Your Value Doesn't Come From Bricks

Earlier this week, I watched Rob Bell's video, Everything is Spiritual. His teaching was nothing short of brilliant. Many points he made keep bouncing through my head. But one in particular caused me to stop and ponder.

About rest.

   And being.

      And doing.

In Old Testament times, the Hebrews enslaved in Egypt worked seven days a week. Even though God prescribed one day in every seven to rest, the slaves toiled non-stop under Pharaoh's whip.

One by one, they produced bricks by the tens and hundreds and thousands. Monotonous. Endless. They had to meet daily quotas or face punishment.

Basically, their value came from making bricks. They were only worth as much as they produced.

In His perfect timing, God rescued His children from slavery and reminded them of His initial instruction:

"Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during
the plowing season and harvest you must rest." Exodus 34:21

Work for six days, then rest on the seventh. Even during the busiest seasons. It likely took them some time to readjust their mental dials.

By mandating rest, God taught them that their value didn't come from what they produced. That they weren't merely brick makers.

Fast forward to today. How does your work ethic imitate the Hebrews? I don't need to guess your recurring tasks. You know them. You do them. Over and over. Every day. Feeling obligated to complete all that's been added to an already full plate. And then some.

Yet God gives the instruction to work for six days, then set aside one day for rest. To take one day each week to remind yourself that you're not a machine.

To just BE.

   Be with Him.

      Rest. Reflect. Play.

God created us to function as human BEings. Not human DOings.

God did not mean for His children to go non-stop until they drop. Depleted from lack of rest. Dehydrated from lack of refreshment by His living water.

God created us for relationship. With Him. With each other. To live in community. To develop lasting bonds.

To BE.

Even during the busiest seasons. Perhaps, especially then.

There's plenty of time for work. Setting aside one day every seven to disengage from the world's chaos makes the other six manageable. Not so overwhelming.

It may take some time to recalibrate toward rest, but we need that undistracted time with Him. And with loved ones.

God doesn't love you for what you can produce. Your value doesn't come from bricks. Or your job. Your completed projects. Your ministry numbers. Or your volunteer base.

You have been rescued and redeemed as a child of the one true God.

He simply, profoundly loves you. 

I pray you take time this week to simply BE.

"Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him." Psalm 62:1 (NIV)

Do you set aside a day to rest? What gets in the way? How would your life improve by taking one day in seven to rest?
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Speakers: Learning Style Matters

Photo from here.

When you prepare to step onto the speaking platform, have you taken into account your audience's learning styles?

As a speaker and Bible study teacher, I'm always looking for ways to ensure that the content I share can be absorbed by a diverse audience. As a standard, asking the event coordinator to identify the expected audience, becoming familiar with venue layout, and, of course, prayer, play important roles.

It's also crucial to understand how different people receive information best. For example, if you're preparing to speak to a room full of children, would you use only complex charts and graphs as visual aids? If you're speaking to a room full of artists, would you make your point with business facts and figures instead of passing out the paint brushes for some hands-on time?

In short, learning style matters. There are three basic learning styles. Incorporating aspects from each style contributes significantly to how the audience absorbs your content. The three styles and characteristics of each are:

1) Visual: Learn by Seeing

• Typically neat and clean in appearance
• They sometimes close their eyes to visualize or remember something
• Take detailed notes (Do you have handouts?)
• Benefit from colorful illustrations and presentations (Do you have visual aids?)
• Like to see what they're learning
• They'll find something to watch when bored

2) Auditory: Learn by Listening

• May not coordinate colors or clothes, but can explain why they're wearing what they're wearing
• Remember by speaking lessons out loud or repeating them (Do you ask them to repeat back important points?)
• Gain understanding by reading aloud or listening to audio books
• Hum or talk when bored

3) Kinesthetic: Learn by Touching and Doing

• Need to be active and take frequent breaks (Do you speak for an hour non-stop?)
• Speak with hands and gestures (Do you stand stiff behind the podium?)
• Appreciate physically expressed encouragement (e.g., a pat on the back)
• Recall activity, but have trouble remembering what was said
• Enjoy hands-on tasks (e.g., art, craft projects, cooking, etc.)
• Find reasons to tinker or move when bored
• Sit near doors so they can get up and move easily

If you're an author, chances are you'll be invited to speak before an audience at some point. Keeping in mind your audience's learning styles proves critical when creating absorbable content for a wide range of attendees.

If you're preparing for an upcoming presentation, what learning style from this list might you need to incorporate? What tips can you share with other aspiring speakers?
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