Posts Tagged ‘purpose’

Signs of the Times: Make a Statement

Posted: November 30, 2010 in Christianity, church, culture
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I love this sign.

It makes me want to work there.

Every time I see it I think, “I want to be a smart person who solves
hard problems!”

If I still worked in aerospace engineering, I would submit my resume to SAIC (sorry Boeing).

Why?

Because they make a concise and compelling statement that makes me want to be a part of their mission.

Can I say the same thing about your business? Your organization? Your team? Your church? You?

I’m in trouble. This sign made me realize I do have a hard problem to solve.

“Have I made a clear and compelling statement that makes people want to be a part of my mission?”

No, not really.

If you’re asking yourself, “What is his mission?” you’ve just proven my point.

What’s yours?

Dare to Dream

Posted: January 21, 2010 in Christ, faith, life
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I once heard Erwin McManus quote Acts 2:17 and ask, “What ever happened to the visionaries and dreamers?” His interpretation of Joel’s prophecy may be a little off, but I think he brings up a valid point.

Life happens.

Dreams fade.

Vision leaks.

Maybe you’re standing in a puddle right now?

I encourage you to take the fifth step toward making this year count:

Dare to dream.

When I worked for Boeing I developed the practice of reading the position descriptions for promotions that I wanted. I looked at the Qualifications and Experience sections very carefully then proceeded to get the necessary skills.

I’d volunteer for projects … arrive early … stay late … take classes … whatever it took. Once I had the experience I needed I’d customize my resume and apply for the position.

As a result I progressed very quickly.

Warning:

Your peers won’t always cheer for you as you
jump ahead of them on the food chain.

Jump anyways.

With God’s help, I worked backwards toward my goals. I reverse-engineered my life & you can do the same with yours.

YES God loves you but NO you don’t get to skip the hard work or the time it takes to pay your dues.

God is not going to reward you for being lazy.

  1. You’re part of a bigger story.
  2. The story begins & ends with God.
  3. Jesus is the central character.
  4. You get to write your own lines.
  5. The odds of arriving at your desired destination are greatly increased
    if you know where you’re going.

 

So…

Where are you going??

Dare to dream.

What’s Your Story?

Posted: January 5, 2010 in Christ
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I described the first step toward making 2010 count this way: “Learn to see your life as part of a bigger story – the story of redemption. Like any good story, all of the individual chapters of your life should move the story progressively closer to its desired ending.”

History has a purpose and is directed toward a goal.

You and I are characters in a story that culminates with the redemption of mankind and the full revelation of the glory of God.

I propose that our individual lives can only be significant insofar as they are connected with the bigger story of what God is doing in the whole of human history. In other words, we must place our present existence within the broader context of both the past and the future — within an awareness of God’s redemptive work through Jesus Christ.

Here’s your theology lesson for the day:

According to Dr. Daniel Fuller, the Greek word for “purpose” (boulē) implies the deliberate choice to pursue a certain goal step-by-step in a methodical way. In Acts 13:36, Paul says, “…when David had served God’s purpose (boulē) in his own generation, he fell asleep…” In other words, there were steps in God’s purpose that had to be taken in David’s lifetime, and David served God in the way he helped carry out those steps.    (more…)

Jesus Christ: Lion or Kitten?

Posted: November 25, 2009 in Christ
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Sometimes in life we experience things that permanently alter our trajectory. Perhaps a traumatic event, the words of an influential teacher or friend, a championship season, a good book, or something unique to our own circumstances.

I’ve experienced many such events that have made me the person I am today; but none compares to the impact Jesus Christ has made on my life.

It’s difficult to describe how radically different my life has become, compared to my days before Christ. A few of my old friends subscribe to this blog and I suspect that they read it, at least in part, out of curiosity and bewilderment. “How can this be the same Kraig Krempa I knew growing up?”

Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is risky business.

I’ve lost dear friends as a result. Not because I’ve shunned them, but because my closeness to Christ makes them feel uncomfortable. One of my lifelong friends once told me, “I don’t know how to talk to you anymore. Talking to you is like talking to Jesus.”

He couldn’t have paid me a higher compliment.    (more…)

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