Natural Opportunities

by fcapoffice | Apr 23, 2019 | Thought for the Work Week

We often guage our spiritual growth and maturity by our church attendance and by how much we give of our time and money. But let’s take our maturing process to another dimension… Since you will spend 37% of your waking life at work, how would you guage spiritual growth at the workplace? Our companies don’t provide us ministry opportunities in which we can involve ourselves, like our church does. And except for break times, we have very little down time at work to do much of anything else. When people initially hear about FCAP, they often tell us “…This is another thing to add to my schedule…I don’t have time!” Actually that is not what FCAP wants people to think. Yes, some people in FCAP take on more responsibility to encourage and support others. But ministry in FCAP is about God’s people making the most of the natural opportunities they have to live out their Christian faith in God while on the job. With all the challenges at the workplace, opportunities to grow in the Lord are plenty! (PMC) Consider: “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.” (Colossians 4:5) “…Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:17-18).

This thought was written by Paul M. Curtas, General Director of FCAP.

Our Savior Lives!

by fcapoffice | Apr 17, 2019 | Thought for the Work Week

So real was the resurrection of Christ in history, that Christians proclaimed their faith in Christ could be validated or falsified on whether or not Jesus actually resurrected from the dead three days later (1 Corinthians 15:3-6, 14-15). It was the final test of the authenticity of Christ’s claims. Most of Jesus’ followers questioned and were doubtful of His claims, considering how He died by crucifixion at the hands of His enemies. Yet, three days later, it is recorded that many saw him, and on one occasion over 500 people witnessed His resurrection and met with Him before His ascension. For them, the credibility of this testimony before the world was simply a matter of His critics finding the dead body of Christ. They did not … because HE IS RISEN! (PMC)  It is recorded: “They came to His tomb…and did not find the body of Jesus. The angels said to them…’Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, He is risen, as He said he would’ ” (Luke 24:1-6; Matthew 28:1-6).

This thought was written by Paul M. Curtas, General Director of FCAP.

Blessings from the FCAP Staff
as together we celebrate our Living Savior!

Working for God’s Glory

by fcapoffice | Apr 9, 2019 | Thought for the Work Week

There are two ways through which Satan will cleverly try to ruin your work and professional life. Either he will lead you to believe that work is only a necessary evil you must put up with… and being negligent and sloppy in your work is not so bad. Or he will lead you to believe that the epitome of your work is found in achieving professional goals that will make you proud to the point of becoming conceited. Both place extreme focus only on self, and neither one of them gives credit to God in the way work is performed or by what is achieved through it. Beware of anyone who talks about being spiritual at work but downplays the importance of diligence and excellence in their work. Also be careful of anyone who promises you success through their techniques, while giving little or no recognition to the Lord of the workplace. Our work will find its greatest meaning and be most rewarding as we… “Do all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) (PMC) Consider:“He (the Lord) must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

This thought was written by Paul M. Curtas, General Director of FCAP.

Transformed by Christ

by fcapoffice | Apr 1, 2019 | Thought for the Work Week

The Gospel of Jesus Christ penetrates the most difficult barrier, that of a hardened heart. It conquers the darkest dominion, that of shame, hatred and death. When faced with the Gospel of Christ, it will bring a person to their knees, not to dreadfully enslave them, but humbly free them to serve out of gratitude and love. Religion, philosophy and political systems strive to alter human behavior. However, the Gospel of Christ is God’s powerful work of transforming a person’s life from the inside to the out (PMC).  Consider the Gospel: “By which you are saved…that Christ died for our sins according the scripture…that He was buried and was raised from the dead on the third day, according the Scripture” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
This thought was written by Paul M. Curtas, General Director of FCAP.

God’s Word in its Greatest Form

by fcapoffice | Mar 26, 2019 | Thought for the Work Week

We utilize a variety of ways to remind us of God’s Word. We put it in pictures on social media, we systematize it in books or allegorize it in stories. You can even hear voice recordings of it on your phone or device. Though all of these avenues serve as reminders to us, the effectiveness of God’s Word is seen in its greatest form when it is written in our hearts, spoken from our lips, and seen through our lives as living epistles. (PMC)   Consider: “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the Word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13); “But we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the Word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2).

This thought was written by Paul M. Curtas, General Director of FCAP.

Expressing His Image Through Our Work

by fcapoffice | Mar 19, 2019 | Thought for the Work Week

God made humans in His image. We bare His likeness in ways that animals and nature do not. One of the ways we express His image is through our work. He created this world with resources for us to cultivate (Genesis 2:15, meaning to work and arrange it in an orderly way). God also gave us dominion over these resources so we can create good things from them to serve people and ultimately glorify God through our work. At times humans have used their creativity in work to create evil things and become oppressive. However, do not let that obscure your vision from seeing the many wonderful things humans have created and cultivated to help bring order to our world, provide comforts, and bring relief from hardships. The idea of work originated from the character of God. If you choose to remove God from work you end up forming an image of it that distorts it and makes it an idol, and eventually you will end up sacrificing your integrity and relationships to it. Our work will find it most lasting satisfaction from the hand of God (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20). PMC  Consider:  “So whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

This thought was written by Paul M. Curtas, General Director of FCAP.