Christianity began in a Greco-Roman world. The New Testament was written in Greek, the common language spoken throughout the ancient world. Like English today, Greek was the language of commerce, diplomacy, and scholarship. The Apostle Paul was able to travel and effectively communicate over an …
Build – Build – Build
This morning, I sat at my kitchen table and ate breakfast while reading the financial news. On the front page of the Wall Street Journal was an article by Soo Oh titled: Austin, Nashville Rank at Top of Hottest U.S. Job Markets (February 24, 2020). Since I live in Austin, this was no surprise! Help …
Running
I ran the Austin Half-Marathon on February 16th. It started and ended on Congress Avenue in front of the Texas State Capital. It was a humid Sunday morning with temperatures in the mid-50’s that rose to almost 70F by noon. The run began with a gradual uphill climb north toward Highway 71, then the …
Doing God’s Business
I graduated from business school, spent 34 years working in a business, and did hundreds of business deals during my trading years, both in the United States and in other countries. I have a binder containing hundreds of business cards and enjoyed adding value to the financial bottom line. But is …
Vocations during the Reformation – IIII
England settled into an uneasy truce once the monarchy was restored in 1661. The throne was not firmly established until 1689, when William and Mary were co-monarchs. The definition of vocation changed from the broader life stations (husband, mother, citizen, occupation) to mean exclusively a paid …
Vocations during the Reformation – III
After the historical end of the Reformation with the 1648 signing of the Peace of Westphalia, political turmoil still brewed in England. Civil war between the Royalists (Cavaliers), supporters of King Charles I, and Parliamentarians (Roundheads), under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell, began in …
Vocation versus Scientific Efficiency
I lean towards efficiency, which is both a blessing and a curse. My engineering studies only made me even more efficient and at times, unbalanced. I like speakers who get to the point and do not waste my time in verbosities. I jog the most efficient routes and often miss the beauty of off-beaten …
At-Home Work
I grew up in a family of six. My mother gave birth to four children before she turned 30. Growing up in a large family seemed normal until I fathered my two children. I then fully understood the sacrifice it takes to raise children. My mother was a stay-at-home mom until I was in the third grade. …
New Chief Executive
Last week, I was in LinkedIn and I saw a post from Bernard Looney, the soon-to-be Chief Executive of British Petroleum (BP). Mr. Looney is pictured sitting casually with an open-collared shirt. In his post, he states his interest in using LinkedIn as a platform “to listen and understand your …
Waiting
In the early 1990’s, I was working as an Asian Products Trader for Shell Oil Company. Our trading office was in downtown Houston. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) was just starting to open their country to foreign trade, and I received a phone call from a Beijing trader asking if Shell could …