Devotional from Jobseekers of PTC

Today's devotional comes from:
JobSeekers of Peachtree City
Helping People Find Good Jobs, Close to Home, in Minimum Time

Get out and about. Come to JobSeekers this week. Bring a friend.
If you're not looking, forward this message to someone who needs it.

In This Issue
1. Inspiration: If You Give Up Too Early, You'll Miss the Boat Entirely
2. Success Story: The Opportunities this Ministry Provides are Priceless
3. This Week's Meeting: 16 Ways to Make a Message Persuasive
4. Networking: ABC from 10:15 to 11:30
5. Job Leads: Leads and Links in South Metro Atlanta
6. Contact: Chaplain and Ship's Crew
7. Donate: You Could Help Save a Career, a Home or Even a Marriage

JobSeekers of PTC Website | JobSeekers of PTC on LinkedIn

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1. Inspiration: If You Give Up Too Early, You'll Miss the Boat Entirely
Three weeks ago I wrote about the world, the flesh and the devil -- the Unholy Trinity. The number of people who ask to be removed from the newsletter list usually goes up a bit on the weeks that I mention Satan in this article. It's usually 2-3 people per week v. 3-5 when I mention Satan. (For a baseline, 3359 people will receive this newsletter today.)

I think the number jumps because some people don't believe the devil exits. That was true for me for many years. I believed in the sinful nature within us, but I didn't believe in a devil who prowled around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (See 1 Peter 5:8). What helped to change my mind were some notes in the back of my Bible. Charles C. Ryrie, in The Ryrie Study Bible, says, "The existence of Satan is taught in seven Old Testament books and by every New Testament writer."

Jesus called Satan the father of lies (John 8:44). One of his lies is that he doesn't exist. Another one of his lies is what I want to write to you about today: "Networking works for some people, but it's not working [wouldn't work] for me." Have you heard a voice telling you this?

Twenty-five years ago this last week (24 August 1985), I was on a weekend scuba trip to West Palm Beach. One dive was on Saturday night two miles off the coast in 85-foot deep water. We dove down to a sunken Greek yacht named the Mizpah. Before the dive, along with the other safety precautions, we were warned of the dangers of the Gulf Stream currents; they could cause you to miss your target, and worse, they could sweep you miles away from the dive boat in the middle of the night.

My dive buddy, Ron Bennett, and I were selected by the dive master to lead a group of 20 people down to the Mizpah. I almost had an anxiety attack right there. I wasn't terrified of the pitch-black water. I wasn't terrified of the nocturnal creatures that prowl the seas. I wasn't terrified of being swept away by the Gulf Stream currents.

I was terrified of the wrath of the other 18 people if we missed the boat!

To understand my high anxiety, I will take you back four weeks earlier. Ron and I and some of the same people were in Fort Lauderdale to dive on the Mercedes, a freighter that had been sunk in 90 feet of water a mile off the coast. Ron had dived on the ship once before; I was in Atlanta for Independence Day. He said it had been a fantastic dive; they could see the freighter as soon as they jumped in the water.

The dive master gave specific instructions on how to navigate down to the wreck. We didn't listen because the dive had been so easy for Ron a few weeks earlier. Instead, we heard the lie: "Do it your way." When we jumped in we found out that on this particular day the visibility was very poor. We couldn't see the freighter from the surface. We started swimming down anyway. We swam in what we thought was the right direction, but we couldn't see the ship or anything else. When we reached a depth of 75 feet, we finally saw something.

Sand. Nothing but sand.

Ron and I had an underwater argument about whether we should swim around on the bottom looking for a 285 foot long ship or go back to the surface and ask for help. We were rookie scuba divers and had been warned about doing a "pop up." A pop up is when you abort a dive because you didn't follow instructions. I don't remember who won the argument, but soon enough we were on the surface waving for the men on the boat to come get us.

The boat captain and dive master let us have it for not following instructions. They dragged us over to the drop site again while we hung on to the dive platform for dear life. We used up most of our air during this exhausting experience. We found the boat on the second try, but were only able to spend seven minutes exploring the Mercedes. For the rest of the weekend (and for years to come), the other divers teased us unmercifully because we missed the boat.

The memories of our incompetence were racing through my mind as Ron and I were on the platform about to jump into the dark and eerie waters of the Atlantic. Then I remembered our training; I remembered what the instructors had said about reaching our goal. "Swim hard, and don't take your eyes off your compass." We swam due south; we swam directly against the current. We did what we knew was right -- even though we couldn't see the target. I looked up just before we hit the bow of the sunken yacht.

It was a wonderful dive. I'll never forget it. The depth, breadth and beauty of God's creation is just amazing. We went into one room and pushed our flashlights into the sand so they didn't cast any light. In the total darkness, it was cool to see hundreds, maybe thousands, of bioluminescent creatures glowing and floating at the bottom of the ocean.

What I learned from those two dives applies to job search: sometimes your goal is right before you, but if you don't follow wise counsel or if you give up too early, you'll miss the boat entirely. So here are some reminders from someone who's seen thousands of successful searches:

1. Listen to the experts. We know what we're talking about. Don't take your eyes off your compass. Your target will be right ahead of you if you stay focused on your goal and don't let yourself get distracted. If you listen to the lies that are flying around in your head, you could end up hundreds of feet away from your target and looking at nothing but sand. Swim hard. Keep your eyes on your compass. Don't give up too early.

2. Network. Chances are as high as 80% that you will find your next job through a personal contact. Why not shorten the time by doing more of it? Bring up your job search in almost every conversation you have, especially with new people. Make one phone call for every 30 minutes you spend on the computer. You may not see your next job up ahead, but it's out there. You have to do the right things in the right proportions to find it.

3. Pray and read the Bible. Chances are as high as 100% that your next job will suit your needs better if you seek the Lord with all your heart. Why not improve the quality of your life by doing more of it? Get into the Word every day, especially now while you have the time. You may not see where the Lord is leading you, but I guarantee you He has a plan and a purpose for your life and your career.

He will lead you in the darkness of job search; He will never leave you nor forsake you.

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." (Isaiah 42:16)

See you tomorrow at JobSeekers, the place where we use God's compass!

Copyright © 2010 / Dave O'Farrell / All Rights Reserved

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2. Success Story: The Opportunities this Ministry Provides are Priceless
We love to hear from you when you land a new position. Please write and let us know how you found your job, what you learned from the experience, and how JobSeekers helped you.

Dave:

The stars and the JobSeekers' tools finally aligned and I was offered a job yesterday. On Monday, I start to work for one of the companies that I targeted early on in my job search. There were no openings for a quality assurance manager at the company when I started my search in mid-May, but I contacted a former colleague (now retired) who happens to be the brother-in-law of the owner of the company. He put me in touch with another former colleague of mine from over 10 years ago who is currently the company's corporate director of quality. When an opening appeared on the company's career website 10 days ago, I was ready to strike.

I submitted my resume online and immediately called my contact at the company to inquire about the position. He told me the ins and outs and asked me to email him the latest version of my resume. Two days later I got a call from the VP of HR to come in for an interview with him and my contact. My contact obviously lobbied for me behind the scenes, because at the start of the interview the VP of HR said he did not want to waste our time going through my resume since my contact had vouched for me.

After about four hours of open discussion about the company and the job, lunch, and a tour of the plant, I was invited back four days later for an hour-long interview with the COO that is responsible for the plant where I would be working. That afternoon the COO called me with an offer.

I will be making less money than I was making, but I feel blessed for the upsides that this job has to offer:

1) ...I do not have to relocate my family and the commute is only about 40 minutes.

2) The job brings me back to an industry that I love ...

3) The company is profitable and growing fast, so there will be ample opportunities for advancement.

4) The company's mission statement includes "honoring the covenant to support Christian-based ministries from the profits generated through the business."

Dave, please give my regards to the Ship's Crew and all of the job seekers for the insight and fellowship that they provide. The resources, tools and networking opportunities that this ministry provides are priceless.

Kind regards,

(name withheld for privacy)

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3. This Week's Meeting: 16 Ways to Make a Message Persuasive
Bring your marketing hat for tomorrow; you are the product! We will learn and practice some techniques and skills to ensure that the hiring company remembers us in a very positive way. This week's session will make you more effective in your networking and interviewing of course, but it will also make you more effective in all your communications -- as a parent, spouse, salesperson or entrepreneur.

Bring an extra copy of your resume for tomorrow's application activity.

Who: All are welcome; the topics are targeted for professionals, managers and executives.

What: JobSeekers is a nondenominational career ministry.

When: Friday mornings from 7:30 to 10:00 am.

Where: First Baptist Church in Peachtree City; 208 Willow Bend Road.

Why: We work with you to find a job, and we walk with you on your journey of faith.

Attire: Business casual.

Agenda: 7:30 coffee / 7:45 welcome and devotional / 8:10 introductions and announcements / 8:45 job search training module / 10:00 adjourn to the Atlanta Bread Company

We look forward to seeing you on Friday!

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4. Networking
Atlanta Bread Company

After the JobSeekers meeting, we go to the ABC from 10:15 to 11:30 for an informal gathering. There's no agenda; we just have fellowship and help each other out.

Newnan First UMC Job Networking Ministry

Come join us at our next meeting on Tuesday 14 September 6:00 PM.

Meetings are always held the second Tuesday of each month in the Parish Hall of Newnan First United Methodist Church. The church is located at 33 Greenville Street in Newnan. You may reach them by telephone at 770-253-7400 or click here and select "Job Network" under "Resources" on the left side of the home page. We look forward to seeing you there.

College Park Job Seekers

Have a family member, friend or neighbor concerned that they may lose their job, and they cannot take time off to attend a job seekers group? Attend the College Park Job Seekers Group which meets the first Saturday in every month from 9:00 am – 11:30 am. The next meeting is Saturday 4 September. This is a community service of Living Hope Christian Fellowship, 5885 Mallory Road, College Park, Georgia 770-306-9922.

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