When God says fish are biting on the right side of the boat, there’s a reason for it. And maybe not what you think. But you can be sure of one thing. He’s up to something. Here are four things God might be doing.
When God Says Fish Are Biting On The Right Side Of The Boat He might Be Planning A Miracle
In John 21 after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Simon Peter and several other disciples went fishing all night and caught nothing.
In the morning, Jesus stood on the shore and called out to them to cast their net on the right side of the boat.
You can imagine what went through their minds: Really? That’s it? That’s all you got?
No special technique? Secret bait. Exclusive fishing spot? Just the right side of the boat?
And Jesus didn’t tell them what would happen if they did. “Hey guys, do what I say and you’ll have more than a boat load of fish!”
Instead, they simply had to trust him and follow his directions.
Easier said than done, right? But that is often how God works. No announcements. Or fanfare. Hey, watch me do something amazing! It’s simply, follow my directions. Which is what the disciples did. And caught more fish than they could haul in.
Should we trust God? Yes! Should we pray? Yes! Should we expect God to follow-through? Yes!
But first, it requires our obedience.
When God Says Fish Are Biting On The Right Side Of The Boat He might Be Expecting You To Act On Faith
Theses guys were professional fisherman. Don’t you think they already knew the best fishing techniques? The right bait to use? All the exclusive spots where the fish hung out?
Why should they listen to a guy on the beach telling them what to do? How could he possibly know more than them?
And yet, something about Jesus compelled them. Was it the authority in his voice? His self-confidence? Or did they just want to prove to him they knew what they were doing and he didn’t?
Whatever the reason, they acted on faith. And that’s the key thing about faith. It’s always active. That is exactly what James, the half-brother of Jesus said later in his New Testament book.
To profess faith in God is wonderful. But God expects you to put that faith into action. That’s when God will amaze you.
When God Says Fish Are Biting On The Right Side Of The Boat He might Be Planning To Bless You Abundantly
When the disciples let the nets down on the right side of the boat the catch of fish was almost too much for them to physically manage. Jesus didn’t just bless them. He blessed them abundantly.
It was a fisherman’s haul of hauls. A financial windfall. But it wasn’t the real blessing. Accumulating money and material possessions never are. And it wasn’t the point Jesus was making.
It was about his lordship. That the universe is at his command. And that God’s abundant blessings are profoundly experienced through a personal relationship with him and in community with others who respond to him. And it leads to purpose, meaning and a mission with eternal significance.
It’s a spiritual and eternal community that makes no sense from a worldly point of view. But only when combined with faith and obedience.
When God Says Fish Are Biting On The Right Side Of The Boat He Might Be Calling You To Follow Him
The miracle had nothing to do with helping the men succeed their fishing business. Jesus called them to follow him as disciples. As fishers of men.
And God calls you and me to follow him in the same manner. To proclaim and build His Kingdom. That’s the point of this story.
None of Jesus’ twelve disciples became rich and famous. Most were martyred for their faith. Probably won’t recruit a lot of followers with that as one of your benefit bullet points.
Yet, they left everything to follow Jesus. Even to their death. Because something about Jesus compelled them to. Something about Jesus made it worth it. To obey him. To demonstrate faith.
And it is still true today. For those who will listen to him. And respond in faith by tossing their nets on the right side of the boat.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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Business can seem like a rat race. But don’t outpace yourself at work.
Instead, think of your life and leadership like a pace car. So you can ramp up to race speed quickly and safely, but regroup when faced with danger.
Some of us race ahead believing that victory comes to the swiftest, but forgetting that undisciplined speed kills. Here are three helpful hints for leaders who want to pace themselves appropriately.
Don’t Outpace Yourself At Work By Assuming You’re The Smartest Person In the Room
You may, in fact, be the smartest person in the room. But for many leaders, especially young leaders, their IQ outpaces their EQ. Effective leadership is not founded on brilliance alone. Leadership combines skills and character qualities that attract others to follow. Effective leaders often are not the smartest person in the room and the wisest ones are not only aware of this, but celebrate this fact. Ross Perot built a reputation and a fortune by surrounding himself with people who loved to win, many of whom knew more about the technical aspects of his business than he did. (If you want to read several interesting and inspiring quotes from Perot, click here.)
Relax. It’s great to be smart. It’s wiser to surround yourself with people who are inspired by your commitment to your mission, your love for your colleagues, and your drive to serve your customers. Develop your EQ. Combine a growing EQ with your inborn IQ and your influence will grow.
Don’t Outpace Yourself At Work By Worrying About Trust
To the midlevel leader caught in the midst of warring superiors – “It’s not about you.” It feels like it’s about you, but it isn’t.
I’ve fallen for this more than once. When superiors give conflicting guidance and set inconsistent expectations. It feels like they don’t trust me. It feels like I’m the issue and I want to ask them directly, “What do I need to do to be allowed to operate as though I’m trusted?”
The problem is that these leaders are fighting amongst themselves and I’m the pawn in their game. It’s not about me. Focus instead on providing a solution to these leaders. Lay out a path that allows each to share concerns while agreeing to a process enabling you to act. Focus on solving the log jam, not how it makes you feel. Slow down. It’s not about you.
Don’t Outpace Yourself At Work By Getting Carried Away By Enthusiasm
Some of us become enthusiastic when conversing with others. We get excited by ideas and opportunities and, if we are not careful, can express commitments in the moment that we are either unable or unwilling to fulfill.
I suggest two solutions to this challenge.
First, recognize and acknowledge momentary enthusiasms. “Derek, this is incredibly exciting and I am drawn to what you’re describing. Before I commit, however, I need to take some time to think about how this fits within my current priorities. Let’s talk again next week and I’ll be in a better position to let you know my answer.”
Second, don’t live in fear that you’re going to promise what you can’t deliver, but don’t promise when you don’t need to. In other words, don’t curb your enthusiasm to the point that you lose one of your attractive and influential qualities.
Take It Easy. What’s The Rush?
At the same time, don’t get ahead of yourself. Or give more than the situation asks for. Promise only when you are ready for your “yes” to be “yes.” Broaden the base of your appeal by growing your EQ. Recognize the difference between situations that feel like they are about you and those that really are. Choose to give yourself space to make wise decisions. Find the pace that works for you. Not only will you avoid hitting the wall, but you will enjoy the journey that is your race.
About Julian Consulting
Dr. Stephen Julian is President of Julian Consulting, a firm specializing in team health, effective communication, and leadership development. He has worked with leaders and their teams for nearly 30 years in a variety of settings – including Africa, South and Central America.
Bible lessons from the story of Samson. It’s more than a children’s Sunday School lesson. The story of Samson has lessons for all of us. Here are three of them.
Bible lessons from the story of Samson. God gives you Purpose
God made it clear even before his birth, that He had a special purpose for Samson. He told Samson’s parents to dedicate him as a Nazarite–one that was specially devoted to God.
As a Nazarite, Samson vowed to abstain from three things:
Cutting his hair
Drinking alcohol
Touching dead bodies
And scripture confirms in the book of Judges that God’s Spirit was with Samson. During this time period, Israel was not reigned by kings. They were led by Judges. And God picked Samson to be one of them. The problem is that Samson didn’t want to follow God’s lead. He wanted to do things his way.
And that’s where most of us mess up. We don’t trust God’s leadership. Or want to follow His plan. We want to do things our way. Follow our selfish desires. And Samson demonstrated a lot of selfish desires.
And that makes it impossible to find and follow God’s purpose for your life. Because you have to release control of your life. And Samson never did.
Bible lessons from the story of Samson. God Will Not Be Mocked
The word for mocked means to treat with contempt or disdain. Yes, God is full of love, grace and mercy. But He is equally righteous, holy and just. He calls us to those same ideals. And holds us to account for our actions.
Therefore, you can’t profane His name, ignore His commands, do whatever you want and think it’s okay. And that because of His love and grace, God is obligated to give you a free pass. He isn’t and doesn’t.
So what does that mean?
God is a petulant child? A mean, vengeful bully? If you don’t do what He wants He will throw a tantrum and get you back? Toss lightning bolts at you?
Not that either.
He will, however, withdraw His presence from you. And leave you to the consequences of your decisions. Sin does that. It always separates you from God. And that’s what happened to Samson. He openly rebelled against God and broke his Nazarite vows. So God withdrew His presence. And with the loss of God’s presence went Samson’s great strength.
God wanted more from Samson than just his strength. Actually didn’t need Samson’s strength because He already had unlimited power at His command. What God really wanted was Samson’s heart. Which is what He wants from you and me. He can’t take it. We have to give it.
Bible lessons from the story of Samson. God gives you second chances.
It’s not clear if Samson had a true change of heart. If he decided to serve God with real devotion. And completely fulfill the purpose God had for him. But as he stood with his eyes gouged out between two support pillars in a building full of his Philistine enemies, he asked God to strengthen him one last time.
And in a final act of vengeance he toppled the pillars and brought the building down killing himself and more Philistines in that one act than during his life time.
Although Samson let his immature emotions drive his behavior, God still used him to save Israel from the Philistines. And gave him another chance to fulfill his purpose.
The point is, God offers second chances and new opportunities for those willing to renew their commitment to Him. But to experience it fully you must give God your heart and devote your life to Him.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
By now you might be suffering from zoom meeting blues. Ready to call it quits on zoom meetings? You’re not alone.
How One Worker Beat His Company Zoom Meeting
I watched a fascinating video where a young man employed in a tech company decided to automate his participation video conference team meetings. He explains how for one week he never participated live but only used prerecorded clips of himself to fool his colleagues (and boss) into thinking he was in the meeting. He concluded that his approach didn’t save time and he was nervous as he waited to see if his automated responses were convincing.
Why He Succeeded In Disappearing From The Zoom Meeting
He was successful, in large part, because there were several people in the meetings and the expectation of his involvement was minimal. His most impressive feats were automating his pitch of a proposal to his boss, his apology to his teammates at the end of the week, and his prerecorded response to their surprise.
Further, he noted that he was successful, in large part, because there were several people in the meetings and the expectation of his involvement was minimal. His most impressive feats were automating his pitch of a proposal to his boss, his apology to his teammates at the end of the week, and his prerecorded response to their surprise. What fascinated me was how no one picked up on his technical glitches. In order to fill time, he looped one five-minute video backward and forward. This meant that repeatedly he was “unsipping” his coffee. Then there was the accidental inclusion of a black frame that popped up from time to time. In both cases, his deception went unnoticed.
What does this mean for your zoom meeting?
First, recognize that if one person was able to do this and post about his success, others will build on his techniques to further automate virtual participation in virtual meetings. Second, virtual participation is already happening in numerous low-tech ways. “Participants” dial in but don’t turn on video or keep themselves muted throughout the meeting. They may be texting just out of sight of the camera or checking e-mail on another portion of their large monitors.
Questions To Ask About Holding A Zoom Meeting
Does this team member need to be included in this meeting? How should each team member prepare before the meeting so that it is maximally productive? Is there a purpose to the meeting? What do you plan to accomplish? How will you know if it is a success?
If you can’t answer these questions before the meeting, then you’re not ready to proceed. You are in danger of having a meeting to plan another meeting. One team told me they hadn’t met for months, virtually or in-person, during much of last year. Not surprisingly, their business and team cohesion was suffering.
When teams maintain regularly scheduled, interactive check-in calls
Their business grows and team cohesion remains strong. Team members need to interact regularly. I’d even encourage you to “strategically waste time together” – something I learned from an early mentor. Time invested in sharing about personal interests and lives outside of work can be healthy. You’re already up against some significant challenges with virtual meetings. Participants are “always on.”
Normally, Beth can scratch her nose, knowing that everyone is looking at Chad who is presenting from the other end of the conference room. On Zoom, Beth is always visible to everyone on the call. This is part of why she chooses to not share her video. Participants can’t have side conversations that build comradery and relieve tension. They can’t lean over and whisper, “I hope your kids made it to school today despite the weather.”
There is no whispering on Zoom – instead, team members are often texting behind the scenes to each other. Make sure your meetings are consistently scheduled, properly attended, and interactive. If most of your meetings involve everyone listening to a talking head, then don’t be surprised to discover a “participant” is a prerecorded image of himself. Sadly, to a poorly planned and executed meeting, virtual or actual attendance may make no difference!
About Julian Consulting
Dr. Stephen Julian is President of Julian Consulting, a firm specializing in team health, effective communication, and leadership development. He has worked with leaders and their teams for nearly 30 years in a variety of settings – including Africa, South and Central America.
Christianity lets you renew. And that’s unlike every other religion. Because we all need a second chance. A do over. A reboot.
Why?
Because we all mess up. What the Bible calls sin. Everyone that is, except Jesus. Scripture says he was perfect, and because of him, we can get a pass.
And that’s something else Christianity offers that no other religion does. Grace.
So you will never completely overcome sin. But you can stop it from completely overcoming you. Here are three ways Christianity lets you renew.
Christianity Lets You Renew Your Life
When talking with a religious leader of his day, Jesus told him something that sounded odd. He must be born again.
What did Jesus mean by this? Even the religious leader was confused. Did he mean a physical birth?
Jesus explained that he meant a spiritual rebirth through faith in him. By admitting sin. Asking for and accepting his forgiveness. And when you do, you are spiritually reborn in Christ.
Well, it doesn’t mean you are suddenly perfect. That you never sin again. Or the earthly consequence of sin goes away. But it does mean that in God’s eyes, the slate is wiped clean. And His Spirit takes residence in your life to give you a fresh start and guide you in a new life.
Christianity Lets You Renew Your Mind
We seldom commit sinful acts completely on impulse. Most of the time, we think about them before we actually do them.
Satan knows this.
Which is why he plants thoughts and images in your mind. So you can entertain them. Replay them. Let them flourish and grow so when the actual opportunity presents itself, going from the thought to the action is a smooth transition.
Of course. Many thoughts are sin themselves. No action is necessary. Which is why the mind is such a fertile ground for sin. Because you and I can actually commit all kinds of sin in our minds—without physically doing anything. But all sin has the same effect. To separate us from God.
And that is why the Bible encourages us to take our thoughts captive. To proactively direct our thoughts on things that please God. To understand that while we are subject to sin, and will still sin, it does not have to rule us. And by renewing our minds, it won’t.
And the best way to renew your mind is to bathe it in scripture. By focusing your thoughts on God’s Word.
Christianity Lets You Renew Your Heart
No one messed up worse than David. He was a hero when he defeated Goliath. But later he seduced another man’s wife and got her pregnant. Then had her husband killed to cover it up. A royal mess up. But when confronted, he confessed to God, repented of his sin, and cried out in despair, “Create in me a clean heart O God.”
And God did. Because of His grace and mercy. And He offers the same forgiveness to you and me.
Sin is rooted deeply in our human nature and in our world. So we will never be completely free of it in this life. But it doesn’t have to rule us. God’s mercy is unlimited. So even though I fail today, tomorrow offers a fresh start.
Therefore, I am always filled with hope. And that renews me too.
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
There’s a dangerous, beautiful and life-giving capacity of laughter. It depends on circumstances. And how laughter is managed.
But I think we all agree that laughter itself is good.
Throughout history some people have attempted to subvert this life-giving capacity. The 1800s offered prescriptive dictionaries, alongside the descriptive dictionaries we have today. Prescriptive dictionaries attempted to tell you exactly what each word meant. Ambiguity was dead and vagueness was eliminated. All was clear; each meaning precise. Thankfully those dictionaries failed. Had they succeeded, art, literature, and humor would each have succumbed. Humans need the creative possibilities within language to foster life-giving laughter.
“Oh boy, where’s he going with this one?”
The Beautiful And Life-Giving Capacity Of Laughter Is Intentional
As leaders of teams and managers of individuals, you are fostering culture within your organization. That culture can be healthy or toxic, motivating or life-sucking, rewarding or exploitative, and so on. There should be a place for humor and laughter within your culture. But recognize that humor itself can be healthy or toxic, motivating or life-sucking, rewarding or exploitative.
Consider the intentionality of humor. Do you explicitly encourage humor and laughter or is it a nervous byproduct of team interactions? Is it considered a desirable part of your culture or something to be avoided?
Consider the subject of humor.
Are you able to laugh at yourself or do you prefer to laugh at others? What topics will you suggest or allow?
Consider the risk vs. benefit of humor. What does your culture gain from laughter? What might it lose?
Increasingly, leaders seek to foster organizations comprised of diverse people. As we diversify, we increase the likelihood that senses of humor will diverge and that what one person finds laughable, another finds cringeworthy.
What are you to do? Encourage laughter focusing on the natural limitations of people (remembering to laugh at yourself). Take advantage of the ambiguity and vagueness of language without elevating the pun to a status to which it should never aspire. Topics should be general ones that most will find amusing (“all” is a bar that is set too high).
Humor Can Be Dangerous And Destructive
Avoid humor focusing on people’s values, physical appearance, intellect, politics, or religion. Of course, if your intellect fails you at some point and you are able to laugh at yourself, then do so.
Recognize that a team member’s level of professional and personal security will impact her ability to laugh at herself and to appreciate being the subject of others’ laughter.
Recognize that sarcasm may be witty, but it is too confusing to be productive in the workplace. Were you speaking seriously or making a joke? We can’t tell.
Recognize that people aren’t always going to let you know when they’ve been hurt or are uncomfortable, so don’t assume that someone laughing along with you means they are comfortable with the joke. If you are in a position of power or authority, remember you can laugh more easily and freely than others who must read the wind to know whether to join in.
The Beautiful And Life-Giving Capacity Of Laughter Is Culturally Fostered
With all of this in mind, however, do not avoid humor. Foster a culture that risks the beautiful danger of laughter. Just because it can be cruel, divisive, and harmful doesn’t mean you shouldn’t embrace its life-giving qualities. You’re not going to quit using a knife to prepare food just because you could cut off your finger. It’s quite likely you will continue to use knives even if you have cut off one finger.
If you risk a culture of humor you will offend. That offense needn’t be intentional and it can provide opportunity for another life-affirming practice – apology and forgiveness. Please don’t neglect the beautiful danger of laughter. It’s an essential part of your humanity. Just tailor it to the setting, making sure it is reflective of the culture you seek to foster.
About Julian Consulting
Dr. Stephen Julian is President of Julian Consulting, a firm specializing in team health, effective communication, and leadership development. He has worked with leaders and their teams for nearly 30 years in a variety of settings – including Africa, South and Central America.
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