If you're the parent of a teen or serve in youth ministry, it would wise to pay more attention to how much time they are spending on social media. A new Ottawa Public Health study suggests that teens who use social media sites for two hours or more daily are at risk for poor mental health, psychological distress and suicidal thoughts. According to a Huffington Post article reporting on the study:

Helping youth develop face to face communication skills is essential to preparing them to have healthy personal and professional relationships as adults. If we allow social media to babysit teens unattended it could have major negative consequences over time. 

Finish reading the whole story here: http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2015/07/28/study-frequent-social-media-use-may-take-toll-on-teens-mental-health/

My guest on Passion in Action TV this Thursday, July 11th is Roland Hairston, II.

Since October of 2011, Roland Hairston, II has been the Publisher of Gospel Today, America's longest-running urban Christian magazine. The need for Gospel Today has never been greater, says Hairston, II who brings a keen understanding of emerging technology with a sensitivity to the rich legacy of the urban Christian community. Hairston, II worked alongside Teresa Hairston, his mother and founder of Gospel Today for years, as managing Editorial and Marketing for the magazine. Our world is captivated by images and stories and we need Christian media that can speak to relevant issues of our culture in a way that empowers people to act.

Readers find the lifestyle focus of Gospel Today and high quality of journalism they have come to know from Gospel Today. On the horizon, however, supporters can expect to see what Hairston, II calls an innovative marriage of print and digital. Hairston, II is committed to using this multimedia platform to shape our generation and tell His story. He requests  the Body of Christ to pray for and partner with Gospel Today to continue changing the way the world sees faith.

About Gospel Today
Gospel Today is an urban Christian lifestyle magazine that seeks to inspire, inform, educate and empower its readers toward Godly standards of excellence. With over two decades of experience, nationwide circulation of its bi-monthly print magazine, an interactive Internet community and more, Gospel Today is a trusted resource within the African-American and faith-based communities. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.GospelToday.com.

Join our conversation on Passion in Action TV Thursday night at 7pm ET, streaming online through your computer or mobile device only on www.passioninaction.tv.

There's a lot happening in our society and culture today that the enemy is using to keep us divided. Recently I did an interview with host Kenny Pugh on Brotha Live discussing some of the current headlines of today dealing with racism, sexism, classism and a bunch of other "isms." We have to be very careful when we base our connection with others on the ways that we are divided.

Click below to enjoy!

History Channel's "The Bible" miniseries has been a ratings bonanza. The premiere on March 3 is cable's most-watched entertainment telecast this year.  Further,  the $22 million cost was paltry compared with the $200 million HBO spent on the 2010 war epic The Pacific. For Christian entrepreneurs in the business of creating content for your customers, you can learn a lot from this production.

Daniel Chioco wrote in the Business2Community blog a very enlightening article that Christian entrepreneurs can use to glean from the well executed marketing plan of this historic TV program...

1. Thou shalt plan wisely. 
   
2. Honor thy collaborations.
3. Thou shalt repurpose content.
4. Remember the grassroots and reach out to them.
5. Thou shalt not spend needlessly.
6. Thou shalt seek advice.
7. Thou shalt take advantage of what people know.
8. Thou shalt build anticipation.
9. Thou shalt make it cool.
10. Though shalt capitalize.

Read the details at http://www.business2community.com/content-marketing/marketing-miracle-what-history-channels-the-bible-can-teach-content-creators-0440395#yxTwZlsoF8qs4q7J.99 

How can you apply marketing lessons from "The Bible" in your business? Leave your comments below...

My guest this week on Passion in Action TV is Janks Morton, Jr., a filmmaker, author, activist, director, producer, editor, and cinematographer. Morton is the founder and CEO of iYAGO Entertainment Group, an independently owned and operated multimedia production company. Morton created iYAGO Entertainment Group, "... to reflect both the conscious and unconscious soul of Black America." Morton has been in the entertainment industry for 20 years.  Morton's sole proprietorship is responsible for releasing four feature length documentary films since 2007. His first feature length documentary, What Black Men Think, was voted the Best Black Documentary of the year for 2007 and Morton was voted Best Director for 2007. The film examines the role of stereotypes and misrepresentations in America.
What Black Men Think has garnered national media attention and is distributed nationally by Passion River Media and Amazon. Morton has traveled internationally and nationally to lecture and show his films. He has convened workshops, seminars and served as a panelist and keynote speaker at universities, prisons, conferences, churches and community centers around the world. Morton's states his motivation for becoming a filmmaker is to promote the positive stories about blacks.  Morton has been described as an, "expert at healing conversations". Morton's film style is categorized as "docu-logue".

Watch the live stream online this Thursday, March 7th at 7pm ET only on www.passioninaction.tv. 

You can also watch our previous shows right now. See you Thursday!

*NEW RELEASE APRIL 1ST*
Passion @ Work: 40 Day Devotional to a Purposeful, Productive, & Prosperous Work Life
This unique book will take you on a journey to finding or rekindling your passion that connects purpose to your work and the rewards that result from that union. Learn more...

After being on hiatus for about 6 months, I am excited to announced that Passion in Action is relaunching Thursday, October 11th! Our new partnership with Nebo Media Group (creator of Brotha Online Magazine and others), will allow us to get more creative and strategic in bringing you insightful interviews with influential guests who will motivate you to turn your passion in action.

Our first show this season will be "Double Platinum", because we will livestream musical artist Lisa McClendon and her husband, pastor and motivational speaker Marcus Brailsford.

So I'm sure you're asking where can you watch this incredible show? We livestream online Thursdays at 7pm est on InternetFabulous.TV. Also, while you're watching you can send us questions and comments, which we can respond to during the show. Or you can watch past and present shows on demand at your convenience. Either way you're going to get some great information to help you move forward in fulfilling the life calling that God has for you!

More about Passion in Action...

Passion in Action is an Internet TV show that ignites Christians for purposeful, passionate, and prosperous living. Believing that changing the world starts with changing one life at a time, we promote people, businesses, organizations and events that serve to empower, educate, enrich, enhance, and equip others to thrive on purpose in every area of life. Learn more at www.realpassioninaction.com.

In case you didn't know it already, being a real Christian business is not as easy as sliding a few words into your mission statement or slapping a fish on your logo. This is real world stuff with real world considerations and consequences. We're playing for a prize that's eternal, not just our next quarterly earnings target. So whether you realize it or not, being a entrepreneur who is committed to representing God in your business will put you in the crosshairs of those who are hostile to Christianity, reject Biblical standards, and want you to conform to societal pressures.

Unless you've been totally disconnected from the media in the past couple of weeks, you are well aware that recently Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-a, stated in an interview that he supported the Biblical definition of marriage. I'm not sure he could have predicted or was ready for the incredible backlash he is receiving for simply stating what he believed. He has been vehemently blasted by those who support gay marriage. Interestingly, for simply stating his beliefs - not declaring hatred or discrimination against anyone - vitriolic intolerance has been a common response by those who demand tolerance for their lifestyle choices.

The treatment he has received really shouldn't be a surprise, because the issue is much bigger than just his position on gay marriage. Christianity as a whole is under attack and marriage is just a part of that. I would even say that the intolerance directed towards Biblical beliefs these days is as much or greater than the intolerance directed towards the LGBT community. But this overall societal response really shouldn't be a surprise to Christians according to John 15:18-21:
 
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me." 

Attacks are the norm for those who don't understand the "foolishness" of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). In fact, Jesus said, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:1-12).

So how does all this tie into you as a Christian business owner? Many Believers try to compartmentalize their faith and leave it out of their business affairs. They think they must suppress, downplay, or compromise their beliefs in order to make a dollar or grow a successful business. I don't believe that's true. You can stand up for what you believe in and build a successful business. It just depends on whose definition of success you are using, God's or the world's.

Let's look at five things Christian entrepreneurs can learn from the Chick-fil-a controversy:

1. Your business should reflect your beliefs. Christian entrepreneurs should be thermostats that change the culture, not thermometers that just reflect it. We are called to be in the world, but not operate in business how the world operates. No matter what society says is the "new" way of thinking and doing things, we can't abandon the unchanging standards of God to fit in with the culture or to get a sale. If you're a Christian entrepreneur what you say you believe should flow through your daily actions and activities. Say what you mean and mean what you say. You can't acknowledge Jesus on Sunday in church and then deny him Monday at work. Matthew 10:33 reads, "But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven."  Every Christian business will not reflect their beliefs the same way, but there should be some kind of differentiation between how you do business and how the world does it. When you let your beliefs shine through your business, you will bless those who see your good works, and you will be blessed in the process.
   
2. Stand for God's Truth regardless of what it might cost you. We don't bend to conform to the world's standards, no matter what the issue is. We take a stand on God's Word, and allow Him to fight for us when we endure persecution. James 4:4 reads, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." Whether you like it or not, everyone has to pick a side. Choose this day who you are going to serve in your business, God or the culture. Chick-fil-a has chosen to stand for God.
   
3. Don't chase money. Chase God. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus stated, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." As a Christian entrepreneur you have to make the intentional, conscious choice to serve God over money, otherwise you will compromise what you say you believe when your bank account or earnings potential is threatened. Many Christian businesspeople believe they have to play by the world's rules in order to get ahead financially. Even if that does work for you in the short term, what would it profit you to gain the world and lose your soul (Mark 8:36)? Chick-fil-a has chosen for over forty years to value God's principles over money. And for that choice they have received abundant financial blessings, including more than forty years of annual growth! Don't chase money. Chase God, and then the money will chase you (Deuteronomy 8:18, 28:2).
4. Build an excellent reputation and you will have supporters who defend you. Many national and local leaders and faithful customers have come to Chick-fil-a's defense since this bruhaha erupted. That's because this company has had a stellar reputation for over four decades. If they weren't a company that successfully lived their values before this situation arose, they wouldn't have very many people standing up for them right now. Just like Chick-fil-a has done, as Christian entrepreneurs you must "be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world" (1 Peter 2:12).
   
5. Love people regardless of how they treat you. This is definitely a turn-the-other-cheek moment for Dan Cathy and his company, especially because his critics have misappropriated his words. When you draw a line in the sand with your beliefs, some people will respond like you threw sand in their face. There is a big difference between disagreeing with someone's lifestyle and hating or discriminating against them. Jesus calls for us to love everyone. However, that doesn't mean we are to condone, support, or endorse their choices, especially when they fall outside the boundaries of godly behavior. Regardless, we must still love those who subscribe to character assassination and economic threats as forms of retaliation. 1 Peter 3:8 tells us, "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing". (Customer service comes to mind when I think about the business applications of this scripture.) This is the prescription we are to follow if we want God's blessing to override curses that are unjustifiably heaped upon us. Jesus set the bar for us in this area when he asked God to forgive those who were crucifying him out of their ignorance.
   

I once heard someone say, you choose your choices, but you don't get to choose your consequences. Chick-fila didn't choose this controversy, but a long time ago the Cathy family chose to follow God's design for their lives and businesses. As a result their business has prospered greatly and many people have benefitted. 

As a Christian entrepreneur when you are willing to make similar choices in spite of the potential opposition you might face from people who are hostile to God's ways, you will hear "well done good and faithful servant."