When the Axe Falls: A Christian Response to Job Loss

By Ted Hall

With millions of Americans unemployed and with little relief in sight from a stagnant economy, men and women of all ages are finding it extremely difficult to deal with the new and increasing pressures theyre facing. And now youve joined their ranks. But what if God has plans for you, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope? Wouldnt that make a difference?

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449748265

Ted Hall

Ted Hall is an architect, artist, author, husband, father, grandfather and golfer (sort of). He is also a Christian of many years, having received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord during his freshman year in college. Since then he has enjoyed studying God’s Word with scores of men from different walks of life. Ted has three daughters and a small army of grandchildren. He and his wife Lisa live in Atlanta, Georgia where they are members of a Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) congregation.

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Copyright © 2012 Ted Hall

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-4827-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-4826-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012906737

WestBow Press rev. date: 4/25/2012 

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgment

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Without question, this book would not have been written were it not for my wife, Lisa. Second only to the Lord Himself and His gift of salvation, she is the greatest gift I have ever received. I am eternally grateful for her love, prayers, encouragement and support, and it is to her that I dedicate this book.

Preface

For quite some time now, I have considered writing this book. The concept was born on a day when I lost my job as a real estate developer, and this book is a matter that I have not been able to shake. Believe me I’ve tried. Had I written this book years ago when first prompted, it might well be a best seller today, unfortunately, given the state of the economy and the growing number of unemployed. I hope now that it’s done, this book will be an encouragement to at least a few people who are struggling with loss. It is an intentionally concise book, with only a few chapters. I was not interested in a lengthy treatise, but wisdom that I could share, drawn from a few lessons learned from my own journey. While my primary intent has been to address those who have recently lost their jobs, I believe that the principles and suggestions put forth may also help some deal with other forms of loss, although I quickly acknowledge that some losses are more devastating than others. The loss of a job cannot begin to compare with the tragic loss of a spouse, child, parent or friend.

I am imminently qualified to write this book, having had my employment terminated on more than one occasion along the course of a thirty-five year career in architecture, project management and real estate development. None of those terminations, I was told, were due to poor performance. One had to do with a decreased workload (as is the up and down nature of the industry), and one was due to a strategic operational change wherein my position was simply eliminated. It didn’t matter! The sudden loss of my job hurt beyond words on each occasion. Through all of this I gained quite a number of insights into myself, some good and some not so good. I also learned a good bit about God and His faithfulness to His children. It is my hope and prayer that this book will help you with these lessons as well.