NFL Week 11 Picks: Express Edition
M.D. Wright
11.12.08
The NFL goes to Thursday Night games at this time of the year, so I have to get my picks out three days earlier. This, of course, increases my likelihood of being erroneous. You don't know who is injured, who's practicing all week, and how that will ultimately affect the games. However, I'm going to give it a go. I have to finish this season strong. My goal is to pick 'em at a .667 clip this year, YE DIIIIIG???
Let's do it.
New York Jets vs. New England Patriots
Gillette Stadium
Foxborough, Massachusetts
*Thursday*
OK, so the Vegas line is NE (-3). Whatever. The Patriots aren't convincing with that 6-3 record. The Jets have been stomping teams even when the game has been close (except their losses, in which they've looked atrocious). That should make Jets' fans nervous, except they're already Nervous Nellies by nature.
The Patriots look like a 40 & Over League at the Y on defense. The Jets run the ball very well and play great defense. I'm picking them, because as I've been saying lately: NEW YORK SPORTS 2008-2009 = COMPLETE DOMINATION.
Call:
NY Jets 24
New England 17
---
Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Georgia Dome
Atlanta, Georgia
The Broncos are going to get killed the rest of this season with that sieve of a defense. Cutler can't win games alone. They got by last week because the Browns are a weekly Choke-In-Waiting.
The Falcons are for real. Michael Turner should have a FIELD DAY (at least he better, for fantasy purposes) and so should Roddy White (for the same reason hah). Who is going to stop either one of them? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?!?!
Call:
Denver 20
Atlanta 31
---
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Paul Brown Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio
The Iggles have proven they cannot get it done in the NFC East. They don't run the ball well enough, and Donovan McNabb just isn't clutch anymore (arguable if he ever was, with his skip-hop throws 3 yards short of the WR). They will handle the Bengals, though. They've put up 40+ points against the sorry teams they've played this year.
Call:
Philadelphia 41
Cincinnati 24
---
Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconsin
The Bears are still solid, but their defense isn't as good as its reputation has been. The Packers get a lot of INTs/Returned INTs for TDs, but otherwise, they don't scare you on either side of the ball. HOWEVER, Kyle Orton has been a stabilizing force for the Bears' offense and even Rex Grossman played semi-decently vs. Tennessee. Matt Forte will get his 100 yards.
Call:
Chicago 17
Green Bay 13
---
Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, Indiana
I hereby give up on the Texans.
Plus, the Colts know they pretty much have to win out in order to ensure that they make the playoffs. They don't HAVE to, but they are going to play like it, while we will all be at home wondering when 1) Andre Johnson is going to skip town 2) Steve Slaton is going to go off in Fantasy after everyone who picked him up TRADES him and 3) We will see Sage-copter again lmao. The Colts' defense is BACK, BTW.
Call:
Houston 14
Indianapolis 31
---
New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
The Saints COULD lose this game. The Chiefs have been playing very inspired football of late. This is my upset special of the week. Herm Edwards once again proved last week that he plays to win the game, and they will do that this Sunday.
Call:
New Orleans 23
Kansas City 27
---
Oakland Raiders vs. Miami Dolphins
Dolphin Stadium
Miami, Florida
The Raiders will leave Miami with a tan, a few skrippas and CLAWS in their backs from the Wildcat offense (and less than 150 yards of their own... again. hah.)
Call:
Oakland 2
Miami 17
---
Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Football Giants
Giants Stadium at the New Jersey Meadowlands
East Rutherford, New Jersey
I will admit, I am nervous about this game. Not because of the Ravens' defense; because we've played a half dozen good-to-great ones this season thus far. It's because they have been scoring roughly 35 PPG in the past four weeks -- something that is UNHEARD OF from them. Despite having the stingiest run defense in the NFL, no one has been able to, nor CAN stop the Giants from running it. Even if not for the 160 yards per game that they are accustomed to, they will run it for the sake of running it and put a stranglehold on the time of possession (Giants in TOP = COMPLETE DOMINATION).
Flacco will make mistakes and it will be the difference in the game. But if Ray Rice plays and they break out the Wildcat offense with Troy Smith, watch out. The Giants' defense is particularly vulnerable when the front four cannot get to the QB and they have to blitz, leaving the secondary on islands (although they are BETTER than the haters suggest). The real nervous point is the average-speed LBs who have to cover downfield. Antonio Pierce gets beat deep quite a bit by very good TEs. The Ravens might have something in the works, using Todd Heap. This is going to be a good game. But the Giants will pull it out due to their poise, moxie, experience and the 12th man in East Rutherford.
Call:
Baltimore 17
NY Giants 30
---
Minnesota Vikings vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
The Bucs are the most boring team to watch in the NFL. I almost wonder how they win. Adrian Peterson is going to carry the Vikes for the rest of the season. He's going to possibly broach his single-game rushing record and YES I'm saying that vs. Tampa's defense.
Call:
Minnesota 20
Tampa Bay 17
---
Detroit Lions vs. Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina
0-16, B!!! Jake Delhomme sucks once a month, but he got that out of the way last week.
Call:
Detroit -5
Carolina 34
---
St. Louis Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers
Candlestick Park
San Francisco, California
This game does not warrant mentioning. Neither team has players you even want to see play. However, Head Coach Mike Singletary has the Niners playing hard. That is SOMEWHAT palpable. The Rams have mailed it in after two good games -- they've played two STINKERS in a row.
Call:
St. Louis 6
San Francisco 24
---
Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks
Qwest Field
Seattle, Washington
OK. The Cards do not possess a killer instinct yet. They commit too many silly penalties and turnovers. However, these ARE like your Father's Seabags...
Call:
Arizona 41
Seattle 8
---
Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Stadium
Jacksonville, Florida
If the Jags are EVER going to put a two-game winning streak together, they MUST do it now. They will play their beset game Sunday, while the Titans will finally suffer that loss they've been flirting with the past three weeks.
Call:
Tennessee 13
Jacksonville 16
---
San Diego Not-So-Super Chargers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Heinz Field
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Chargers stink on defense. Offensively, they can compete with anyone. Philip Rivers leads the NFL in QB Rating, ya know...
However, Tomlinson is only ever going to reach 85% this season with that toe. I just hope he isn't like Deion Sanders after he had turf toe (at the same age, virtually) in 1998. Now that I mention it, the guy who ran by Prime on that play where he injured his toe is dropping passes more often than Braylon Edwards right now. I'll let you look up who that guy is who basically sent Deion's career slowly spiraling downward after a meteoric rise from 1989-1998.
Anyway. The Steelers are smarting (as Hubie Brown would say). The Chargers, along with their ability to seize the AFC West lead and having a chip on their shoulder, will pull this out.
Call:
San Diego 38
Pittsburgh 24
---
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins
FedEx Field
Landover, Maryland
*SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
The Cowboys will come out with the full arsenal after their bye week. The Redskins have been reeling of late. Clinton Portis lost his lead in the NFL in rushing and I think he's peaked, as far as great games go this season. He may be in better shape, but I don't see Portis being able to keep up this pace, especially since teams have figured out Jason Campbell's tendencies.
I hate both teams, so I have no bent when it comes to the prediction. I just think Dallas has more to prove and are eager to prove it.
Call:
Dallas 31
Washington 23
---
Cleveland Browns vs. Buffalo Bills
Ralph Wilson Stadium
Orchard Park, New York
*Monday Night Football*
Why is this game on Monday Night? Jamal Lewis already said the Browns have mailed in their season... Buffalo is fighting for their playoff life here.
Call:
Cleveland 17
Buffalo 31
---
More later...
As politically incorrect as I wanna be.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Black Mentors?
Black Mentors?
M.D. Wright
11.12.08
I have been fortunate to have had my father in my life for my entire life. Even now, as I transition (again) from graduating college to moving back to New York and potentially getting married in the not-too-distant future. I've had other mentors such as Minister Terence Franklin, Pastor Kevin B. Lee, financial mentoring by William V. Thompson and a few other family friends who helped me plot out my life. However, not every Black male has that.
One thing that I do see quite a bit is High School coaches or people who are family friends and spot talent/ability in a Black guy who can possibly make it "big" in sports, they'll do whatever it takes to get him through high school, into college and potentially into the pros. You know what? That's great, and a lot of guys in the NFL and NBA have that as a testimony. It's GREAT and it's NECESSARY. But one question persists.
WHY ARE THEY THE ONLY BLACK MALES WHO HAVE MENTORS?
And no, I am not ignoring Black females. For the most part, women have fewer problems reaching out for help from one another or anyone in general and aren't as prone to trying to "go it alone" as men are.
But again, why are Black males lacking mentors in the area of Science/Medicine, Legal Education, Attorneys, Entrepreneurs, Record Label Executives-in-the-making, CEOs of major companies-in-the-making and just learning how to OWN things. That has been my motto all my life. Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur, and indeed, there have to be people who work for those companies (the common myth I hear from people who want to start businesses with the wrong motives is the thought that they will no longer have to "work for someone else" -- not true, you work for your clients and oftentimes twice as hard as you would on ANY job). But I digress.
I am again fortunate that I had people teaching me about the foundational things in life (my father), or real estate (Min. Franklin), leadership/ministry (Min. Lee), financial investing (Wm. Thompson) and I had my coaches who saw my potential to become a great cornerback/wide receiver in football, a great right fielder, due to my cannon of an arm in baseball, and everyone who knows me knows my "J" is lethal, along with my basketball IQ and always being the captain of the teams I've been on. I had options. I still do, because I was given an outlook on life PAST sports. But you rarely hear of Black men who had mentors in areas outside of sports.
I do not seek to answer this question myself. I just want you think about it.
M.D. Wright
11.12.08
I have been fortunate to have had my father in my life for my entire life. Even now, as I transition (again) from graduating college to moving back to New York and potentially getting married in the not-too-distant future. I've had other mentors such as Minister Terence Franklin, Pastor Kevin B. Lee, financial mentoring by William V. Thompson and a few other family friends who helped me plot out my life. However, not every Black male has that.
One thing that I do see quite a bit is High School coaches or people who are family friends and spot talent/ability in a Black guy who can possibly make it "big" in sports, they'll do whatever it takes to get him through high school, into college and potentially into the pros. You know what? That's great, and a lot of guys in the NFL and NBA have that as a testimony. It's GREAT and it's NECESSARY. But one question persists.
WHY ARE THEY THE ONLY BLACK MALES WHO HAVE MENTORS?
And no, I am not ignoring Black females. For the most part, women have fewer problems reaching out for help from one another or anyone in general and aren't as prone to trying to "go it alone" as men are.
But again, why are Black males lacking mentors in the area of Science/Medicine, Legal Education, Attorneys, Entrepreneurs, Record Label Executives-in-the-making, CEOs of major companies-in-the-making and just learning how to OWN things. That has been my motto all my life. Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur, and indeed, there have to be people who work for those companies (the common myth I hear from people who want to start businesses with the wrong motives is the thought that they will no longer have to "work for someone else" -- not true, you work for your clients and oftentimes twice as hard as you would on ANY job). But I digress.
I am again fortunate that I had people teaching me about the foundational things in life (my father), or real estate (Min. Franklin), leadership/ministry (Min. Lee), financial investing (Wm. Thompson) and I had my coaches who saw my potential to become a great cornerback/wide receiver in football, a great right fielder, due to my cannon of an arm in baseball, and everyone who knows me knows my "J" is lethal, along with my basketball IQ and always being the captain of the teams I've been on. I had options. I still do, because I was given an outlook on life PAST sports. But you rarely hear of Black men who had mentors in areas outside of sports.
I do not seek to answer this question myself. I just want you think about it.
Biblical Examples of Obedience
Biblical Examples of Obedience
The Lord commanded Abraham to leave his country and go to a land that was foreign to him (Hebrews 11:8). Abraham did so, thus putting his faith into action. Abraham "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God" (Romans 4:20). Many years later, God asked Abraham to offer up his son Isaac on the altar. Again, Abraham obeyed, knowing that the Lord was able to raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). Such acts of obedience were counted to Abraham for righteousness (see Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; James 2:23).
Abraham's faith was perfected (made complete, not lacking) when he obeyed God. "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? ... Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:21-24). Like Abraham, we are called to demonstrate our faith in God by walking in obedience to God. This is how we come under Abraham's blessing (see Galatians 3:7-9), for he and his wife Sarah are the spiritual parents of those who have faith: "Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well" (I Peter 3:6).
Jesus perfectly demonstrated a life of obedience. "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:7-9). While Jesus was in human flesh, He cried out to His Heavenly Father Who was able to save Him from death, yet Jesus submitted His will to the will of the Father (Matthew 26:42). Notice that Jesus was "made perfect" through His obedience. That word perfect means complete, fulfilled, and finished. Although our Lord Jesus was sinless, He was perfected by completing His walk of obedience. In doing so, He became the High Priest and Author of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him (see Hebrews 5:9; I Peter 1:9).
The Lord commanded Abraham to leave his country and go to a land that was foreign to him (Hebrews 11:8). Abraham did so, thus putting his faith into action. Abraham "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God" (Romans 4:20). Many years later, God asked Abraham to offer up his son Isaac on the altar. Again, Abraham obeyed, knowing that the Lord was able to raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). Such acts of obedience were counted to Abraham for righteousness (see Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; James 2:23).
Abraham's faith was perfected (made complete, not lacking) when he obeyed God. "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? ... Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:21-24). Like Abraham, we are called to demonstrate our faith in God by walking in obedience to God. This is how we come under Abraham's blessing (see Galatians 3:7-9), for he and his wife Sarah are the spiritual parents of those who have faith: "Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well" (I Peter 3:6).
Jesus perfectly demonstrated a life of obedience. "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:7-9). While Jesus was in human flesh, He cried out to His Heavenly Father Who was able to save Him from death, yet Jesus submitted His will to the will of the Father (Matthew 26:42). Notice that Jesus was "made perfect" through His obedience. That word perfect means complete, fulfilled, and finished. Although our Lord Jesus was sinless, He was perfected by completing His walk of obedience. In doing so, He became the High Priest and Author of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him (see Hebrews 5:9; I Peter 1:9).
Does God Guide or Do We Decide?
Does God Guide or Do We Decide?
Kevin Brennfleck and Kay Marie Brennfleck
National Certified Career Counselors and Life Calling CoachesSM
Bored with his desk job, Glen was thinking seriously about becoming a fire fighter. His wife was deeply concerned about his proposed career change. He took a walk one winter morning, and found a child’s toy in the snow. He picked it up, and was astonished to see that it was a fireman action figure. Although he didn’t usually think thoughts like this, he wondered if God was trying to tell him to go ahead with his plans in spite of his wife’s reservations.
The Dilemma of Decision Making
When we are faced with making a decision about which direction to go with our lives, many Christians aren’t sure how to choose a path to pursue. People may become hyper-sensitive to circumstances as they seek to perceive divine guidance. Or, they may hope others can tell them what they should do.
In our career counseling and coaching practice, we have found that people often resist taking responsibility to make big decisions. Why? Because decision-making can be difficult. There is often a lot at stake. Our decisions have the power to change our lives for the better—or for the worse. Making a decision inescapably means taking a risk. We may fear not succeeding, experiencing disapproval from family or friends, or being ultimately disappointed by our choice.
Also, many people have never been taught specifically how to make decisions, especially decisions about their vocational calling. When we are unsure what criteria to use in choosing a career, for example, we may look primarily at objective factors like salary and benefits, or ultimately make decisions based on our intuition or feelings about the options. We may know that there are other things we should consider, but not be sure what they are.
To further complicate the situation, we want to do what God wants us to do with our lives. So how do we take His will into account when contemplating a career choice or change? Is it up to God to guide or up to us to decide? The key to resolving this dilemma is realizing that it is both: God promises to guide and you are called to decide.
Called to be a Decision-Maker
God certainly can indicate supernaturally which job or career path you should pursue. At times, He may choose to do so. More typically, however, He calls us to take responsibility for making good decisions about how to use our gifts in the world. In the absence of direct supernatural guidance, we need to assume that God wants us to prayerfully and thoughtfully decide which work or ministry/service option is the best choice. “It is possible to pray, read God's Word, seek counsel, and still not feel led by God,” says Dr. Bruce Waltke. “That's the time to rely on sound judgment. God gave each of us a brain, and He expects us to put it to good use.”
Scripture illustrates that even biblical “superstars” like the Apostle Paul saw making decisions to be a natural, normal and necessary part of life. While Paul did receive divine guidance (see Acts 16:7 and 20:22), he and others also made decisions (Acts 19:21, 20:16, and Titus 3:12). Developing the ability to make wise decisions is a critical skill for Christian life and ministry. A track record of making good, biblically-grounded decisions is evidence of spiritual growth and maturity.
Guidance for Your Career Decisions
How can the Bible be helpful to you in making career decisions and other life calling choices today? After all, you won’t find a Bible verse that tells you specifically which college major to choose, whether you should change jobs in mid-life, or which career option will be best for you. In addition, the world of work in biblical times was very different from our own.
In Jesus’ time, for example, most men went into the family business whether it was becoming a merchant, rabbi, carpenter or shepherd. Most women married early, had children and took care of their home and family. “What should I do with my life?” was not a burning question of the time. The biblical world was very different than our own, yet the principles revealed in Scripture for making career and life decisions are still relevant for our contemporary lives.
The Bible plays a critical role in our decision-making by showing us what is important to God. For example, the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25) clearly illustrates that God calls us to proactive stewardship of our gifts. To apply this biblical principle to making decisions about work and ministry/service activities abilities, we need to ask ourselves a question such as: At this time in my life, how can I best use my gifts, abilities and other resources to further God’s purposes in this world? God gave you your gifts to do His work on earth, not for your own career success and advancement.
God uses His Word to enlarge the frame in which we see our work and our lives, transforming our perspective from the temporal to the eternal. The Holy Spirit within makes it possible for us to understand God’s revealed will and apply it to the specific circumstances of our lives. God can also guide us through the wise counsel of others who help us put biblical principles into practice within the decisions we face.
We partner with God in discerning our calling when we work through a reasoned process of evaluating options in light of Scripture and our design. With each step, we seek God’s guidance in His Word and through prayer. We remain receptive to the Lord’s instruction should He choose at any point to indicate specifically what He wants us to do. When we are willing to be obedient, regardless of what God calls us to do, we become people He can guide and use to fulfill His purposes here on earth.
Kevin Brennfleck and Kay Marie Brennfleck are the authors of Live Your Calling: A Practical Guide to Finding and Fulfilling Your Mission in Life. They are National Certified Career Counselors and recognized experts in helping people identify their giftedness and find their purpose in life. Their websites, www.ChristianCareerCenter.com and www.ChurchJobsOnline.com, feature hundreds of job listings from churches, ministries, and Christian employers; a resume bank; career articles; and a free consultation session for individuals interested in career counseling/coaching and testing to discover work that fits their God-given design.
Kevin Brennfleck and Kay Marie Brennfleck
National Certified Career Counselors and Life Calling CoachesSM
Bored with his desk job, Glen was thinking seriously about becoming a fire fighter. His wife was deeply concerned about his proposed career change. He took a walk one winter morning, and found a child’s toy in the snow. He picked it up, and was astonished to see that it was a fireman action figure. Although he didn’t usually think thoughts like this, he wondered if God was trying to tell him to go ahead with his plans in spite of his wife’s reservations.
The Dilemma of Decision Making
When we are faced with making a decision about which direction to go with our lives, many Christians aren’t sure how to choose a path to pursue. People may become hyper-sensitive to circumstances as they seek to perceive divine guidance. Or, they may hope others can tell them what they should do.
In our career counseling and coaching practice, we have found that people often resist taking responsibility to make big decisions. Why? Because decision-making can be difficult. There is often a lot at stake. Our decisions have the power to change our lives for the better—or for the worse. Making a decision inescapably means taking a risk. We may fear not succeeding, experiencing disapproval from family or friends, or being ultimately disappointed by our choice.
Also, many people have never been taught specifically how to make decisions, especially decisions about their vocational calling. When we are unsure what criteria to use in choosing a career, for example, we may look primarily at objective factors like salary and benefits, or ultimately make decisions based on our intuition or feelings about the options. We may know that there are other things we should consider, but not be sure what they are.
To further complicate the situation, we want to do what God wants us to do with our lives. So how do we take His will into account when contemplating a career choice or change? Is it up to God to guide or up to us to decide? The key to resolving this dilemma is realizing that it is both: God promises to guide and you are called to decide.
Called to be a Decision-Maker
God certainly can indicate supernaturally which job or career path you should pursue. At times, He may choose to do so. More typically, however, He calls us to take responsibility for making good decisions about how to use our gifts in the world. In the absence of direct supernatural guidance, we need to assume that God wants us to prayerfully and thoughtfully decide which work or ministry/service option is the best choice. “It is possible to pray, read God's Word, seek counsel, and still not feel led by God,” says Dr. Bruce Waltke. “That's the time to rely on sound judgment. God gave each of us a brain, and He expects us to put it to good use.”
Scripture illustrates that even biblical “superstars” like the Apostle Paul saw making decisions to be a natural, normal and necessary part of life. While Paul did receive divine guidance (see Acts 16:7 and 20:22), he and others also made decisions (Acts 19:21, 20:16, and Titus 3:12). Developing the ability to make wise decisions is a critical skill for Christian life and ministry. A track record of making good, biblically-grounded decisions is evidence of spiritual growth and maturity.
Guidance for Your Career Decisions
How can the Bible be helpful to you in making career decisions and other life calling choices today? After all, you won’t find a Bible verse that tells you specifically which college major to choose, whether you should change jobs in mid-life, or which career option will be best for you. In addition, the world of work in biblical times was very different from our own.
In Jesus’ time, for example, most men went into the family business whether it was becoming a merchant, rabbi, carpenter or shepherd. Most women married early, had children and took care of their home and family. “What should I do with my life?” was not a burning question of the time. The biblical world was very different than our own, yet the principles revealed in Scripture for making career and life decisions are still relevant for our contemporary lives.
The Bible plays a critical role in our decision-making by showing us what is important to God. For example, the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25) clearly illustrates that God calls us to proactive stewardship of our gifts. To apply this biblical principle to making decisions about work and ministry/service activities abilities, we need to ask ourselves a question such as: At this time in my life, how can I best use my gifts, abilities and other resources to further God’s purposes in this world? God gave you your gifts to do His work on earth, not for your own career success and advancement.
God uses His Word to enlarge the frame in which we see our work and our lives, transforming our perspective from the temporal to the eternal. The Holy Spirit within makes it possible for us to understand God’s revealed will and apply it to the specific circumstances of our lives. God can also guide us through the wise counsel of others who help us put biblical principles into practice within the decisions we face.
We partner with God in discerning our calling when we work through a reasoned process of evaluating options in light of Scripture and our design. With each step, we seek God’s guidance in His Word and through prayer. We remain receptive to the Lord’s instruction should He choose at any point to indicate specifically what He wants us to do. When we are willing to be obedient, regardless of what God calls us to do, we become people He can guide and use to fulfill His purposes here on earth.
Kevin Brennfleck and Kay Marie Brennfleck are the authors of Live Your Calling: A Practical Guide to Finding and Fulfilling Your Mission in Life. They are National Certified Career Counselors and recognized experts in helping people identify their giftedness and find their purpose in life. Their websites, www.ChristianCareerCenter.com and www.ChurchJobsOnline.com, feature hundreds of job listings from churches, ministries, and Christian employers; a resume bank; career articles; and a free consultation session for individuals interested in career counseling/coaching and testing to discover work that fits their God-given design.
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