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Archives for April 2015

Theodore Roosevelt: In Praise of the Strenuous Life

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In 1899, a few months after becoming governor of New York, Theodore Roosevelt gave the speech “In Praise of the Strenuous Life.” It remained one of his most popular, and has excellent things to say that are affirmed by the biblical doctrine of vocation. Here is how it starts:

In speaking to you, men of the greatest city of the West, men of the state which gave to the country Lincoln and Grant, men who preeminently and distinctly embody all that is most American in the American character, I wish to preach not the doctrine of ignoble ease but the doctrine of the strenuous life; the life of toil and effort; of labor and strife; to preach that highest form of success which comes not to the man who desires mere easy peace but to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship, or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph.

A life of ignoble ease, a life of that peace which springs merely from lack either of desire or of power to strive after great things, is as little worthy of a nation as of an individual. I ask only that what every self-respecting American demands from himself, and from his sons, shall be demanded of the American nation as a whole.

Read the whole thing (it’s short). And you can find more helpful resources on vocation at MondayChurch.org.

Speaking at Christ Community Tonight

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If you are in the greater Kansas City area, come join Matt tonight as he speaks at Christ Community Church. This event is free and open to the public. Matt will speak on gospel-centered productivity and have a time of Q&A. You can find full details about the event here and you can RSVP here.

Tom Nelson, author of Work Matters, is the senior pastor of Christ Community Church. Pastor Nelson’s book provides helpful counsel for those seeking to better understand the theology of vocation and apply it in their own life.

Come join the folks from Christ Community for an evening of discussing faith and work together. See you there!

Dorothy Sayers: Clamor to be Engaged in Work Worth Doing

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Sometimes, Dorothy Sayers sounds like Seth Godin. Here’s what she says in her superb essay “Why Work?,” referring to one of the main implications of the view of work she has just outlined:

A fourth consequence is that we should fight tooth and nail, not for mere employment, but for the quality of the work that we had to do. We should clamor to be engaged on work that was worth doing, and in which we can take pride.

The worker would demand that the stuff he helped to turn out should be good stuff….

There would be protests and strikes — not only about pay and conditions, but about the quality of the work demanded and the honesty, beauty, and usefulness of the goods produced. The greatest insult which a commercial age has offered to the worker has been to rob him of all interest in the end-product of the work and to force him to dedicate his life to making badly things which were not worth making.

Fast forwarding about 70 years, I think Sayers would agree whole-heartedly with the vision for work Godin outlines on his blog and books, especially Linchpin: 

In bestsellers such as Purple Cow and Tribes, Seth Godin taught readers how to make remarkable products and spread powerful ideas. But this book is about you-your choices, your future, and your potential to make a huge difference in whatever field you choose.

There used to be two teams in every workplace: management and labor. Now there’s a third team, the linchpins. These people figure out what to do when there’s no rule book. They delight and challenge their customers and peers. They love their work, pour their best selves into it, and turn each day into a kind of art.

Linchpins are the essential building blocks of great organizations. They may not be famous but they’re indispensable. And in today’s world, they get the best jobs and the most freedom.

As Godin writes, “Every day I meet people who have so much to give but have been bullied enough or frightened enough to hold it back. It’s time to stop complying with the system and draw your own map. You have brilliance in you, your contribution is essential, and the art you create is precious. Only you can do it, and you must.”

Join Me in Atlanta this Thursday for the One2 Conference on Faith and Work

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I’m excited to be speaking at the One2 Conference in Atlanta this Thursday. The vision for these events is amazing and just what we need when it comes to the faith and work discussion. Here it is in a nutshell:

ONE2 is a one-night event for students and recent graduates who want to do meaningful work that honors God and serves the world.

These events are not like a traditional conference where most of the time consists of teaching. Instead, in addition to the teaching (two 20-minute TED-like talks), there is also table discussions and Q&A. The aim is to create a space for 18-25 year-olds to talk about the intersection of faith and work.

So if you are a student or recent graduate, come to ONE2 Atlanta this Thursday and learn more about how your faith integrates with your work. The other keynote speaker will be Tyler Reagin, executive director of Catalyst, who I can’t wait to hear.

You can register at the website, as well as learn more about ONE2 in general, discover some of the resources they recommend, and read their blog. And here’s a short video trailer on the conference: