Today’s news scares us with instance after instance of large-scale data hacks gobbling up incredible amounts of information. If you are on anyone's database or have done any shopping online, you can assume somebody has taken your data at some time in the past. Even if a criminal never used your data, there is still reason for concern.  King Solomon cautioned, “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” (Proverbs 22:3, NLT) The best we can do is to take good precautions.

Most of us have interviewed potential employees with very little work background. These may be individuals fresh out of school or those who have been out of the workforce for a period of time. Trying to discern a person's qualifications without work experience is a challenge.

Some in the Christian community believe everything should be offered free for Christians. Granted the gospel is offered free of charge. Salvation is free to all who place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. However is ministry free? Should ministry be free?

Paul provided an example when he wrote:

Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. preacher of the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:13-14, NIV) 

Now that the Olympics are past I was reflecting on a study I read about how bronze medal winners were happier than those who took home the silver. (study: https://bit.ly/2usPLg2 )

At first it struck me as counterintuitive.  Isn’t silver better than bronze? Granted a gold medal is the best, but ranking second in the world isn't shabby. 

Establishing the correct wage for staff is never easy.  We see an example in Scripture, “But Laban said to him, ‘If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the Lord has blessed me on your account.’” (Genesis 30:27-28, NIV).

I've learned over time that when we fail to meet an employee's reasonable expectations and salary requirements, they move on. For example, I interviewed a prospective salesperson who wanted to make $200,000 within 12 months. Given that this person just finished school with little experience, I knew that making half the expected salary was unrealistic. If offered a position, the expectations would not have been met.