The Daily Saint

I used to use Google Reader until I discovered Twitter.  I then found that Twitter’s “favorite” feature (starring) was a great way for me to save links and then read them when I had more time to focus. Twitter just seemed to make my RSS reader seem, well, irrelevant.  I said goodbye to Google Reader and pushed on.

Of late, there are a few sites that I have purposefully not subscribed to via email.  I do follow the authors on Twitter but there’s something organic about actually going to their sites on a daily basis.  Why bother?  For me, it’s a bit of a ritual but I also find their sites aesthetically pleasing (a fancy word for “looks nice”).  They authors are thoughtful and speak to where I’m at right now in my ministry and in life.  So who are these masked men?

1. Michael Hyatt.  Michael is the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the world’s largest Christian publishing company in the world.  He writes about Web 2.0, leadership and writing.  I find his insights helpful as a new CEO myself and his Tweets (@michaelhyatt) only compliment the strong content that can be found at his site.
2. Pastor Connections. This site is a combined effort of several pastors who write about different aspects of ministry.  Each day there is a different focus and once a month, pastors join together in Ohio for a shared discussion.  I find this site particularly challenging in a good way.
3. Church Crunch. CC is dedicated to all-things-tech but as they relate to ministry.  You get plenty of high-end geeky stuff but since it has a ministry angle, there is an honest sense that the authors are on your side.  Nice layout and plenty of updated content.  On Twitter, @human3rorr.
4. Scott Cheatham.  Scott is a forty-something pastor in Colorado who is also a church planter.  His articles seem to blend much of the above three sites, weaving tech with ministry with writing.  Scott is also great about getting back to you so feel free to drop him a line.  You can also follow him on Twitter, @scottcheatham.

Tags: Blogging, Leadership, Ministry, Web/Tech

I just couldn’t resist putting this up on TDS. Just might be proof that God would use an iPhone after all.

Tags: At Work, Faith, iPhone

The secret is out- Olive Garden is one of America’s greatest passions.  After all, “when you’re here, you’re family.”  A pretty clever spin line from a parent organization that also oversees Long Horn Steakhouse and Red Lobster. The result is a nearly $4B empire that keeps getting better and better.  And you thought that it was just the all-you-can-eat pasta bowls.  Actually, there’s quite a science to making OG such a hit.

One of the techniques used by OG management is the use of overseas immersion trips for selected employees.  Olive Garden’s Culinary Institute of Tuscany includes 14 lucky employees who have demonstrated exemplary workplace performance.  They spend a week in an Italian village and learn how olives are harvested and pressed, how fine food is made and how to create a dish of their own.

Imagine if your organization did this as well.  Is there a partnership that you can strike up?  Can you afford to send a group of leaders to another location for a day or two for learning and insight?  Can you afford not to?

We are exploring the possibility of partnering with a school from PA.  If we could set up an annual exchange program with 3-4 teachers from their school and 3-4 from ours, the benefits could be tremendous.  The key linkage, as with Olive Garden, is the passion for the product.  As OG employees love Italian food, so our employees are passionate about Catholic education.

It’s worth a shot.  What can you do this week to promote immersion or people-exchange?

*Photo by William Hartz

Today’s Mass readings speak of the power of God to bless not only parents but children as well.  It’s similar to a cascading waterfall that looks for nooks and crannies to fill only it’s not about water at all.  It’s about God’s favor and blessing.

Time and time again in the Bible we see stories of God choosing to bless kids just because of the faith of their parents.  It’s as if God was saying, “any son of Joe’s is a friend of mine!”  In Genesis- back to today’s reading ( Gn 17:1, 9-10, 15-22), the Scriptures say the following:

God further said to Abraham:
“As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai;
her name shall be Sarah.
I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her.
Him also will I bless; he shall give rise to nations,
and rulers of peoples shall issue from him.”

The phrase that struck me was “Him also will I bless”.  As a pure result of parental faith, the child was given special favor.

How is your faith blessing your children?  How about your work life?  Are you providing both an example and an income?  These questions are what I’ll bring to prayer this weekend as we continue to go deeper in our insights about the spirituality of work.

*Photo by T.Blue

As my seminary professors turn over in disgust at this post’s title, I fully acknowledge that (theologically speaking) God is already everywhere.  No need to await His arrival and yet our mindfulness of God is at times lacking.

So how do you structure your day so that an awareness of God is more consistent?  Here are some tips:

• Cultivate Am quiet time.  Grab your coffee and a solitary spot and just be.  Read the Scriptures, do your journaling and get centered for the day.  Invite God into your concerns and hopes for the day.
• Hit the road with prayer.  A good practice before commuting is to say a little prayer- for safety, for others on the road, for a good use of time.
• Take a break.  I always ask my wife after a busy day, “Did you take some time for yourself today?” Whether it’s a walk around the block or an afternoon cup of tea, a break is a little way of practicing Sabbath wherever you already are.
• Examine your conscience.  At the end of the day, take stock of how well you did as a person and as a worker.  Was mediocrity the norm or were there some moments of excellence?

God’s already there.  Now it’s our turn to show up and show out- for His glory.