Fresh Insights from Marketplace Ministry Readers
I appreciate the tremendous feedback you’re to my recent blog posting: The Floor if Flat Before the Throne. Here are a couple of eMail comments that I thought we’d all find challenging as we think about how to be more effective in our own work.
From Cathy: We had a sermon today (since it is Pentecost) about both God coming to His followers with his Spirit in the form of wind and fire but also the Old Testament story of the Tower of Babel – or people trying to get closer to God and in the process trying to become God themselves. Our pastor’s message was not that it was a bad thing to strive and do well in this life, but that it needs to be done on our knees, waiting for God to come to us and show us His will for our life. If we are striving to make a name for ourselves for our own 
benefit and not God’s, that is when our own Tower of Babel might not get finished. In other words we need to kneel to get closer to God. I thought it tied into your blog about the floor being flat before the throne.
We are all kneeling no matter what we do!
From Tom: One of my seminary profs pointed out a significant word during one of our “worship” classes. He told us that one of the Hebrew words translated “worship” actually meant “temple sweeper.” Now part of the job of the temple sweeper was obviously to clean the place up. What struck me about this was that the daily routine at the temple was in part to slaughter hundreds and perhaps thousands of animals as part of the ritual sacrifices that people presented according to the law. The sweeper’s job, in a very hot Middle Eastern climate, was to clean up all the parts not worthy for sacrifice. This would not have been a pleasant job in any way … stinky, smelly, dirty, flies, blood – which would have made the sweeper “unclean” according to the law … and yet, the Holy Spirit has seen fit to help us understand that the God in all His fullness, views the lowest, dirtiest, nastiest job as an act of worship.
I interpret this to mean that the work we do, no matter how menial or low on the ladder of social acceptance can be, it is an act of worship for the believer. Hence, the mandate in the New Testament to work as one serving the Lord rather than as one simply serving a human master.
No act of worship goes unnoticed by the Lord.
Therefore, the most mundane thing that you and I do is lifted by the Creator to the highest level of relating to Him.
Our work MATTERS. YOUR work MATTERS.
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Sales Growth Specialists, All Rights Reserved.
The Floor is Flat Before the Throne
I’m preparing for an upcoming speaking engagement on June 3rd at Minnesota Christian Chamber of Commerce where I’m sharing my Marketplace Ministry journey. As I’m preparing, I’m rethinking a posting I had a couple of weeks ago. So, here’s my revision.
The Floor Before the Throne is Flat
I’m not certain when or how it happened, but somewhere over the course of my life, I unconsciously came to the incorrect conclusion that there is a spiritual stack ranking, in that some people are closer to God’s Throne than others. In this ranking system, certain professions and careers are more spiritual than others. Pastors, missionaries, full-time, paid, church staff and church/non-profit volunteers are the closest to the Throne Room, and closest to God’s Heart. Then, it’s teachers, doctors and nurses. Somewhere near the bottom of the list, and furthest from the Throne Room are other professions, including business people.
The furthest point from God’s Presence is my profession, or anything having “sales” in it.
Am I the only one that has felt this way? That “secular” is less important, less valuable than “spiritual”? That God smiles a bit more when we’re doing activities associated with the church that we attend, versus, when we’re involved in helping others at our work in our community?
Again, I’m not certain how I assimilate this lie; however, this unconscious lie is so ingrained in my psyche that when we sold our medical device manufacturing company, Micro-Tech, in 2000, I enrolled in the M.Div. program at Bethel Seminary. With comfort, I think, ‘I’m finally preparing for my “real” calling in life: full time, paid, inside-the-institutional- church vocation. I’m moving closer to the Throne Room, closer to God’s Heart!’
Then, my world is rocked.
I picked up Ed Silvoso’s book, Anointed for Business, and read, “Unfortunately, many of these marketplace Christians feel like second-class citizens when compared to people who serve full-time in a church or ministry context.”
Stunned, I think, “That’s exactly how I feel: second class…lower on the stack ranking…part of the Outer Circle!”
Have you ever felt that way?
Ed goes on, “It is imperative that they (marketplace Christians) realize that not only is it OK to do ministry in the marketplace, but that God has explicitly called them and anointed them for it.”
As this truth settles into my spirit, I feel liberated, “Called and anointed! Called and anointed for business! Called and anointed for sales! Called and anointed for leadership in the marketplace.”
That’s when I conclude, “The Floor is Flat Before the Throne….even for Business People!”
One profession is not higher than another.
We are all called to live a life of service, a life of worship…..24/7.
And, the one-hour church service on Sunday morning is not our “highest moment of worship (as the pastor had preached the previous Sunday!). No, intentionally, deliberately and authentically living our God-walk in the marketplace is worship. We are strategically placed in the marketplace to live incarnationally so that God’s Kingdom and Purposes are advanced.
I’m still at Bethel; however, I switch to a Master’s in Transformational Leadership, focusing on the integration of leadership and Biblical studies. I realize that I am a minister….in the marketplace.
In addition, I’m becoming more active in helping business students learn to authentically walk their faith in the marketplace through the OPIN Apprentice Program.
How are you walking in God’s calling and God’s anointing?
Do you know deep in your spirit that, “The Ground Before the Throne is Flat….even for you and your profession?”
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
The Christian Entrepreneur’s (Mission) Impossible List
What’s on your (Mission) Impossible List?
As Christian business people and entrepreneurs, we have great vision, dreams and aspirations. We are Anointed for Business!
However, sometimes I get discouraged and it feels like there’s a long, long list of situations that feel virtually impossible to impact. Items from my Dream List get transferred to the (Mission) Impossible List. Then, the list grows beyond hope
Does that ever happen to you?
That’s why my favorite, all-time verse in the Bible is Ephesians 3:20,21: ”To Him who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can every ask for or even think of: To God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever!”
I love the part that says, “…so much more than we can ever ask for or even think of…” because I have really big dreams!
It’s because of this faith-inspiring verse, that I’m drawn to a Dayspring card with this poem,
When you are the neediest,
His is the most sufficient.
When you are completely helpless,
He is the most helpful.
When you feel totally dependent,
He is absolutely dependable.
When you are the weakest,
He is intimately present.
When you feel you are the least,
He is the greatest.
When you feel the most useless,
He is preparing you.
When it is the darkest,
He is the only Light you need.
When you feel the least secure,
He is your Rock and Fortress.
When you are the most humble,
He is most gracious.
When you can’t,
He can.
And, I would add to the poem,
When it is impossible for you,
It is possible for Him.
So, what’s on your (Mission) Impossible List?
Will you trust Him?
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
What’s Your Christian Worldview? Individualist or Collectivist?
I learn a new marketplace ministry concept this week while working with Ray Menard and Karen Winners on the Cheetah Development project, tuka pamoja.
Tuka pamoja means “we are one” or “unity” in Swahili. To help us understand it’s importance to the Tanzanian people, we need to understand how foreign the concept is to us in America. There’s an interesting body of work done by Hofstede discussed in Riding the Waves of Culture where he identifies five dimensions in which cultures vary. One of these dimensions that relates to tuka pamoja is “Individualism vs. Collectivism.”
Wikipedia describes this Individualism vs. Collectivism dimension as how much members of the culture define themselves apart from their group memberships.
- In individualist cultures, people are expected to develop and display their individual personalities and to choose their own affiliations.
- In collectivist cultures, people are defined and act mostly as a member of a long-term group, such as the family, a religious group, an age cohort, a town, or a profession, among others.
According the Hofstede’s study The US ranks as one of the highest in the world for Individualism (89), whereas East Africa ranks significantly lower (27).
I submit that we in America can learn the wisdom from other cultures that are more attuned with the Biblical concept of unity. For example, read Ephesians 1 inserting “you all” whenever you see the word “you.” The original Hebrew is written as “you all.” However, we in America, with our high individualism worldview, consistently read “you” and interpret as “you” vs. “you all.” Understanding this truth shifts the way we worship, the way we do business and the way we interact with others in all our business interactions.
How does the Biblical concept of unity and community impact how your live your life and do your work?
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
Leadership Shift & Coffee
It must be the coffee.
Two years ago, I’m savoring my custom-designed blend of coffee at the Caribou on Bren Road in Hopkins while reflecting on the characteristics that I see in vibrant companies. I compare these observations with what I’m learning in my master’s program on transformational leadership. On a clean Caribou napkin, I thoughtfully sketch the core paradox of Sales Growth 
Specialists:
Discipline-Creativity
I observe this paradox while selling at Xerox, managing and leading at Micro-Tech and consulting with clients at Sales Growth Specialists. It seems that vibrant leaders are able to artfully hold these tensions in balance. I often find highly creative teams, flush with fresh ideas, unable to execute due to lack of discipline. Vice versa, I also find highly disciplined sales organizations that lack creativity, unable to maximize their talents. My conclusion is that resilient companies have strong leaders whom balance the paradox, managing these polarities.
Maybe it’s the extra shot of caffeine that day, because it’s then that my brain goes into overdrive. I begin envisioning a host of other paradoxes. I race to write them on the Caribou napkin, filling up both sides with ink.
These five leadership paradoxes, that started out as scribble, now form the foundation of Leadership Shift:
1. Instill Hopeful Realism
2. Manage in Synergy with Leadership
3. Cultivate Disciplined Creativity
4. Foster Collective Independence
5. Inspire Servant Leadership
During the uncertainty of 2010, I observe two other paradoxes that Make-It-Happen leaders balance and manage:
6. Nurture a Focus-Forward Culture
7. Capitalize on the Energy of Adversity
I invite you into dialogue over the next couple of weeks as we wrestle with these leadership ideas. I trust that this dialogue will inspire all of us to sharpen our leadership acumen so that we can continue to lead in uncertain times. I invite you to download and read Leadership Shift at your favorite Caribou.
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
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About Danita
Bold and Refreshing
Danita has a special gift of igniting others into action. Her skill and experience, partnered with ministry insight, makes Danita a powerful marketplace minister! Her sharp precision cuts right to the heart of business matters – assisting others in breaking new ground for Kingdom Advancement!- Rhonda M. Kalal, President
MN Christian Chamber of Commerce
Connects in Conversation
"Danita delivered a powerful, insightful and thought-provoking talk that dramatically kicked off the new semester with great success. She is a polished, professional and prepared speaker, yet connects with her audience as if she were having a conversation with a good friend. Thank you, Danita!"- Heather Lam
Communications & Marketing Director
Moms In Step, Woodridge Church
Medina, Minnesota