A Closed Door May Be The Key To Another

Posted by admin in Guidance, More About Us on November 28, 2009

Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.
                                                                - Alexander Graham Bell

One afternoon in the fall of 1986 I discusssed my idea of launching a newsletter with my wife. After about an hour and a half we agreed we should pray about it, so we did. When we finished praying, the phone rang. It was a friend who I had not spoken with in several years, and didn’t know how to find — he was the former news editor at Christianity Today, and the person I most wanted to be the editor for my newsletter.

The timing of his phone call seemed like a clear indication we were on the right track, so we launched the publication. However, within a year we found ourselves in deep debt, and the newsletter was such a drain on the rest of our business that we were forced to sell a lot of our possessions – our home, office building, boat, and one of our cars — to pay off our debt and keep our business going.

Shortly after making those hard decisions, the rest of our business turned around and was profitable again. But the newsletter continued to lose money for almost ten years. We invested far more into it than it would ever return, but we believed we should continue to do it.

By the mid 1990s, we faced a new financial crisis. Paper prices were climbing every month at an astronomical rate. If we continued as we were, without making a major change, our whole business would soon fold. I tried everything I could think of to increase income, reduce expenses and stop the loses. Finally, after agonizing over the decision, I prayed again, drove to my office, and told my staff we were folding the newsletter. I laid off several good people who had worked very hard and served me faithfully.

It was a hard decision. A door was closing. One we had loved doing. But in hind sight, it was the right thing to do.

The people we laid off found great jobs in other organizations. And because we had started publishing our news electronically on the Internet, our subscriber base grew from 8,000 to more than 100,000 — without the cost of printing and postage.

Our e-newsletter served as a launch pad for the rest of our Internet publishing venture, which grew dramatically in the last half of the 1990s — and was one of the few profitable dot-coms in those early days of the Internet.

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.     – Proverbs 27:12

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A Day of Publick Thanksgiving and Prayer

Posted by admin in Prayer on November 23, 2009

At the request of both houses of Congress 220 years ago, President George Washington appointed Nov. 26, 1789 a day of “General Thanksgiving … to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God.”

Although we don’t spell it the same way, I believe “publick” means the same thing – here are some of the definitions of “public” from Dictionary.com: of, pertaining to, or affecting a population or a community as a whole; generally known; open to the view of all; existing or conducted in public.

This ”publick” observance became our country’s first national holiday, and this year — 2009 — it will once again be celebrated on the 26th day of November. Here is the text of President Washington’s written declaration:

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; — for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; — for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; — and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; — to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

G. Washington [signed]

Source: The Massachusetts Centinel, Wednesday, October 14, 1789

As we thank Him this year on Thanksgiving Day, let’s humbly pray for leaders everywhere to have the conscience and character to courageously declare “it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour.”

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men – the testimony given in its proper time.     – I Timothy 2:1-6

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I Wish I’d Known That Years Ago!

Posted by admin in Leadership on November 18, 2009

I don’t know how many times I’ve thought, “My life may have been much different if I had read this book a long time ago.” It happened again when I started reading The Influential Leader, by John Edmund Haggai.

Here’s an excerpt from the author’s preface:
I have circled the world more than a hundred times. For 60 years I have been observing leaders … heads of states and heads of corporations … to study top leaders and determine what makes them great … This book … will help ignite the kind of thinking and the kind of action that characterizes the world’s great leaders.

And here’s an inspiring excerpt from “Decide to Invest Fearlessly” in chapter seven:
In 1981, I returned to the lovely island of Bali in Indonesia. Since rooms were tight, I did not stay at my usual stopping place, the Bali Intercontinental, but instead secured accommodations at the Bali Hyatt.

 

When I arrived and started up the steps to the entrance, the head bellman said, “Welcome to the Bali Hyatt, Dr. Haggai. We’ve reserved the Presidential Suite for you.”

I protested that I had reserved a minimum rate single room.

“The general manager insists,” he said. “He wants you to charge everything to the room — your laundry, dry cleaning, meals, telephone — everything. You are his guest.”

At the registration desk an assistant swept me through. “Oh, no, that’s already taken care of,” he said. “Let me escort you to your suite.”

It was one of the most elegant accommodations I had seen in all of my world travels. Within minutes, the general manager, Michael Ou, arrived to greet me. Stunned, I tried to express my thanks.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” he said.

I had to confess I didn’t.

“In the 1960s when you stayed at the Singapore Intercontinental, I was a bellman, hustling bags. Every time you came, you treated me just as grandly as you treated your friend, the general manager, George Milne. I have harbored a secret dream for all these years that someday I would run my own hotel and be able to show you gratitude for the encouragement and inspiration you gave me.”

 

The Bible tells us, “Whatever a mans sows, that he will also reap.” It’s just a fact. What do you want? Invest the same thing, and you will receive it back in quantity. Do you want friends? Invest friendship. Do you want love? Invest love. Do you want respect? Invest by respecting others.

You receive back what you invest. How much you receive back depends on how much you invest. If you invest little, you will receive little in return; but if you invest a lot, you will receive a lot.

An influential leader invests habitually. He does not do this because he expects a reward, but because he knows that rewards flow from this kind of behavior. When Michael Ou was a bellhop at the Intercontinental, I had no idea I would ever meet him again. Still less did I calculate that he might do me a handsome favor 20 years down the road. I just knew that politeness made life more enjoyable for everyone, and that this was a win-win outcome at almost no cost to me.

The point is, you don’t need to fear investment of any kind. Investment represents a visionary decision to give freely, as often as you can, within the bounds of sound discipline and good sense. Remember also, that you set the tone as a leader. If your leadership is characterized by love, humility, and self-discipline, you will reap loyalty and devotion from the people you lead. If they recognize that you invest your very life for their good, they will more readily follow your leadership and example.

 

Adapted from: The Influential Leader. Copyright © 2009 by John Edmund Haggai. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

John Edmund Haggai is an internationally acclaimed author and lecturer and the founder and president of the Haggai Institute for Advanced Leadership Training. His practical formulas for winning over worry, pain, loneliness, and impossible situations have helped many thousands of leaders. And his institute has trained more than 50,000 people in over 175 countries.

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It’s Time For Clarity, Courage, Leadership

Posted by admin in Leadership on November 12, 2009

I can’t imagine how difficult it must be today for our military leaders. The not-so-friendly-fire from the media must be devastating. They’re ripped apart, left and right. Now that one of their own, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, has massacred over a dozen of our heroes, military leaders once again are being blamed.

While the media is trying to decide whether Hasan’s killings were an act of terror, some of our finest leaders are wondering if they’ll need a legal team to defend themselves.

News reports indicate our leaders felt the need to protect Hasan’s freedom of speech. Apparently they knew what he believed based on what he had said, but they weren’t sure how far he’d go. “Maybe he’s serious… maybe he’s not. Maybe he’ll do something, maybe he won’t….”

Clarity
“Clarity” is defined by Dictionary.com as “clearness or lucidity as to perception or understanding; freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity.”

I think we all need to get some clarity — especially our political leaders, military commanders, and the media — about appropriate language and freedom of speech. If you need help gaining perspective, try this: board a commercial airplane and then loudly joke about bombing it. You’ll be amazed at how fast you land in jail. (And that’s for joking about it… not being serious about it.)

It’s really pretty simple. There are times we take speech very seriously. In fact, we take it so seriously, most of us don’t even question the fact that our “freedom of speech” is regulated — even eliminated — and that we’d better be careful about what we say.

It’s time to be just as clear about our war against militants who are so determined to kill us that they will gladly give up their lives to do it.

Courage
Here’s the Wikipedia definition: “Physical courage” is courage in the face of physical pain, hardship, or threat of death, while “moral courage” is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement.

There are millions of examples of “physical courage.” George Washington is one of my favorites. According to author William Federer, George Washington was out in front, leading his troops and risking his life, while he “rode back and forth across the battle … every other officer on horseback, except Washington, was shot down, until even General Braddock was killed, at which point the troops fled in confusion.”

Washington was a powerful example of physical courage. Afterward, he wrote in a letter to his brother, “But by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!”

There are also many examples of “moral courage” throughout history. John the Baptist is a good one. His hard work and ministry was eclipsed by his cousin, Jesus; he was thrown in jail; and he eventually lost his head for speaking out against the immoral relationship between the king and the wife of the king’s brother. And over the past 2,000 years, the number of Christian martyrs has grown beyond belief.

Everyday both physical and moral courage are demonstrated around the world by Christians. Sadly, the media ignores it. Take a look at a few of the recent headlines from the Compass Direct news service:

Bangladesh
[Muslim] Police Torture Pastor, Two Others
Muslim Villagers Beat Evangelists in Southeast
Muslim Pilgrims Beat Bible Student
Pastor’s Wife Gang Raped, Home Robbed [by Muslims]

China
[Government] Office Becomes New Force for Religious Repression
Authorities Refuse to Renew Licenses for Human Rights Lawyers
[Christian] Bookstore Owner Sentenced to Three Years in Prison
Religious Rights Abuses Cited
Detained Uyghur Christian Taken to Hospital
Action Urged for Missing [Christian] Rights Activist
Tortured Christian Lawyer Arrested, Officials Deny Abuses
Officials Grapple With Spread of Christianity
House Church Raids, Arrests Continue

Egypt
Two Copts [Christians] Imprisoned After Reporting Attack [by Muslims]
Violence Again Erupts Over Quest for [Christian] Worship Site
Police Collusion Suspected in Attack on Church
Two Clashes Shake Coptic [Christian] Community
Village Christians in Hiding After Clash
Rescue of Coptic [Christian] Girl Prompts Muslim Attack
Court Denies Right to Convert to Second Christian
Policemen Sentenced to Only Five years for Killing [a Christian]
Stabbing, Bombing Attacks Strike Near Two Churches
Convert Arrested for Marrying Christian
Islamic Lawyers Urge Death Sentence for [Christian] Convert
Christians Sent to Prison After Brutal Police Raid

And those are just some of the reports. There are dozens of additional stories, both reported and unreported, of Christian persecution and harassment in Burma, Columbia, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda and Vietnam.

The most obvious source of this hatred and terrible persecution comes from two sources: religious (Muslim and Buddhism) extremists and Communism.

Leadership
Which brings me to the third point,  “leadership.” Obviously, we need it now more than ever. Men and women with the clarity and courage to say and do what’s needed. I’m not suggesting a holy war against all Muslims or declaring war on all Communists. But I am suggesting that we maintain a proper perspective regarding anyone who wants to take away our freedom and kill us: we should be at war with them. And we should be courageous enough to say so.

When leaders in academia, government, the media and the military unite against this hatred, it may reunite our country so we can win the war. I hope and pray it doesn’t take another 9/11 to find the clarity of purpose that will inspire us and give us the courage to lead our nation to victory.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”     – Joshua 1:9

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Dramatic Growth Follows Passionate Purpose

Posted by admin in Purpose on November 10, 2009

People searched for the word “purpose” more than 4 million times in the past month, according to Google’s keyword research. They searched for “meaning” over 11 million times in the past month. The word “careers” was looked up over 20 million times. Here are some additional searches in the past month based on Google’s data… “Money” – 45 million…  “Power” – 55 million…  “Sex” - (data not available).

It’s obvious people long for purpose and meaning in their lives. But as the stats above indicate, they often look for it in the wrong places.

So how do you get ”purpose” that you can be passionate about? And once you find it, how do you maintain the passion over the long haul?

During the Jesus movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s, many young people found a whole new reason for living. They were passionate about their faith in Jesus Christ. Their beliefs were so strong, they couldn’t help but show. Their actions revealed what they believed, and their enthusiasm was infectious. As a result, millions of others followed Jesus Christ.

Many business leaders and politicians work long and hard to develop a large following of tenacious, loyal, hard-workers like the Jesus people. But the Jesus movement grew phenominally without offering any of the typical rewards. No money. No influence. And no sex. It was something else.

They each experienced God. He reached out to us individually in a unique way. We responded. And He kept reaching out to us, until we got distracted or complacent — or both.

A couple of our distractions should have been obvious to us. They were the same things offered to Jesus when He first started His ministry: money and power. But instead of overcoming temptation with scripture like Jesus did, we failed miserably. We started “keeping up with the Jones” and acquiring things. Some of us failed morally. Others created a new hierarchy by putting ourselves in positions of leadership and dominating others with new methods and rules. And some did all of the above.

Thankfully the One who gives us ultimate purpose hasn’t changed. He’s still waiting with His hand outstretched. He’s still willing to reveal Himself and bless each of us. But if we want all He has to offer, I’m convinced we’ll need to seek Him with all of our hearts. Lukewarm won’t cut it. He wants to shower His goodness on us, like a loving Father. But He expects us to be passionate about our purpose. We need to give Him all we’ve got.


Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them.     – John 14:21

So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.     – Rev. 3:16

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Confession Is Good For The Soul

Posted by admin in Forgiveness, More About Us on November 8, 2009

I wish my life was just a series of holy experiences with God. Sad to say, it’s been far from it. Like the apostle Paul, I feel that ”Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst.”

My behavior spiraled downhill fast in high school, where there were three groups of kids: greasers with the “wet look,” collegiates/jocks with the “dry look,” and the dozen or so guys I hung out with. We had the dry look, but we weren’t nice.

Wherever we went we caused trouble. We regularly drank too much, started fights at football games and parties, and stole cars for joy rides in the wee hours of the morning.

 

I wish those things were the worst of it.

We had two unofficial leaders. We didn’t vote for them. They just naturally took charge and made sure we had something crazy to do almost every night.

One of these two leaders was an amazing fighter. He was only about my height, but like David against Goliath, he was fearless and would take on guys much bigger. And I never saw him lose a fight.

Our other leader didn’t look for fights. He looked for girls. He could handle most guys when needed, but he also had a unique bad-boy charm that the girls loved. As a result, he dated some of the brightest and most beautiful girls in school. He was the kind of guy that every daughter’s father hated, and why some bought shotguns.

We admired the leader who could fight so well, but we envied the ”lover.” And as pathetic as it seems now, he became our hero. We actually tried to emulate the guy who broke girls’ hearts. And some of us formed habits that went from bad to worse.

Even after God made Himself known to me, I found myself continuing my selfish actions, and needing to confess my sin afterward. And no matter how many times I watched Good Will Hunting or heard “it’s not your fault” from a well-intentioned minister or counselor, I knew deep down it was my fault. I was guilty. I needed a redeemer, and someone who would empower me to change.

Thank God for Jesus Christ and His willingness to pay the price for my sins and send His Holy Spirit to us all.

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.     – I Cor. 6:9-11

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed….     – James 5:16

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When You Experience Money Problems…

Posted by admin in Finances on November 3, 2009

Years ago the Christianity Today offices where I worked were on the top floor of the Washington Building about a half-block from the White House. From the conference room window we could see the White House grounds where Richard Nixon said goodbye to his staff after his resignation, and took off in his helicopter.

I rode a bus each day to get downtown from my rented home in the Virginia suburbs. It cost about 90 cents each way. If I walked a couple of blocks up the hill to the bus stop near the shopping center, the fare dropped a dime.  If I didn’t have the correct change, I could put a dollar bill in the machine and get a ride. But I wouldn’t get change for the difference. Bus drivers had been robbed so many times that they stopped carrying change.

One day, when I was struggling financially — again — and walking to the bus stop near my home, I realized that I only had a dollar bill, and no change. If I put it in the machine, I’d lose ten cents. Since I had prayed that morning about my financial situation and made a commitment to be more careful about my spending, I decided to walk the extra 1/4-mile up the hill so I could get change at the gas station. And I realized that if I made the hike, I’d also save ten cents on my fare…

As I made the turn at the end of my street to walk up the hill, a car pulled onto the shoulder of the road behind me. The driver honked his horn. I turned back and saw it was my neighbor, so I opened the passenger door. He asked where I was headed… coincidently, he was going about a block away from my office that morning. I got in and rode with him in the HOV lanes. He dropped me off in front of my office.

I thought of that incident recently when I heard a talk by retired Marine Colonel Myrl Allinder. In his speech he said, ”You don’t have a money problem. You have a spending problem.” That’s been the problem for many of us — some of us longer than others. We think we don’t have enough money, but actually, it’s just a habit of spending more than we make.

I’m convinced that when we prayerfully work to get our spending in line, the Lord mulitplies the results.

 

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much….     – Luke 16:10

And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’     – Luke 19:17

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.    – II Cor. 9:10

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Do You Believe In Guardian Angels?

Posted by admin in Angels, More About Us on November 2, 2009

Call me crazy, but I do. And not just because angels are mentioned so many times in scripture.

On several occasions my wife and I have had someone rescue us from dangerous — even life-threatening — situations. And in all but one instance, we never knew them, or had an opportunity to find out who they were.

Back before most of us started carrying cell phones, my wife was driving our small pick-up truck one night, and she had our two oldest sons were with her. She was on the Capital Beltway (I-495) in Virginia when the truck suddenly died. So she coasted onto the narrow, right shoulder, which had a large concrete barrier that made it very difficult to get out of the truck. Soon after the motor quit, the battery died. The lights were out. No emergency flashers. Nothing.

Cars were flying by just inches from the left side of the truck, when a guy pulled up behind the pickup truck, rushed my wife and sons into his car, and took them to a nearby gas station. My wife got out of his car to talk to the service station attendant, and by the time she turned around to thank her rescuer, he was gone.

That was the most recent “out-of-the-blue” rescue.

The first time I remember being rescued by someone I was ten years old. I was at Ocean City, Md., with my mom and several other family members. They were sun bathing on the beach while I was jumping waves with a huge crowd. It seemed that as the waves got bigger, so did the crowd.

Then, when I jumped a very large wave and came down, I could hardly touch the sand on the bottom. After the next wave, I couldn’t touch at all. Even between waves the water’s depth was well over my head. Within seconds I was way beyond the breakers,  swimming as hard as I could toward shore, but still being pulled away from the beach.

As I continued to swim, dog-paddle, and then swim some more, I could see my uncle standing on the shoreline, waving frantically for me to come back in. Apparently he couldn’t tell how hard I was trying!

Back then I didn’t know what a rip-current was… But I did know I was alone, very tired, and getting scared.

Then I heard a voice say, “I’ve got you.” And someone behind me grabbed the waste of my swimsuit and started pushing me toward the shore. Soon I could touch sand again between the waves, and before I knew it, I was standing in the breakers.

I walked up to my mom and my uncle and they asked me what happened. I turned around to show them who had helped me get in… but once again the rescuer was gone.

On another occasion, when I was 13, I had an operation for a hernia. The morning following the operation I was given a shot  of demerol for pain. The nurse who gave it to me went off duty without recording it, so the new nurse gave me a duplicate shot.

Minutes later breakfast came. While I was still eating, propped up in the hospital bed, I fell asleep. Then I stopped breathing. And finally my heart stopped.

The man in the bed next to mine buzzed the nurses’ station. No one came quickly, so he jumped out of bed and ran down the hall to get someone. Fortunately, Mrs. Deputy, the head nurse, came quickly and gave me a heart massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, which brought me back to life.

Again, I have no idea who my rescuer was… but I’m glad he didn’t wait any longer for a nurse to arrive.

There was another life-saving incident when I actually knew the rescuer’s name, but I’m still convinced he was an angel. Maybe I’ll tell that story someday, too… In the mean time, if you find yourself in trouble, don’t hesitate to ask Him for help. You might just find angels in your midst.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands…     – Psalm 91:11-12

See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.     – Matt. 18:10

He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully…     – Luke 4:10

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?     – Heb. 1:14

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
     – Heb. 13:2

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