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God’s Groceryman

July 15th, 2007 | christianity, faith and work, thehighcalling.org

A friend of mine just sent me this fantastic article from Time magazine about my boss, Howard Butt, Jr. It’s a rare thing to see a man devote his entire life to the same vision. Mr. Butt did.

Go read God’s Groceryman. (It’s only 500 words.)

If you’re feeling a little down about your work, you especially need to go read it.


Viewing 6 Comments

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    I like the last thought about NT Christianity being a lay movement. I think that's important to remember in a world of big personalities who can inadvertantly make us feel like we have little part to play in the declaration of the kingdom. Phew. Long sentence. (Now, just leave that editing pen aside, okay?)
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    Cool profile. Thanks for the link Mark.

    I wonder about the "double life" idea though. I'm with Luther in believing that ALL legitimate (legal, etc.) work is glorifying to God, and under his calling. Can't find it right now, but he was famously quoted somewhere as saying that there is no difference in the "holiness" or "calling" of the shoe cobbler than that of the minister of the Gospel. If done to the best of one's ability, and for him, both are equally honoring to God and the Kingdom.

    Then again, maybe I've misread the writer's intent.
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    So, has the Texas heat got you down? You seem awfully quiet these days in the blogosphere. (On my count, the outdoors has been calling. And I simply can't resist.)
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    I loved HEB when I lived in Houston (but they don't have them up here in CT now). That was a great article--thanks for the link.
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    L.L., the heat doesn't bother me actually. You get used to it. Just drink plenty of water.

    Nope, I'm swamped with this blog network. Someday, someday soon, it will launch officially and things will be underway and I can comment and track comments and all that good stuff.

    Oddly enough, I responded to you and Bruce already. Or thought I did. I told you that I never edit blogs. That's just wrong. Like English teachers who correct someone's grammar at a dinner party. Yuck.

    And Bruce, you are completely right. I forgot to mention that this article is an old one. Mr. Butt's message developed into exactly the kind you are talking about. Avoid the double life. He left preaching to focus on the grocery company for awhile. Then took over leadership of the family foundation. (Where I work for him.) It's a more elaborate story than that, but it's his story to tell, not mine.

    And certainly not a story to be told in a blog comment.

    His organization now preaches that all work is a high calling. Poetry. And editing. And blogging. And parenting. And shoveling snow. And teaching English. And performing the role of Duke Theseus in community theater.

    Maybe that's why I'm a bit silent, L.L. Practice every night for three hours. Whew.
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    Jennifer, great to meet you! I'm glad Mary's blog tour brought us together.

    I love HEB too. I don't know their corporate culture first hand, but I think their focus has been the secret of their success. When other chains got bogged down in aggressive national campaigns, HEB stayed focused on being the best regional grocery business in Texas.

    Not that I'm biased at all since I work for Howard E. Butt, Jr.

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