Office Slaves

Recently at work, I've been developing a new product and having a lot of fun at it. This kind of work plays to my strengths and interests and gives me a feeling of satisfaction. If the product comes to fruition, millions of people will see it every day. (Yes, I'm being coy on purpose.)

But last week, I was effectively redirected to work on a different project. Project 1 will have to go into limbo for at least two months while I work on Project 2. My role in this new project is important - some might say essential - and if this project succeeds, you'll read about it in the newspapers. Or news web sites. Whatever.

The problem is that this second project does not really play to my strengths. I can do the job, and I believe I can do it well enough, but as of now I don't expect to find it enjoyable at all or anywhere near as satisfying as Project 1.

I spent most of last week feeling rather depressed about this change of job assignment, and my inability to change the situation to my liking. I felt a bit like a slave. But wouldn't you know it? God, always apropos, seems to have orchestrated my Scripture memory program so that these circumstances would coincide with my memory verse that came up for last week. This is what I aspire to live out, difficult though I'm finding it to be:

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. (Ephesians 6.7,8)

(P.S. My verse for this week is about the second coming of Christ. I hope your bags are packed.)

Drink this Beer, Save the World

Have you seen the new film, Amazing Grace? It's a little bit about John Newton, the redeemed slave trader who wrote the hymn by that name (though not to the tune we know, by the way). But the movie is mostly about William Wilberforce, who, motivated by the gospel - the God of the gospel, actually - fought for decades in the British Parliament to abolish slavery in the British empire. Unfortunately, the movie somewhat minimizes the religious aspect and makes it more a story of political machinations. Nevertheless, it's a moving story (I cried 3 times), and I recommend it.

So imagine my delight to find that Wilberforce has been commemorated with his own beer - from a Christian brewery in England, no less (notice the subtle fishes in the brewery logo). It's a fair trade beer, and a portion of the profits will be donated to stop human trafficking (a.k.a. the slave trade) in today's world. Alas, it looks like we'll have to go to England to be able to drink any of this righteous beverage.