So what if we were more intentional with what we talk about? When we launched the new LLM we asked readers to vote on possible issue themes. Below is a partial theme list for 2012; the asterisks show which themes got the most reader votes. (See the chart below for full results.)

January: The Missional Family **

February: Holiness in the Workplace **

March: Membership **

April: Can the Rural Church Survive?

May: A Christian’s Role in Politics

June: What Does it Mean to Be a Worldwide Church? **

July: My Two Cents – Stewardship Counts

August: The Urban Church

We still need you. Please take just a minute to tell us what you think and you’ll help us plan the issues from September onward.

Other Great Ways to Have Your Say

• Like our Facebook page (facebook.com/fmcusa). We regularly use this outlet to search for good writers and keep up with the heartbeat of the FM community. Leave comments or join a discussion; your reach may just extend further than you realize.
• Submit something at Your Story (fmcusa.org/yourstory), the place for FMs to share what’s going on in their locales. Your piece might be featured in the LLM news section. You never know where your story will end up – with possibly eternal consequences.

Think of the redesigned LLM as “one book, one denomination.” Just imagine the connections the Holy Spirit could make if Free Methodists everywhere were learning and thinking about the same themes. This year, let’s “abide in the vine” together and see what kind of good fruit the Lord grows from our movement.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. … Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” 1 John 4:7–8, 11–12

Love originated with God. Love began in the heart of God. Love is John’s definition of God. God is love, so He planted this love in those who know Him. This is the word that best describes those who know God. If you don’t love, you don’t know God. A believer cannot help but love because love lives within the believer. This is how the world knows God. The love of God is manifested so deeply within the believer that the very fragrance they leave in every room is love.

My heart recently was hurting over the death of my aunt. God soothed my hurting heart with His love. Nothing can replace the love of God. If we never experience pain, how can we ever experience His love?

God pours in His love, and we pour it out. We don’t keep or withhold love. We give it away. We take risks with others, just like God does with us. We can’t help but love because God gives us love so we can give it away.

Ask God to fill you with His love. This capacity to love starts with Him. Ask Him to fill the cracks of your broken heart. Ask Him to ignite this love in you so deeply that your actions become consumed not with self-love but self-sacrificing love for the team of people you work with.

Know God loves you the way you are, but His love is so deep He desires to lead you into a whole new realm — a deeper walk consumed with His unconditional love.

Group Discussion:

[1] What makes some of your co-workers difficult to love?

[2] How can you lead your co-workers to the greatest experience of a lifetime, God’s love?

[3] Is there a painful experience that has helped you experience God’s love? If you’re comfortable sharing it, please relate your story to the group. Is this an experience you would feel comfortable sharing with a co-worker facing a similar situation?

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” Romans 8:5.

Once you’ve made up your mind, that’s it. No one can convince you to do anything differently.

Are you so strong-minded that, once a matter is settled in your mind, you are finished with all discussions? This kind of determination and strength can be very beneficial — especially if the Holy Spirit engages the mind and directs the thoughts.

The mind is a powerful place where sin can hide. In the mind, sin can be justified. The mind is a place where sin is birthed.

But Romans 8:5 teaches that something other than sin is going on inside the believer’s mind. This verse teaches that inside the believer’s mind, the Holy Spirit has taken over.

The Holy Spirit has come into the mind of the believer so powerfully He can fill the mind of the believer with His thoughts. The mind can be consumed so entirely that natural sin will not have a place.

The Holy Spirit can cleanse the mind so powerfully that sin can’t enter because He now resides there. The Holy Spirit can set your mind on what He desires. You can’t fill your mind with sin and the Holy Spirit at the same time.

Ask the Holy Spirit to consume your mind and have Him break any unhealthy patterns of thinking. If sin consumes your mind, your actions follow. If you are consumed with self, your actions follow self. If your mind is consumed with the Holy Spirit, then your actions are going to follow.

As a faith leader in your profession and workplace, live every day asking the Holy Spirit to consume your mind.

Group Discussion:

[1] We may talk about the heart being a place the Holy Spirit consumes, but what about the mind?

[2] Are there thought processes that the Holy Spirit needs to consume in your workplace?

[3] Are your thoughts about your co-workers, including your boss, consistent with the Holy Spirit’s residence in your mind?

What does a Free Methodist Church employee know about working in the real world, where colleagues’ dirty jokes and profanity may be an unavoidable part of the workday? How can you take a magazine’s holy-at-work theme seriously when its Openers column is written by a guy whose boss’s bosses are bishops?

Before I joined Light & Life Communications last spring, I spent a dozen years in the newsrooms of the Chicago area. Although I had wonderful colleagues who remain my friends, my past and present employers have very different mission statements. I wasn’t the only Christian on the newspaper’s payroll, but most journalists know the details of the “Associated Press Stylebook” better than they know the Bible.

A few years ago, my parents received an email from a Christian organization advocating a boycott of my newspaper company because a columnist expressed anti-Christian views. Of course, a group of atheists could have canceled their subscriptions because I worked there. I even discussed my faith on the company’s religion blog.

Jeff Finley, Lead Writer

Whether writing an article or cleaning a toilet (I’ve been paid to do both), we can do our jobs for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). If customers, clients or co-workers frustrate us, we should keep Ephesians 6:7 in mind: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.”

Downloadable PDF: LLM Feb 2012

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Features

• Table of Contents
• [Feature]: Holiness in the Workplace
• [Bishops]: An Outbreak of Holiness
• [Foundation]: Light in Dark Places
• [History]: Bob Briner: Roaring Lamb
• [Action]: Management as Ministry
• [News]: BOA Freshmen Offer Unique Strengths, Backgrounds
• [World]: European Leaders Meet in Madrid
• [Discipleship]: Uncover Your Faith

by Carol Duberowski

The workday includes the temptation to cross the line from what’s holy to what’s comfortable. The deep desire for acceptance can lead to compromised values and ethics.

How can I live out holiness with all the day-to-day pressures thrown at me in the workplace? One answer is to stay on course with God’s purpose and plan for me. When I am overwhelmed and feel a surge of emotion flooding my body, I may have to escape and spend some time alone in the bathroom crying out to God to fill me with the fruits of His Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).

Every day offers a challenge to live for Christ. Often the Holy Spirit’s greatest work is teaching me to persist, to keep doing what is right even when it no longer seems interesting or exciting.

It’s not just about doing right when something is obviously wrong. We need to focus on doing right when our duties become routine. This has been an ongoing lesson for me as I enter the 10th year with my current employer. It’s easy to become complacent, and, therefore, become careless in making decisions that are not exciting and new. I have made some mistakes as a result of being comfortable — not demonstrating holiness and having to regain ground as a result.

God is in the marketplace 24/7 restoring, saving, redeeming and anointing me to rediscover His call on my life. The anointing for ministry was never meant just for church meetings. John 2:27 tells us the anointing we received from God abides in us. Wherever I go, His Spirit is powerfully available for me to demonstrate the gospel. My ministry platform may not be a pulpit or a small group but rather my business or vocation.

Serving Strategically
God is calling men and women of influence and power in the workplace to serve strategically for His purposes. We can’t serve strategically without grasping a holy lifestyle — whether at home or work. We carry our lifestyle no matter where we are.

I started asking myself the following questions: What happens if I view my drive to work as an opportunity to pray for the day — for the decisions I will make, for my attitude and for those with whom I work? What happens if I pray “God, make my life and work stand out in ways that will lead people to ask questions”? What would happen if I actually viewed my workplace as a calling — an opportunity to reflect Christ not just through words but through my actions?

Living out holiness is not just about evangelizing. It’s not about cramming Christian jargon down the throats of those with whom I come into contact. It’s about relationships. It’s about living like Jesus lived.

Relationships come with risk of rejection and hurt, but without risk, I cannot become the change agent God has called me to be. I know every day I have an opportunity to become part of someone’s story. My story intersects with others each day.

One of my daily prayers is: “Lord, give me eyes to see and ears to hear what You need me to see and hear today.” I need to pay attention to the intersections in my life. As my life has intersected with God, my life intersects with others to influence them. My story will become part of their story. How I interact with others and the wake I leave behind can make an eternal difference.

Salt and Light
According to Matthew 5:13–14, “You are the salt of the earth. … You are the light of the world.” Both salt and light are agents of influence — not of power or control. This is a great reminder when I try to exercise servant leadership. It is not about control but enhancement — adding value to a situation or circumstance.

Carol Duberowski, a Los Angeles business executive, has served on executive management teams in the corporate world for more than 20 years. Her extensive volunteer experience includes a mission trip to Ethiopia and service on boards and commissions of Light & Life Christian Fellowship North in Long Beach, Calif.; the Free Methodist Church in Southern California and the Free Methodist Church – USA.

No matter how my story began, it is my responsibility for the ending, and the same applies for people with whom I intersect on a daily basis. God wants people to discover His story, and He can use me to help do exactly that. I am a partner with God (a co-laborer building His kingdom together). “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing” (Ephesians 2:10 MSG).

We all have influence in our workplace whether we are the CEO or a forklift driver. Our own example is the best way to introduce the good news.

At my place of employment, a warehouse worker sits in his car to read his Bible every day at lunchtime. He has had numerous opportunities to share because he first built a good reputation and demonstrated his values, people began to ask questions. He has handed out Bibles, and he now leads a Bible study for some of the warehouse workers.

Bringing people into God’s kingdom is His work. My responsibility is to be an available tool, allowing Him to use me and my story to change the ending of other stories.

So what does holiness look like? It’s seeking the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and guide you where He wants you to go. It’s keeping your standards high, acting wisely and doing good whenever you can while having the fruits of the Spirit evident in your life. Whether at work, home or out with friends, we should be “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Ephesians 5:16–17).

We are called to emulate His holiness in how we conduct our lives in the workplace. Let’s follow Peter’s advice: “Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, ‘I am holy; you be holy’” (I Peter 1:14–16 MSG).

by Bishop David Kendall

Imagine an “outbreak of holiness.” Of course, only God is absolutely holy. Still, God calls His people to be holy as well and has taken action to make this possible.

Toward the beginning of our Scripture story, God provided instruction and a system of sacrifice so the people could avoid living just like everyone else — apart from God’s plan of blessing and promise. This suggested that holy living was only a matter of avoidance. Just stay away and don’t touch and, if you do, here’s how to undo the damage.

As our Scripture story unfolds, however, and moves toward the fullness of God’s intent, we see that in Jesus, a Holy God has actually become flesh and taken up residence with fallen, sinful and unholy humanity. In Jesus, the absolutely Holy One has become Resident Alien in the world and has even managed to secure a green card.

Therefore, through His people, through you, the resident alien “goes to work” day in and day out. Through His people — you — holiness inhabits the marketplace.

Imagine it: holiness invading, inhabiting and infecting every place, every process, every relationship and every person. Holiness, as a contagion, adhering to and pervading everything and everyone it touches. Holiness spreading like a disease, or like the cure for whatever disease may be out there.

Imagine the stunning, lovely and incomparable way of Jesus entering into every workplace. Imagine a contagion of kindness, openness, caring and compassion. Imagine deep sorrow over anything that ruins or harms and hilarious joy over everything that helps or honors. Imagine “doing unto others” with co-workers, with employees and employers, and with makers of goods or services and their patrons.

Imagine just one carrier of the holiness virus, assuming that she is the only one but hopelessly infected nonetheless, discovering that a Great Physician has arranged for other carriers to be there. Imagine such contagion going so viral that people and things start to heal.

by John Hubbs

He faced the same reality many of us do. God changed us, but our environment remained the same. Jesus calls us to be light, but how do we live as believers in a heathen world?

Ever see a floodlight circling in the sky to draw attention to a big sale? Sometimes the church tries to be like that. I frequently drive past a large church that boasts on its billboard that it serves Starbucks. I am a coffee lover, but still I think, “Really, is that the most important thing I can find here?” This church tries to draw people to the light by filling sacred time and space with popular culture.

Naaman reminds us that our calling is to take that which is holy to where it is not already present, to invade the dark territory (Ephesians 6:12) with our light (Matthew 5:14–16). That is not only difficult but can seem rather risky.

As an Army chaplain, my daily challenge is to be as incarnational as I can in ministry without becoming too much like those to whom I minister. Typical Army conversations and lifestyles aren’t exactly wholesome. I have regretted joining some discussions and laughing at some jokes, but I consider those instances less of a failure than times when I have been absent.

Like Naaman, sometimes I am the guy folks lean on. I want to be there with the light of Christ.

Scripture:
2 Kings 5:1–18
Ephesians 6:12
Matthew 5:14–16

Bob and Marty Briner (Photo courtesy of Marston Memorial Historical Center.)

by Jeff Finley

A 1999 New York Times obituary ran under the headline “Bob Briner, 63, Innovator in Tennis and Television.”

The Times noted that Briner, co-founder of ProServ Television, and tennis legend Arthur Ashe won Emmys for their documentary “A Hard Road to Glory.” The newspaper reported that Briner, as executive director of the Association of Tennis Professionals in the 1970s, “helped bring together the warring governing bodies of men’s tennis.” Briner, “the first Western sports executive to enter China after the Cultural Revolution,” also received credit for his NFL and NBA work.

While detailing success in the sports arena, the eight-paragraph obituary waited until its final sentence to report that Briner “spoke in churches and on college campuses and wrote seven books, focusing on Christianity.”

Briner’s books took him into new spheres of influence during the last several years of his life. Briner’s “The Management Methods of Jesus” and “Business Basics from the Bible” helped readers apply biblical principles to their everyday tasks. His 1993 book debut, “Roaring Lambs,” included his “contention that the church is almost a nonentity when it comes to shaping culture,” and he urged Christians to “penetrate key areas of culture to have a preserving effect.”

The Free Methodist author frequently questioned the tactics of fellow evangelical Christians, describing the American Family Association’s media boycotts as a “significant disservice to the cause of Christ.” In the posthumously published “Final Roar,” Briner wrote, “Neither the abandonment nor ghettoizing of the arts serve America — or the church.”

Briner, a former high school coach, became a favorite philosopher of Christian musicians such as Michael W. Smith, who co-hosted a radio show with Briner. Top performers released a “Roaring Lambs” tribute CD that included a song by Jars of Clay, which formed at Greenville (Ill.) College. The band’s success pleased Briner, an alumnus of both Greenville and Central Christian College of Kansas.

Abdominal cancer ended Briner’s earthly life 13 years ago, but his example and words continue to inspire Christians to be culture shapers.

by Jeff Finley

Dan Sigler recently became an ordained Free Methodist elder, a rank typically held by pastors, but he’s not behind a pulpit most Sunday mornings.

Sigler has another title: sales manager for a publishing company. The former church planter with a master’s degree in social work admitted he seems like an unlikely person to supervise sales.

“The funny thing is I’ve never sold a thing in my life,” he said.

Nevertheless, Sigler excels in the position, which he transitioned to after joining the company as its social worker. Why would a business need a social worker?

The company’s owners give Boise, Idaho, residents the opportunity for employment despite backgrounds of incarceration, probation and drug use that often make it hard to find work and rebuild their lives. Methamphetamine use is a common problem in the area, and a stable job is an important factor to find housing, overcome addiction and avoid criminal behavior.
Sigler led the company’s unique blend of parenting and relationship classes, recovery groups and counseling. As the business helped meet employees’ personal needs, its bottom line improved.

“Retention got way better. Attrition and turnover slowed way down. The overall workforce got more stable,” he said. “That turned into the company being more successful. As a result, we were able to expand and add more positions.”

The company now employs more than 300 people, about half of whom have recovered from drug addiction or have been on probation or parole. A spiritual rebirth accompanies the turnaround in many employees’ lives.

“A lot of them are believers now and are plugged into churches,” Sigler said. “We’ve tried to stay tied in with a number of churches in the community and invited their participation.”

Sigler helped the company develop a management style that differs from those in employees’ past experiences. He explained that employees with a prison background know a leadership model that emphasizes power above everything else.

“The opposite of that is Christ’s model of leadership, which is to be a servant and to have humility and put others before yourself,” he said. “We have this sense of common vision throughout the company of everyone fulfilling different roles that fit with their gifts and abilities.”

Some Christians use phrases like “full-time ministry” and “secular work,” but for Sigler, the distinctions are not as clear.

“It doesn’t matter whether I’m thinking through business-related things or interacting with a person; ultimately, I view Christ in all those interactions,” he said.

Kenji Nitta works with Sigler at the publishing company and also worships with him at New Heights Christian Fellowship.

“He uses his smarts to serve others, and he does it well. He can move adeptly from counseling a rape victim to restructuring a company with well over 300 employees for healthier performance management and less systems waste,” Nitta said. “There is no hint of selfish ambition in any of his endeavors. His concern to honor Jesus in all he does motivates how careful he is in thought, deed and charity toward others.”

by Jeff Finley

Newcomer Karen Michel described herself as honored, overwhelmed and excited to join the board with “a huge sense of responsibility for the church in this country.” Michel works in development at Penn State University and serves as the children’s director at Stepping Stones Community Church in State College, Pa.

E. Kenneth Martin, the pastor of New Vision Fellowship in Forestville, Md., has both a new BOA seat and a new role as the Free Methodist Church’s representative to the National Association of Evangelicals. Martin hopes his involvement in the association will lighten the Board of Bishops’ workload while demonstrating diversity within the body of Christ.

“We need more people of color in these organizations,” said Martin, the BOA’s only African-American member. “Jesus died for all people, and we have to have all people at all levels of the church.”

Another new BOA member with a big role is Eric Spangler, the lead pastor of LifePoint Church, a multisite congregation in Everett and Lake Stevens, Wash. Spangler is the new chairman of the board’s Missions Committee.

New BOA member Charlie Fiskeaux serves as the chief financial officer and vice president of business affairs at Asbury University in Wilmore, Ky.

Barb Sands, Greenville College’s coordinator for finance and a member of the Hillsboro (Ill.) Free Methodist Church, is the BOA’s new secretary.