Integrity Magazine: Winter 2012

INTEGRITY

VOL. I NO. 2

WINTER 2012

A CHRISTIAN BUSINESS MAGAZINE

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: WHEN BRAINS AND HEARTS MEET .............................

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What’s

Inside

Letters to the

Editor

COLUMNS From the Publisher putting More Christ into our Business 3 Lord, Help Me, I’m an Entrepreneur embracing the new Year and the Bumps That Come with it 11 Renewing Business Management by Vision 21 My Father’s Business A proverb for the workplace 25

7 MOUNTAINS OF CULTURE Media: Behind the Scenes God speaks our Language 5 Arts & Entertainment: The Heart of Arts where Brains and Hearts Meet 7 Government: State of the Nation should Good Christians Get involved in politics?

9 Business: Biblical Business Management A Little About procurement 13 invest in people 15 Being R.e.A.L. (part 2) 29 Education: Equipping the Saints Freefalling 23 Family: Household of Faith will You Trust Me? 26 Church: His Kingdom Come Releasing secret Treasures 28 Locking on the Right Channel 31

MAIN FEATURE Kingdom Business The other side of Faith

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i LoVeD YouR FiRsT issue. it was not only of great substance (what could be more substantial than biblical principles) but of esthetic quality. [it’s] comparable to, if not better than most commercial-grade, good quality magazines out there. Ditto for your website. May the Lord continue to bless you and your team.

Mohny Singh Halifax, Nova Scotia

Hi, INTEGRITY TeAM. A very impressive, attractive and inspirational first issue. way to go, guys!

Jay Guptill Lead Pastor www.hillsidewesleyan.com

MY nAMe is LuKe ConRAD. i am the Ceo of Cartoon Conrad productions, an animation and media company based in Lower sackville. To give you a quick company overview, our crew ranges from 10 to 40 artists depending on workflow. i have been recognized by ernst and Young and labeled Top 20 novascotians in my age group. we have also worked with some very big names in the industry, like Disney, Fox and warner Brothers. i mention this because i am a young Christian entrepreneur who feels blessed with a big vision. i often feel a need to hear from other Christian business people but find it hard at times. i am emailing to let you know that i came across your new Integrity magazine. To hear from other Christian business people is so refreshing and exciting. i am looking forward to seeing how this magazine will bring people together. i would love to know if there are any future events planned.

Luke Conrad Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia

Harm Geurs Publisher Hermen Atienza Editor-in-Chief Rissa Singson Kawpeng Executive Editor Mike Cortes Creative Director Max Murphy Photo Editor Integrity, a Christian business magazine, is a quarterly publication.

PO Box 74, Ostrea Lake, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B0J 2L0 902.878.0030 Inquiry@IntegrityMagazine.ca

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From the

Publisher Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

– Colossians 3:10

By Harm Geurs

A new season is upon us, and I constantly marvel at the fact that 2011 went by so quickly. When this publication goes to press, we will be well into the new year.

What does the New Year mean to you? You might have put together your annual business plan by now, have your budgets set for the year, or something which is dear to my heart — your marketing strategy and action plan for the year. All these things are important for sure. I recommend that you do undertake these measures to be prudent with the business that the Lord has given to you so you can be good stewards.

Another perspective is that a new year means renewal. If we are followers of Jesus, we know and understand that we are renewed every day, through the blood of Christ. This applies to our business as well. As we go through the planning and visioning for our business, that same renewal of spirit can be applied to our business.

Imagine if your business was able to be more like Christ. Putting on the new self, being renewed in knowledge, in the image of its Creator. Some of you might say, “How can that be?”

Well, let me put it another way. What are you doing so that you become a “light” in your world? Are you reaching out to the people you work with, or work for you, and being the “light” in their midst? I am not talking about beating people over the head with your Bible, but showing the kindness and love, which we know has been extended to us through God’s grace.

Putting More Christ into Our Business Renewal also starts with us understanding that this is not our business. This business, which we call “our business,” is something that the Lord has given us to look after. We are there to be good stewards of these businesses. How would your business look like if you gave it back to the Lord? Or, let me ask, “How can you expect the Lord to work in your business if He is not the head of it?”

Can you imagine the impact we would have as Christians if we rededicated our businesses back to the Lord this year? My prayer is that we as business owners will start to live our faith outwardly and in a way that people who are not followers of Christ will take notice.

Har m Geurs, President and Publisher Dutch-born Harm’s specialty is devising concepts and delivering content that appeal to both the eye and the imagination. His areas of expertise include brand development and management, publishing and marketing strategy, and all aspects of design. During his more than 10 years in the business, Harm has collaborated with Canadian and European clients ranging from Ricoh and Unilever, to Sobeys, Nova Scotia Tourism and The United Way. Harm is also one of the principals in the marketing communications agency Apeeling Orange.

Harm is the publisher of Mingle, a business magazine, so he obviously brings strong assets to bear as the publisher of Integrity.

President, Apeeling Orange 15 Alderney Drive Unit 2 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 2N2, Canada, harm@apeelingorange.com 902 446 8231 www.apeelingorange.com

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Behind the

Scenes

God Speaks Our Language By Rissa Singson Kawpeng

LeT Me TeLL You two stories of conversion. every saturday, a mom would drag her 14-year-old daughter to a prayer meeting. The teenager loathed it not just because it was uncool to be seen in a prayer meeting at her age. she was also the only one below 40 in that group of old women who would sing “Come Holy spirit” a cappella.

Then one day, her mom took her to another prayer meeting.

To her surprise, the music was lively and there were many hip teenagers like her. even better, there was a cute guy among them whom she had a crush on. That was enough motivation to make her attend the prayer meeting weekly. it was only much later she noticed that her crush had long disappeared but by then she had already fallen madly in love with Jesus. she would grow up to abandon worldly ambitions in

This year, a magazine called Kerygma celebrates its 22nd year of publication. it’s the number one inspirational magazine in the philippines and i’m its editor in chief. Catholic Bishop Teodoro Bacani once called Kerygma the publishing miracle of Asia. why? Because it’s a “religious” magazine that is being sold and which has thrived all these years with hardly any paid ads. (if you know how publications work, you’ll know that the lifeline of magazine is its paid ads.)

Kerygma started in 1990 as a small Christian community’s way of making God known without high theology, big words or obtuse theories. it had 28 pages and an initial print run of 2000 copies. it was distributed for free and it was an instant hit.

But after six months, the community coffers were running dry. should they shut down the magazine or sell it? would anyone even buy a religious magazine?

The August 1990 issue carried the cover price of p10 or $0.23. what surprised the staff was that they ran out of copies to sell! From 2000, the print run went up steadily.

By the year 2000, shepherd’s Voice publications was printing 70,000 copies, the highest circulation of any magazine at that time — religious or otherwise.

Today, its print copies have tapered down to 35,000 but its digital edition is available to 40,000 subscribers around the globe. in the past 21 years, Kerygma has been used to highlight God’s work in ordinary people’s lives. its simple language and down-to-earth examples demystifies the teachings of the Bible and our faith. it has become a tool through which people hear God’s voice and understand His word for their personal lives. if we are to succeed in Jesus’ Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel to all the earth, we cannot do it without speaking in a way that people today understand. in past ages, the Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek. Today it is written in every language in the world. still, the Lord’s message is lost in translation.

You and i are God’s translators. our job is to make His Gospel relevant to the people we encounter — in our families, our workplace, our communities and churches. i am not a businessman so i do not speak the language of businessmen. But the writers of Integrity do. in the marketplace,

You can find a Bible version in every language. There’s even one written that’s based on your life. pursuit of a lifetime calling to serve the Lord.

My second story is about a simple man with no education.

He was a fisherman making a living when a teacher walking along the shore of the sea spoke to him. The teacher said, “Come and follow me and i will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

The first story is mine. i was that 14-year-old whom the Lord had baited with good music, a cute guy and some teenage friends.

The second story is st. peter’s. He was a simple, uneducated man who didn’t know much, but he knew one thing: he knew how to fish. when Jesus came to him and said, “i will make you fishers of men,” peter immediately understood what the Lord meant and what it required of him. what ties our stories together? it’s how the Lord uses the language we understand to speak to us.

(con’t on p. 16)

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The Heart of

Where Brains and Hearts Meet THe oTHeR DAY i DRoVe BY a billboard with this saying on it: “if a book about failure doesn’t sell, was it a success?”

This caught my attention and brought me to another thought. “if an artist sets out with no expectations, would they be a success? After all, the term “starving artist” expresses our perception of them. professional artists in nova scotia generate an average annual income of $30,000. This says that there are many hardworking artists who are just barely making ends meet.

Many factors dictate this. The career of an artist is not encouraged in childhood. some artists don’t know where or how to apply their talent in order to generate a steady income.

Many take up menial jobs to pay the bills while doing what they love as the opportunities come their way. Artists like to work alone, which can also be a contributing factor that limits income. someone from the business world who is a “brains first, heart second” person, may find the artist a bit of a puzzle.

Artists are often “heart first, head second.” They tend to be generous, trusting, and can feel unsure and suspicious of those who represent successful big business.

But there’s incredible opportunity in bringing together the arts and business. The Lord showed me that there are many ways that businesses can collaborate with artists where both benefit. For example, we enjoy the saturday markets where we see a cornucopia of crafts and foods. This has been a great success, bringing out the artists to show their wares.

Another example is fundraisers. The business enjoys the attention the artwork attracts, and the artist enjoys the benefit of the public attention. often, a “not For profit” can benefit by generating an income from the artwork.

This is where the artist gets the short end of the stick because they will often not receive an income for their time and effort and will still be required by Revenue Canada to pay the taxes for the art piece out of their own pocket.

As i endeavor to grow my business in a way that honors God, i waited on the Lord to show me opportunities for how i could use my art to benefit others and make a living.

By Annemarie Johnson

Arts

symphony nova scotia had a gala fundraiser with a live auction and a silent auction. A call went out to artists who would like to create a piece of artwork on a chair. These chairs were then displayed on spring Garden Road in various storefront windows advertising the event. woRKinG wiTH ARTisTs something i would recommend that has worked well in the case of a silent auction is to pay the artist a commission. The artist receives a 30 to 50 percent of the funds generated from their artwork. This works well for both the artist and the business wanting to raise funds. This opens the door for long-term relationships with the artist and they are more likely to participate again in future events.

Great opportunities arise when artists and businessmen collaborate

siLenT AuCTion in 2003, the Lord opened a door for me to be in the Kid’s Help phone Designer showcase. it was so exciting to be invited to design my own space while meeting many of the top decorators and designers in the Halifax area.

Have you considered working with an artist? You may wonder how to get started. Here are some things to consider if you were to have a silent auction: • Artist – Make sure to meet him or her first.

• Artwork – See their collection. For an event, you may want to choose the art pieces that the artist is willing to donate to be sure they are suitable for the event.

• Agreement – A written agreement is important for both parties to know what they are responsible for and what to expect. This makes for a good working relationship right from the start. (con’t on p. 10)

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State of the

Nation

Should Good Christians Get Involved in Politics?

By E. James O’Connor

ALTHouGH MosT wouLD AGRee that politics seems to be necessary, it is a profession few want to be involved with. especially good Christians with dispositions supporting family, morality and spirituality. Let’s face it: to be a politician is to receive at least a facade of respect and more than average compensation. But at the same time, are these worth it for decent people who will have to expose themselves, and possibly their families, to the mercy of an often-unfriendly public, a liberal media and immoral temptations? it’s an avoidable cross, so let someone else carry it.

Carrying a cross implies we choose to carry on with the task before us despite the hardship, provided it is not immoral. immorality and choice? oK, it looks like we can rule out politics for sure! well, let’s take a closer look at the role of politics and the circumstances we find it in.

After that, we’ll look at the idea of choice and vocation.

FoR THe CoMMon GooD The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “every human community needs an authority to govern it…. its role is to ensure as far as possible the common good of the society” (#1898). This echoes scripture: Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:1)

indeed, the role of politics is to govern and, unless you’re an advocate of anarchy, governing is necessary so as to provide protection and services for the way of life that our families and nation enjoy. protection entails keeping our country safe from intruders and our citizens safe from criminals. services also include our systems of health, justice, education, transportation, communication and the like.

Another important aspect to governance is the creating and maintaining of policies, relationships, exchange and conditions, both, internationally and among ourselves, for business, travel and mutual cooperation regarding any matters. in all these areas, governance must work towards the good of the human person and thus to the common good, which means respect for the person, social well-being and development, peace, stability, and security of a just order. Clearly, politics is a necessary good and, like the family, a natural entity for our wellbeing and our help in bringing us to our end.

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Associating the good and the natural with government begs questions like: why do we hear of so much corruption and misuse? why is the government making decisions against traditional marriage? why aren’t the effects of abortion considered in policies? They’re good questions and they certainly cause us to reflect on the amount of say we have regarding these matters.

Actually, we are fortunate in the fact that we do have a say and the freedom to say it. This freedom includes voting and running for elected offices. if we had a totalitarian type of government, or even closer to an anarchic one, we would have little to no say. However, some trends are revealing that: government is increasing in size, there is more abuse of power, our Christian values are eroding away, taxes are increasing, there is a growing gap between the rich and the poor, and the middle class is shrinking. in fact, our society is creeping in the direction of socialist and totalitarian ideologies, which means more government control in all matters of our lives. This suggests we cannot take our governance for granted and that we need more “say.”

BRinG FAiTH AnD LiFe ToGeTHeR This idea of “say” brings us to the idea of choice and our faith. As people of faith, we believe that our lives have a purpose. we believe in witnessing to the truth. we believe with hope in our resurrection with Christ. To these matters and our involvement in society, the Catechism says: “it is necessary that all participate, each according to his position or role in promoting the common good…. participation is achieved by taking personal responsibility for family, work and contributing to the common good and active involvement in public life” (#1913-5). in other words, our “say” is expressed as we bring faith and life together by being immersed in the life of God and inserting ourselves into society. so, driven by love of neighbor more than love of self, we choose a vocation.

How do we know our vocation, our call? well, we come to know that by knowing the word of God through liturgical celebrations, personal prayer, spiritual guidance, the exercise of social virtues and a persevering commitment to cultural and professional formation. To the vocation of public office, Christians have a lot to offer, even to non-Christians. This is so, not only because of the virtues we may have acquired, but because we effectively bridge the gap between our spiritual life and our temporal life with our attention to the churches teaching about natural Law, which, ultimately, is our innate sense of right and wrong.

The familiar concept of “call” means saying yes to the necessary, noble, and more important, godly profession of governance. if politics is your vocation, your joy will be ever more realized through it, even if being in politics involves a cross. Then again, what true vocation doesn’t involve a cross, together with a resurrection?

Jim is a middle-aged seminarian with the hope of becoming a priest for the Roman Catholic Church. Prior to this, he practiced professional engineering and, in the last few years, worked for the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal counselor to its members regarding financial matters and Christian living. He is father to three daughters, now grown up, but he has also experienced the devastation of a marital breakdown. It is with joy that he is learning more about our Lord and His bride, the Church, in preparation to be a servant for the Christian community.

(con’t of “Where Brains and Hearts Meet”)

• Appreciation – Artists need appreciation so be sure to thank them for participating and compliment their work is. perhaps you might even tell them how it makes you feel.

God has given many of us talents that must not be hidden under a rock. Rather, God has called us to be faithful in sharing with others what He has endowed us with to bless others in Jesus’ name. Let the Lord test your faith as you step out and see where He takes you.You may be surprised that the journey is more exciting and rewarding than you expected!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight.

(Proverbs 3:5,6) Annemarie Johnson, owner of Trompe L’oeil Murals, is an award-winning professional artist, muralist, and faux finisher. Her style of realism and trompe l’oeil evoke emotions of delight and enthusiasm that transforms residential homes and commercial spaces from commonplace to extraordinary. She is happily married to Kevin and they have been pastoring SonLife Community Church in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.They have five children.

Trompe L’oeil Murals 43 Richardson Dr Dartmouth, NS B2Z 1J4 902 435 1232, info@ annemariejohnson.ca, www. annemariejohnson.ca

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Lord, help me,

I’m an Entrepreneur

By Frances Leary

A new YeAR is upon us, and as a business owner, i find myself eagerly awaiting all that it holds. new contracts, new clients and increased revenue along with new challenges, new problems to solve and much to learn. whew! it seems daunting but i’m not intimidated. it’s simply part, not only of business, but of everything in life. More than that, it’s often what adds the fun to the adventure.

Business people face some challenges that are constant and others that constantly change. we must market ourselves and our products and services while also handling the work we bring in. we must network consistently and still have the time we need and want for our families. we must work on our business while many of us are still working in our business at the same time.

Does this run smoothly all of the time? Ha! well, at least not for this mom entrepreneur. However, each bump in the road can be an opportunity for learning and growth — if we just let it be. imagine a business with no hiccups, no change, no challenges to overcome. How truly drab that would be. in fact, challenges lead to celebration, at least for me. solving those problems that seem unsolvable is such a great experience! And in our house, there are serious boogie dances going on when that happens. My five-year-old happily joins in on Mommy’s wins! she loves it.

Maybe the bumps along the way, even when they seem like volcanoes, are God’s way of telling us to slow down and reconsider, to take the time to look at things another way and reevaluate. Maybe they’re an insight into something we can do better. Maybe they’re lessons we need to learn so that we can reach our goals. Maybe they are the unspoken words telling us we need to veer off-road and make a new path.

Maybe they’re really blessings in disguise.

Embracing the New Year and the Bumps That Come with It Every drawback can be an opportunity for growth God,You do so well at putting things in my life to help steer me where you want me to go. Help me to read Your signs and direct my path accordingly. in the new Year ahead, i ask you to guide me in all my business endeavors and to keep me organized and on task (and yes, i know this is quite a challenge). Thank You for your constant presence and constant direction. Thank You for those bumps in the road. As challenging as they may be, i need them. Help me enjoy the process of navigating those bumps in the year ahead, and help me transform them into beautiful paths that lead me where You want me to go. Life and business are such incredible adventures and blessings. May this new Year be the biggest adventure of all.

Frances Leary is a life-long Christian and mom entrepreneur who successfully runs her business and cares for her family, all while keeping her sanity and sense of humor — at least most of the time. She is a published author and experienced public speaker. At Wired Flare, Frances develops and implements exclusive online marketing campaigns for companies that want to increase exposure, increase traffic and ultimately increase sales.

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Biblical Business

Management

A Little Bit About Procurement By Malcolm Mills

in MY pRoFessionAL CAReeR as a money spender, it’s not out of line to say that i’ve spent millions of dollars for companies and corporations i have worked for. was i a born shopper? no. i’m no accountant and obviously one doesn’t need to be a genius of any sort to spend money well and effectively. My former career was highly mechanical, but once i made the transition, my mechanical skills helped immensely. it may seem i’m coming to you from out of left field with all of this but, in this introductory article, i wish to lay a foundation outlining the industry, the need, and the mindset surrounding the procurement of goods and services in business these days. i may even rant a bit.

The truth is, when it comes to the bottom line, it’s really all about numbers. when it actually comes down to making the “spend,” it’s the dollar and cents that matters 95 percent of the time. How you arrived at these numbers is another thing.

How you present those numbers is another. Creativity abounds when it comes to numerical digit assembly. what you cannot fudge however is the calculation in the final analysis. numbers don’t lie. (people, we’re a little less sure of.)

Don’t misinterpret this. if you’re in the numbers game as i was, at the end of the day, as long as you can look with satisfaction at a job well done, if you are comfortable with your work on a spiritual level, you can sleep well that night. But if you work solely for the company as they may wish it, if it’s simply numerical, you are prey without shelter. i’ve heard of this roaring lion seeking to devour someone. Have you? (1 peter 5:8).

SKILLS REQUIRED oK, you probably possess many of these assets yourself on many levels, but some of the skills you require when seated in the spending hot seat look like this: • Works well under pressure.

• Regularly meets tight deadlines and is a problem solver extraordinaire.

• Has extra thick skin — sort of a cross between a crocodile and a rhinoceros.

• Requires humility in buckets.You can take it to the bank that your work will be dissected, sliced, diced, scrutinized and questioned regularly.

• Keeps records impeccably and completely because months after the fact, there will be issues to deal with. so throw nothing away, having proof of transaction value, and tie up all the loose ends.

Yes, you’ll definitely have a few splinters in the butt when you ride the almighty seat of someone else’s cash cart. i feel badly for folks who attempt it alone. i never do. i’m a cog in a wheel (no pun intended).

To be successful in the procurement world you require talents such as being a good negotiator and a “people” person? it also helps to know a little something about everything… in order to meet the needs of your many internal customers. And then, of course, there are also the external customers which are sometimes more reasonable than our internal ones. But that’s another story.

And everyone knows that you cannot please everyone all of the time. There are those pesky 10 percent you couldn’t please even if you really were a deity or had saved them from 10 plagues.

You can however always please yourself and your God — provided that you are true to both. As i said before, i never work alone. puRCHAsinG Vs pRoCuReMenT Typically the word “purchasing” is not used interchangeably with the word “procurement,” since the latter typically includes expediting, supplier quality, and traffic and logistics (T&L), in addition to purchasing.

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Knowing how the process works gives you the ability to contribute positively purchasing usually refers to the process within business for acquiring goods or services to conduct business.

And there are safeguards. purchasing managers/ directors and procurement managers/directors guide the organization’s acquisition procedures and standards. Most likely, they use a three-way check as the foundation of their purchasing programs. These typically include: • Purchasing, receiving and accounts payable.

• Engineering, purchasing and accounts payable.

• Plant manager, purchasing and accounts payable.

Combinations can vary significantly, but a purchasing department and accounts payable are usually two of the three departments involved. so why am i telling you this? Because knowledge is power and power is critical to success. if we understand how a process works, the positives and the negatives, its strengths and weaknesses, then we can contribute positively. if we remain within our small sphere, we will simply remain as that small fish in the fishbowl. even though purchasing departments fall within the service sector of the company, they actually hold sway to a considerable amount of power. Company success and profit percentage is often impacted almost solely upon the understanding application and the usage of that power. And we all know what power does.

And this includes the department of “one” — the person in the sole proprietorship who does it all.

sHRewD YeT innoCenT so that, in a nutshell, is the world of procurement.

There’s not much glory there, really… oh, but is there? i don’t think it is an unfair statement to state that the world of business contains many pockets of corruption, greed and dishonesty. it’s not always about stealing money. There are many forms of chicanery that result in unfair business being conducted, such as awarding a contract to a friend rather than the lowest bidder. Then again, the lowest bidder may be the lowest bidder due to unfair undercutting, or omitting something from the bid, or supplying a substandard, thus, cheaper product. it just goes on and on.

As a Christian in business, especially in a position such as working in procurement, we must indeed be as Matthew 10:16 encourages, “Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” if you are a Christian in the business world, you also have hundreds of opportunities to shine.

Let’s face it, with thousands of non-Christians using non-Christian values and methods, how can you not find opportunities to present your higher standards and values?

The opportunities to work God’s way abound.

You can see them as well as anyone. only you yourself can choose to be different.

Remember i said i am but a cog in a wheel? what i didn’t tell you is that the wheel is on God’s cart. Have you dedicated your business or your career to God? Are you part of His cart or the glittering carriage of the world? inside God’s cart you’ll find integrity and honesty, truth and peace of mind. The glittering carriage is filthy within. it is vile and unclean filled with dead men’s bones as it were.

You choose, my friend. Take Jesus to work with you, share every part of your day with him, and see if your business world doesn’t bring you more pleasure and less pressure. one dollar or a million, spend it as Jesus would in your place and you cannot go wrong.

Born in British Columbia, Canada, Malcolm Mills is a veteran of over 20 years in the procurement field working typically on projects in gas, oil and mining. Having been a regular contributor to various trade magazines, he is also author of two historical fiction novels and a trade book entitled It’s a Tough World Out There, a satirical look at purchaser and sales interaction. Says Malcolm, “Genuine communication is paramount. How we express ourselves determines our paths, and our words form the ballast upon the road on which we walk.”

Malcolm is an active Gideon and lives with his wife near Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.

Malcolm Mills Consultant Enoch Business Enterprises 1 902 530 5952 enoch@eastlink.ca

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Biblical Business

Management

Invest in People for Greater Returns By Pat Currie

CoMpAnies spenD THousAnDs of dollars in marketing every year. some marketing strategies do not have a great Roi; some have none.

But do you know that you can increase your sales and client retention without increasing your marketing budget?

Think of all the inactive customer files you have. Businesses often make the costly mistake of servicing a customer once then assuming “they’ll stay” without maintaining and growing that relationship.

A year later that business is wondering what happened to the customer. Did they leave? if so, why?

There are many reasons a customer may leave you but the ones you will hear most often are: • They felt your pricing was too high or unfair.

• They had an unresolved complaint.

• They took a competitor’s offer.

• They left because they felt you didn’t care.

How to increase your sales and client retention without blowing your budget The last two can be a hard pill to swallow, especially the last one. After all, it means they’re an inactive client because you didn’t go the extra mile.

Customers often purchase your product or service because they have developed a relationship with you. perhaps a friend or associate referred them to you.

Consider Jesus’ strategies for getting the word out about God’s Kingdom. Did He create huge billboards on every corner? Did He post ads in the local merchant areas? no, He did not.

Jesus built a brand that was authentic to what He was — God’s son. He neither waivered nor compromised to “please” the crowds. He was consistent.

Jesus knew that the best way to get the word out was to create and build authentic relationships. He let people know He cared. He educated them on what He was

promoting and selling. it was His desire and purpose to lead as many people as He could to follow Him and spread God’s word. How did He do it? He spent time with people. He saw a need and He fulfilled it.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

(Acts 20:30) we can learn so much from the Master not just in our personal lives but also in business. Jesus spoke about the “benefits” of His “product” rather than the “features.”

Consumer mindset has always been w.i.F.M. or “what’s in it For Me”? How powerful is the testimony of others who rave about your business, your product or service? There is a much greater impact when others promote your business because they have experienced your service or product.

“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.” (John 5:31) Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them… not pursuing dishonest gain but eager to serve.

(1 Peter 5:2) it is important for businesses to remain authentic. This is where the trust factor comes in. Jesus was trustworthy and represented God’s business perfectly. we are human and make mistakes but we can do things with excellence.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

(Proverbs 3:5) Before spending your time and money pursuing new clients, consider the following statistics: • Repeat customers spend 33% more than new customers.

• Referrals among repeat customers are 107% greater than non-customers.

• It costs six times more to sell something to a prospect than to sell to an existing customer.

16 (con’t of “God Speaks Our Language”)

stretch your marketing dollars by building, nurturing and developing your customer relationships. while a growing business needs to constantly capture new customers, the focus and priority should be on pleasing your existing customer base. Companies that fail to nurture and retain their customer base ultimately fail. our marketing efforts can be draining both on our finances and on our time.Your marketing and sales strategies should correlate. A colleague reminds me that there are no sustainable sales without a marketing plan. Consider making appreciation part of that marketing plan.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

(Proverbs 15:22) Do you show appreciation to your staff, clients and suppliers? This is an extremely effective way to build authentic relationships and business. without staff and customers, we don’t have a business!

Gift-giving is one way of appreciating people. in the same way our Heavenly Father gives great gifts, ours must also be given with a pure heart and pure motive without strings attached. expect nothing in return. A gift is not a gift unless it is given freely.

A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.

(Proverbs 18:16)

they are able to shine God’s light through the way they run their businesses and through their testimonies. i am not a theologian who can understand, much less explain dogma and mysteries of our faith. what i am is a writer who just loves the Lord. And with my writings, i endeavor to translate God’s message of love, mercy and salvation to others by using stories of ordinary people and chronicling how God works in their lives.

There’s much to be done. There are many Christians out there who are thirsting in their spirit. The people of God are hungry.

And Jesus is telling us, “You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37, italics mine). our lives may be the only gospel that other people will ever get to read. when i get to heaven, i hope to meet at least one person who’ll say, “Thanks to the Gospel according to Rissa, i’m here.”

“Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10:8) ensure your marketing plan and strategies have a good portion of relationship building. why waste your money on some techniques that have little or no return on investment? invest in people and be rewarded and greatly blessed!

Pat Currie is passionate about connecting with people. She loves learning about their successes and challenges. People, marketing and business peak her interest but most of all how God fits into all these areas too. Born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she achieved her education through NSCC and Mount St.Vincent University. She started her first business at the ripe age of 21. She owns and operates M.E.F.Y. Gifts, helping businesses and corporations reward, recognize and appreciate others. Pat is a firm believer in helping others succeed. “In business, we cannot do it alone.We need people on our team we know, like and trust.”

Patricia Currie Executive Gift Guru Made Especially For You (MEFY) www.mefygifts.com pat@mefygifts.com 1 866 511 MEFY (6339)

 - 

With Shane Claiborne, KP Yohannan, Freda Smallwood and Fresh IE

Halifax, NS.

www.JesustotheNations.com

They publish the fame of Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your justice. (Psalm 145:7) Rissa Singson Kawpeng is the editor in chief of Kerygma magazine, the Philippines’s no. 1 bestselling inspirational magazine and the author of Confessions of an impatient Bride and Discover Your inner Beauty Queen (www.shepherdsvoice.com). Aside from her writing ministry, she also proclaims God’s Word through radio and TV. She lives in Manila, Philippines.

Editor-in-Chief, Kerygma Magazine Shepherd’s Voice Publications Inc justbreatherissa@gmail.com www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph

17

Kingdom

Business David Tonen was part of the church planting team of LifeBridge Community Church in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The church launched on Easter Sunday 2005. He serves as chair of the board.

The Other

SideFaith of

on A BReeZY MonDAY in March 2010, David Tonen was sitting across the table from his boss at a local coffee shop. He’d just been informed he’d been let go — the company had restructured and his position was no longer needed. He was unemployed effective immediately. Most people would have panicked, overcome with fear and worry from this unexpected blow. But not David. “i was absolutely bursting with excitement, joy and a sense of blessing,” he said. it was an unexpected response that makes you wonder, “what makes this man tick?”

By Shannon McKeough

THe pRoDiGAL son David grew up in Dartmouth, nova scotia, attending a Catholic Church with his family every sunday. As a teenager, going to church was a mere routine that lacked relevance in his life. so by the time he got to saint Mary’s university, he stopped going to church altogether. Like many of his peers, he embraced drinking and a life of partying.

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David delivering the new EBC: The MEETing Place website to pastors Rev. Dr. Lennett Anderson (right) and Michael Fisher (left) in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia. www.EBCMeet.com

The subsequent years of fleeting highs and hangovers left him feeling increasingly empty and alone. one day, he found himself asking, “what’s the purpose of my life? isn’t there more to life than this?” He was sure there was more, but he didn’t know what it was or where to find it.

During his second year of university, he was invited to go church with one of his friends. There was a group of young adults from this church that would get together and socialize.

But during their gatherings, they’d also talk about the Bible and how it could apply to their everyday lives. in this setting, David was beginning to see that church wasn’t about routine or religion, but about embracing a very real and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, one that was life-changing. on one weekend, he heard the story of The prodigal son, and it moved him profoundly. He knew then that he wanted what the prodigal son had. He wanted to ask forgiveness, be a part of God’s family, and make Jesus the Leader of his life. so he prayed the simple prayer and released control of his life to God. His new and pivotal relationship with Jesus had begun to answer his questions about life and give him purpose and meaning he’d never before experienced. He realized he was created to love and be loved by God, and to represent His love to the rest of the world.

THe GReATesT sToRY on THe pLAneT David graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing in 1990. He spent the next 20 years of his career in a variety

of marketing and sales positions in the educational publishing industry. He always had a strong entrepreneurial spirit, but he struggled with the fear and insecurity of being out on his own and leaving the comfort of his corporate salary and benefits.

He eventually satisfied some of his entrepreneurial drive by starting JesusAtlantic.com in 2001 and being part of the church planting team of LifeBridge Community Church in 2005. JesusAtlantic is a website to help churches in Atlantic Canada promote their upcoming events and share news across denominational lines. The site quickly grew to reach over 2500 unique visitors every month and continues today so any church can post their events in the events calendar for free.

LifeBridge Community Church was a church plant started primarily to reach the unchurched in the Dartmouth/Halifax region. its core purpose is to help people get connected to God and live out His purposes for their lives. “it has been the most exciting ministry experience of my life,” he says. “To start with a team of six, and partner with God to reach people who don’t know Jesus... to walk along side of them and watch them commit their lives, be baptized, and to then help disciple them and watch them grow... is awesome!” in 2008, David felt God encouraging him to step out of his corporate comfort zone to start a company to help churches be better communicators — something bigger and more strategic than JesusAtlanic. He has always believed that the church has the greatest story on the planet to tell: the life-transforming story of Jesus. And it’s his passion to help churches craft their stories more

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strategically, so they can communicate with greater effectiveness, impact and excellence. He was obedient to God’s prompting and started his company Ministrystory.com to acomplish just that.

Be sTiLL David was still working full-time at his corporate job as an executive marketing manager in one of Canada’s leading publishers, managing the growing clientele of Ministrystory on the side, running JesusAtlantic, and serving as an elder and ministry leader at LifeBridge. But in october of 2009, he began to unravel from the stress and exhaustion of this impossible schedule. His body began to rebel under the heavy load, manifesting several distressing physical symptoms.

David finally pulled himself in to see his doctor, who quickly recognized the problem and sanctioned him to a 30-day leave. But rest was not something he knew how to do very well. initially, the leave seemed to only make things worse. unable to work, he began to wrestle with a sense of displacement. He also wrestled with feelings of guilt, weakness and humiliation at having to take a leave of absence. “i thought i should be able to handle everything — i thought i could control all this,” he explains. But his 30-day leave turned into four months, and David ultimately learned that God didn’t create us to sustain such a high-speed, crazy agenda.

He learned how to accept his weaknesses, draw closer to God, and finally — how to rest.

His four-month sabbatical was extremely therapeutic, reviving him physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally. Before returning to work, he decided to do a two-day prayer retreat without phones, computers or technology — just Bible reading, praying and listening to God. During this time, he felt God calling him to leave his corporate job and work at Ministrystory fulltime. But this gripped him with doubt and fear. He didn’t want to lose his steady paycheck and benefits, and he feared that most churches had no room in their budgets for his marketing services at Ministrystory. “How could i ever make a living at this?” he pondered.

He grappled with this daunting challenge from God for a while. At the same time, he mulled over psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that i am God,” one of his favourite Bible verses. Then God spoke to him clearly, telling him he was buying into a lie — because churches absolutely do have the money for marketing.

David just needed to educate them as to what marketing really is, why it’s necessary, and how their church, the Kingdom of God, and the lost, could benefit from it. Armed with this insight and the support of his wife, shelly, Dave was prepared to end his shortterm leave and resign from his corporate marketing job. eXpeCT THe uneXpeCTeD it was a breezy Monday in March when David ended his leave.

The senior vice president of the publishing company was flying into Halifax because he said he had some things he needed to discuss with David over coffee. David’s plan was to listen to what his boss had to say and respectfully resign the next day. His boss had no idea David was going to resign, and David had no idea his boss was about to terminate his position and offer him a severance package. when the senior Vp sat down and gave him the “bad” news, David was blown away. There he was, one day away from giving his two-week notice, and he was being offered a severance package that was going to help finance the start-up

of his new business, to help him do what he always wanted to do: help churches tell the story of Jesus. in his mind, it was an unquestionable affirmation from God that He was blessing this venture with his new company. “in the midst of my own fear and scheming,” David says, “God already had a much bigger, much more spectacular, more encouraging and providing plan than i could have ever imagined!” eXpAnDeD BoRDeRs so at long last, after 20 years under the wing of corporate life, David Tonen was officially a full-time entrepreneur. But he was by no means out on his own. Acutely aware that God is watching out for him and sending clients his way, he continues to be amazed each day at the irrefutable divine strategies and connections at work in his business.

David continues to seek God’s guidance and wisdom through prayer and follow His promptings. And it’s paying off.

At one point, he sensed God was telling him to write out his prayers on paper, to formulate a bigger vision for his business and ministry, and to specifically include “international impact” in his business mission statement. He felt God encouraging him to ask, as Jabez did in 1 Chronicles 4:1-10, to “enlarge his territory.” so, he wrote it down. He asked God to use him beyond the scope of his geography and his network.

David Tonen meeting with the Communications team of New Covenant Church in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia: Garth Holmes (left) and Dan Eddy (middle). www.NewCovenantChurch.ca

shortly after doing this, God began to open doors outside of Atlantic Canada — first, a church in Amsterdam, then a ministry in new York, and then one in Quebec. Month after month, God has opened up opportunities to serve ministries internationally. He is now working for a church in Chicago, helping a new ministry start-up in Japan, and most recently, he started working with a national ministry with a mission focus that is coast-to-coast in Canada. “God makes the contacts,” David explains, “God motivates current clients to refer their network contacts that need help too.... He just keeps using me and i just keep being available. This is simply nothing short of awesome!”

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MinisTRY pAssion Currently, 70 percent of his client base are churches or ministries and the rest are Christian business owners. He thoroughly enjoys working with entrepreneurs too, especially if their goals embrace living out their faith through their business, something David is passionate about. He uses the second division of his company Marketing integrity to work with small and medium businesses. A simple overview of how he helps his clients is by: • Creating a communications strategy and plan.

• Clearly helping them define who they are.

• Identifying who they are trying to reach.

• Creating outreach tools.

• Building their technology hub — their website and social media strategy.

David feels that a key component of what he does is to educate church leaders on what marketing is within a church context, so he writes a church marketing and communications blog at navigateYourMarketing.com and publishes the only church marketing and communications podcast at Ministrystory.com/podcast.

He shares that if he could do only one thing, he would help churches exclusively. He wants to see them thrive, reach out to their communities and touch those in need. He says he knows his life is on the right track if he’s helping churches reach more people for Jesus. And if you ask David what the future holds for Ministrystory.com, he says he has no clue. “i’m not the boss; God is... i’m not in control, and for the first time in my life, i really like it!”

Business inTeGRiTY To operate a business according to biblical principles is challenging and countercultural. David admits it’s been an ongoing battle to do so because he’d been conditioned by his corporate experience to separate personal life from business life. However, he’s already learned some valuable lessons.

Three times in the first year of business, he was presented with what he calls “easy money.” each of these opportunities happened fast and he didn’t pause to pray about them. instead, he immediately took on the projects without asking God for wisdom, justifying his decision by saying, “This is ethical work for easy money, so i can make more and be more successful.” in each instance, the joy and synchronicity with the business owner began to dissipate as the weeks progressed. David realized he’d made a mistake. Then he began to pray about the situations and God provided a harmonious way out for each one. no relationships were damaged. no harm came to his business or reputation, and there was a mutual parting of ways in each case. now, David prays and asks for God’s wisdom before accepting any clients. if the client is a Christian business owner or ministry, he asks them to pray too. if it’s clear that it is a God-ordained partnership, he will then accept the project.

David overflows with heartfelt humility as he expressed deep gratitude for having the opportunity to be a partner in God’s plan. “i want people to know none of this is about me,” he explains. “i’m not special. i’m no different than anyone else. if God can use me like this, He can use you too!”

Knowing how Ministrystory came into existence, how David lets God shine through his work, and not just the safe and cozy corners of his life, is a much-needed reminder in today’s world that stepping over the fence of fear and being on the other side of faith and obedience is always a better place to be. Are you ready for what God has in store for you — on the other side?

Shannon McKeough is a poet and writer living in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. She has been following Jesus for five years, and serves in music and children’s ministry at LifeBridge Community Church. She believes God has called her to “write for His Kingdom,” with a special focus on reaching the lost and nurturing deeper intimacy with Christ through art and creative writing. She is a hopeful romantic and believes the Bible is one giant love story between God and His people; it’s her passion to reflect that in her work. She treasures spending time in nature with her nephews Nick and Samuel.You can connect with her online at ShannonMcKeough.com

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Renewing Business i wAs BLesseD when i attended an annual Christmas gathering of the board, management and staff of one of our business renewal clients. (Their renewal program was then barely four months old.) The Christmas party opened with prayers followed by the singing of the national anthem, instead of having it the other way around.

The opening remarks of the executive vice president and managing director was an edifying testimony of the business relevance and power of faith and prayers. He related that after the company’s repentance and turning away from its ungodly marketing, finance and operations practices, they continued to generate sales and began to experience miracles in their collection efforts.

By Hermen Atienza

CHRisTiAn enTeRTAinMenT After dinner and the customary ceremony of exchanging gifts, they had a special entertainment number from a Christian artist who described himself as a “singer of the world — now singer for the Lord.” The former nightclub entertainer’s spiel was also a testimony that Christian entertainment can be both pleasing to God and amusing to the audience.

The Christmas presentations of the various departments of the corporation were likewise pleasing to the Lord and upbuilding for the moral fibre of the company. They were devoid of slapstick, green and brown humor, rumors and innuendoes, and boisterous guffaws and cat whistles. in place of the ordinary parlor games, they had a Bible quiz based on the books of Genesis, Matthew and John.

After the awarding of certificates of excellence to its outstanding employees for the year, the company’s chairman of the board gave his Christmas and yearend message. But instead of the standard Yuletide corporate speeches, he thanked the employees for the gathering’s delightful display of the real spirit of the season and offered thanksgiving to the Lord for raising up the firm to be a disciple corporation “renewed company under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.”

Management by Vision

What does your mission statement proclaim?

FRuiT, TRees AnD RooTs This radically different Christmas party was a fruit of the tree of the corporate vision that was printed at the back portion of the program. The Bible says, “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes” (Luke 6:43-44).

The Mission statement of the company, named the Alleluia Corporation, is reproduced below. it is a testimony to the company being rooted in Jesus Christ.

Alleluia Corporation, a renewed engineering and architectural consulting firm under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, has committed itself to the following principles: 1) We shall be vigilant in attaining and maintaining standards higher than those required by our clientele in the performance of our work, and in the execution of all contracts accepted by us.

2) We will institute an independent audit body: a) To diligently review and examine our work at various stages, upon completion and at regular intervals after completion; b) To identify faults and errors in the execution of our work and, if any are found, to notify our client thereof; and c) At our own initiative and expense to undertake restitution and corrective action; 3) We shall be scrupulous in paying the right amount of taxes and in meeting all, our public and private obligations; 4) We shall review all aspects of our company’s operations and we shall cease and desist in engaging in those practices that are unprofessional, unethical and forbidden by the Lord.

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In all humility, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for the greater glory of God we declare and pledge to do all these.

Almost 25 years ago, i made a market survey and study of the us west Coast. i had a chance to deal with a Texasbased company. when i visited their office, i saw the displayed Mission statement of this big company whose marketing network covered the entire north America including Hawaii. i believe that this corporation is also involved in business renewal. i am quoting some parts of its vision statement below.

To glorify God as we supply our customers worldwide with top quality, value-priced batteries, related electrical power-source products, and distribution services.

Further, our mission is to provide our partners and team members with opportunities which are profitable, rewarding and growth-oriented Our business philosophy is to treat others as we want to be treated.

We care about Our Employees — physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually.Therefore we are committed to: Provide competent management whose actions are just, ethical and in adherence to biblical principles Provide opportunities for Christian study, growth and outreach.

We acknowledge a responsibility to the Communities in which we live and work.

Therefore we are committed to: Serve as an example of salt and light to our community and beyond by delivering excellence with integrity and humility, be good citizens who exercise exemplary stewardship in support of good works and Christian concerns.

A FAiLuRe-pRooF FuTuRe A business adage says, “To plan the future is to influence the future.” This is echoed by the principles of the Japanese kaizen-based (meaning constant improvement) in Total Quality Management (TQM) program that says that any serious business plan has to be grounded on a vision statement. it is this document that directs and unifies the strategies and tactics of the firm.

However, the ordinary purely secular corporate vision statement will always be hounded by the prospect of failure, which hangs over its head like the proverbial sword of Damocles.

Any truly serious expression of business philosophy must incorporate the only completely failure-proof system — God’s love (1 Corinthians 13:7-8).

The Bible also says that a vision statement is necessary for any organization. The declaration of the Bible, however, is a foundational statement because it is made not only

to influence the future. Rather, it is designed to control the future by placing the company in the center of the perfect will of God. proverbs 29:18 says, “where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish” (proverbs 29:18). other Bible versions translate “prophecy” into vision, revelation and knowledge of God. scripture therefore reveals that when any human organization lacks a revelation or prophecy from God (divine insight), such a group will eventually head in the direction of demoralization, confusion, disorganization and failure. such an enterprise limits the options available to it. For example, the great promise from the Book of Jeremiah will not be available to it. “This is what the Lord says — the Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord: Ask Me and i will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come” (Jeremiah 33:2-3). iGnoRAnCe is no eXCuse in today’s reality, big businesses are among the most powerful and influential organizations. They are even more powerful than governments. They do not have to contend with constituencies, elections and constitutions.

They have no geographical boundaries. some big transnationals have incomes bigger than Gnps of third world countries. in many instances, businesses are so powerful they can make or unmake prime ministers, presidents and governments.

All this economic power however is destined to have limited success. proverbs 19:2 says, “enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.” There is no doubt that this verse from the Bible refers to businesses as well. They are, after all, among the most zealous of organizations. unless businesses operate under a Godgiven vision, unless they possess the spirit of Truth (John 16:13) that comes from being an authentic Christian organization, it is destined to eventually stumble.

Hermen is the managing partner of MBA Advisory Services and editor in chief of integrity magazine. A veteran in the international corporate world with exposure to Christian magazine publishing and over 60 industries, Hermen retired from corporate business in 1994 to devote full-time service to the Lord. In 2008, he and his family moved to Halifax from the Philippines. In 2010, he and his wife organized Mashach Business Approach (MBA) Advisory Services, a Halifax-based Biblical business management consultancy firm. He is happily married to Julie, has six children and four grandkids.

Managing Partner, MBA Advisory Services (Mashach Business Approach) 961 Bedford Highway PO Box 48169 Bedford, Nova Scotia, B4A 3W2, Canada hermen@mbaadvisory.ca, 902 431 2952, www.mbaadvisory.ca

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Equipping the

Saints

Freefalling By Chris Harman

i JusT BouGHT A ’02 piCKup. i figured i was being responsible with my budget by buying used. it was red, in good condition, had an extended cab, had a few extras included and — it was red. i liked it so i bought it. it was my choice. it was my decision. i decided what truck, where to buy it, when to buy it and the amount i would pay. i was the master of my universe, right? if i actually thought i was the master of my universe (and i do not), my vanity would have come crashing down only weeks after buying the truck.

Traveling along Highway 104 toward new Glasgow with my family, we noticed those passing by giving us weird looks. no one was trying to say anything; just weird looks. so we motored on. Then i saw it. My gauge, usually a steady 2,000 RpM, as now flying at 5,000 RpM. This is not good, i thought to myself and i pulled over to check it out. To make a long story short, after a tow into new Glasgow, a burned-out transmission, another tow into Halifax, six days in the shop because it was over a long weekend, three days late in starting our vacation, and $2,500 later, i realized i am not the master of my own universe.

But, this is life. it can take us anywhere. it can take us places to do things we never expected. we are often not in control of when and what it will cost us. we do have limited control, but it is mostly in regards to whom or what we will surrender our lives to. we either consciously surrender our life and everything in it to the lordship of Jesus Christ, or we insist on believing we are the masters of our own universe. The choice is up to us.

But the consequences of that choice are not. whether i had surrendered my life to God or not wouldn’t likely have changed the fact that the transmission line was worn out and was about to blow. But, the story of my truck illustrates our inability to control our lives.

Are you ready for the ride of your life?

Trust in Jesus

wHAT iT MeAns To suRRenDeR i know this much: i am not in control of my life as much as i would like or need to be. i do not have the qualifications to promote myself to CLo (Chief Life officer) of Chris Harman inc. so what does it mean to surrender my life to Jesus? it is important to understand that there are two stages to surrendering ourselves to Jesus. The first step is accepting Jesus as our Lord and savior, acknowledging what He did on the cross for us. if you have yet to take this step, then read and contemplate on these links: • http://www.ccci.org/how-to-know-god/would-you-like-to-know-god-personally/index.htm • http://powertochange.com/students/findpurpose/ • http://powertochange.com/students/praying/ i am inviting you to start a relationship with God through the work Jesus did for each of us individually. once you make this decision, you are ready to take the ride of your life. it’s the second stage i wish to focus on here. This next step is to surrender our life to Jesus to take us anywhere, at any time, at any cost to do anything. Are you scared yet? well, you should be. But it’s exciting. it is like riding a roller coaster for the first time. it’s your choice to get in. once the seatbelt goes across your lap and the safety bar comes down around your chest, you start to think, “what have i done?” yet there is still an exciting anticipation coursing through your body. so you don’t jump out. That and you do not want the eight-year-old little girls behind you to think that you are a chicken. so you hang on and hope that the anticipation will turn into exhilaration and not panic. The ride starts with a jolt and a climb to the highest point to begin the adventure. Just as you crest the top, you see the entire planet below you and you ask again, “what i have i done?!”

Then it happens. Freefall.

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CoMpLeTe ABAnDonMenT what does it look like to freefall in our business or career? Do you immediately think of spiralling down, possibly out of control?

Maybe you think of the bottom falling out of everything.

Freefalling is letting go, experiencing the rush of complete abandonment of our worries, the thrill of overcoming our fears.

The operative word in freefall is free. is your business or career or profession free from the controlling pressure of material success and the deep-seated need to climb the corporate ladder?

The ladders in our life take many forms: success, advancement, acknowledgement, influence, power.You can add to this list.

Ladders are not freeing, especially when you’re at the top. once, when i was working my way through university, i took a job that put me at the top of a 25-foot ladder. i’m oK with heights, but i don’t like them. i spent far more time thinking about not falling than i did about getting the job done. it was not freeing to be at the top of that ladder.

To be free — truly free — we need to commit to let go and just fall into the love and care of God. Let Him take over. Know that the chute is there and it will open. He has you — as well as your career and your business. so what does it look like to freefall with God? This is where i do my best to avoid writing a book. There is so much to say to adequately answer this question and, for each person, the answer varies. But there are some basic points that apply to us all.

Finances. Let’s get this one out of the way right up front.

There is no need to avoid it. God wants your money. That didn’t hurt, did it? He wants your money for two reasons. one, to trust Him. Do you really trust Him to provide and release it back to you? Two, there are many in this world working to bring Christ to a world that desperately needs Him, but their bills require money, not good theology. To whom much is given, much is expected. now if you are thinking, “oh, good, i have nothing,” the Bible also says, “whoever is faithful with a little, will be given much.”

Time. we often think that if we are not present 200 percent of the time, everything will fall apart. Do you go to bed at night with your cell phone? Do you take your laptop on your vacations?

Does your business revolve around you so that you never have a private moment with your family and/or friends? when you receive a call from a mutual friend to go and encourage someone who is need, do you feel put out? when you have the opportunity to serve the homeless — whether it was your wife’s idea, a church outreach or a child’s school project — is your first response, “i have too much to do to make time for this”? if so, you are a prime candidate for needing to surrender your time and schedule to God. eXHiLARATinG MoMenTs our God will be whoever has control of our wallet and calendar. whether we like it or not, our life boils down to our finances and our time — how we use them and spend them. Do we truly trust the God of the universe with our time and money? Do we fear He will take them and run? Just for the record, that is not who our God is. He is loving, merciful, gracious, a gift giver, caring and, of course, just. we each need to ask ourselves, “Am i ready to freefall with the Lord?” so, where were we? oh yah, the roller coaster.

Then it happens. Freefall. The ride takes over and you experience one of the most freeing and exhilarating moments in your life so far.

Being completely surrendered to Jesus is just like that. we cannot possibly know everything about our future. we are told to entrust our life to Jesus and He will guide us the rest of the way. Are you ready to buckle up and go anywhere, at any time, at any cost to do anything? Are you ready for the ride of your life? if you are, then you know what to do. if not, ask a mentor.

May i suggest you visit Life.com and come alongside a growing number of people across Atlantic Canada completely surrendering themselves to Jesus?

But first, talk to God about what it means to go anywhere, at any time, at any cost, to do anything. Be honest about your fears and concerns. Let this be a journey you walk with God. He will not fail you.You will not believe what He can do in you and through you.Your life will never be the same.

Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Chris moved to Halifax in 2006 with his wife of 20 years and four children. Chris and Heather have worked with the campus ministry of Power to Change Ministries for the past 15 years in Calgary and now at Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie Universities in Halifax.

Campus Director, Power to Change Ministries, chris.harman@powertochange.org (902) 880-8442, and www.powertochange.org

Think outside the basket.

WWW.MEFYGIFTS.COM

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My Father’s Business There is safety in having many advisors. (Proverbs 11:14) Many advisors bring success. (Proverbs 15:22)

by Bruce Havill

i FounD MYseLF in a stressful situation with a customer recently, and when you are the owner of a small business, such a scenario can leave you feeling alone.You ask yourself: what do i do? Has anyone faced this before? How can i possibly find a solution? You may question whether or not you have what it takes to achieve a resolution.

After praying numerous times, i felt that i should share a particular problem with a few of my trusted friends. none of them was involved in my business but that was not important; the important thing was that they knew me. They knew that if i couldn’t work something out with a customer, after 28 years in this business, it had to be an extraordinary situation. i talked, they listened, they asked questions, they wanted to help. Following a couple of discussions with these friends, they assured me that i was on the right track and with the right attitude. in addition, i checked with our local Better Business Bureau to make sure that i was doing everything that would be expected of one of their members in good standing.

As followers of Jesus Christ, it is important to do the right thing.Yet we have to ask, “what is the right thing?” often, we can determine the right thing by placing ourselves in the position of the person on the other side of the transaction and doing for him or her what we would want done for ourselves.

However, there may be an infrequent occasion when you feel your customer is making unreasonable demands.You find him inflexible and resistant to a settlement that would be fair for both parties. Beyond this, he threatens to ruin your good name and the good reputation of your company. He wants what he wants, and your opinion does not count. in such a time, it is good to know that you’ve had thoughtful input from your trusted advisors. if you feel in your heart that you are being fair and your advisors confirm it, you can choose to stand your ground. Keep in mind that i am speaking of rare situations in our businesses and not daily transactions. if difficult situations are happening regularly in your dealings with people, then maybe your trusted advisors will have other things to say to you.

The old saying “The customer is always right” is true unless the customer is not right. Another well-known phrase, “going the extra mile,” is an important principle and beneficial in maintaining or even saving a business relationship. However, you still may find that your customer remains difficult or even contentious. in these times, it is invaluable to know that you have the wisdom of your advisors behind you. if you ever face such a situation as i’ve described, i encourage you to approach it from this biblical perspective: seek the counsel of a few people that you trust and you will find wisdom in their combined advice.

As i write this, it occurs to me that there may be some value in creating a pool of experienced Christian business people in HRM willing to make itself available to small business owners who are seeking advice on any one of many possible issues.

As this proverb reminds us, there is safety in having advisors.

A Proverb for the Workplace Everyone needs mentors you can trust

Bruce Havill is a life-long resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia. He and his wife, Marilyn, have been married for 39 years, and have two daughters, along with three grandchildren. Bruce has owned and operated Roto-Static, a carpet and upholstery cleaning company, for the last 28 years. He is a church elder, and enjoys mentoring younger men, walking in the woods, golf, fishing, music, playing guitar and taking road trips with family.

Business Owner, Rotostatic Halifax 4 Nightingale Drive Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3M 1V3, Canada bjhavill@aol.com 902-443-0553 rotostatichalifax.com

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Household of

Faith

Will You Trust Me? By Yanna Conway

And I said to the one who stood at the gate of the year, “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the Unknown.” And he replied, “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

— Minnie Haskins eVeRY TiMe we seT oFF on a new journey the same thing is required; leaving something behind. when i go on vacation, i leave behind my home and many of my belongings. when i venture into a new job, i say goodbye to co-workers and my known routine. And when i got married, i left the life of being single and making decisions based solely on my own desires and thoughts for the future. Many new journeys require a step of faith, and as believers in Christ, we are faced with a question from the Lord: “will you trust Me?” it was 15 years ago that my husband and i were called by the Lord to relocate our family of four from northern British Columbia to Lower sackville, nova scotia. it was a call that was difficult to explain to friends and family. why would the Lord ask us to go to a small Bible school based out of a local church when there were many well-established schools in western Canada? The answer could not be neatly packaged and delivered with a shiny bow. we simply knew in our hearts we were obeying Him and following His leading.

A planner by nature, i began my lists, and one by one, tasks to be conquered for this kind of adventure received a check mark. i don’t know about you, but i prefer knowing steps one to 10 when i begin something new. it gives me confidence and the knowledge that i am accomplishing something. Discovering that this is often not the way the Lord works has been Precious Babushka who slowly traveled the stretching for me, to say the least. He has roads to come and hear us share the love of the plan but doesn’t always reveal to us Jesus at a bus stop outside Krivoy Rog, Ukraine more than one step at a time. Really, if the plan is laid out neatly, do we need to trust Him? or is it easier to trust in ourselves? our arrival in nova scotia in the fall of 1996 brought surprises and the unknown into my life.

The house we had rented was full of fleas and located much farther outside Lower sackville than we had been told. The biggest surprise after a few bouts of nausea was the news that baby number three was on the way. not at all what i had planned! Deep inside i could hear His whisper, “will you trust Me?” i was surrounded by the unknown: an unknown city, unknown people and a seemingly unknown future. The Lord began to teach me that regardless of my feelings, the leaving He called us to was for a purpose. it was a purpose that i did not yet understand, but one that required much trust and a personal fieldtrip of understanding that i have been called to serve and love a God who is completely trustworthy.

The future may be uncertain but we walk with a trustworthy God

(con’t on p. 28)

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Lending to

The Lord

Releasing Secret Treasures By Michelle Porter

in THe LAsT sCene of the blockbuster, Titanic, we see Rose, aged and in her final years of life, throw la couer de la mer back into the ocean.

A look of relief sweeps her face. The burden of a secret she had carried all those years is released with the tossing of an heirloom jewel back to the sea.

The Bible says, “where your heart is, there your treasure will be” (Matthew 6:21). it is counter-intuitive to think that releasing our wealth can bring freedom.

From an early age, we’re taught to sail the ship of material deliverance. But that ship is headed for an iceberg. in the natural, we want to store up our riches for ourselves. we want to save for a rainy day. we want to put away for our retirement. But God has a bigger course plotted out for us.

God doesn’t bless our hard work and business efforts for the sake of bigger houses and better cars. it isn’t even about others. so, while you’re saving up for the latest gadget or fashion statement, consider a course correction. The iceberg is not imminent.

it’s not complicated. And it’s not really a secret. it’s about a generous spirit. The Bible calls it “cheerful giving.” God loves it! in the Greek, it’s literally translated as “hilarious giving.”

Today’s largest corporations consider it a responsibility to share their wealth. starbucks Canada invests in literacy and youth. Tim Hortons does the same and is best known for the Tim Hortons Brier and Camp Day. while businesses give from a sense of social responsibility, the Christian gives out of joy, humility and thankfulness for God’s mercy and grace.

HiLARious GiVinG is RiDiCuLous when my husband and i agreed to start a mission in Regina, saskatchewan, we sold all we had, left family and friends, and moved to a city in which we were strangers. To get this fledgling mission off the ground, we cashed in all our RRsp’s (Registered Retirement savings plan) and used the proceeds of the sale of our home.

For two years we lived and worked without a salary. it was hilarious giving at its core. it was using our riches to bless the poor. it was becoming poor, to help the needy.

Ten years later, that little mission grew to be the largest service provider to the homeless in the province. with a budget of over $2 million, nearly 40 staff, and a great salary and benefits, there were some that said we THe sTuFF THAT sinKs us were crazy to do it all over again. it was too big of a we’ve all heard the saying, “You can’t take it with you.” sacrifice. even the most famous business leaders are catching on.

But others knew our heart and our calling. Those Bill Gates and warren Buffet have made public that more that we’d helped over the past years were the most encouraging. They were excited that another Canadian inner city community would be given an opportunity to hear the Gospel and get the help they need. success begets success. Generosity begets generosity.You don’t reach a level of hilarious giving overnight, but the more you give away, the easier it is to do so. of their fortune will go to charity than their children.

And now, just six months later, we have over 750 what have they learned that we, as Christians, have individuals, churches, and businesses supporting this not? new mission plant in Halifax, nova scotia.

That money can’t buy love or happiness.

That you can’t take it with you.

ReTHinK YouR GiVinG FoR 2012 That the pleasures of this world can’t be compared Charities like ours don’t close their doors after the to a lasting legacy of good. holidays. Think about how you can take action Jesus said it another way: “Do not store up for throughout the new Year to help your favorite causes. yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust Don’t walk by the food bank bin at the grocery store destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew without sharing an item from your bag. is your church doing a special outreach project? Be a part of it!

6:21,22). in missions across Canada, the national average to what does that mean for those of us in business — feed a person is $3.11. To sleep a person costs $24.88. whether we are entrepreneurs, Ceos of Fortune 500 companies or direct sales leaders?

Discover the joy — and blessing — of “hilarious” giving

(con’t on p. 28)

28 (con’t of “Will You Trust Me?”)

The Lord showed me examples of everyday people in the word who were called to leave in order to follow Him and be part of something that they had little knowledge of at the beginning.

Ruth left Moab with naomi and went to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:16-17). The result of her leaving was being part of the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

God called Jeremiah who had to leave his way of thinking. no longer could he see himself as too young and unable to speak effectively. if he chose to trust God, he could trust the promise of having the words to speak and the power to do what he was called to do (Jeremiah 1:4-9).

Jesus called His disciples to leave their nets and follow Him (Matthew 4:18-22).

And of course, how could we forget Abraham? in Genesis 12:1-2, “The Lord said to Abram, leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land i will show you. i will make you a great nation and i will bless you; i will make your name great and you will be a blessing.” “will you trust Me?” God asked Abraham. Abraham responded in faith, packed up and headed to Canaan with sarah, his elderly, infertile wife. To do what? To start a nation! They moved into the unknown in spite of what they aw, and place their trust in a God who is trustworthy. we have just started a new Year. we leave behind 2011 and walk into the unknown of 2012. There is a question that is being whispered to you. “will you trust Me?” Just as God called Abraham to leave the place he was in and travel to a place God would show him, He is calling you.You might not change your physical location like my husband and i did. But in any journey of trust, there will always be the factor of the unknown.

Your leaving may be letting go of unforgiveness. it might be a job change or confronting something in a relationship you’ve been ignoring. is He asking you to leave behind an attitude or a life of unbelief? is there a challenge to take a risk and step out into the unknown?

There are many things i have yet to fully understand about this journey of trust. But my answer to Him is this: i will trust You because You are my God and You are trustworthy. will you trust Him? Yanna Conway is a gifted speaker and writer who loves the Word of God. She speaks with warmth, compassion and honesty, revealing her own joys, successes, weaknesses and personal challenges on this journey of living life in Christ. She and her husband, Russ, are the lead pastors at Rock Church in Halifax, Nova Scotia and also the parents of four teenage sons.Their ministry journey shapes their story of risk, trust and hope in the Lord and is an inspiration to the Body of Christ.Together, they have a passion to see people find and fulfill their God-given destinies and empowered in their service to God Yanna Conway 37 Stonemount Dr. Lower Sackville, NS B4C 4A2 EMAIL: yconway@gmail.com BLOG: www.yconway.blogspot.com WEBSITE: www.rockchurch.ca

(con’t of “Releasing Secret Treasures”)

RESCUE people from poverty, addiction and sin, by offering emergency help, such as food, clothing and shelter, life changing recovery programs, and the Gospel Message.

This is cheaper than any hotel, low-income housing unit or penitentiary!

Does your Dad really need another watch this Father‘s Day? Consider a gift of a month of meals for a homeless person. Ask the charity for a card or letter to pass on to the recipient so you can let them know a Christmas gift was made in their honor.

CReATe A CuLTuRe oF GiVinG it’s not about corporate responsibility. it’s about giving back — both personally and professionally. it’s about remembering the poor — not just during the holidays, but all year long. That hungry man you fed yesterday will still need to eat tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that.

Give freely and spontaneously. Don‘t have a stingy heart.The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God’s, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures.

There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors.

(Deuteronomy 15:10-11) it’s true, you will put your treasure into your priorities. But it also works the other way. As you share your wealth with the less fortunate, your heart will be turned toward them, as well. i attended a “Dine with a Dragon” dinner with Canadian icon Kevin o’Leary. He said, “what is it to be rich? it’s to be free. The goal is not to be rich, but to be free. whatever you pay attention to grows.”

Just as Rose threw that jewel into the ocean, a move that is seemingly ridiculous (hilarious), you, too, can find freedom and peace as you share your treasure with others.

Michelle Porter is the co-founder of Souls Harbour RESCUE Misison in Regina, SK and Halifax, NS, where she currently resides. As a social entrepreneur, she and her husband have helped hundreds find freedom from a life of addiction and homelessness.When she isn’t at the Mission, you can find her on her blog at MissionMusings.ca Michelle Porter Co-Founder Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission PO Box 9255 RPO CSC Halifax NS B3K 5M8 1 902 999 5572 mporter.rescue@gmail.com MissionMusings.ca

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Biblical Business

Management

E for Eternal Perspective By Thomas Nolte

BeinG in THe Business for yourself or working within an established company has its own sets of unique challenges. The demands from various directions on our time, resources, knowledge, emotions, energy and engagement can easily lead us down the road of busyness without effectiveness, neglecting an eternal perspective on why we work and how we work. in our four-part serious entitled R.e.A.L., e stands for eternal and engagement.

God has set eternity in the hearts of man, the Bible teaches us in ecclesiastes 3:11. if we rested long enough and allowed our hearts to speak, we’d discover deep inside of us a longing for a fulfilling purpose, a deep lasting joy and the realization that this world cannot give this to us. Man has gone in pursuit of many things to fill this desire, this hole in his heart designed to make us want to be close to God and find this joy and satisfaction. There are many satisfying pursuits and achievements that temporarily bring us happiness, yet without an eternal perspective, this happiness does not last and we will stray from the righteous path discussed in the first article in this series.

Giving priority to God in our lives will guide us to do things God’s way, not our way. it will bring us to an undivided heart and prevent many failures and fears along the way. psalm 86:11 says, “Teach me your way, o Lord, and i will walk in your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that i may fear your name. i will praise you, o Lord my God, with all my heart. i will glorify your name forever (eternally), for great is your love toward me.”

HAVinG eTeRnAL puRpose Being focused on the bigger picture rather than a short-term goal, focused on pleasing God rather than momentary happiness, will keep us safe and will bring praise to God. As disciples of Jesus we are called to follow Jesus, to build His kingdom, to seek his righteousness and His kingdom first (Matthew 6, 33) and to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 12:30).

Jesus had this perspective and it enabled him to deal with life on earth and all his suffering.

Hebrew 12:2 tells us that “for the joy set before him, he endured the cross.” Jesus looked to his eternal purpose for strength to carry on. we can and need to do the same. without this perspective on life, on how we work and why, everything will more or less look possible and seem oK. solomon called the attempt to accumulate riches and success a “chasing after the wind.” Being great and honorable in the eyes of man means nothing if we don’t have a close walk with God, if our lifestyle and our choices do not have God’s approval. An in-depth study of the book of ecclesiastes provides great insight into this subject. it has helped me many times to find a proper perspective, especially when our businesses are not doing well. During those times, i’d be worried and fearful until i realized that God is in control, that He wants me to enjoy life, that he is teaching me and shaping me to be more like Jesus, and that even if i could achieve everything i ever wanted and everything went really well in my life then, it would still be all meaningless without a right relationship with Him (see ecclesiastes 9:9).

Focusing on the bigger picture and following God’s guidance leads to success

FoLLowinG THe RuLes oF enGAGeMenT The letter e can also mean engagement or excellence, which are both essential for success. excellence can only be achieved if we follow the rules of engagement pertaining to our situation. As a former fighter pilot, i’ve experienced first-hand that following the Roe’s (rules of engagement) is absolutely necessary for any achievement as well as for my survival. i would not have dared to engage in a simulated air combat training mission or an air-refueling mission without following the rules to

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a T. when you’re leading four fighter jets for two hours to meet a tanker at 35,000 feet and refuel each jet in close formation, you wouldn’t want to do that without discussing at length and carrying out the rules set for the flight. if i or any one of the other pilots would deviate from those rules, it would certainly mean mayor damage or possibly even death. noT neCessARiLY MY DesiReD ouTCoMe Yet i regularly find myself being tempted or even following my emotions, desires and conclusions without considering God’s will laid down in scripture. The result is usually frustration, loss of money, a decline in business or, worse, a damaged relationship that will need healing and forgiveness.

Following God’s rules of engagement will always lead to success but may not always have the desired outcome i expect.

God knows our hidden motives far better than we do, and can reveal His will through prayer, a daily thorough study of His word, as well as through trusted advisors who also seek to please God. From experience, an in-depth study about a certain topic or decision that i need to make and seeking advice from experienced people who know me well leads to success.

Recently, i was convinced to buy another business after much consultation. i also worked hard to convince my wife that it would be a great idea. she suggested praying together about it. in one prayer, it became clear to both of us that we should not buy this business. so we didn’t and have often since been grateful for the guidance in that choice. sHoRT-TeRM THinKinG = TRouBLe My faith in God and in the truth revealed in the Bible is constantly growing by seeing His word come true. every time i have not followed his way, i have paid the price, sometimes much later, sometimes right away. God, in His grace, often reveals my true motive, which can be just plain greed, wishing to make more money or to be more important or more successful rather than seeking His glory or serving others.

A few years back, after a period of frustration in business, we took out a huge business loan. This was right before the recession in 2008 when a great-looking opportunity presented itself. it seemed an answer to many prayers and a good fit to our general skill sets. For the next year, we made a lot of money each month, enjoying this decision.Yet through the recession and lack of experience in this particular field, we realized that our thinking had been very short-term, not eternal. we didn’t considering the impact this would have on our spiritual lives and our family. previously, we had held the conviction according to Romans 13:8 to be debt-free. “Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another.” up to this point, we had no loans. we had paid off our credit cards each month and bought what we could afford. it led to savings that could have sustained us for many years and a mortgage free house with two cars and the ability to freely give to God’s Church and others.

A sTeRn ReMinDeR All that changed when we took out this business loan and a mortgage, mainly because of my desire to have even more,

be more and find fulfillment in business rather than in my relationship with God. Jesus was “not enough” at that time, even though i had made a decision not long before that He would be.

God, in His grace, has allowed a major decline in our business but also protected us and enabled us to always pay all the bills and our staff, keep all our stores open and have a good living. we still have huge loans that will need much longer to be repaid, and they are a stern reminder to me of acting against God’s word and what i believe. in puRsuiT oF HoLiness Having an eternal perspective on what i do at work and in all other areas of my life will also help me set the correct priorities that i should have as a disciple of Christ. it will help me think about the needs of others rather than my own or help me share my faith in God with those around me, even though this will not always be welcomed and may even lead to a loss of clients or staff, or friction within the business. God asks me not be fearful and always encourages me to speak out, to speak the truth in love, to be R.e.A.L. in my relationship with them and others.

Being fully engaged in this pursuit of eternal holiness will also fight a natural tendency to procrastinate, which is one of the greatest downfalls at work and in business. i often find myself putting off even important things on my to-do list — things that i would like to see done, that i know need to be done and yet i will put them off, welcoming distractions, being afraid to get started or not having all the tools to complete the job.

This article is no exception, and were it not for a certain deadline, i may have still not written it. only knowing that God will use it in the life of others and knowing that He has called me to write it has made it possible for you to read this today. in closing, i suggest you consider and study the scriptures and concepts presented in this article.

Romans 13:14 states: “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desire of the sinful nature.”

Romans 8:37 promises that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” we can live a new, successful, glorious life in Christ, remembering according to Romans 6:4 that “we were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Thomas Nolte was born in 1962 in Germany. He is married and has two kids. He has been following Jesus since his baptism on February 7, 1993 and is part of the Halifax Church of Christ. He moved to Bedford, Nova Scotia in 2006. He owns and operates Curves Franchises in HRM. He is a “biblical fitness coach,” helping others to be fitter and to walk closer to God in their busy lives.

Franchise Owner, Curves 1658 Bedford Hwy, Suite 2150, Bedford Nova Scotia, B4A 2X9, Canada thomas@curveshrm.com 902 832 8800 www.curveshrm.com

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His Kingdom Come

Locking on the Right Channel to Achieve Our Objectives By Dr. Jeffrey Lutes

THeRe ARe 360 DiFFeRenT DiReCTions a person can go in, and some days, it will feel like you are being pulled in all of them at the same time. Here is the solution to the problem of going in circles: determine what bearing you need to take, stick with it and ignore the other 359 distractions.Your goals can be fulfilled if you remain determined to meet them despite distractions. state your purpose, stay focused and do not waver. i hope that this article will refuel your determination, awaken your passion for excellence and propel you to accomplish more than you ever imagined possible. obstacles and difficulties preventing you from achieving your goals are inevitable. i had my share of them and still do. i credit Jesus as my source of strength who enabled me to go from having one FM radio license to acquiring seven transmitters in the Maritimes. There were many difficulties i faced in my industry and still have to overcome. we live in a multi-channel universe all vying for people’s ears. some of the choices include FM, AM, satellite radio, ipods and internet streaming. How do you keep a business or organization financially viable with such competition?

THe neeD FoR DeTeRMinATion The strategy for building a listening audience is having consistency with a singular focus. persistence is a valuable attribute to develop no matter what field you are in. it took me six years of overcoming obstacles to start the first station. if i wavered from the target, the license would never have been granted. A decade of operating radio stations has taught me this: you have to stay focused. in my industry, you have to pick one genre of music and programming and stay on track, otherwise you reach no one effectively. My solitary goal has been to lead people to Jesus Christ through excellence in broadcasting. state your goal, stick to the purpose and you will overcome all difficulties with the help of our savior.

Claiming the mountain for Christ called media requires determination and staying focused on the summit.

How to focus on what you want and achieve it with excellence

A pLeTHoRA oF CHoiCes os Hillman speaks of reclaiming the seven mountains of culture. what is your mountain? Are you in the educational field, the political arena, entertainment, business or one of the other seven mountains? There are many distractions in the run of a day, like channels all scrambling for our attention. we are faced with a plethora of choices such as who to book an appointment with, what to invest your time or money in or which committee meeting to wedge in. it can be overwhelming. what is a businessperson to do with so many options and opportunities? if you make the wrong decisions or over-commit, you end up ineffective, burned out and not having accomplished anything of consequence.

To claim your mountain, plan your work and work your plan. i want to help you focus on establishing your immediate objectives and even accomplishing life goals. sTRATeGY FoR suCCess The two-part strategy below teaches you to prioritize and be persistent.

1. Prioritize. Beware of the tyranny of the urgent. The urgent is rarely important and the important is seldom urgent. secondary issues will keep you from accomplishing

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primary objectives. Distinguish top priorities from those of medium importance and stay focused throughout the day until matters of paramount importance are accomplished. Realize the good is the enemy of the best. which is better? A number a tasks half completed with mediocrity or one accomplishment with excellence? You can be so busy doing secondary jobs that you miss accomplishing your primary objectives.

Keep adjusting your focus to stay sharp and clear in your thinking. Guard your mind from distracting thoughts. Develop a task list and stay concentrated on the important matters that you place at the top for the day.

You may have a hundred items that need to be finished.

Choose five to complete by 5 p.m. Don’t stop until you knock off your five most important objectives for the day. if you have moved these items out of the way, or at least have done all you could on them for the day, then begin to work on the others in order of descending importance. By adopting this method you will find yourself working more efficiently. similar to having a few immediate objectives for the day, we need to have life goals. Define what purposes you have for your days remaining on this planet. what is your overarching purpose in life? what epitaph would you like? How would you want to be eulogized?

Basically, everything that comes at you should be synthesized through the grid of, “How is this helping me to get closer to accomplishing my goals and even more importantly, my lifetime objectives?”

Your number one objective needs to be to love God with all your heart. Do not allow anything to rival His preeminence in your life. put your family second.

Your business should not be third. Move it down the list. include your personal renewal among your top priorities.

The ministry of international Harvesters for Christ has spread to several countries on four continents. My method for development has been to prioritize and then be persistent. in Africa, we conduct pastors’ conferences. in Asia, there is an orphanage and a ministry to disadvantaged women. in the Middle east, the focus is on leadership development and mentoring university students. in Latin America, we conduct evangelistic outreach, as in all of the countries where Harvesters partners with pastors to help them achieve their objectives.

Harvesters is the parent ministry with a solitary focus of winning souls to Christ, be it through FM radio stations in Canada or outdoor evangelistic meetings on the mission field.

For your line of work or ministry to grow further, you have to state your objectives, remain focused and overcome with God’s help all obstacles that come your way.

2. Persistence. i maintain you do not need a high iQ to be successful. persistence is an asset of greater benefit. Many of the brainiest people are impractical and cannot function properly in society. But those who are lacking in intelligence can overcome disadvantages by refusing to give up in life.

A person who knows the art of asking questions and learns from his or her mistakes is likely to accomplish greater feats than the person for whom everything comes easy.

You are never a failure if you do not quit. stay focused and you’ll be amazed at what the Lord can accomplish through you. if you clearly state your lifetime objectives, set reasonable goals and develop measurable steps to reach them you are likely to succeed given time.You will have lived life well if you cultivate perseverance.

Jesus said in Luke 9:62 — “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” i remember when i worked on a farm one summer. The farmer needed me to mow his field. He said, “when you make your first cut up the middle, look at a solitary tree or large rock at the end of the field and never take your eyes off it. After, you will see that you cut a straight swath.” in the same way, Jesus is our marker and we should never take our eyes off Him. paul writes in Hebrews 12:1 — Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. stay focused by keeping your eyes on Jesus. weights come in the form of discouragement and doubt. Drop what is holding you back and move on for Christ. Luke 9:51 says — When the time was come that [Jesus] should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.

That was Jesus’ goal and He was not going to be distracted. Hebrews 12:2 says — Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus succeeded in His life mission because He kept His objectives in focus.You will too as you keep focused on Him and draw on His strength. so what have we learned? we need life goals that keep us on track. we need daily objectives that keep us from being distracted and hence ineffective. we have concurred that there can be many distractions that come disguised as good things.

However, too many secondary issues will keep us from doing anything well. Develop your life purpose and focus everything through the lens of “how is this helping me to achieve my immediate and long term objectives”. And if you refuse to quit, you will eventually accomplish your purposes.

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Lutes is the founder and president of International Harvesters for Christ/Harvesters Media Group Inc., which holds seven FM Christian radio licenses in the Maritimes. Harvesters does work in approximately 15 countries on five continents. He is a passionate Canadian who speaks confidently about issues that face the nation. He married to Faye and he has three children and two grandchildren. Jeff was a pastor for 15 years and used to operated a shopping mall outreach center. He travels extensively and has a passion to help pastors.

President, International Harvesters for Christ 23 Sydney Ave, Riverview, New Brunswick, E1B 0H5, Canada jeff@jefflutes.com 506 233 4006 www.jefflutes.com