On January 15th we are celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unfortunately, what often gets minimal attention from mainstream outlets are his teachings on money, wealth and economic justice. In fact many historians believe that was one of the major underlying reasons why he was killed, which happened less than a month before the Poor People's Campaign was scheduled to go to Washington, DC. On the most recent episode of The Disruptors we discussed this part of his life’s work and the relevant Biblical principles that we can use now.

You can watch it here or listen to the audio of The Disruptors Podcast in my mobile app. I also encourage you to join us for our next live broadcast next Monday at 8:30 PM est. ​

Have you ever been offended by God Because he didn’t answer your prayer in the timeframe that you desired in the way that you expected? Most of us have, although we don’t like to admit it. So how does that happen? I discuss that and more on my special Christmas episode of The Disruptors streaming bible study titled “Looking for the Wrong Jesus.” Enjoy and Merry Christmas!!

You can watch the video here or listen to the audio of The Disruptors Podcast in my mobile app. I also encourage you to join us for our next live broadcast Monday at 8:30 PM est.

With all of the devastating happening over the past few weeks in Houston, Florida, Puerto Rico, Mexico City, Las Vegas and other places, the natural inclination for many people has been to declare that we should pray for these cities/regions. Other people, though, claim that prayer is not enough and that we need to take more action. I believe this disconnect comes partially because many people don't have a good understanding of the true purpose of prayer.

Our prayers are not meant to only be verbal expressions of our current conditions. A key component of prayer should be asking for direction, strategies and solutions to resolve the myriad issues we are experiencing in our communities. We should follow Jesus' example. In John 5:19, he said "I only do what my Father shows me," which means he was a man of action, but he only engaged in actions that were specific to accomplish his mission.

When we pray without acting, we are being passive. On the other hand, when we act without praying we can easily be at worst reckless or misguided, or at a minimum be ineffective. Zeal with good intentions but without "God intentions" can get you in a lot of trouble if it's not corralled, directed, and motivated by His love and purposes. 

Make no mistake, our cities and communities need as much prayer as we can get. However, we cannot afford to engage in actions that are absent of God's wisdom and guidance, because we're not helping the situations as much as we would like to think that we are. So please keep praying for our communities, businesses, schools, governments, etc. Just make sure you listen before you act.

Recently I was invited to write a guest blog post for No Compromise Magazine. I was asked to write about the epidemic of the killing of black men in America. This is a hot-button issue that is more complex than most people consider before they give their opinions. While the death toll of young black men continues to rise in this country, anger, frustration, and even hopelessness continues to increase also. It's easy for people to givev"black and white" opinions, but few are discussing the real root of what needs to be done. I feel it the responsibility of Kingdom-minded people to take a stand talk about Kingdom solutions. Here is a brief excerpt from my article:

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to this epidemic. However, God does give us the antidote to the disease of sin and hopelessness. Please read the full article and I would love to hear your thoughts.
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Full article available at: http://www.nocompromisemag.com/blog-1/2017/6/11/black-men-in-america

The 4th of July is a time when Americans celebrate our independence from an oppressive government more than 200 years ago. What's really interesting about the time we live in now is that millions of Americans are still fighting for their independence. However, in this case it's not from an oppressive government. They are actually fighting for their independence from the loving God. Watch the video to learn more…

What are your thoughts?

In the world of Christian entrepreneurship it often seems like there is a huge supply of ideas but a lack of wisdom, i.e. implementation with fruitfulness. I say this on the basis of I see a lot of trial and error and not a lot of surety of implementing what we hear from God. However the word of God tells us in James 1 that He gives wisdom liberally to those who ask for it.

Jesus was always in the right place at the right time doing the right things primarily because he spent so much time with God. He even said I only do what my father shows me (John 5:19). After all Jesus did say we would be greater works than he did (John 14:12)

Maybe if we as Christian entrepreneurs spent more time on our faces vs on Facebook then we would receive more direct revelation from God that would be applicable to our businesses. I'm not bashing social media (I use it a lot), but what I'm saying is that if everyday we're waiting on Facebook or TV or the Internet or any other source rather than God for instruction and direction then we will continue on the path of trial and error and take longer to get to the promise land where God has already prepared for us and our businesses to succeed. Now of course God can use any source to get wisdom to us, however His primary desire is that we will connect with Him more one-to-one.

Proportional accuracy is the correlation between how much time we spend with God and how accurate we are in our decision-making. This is not a measure of a specific ratio or any other type of mathematical formula but is more of a spiritual indicator that is applied through self-evaluation to understand and recognize the opportunity to get more things right and fewer things wrong.

If Jesus was truly leading your business as the CEO I'm sure the very first question he would ask is am I even supposed to be in this business? Follow up questions would include am I doing what God said to do to make this business profitable and sustainable or am I following the crowd and just doing whatever everyone else has said to do to be successful?

I'm sure there are plenty more he would ask but this us a good start for you to help determine if you're headed in the right direction and functioning optimally. The rest of the questions you can ask as you spend more quality time with him. Enjoy the journey!


How do you think Jesus would lead your business differently than you? Leave your comments below...

This week we celebrate a hostile takeover. Now most people don't typically associate the birth of Jesus with a term usually referencing corporate business wheeling and dealing. However, the arrival of Jesus in Bethlehem was very much a divinely orchestrated power play to return control of the earth to its rightful shareholders.

Don't get it twisted. Although he showed up as sweet baby Jesus, he arrived in the earthly boardroom with an agenda of eternal proportions. He came to implement a regime change. He came to restore a Kingdom that was lost in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. He came to snatch back dominion from our common enemy and return it to those whom God had intended to have it in the first place. And although he may not have come with a sword-wielding, horse-riding army (that will be the next time), nevertheless he came with unquestionable power and authority.

Not only did Jesus come to reestablish his Kingdom on earth, he came to re-delegate the responsibility of running that Kingdom to us. As executors of his earthly estate, his expectation is that we will expand his Kingdom exponentially before he returns for his final eternal rule. Of course this Kingdom expansion is not about gaining more land, it's about growing his family through spiritually transformed lives. 

Fortunately for us Jesus has already done the heavy lifting. His marvelous victory on the cross conquered ALL of our enemies and resulted in us becoming royal heirs of an infinite, immeasurable inheritance. He made us kings and priests unto God. He made us governmental ambassadors with divine rights. He gave us everything we need for life in godliness. He gave us every spiritual blessing. He gave us powerful weapons to claim our victory. And he gave us a comforter and counselor in the Holy Spirit to direct our decisions and empower us to manifest his promises. 

As wise investors, if you want to profit from this heaven-directed hostile takeover all you have to do is receive what Jesus has already done. You don't have to be in the 1%. You don't have to be rich or have the inside scoop on the IPO. You don't have to know the right people or work for the right company. All you have to do is receive the gift that's been freely given to you. And he promised that the profits you receive from that transaction will be exceedingly and abundantly far beyond all that you can ask think or imagine.

If Jesus is not the CEO of your life it's time for a personal regime change. You will know if he's your real CEO based on how you treat other people, the content of your thoughts, how you spend your time, how you apply your talents, and how you spend your money. If you don't acknowledge and obey him in all of your ways he's not the CEO. And although he was hostile in taking control of the earth back from the enemy, he won't be hostile in taking control of your life. He will only do that with your permission.

The greatest profit you can receive in your life is to allow Jesus to become your personal CEO. And now is the perfect time for a change.

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." ~ Mark 10:25

Do rich people have a harder time with morality than poor people? Are they more susceptible to character blemishes than those in poverty? Do people with a lot of money have more to overcome in their ethical decision-making than those who only have a little money?

Recent research reported in an article on MSNBC.com seems to answer these questions with a resounding "Yes!". According to the article, University of California Berkeley researchers repeatedly showed that upper-class individuals were more prone to unethical behavior than people from more deprived backgrounds.

Now before you start thinking I'm just automatically about to jump on the bandwagon that all rich people are evil, we need to compare their research to something Jesus said more than 2000 years ago - that it's easier for camels to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for rich people to get to heaven. What Jesus was really saying is that the task of trying to be a "godly rich" person is impossible - without the power of Christ fully at work in our lives - because the temptations of this world are too strong for us to resist. 

We can look at the wisest man to ever live, who also happened to be one of the richest that ever lived - Solomon - and see that even with all his wisdom he was still unable to live a completely holy life, because he strayed from living by God's principles and standards. Now all of his issues weren't necessarily related to money, but who's to say that his financial excess didn't lead him to desire the same kind of excess in other areas of his life, specifically with women. Is it possible that God's blessings led to Solomon's downfall? Well, it can happen to anyone of us who start enjoying the gift more the Giver. I would also submit that God is holding back blessings for many people who He knows would start living sinfully if He blessed them like He's capable of. So in reality, some people's current lack of finances is for their own good. However, God doesn't want their character to stay in that place, because He really desires to pour on them mind-blowing, abundant blessings.

It's important to be clear what Scripture actually says about money. It's the love of money that is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10), not money itself. It's interesting that this verse doesn't refer at all to how much money a person has. So a poor person can have just as much of an unhealthy lust for money as a rich person might have. How much you have is irrelevant to what your heart attitude is towards money.

Fortunately, Jesus died for everybody, even rich people. The answer to the rich man's dilemma is a few verses past Mark 10:25 where Jesus says, "... with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." So, according to Jesus, a person can be rich and godly at the same time. You don't have to be poor to be pious. You can be wealthy and worship God with a pure heart.  

Will there be rich people in heaven? Absolutely! Will they have gotten there because of their riches? Absolutely not! Will they be excluded because of their riches? Absolutely not!

If you are pursuing money for money's sake, you will end up inheriting the wind. It will use you up, throw you away, and then wait for its next greedy victim. However, if you pursue God's purposes for your life, He will provide the money you need to succeed.

What are your thoughts about how hard it is to be rich and righteous?

Read the full MSNBC article here: http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/27/10512938-rich-people-more-likely-to-cheat-behave-badly-research-finds