Christus --> Lumen + Caritas + Logos

Retirement or a New Assignment? TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2 by Os Hillman   For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill... (Eccl 2:21). He didn't begin this job until he was sixty-nine years old. He had already had a successful Hollywood movie career and decided to try his hand at politics. He would be known by one job more than any other. He would also be known as one of the United State 's greatest statesmen. He had a faith that was genuine but not intruding or very public, but you knew where he stood. He always treated people, even his detractors with grace. He was known for his extraordinary love he had for his wife. His name was Ronald Reagan, and he did not begin his greatest work until he was sixty-nine years old. By this season of life, most are thinking of retirement in Florida . Ronald Reagan decided to run for President of the United States and successfully served two terms as our 40th President. It was Reagan's faith that led

The Error of Positive Thinking     ..."Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 God's people should be the most positive, joyful people on earth. This joy should be a by-product of a healthy, intimate relationship with Jesus. In today's business climate, we are barraged with every possible means of becoming more productive workplace believers. Positive thinking and self-help philosophy are promoted as tools for workplace believers to fulfill their potential and overcome the mountains in their lives. God calls each of us to be visionary leaders, but we must be careful that vision is born out of His Spirit, not the latest self-help program. These ideas lead us away from dependence on God to a self-based psychology designed to give us more power, prosperity, and significance. The result is heresy. Our faith in God becomes faith in faith. It is born out of hard work and diligence rather than obedience to God's Spiri

Reflects on His Faith With L'Osservatore Romano ROME , SEPT. 15, 2009 ( Zenit.org ).- Religion has a central and unique role in society and its development, according to the former prime minister of England . Tony Blair, a convert to Catholicism, spoke with L'Osservatore Romano about his faith in an interview published in today's Italian edition. "My spiritual journey began when I started to go to Mass with my wife," Blair said. "Then we decided to baptize our children in the Catholic faith. It was a journey that lasted 25 years, or perhaps more. In time, emotionally, intellectually and rationally it seemed to me that the Catholic home was the right one for me. When I left political office, and I no longer had all the context connected with being prime minister, it was something I really wanted to do." Blair added that religion has brought him closer to his wife.   "We did not meet because of religion, but it was very interesting to disc

"Moses said to the LORD, 'O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue'" (Ex 4:10). One of the greatest affronts you can commit against God is to refuse His calling that He has placed upon you. Imagine arguing with your Creator and telling him you know better than Him. That is exactly what Moses did when God called him to be his spokesperson to Pharaoh. God and Moses got into an "I know best" competition. "The LORD said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.' But Moses said, 'O Lord, please send someone else to do it.'" God actually relented in the argument. Can you imagine that? But He's not happy about it. "Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses and he said, 'What about yo

Giving and Receiving   "Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account" (Phil 4:17). The apostle Paul had a tent-making business. However, over time, it was evident that more and more of his time was being given to vocational ministry activities. That required him to receive income from those to whom he invested his life. It became increasingly difficult to run a business and travel and minister. His letter to the Philippians gives us a perspective on giving. Although Paul appreciated the support financially, his real joy came in the fact that their gift was being credited to their Heavenly account. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again wh

One of the blunders I use to make… I do make sometimes NOW.   But I have to change now…. No room for Situational Ethics….Only Absolute Standards…No relative measures.   Warm Regards, Christus ---------------------------------------------------------------------------         Confronting Your Industry Culture   "Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, 'My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers'" (Matt 21:12-13). Sometimes a corporate culture dictates the way business is conducted because it was established years before. We simply inherit whatever the accepted practice is. Some of these practices violate a biblical principle. For instance, some businesses withhold payment on invoices for sixty, ninety or one hundred twent

How Sharp Is Your Ax?   "If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success" (Eccl 10:10). Manufacturing companies live and die by the ability of its designers, engineers, and staff to bring new products to market quickly. Yet for many organizations, a team's capacity to turn promising ideas into new revenue is diminished because of fragmented business processes, a geographically dispersed workforce, and a lack of standards across the supply chain according to an industry expert on innovation in technology. We live in an information age where the level of knowledge is increasing at warp speed. The way you did things two years ago may not be the same way you do it today. The knowledge you have two years ago may not be adequate to compete in the global marketplace today. Businesses have gone bankrupt because they were not willing to change with the times. Have you seen a Polaroid camera lately? Do you know someone over

Interview with Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk By Giovanni Patriarca PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, JUNE 17, 2009 ( Zenit.org ).- A neuroscientist and ethicist is underlining the need to base bioethics in moral principles, and is affirming that even people who profess relativism count on certain absolutes in life. Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk is the director of education at the Philadelphia-based National Catholic Bioethics Center . He writes a monthly column for The Catholic Herald titled "Making Sense out of Bioethics." In this interview with ZENIT, he discusses some of the need to base bioethics in absolute moral principles in light of recent events related to his field. ZENIT: In recent years bioethics seems to have become a battleground where many interest groups try to impose their political views separated from any consideration of the field's moral foundations. The 2005 U.N. Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights could be considered a starting po

Those in Whom God Delights "His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love." - Psalm 147:10 Mammon and power are the ruling strongholds of the workplace. If you possess either of these, then you will be courted by those who serve the workplace in hopes of increasing market share. It is a competitive environment that often gives way to decisions and actions that are dictated by the financial bottom line. A recent newspaper article stated that employers are requiring workers to put more time into their jobs, often requiring weekend work in order to be more competitive. For the Christian worker, this brings pressures on the family and will result in "lost market share" in the spiritual realm. The Lord has a different measuring stick. The Lord is not impressed with your ability or what you can do for Him. Only one thing delights Him-peopl

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." - John 12:24 The goal of the Christian life is death, not success. A popular teaching says that if we follow God, we will prosper materially. God may, in fact, bless His people materially, but few can make this claim among third-world countries. Wealth must never be the goal of a person's life, only a by-product. A missionary to a Middle-Eastern country has shared a motto among their ministry team: "God does not require success, but radical, immediate obedience." Jesus' obedience gained Him the cross. It did not gain Him popularity among the heathen, the religious or financial success, or a life of pleasure. His obedience resulted in His death on the cross. This is the same goal Christ has for each of us--death of our old nature so that He might live through us. That may not sell well among outcome-based

  I am so glad and overjoyed that finally Indians are recognized in a global stage for pure and sheer talent. Though the marketing and lobbying would have made the extra bit for the trash to millionaire stories success in the Academy award ceremony where the global village was tuned into the Kodak Theatre happenings.   My joy is unlimited but equally saddened that master talents such as that of Rahman had to be recognized for a movie which is not the best of his life…he has done far too many better ones in the past. But BBC headline read that “British film Slumdog Millionaire wins eight Oscars including best director and best picture, while Kate Winslet wins best actress.” (still colonial…in its tone ???)   As an Indian, I feel we lost it in the whole game plan of Hollywood entry into Indian movie making business … probably that’s the main reason that this movie is hyped up but Still ….I AM OVERJOYED THAT INDIAN TALENT AND INDIANS ARE RECOGNISED AND CELEBRATED.   Lets n