Christian Business owner: Can You Trust God with your ToDo List?
I recently read this poem in Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. May it challenge you, even as it challenged me and my ToDo List Addiction!
“Trust Me enough to spend ample time with Me during the day.
Trust Me, knowing that I can bend time and events in your favor.
Trust Me that you can get more done in less time with Me.
Trust Me to tell you what’s important and what’s not important.”
I’m interested in hearing from you about how you stay in trust mode! Share your story!
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Sales Growth Specialists, All Rights Reserved.
The Rewarding Risk For Every Christian Business Person
You may have heard of the book God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew, where the author tells of his adventures as a Bible Smuggler behind the Iron Curtain. I spent a summer while in college with a sister organization, Slavic Gospel Association, which was founded by Peter Deyneka. I wrote this article about 8 years ago while reflecting on one of the adventures in Eastern Europe. I hope you find the question as challenging for you today as when I wrote the article. I’d love to hear your own reflections. 
The Rewarding Risk
At 1 o’clock A.M., we tap lightly on the door of their second-story apartment, hoping not to waken others in the building. As Yolonda and Yori cautiously crack open the door, we murmur, “We’re Americans…..with Bibles.” Delighted, they quietly and quickly open the door to their tiny apartment, whispering their incredible story.
Only five days earlier, the Politzi (Russian police) swept through their village located only seven miles from the Russian-Polish border. They confiscate all Bibles and Christian literature, pile them in the middle of the floor and then set the pile ablaze. All that remains is a charred hole in the middle to their church floor.
And, now, only five days later, they have a new supply. A Miracle!
In 1980, I delivered Bibles to Christ Followers in Communist Europe through Slavic Gospel Association. For Christ followers living in the Communist empire, it was illegal to share their faith with their children, family, friends, or neighbors without significant risk. To do so meant that they could be ostracized from their communities, lose their job, face imprisonment, or in some cases, sacrifice their lives. Even accepting Bibles and Christian literature from Americans was illegal. Yolanda and Yuri were risking their lives for this miracle delivery that came on the heels of such destruction.
The Easy Question
More than 23 years later, the courage of Yolanda and Yori still inspires me–and challenges me. When reading of those persecuted around the world for following Jesus Christ, I often ask myself, “Danita, are you willing to die for your beliefs in Jesus Christ?” Without hesitation, I have responded, “Yes, absolutely! If I had to choose between renouncing my relationship with God through Jesus or face death, I would choice death.”
The Difficult Problem
However, the follow-up question is more difficult for me to answer, “Am I willing to LIVE for my belief that God showed His love to the world through Jesus?” Am I willing to risk a friendship, when talking with a neighbor who’s having a personal crisis, to ask gently, “May I pray for you?” When I work with a client who’s lost all confidence because his business is failing, am I willing to risk the contract renewal to ask respectfully, “Where is God in all this?” When I sit across the restaurant table from a successful entrepreneur, am I willing to risk my reputation and ask encouragingly, “ What’s your purpose, your calling, in life?” Am I willing to not only die for my beliefs: am I willing to LIVE my beliefs in my interactions with my family, friends, colleagues and clients?
The Rewarding Risk
An ancient Jewish wisdom writer says that considering all that God has done for us, “Take your everyday, ordinary day—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life– and place it before God as an offering, a living sacrifice. ”
What’s an offering? What’s a sacrifice? Webster defines offering as “a gift or contribution” and sacrifice as “the act of giving up.” What’s the ancient writer saying to us? He’s encouraging us that as we talk with friends, meet with clients, lunch with colleagues and laugh with our families, that we “give up” our comfort zone and “offer” our lives as a gift by sharing God’s love, joy and peace.
For many of us, sharing our walk as a Christ Follower in an increasingly pluralistic, post-modern society is incredibly risky. It feels like we’re endangering our reputations, our sense of control, our self-adequacy, our friendships, our comfort, or our community. However, as we confront our fear, break through our comfort zone and embrace the risk, we will reap the rewards. The most satisfying reward is that every interaction is an opportunity to share God’s intense love.
Our lives are comfortable. In the midst of our comfort zones, are we willing to live a life of adventure and accept the challenge of Yolonda and Yori who risked everything for their walk with Christ? Are we willing to risk not only dying, but also living for our faith, every day? More pointedly, are we willing to risk our reputations, our fear of rejection, our comforts, or our prestige to walk with Jesus Christ as our leader every day in every interaction?
© Copyright 2010, Danita Bye Marketplace Ministers, All Rights Reserved.
As a Marketplace Minister, Are You As Radical As Jesus?
A friend of mine, who’s not a Christ follower; proceeded to tell me all the reason that Christianity and Jesus aren’t the “intelligent” pursuit for someone in the 21st Century. She said, “Danita, don’t you know that Jesus didn’t embrace women!” Shocked, I asked her, “Where do you get that idea?” She retorted, “Well, look at his 12 disciples…they were all men. That should demonstrate his disrespect for women right there.”
I see her point…and I don’t see her point. In fact, I see Jesus as incredibly Radical when dealing with and interacting with all the “out” groups of that time, including women. 
For example, let’ look at John 4 and 5. This section starts with Jesus interacting with a much-hated Samaritan. But, just wait; it’s not just any Samaritan. Double problem—it’s a woman. Women are considered second-class citizens in the ancient near-eastern world. And yet, Jesus, the Radical One, and initiates a conversation with her. He doesn’t just respond to her requests, he’s radical enough to initiate the conversation, interacting with her respectfully and honorably. Jesus is the Radical One.
Next, we see Jesus healing an official’s son. Understand this—the official was probably Roman. What was a Jewish teacher doing interacting with a gentile! And, not just any gentile, but one that is hated by the Jewish people because of the Roman occupation of their land. Not only does Jesus interact with him, he heals his son. Jesus is breaking all sorts of cultural norms by respectfully and honorably interacting with this gentile. Jesus is the Radical One.
Finally, Jesus is walking along and passes by the Pool of Bethesda. There are crowds of sick people, crowds of lame people. People who’ve spent their whole lives sick. In those days, healthy people didn’t really like being around sick, lame, injured people. Why? Because they were considered unclean, unholy. Not Jesus. He walks right amongst the sick and lame. Very counter-cultural. Very radical. And, he doesn’t just walk through there; he engages with a sick man, one who’s been sick for 38 years….and heals him!
As marketplace ministers, are we following in the footsteps of Jesus and being Radical and intentionally and respectfully interacting with those from other cultures and other religions, those that may be shunned by the average American?
Do we go out of our way to respectfully interact with those who aren’t accepted by society, who are seen by some as “taboo”?
Do we hang out with those shunned by society, those who are really in need of someone who will share Jesus’ love for them?
That’s what Jesus would do.
In fact, according to the well-respected theologian, John Stott, in his book, The Radical Disciple, nonconformity to the cultural status quo is the first characteristic of a radical disciple.
Radical!
© 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