Comments on: Was Christ Forced into the Family Business? http://bradleyaharmon.com/2009/11/was-christ-forced-into-the-family-business/ Christ Centered Small Business Principles Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:23:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Brad Harmon http://bradleyaharmon.com/2009/11/was-christ-forced-into-the-family-business/comment-page-1/#comment-287 Brad Harmon Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:50:39 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=591#comment-287 Rita,<br><br>I love that you meditate on becoming a Christian business leader. Meditation is something that fell out of style with Christianity some time ago, and now is mainly associated with eastern religions. It's sad because we see its benefits throughout the Bible. <br><br>Thank you for the kind words about this blog. It is my hope that God will use it to bless others, and that it will reflect His glory.<br><br>Brad Rita,

I love that you meditate on becoming a Christian business leader. Meditation is something that fell out of style with Christianity some time ago, and now is mainly associated with eastern religions. It's sad because we see its benefits throughout the Bible.

Thank you for the kind words about this blog. It is my hope that God will use it to bless others, and that it will reflect His glory.

Brad

]]> By: RJ's Word of Mouth Weblog http://bradleyaharmon.com/2009/11/was-christ-forced-into-the-family-business/comment-page-1/#comment-286 RJ's Word of Mouth Weblog Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:53:56 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=591#comment-286 <strong>Christian Business Leader...</strong> I was recently told by a client that she views me as a Christian business leader. I highly respect her opinion because she is a coach of Christian leaders; therefore, she’s speaking from experience. For those of you who are Christian leaders, I... Christian Business Leader…

I was recently told by a client that she views me as a Christian business leader. I highly respect her opinion because she is a coach of Christian leaders; therefore, she’s speaking from experience. For those of you who are Christian leaders, I…

]]> By: Rita http://bradleyaharmon.com/2009/11/was-christ-forced-into-the-family-business/comment-page-1/#comment-285 Rita Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:48:37 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=591#comment-285 I have been an entrepreneur for 7 years and recently realized, after much soul searching, that I am called to be a Christian business leader. Although, I didn't choose this as a vocation, I have started meditating on becoming a Christian business leader. I choose to follow my calling. I also believe as part of my process, I was led to your blog, because it is on point. Thanks, Brad. I have been an entrepreneur for 7 years and recently realized, after much soul searching, that I am called to be a Christian business leader. Although, I didn't choose this as a vocation, I have started meditating on becoming a Christian business leader. I choose to follow my calling. I also believe as part of my process, I was led to your blog, because it is on point. Thanks, Brad.

]]> By: Brad Harmon http://bradleyaharmon.com/2009/11/was-christ-forced-into-the-family-business/comment-page-1/#comment-266 Brad Harmon Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:48:50 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=591#comment-266 Corrie,<br><br>There are some who believe that our free will somehow limits God's sovereignty by its very nature. If we are free to disobey His will (or plan) for our life they say He becomes dependent upon us, thus losing His sovereignty. Others say that since God is sovereign, there is no such thing as free will.<br><br>For me, both of these positions try to put God into a box confined by our limitations. If God is truly omniscient then He is never surprised by anything we do, or will do. He knows what we will choose to do in an infinite number of scenarios, so He places us accordingly. This neither negates His sovereignty nor our free will. <br><br>So, like you, I believe it is a "both/and" reality. Thanks for your comments.<br><br><br>Brad Corrie,

There are some who believe that our free will somehow limits God's sovereignty by its very nature. If we are free to disobey His will (or plan) for our life they say He becomes dependent upon us, thus losing His sovereignty. Others say that since God is sovereign, there is no such thing as free will.

For me, both of these positions try to put God into a box confined by our limitations. If God is truly omniscient then He is never surprised by anything we do, or will do. He knows what we will choose to do in an infinite number of scenarios, so He places us accordingly. This neither negates His sovereignty nor our free will.

So, like you, I believe it is a “both/and” reality. Thanks for your comments.

Brad

]]> By: corriehowe http://bradleyaharmon.com/2009/11/was-christ-forced-into-the-family-business/comment-page-1/#comment-252 corriehowe Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:30:18 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=591#comment-252 Hum? This gives me something to think about. I guess without really thinking about it too much in the past, I've taken Psalm 139 about being fearfully and wonderfully made and known since being knit together in the womb...and even the number of our days before one came into being...and linked it to Eph 2:10 that we were created in the image of Christ and given a purpose before time began.<br><br>So I guess I've never questioned whether or not a vocation is a calling. Of course, I also believe that God is sovereign over us, so that we are predestined to do what He's designed us to do...although I'm not really sure how this works with free choice, which I also believe. I accept that it is a "both/and" as opposed to an "either/or" reality.<br><br>So back before people really had a choice about their vocation, I guess I would say that their choice was whether or not they accepted the Lord's calling in their life. We know that Joseph didn't choose slavery or imprisonment, but he accepted the Lord put him in these positions. Jeremiah accepted his call to present bad and unpopular news his entire life.<br><br>These are my first thoughts to this post. Thanks for getting the juices flowing. Hum? This gives me something to think about. I guess without really thinking about it too much in the past, I've taken Psalm 139 about being fearfully and wonderfully made and known since being knit together in the womb…and even the number of our days before one came into being…and linked it to Eph 2:10 that we were created in the image of Christ and given a purpose before time began.

So I guess I've never questioned whether or not a vocation is a calling. Of course, I also believe that God is sovereign over us, so that we are predestined to do what He's designed us to do…although I'm not really sure how this works with free choice, which I also believe. I accept that it is a “both/and” as opposed to an “either/or” reality.

So back before people really had a choice about their vocation, I guess I would say that their choice was whether or not they accepted the Lord's calling in their life. We know that Joseph didn't choose slavery or imprisonment, but he accepted the Lord put him in these positions. Jeremiah accepted his call to present bad and unpopular news his entire life.

These are my first thoughts to this post. Thanks for getting the juices flowing.

]]> By: Vote on this article at blogengage.com http://bradleyaharmon.com/2009/11/was-christ-forced-into-the-family-business/comment-page-1/#comment-215 Vote on this article at blogengage.com Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:53:56 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=591#comment-215 <strong>Was Christ Forced into the Family Business?...</strong> Is there such a thing as a vocational calling from God? Is this just a new idea? Is it really a calling if you have no choice?... Was Christ Forced into the Family Business?…

Is there such a thing as a vocational calling from God? Is this just a new idea? Is it really a calling if you have no choice?…

]]> By: Brad Harmon http://bradleyaharmon.com/2009/11/was-christ-forced-into-the-family-business/comment-page-1/#comment-198 Brad Harmon Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:30:39 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=591#comment-198 Bradley,<br><br>I certainly agree that all Christians are called to full-time ministry; however, only a handful are called to make it their vocation. It is hard for me to imagine God telling the rest of us to just go pick something. If we are truly "fearfully and wonderfully made," then it is for a specific reason or what's the point?<br><br>You bring up a great point though. Does God call us to multiple vocations throughout our lives, or do we just blow it and pick the wrong one? <br><br>Brad Bradley,

I certainly agree that all Christians are called to full-time ministry; however, only a handful are called to make it their vocation. It is hard for me to imagine God telling the rest of us to just go pick something. If we are truly “fearfully and wonderfully made,” then it is for a specific reason or what's the point?

You bring up a great point though. Does God call us to multiple vocations throughout our lives, or do we just blow it and pick the wrong one?

Brad

]]> By: bradleyjmoore http://bradleyaharmon.com/2009/11/was-christ-forced-into-the-family-business/comment-page-1/#comment-197 bradleyjmoore Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:01:11 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=591#comment-197 Wow, this is a huge discussion!! (Thanks for the pingback, btw.) Some writers like Oswald Chambers in his book "The Call" say that our primary calling is to be followers of Jesus, in character and behavior, etc., and then our secondary calling is whatever work we choose to do. Also, the folks at "Theology of work" are attempting to develop a biblical response to this question to set us all straight, (especially the pastors!). One thing we know, is that regardless of our relationship with Christ, we still feel the need for purpose and meaning in what we do with our lives. And our society allows for plenty of choice, which I think makes it more difficult. Right now I like my job, I am using my gifts and talents and getting compensated well (all good, good, good), but in my youth I had a passion for a calling that is entirely different than what I do today. In some ways, I feel like I missed my calling because it didn't work out for me, so I had to make another path. Is this now my calling? Well, I sure as heck worked like a dog to get here, and am very satisfied. But notice now I am blogging and writing in addition to my regular job. Still trying to find my calling, I guess. Maybe it is an ongoing process. Maybe it is a myth. Wow, this is a huge discussion!! (Thanks for the pingback, btw.) Some writers like Oswald Chambers in his book “The Call” say that our primary calling is to be followers of Jesus, in character and behavior, etc., and then our secondary calling is whatever work we choose to do. Also, the folks at “Theology of work” are attempting to develop a biblical response to this question to set us all straight, (especially the pastors!). One thing we know, is that regardless of our relationship with Christ, we still feel the need for purpose and meaning in what we do with our lives. And our society allows for plenty of choice, which I think makes it more difficult. Right now I like my job, I am using my gifts and talents and getting compensated well (all good, good, good), but in my youth I had a passion for a calling that is entirely different than what I do today. In some ways, I feel like I missed my calling because it didn't work out for me, so I had to make another path. Is this now my calling? Well, I sure as heck worked like a dog to get here, and am very satisfied. But notice now I am blogging and writing in addition to my regular job. Still trying to find my calling, I guess. Maybe it is an ongoing process. Maybe it is a myth.

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