What speaking life to one another is not, and what it is – Part 3

This week I welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor, having served 30+ years in both local churches with his wife, Debbie, and in denominational administration. He has also taught theology and led a pastoral assessment center for many years. He and Debbie, along with their two daughters and son-in-law are membersContinue reading “What speaking life to one another is not, and what it is – Part 3”

How to live your retirement years “as unto the Lord” – Colossians 3:22-4:1, Part 5

Christian…how are you thinking about your retirement years?  The principle we’ve been studying this week, “work unto the Lord,” holds for retirement, even though in retirement you are no longer working a job.  This principle can guide you as you retire if you answer the question: What is a distinctly Christian view of retirement?  HowContinue reading “How to live your retirement years “as unto the Lord” – Colossians 3:22-4:1, Part 5″

4 ways to have a Kingdom mindset about work – Colossians 3:22-4:1

What will help both students and teachers, workers and bosses, retirees, volunteers and leaders to “work as unto the Lord,” is to have a Kingdom mindset about work.  There are at least four ways to view your time at work, and this goes for the students at school, as well as for the retired personsContinue reading “4 ways to have a Kingdom mindset about work – Colossians 3:22-4:1”

4 Faulty Viewpoints About Work – Colossians 3:22-4:1, Part 3

Each follower of Jesus, no matter their station in life, is called to work as unto the Lord.  Working unto the Lord means that we will avoid a faulty view of work. There are at least four faulty views to avoid. The first faulty viewpoint is when people think “working as unto the Lord” is justContinue reading “4 Faulty Viewpoints About Work – Colossians 3:22-4:1, Part 3”

The 80% rule about work (school and retirement) – Colossians 3:22-4:1

I once heard that if you are working a job that you enjoy 80% of the time, you’ve hit the employment jackpot.  Most people work jobs that don’t get close to that 80% satisfaction level, meaning that they are dissatisfied with their job more than 20% of the time.  That might sound frustrating, to thinkContinue reading “The 80% rule about work (school and retirement) – Colossians 3:22-4:1”

School…Work…Retirement…Does God care about the places we spend so much time? – Colossians 3:22-4:1, Part 1

School.  Work.  And retirement.  Three phases of life. Which are you in?  Maybe a mixture of more than one.  Which are you looking forward to?  Think about how much time we spend in these three phases of life.  At least 13 years in school, maybe more if you go to college and grad school.  ThenContinue reading “School…Work…Retirement…Does God care about the places we spend so much time? – Colossians 3:22-4:1, Part 1”

Important biblical teaching for students, workers and retirees – Colossians 3:22-4:1, Preview

How do you work at your job in a way that is honoring to God? How about school? What does it look like to be a student that is honoring to God? Or think about retirement? Did you ever think that it matters to God how you retire? Two weeks ago, in our study throughContinue reading “Important biblical teaching for students, workers and retirees – Colossians 3:22-4:1, Preview”

How to be loving parents – Colossians 3:18-21, Part 5

When our second son was in middle school, he wanted to go to a school dance. I don’t remember what our reason was, but we said No. This led to a long drawn out back and forth, highly emotional, discussion between us and our son, in which he was pleading for us to change. ParentingContinue reading “How to be loving parents – Colossians 3:18-21, Part 5”

How to navigate the teen years (for parents and teens!) – Colossians 3:18-21, Part 4

I was a teenager in the 1990s, wonderful years filled with grunge rock (or for me U2, REM and Public Enemy), Michael Jordan, and Bill Clinton.  It seems like just a few years ago, but it was in fact 30 years ago. Those were coming of age years for me. On January 1, 1990 IContinue reading “How to navigate the teen years (for parents and teens!) – Colossians 3:18-21, Part 4”

Why the ultimate Christian approach to marriage roles is “submit to one another” – Colossians 3:18-21, Part 3

Yesterday I mentioned that have a surprise for you.  This week we have been looking at how to live the Colossians 3:17 principle of “whatever you do, do it all in the name of Jesus,” as it pertains to family relationships. Paul teaches that wives should submit to their husbands and husbands should love theirContinue reading “Why the ultimate Christian approach to marriage roles is “submit to one another” – Colossians 3:18-21, Part 3″