Challenges in My Workplace Matters - The Summary

Here are some quotes from yesterday's part 4 message.

The number 1 source of stress in the workplace is difficult people.

Difficult people are as reliable as death and taxes. They are always going to be there. In fact, you can’t even go to church to avoid difficult people.

Westlife Church is not a collection of saints and perfect people. Westlife is a hospital for difficult people. We are recovering difficult people. That’s why we are here. We are just trying to do better. We are a community of real people and we are a real community.

I found that real community is the place where the person you would least like to be there, is always there. That’s real community.

Not only is it impossible to avoid difficult people, but, you may find this hard to swallow, but God intentionally places difficult people in your life.

Why would God place me and you around difficult people? Here are 3 reasons:
1. To alert you to the same problem in your own life.
2. To reveal your character.
3. To produce Godly character in you.


5 steps to dealing with difficult people:
1. control your tongue,
2. respond with kindness,
3. avoid a destructive argument.
4. resolve conflict quickly
5. love unconditionally

To love those people who are difficult requires something that John Ortberg calls “double vision” - the ability to see people as God sees people.

I John 4:11, “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.”

We are to love people “as is”..... “just as” God loves us.

Workplace Stress - Video Clip Montage

We finished the My Work Matters teaching series today. I really enjoyed it.

We were moving through the teaching pretty quick and ... so quick that I forgot to introduce this media clip that the team did up about workplace stress ... bummer.

Here it is anyway. You can view it below.

Talk about stress!!

4 General Levels of Christian Mindset Relating to the Marketplace

We highlighted some of Alan Goode's message notes yesterday.

He did part 3 of the current My Work Matters teaching series at Westlife.

4 General Levels of Christian Mindset Relating to the Marketplace.

1. POW’s – For them the marketplace is an evil place and they feel they can just hold their ground. Survival is their objective, needing a lot of maintenance as they see themselves as POWs, forced to survive with dignity in an undignified place.

2. Under Cover Agents - These are those who apply Christian principles in the marketplace. They believe that these principles will help them to overcome temptation and to keep a good testimony. Basically they are settling for a draw – they will not change the marketplace and the marketplace will not change them.

3. Blues Brothers – These are on a ‘mission from God’ – they believe that they can work in the marketplace in the fullness of Holy Spirit. They seek God every day, they hear from him, and they implement what He tells them to do. They are ‘open for business’ in the marketplace.

4. Transformers – This last level are those who see themselves on a mission to transform the marketplace (evangelists) and believe that they with God’s help can do it.

Integrity in My Work Matters - Alan Goode

I really enjoyed Alan's part 3 message last weekend of our current series, My Work Matters.

Here is a bit of his message opening. Good one Alan!


I want to spend a short time talking about marketplace ministry.

Too many people make the distinction between their work and their service to God. Because of this wrong belief it causes sincere believers to distinguish what they do on the job from what they do on Sundays.

Unfortunately many marketplace Christians end up feeling second class when compared to people who serve full time in a church. This should not be the case. No matter the occupation, Christians who work at secular jobs or live out lives in the general marketplace need to know just how important a part they have to play in building the kingdom of God.

When marketplace Christians are reduced to second-class status by wrong and ungodly mindsets, the church is automatically deprived of its most strategically placed soldiers because they are the ones closest to the enemies command and control centers. With the correct mindset and if properly equipped, they can do lethal damage to the kingdom of darkness and see many won across to the kingdom of God.

This is why the devil allocates so many of his resources to make marketplace Christians feel so unqualified and inferior in spiritual matters. The devil fears marketplace Christians will fulfill their divine destiny in the marketplace and bring the kingdom of God to it. To prevent this from happening he constantly disqualifies them by debasing their occupation in various ways. He paints them as materialistic and unspiritual and tells them that it is less spiritual than church work. These ungodly mindsets can turn a powerful force into a farce.

The devil is afraid of what sort of damage marketplace Christians full of light and salt can do. This is what the kingdom of God is all about!

If we limit our spiritual functionality to only church on a Sunday we reduce a potential 168 hours of effectiveness a week down to about 2 to 3 hours where we can invite others to church (if we do). When this occurs that which should be a powerful movement becomes at risk of becoming a monument!

If every Christian went to work or their part of the marketplace fully convinced that he or she is on a mission from God and serving God through their labor, our cities would be transformed.

Alan also mentioned 4 general levels of Christian mindset relating to the marketplace.

We'll post them tomorrow - so stay tuned!

Care Workers and Prayer Focus - My Work Matters

It was a great Sunday AM last week at Westlife as we continued the My Work Matters series.

Nick ran this great segment before the message where he interviewed some Westlifers who were in key not-for-profit/care roles ... this is their paid role.

Some work with troubled young people, another with some abused teenagers... another works in mental health. All have expereinced violence in their jobs.

Here is how they asked us to pray for them:

· Breakthroughs for those under bondage
· Wisdom
· Protection
· Strength
· Spiritual breakthrough
· Boldness
· That the eyes of the children would be opened
· For people to see God’s story
· For people to grasp the God perspective
· For sensitivity

Let's do that - let's pray - and pray with accuracy.

Is This Like Your Workplace?- Part 3

Is this a bit like where you work?

We showed this media clip at Westlife this morning as part of the "My Work Matters" series.

Check it out again here.

The Indispensable Man

"...Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment..."
Romans 12:3 (NIV)

In my message last week, "Savvy in My Work Matters" I mentioned this poem that was given to me when I left my first job. I though I was indispensable ... I was pretty good at what I did, but I was not indispensable.

Thanks to the accounts girls who taught me another valuable life-lesson in the workplace!

The Indispensable Man
(by Saxon White Kessinger)

Sometime when you're feeling important;
Sometime when your ego 's in bloom;
Sometime when you take it for granted,
You're the best qualified in the room:

Sometime when you feel that your going,
Would leave an unfillable hole,
Just follow these simple instructions,
And see how they humble your soul.

Take a bucket and fill it with water,
Put your hand in it up to the wrist,
Pull it out and the hole that's remaining,
Is a measure of how much you'll be missed.

You can splash all you wish when you enter,
You may stir up the water galore,
But stop, and you'll find that in no time,
It looks quite the same as before.

The moral of this quaint example,
Is to do just the best that you can,
Be proud of yourself but remember,
There's no indispensable man.

Hope to see you at church this Sunday 10am for a great part 3 of the My Work Matters series.

Is This Like Your Workplace? - Part 2

Is this a bit like where you work?

We showed this media clip at Westlife this morning as part of the "My Work Matters" series.

Check it out again here.

My Work Matters - Part 1 Summary Quotes

If you have been following this blog recently you would have heard about the new "My Work Matters" series at Westlife Church on Sunday mornings 10am.

I'll explain the purpose of this powerful series in another post, but here are some highlights for me from part 1 with Tracy Skellern-Smith.

Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn't cover up bad work. And masters, treat your servants considerately. Be fair with them. Don't forget for a minute that you, too, serve a Master--God in heaven. (Col 3:22-4:1)

There are 5 levels of leadership:
1. The first level of leadership is from your position.
2. The second level of leadership is leadership is from respect.
3. The third level of leadership is production.
4. The fourth level of leadership is people development.
5. The fifth level of influence is the personhood level.

Influence takes more than a day.

Rick Warren said “Many Christians don't make the connection between Sunday and Monday. They compartmentalize their life. They think, "Well, I've got a spiritual life and I've got a secular life. My spiritual life is when I read the Bible, when I pray, when I go to church, when I do good things for others. That's my spiritual life." And that's over in one compartment. So then, they think, over in another compartment: "This is my secular life. That's my work, my job, my career, my business decisions, my finances, my pension plan; all these things are my secular life." The word secular isn't in the Bible. It all matters to God; everything in your life – including your work - is important to God. God is as interested in your work as He is in your prayers.

Manage your words well at work. Joyce Meyer calls them “capsules of power.” There is life and death in the power of the tongue. If you manage your thoughts – probably have more success in managing your words. If you have something worthwhile to say – say it briefly and well.

"My Work Matters" Series - Part 1 Summary - Tracy Skellern-Smith

I have been really enjoying the new "My Work Matters" series at Westlife.

It kicked off last Sunday AM with Tracy Skellern-Smith talking about Leadership in My Work Matters.
Tracy has done 3 posts on her blog that summarise the teaching from part 1. They are well worth checking out!

1. My Work Matters - click here.
2. Me - A Leader? - click here.
3. Influence at a New Level - click here.

I'll outline a couple of my highlights in another post.

So keep a watch out!

Is This Like Your Workplace?

Is what goes on in this clip a bit like what goes on in your workplace?

If so, you may need a good dose of laughter and hope.

Why not get along this Sunday at 10am for the launch of the new series, My Work Matters.

Tracy Skellern-Smith is powerhitting the launch of part 1.

My Work Matters - Media Promo Clip

I recently wrote a post here about the new My Work Matters series that starts Sunday 5 July 2009 at 10am.

Check out the promo media clip here..... and there is a great surprise at the end!

Thanks Dolly for a great song!

More about this series to follow.