Our work isn't tied to the essential function of a job description. There's so much more to it than that. Hope comes out of our work. Optimism plays a role in our work. We work to effect things in our lives. We work for change, creativity, financial consideration, for challenge, and other reasons. Whatever our reason for working, we have certain expectations about our work. We call those expectations hope.

For example, think about the origin of Jacob's hopes and expectations. God chose Jacob. He said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome" (Gen. 32:28). It's interesting that God's chosen people should stem from a struggle with God. Later, God again tells Jacob, "Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel" (Gen. 35:10).

The story doesn't end there. It begins there. God uses Jacob as a tool, but moves quickly to embrace a people. In Genesis 35:11, God tells Jacob, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body."

Through Jacob, the person Israel becomes a people. Through Jacob, this new people comes to know God.

We are like Jacob. Perhaps our stories aren't so dramatic, but they are our stories. And our stories matter. It reminds me of something Frederick Buechner said at Laity Lodge. He said, “Listen to your life. Find a plot for it.” Essentially, he was saying that our stories matter, and the faith element has value.

Like Jacob, we may see our lives as clutching at the heel of someone else. (Jacob means "he grips the heel.") Or maybe like Jacob, we see the physically dominate Esau and wish we were him. Maybe we longed to have the approval of father Isaac as well as the approval of mother Rebekah.

Deceit was a common theme throughout Jacob's life starting with gaining his brother's birthright, stealing the blessing, being tricked into an unwanted marriage by his father-in-law, building his own herd at the expense of his father-in-law's herd. Jacob lived a conflicted life

Then in marriage, like Jacob, there is tension with in-laws. Jacob worked fourteen years for his father-in-law just so he could have Rachel as his wife.

Jacob lived in fear of his brother. He had a daughter who was raped. His beloved youngest son was sold into slavery.

Some may focus on the glory of Jacob's life. Others may hone in on the tragedy. However, one views Jacob's life, there are parts of it that are just like our own story. Use his story to examine your own story, searching for the plot and seeing where God uses your influence for the people of God.

Amid life's triumphs and tragedies, our stories remind us that we're connected to one another and to something beyond ourselves. Jesus told us and showed us the way. He left us with another to guide us in our work, the holy spirit who fills us with optimism, expectation, and hope.

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Have you ever struggled with why you’re doing the same work day after day? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Surely, there’s more than this everyday grind, this constant toil. The story of Jacob gives us some insight. You remember Jacob. He wrestled with God and even had a nation named for him. But his day-to-day life was not that glamorous.

Jacob was the second-born child of Isaac and Rebekah. His name means “he grasps the heel.” At birth Jacob was born grasping the heel of his brother Esau. Esau was Isaac’s favored son. Jacob was a momma’s boy, never big enough, strong enough, or favored enough.

Jacob was also an operator. He knew how to manipulate people and situations to get what he wanted. First, Jacob manipulated Esau to deny his birthright. Then Jacob plotted with his mother to receive Isaac’s blessing, which was meant for Esau.

Then Jacob met his match in his Uncle Laban. Sent to Laban to find a wife, Jacob toiled for seven years. His agreement with Laban was to toil for seven years to receive Rachel as his wife. Laban had different ideas and substituted his older daughter Leah as a wife for Jacob. This infuriated Jacob, but he came to agreement with Laban that in exchange for seven more years of toil Jacob could marry Rachel.

For fourteen years Jacob toiled for his father-in-law. All this toil just so he could marry Rachel. He probably wasn’t thinking about what a great nation he’d become. He was probably still angry with Laban and scared of his brother, Esau, for stealing his blessing. He worked for survival and not for some grand plan of God’s. But God used Jacob, and he can use us in our grind. The everyday toil of life matters. We just don’t see how all the time. The truth is we may never know how God uses what we do. We just live in faith that what we do matters to God, and he will use it for his purposes.

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Sign-up for free Sermon Notes on the high calling of our daily work. This is a free service to pastors. Quarterly, a respected pastor who understands the vision of the high calling of our daily work posts a series of three sermon outlines for other pastors to use.

If you're not a pastor, maybe you'd like to forward this post to a pastor you know. These notes have proven to be very helpful in stimulating other pastors as they prepare sermons on work.

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In 1892, Clifford Calverly crossed the turbulent waters of the gorge at Niagara Falls. The story goes that before each crossing he worked the crowd.

“Do you believe I can cross this gorge while jumping rope?”

“Yes, we believe.”

Then Claverly proceeded to jump rope out on the wire. He performed various stunts included crossing the wire while pushing a wheelbarrow. Each time he asked the crowd, “Do you believe?”

Each time, they responded, “We believe.”

When Claverly asked the crowd if they believed he could cross with a person in the wheelbarrow, their response was the same enthusiastic, “Yes!”

Now came the crucial moment. Claverly asked, “Who will volunteer to ride in the wheelbarrow?”

Silence. No one stepped forward to volunteer.

About a week ago, a colleague and I were discussing the difference between the words "belief" and "faith." Are they the same word used interchangeably? According to Online Etymology Dictionary, "belief" is translated from the Greek pistis, and "believe" from pisteuô in Latin. The word fides is where we get the word "faith." In English, we often use belief and faith interchangeably, when in fact we have delineated two separate meanings for these words.

For decades the story of Clifford Claverly walking across Niagara Gorge has illustrated the difference between "belief" and "faith." Intellectually, we can believe something to be reasonable or even likely. Faith, however, is deeper than knowing. It’s not merely a heady function. Faith involves complete surrender.

As our language has evolved, so too has our understanding of faith. We’ve come to understand that belief and faith are two different things. Like Peter, we may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, but it took the Resurrection for Peter to truly come to faith. For all of us it takes the Cross and the Resurrection for us to understand to whom we belong. Assenting to that ownership on a constant basis reveals our faith.

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An article posted on the Fast Company site caught my attention. The somewhat misleading title, Workplace Friendships: Good for Morale Bad for Productivity, hooked me into reading the article but made me think about relationships.

First, the article itself is not about friendships at work leading to lower productivity. It's actually about a poll asking workers their perceptions about friendships in the workplace. Less than a third thought that it improved productivity or performance. It may be interesting, but it's merely perception.

Second, the article conclusions seem to contradict an article posted at Fast Company in 2007,"Careers: Do You Like Working With Friends?" This article quotes a study, which says that almost two-thirds of those polled believe friendships with co-workers enhance job performance.

Both articles are interesting but hardly conclusive about the influence friendship in the workplace has on productivity. I'd like to propose that neither position matters much. What matters more than friendship? Relationships matter more. At least that's what the New Testament teaches us. To love our neighbor as we love ourselves, includes forgiveness, justice, mercy and even self-sacrifice.

We don't form relationships at work in order to make a new buddies, impress the boss, find a date, or to improve productivity. Instead our objective is to spread agape. It's essential that we dignify all those we come in contact with. We respect our co-workers, customers and vendors. Treat all people the way we want to be treated, with understanding and compassion. We leave behind any pretense or feelings of superiority or inadequacy as we greet one another in love.

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What I learned from Christians in West Africa

When we began this website, we envisioned our audience to be similar to the same audience as our Laity Lodge retreat center. Our aim was to help people connect their Sunday faith with everyday life—at work, at home and in the community. We still view our audience and purpose that way. Our programs, supported by the H. E. Butt Foundation, have grown in scope and multiplied the number of programs we provide. Recently, we've developed an umbrella name for all the programs that make up our work. We're now The Foundations for Laity Renewal: Transforming Daily Life.

Thinking about being an international source has not been part of our thinking. I believe it stems from "knowing your place" from a cultural perspective and not being grandiose. Over time, we've grown an international audience. It's not a huge number, but still about 15% of our audience is other than North American.

Our vision and purpose remain the same, but there's been an interesting twist. While we target our writing toward a primarily North American audience, others have added their voices to TheHighCalling.org and HighCallingBlogs.com. A very consistent and thoughtful group have come from West Africa. Their comments almost always make me pause and think deeply. Their uniqueness is distinct enough to be identifiable by region. Their richness of faith is an exhilarating tonic that feeds my soul.

Sometimes, after I catch a glimpse of the circumstances in the daily life of some of these friends, their comments come like a slap in the face. I read a comment or a post and wonder how I can be so petty about some things. I've never been out of work for years at a time.  And if I were, could I conduct myself with great dignity as I've witnessed in reading remarks and blog posts from West Africa? Or would I succumb to self-pity?

It's been a joyful and humbling experience in making these connections. I've never been to Africa and probably will never get there. That doesn't mean I don't have a connection to the people there. I look forward to learning more from fellow Christians residing in West Africa as they teach me about the faith we all proclaim.

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Folk singer Peter Mayer shares his view of the church in the world. This is a terrific song that glorifies God in everyday life and work.

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Get over yourself. I love that expression. It's one of the best pieces of advice a person can get. Whenever I get too self-important, self-righteous, or self-absorbed, those three words can snap me back to reality.

Sometimes I can get wrapped up in myself. Poor me. I'm too busy. Overlooked me, under-appreciated me, and why does this always happen to me? The pity party can be all consuming. Sooner or later, I figure it out. Life is not all about me.

On a morning radio show, Bruce Bowen, retired San Antonio Spur defensive stopper, spoke of Greg Popovich, his former coach. “Pop would tell us that there are people greater than us. There are people laying down their lives to ensure our way of life. You’re not that great. Just do your job.”

It reminds me of a time when I was nineteen, half in college, half out. I worked as a night watchman in a factory on weekends and played minor league football. Living in a self-absorbed world (Hey, I was nineteen. What other kind of world was there?) I had no clue where my life was headed.

One day in despair, I said to my mother, "The only thing I'm good at is playing football."

In a loving motherly way, she shot back, "You're not that good at it."

"I know," I said, as I turned and walked away.

My poor mother was trying to keep me from running off in the wrong direction. I needed direction, period. She needed a better line. "Get over yourself" would have helped so much more than "You're not that good."

My mother was afraid I'd pursue the wrong things. I was desperately trying to find my place in the world. I already knew that it wasn't going to be playing football. Focusing on myself and what I needed kept me from seeing the opportunities before me.

So when I heard Bruce Bowen talking about Pop and how he molds self-important stars into a selfless team, it made me smile. Get over yourself, and get to work. Those words encourage me. I hope they help you too.

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I’m puzzled. A colleague has sent out an email three different times informing us that one of our company vehicles is not part of a recall. Still people ask if the new van is in the recall.

Here’s how the email stream played out. On Friday morning, an email announcement is made about the company purchase of a new van. In the email, the point was made that the van was not part of the automaker’s recall of vehicles. One hour later, a new email is sent. In the subject line appears, “NEW VAN NOT PART OF RECALL.”

Ten days later, another email goes out informing us that the now “used,” or is it recently purchased, van is not part of the recall.

Wow! Do we really pay such little attention?

I know I’ve ranted about social media being a place where many are talking but few are listening. Still, this is company email about something that only affects maybe ten people.

Why is it so difficult? Jesus said it’s because we have hardened hearts. (Matt. 19:8) He asked the disciples, “Don't you understand? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you still not understand?” (Mark 4:13, 8:17, 8:21).

I’m reminded of the line from Cool Hand Luke. The prison Captain says to Luke, “What we've got here is failure to communicate.”

Our “failure to communicate” presents problems. At work, at home, or anywhere we have to deal with other people, we need to communicate well. Communication means to speak and to listen well.

Now. Just for fun...

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