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Integrating Faith and Work

If you are a Christ follower, then people should know it.  The great commandment is intended for us to share the stories, bring others along for the ride, and ensure lives are made better.

Doing this while managing a career is downright tough and in most cases against company policy.  So, how can I demonstrate Christ without overstepping?

  • Be cheerful to others
  • Spread joy to others by encouraging
  • Be a person of excellence – uphold the highest level of integrity, and yes, this includes adding copy paper at all levels.
  • Demonstrate commitment to your leaders
  • Maintain a good balance between family, work, and health
  • Care for others – serve needs and use your organization to help the community when you can

Easy enough, right?  Not so much – We all know it’s hard to demonstrate Christ on a daily basis. However, by doing these basics, others will recognize that there is something different in us and they just might ask you why.  Trust me, I know this from personal experience.  The difference, Christ lives through me. 

Live Life to Fullest and then some.

I know, I know, I have talked about graduation once, and this blog is not REALLY about graduation, but since I have three graduates, I guess I may include the thought one more time just to be even… Thanks for obliging me! 🙂

Graduation is such a great time.  It feels like a New Year, a new opportunity to relaunch, to go after the next adventure –  Graduation is FUN and EXCITING and possibly scary!

I have the great privilege of being the mom to three boys that bring so much joy to me that I can’t even believe how good God is!  The funny thing about graduation are the comments that folks make… mostly some version of the comment, “it goes so fast.” –  but I have a different view.

One of my life goals is to always be intentional about whatever I’m doing – The role of parent, makes this even more important.  The future of our country and families rely on it!

Our family attends an amazing camp in Texas called Pine Cove.  I highly recommend your family attends or even your student if you have kids under age 18 – It is simply life changing. Pine Cove was responsible for me becoming super aware of how important it was to sit down and really focus on character development of my own boys. It showed me how I want my family life to truly be – It led me asking, “What story did I want for my boys?”

For me, it was to be men of excellence. Men who were obedient to God and lived out their life’s great adventure in a meaningful way.  In order to achieve this things had to happen, Travel to experience the world, build a spirit of community, and embrace diversity and the power in that – This takes a concentrated effort to build the plan – Much like we do in business.

So, each of the last 13 years (The first 5 were a blur…) that was the goal for my boys and I – To engage FULLY in what life had to offer and work toward the goals. It didn’t go fast – Each year was FULL, AMAZING, and an ADVENTURE.  The good with the bad helps us grow and learn. It has been AWESOME and I can’t wait for the next chapter.

One thing I do know, it take us being intentional, and knowing that GOD WILL SHOW UP.  

Sparklers, Picnics, & Independence! GO USA!

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I LOVE THIS WEEK!  Today starts the long weekend for many and I hope everyone loves this opportunity as much as I do… that we get to celebrate our nation’s Independence.

A little background for those of you who, like me, didn’t listen well in history 101… In 1776 the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress… declaring Independence from Great Britain.

Here’s also an excerpt from Wikipedia I thought was especially cool and worth sharing…

John Adams one of the 5 “drafters” wrote this to his wife the night before the signing:

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America.  I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.  It out to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.  It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, for this time forward forever more.”

Seriously, how cool is that- At 47 I have never read that- So, thanks John Adams and Wikipedia!  I absolutely loved reading this- Here’s why:

  1. He claimed it a FESTIVAL!  Who doesn’t love a grand celebration. Celebrations UNIFY us with others around a common cause and give us great JOY.
  2. He includes God = Our country was  based on strong guiding principles and this is so needed today.
  3. He defined the FESTIVAL activities- I especially love bonfires and ILLUMINATIONS!

As you and your friends and family CELEBRATE AMERICA this week, I am praying BOLDLY that as a country we will get out the SPARKLERS and ILLUMINATE OUR SKIES, have some crazy good BBQ-be it an amazing burger or some KC STYLE RIBS, and TOGETHER UNIFY AROUND AMERICA and GIVE GLORY TO GOD for our GREAT COUNTRY!

Relational Leadership

I love building relationships with those I serve.  I count those I serve as anyone I engage with — Fellow Colleagues, Community Partners, the Janitor, and even the Taxi Driver.

Today I spent the day with one of our leaders who gets this in a BIG WAY even as he has risen quickly through the ranks into an important role. On the way to our meeting he placed numerous follow up calls.

With each, he spent time to ask about their family.  He stopped to have a short conversation with everyone we encountered, including the individual that happened to stop by the front desk.  He demonstrated that he genuinely cared… And guess what… He really does.

Leadership reminder — Genuinely engage and build relationships. 

The Brilliant Minds of an Artist, a Corporate Leader turned Entrepreneur, and a Millennial.

I love hearing the stories of everyday people.  Today I would like to highlight a few remarkable folks that remind me of why it is so valuable in life to savor the moments.  These moments are easy to gloss over, but if we listen, we will improve our lives and add true joy.

An Artist – Phil Epp www.philepp.com
This guy is seriously cool.  A homegrown Kansas boy from Newton Kansas who started to paint on his farm as a creative outlet.  He is down to earth as you might expect, and when you pull into his long winding driveway, you realize he’s truly “everybody’s favorite uncle.”

Although some of his contemporary work is hauntingly cool, Phil’s paintings primarily depict a version of the breathtaking Kansas sky and serene farmland shots. Two favorites of mine include an old fashioned train box car and a large gathering tent under a falling night sky. They both illicit thoughts that stray in many directions.

I love people like Phil. He is kind, gentle and his contribution to society is downright remarkable.  His kindred spirit demonstrates that he truly cares deeply about his work. If you are in Kansas City, I recommend you take in his work is at the Overland Park Convention Center and the Leopold Gallery in Brookside.

A Corporate Guy turned Entrepreneur – Mike Miller – www.beforte.com
Mike is a brilliant mind, a solid Christian, an amazing family man and husband, and a great contributor to the community.

Mike and I met this morning so that I could extract some of his BRILLIANT “mind” and learn.  Have you ever left a meeting feeling energized and refreshed?  You wonder why did that happen when so many times you just feel drained.

Mike left a corporate career and has transitioned into an entrepreneur who is using the gifts God gave him to “spread his brilliance.”  Honestly, Mike doesn’t care about his brilliance, he cares deeply about youspreading YOUR BRILLIANCE.  That my friend is his gift and why I left ENERGIZED.  We need more Mikes.

A Millennial – Jacob Wayman – www.jacobwayman.com
I love Millennials, especially Jacob.  I hired Jacob as an intern for FREE when I was the CEO of Kansas City Internal Medicine.  Jacob gets it now and he definitely got it then (when he accepted a job that paid zero in cash, but led to an endless supply of guidance and inspiration.)

Often in life you have to put in “sweat equity”- which means you have to put in the time, the energy, and sometimes the tears to learn and learn well. Those periods in our lives prepare us for WORK THAT IS MEANINGFUL and fulfilling.

The time spent investing our minds and hours into learning is time well spent.  The younger generation that “gets this” will be the ones who RISE TO THE TOP. I am confident Jacob will. You should follow him onLinkedIn!

Importance of Community … The Best 2 Minute Sermon

Although it was a severely painful situation.  In the wake of my good friend’s tragic loss/murder of her son and father, at the high school vigil, I heard the best sermon ever- and it was only 2 minutes long.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader spoke out of Isiah. While he did share about the parting of the waters at the Red Sea, there was another instance in the scripture that was equally as important.  God asked that if He were to part the waters that He needed them to take the first step.  

In his short portrayal of the story, this young and amazing man, asked the audience to lock arms with this family and step into healing together as a community.  All I can say is, “WOW!”
We need each other on this journey and it is easier to take the first step if you have a community to join you in both pleasure and pain.  

Start the Summer with a Mindset Toward an Unabashed Adventure – a blog book review

blog_682030_2730019_1432573650The name Mark Batterson may be appearing multiple times on this blog- If you go to my favorite page, you’ll find his New York Times Best Seller, The Circle Maker right up front. That book should be on everyone’s bookshelf.

Mark is a Missouri boy who took a leap of faith over 20 years ago when he and his wife ventured to Washington DC to start a church and what I would say was pioneering a revolution.
(Check out www.theaterchurch.com to find out more.)   He is an excellent writer, and I should know because I read enough to make an appropriate criticism or praise as in this situation.

Below are some of the key concepts from his new book, A Trip around the Sun.  In this short read, Mark shares the journey with his mentor, Dick Foth.  He shares of their common mantra in how they pursue life:  “CHOOSE ADVENTURE” (I love that).

It made me think, what IS my mantra on living life? I personally had never given any thought to one year of my life equating to a “journey around the sun,” but it’s a cool way to think about it and perhaps sparks a challenge to make my next 47 years even more adventurous.  Here we go… I promise if you are a reader you will love this book!

In each chapter, whatever the focus, Dick shares his story and then Mark does – I liked the ease of this pace!

Here are my 13 Key thoughts, lessons, dog-eared pages, and in no particular order:  (italicized are my commentary)

  1. “Adventure doesn’t happen by accident.  It has to be intentional.”  It is our job to engineer those experiences.
  2. “YOU may be the only Bible some people ever read.”  So the question is,  Are you a good translation?
  3. “A trip around the sun can be 365 days of an unabashed adventure.”  Let’s start this summer with that mindset.
  4. “Ruth and I decided early on that if we had to choose between giving our kids experiences or things, we would give them experiences.”  Amen to that!
  5. “It intrigues me that Jesus spent so much time eating with people.”  (note to self:  He role modeled for us sharing experiences …often.)
  6. “When each of our children turns thirteen, I take them on an adventurous trip to celebrate their grand entrance into teen hood.  I did a version of this for my boys… it is so important!
  7. We so quickly and so easily lose sight of what’s really important in life.  In the words of Stephen Covey, “Anything less than a conscious commitment to the important is an unconscious commitment to the unimportant.”  This reminds me of a phrase someone shared with me a few years ago, “Every choice to spend a dollar somewhere is a choice to not spend it somewhere else.”  (i.e.  Do we really need to stay in this nicer hotel or could we stay in a lessor hotel and give the money to a family in need.)  I use that lesson often.
  8. “It is between our ears that we decide how easily offended we will be.  If from the outset we decide that life is not just meant to be survived, we will experience adventure at every turn- in every person we meet, every relationship we have, every book we read. “If we believe life is an adventure.  Life is an adventure.”
  9. “Engage people and life ramps up.  I can learn from anyone: a ninety-three-year-old or a three-year old, a street sweeper or a scientist.  When I make a friend, I get smarter.  When I make a friend, I get richer.”
  10. What human “books” have had the greatest influence on your life?  A short list of mine so far:  my grandparents, Gary and Shirley Mallory, my cousin but I call her “aunt JoAnn”, my friends Kathy, Nan, Denise, Kira, Mindy, Michelle, and Mario and Lynelle Zandstra. 
  11. “Part of our jobs as parents is to be students of our children.”
  12. “No reserve.  No retreat.  No regret.”   A great life mantra
  13. “In Colossians 3:23 Paul says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”  When he says, ‘work at it with all your heart,’ he is talking about sweat equity.  Blood, sweat, and tears.  Leave it all on the court, so to speak.  Do it like your life depends on it. 

18 FULL YEARS! Congratulations to my young men.

blog_681667_2730025_1432595379I’m not sure why, but the cliché comment, “it goes by so fast” hasn’t really made its way into my realm  Perhaps it’s because I’m the mom of triplets, or perhaps it’s because we did things differently.  (For the record, I don’t think we did). Perhaps this comment is best reserved for those wiser, older folks who have seen their more recent years go more quickly.  For this post, I have to tell you, my boys and I have had 18 FULL years and I have truly loved pretty much all of it!

We packed each day, month and ultimately the years full of LIFE.  As the mom, single in this case, I have had the opportunity to be the coordinator, the team captain, the drum major… the one who tries to make it all happen.

Some days we do make it “all” happen, some we don’t, but with God’s help (okay he’s really the captain, but I’ll gladly own co-captain), and a village of terrific friends and mentors found in neighborhoods, work, school, soccer fields, books and church camps we have made it….  Made it to the finish line of high school graduation.

Here is what I know, it is an INTENTIONAL affair, to round up three excellent young men and engage them in a full life.   I intentionally spend time on living LIFE, including travel, education and lots of meals and conversations and community engagement.

My prayer is that these boys and their friends (and parents) who have touched my heart in deep ways will go out and INTENTIONALLY live a FULL LIFE in phase 2- “The college years.” My hope is that they will not let a day go by where they are not striving towards God’s plan for their lives of finding their passion. And as their commencement speaker, Mr. Addington said it best, “Find their need!”

Congratulations boys, this mom is well pleased and so in love with your stories and the men you are becoming.