Tag Archives: Teamwork

Better Together

Living in the Spirit

July 7, 2022

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:1-14

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God. This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit. –Colossians 1:1-8

Recently, I watched the Thunder basketball team’s first game in the summer league. All the players were there because they had achieved great respect as basketball players before they were drafted to the NBA. The players may have had a few practices before this game but mostly they came without much experience in playing with one another. At first, a small amount of chaos occurred within both teams. Team sports to succeed requires precision in working together. Players learn how a particular team member catches the ball leading to an advantageous shot at the goal, for example. Every team member has an important contribution to make the success of the game.

In Paul’s letters to the churches he helped create, he always recognize how well, or not, the members worked together. Not only in how much they excelled in sharing their talents but also in how well they enabled their fellow workers to realize their gifts and implement their use. We are all part of the crew developing the beloved community.

The world is trying hard to divide and conquer God’s people. God can and will empower us to rise above those distractions and hasten the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Prayer: Lord, enable us to serve together and find common ground for the Common Good. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Perseverance

Team ConceptLiving in the Spirit
June 1, 2016

Scripture Reading: Psalm 146

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
   I will sing praises to my God all my life long. –Psalm 146:1-2

As you may have guessed, I am an ardent Oklahoma City Thunder fan and have been since they arrived in my fair city. The Thunder lost Monday night in a game for the ages and now they probably will take a few days off and then begin again to prepare to win the championship next year. I used them as an example in my book of people who do their individual best together. We people of faith are called to keep our eyes on bringing the Kingdom of God to fruition by using every talent we have together to facilitate God’s purpose for all.

This may sound strange, but I look at athletics as a positive way to channel some of our basic competitive instincts. Paul was into sports and often used it as a metaphor for his work. It sure beats war. The teams, following the end of the game, shared appropriate congratulations with an undertow of see you again next year. I am also impressed with how they model a world where Christians and Muslims, blacks and whites live together well in sibling-like love.

The Thunder faced unbelievable odds in getting to this final game. They never should have been there. A new coach, no matter how good he is, needs time to meld and mold a team. Having recovered from knee replacement surgery, I can tell you that it takes months to get back into a new normal way of movement and my normal movement pales in comparison to Kevin Durant’s who had major foot surgery last year. I cannot imagine the shared pain of the deaths of Dion Waiter’s brother, Monty Williams’ wife, and co-owner Aubrey McClendon. But that is life, as I am sure these guys would tell you, and they persevered through it.

Congratulations Thunder for a year well played. I know you are disappointed at not winning it all, but I want to thank you for your tenacity and for being the gift you are to your fans.

Thunder Up!

Prayer: Lord, help us to persevere in our work toward fulfilling your call to make justice and mercy a fixture in our society. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Teamwork

not-a-dream-teamEpiphany
January 22, 2016

Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 12:12-31a

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. –I Corinthians 12:27-31a

Watching basketball is really a lesson in shared talents. At least that is my excuse for watching every Thunder game and as many of the OU and OSU games, both women and men, that I can work into a busy schedule. In all instances I sometimes have to record them for playback at a more convenient time. Fully actualizing the diverse and complementary skills of a team’s players always makes for a better outcome whether on the basketball court or within the Body of Christ. Such fruition can only result when every participant values each and all of the others. It also requires us to each work hard at encouraging people to use their skills. Sometimes it is just easier to do something oneself than it is to engage another person to do the work that is needed, but is that the best for the long term? At times, I know it is, but most times it is better to spread the work based on skills and talents.

This lesson was never made more clear to me then when one of my co-workers was killed in a car accident early one morning. He was the only person on our staff who did a specific task, albeit a very crucial task in our office. I have never since been a part of any group where at least one other person was knowledgeable of every tasks required, backups existed for all documentation, and two keys stored in separate places were available for every lock.

While such practicality is enough reason to engage fully all members of a team, the real driving force is better outcomes resulting when all talents and skills are maximized.

Prayer: God who orders life, give make us whole enough to respect the skills and talents of each other and to celebrate the beauty of teamwork as much as we celebrate individual accomplishment. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Success is Hard Work

SuccessLiving in the Spirit
October 30, 2014

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was towards you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you should lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. — 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12

 I woke up in the wee hours of the morning today with inertia all around me. Perhaps it is autumn taking its toll. Maybe it is because it is the autumn of my life. Most likely it is fear of failure for the first thing that popped into my brain on waking was the nagging sensation that I may have signed myself up for more than I could handle. Not just more than I can handle time-wise but feeling inadequate to step into actions and activities that are beyond my comfort zone and more importantly way beyond my control. And then old Paul comes along and tells me how he and the others with him had been working night and day, doing everything they possible could to help the new converts in Thessalonica grow into disciples.

I learned the lesson about hard work years ago on the farm. Most success is tied to hard work. I have also learned over many years of implementing various human services programs that there has never been a new idea that didn’t need to be molded to reality and changing times. I also have gained at least a graduate level education from failure. How to take the good from a failure, learn from mistakes, and learn not to let a good idea go even if it failed. It may have been ahead of its time or it may have just been introduced at the wrong time or in the wrong place.

Paul’s use of the word “we” throughout is also helpful. I assume he is referring to Silvanus, Timothy, and himself, but they are only mentioned in the opening of the letter. As I read further in it seems that Paul grabs hold of me and you as part of that “we”. Fearing to move into new avenues of service is always easier when done in tandem with others on their faith journeys and, of course, “we” in our faith journey always includes God the Creator, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. That’s pretty good company.

Prayer: Father and Mother of all, join me today and every day in my journey to be your disciple and join together all of your followers so that our oneness is greater than the sum of its parts. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.