Stewardship of Treasure

Jul 26, 2012

Stewardship of Treasure

This blog series has been dedicated to introducing you to the concept of Stewardship. Stewardship takes on many forms: time, family, faith, talent, prayer and, finally, treasure. In the last post, I described stewardship as it relates to prayer. In this post, I would like to introduce you to the concept of Stewardship as it relates to treasure.

Most people don’t like to talk about money. I remember my parents squirming in the pews when I was a kid as the priest talked about needing to extend an existing building. Not quite what they wanted to hear! But over the past several years and, especially shortly after my mom died four years ago, I have received greater revelation of what my perspective is as it relates to the Stewardship of treasure.

This revelation is not really all that complicated. It’s simply that none of our stuff is ours — it belongs to God. Once you get that, the rest is peripheral! After my mom passed, I felt a strong sense of her presence in spirit, her warm embrace and her guiding heart. When my father was liquidating her earthly treasures, I respectfully declined taking anything. Nothing really meant anything to me. It was her spirit, her life song, her memory that I cherished.

I think that’s all God cares about. He cares about our devotion to Him, our release of earthly treasure, and our focus on HIM.

Over the past few years, my leanings toward materialism have declined considerably and I find myself much happier. Don’t get me wrong — I still like my iPhone and I’m tapping away on my MacBook right now, but I consider these tools, not treasures.

With this concept in hand, that God owns everything and none of it is ours, I don’t feel so compelled to die after having accumulated the most I can. I want to die doing the most for HIM, not myself. This does not mean that prosperity is bad, that wealth is dirty—remember it is not money that is the root of all evil, but the love of  money. It also does not mean that success should be shunned. It just means that, if it occurs, it is an outcome, not the goal.

I do believe it is Biblical to tithe. I also believe a joyful giver is a joyful recipient of all that God has to offer. 

I could go into all the Biblical references that support tithing, but I am sure that there are some who could show what they believe to be Biblical facts against it. As for me, I support it. I have been blessed to have heard a message from the pastor, David Ashcraft,  at my church home LCBC, who describes the 10-10-80 plan. David explains that a great way to manage your finances is to tithe 10%, save 10% and spend 80% on your living expenses. It makes much sense and is especially easy to remember and follow.

This wraps up this series and this posting. We would love to hear your comments on Stewardship of Treasure. This is always a topic that sparks a lot of interest and debate. The community values all opinions.

Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Christian Stewardship Series

Stewardship of Faith

Jul 18, 2012

Stewardship of Faith 

This blog series has been dedicated to introducing you to the concept of Stewardship.

Stewardship takes on many forms: time, family, faith, talent, prayer and, finally, treasure. In the last post, I described Stewardship as it relates to prayer. In this post, I would like to introduce you to the concept of Stewardship as it relates to faith.

It has been my experience that many people are just too afraid or uncomfortable to talk about their faith.  I can empathize. I, myself, was caught up for many years, struggling to talk about faith and my difficulties with the tenets of Catholicism with anyone.  I was, perhaps, conditioned not to question authority, but instead to accept what was told to me blindly as truth.

 I was a coward and did not pursue a relationship with Christ.

When I look back at my cowardliness, I am relieved that, at some point, I made a turn toward the truth.  That point was when I heard for the first time the clarity of the salvation message from Pastor Powell at NorthRidge Church.  Many devout Christians will argue that it was not the pastor speaking, but the Holy Spirit. I agree that the Holy Spirit does, in fact, breathe life into those who are ready to receive.  Sometimes though, we are not ready to receive for many years, and sometimes, because of our upbringing, it is much sooner.  There really is no recipe for success; it is a God thing, a preordained date and time that you will become a faithful servant of Jesus.

^“15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” – Ephesians 4:15 – 16 (ESV)

Eternal Security 

I have learned in these past eighteen months that many denominations carry the same message, that acceptance of Christ as your Savior is your ticket to eternal security. What is my advice to those who seek faith?  Don’t confuse the message with what man has added to it.  Find Christ. Find a like-minded Bible believing Church that fits your personality and style of worship, connect in a life group of other Bible believers and serve in your community as an ambassador for Christ.  That, my friend, is being a Steward of your Faith.  Of course, these are my opinions.  And my opinion means nothing to the way you decide to be faithful.

^“17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” – James 2:17 (NIV)

What are you going to do to be a good Steward of your Faith?  Post a few notes here; we would love to know.

Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Christian Stewardship Series

Stewardship of Prayer

Jul 11, 2012

Stewardship of Prayer

This blog series has been dedicated to introducing you to the concept of Stewardship. Stewardship, as I have explained before, takes on many forms: time, family, faith, talent, prayer and treasure. In my last post, I described stewardship as it relates to talent. In this post, we will explore the concept of Stewardship as it relates to prayer.

When we devote time to prayer, we deepen our relationship with God and become better prepared to offer ourselves in service to God and others. Many people approach prayer as a tool to use only when they want or need something from God. The prayer often sounds like, “Lord, help me through this problem and I will do X, Y and/or Z for you.” This becomes somewhat transactional and is the way that I found myself praying in the past. When I took a deep look into the way in which I approached prayer, I realized that I was not humbling myself before God, but simply trying to process a business transaction.

  In reality, praying like this could be considered “Acts” Christianity or nothing more than quid pro quo, Latin for “this for that.”

The past several years have just been mind-numbing with change in our communities, our country and overseas as well. We have been bombarded with WikiLeaks, stock market ups and downs, record level unemployment, a housing crisis, threats from North Korea and Iran, and political turmoil in the USA.

However, as we navigate through all of this, we still find one part of our lives that has remained constant —God’s love for us. Regardless of issues we face or turmoil we navigate, we all have been blessed with a God who loves us. We should also be grateful to God that we have shelter, food, and clean water to drink. In addition, we have family and coworkers who love us.

Another aspect of Prayer that I shamefully admit that I have only recently learned is the opportunity for us to do a self-reflection of what is in our heart. I mean, I had heard of the concept, and embraced it superficially, just lightly reflecting on it, but never really made it something that I was going after with tenacity and vigor.

I have had the blessing of being coached by some incredible prayer warriors who have instilled in me the importance of searching areas of my heart that I have yet to release to God. Places of sin, despair, worry and lack of faith. This takes time to do, and it is actually fairly upsetting when you consciously outline to yourself the areas you have left to let go to God. It’s not easy. It takes humility and the willingness to release any amount of control thinking, but it is the most rewarding and liberating aspect of being a fully devoted follower of Christ.

As we approach probably what will be increasingly greater times of difficulty, I know that I am going to concentrate on thanking God, hopefully more so in my prayers than asking God for a good deal. So, personally, over the next few months, these are a few thoughts I will be praying and reflecting on:

• When I pray, do I thank God more than I ask God for a deal?
• Do I reflect and give thanks before every meal, regardless of circumstance or location?
• What can I do for God and the advancement of His Kingdom?
• Do I believe that everything I have is a gift from God?
• Is prayer simply a task on my schedule that can be postponed or canceled?
• Am I willing to make a commitment to prioritize prayer?
• Do I believe that prayer consists simply of words and phrases, or do I believe that it impacts my relationship with God?
• Have I considered inviting friends or family to join me in prayer?

Therefore, my challenge for you is this: Do you know what you are thankful for? And are you willing to thank God for all He has done for us, even in the face of all the adversity we experience? What are you thankful for? We would love to know. Please share your thoughts here with our community of readers.

Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Christian Stewardship Series

Stewardship of Talent

Jun 28, 2012

Stewardship of Talent 

This series has been focused on introducing you to the concept of Stewardship. Stewardship takes on many forms; time, family, faith, talent, prayer and treasure. In the previous post, I described stewardship as it relates to family. In this post, I will examine the concept of Stewardship as it relates to talent.

All of us are blessed with talents. These talents are what make each one of us unique, different from one another. It continues to amaze me as I grow older the stark uniqueness and individuality of all of us, regardless of our similarities in where and how we grew up, where we were educated or where we worship or work.

We clearly are so different from one another! 

I believe that our Talents are created by God and are so special that they were determined before we were even put on this earth. Because of this, I think it is important that if we were all created uniquely for a special purpose, that we respect and understand our unique Talents and differences.

Having worked in HR for over twenty years and having witnessed some of the most unimaginable demonstrations of lack of leadership, I believe the most damaging are those leaders who fail to appreciate the Talent differences among the people who work for them and the organizations they lead. God created artistic people and God created analytical people. Without the stark difference of the Talents offered by each, we would still be living in primitive conditions. We must recognize the Talents of others and make an effort to lift all Talents up, and not just some.

The most damaging act a leader can commit is one of diminishing one’s Talents not only directly to the person but to the person’s co-workers. Several years ago there was a highly talented, big-thinking, out of the box, strategic manager who was leading the accounting department for a company I served. This guy would have never been able to get the company to where it was without the Talents he was given by God. His lack of resources, people, and finances were made up for by his sheer devotion and imagination as to how to get more done with less, and make it work. Unfortunately, he fell victim to a new boss. This new boss came into the organization accustomed to having large amounts of staff, resources, and finances. He quickly dismissed anything the big thinker was doing, often ridiculing him in front of others and embarrassing him ruthlessly for weeks. Ultimately, the accounting executive was pushed to the side. To this day, I don’t think the new leader has any concept of what his lack of appreciation for Talent had done to the organization.

That organization had potential, but now it barely gets by and people hate working there. How do I know? The employees keep calling me asking for help to get out! 

My challenge to you, therefore, is to think deeply and consult with your loved ones on discovering what your Talents are. What Talents make you unique? Most important, how will you use these Talents within your family, your church, and your community?

My next challenge is for you to uncover what Talents your coworkers have. What makes them unique? How do they like to spend their time when they are not working?

As we continue to grow and prosper as the body of Christ, let us do so by understanding others and ourselves at a greater level, so we can rise above our differences and continue to build the Church for a better tomorrow.

Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Christian Stewardship Series

Finding Diamonds in the Rough

Jun 25, 2012

This Post From Guest Blogger Buzz Rooney

I was blessed to spend the early part of my career as a staffing manager for light industrial jobs. One of the most valuable lessons I learned was not to judge people’s work ethic or abilities solely on their aptitude in filling out a job application or writing a resume. Some of the hardest working, most loyal and dedicated employees had the most difficult time writing an explanation of their previous job experience.

Resume writing and everything else that goes along with the job search is stressful. Most people are not taught how to track their performance and work product to build a comprehensive professional profile.  Admittedly, my own resume was a hot mess until I reached out to a professional friend to give it a much needed makeover! Struggle in this area is commonplace. One would think this would make recruiters and hiring managers less critical of applications and resumes.

However, when I made the switch to more traditional HR, I found the exact opposite to be the custom. Candidates were being discarded for minor errors and/or choosing unsophisticated descriptors.

John 7:24 (NLT) – “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly”.
In screening and reviewing resumes to find suitable candidates for open positions, look for 3 things:

Experience. Does the person’s work history establish practice in the same or similar type of role? Has the person ever worked in the same or similar industry? Did the person perform the same or similar tasks in a past position? (Romans 2:6 [NLT] – “He will judge everyone according to what they have done”)

Education. Has the person taken courses that would prepare him/her for this position? What kind of coursework has he/she completed that would teach the problem-solving skills necessary for success at this job? (Proverbs 18:15 [NKJ] – “The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge”)

Enthusiasm. Does the tone of the resume display a positive attitude about work? Are there accomplishments which demonstrate excellence? Is there a pattern of progressive responsibility in the work that shows ambition? Do the projects outline the ability to both lead and provide support within a team? (Colossians 3:23 [NLT] – “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people”)

Do not be so concerned with superfluous things like formatting, stylized punctuation or accidentally typing “manger” instead of “manager.” Focusing heavily on unessential things will cause us to miss those diamonds in the rough.

We all make errors, both before and during our employment journeys. We have to use caution in judging others too harshly – especially knowing our own skills, abilities and practices are not necessarily at the best level they can be (Matthew 7).

Instead, by focusing on identifying the potential talent in the resumes we receive, we can rest assured we will yield good candidates and build a strong team of staff members to complete the work.

Buzz Rooney is a practicing HR Professional with over a decade of experience in the production, manufacturing and retail industries. She has Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies with a focus on Organizational Communication and Leadership as well as a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management. Buzz is also a blogger and part-time HR consultant.

Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Inspiration

Stewardship of Family

Jun 10, 2012

Stewardship of Family

This column is dedicated to introducing you to the concept of Stewardship. Stewardship takes on many forms; Time, Family, Faith, Talent, Prayer and Treasure. In the previous post in this series, I described stewardship as it relates to our time. In this post, I would like to introduce you to the concept of Stewardship of Family.

As I researched this article, I came across St. Patrick’s Church in Largo, Florida, that outlines seven signs of a stewardship family. They are:

1. time together
2. family prayer
3. respect
4. worshiping together
5. supporting one another
6. shared responsibilities
7. service to others

I would like to write about two of these areas, time together and supporting one another. The first one, time together, means just that, spending time together with no distractions, no cell phones, no TV and no Internet. It is hard to do with a culture so inundated with distractions, but it is important. I know one family with teens that has a “no texting” policy in their car. That way, the teens and their parents can have focused conversations, without distractions.

Time together can also be accomplished by volunteering in the community. What better way to demonstrate compassion than to help the elderly or the homeless together as a family? What is especially inspiring is when we hear stories of employees’ families who support other employees’ families in times of need. This is done not in a formal way, but out of concern for another employee’s situation.

Families helping families — what a wonderful way to share your family’s kindness.

The second area, supporting one another, can easily be accomplished by sharing household responsibilities. Shared responsibilities means that no job or household chore is restricted to parents or children. In order for a family to operate, it needs teamwork, which means that everyone pitches in, using their unique talents to help better the family. Children should not rely solely on the parents to do everything, and neither should parents rely solely on their children to carry the burdens of managing the household. It is so encouraging when we experience a family where each member feels it contributes to the good of the whole. A good example would be a family where the smaller children set the table, the teens help with dishes or cleaning, and the parents show their appreciation for this.

Living in Lancaster County has exposed me to the plain life of Amish and Mennonite people. When you spend time with a plain family, you quickly realize that the family functions are interdependent, all the way down to the four- and five-year-olds. Each family member has responsibilities, chores, and oftentimes if a chore is missed, it could result in a late meal or spoiled crops!

One aspect of helping to be a good Steward of your family is to instill a motto, a word, or a saying that can help guide the family though difficult times. A few years ago we had a series at church that was based solely on the word, “Others.” The organization of this series stemmed from one family’s experience with the word. You see, this word was so important for one family; it was the one word that was passed on to each new generation. In my family I use the three words, “God, Family, Education,” to try to keep us focused on what is important.

In closing, it is important to note that families almost always default to stewardship behavior because it is natural behavior, and most family members want to support each other. It is important to know how your family relates to these forms of Family Stewardship and in what areas your family is strong and what areas need work.

Please take some time thinking and discussing this with your family, for we only have one life to share with each other.

It is important that we all feel we contribute together with uplifting attitudes and, most important, with purpose and good intentions for our families.

Please help our community of readers by sharing experiences that you have had in your attempt to be a good Steward of your family. We appreciate your comments.

Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Christian Stewardship Series

Full-Time Ministry Opportunity Children’s Ministry Pastor / Director Harrisburg PA Location

Jun 7, 2012

We are honored to have been retained to seek and find the right candidate to help this wonderful Church continue to impact the community and bring the good news of Jesus to Children.

Do you have a deep love for Jesus, a hunger for God’s Word, a passion for the Gospel, an unwavering calling to disciple children of every ethnicity, economic status and ability, and a desire to work with a Pastoral and Administrative team that shares the same heartbeat?

Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Now Recruiting For

Now Recruiting For: Marketing Director Elizabethtown PA

Jun 6, 2012

In an economy that is yielding very little career opportunities, we are excited to be retained by this wonderful growing organization that provides superior website and management software solutions to churches and ministries in all 50 states and 28 countries.

Marketing Director

What you will do

You will lead the nationwide marketing effort for all Elexio products and services. You will make sure that churches in our sweet spot know who Elexio is, how we can serve them, and have a positive mental image of Elexio. You will maintain the consistency between our brand (who we really are) and the public image of who people think we are. You will encourage our church clients to expand into more of our products & services and connect new prospective churches with our sales team. You will demonstrate all our core values in the marketing efforts, with an emphasis on excellence. You will report to the CEO and communicate with other directors and staff.

Some Qualifications We Are Looking For

Some Required Skills and Education

• BA/BS In Marketing or related filed
• Excellent people skills including personal and group communication (verbal and written)
• Excellent time management- Build strong internal and external relationships
• Brainstorming – being creative – initiate ideas and developing them
• Strong artistic sense – ability to see a concept in your mind – knowing what looks outstanding
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• MAC/PC, phone, instant message

Traits We Look For

Joyfulness,  Enthusiastic, Determined, Discrete, Dependable, Sincere and Humble

About Elexio

Elexio is a Christian owned software company in Elizabethtown PA celebrating 28 years of serving ministries. God has blessed Elexio with an excellent staff of business professionals who are made up of pastors, youth leaders, worship leaders, etc. – people involved in ministry. Elexio provides superior website and management software solutions to churches and ministries in all 50 states and 28 countries.

Elexio offers a generous benefit program and an environment rich in enthusiasm, growth and provides appreciation for contributions made.

Due to the overwhelming response we anticipate we ask that you are patient during the selection and interview process. All qualified applicants will be notified.

Prior to contacting us please review the video about Elexio here.

Cover letters should include why you should be considered for the position and what would make you the best candidate. Please provide your experiences that will support the Mission while demonstrating and embracing the Core Values of  Elexio.

Serious and confidential inquiries:  HR@InHISNameHR.com

Want to get future vacancies and blog updates? Subscribe here: Click

Mark A. Griffin | Now Recruiting For

Interview WVCH Philadelphia PA

Jun 6, 2012

Enjoy listening to this recorded version of WVCH’s weekly radio show “Be The Guest,” hosted by Charlotte Cosden. The topic is “How To Build A Kingdom-Minded Organization”. Guest Mark A. Griffin, Chief Consultant at In HIS Name HR shared his experiences in helping shape organizations to be Christ centered and profitable!

With over 20 years of Human Resources experience at both fortune (Kodak, Quaker Oats, and Merck Pharma) as well as small and mid-sized companies, Mark has seen it all.

Tune into this Podcast and enjoy Mark’s discussion with Charlotte on how you might best build “Kingdom Minded” organizations in today’s “politically correct” business world. Let Mark inspire you to be bold and brave in your faith, by ensuring Christ is in your workplace.

Listen on Line Here:

Also available to download on iTunes here.  Click

Mark A. Griffin | Kingdom Company Building, Podcasts

How to Build “Kingdom-Minded” Companies June 20, 2012 Ephrata PA

Jun 1, 2012

How to Build  “Kingdom-Minded” Companies

June 20, 2012 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Ephrata Community Church Banquet Hall
70 Clay School Road, Ephrata
717.733.4071

All Business Owners and Marketplace Managers Welcome

Learn how you can best build a Kingdom-Minded organization in today’s “politically correct” business world.

Presenter Mark Griffin has seen it all in his more than 20 years of Human Resources experience gained by working with a wide range of organizations, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

Let Mark inspire you by sharing his experiences in helping a variety of organizations manage their beliefs in the reality of today’s workplace.

• Leading an organization with Christ-centered values makes business sense. Mark will share why he believes Christ-centered organizations experience:
• Lower absenteeism
• Higher quality products
• Less employee morale issues
• Safer work environments
• Better perceptions by customers and vendors

Mark will share how he helps organizations develop HR practices that reflect their core values and still build a high performance organization.

Although this presentation is focused on Christian leaders, all are welcome to attend. There is no cost. Contact Amy Pfautz at harvestnetinc@dejazzd.com with any questions.

Mark A. Griffin | Blog, Events