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Matthew 28:19-20 (New International Version)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Last night, after the Super Bowl, a TV series came on called the “Undercover Boss”. (In my past 35 year career Supplier of Brake Components and also the COO of a manufacturer of the Waste Manager Truck Trailers and many other types of Class 8 heavy duty Truck Trailers. I am very familiar with this company and this COO/President. I can tell you personally; this Waste Manager COO/President is the real deal. I as well, over my career, have had the opportunities to work on my own customer’s assembly lines, undercover and very un-undercover, as a component supplier (undercover) and as a visible corporate COO of a trailer manufacturer, component supplier supplying Waste Management companies and similar large type North American Trucking fleets.
Although, for those of you that have known me within my career, I have never been very “undercover”, However I did practice openly the type of management of “Show Me”, “Tell Me PLEASE”, not letting middle management, snow me or create a false image for me, get in the way of me seeing, experiencing a company that I was held accountable for and worked at it reflected my core values; especially after my wake up call from my Lord. I constantly (post wreck “Planting Peas with Jesus”) I would ask employees at all positions of rank and title, What I can do for you today to make your day better at work; What can I do, personally, to make you more productive and efficient; What can I do make today to make this day, your day, worth trading a day of your life to work for our company. Make no mistake many times I found subterfuge and dishonesty, as I was tried on for size when they knew I was the Boss. Many could not handle the reality of honesty within a COO. I guess no one taught them a work ethic. I don’t know where they work now.
After my wake up call, I would ask these honest, sometimes hard questions I mentioned above of people of all ranks and titles, and company position my intentions were always honest and true; wanting to know what I could do better for them and for my company and for my customers. When asking, I was looked at like as if I had two heads, or “Is this a trap”, or “you have got to be kidding, based on the crap your middle managers do to all of us”; or in a way saying, “yeah sure, you actually give a crap”. Factually, I have in my past corporate life, prior to the life changing meeting I had with my Savior (“Plantin peas with Jesus”), had been a vicious, relentless warrior, intimidating at times, yet successful competitor, knowing no bounds, skillful, cunning, strategic, winning at all cost... it was results I wanted, demanded (winning was everything). I am still asking forgiveness for some of the stuff I did. I was not ashamed of who I was, and did not make false fraudulent social behaviors to be anything other than what I was, by saying one thing - doing another, yet many were hurt from the realities of the company they worked, for through this perception it was reality. No one wakes up in the morning goes to work and says to their selves, “Today at work, I am going to be worthless, a failure...I am going abuse, hurt people and not give a rat’s behind about them or the company that pays me”, “I am going to take out ever thing that has ever been done to me, against someone that works for me”. I did not do this, but many colleagues, middle managers and employees did. If you find people like this that do this, especially the entitled and self absorbed, help them find a new job they can be productive and happy (if possible) or go and fire the person you see in the mirror/ or immediately put him in a management training program with our Lord.
I know many corporate executives that think they can pull off having two standards and two lives. I have proven you can be a strong Christian leader in secular business, being firm, fair, caring, a good steward, responsible, not being anyone’s fool and leaning on your past to really understand the depths that people will actually go in order to win. How many bosses do you know that are saying one thing and doing another? Based on the environment that I once lived in, it was survival as these were not small companies, but major US corporations. (God help us all and pray for all of these CEO, COO, President Types...and middle management types.. and God bless those that do the REAL WORK)
Back to the Show - Then as I was watching this show, I though how many people know my Boss, the Risen Lord, is also undercover. Our Lord is with us watching, experiencing us; experiencing our words, deeds and action ever second of the day. He is there easy to see, but most often, we ignore His existence at work. As in the form of this TV Show, I have a new show, called “Your Boss is Undercover...and Watching”.
What if you got to heaven... every person that you had hurt, or had a cross word with, or that you had used a selfish, self serving hurtful agenda, using and manipulated another for your personal selfish advancement of yourself or your company, often driven by insecurity. I am not talking about healthy wonderful competition, I am talking about sin.
“What if”, as they stood before you, before your very eyes, their appearance changed before your very eyes; and as you watched, stunned, they changed in appearance, they metamorphosis in to the image of Christ – Jesus Christ stood before you in each person. Many, many images of Christ in visible flesh and form stood before you. It was Christ that you hurt, used, tripped up, stole from, cheated, ignored as some hurt and called out for you in help but you gave none; it was Christ you turned you back on, did not stand up for, did not love and seek to forgive a natural human frailty, ignore of spoke badly of because they were different than you, or had a different social status, or were different in gender, race, color, creed. WHAT IF!!!! ( Pardon me while I shrink in absolute shame)
Realize you work for a Boss that always UNDERCOVER; it is up to us to embrace him, love him, expose Him to others (His Children and employees) in word, deed and actions!!!! And remember, Jesus stands by your side 7/24/365/lifetime/eternity.
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40 (New International Version)
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Matthew 25:45 (New International Version)
Your Boss is never undercover - Your Boss is exposed by your acting upon His Holy Spirit that resides in you. Jesus is really undercover; watching your every move, response, action, good and bad - your action, word and deed toward, and as well against another. It is up to you to expose Him!!! Seek Him and seek Him in prayer!!! And then listen to your boss.
Brightstar Outreach
Ministry, Inc.
Rev. Roderick Richardson, PhD
Sr.Pastor/Executive Director
425 Panola Road . Lapine, Al 36046
334.537.4978 /334.537.9011
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