of books. In one of them, iWork4Him: Change the Way You Think About Faith and Work, I address the lies that many of us have been taught. The lie that our work is only significant if we work for a ministry. The lie that as someone who doesn’t work as a pastor or missionary, you are a 2nd tier citizen in the Kingdom of God. The lie that work is work and church is church, and they have nothing to do with each other. The list goes on. Satan uses so many lies to belittle the lives of Christ-followers and make them question God’s purpose for them. But the TRUTH is that God created work, He loves work, and He wants to use you in your work to glorify Him and introduce others to Jesus.

So, hear me when I say this: God’s purpose for you is being carried out right where you are. Because this is God’s will for you: love God, love people. When you do this, when you love your neighbor as Christ loves you, you are acting as His ambassador to the world, and everyone you come in contact with will be blessed (whether they have faith in God or even know who God is.) Remember, the Holy Spirit wafts from you like a sweet fragrance, like a perfume that others not only notice but are drawn to.

You are part of an elite force of 2 billion people called to positively impact the planet with your faith in God. You don't need to quit your job to operate in significance; you already are. You just need to shift your mindset and realize that when you leave church on Sunday (either virtually or actually), you aren’t leaving God’s will or calling on your life – you are entering your mission field!

I want to invite you to join the workplace mission field today by committing to the iWork4Him Nation Covenant. And for more information on living out your calling at work, I want to invite you to read the 1st chapter of our new book, iWork4Him: Change the Way You Think About Faith and Work for FREE.

READ THE FIRST CHAPTER OF IWORK4HIM

JOIN THE IWORK4HIM NATION NOW 

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!

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!

What Do You Have That God Can Use?

There isn't a single person in the United States of America who doesn't have a possession that goes unused for a year. Every one of us has extra STUFF. Martha and I made a rule when we got married 35 years ago that if anything went unused in our home over the period of a year, we would give it away. And guess what, there's only been a few times I've given away something I wish I hadn't. The reality is that we all have things that go unused, whether they are possessions, talents, giftings, or resources.

We interviewed a Californian the other day who had a similar idea. Her name is Tammy Vallejo and you can listen to the whole interview HERE. In her community, there was a homeless problem, but there was also a solution.

Tammy gathered together a group of church and community leaders to discuss how they could help solve the homelessness crisis in their area. What they discovered was that there was an awful lot of church-owned land in the community that was going unused. So, they determined to put it to use by creating this thing called Compassion Village. This group created tiny home villages with a central community square by using fallow land the churches already owned. The village is a place for those struggling with homelessness to get off the street, gain job skills, and learn how to live in community again. All this was done on land that was just sitting there vacant, doing nothing.

Now, most of you reading this probably don't have any vacant land that you could put to use for a tiny home village, but what do you have? Do you have an extra car that goes unused, or a spare bike, or some nice clothes, or an extra TV or computer, or even an old cell phone? So many of us have things that clutter our homes, apartments, condos, or townhouses. Instead of letting them collect dust, let's put them to use and bless our neighbors!

Or maybe for you, it's not stuff, but it's a talent. Maybe you have house repair skills, or cleaning skills, or singing skills – and they all go unused! How can you engage your talents for the benefit of those around you? If you can't think of anything, ask the Lord to tell you what you have that you can give away or put into action for the Kingdom. You might be surprised at what you find.

God loves it when we use our possessions and gifts for the Kingdom - it's called being a good steward! 1 Peter 4:10 says,

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

God wants to use you, your stuff, your finances, and the unique giftings of His Holy Spirit to bless those around you. So, what are you waiting for?

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!

Time to put Step 3 of the IWork4Him Nation Covenant into Action!

The iWork4Him Nation Covenant is all about learning to activate our faith in our work. We do this by joining together as a community of believers who are committed to following these four tenets: 1) prayer, 2) care, 3) share, and 4) work.

Every step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is important, but today I want to talk to you about step three. Step three is the perfect tenet to execute during the summertime. Step three puts our money where our mouth is. It puts our faith into action outside of the office. Step three goes like this: “Look for ways to befriend your coworkers, employees, and bosses outside of work where you can develop a real relationship.” Step three is the place where you get to share your life, and in sharing your life, you are sharing God the giver of life.

Don’t miss this - there is so much power in presence. In Luke 7:34, Jesus said,

“The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”

The reality is that a regular part of Jesus’ ministry on earth was sharing a table with unbelievers, sharing His LIFE with unbelievers.

As you look at your summer schedule, have you left enough margin to share your life with those you work with? Or do you bet on clocking out at the end of the day? I want to challenge you to look for empty spots in your calendar to invite some people over from work for a barbecue at your home, apartment, or condo. If you’re single, invite several people over - you can always make it a potluck. Developing authentic relationships and inviting people into your home space allows you to set the tone for the evening. Perhaps even pray through your space before anyone gets there – inviting the giver of life to share the table with you and carry out the work of the Holy Spirit.

So many of those we work with are lost and hopeless. You can introduce them to Jesus and to Hope over a meal. When you bring people into your home, you get to pray over meals, which often prompts great conversations. You get to pray over your home, which houses the very presence of God. Martha and I want to challenge you. This summer, make it a summer where you put iWork4Him into action after work. For more ideas about putting the tenets of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant into action, check out our new books, iWork4Him, sheWorks4Him, and iRetire4Him. And if you haven’t already joined the iWork4Him Nation, please don’t wait! We have a seat saved for you; and if you’re anywhere near Fort Myers, we’d love to come over for dinner.

 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!

Eating an Elephant

Have you ever heard the old adage, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”? Well, I just finished eating my elephant.

When Martha and I went on air eight years ago, people said, “well, if you’re going to be a radio personality, then you guys should write a book.” I said to people, “I’ll write a book when God tells me to write a book.” Martha said, “I don’t wanna write a book.”

Well, if you’ve been following us, you know that we finally heard God’s voice telling us to write a book. Actually, He told us to write three books.

A year and a half ago, we set off on a journey to write a trilogy that would encourage everyday believers in their work and retirement: iWork4Him, sheWorks4Him, and iRetire4Him. When we started this project, we had no idea the enormous undertaking it would be to write and release three books simultaneously. Everybody said it was impossible. I said it was like eating an elephant, one bite at a time.

Over the last 18 months, we have put together three books with contributions from 54 different authors. We have gone through almost 40 editorial rotations, back-and-forth from the publisher. We have recorded 100 hours of audio for the audiobooks. We have edited and corrected nearly 1000 pages. And having finished my final plate of elephant this past Monday, with the completion of the audiobook production, I realize that eating an elephant was an enormous undertaking.

Martha and I have worked countless hours on these books, but every one of those hours was worked with you in mind. Because God’s will is that you would live out your faith in your work – something that may sound impossible. But how do we do impossible things? One step at a time, and those steps are broken down for you in all three books.

Psalm 119:105 says, 

“your word is a lamp and to my feet and a light to my path.” 

When we began this project, we didn’t know it would take 18 months, and we didn’t know all the hours of work it would be. We just knew that we were hearing God’s voice. So, we put one foot in front of the other. And today, the books arrived; now it’s time to get them into your hands. I hope you enjoy the results of our elephant project; we enjoyed eating it on your behalf. And I hope that they help you on your own elephant project – sharing Christ with those around you!

 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!

What Does Freedom Mean to You?

The Fourth of July is right around the corner, a holiday that is dedicated to, in a word, FREEDOM. Freedom from tyranny. Freedom from taxation without representation. Freedom from government intrusion in our religion. Freedom of expression. Freedom of speech. Freedom to be stupid when we want to.

Over 200 years ago, our forefathers wrote, presented, accepted, and signed the Declaration of Independence, effectively setting the stage for the greatest Nation on earth to rise. But that freedom came at a high cost during the Revolutionary War. In fact, all freedom comes at a cost.

For example, as Christians, we have been given freedom through Christ – a freedom that came at the cost of the cross. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice so that that you and I could be restored to a right relationship with God. And when we say yes to this incredible freedom from the power of sin, freedom from death through Christ Jesus our Lord – it comes at the cost of no longer serving ourselves and our sinful desires.

“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin… When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6: 6-7, 20-23

Our country, a nation built on the value of freedom, is a mess… but not for the reason you think. It’s largely a mess because many of those who call themselves “Christians” have chosen to live in freedom from the obligation to do right and freedom to pursue self-interest under the guise of the “American Dream,” rather than in Jesus’ freedom. They have chosen to live encumbered by debt, burdened by massive amounts of stuff, and enslaved to the pursuit of promotions and status symbols.

But here’s the thing, when we live in the freedom of the “America Dream” instead of the freedom that Christ provides, everyone suffers because we choose to be free from righteousness and goodness. But when we live in the freedom that Christ provides, choosing to be free from the power of sin, everyone around us benefits.

Unfortunately, the reality is that our communities and our culture are suffering because Christ-followers are not living in the freedom and abundance of Jesus. So, ask yourself this Fourth of July weekend: What kind of freedom are you choosing? The Freedom of the American Dream? Or the Freedom of Christ? Is everybody around you benefiting from your faith in Jesus whether they believe in him or not?

If you are looking for ideas on how to live out your freedom in a way that honors God and is a powerful cultural influence both at work and at home, I encourage you to check out our new book iWork4Him. And remember, Jesus has a calling on your life – right where you are!

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!