Roth Recommends

Recommended resources to strengthen you in your faith and your work

Welcome to this new section on our website. Each month, I will share with you an impactful resource that I have read or watched to encourage you to continue to explore and grow in 2008.

David Roth
President, WorkMatters

July 31, 2008

Providing you with content to bridge the gap is a very important aspect of our vision. Each month in this space I share a resource with you that I believe can help you in your journey. Sometimes, however, I get too caught up in reading the latest new book. And you know what happens? I spend less time reading THE book. The book that contains the truth. The book that gives us hope. The book that can guide us at work and at home.

The Bible in many ways is a mystery. It can be daunting, maybe overwhelming. But I am so often amazed how it can speak to me when I simply take the time to put it in my lap and slowly read it. Maybe this is the month to commit some real time to this book. Maybe this is the month to pick a hero (Nehemiah), or a Gospel (Matthew), or some true wisdom (Proverbs), and spend each day seeing what God is saying to YOU...about your work, about your marriage, about your children...about your relationship with Him.

May this month and this book open your eyes in ways that you have never experienced before.

David

June 30, 2008

WorkMatters exists because bridging the gap between faith and work IS HARD! There are so many difficult questions and challenges for those that want to try to honor God in their work, but at the same time, try to succeed and prosper. This book, God in the Marketplace: 45 Questions Fortune 500 Executives Ask About Faith, Life, and Business is one of the best tools I have ever seen. Henry Blackaby, who many of you know as the author of Experiencing God and his son Richard, have become heavily involved in the faith and work movement. This book is their response to questions that business leaders have been asking them over the past few years. These are the HARD questions, along with their answers and supporting Biblical scripture. This is an excellent early morning devo tool (read one per day), and also outstanding for small groups who want to focus on faith and work issues.

Inspired,
David Roth

Click here to purchase a copy of God in the Marketplace

May 30, 2008

"The world is broken because in Eden you abandoned relationship with us to assert your own independence. Most men have expressed it by turning to the work of their hands and the sweat of their brow to find their identity, value and security." (excerpt from The Shack)

I have been speaking this year to various groups of people, mostly on the central theme of relationship, more specifically, relationship with God at work. Relationship is the first and most important of our "Seven Pillars of Faith and Work," which are foundational to bridging the gap between faith and work.

Click here to learn more about the "Seven Pillars"

As only God would have it, on a recent trip to spend some down time with my wife and to celebrate my 50 years on this earth, I was led to read a fascinating book about relationship with God. It is a book that touched me like few have. It's not a "faith and work" book per se, rather a fiction novel about having a true relationship with God and others. The Shack is a page turning story that has moved from relative obscurity to #5 on the Amazon.com best selling books list. While the story is a gripping roller coaster ride, the real focus of the book is on one man's indescribable weekend encounter with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The book requires an open and discerning mind and heart, as it paints a picture of God's desire to have a relationship with us.

At the heart of our struggle to walk with Christ at work, is our ability to walk in relationship with Him all day, especially Monday - Friday in the workplace. I recommend The Shack for any one that is hungry to continue to grow in that walk.

Always seeking,
David Roth

Click here to learn more about The Shack
Click here to purchase a copy of The Shack

April 30, 2008

How often do you read a book that really captivates you? You know...the kind of book that has you stealing a few minutes in the morning before you go to work or actually keeps you from falling asleep at night? That was the impact Patrick Lencioni's latest New York Times best-seller had on me.

Many of you heard Patrick speak at our recent WorkMatters Leadership Conference on this very subject. Don't let the title of the book, The Three Signs of a Miserable Job throw you! Lencioni's other books strike similar chords...The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Silos, Politics and Turf Wars are prime examples. Patrick's writing style is unique. He basically tells a story, much like a mesmerizing novel, then closes the book with very specific lessons and actionable recommendations.

The Three Signs of a Miserable Job has a very simple message for managers and their employees. Why do so many people have not just bad jobs, but miserable jobs? Why do many people go home at the end of the day frustrated, cynical and weary and then spread their frustration, cynicism and weariness on their spouse, children, friends, even strangers? He believes there are three simple signs of a miserable job...anonymity, irrelevance and immeasurement.

· Anonymity - people cannot be fulfilled in their work if they are not known.
· Irrelevance - everyone needs to know that their work matters (sound familiar?) to someone.
· Immeasurement - employees need to be able to gauge their progress and level of contribution for themselves.

I truly believe that this quick read can have a life changing impact on your life, your work and on the many lives of those that work for you and with you! Email me after you finish this book and let me know what impact it has on you!

For Him,
David Roth

February 28, 2008

I often hear the same question asked, "I get the idea of faith and work, but HOW do I actually do it." One of the most impactful resources I have encountered over the last four years is Andy Stanley's "Taking Care of Business". This timeless DVD is a 6-part sermon series that takes on a different aspect of faith and work in each teaching along with an interview with a business person to gain some real-life perspective on that particular issue.

This is a powerful resource for individuals and is excellent for Small Groups (there is now an accompanying study guide for Small Groups). It is available from a variety of sources. ChristianBook.com appears to have a low price.

Enjoy!
--David Roth

Click here to purchase DVD…

January 30, 2008

I can think of no better resource to kick off 2008 than this one! And it's not even a "faith and work" theme. But, trust me when I tell you that this is life changing. This "How Great is our God" DVD is actually a 40 minute excerpt from a stop on the "How Great is our God" tour that Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin offered us in 2007. The tour came through Fayetteville, Ark. and I had the privilege of attending. It rocked my world. I immediately purchased the DVD and I have watched it with my family, my church, WorkMatters small groups and we opened our January Eight-to-Five Unplugged events with the last 5 minutes of Louie's talk.

Louie Giglio founded the Passion movement in 1997. It is an enormously impactful ministry for college students around the United States. He also periodically teaches at Andy Stanley's NorthPoint Community Church in Atlanta, Ga.

I hope that you will invest $15 to purchase this moving message. I believe it will impact your year and your life, as well as your family and potentially your co-workers. A link is below to visit the Passion store.

Or, you can watch it free on YouTube. Just Google "Louie Giglio - How Great is our God" and you will find it.

Enjoy!
--David Roth

Click here to purchase DVD…

Do you have a recommendation or comment? Email David Roth at droth@workmatters.org

WorkMatters Top 10 Faith-at-Work Books

These resources are what WorkMatters believes to be the top ten resources available regarding Faith in the workplace. They are certainly not all alike and you may find one speaks to you better than another. These are presented in no particular order.

Click here to read WorkMatters Top 10 Faith-at-Work books…