Follower of One : Missions For The Rest Of Us

In this week's episode of the Follower of One podcast, Mike talks with Jared Rhue. Jared is the current head of B2B marketing for rewardStyle. rewardStyle simultaneously helps brands and lifestyle influencers monetize the digital space. Jared is a father of two daughters and currently resides in Dallas, TX. Please welcome him! 

1:10 - Meet Jared Rhue

3:25 - Jared's Story on finding Christ

6:30 - Jared's Struggles and How God Prevailed 

8:50 - How Jared Integrates Faith in Work Today w/ Stories!

17:20 - Demonstrating the Difference of God

20:55 - Like To Know It 

23:05 - Jared's Advice on How to Integrate Faith at Work

26:05 - Living Your Faith Tomorrow

Challenges Provide Opportunities 

We all struggle here on earth. Life is a struggle, but it doesn't have to be alone and it certainly doesn't need to be without fruit. Each unique challenge provides a slue of unique opportunities, we just have to open our eyes. During Mike's conversation with Jared, we learn about Jared's specific struggles and how God prevailed in times of need. Our greatest asset is God himself and we need to let it be known. How you share your change, challenges, solutions, and Christ, all play a pivotal role in providing light during dark times. So, how have you shown your light? Do you act differently now than before? What inspires you to take a leap of faith? Let us know in the comments! 

Sharing Your Story

The most powerful thing we can do to spread the word is to share our personal story of Christ. Jared and Mike discuss the massive amounts of benefits and relationships you can build by utilizing your story to bring about change in the world. How do you tell your story? Spreading the gospel is not easy so your story needs to matter. It must be genuine and your truth. Make sure that you are speaking something that is only real to you and can't be argued because it is your truth and not someone else's. We are each unique in this way and when your story is told from a genuine place, it won't fall on deaf ears! 

Interview Quote

"Take time to be genuine because it goes a long way... once you open that door, people are willing to share what they are struggling with"

Connect with Jared

Jared Rhue Linkedin

reawrdStyle

Jared Rhue Twitter

Join us over in our Online Community, get social with us; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Listen to our podcast on your way to work and subscribe using your favorite podcast app. Be a part of our next Marketplace Mission Trip!

Then the passage. Peter and John basically say they will talk about what they have seen and heard. Their experience with Jesus was first-hand. They were more informed about Jesus than the men judging them. When it come to our own experience with Jesus, we're the authority. We must examine our own story against the scripture, because God won't contradict himself. But once we understand how Jesus has changed us, we can and should speak about our own experience. That's what Peter and John told the authorities, too.

Our challenge is to live a life that proves what we believe. Then, when people ask us about it, just like they asked Peter and John about the 40 year old man who was healed, they speak about their own experience. We don't have to convince anyone about Jesus or the good news. We only need to live a life that demonstrates the joy and excitement of following Jesus, and then, when people ask us, we simply speak for ourselves.

What have you seen and heard about Jesus first-hand? Think about it some more from Wednesday and practice stating it in short, 2-3 sentence explanations. Then, as we live out the first 4 daily activities, we'll be ready when someone asks. We'll get to talk first-hand about what we've seen and heard. When we do, we'll experience great joy knowing Jesus gave us this opportunity and he prepared us, too.

This Sunday afternoon, if you're on the Marketplace Mission Trip, we have a conference call to prepare for week 2. Next week we focus on putting these 5 lessons into practice. If you're not on the mission trip, keep listening and go to MarketplaceMissionTrip.com to sign up for the next trip. It begins November 2. And invite a friend, too. We practice these activities 6 times a year with others so we will develop the habits to practice these 5 daily activities every day of the week. Join us?

Our passage challenges us to choose who we serve. We can serve ourselves or we can serve others. Serving ourselves is a trick. It ends in death. A few translations say we can use our freedom as an opportunity for our flesh. We're free to drink, overeat, do whatever we want. We can do our jobs and live our lives for ourselves only. Or we can serve others through love. We're either going to serve ourselves or serve others. 

The freedom Jesus gives is the freedom to serve. Serving others is how we share the life of Jesus. Before we trusted and followed him, we could only serve ourselves. Even when we chose to serve others, I found I often even served others for my own selfish reasons. But when we follow him, we get another choice. We can serve others because we follow Jesus. We experience his eternal life, here and forever, when we do. We experience his joy and spend some of our time in eternity here on earth when we serve others. Jesus came to serve, and he calls us to serve, too. (Mark 10:45).

How can you serve others at work? Think. What do you have that can serve others? Time, Money, Energy, Attention? Take some extra time and think of ways you can serve others. You can buy a lunch, or you can stay late and do extra work. If your department hands off work to another team, find out how you can make their job easier. What can you do differently to make their life easier? Ask God to show you how you can serve others, and expect God's joy when you do.

Finally, share this podcast with someone else. Send them a note and ask them to think about their work as an opportunity to become a full-time servant (or minister). You'll experience God's joy knowing you've done your job today.

The king lost his cool. He decided he would give these 3 one last chance to bow down and worship him before he killed them. But it didn't matter. I wonder if my faith in God and my belief about God would come out of me so casually or matter-of-fact. They stated exactly what they believed and trusted and it mattered.

Can you state what you believe about God so clearly? One or two sentences? With confidence? Nothing works like practice. On Day 3, we encourage you to know what you believe about Jesus. In our world today, we won't get thrown into a furnace, but we will be asked why we're different. When we appreciate those who are difficult to appreciate or when we serve others beyond what might be expected, others will question.

We need to prepare today to answer the question, "Why are you doing this?" In one or two sentences, can you state how your faith in Jesus prompted you to go beyond your daily duties? Whatever you say, practice it until it is delivered the way it sounds like this statement was delivered. God will use you in the lives of others, but we need to be able to explain our faith in small, non-preachy or non-judgmental thoughts and statements.

Try to write out your explanation in advance. Write it in a way that doesn't sound like you were lost or blind. We don't want our friends to get the idea that we think they're lost or blind, either. Often, I say something like, "Well, I follow Jesus and I've found I get a special kind of joy when I do a little extra or give a little more, just because I follow him."

Write it and practice it. Ask a friend or your Mission Trip Mentor to give you feedback as you practice. And if you're not on the mission trip, check it out. You can learn more and sign up at MarketplaceMissionTrip.com.

I recently discussed this chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 and even this verse a bit in episode 234. But this verse needs more attention because today's topic is appreciating others. Paul tells us that even if we give away everything we have, but we don't love others, it profits us nothing. What kind of profit do you think he's talking about?

Our service to others, without love (or in a business setting) appreciation for them doesn't count. But you may ask what I mean by "counting" and I would tell you the word translated "profits" here is what I'm talking about. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus tells us to lay up or store up treasure in heaven rather than treasure on earth. This is part of a longer section of the Sermon on the Mount about rewards.

There are rewards for us, both here on earth and in heaven. The key to those rewards seems to be our love and appreciation for others. When we do something for their good, because of our love for them, then it counts. If we do it for any other reason, that's another story. So today, ask God to give you an appreciation for others. I've wrestled with this in my past, and God continues to work on me so that I won't judge others or label them, but appreciate them and bless them.

Everything you give away today because you appreciate someone else matters. That's why appreciating others is our #2 daily activity on the Marketplace Mission Trip, too. Let's ask God to increase our appreciation for others so that it overflows and they become aware of our appreciation of them, and God's love for them, too.

Prayer is not a way to get God to do what we want. Prayer is the way he transforms us. He will guide us and use us in the lives of others, and we will experience his joy when we pray. We pray for others so we can be a part of God's magnificent work. And we see him work when we pray, too.

On the Marketplace Mission Trip, our day 1 activity is to pray. Practice the 3 daily prayers we discuss. The first is "Here I am, Lord. Please put me to work." This is how we tell him we want to be used in his kingdom. Our second prayer is a prayer of thanks. When we can be grateful no matter what, we make Jesus visible. And the 3rd prayer is a request for God to bless our coworkers, customers and vendors or anyone we will meet with today. God will work in their lives, and through our prayers, we get to take part.

This is day 1 of our 2-week Marketplace Mission Trip. If you're not signed up, you can still go through the exercises by following the podcast. Our goal is to help you become a full-time minister of Jesus, right where you work. To learn more and sign up for the next Mission Trip, go MarketplaceMissionTrip.com.

Inspiring Leadership Abroad with Claudio Morelli, #49

In this week's episode of the Follower of One podcast, Mike speaks with Claudio Morelli. Claudio is a retired education professional that now works as a Technical Consultant for The Wellspring Foundation for Education. he Wellspring Foundation for Education is a Christian organization working to empower the next generation of Rwandans through quality education. Please welcome him to our Community!

Episode Breakdown

1:00 - Meet Claudio Morelli

2:55 - The Wellspring Foundation for Education 

4:05 - How Claudio joined The Wellspring Foundation 

8:55 - Claudio's challenges with Faith in the Workplace

13:45 - God puts us in places we are not Comfortable

14:55 - Praying for the People of Rwanda and All of Africa

17:00 - Leadership Solutions are at the Heart of Most Problems

21:10 - Living Differently with People You Work With, Everywhere

23:30 - Claudio's Advice on Living Your Faith Everyday

26:10 - Connect with The Wellspring Foundation for Education

Leadership Based on Biblical Principles

Being a leader at any organization within any level is difficult. It takes time and attention to build upon leadership skills. However, we want leadership skills that are rooted in our biblical teachings. These lessons are imperative to both how you live through faith, and how you inspire others to build relationships. Claudio talks about this with Mike while giving examples of why he was inspired to take a job after retirement with The Wellspring Foundation. His inspiration served as a vessel for engaging and changing the lives of the people in Rwanda who needed it most. What type of lessons have you learned over the years that can apply to how you lead in your workplace? Are those lessons bringing you and your coworkers closer to Jesus with every action?

Living Differently Through Technology

Technology has been in a boom period for a long time now. It seems every day we learn of something new that makes it easier to stay connected. Yet, we don't want that to become stale. We as Christ-followers need to be molding to our changing environment and it is now more evident with a pandemic at hand. Claudio talks about how he is still able to bring extreme value to people in the country of Africa via Zoom or Skype and it is all because of technology. So how do we make our experience different? How can we ensure that although we are interacting across the globe, we still bring value to the person on the other end of the computer? Stick with the basics. Make time for the Bible and lessons. Make time for empathy and make sure that each opportunity you have to connect is a chance to build God's kingdom!

Interview Quote

"People from all over the world can get together and share voices and help each other... my passion is to bring these African voices to the forefront and make everyone aware of what they are doing"

Connect with Claudio

The Wellspring Foundation for Education

The Wellspring Foundation for Education LinkedIn

Connect With Follower Of One

Join us over in our Online Community, get social with us; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Listen to our podcast on your way to work and subscribe using your favorite podcast app. Be a part of our next Marketplace Mission Trip!

There have been times in my life when I got absorbed in a sport or a hobby. I spent a lot of energy stamp collecting when I was younger, and even more for a while golfing. I dreamed for a while of learning how to fly, but in the end that never panned out either. What consumes you? Is it TV, or social media? Maybe it's your side gig? What gets your spare time and your best moments?

The author of Hebrews tells us that God is a consuming fire. God's kingdom is coming. It is here. If we will let him, God will consume more and more of our lives and our time right here on earth. For our years on earth, our life is ours to give. If we follow God and obey him, we experience more and more of him. Eventually he consumes us. One day, every knee will bow. One day everyone will acknowledge Jesus as Lord. But until then, we can choose.

Hebrews Chapter 12 begins by challenging us to lay aside the sin that entangles us. And it ends by saying that God is a consuming fire. If we will let go of our sin and seek God's will for us, he will engage us and consume us. We can fully integrate our life with his and enjoy his joy and peace no matter what our circumstances.

We begin another Mission Trip this Sunday. For the next 2 weeks, we practice following Jesus more in the moment-by-moment of our daily life. Go to MarketplaceMissionTrip.com to learn more and sign up for the next mission trip. No matter when you hear this, you can always go there and sign up for the next mission trip. Cooperate with God. Trust him and watch him consume more of your energy for his purpose. You'll experience more meaning, purpose and joy in your work than ever before.

Yesterday we talked about how we aim our lives. We can aim our life toward God or our flesh. Our flesh is where we put ourselves in control. Later in that same chapter, Romans 8, we learn a bit more about that choice. We live according to our flesh or we are led by it. Our alternative is to be led by the Spirt of God. This is where the name Follower of One came from.

I believe in the Trinity, that God is One, represented in 3 distinct persons, the Father, the Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. When Jesus left Earth after his resurrection, he said we would receive the Holy Spirit. And now when people decide to follow Jesus, they receive the Holy Spirit. If we're being led by the Holy Spirit we are children of God.

We learned yesterday, that we can choose to follow our flesh or live according to our flesh. But when we are led by the Spirit of God, we experience his joy. We don't have to know all the details about this. We can make a choice right now to take our direction from the Spirit of God. Simply tell Jesus you trust him and you want to do what he wants. Each choice is our chance to be led by the Spirit of God. As we make more and more of those steps following Jesus, or his Spirit, we grow as his child. We experience his meaning and purpose in our daily circumstances. And we experience the joy and satisfaction of an everlasting relationship with him.

Who is leading you? Why not ask the Spirit if he wants you to grow more like him. A disciple is someone who grows toward God. And a minister is someone who helps others grow one notch closer to God. Why not become a full-time minister today. Decide that in your job, or in your life situation, you will be led by God, move closer to him, and help others do the same.

For practice, check out the Marketplace Mission Trip. You can learn more about this free, 2-week experience at MarketplaceMissionTrip.com. The next one begins in a few days. 

Back in episode 230 Only One Category of People, I talked about how there is only one group of us, fallen humans. Today, let's talk about the 2 choices we can make. We can aim our life in 2 directions. We can aim wherever our flesh directs, or we can live according to the Spirit.

Our flesh can get us in a lot of trouble. Our flesh is anything and everything hostile to God (See Romans 8:7). The flesh means I make myself out to be God. I think I'm following my own desires and I make my own choices. But our selfishness isolates us. Our greed, or our envy make us miserable. Have you noticed how if you watch a lot of secular TV, for entertainment or for "news" that you come away unsatisfiled and unhappy? Look at how you spend your time and where your mind is pointed and then critique your experience. Do your actions prove your life is according to the flesh or according to the Holy Spirit.

When we trust Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit. He lives in us to guide us and to keep us until the day we see Jesus face to face. Our life ends up being according to the Spirit. He points us to God and he empowers us to live according to God.

Do you want Christ's joy? Do you want to experience more of the life of Jesus in your own life? We need to set our minds on the Holy Spirit. 

Don't forget to check out the next Marketplace Mission Trip. This is a 2-week exercise to practice intentionally walking with Jesus at work. You won't become the workplace religious fanatic. But you will experience new meaning and purpose in your daily life, at no cost. Learn more and sign up at MarketplaceMissionTrip.com.