Bakke Graduate University (BGU) & Work, Calling & Human Dignity February, 2012

1. TOW Introduction – what this means to me personally as a fellow Guyanese 2. Why a focus on TOW (Work, Calling & Humanity) Context to the Caribbean with emphasis on Guyana 3. Touching on ‘Fruit of the Spirit in the Workplace’

 What this all means to me personally as a fellow Guyanese ◦ The best way I can impart what is in my heart is through my own TOW walk – oftentimes, this is the best way of teaching …  For me, it all started as a very reflective process  For years I have quietly observed (both in Guyana and throughout my travels) the confusing dichotomy as many seemed so metamorphosed from Sunday to Monday  I did not recognize the Sunday church goers on Monday  I wondered: What is it that causes us to make this shift where many enjoy who we are on Sunday but dread dealing with us on Monday?  I have lived this with many and it is both puzzling and scary

 I started feeling a deep sense of … ◦ Spiritual Discontentment & Spiritual Intolerance  Something had to change – something had to transform  We could not continue the way we were  For some time, I heard the words … No more procrastination … Now!  All of this resulted in prayer and personal reflection  Please let me share the following reflections with you:  I leave these with you as we enjoy this week’s TOW journey together  The timing is right … let us follow His lead as He stays one step ahead of us throughout this journey …

 What if we really believe that Guyana is called of God to transform its people and the rest of the world … what would be different?

 What if we deeply feel the same presence on Monday as we did on Sunday … what would be different?

 What if we truly believe who we are on Sunday is the same as who we are on Monday … what would be different?

 What if we truly believe that we are Christ in human form- walking each day as He walked 2000 years ago, talking as He talked, loving healing and caring as He did … what would be different?

 What if we clearly saw that our daily work is about His purpose and our daily mission field … what would be different?

 What if we deeply embrace the fact that today may be the only Christ the world (a hurting creation) sees through our life … what would be different?

 What if we really believed that Genesis 1:27 called each of us to be a leader and as such, we are committed to leading as well as following each other? ◦ What if we believe that we have the personal responsibility to help each person answer his/her Genesis call … what would be different?

 Finally, what if we truly believe that God has a specific purpose in our being in this room tonight and that what we must learn, we must apply personally and we must share with others? ◦ Then... I promise that if you follow this purpose … your life will never be the same after this week …

 Meeting the team at Bakke Graduate University helped me answer these questions and sort out these reflections ◦ I saw TOW ‘lived daily’ and it was so refreshing …  Personally, this TOW message has become the basis for much of my work for Him … and I long to see as many as possible be blessed by this message … so here we are Guyana!

 Why a focus on TOW (Work, Calling & Humanity) Context to the Caribbean with emphasis on Guyana  This region is no different from any other Some of our Caribbean countries have the highest number of churches per capital yet are amongst the world’s leading crime centers  How do we explain this?  Some of our countries have officially declared themselves to be Christian nations yet we are tired of the unethical practices  What is happening at the leadership level?

 Clearly … there is a disconnect between Church & Life … Business & Mission … Theology & Work!  I am tempted to say that we have made church another social gathering: ◦ The personal relationship with Christ (along with His purpose) is missing ◦ The clear understanding that our work is our calling is missing !

 I will just leave these with you as I ask you two questions that we will not answer today … you will answer as we progress through this journey … 1.Joy: More Than Happiness at Work 2.Goodness: Un-selfconscious Giving 3.Love: The Greatest Thing to Give and Receive 4.Self-Control: Resolving the Work-Life Dilemma 5.Gentleness: The Strength of Meekness 6.Faithfulness: Workplace Integrity 7.Kindness: Putting Others at Ease 8.Patience: Remaining Where You Are with Hope 9.Peace: Bringing Wholeness and Harmony Questions:

 Question #1: ◦ How many of these fruits of the Spirit are your workplace giving to you?  Question #2 ◦ How many of these fruits of the Spirit are you giving to your workplace?  At the end of the day … it must begin with ‘me’!  Lord, make me a channel of your peace, joy, love etc …