The Kingdom of God is Purple

I've recently finished listening to Seth Godin's Purple Cow. Godin postulates that in today's market, the standard 'p's of promotion, product, publicity, etc., require an additional 'p' which he aptly calls purple. A purple cow standing in the midst of a field of ordinary cows would be attention-getting, and not-at-all ordinary. Godin thus uses the word purple as synonymous with the word remarkable.

Purple products are advertised through word of mouth. They don't require mass media blitzes. They don't need TV ads or magazine spreads. Consumers are obsessed with products that are purple, and their purple-ness spreads from neighbor to neighbor over backyard fences and around family barbecues.

The Kingdom of God is purple.

Well, that's not entirely correct. The Kingdom of God in its purest form is purple, but unfortunately, it is all too often presented as a stale, boring, and dry version of itself. Clothed in the suit and tie of religion, Christianity is seen as a list of rules and requirements, and not as the very LIFE of God flowing joyfully from the hearts of the redeemed.

"[T]he kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14:17)

As Tony Campolo once wrote, "The Kingdom of God is a Party!" It's a celebration! It's contagious! It's heart-warming, life-giving, and you want to tell everyone you know! It bubbles forth like a fountain of living water. It can't be stopped! It's unique and irresistible!

In its original form, the Kingdom of God 'went viral' immediately after the Resurrection of Christ, and it hasn't stopped since!

Even its critics can't stop talking about it!

True Christianity doesn't require its members to tell others about Jesus, and there are no demerits if you keep it to yourself. But why would you want to?

The Kingdom of God is remarkable ~ it's purple!





Have you discovered this wonderful, oh-so-purple life?

Heads or Tails?

Twice in Deuteronomy 28, we are told that we are the "head and not the tail."

This is a promise made by God to those of his people who have fulfilled the requirements of the Law. According to Matthew 5:17, the Lord Jesus fulfilled those requirements on our behalf. Ephesians 2 tells us that at one time, we Gentiles were "strangers from the covenants of promise" but now, in Christ, we are made "nigh." Because we are in Abraham's Seed, we are now partakers of the promises made to Abraham and to his children.

These promises of being the 'head" are for those of us who are in Christ.

Which begs the question, What does it mean to be the head? The head is the decision maker. The head is the leader. The head is above. The head is NOT the behind. It is not below. It is not a follower.

What?!?!

You heard me: The head leads, it doesn't follow. I believe that religion blinds our minds, binds our hands, and turns us into slaves, but true Christianity frees us. Religion turns us into followers. Christianity turns us into leaders.

We are kings after all.

I'm not saying that we should be rebellious. I'm not saying that we shouldn't follow orders. What I am saying is, STOP SITTING THERE LIKE A BUMP ON A LOG! You've been made free. You've been give the power to make choices, set courses, and lead men.

It's nice that you are a mild-mannered employee who never rocks the boat. It's wonderful that you follow every order to the 't.' But, you have been created to be MORE than that.

The choice is yours. Which will it be: Heads or tails?



What's your choice? Let me know!

Sliced Carrots

My boss let me go home early on Tuesday! It was a lovely, sunshine-y day and the phone wasn't ringing.

"Get outta here," he said, "You've been working really hard around here, and you should go spend some time with your family."

What a great guy!

"But," he added, "I expect you to work a couple of hours this Saturday. Got it?"

What a jerk!
I'm still reading The Carrot Principle. In the book, the authors talk about recognition as a means to increase employee satisfaction and retention, and profits.

However, there is a slight caveat that they mention. Most managers are 'Expecters' - that is, they give rewards with strings attached. They may give you a nice little reward, on Tuesday, but they also expect you to work late on Friday (or come in on Saturday morning). It's manipulation, not recognition.

And, it smacks of legalism and a wrong view of grace. It's giving with ulterior motives.

The other type of manager is the 'Altruistic' manager. They genuinely care about their employees, not just the bottom line. They get to know their employees, and want them to do well in their private lives and in their business lives. When these managers give rewards for attaining goals, they give without strings attached. The recognition is purposeful and given freely.

This kind of recognition is more like biblical grace. It is a gift freely given, and nothing else is required. It has a personal touch. It builds relationship and trust. It builds morale.

It should come as no surprise that when recognition of achievement is given altruistically, employee satisfaction goes through the roof (and profits go up, too), but when the same recognition comes piggy-backed on fear and manipulation, the employees see through it.

Take note! Grace changes the employee from the inside out, and produces a better company.


P.S. My brother mentioned a good example of this. The Altruistic manager says, "Thank you for doing such a wonderful job." The Expector says, "Thank you for doing such a wonderful job...keep it up!"

Whatcha think about that?

Rendering Honour & Employee Recognition

I've been listening to The Carrot Principle by Gostick and Elton. What a powerful book about employee recognition and its effect on business.

In their book, they mention studies that include over 200,000 people in dozens of countries, one-on-one interviews, and focus groups. And with all this research, they have discovered what the Bible says: Render honor to the person who deserves it! (Rom. 13:7)

Did you know that if a manager is good at the basic managerial techniques - goal setting, communication, accountability, trust building - he is still missing his most important tool if he doesn't know how to show appreciation to his workers?

Managers believe that employees want good pay and job security first and foremost, but the studies have shown time and again that employees really want to be appreciated and kept informed. Without purposeful recognition, employees leave their jobs in search of new ones where they will be appreciated; this employee turnover costs American business over $5 TRILLION every year!

Almost 70% of employees say that they were not shown any measurable appreciation last year!

However, in companies that emphasize recognition, both employee and customer satisfaction increases, productivity increases, and profit increases .

"Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."

It's a simple thing but it goes a long way toward affecting your bottom line.