As we wade through another holiday shopping season of hyper-marketing, once-in-a-lifetime-until-next-year black Friday discounts, and customer brawls, it's easy to lay the blame for this atmosphere on our "greed-driven capitalism." However, the reasons for the current environment is more complex than that generic label. In his recent article, Capitalism and the Kingdom, Bob Lupton of FCS Urban Ministries discusses the delicate balance through which we should view capitalism, especially as it relates to how Christians are to deal with the poor. Here's an excerpt... "I am convinced that the only thing that will enable the poor to emerge from poverty is a decent job. I am further convinced that the best chance of creating decent jobs lies with our free market capitalists. Does this mean that capitalism is the Divine design for bringing about Shalom? I suspect not. Nor is any economic system devised by flawed humanity. But in spite of its bent toward self-interest, even with its excesses and inequities, capitalism has an historic opportunity to create shared prosperity that can benefit every person on the globe. What capitalism needs in order to fulfill its promise is sanctified self-interest." The following post was written by my friend George Ansong, a Christian entrepreneur, real estate consultant, instructor, and coach. I was blessed by it and I'm sure you will be to... I believe that entrepreneurship is a journey of faith. The entrepreneur is able to look into the future and bring into existence those things that he sees in his mind's eye. The faith it takes to bring that into existence is divine inspired. It is God breathed whether the entrepreneur believes in God or not. I also believe that God's covenant of blessing is what motivates entrepreneurs to come up with revolutionary ideas, concepts, products, technological and medical breakthroughs that have catapulted mankind to the apogee of human civilization. It is advisable, therefore, as an entrepreneur to understand the basic universal law that, God the creator of the universe, has put in place to help nurture, grow and expand our various enterprises and ventures. Here are the Ten Universal Laws that I believe shape the entrepreneur's future and experiences.
What are your thoughts on the entrepreneurial laws? Please type your comments below... It's extremely important for Christian entrepreneurs to realize that your business is a ministry. Otherwise you will undervalue the opportunities God gives you everyday to serve and impact people through your business. One of the foremost experts in the Body of Christ who articulates better than most is David Doty, who has more than thirty years' experience as a three-time small business entrepreneur, board membership, and business coach for several not-for-profits and small businesses. He is the author of Eden’s Bridge: The Marketplace in Creation and Mission – which is the first articulation of a biblically-based theology of the marketplace as an institution of God. In a recent blog David discusses the significance of business as ministry. Here's a excerpt: "So, how exactly is it that business is ministry? The answer lies in the nature of creation itself, which emanates from the nature of the godhead. The central focus of God as God and of creation as a product of God’s nature, character, and will, is relationship. Ministry is simply the mediation of the relationship between God and humankind, and business, as a vital institution in human society, is fundamentally about the facilitation of relationships. It is not the only institution that mediates the relationship of the divine and the temporal but it is perhaps as significant as any simply by the fact that it is the institution by which we survive and even thrive. Read the entire article Business is Ministry here: http://edensbridge.org/2013/10/18/business-is-ministry/ What are you thoughts on the concept of business is ministry? Leave your comments below... Last week I started teaching an 8-week bible study for entrepreneurs and business leaders through Kingdom Business University with the theme "Kings, Priests, and Profits." The purpose of this Bible study is to equip Christian marketplace leaders with the spiritual and practical tools to execute God's plan for their business profitably and sustainably. Our focus over the first few weeks is God initial interactions with Solomon. In 2 Chronicles 1 God sets forth a pattern with Solomon that Christian business leaders can glean from in terms of how we are to incorporate God into our work lives: 1) Worship (2 Chronicles 1:1-10), 2) Wisdom (2 Chronicles 1:11-13), and 3) Wealth (2 Chronicles 1:14-17). Worship is critical to this process because it’s an opportunity for Him through His Spirit to send thoughts to human minds that must turn invisible ideas into visible manifestations. For Christian entrepreneurs this is an opportunity to create streams of revenues through a business that honors God and creates value in the earth. Incorporating worship into your business as a best practice allows at least 4 key benefits...
I included my teaching notes from week 2 to give you an idea of what we'll be covering during this series. Just download and enjoy!
What are you thoughts on worship as a business best practice? Please provide your comments below...
My good friend Amos Johnson Jr. has the #1 online resource for Christians to learn about business success from a Biblical point of view. In his most recent Sunday Morning Bible Conversation Podcast, he shares how you can have financial success with your mind focused in the right place on the right Person. Here's an excerpt: "A major symptom of us doing things in our own power is having money constantly on own our mind instead of God. And it is very easy to have money on our mind because we need money to function in our society, to feed our family, and to have the comforts of life. Read the full article and listen to the podcast: http://amosjohnsonjr.com/theshow.php?page=theshow086&shownum=86 It's going to be another exciting and empowering week on Passion in Action TV. My guest this Thursday is Dr. Robert J. Watkins, CEO of Kings and Priests Unlimited, Inc., a business-focused ministry committed showing the Body of Christ how to build wealth, leave a legacy and develop into the leader God designed you to be. According to Robert, "I’ve made it my life’s passion to develop leaders at all levels. I understand how it feels to live a life in holy frustration without support, resources or purpose. That's why I made "solving problems for people, corporations and non-profits" my business." Married for 20 years with two wonderful daughters, Robert has had the privilege to serve in the military, write best-selling financial and business books, possess relationships with world-class leaders and speak to hundreds of thousands of people who, like you, value what it takes to become a great leader. His audiences not only leave my sessions with memorable experiences, but it changes the way they think. He truly believes that if you follow God's specific plans good things will happen for you. Learn more about Dr. Watkins and you can benefit from his ministry this Thursday on Passion in Action TV at 7 PM EST only at www.passioninaction.tv. I'm really looking forward to attending this Partners Worldwide conference tomorrow at LAUNCH, a community-based business incubator that's having a major impact on lives in the Chattanooga area through entrepreneurship and business training. Our team at Kingdom Business University is in the process of creating something similar at Metro Merge in South Atlanta. This will definitely be a time of great learning, networking, and fun as we strategize and collaborate on how to manifest our victory over this defeated foe.
This week on Passion In Action TV I will interview Ronald L. Godbee, pastor of The River Church in Durham, NC. "Many are called, but few are chosen," certainly personifies this humble vessel of God. The powerful ministry gift that rests on his life is evident whenever you’re in a worship experience with him. Pastor Godbee has a passion for praise and worship with a ministry style that saturates the soul. His operation in the five-fold ministry gifts will cause lives to be radically changed, transformed and renewed. During his time of humble service and ministry, Pastor Godbee was appointed by his spiritual father, Presiding Prelate Bishop Edgar Vann, II to serve as General Overseer on the Executive Council of the Kingdom Alliance Covenant Fellowship. His ministry moments have been highlighted in many forms of Christian media. He is noted for his revelatory wisdom and knowledge that he willingly shares in sermons and mentoring relationships with people from all walks of life. He has been a regular host on many Christian talk shows which include co-hosting with Bishop Greg Davis on “Rejoice in the Word,” as well as hosting his own radio show, compassionately called, “The Flow.” Pastor Godbee’s gentle, yet boldly anointed voice is heard all over the airwaves glorifying God and edifying the body of Christ as he addresses the topics that many modern-day theologians scarcely mention. In his position as the Campus Pastor of The River Church in Durham, North Carolina, Pastor Godbee is challenging the men and women of God to build lives, loyalty, and a legacy. Watch the live stream to learn more about this dynamic man of God and his ministry this Thursday, June 6th at 7pm ET only on www.passioninaction.tv. This week on Passion In Action TV we will interview Pastor J. Calvin Tibbs, author of the newly released "Massa's Back But Now He's Black?" In this thought-provoking book the author makes a call to the people of the United States to see the present climate of political dissatisfaction and racial antagonism as a modern expression of the master/slave mentality of America's past. The author sees government-sponsored assistance programs as disguised vehicles by which the assisted trade their liberties for aid and laments the partisanship of both the political Right and Left as having superseded religion and common sense which, the author feels, has substituted popularity for substance and caused a sharp decline in morality and the economy. Pastor Tibbs, a native of Hampton, VA, is currently pastor of Kingdom Dominion Church in Villa Rica, GA.
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