God's Faithfulness

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself."
2 Timothy 2:13

Has anyone ever signed a contract with you and backed out? Have you ever been betrayed by a friend, a love one or business associate? Unfortunately, many of us have countless stories of how people have been unfaithful to us and if we are honest how we have been unfaithful to others. We make promises we do not keep, we take vows we back out of, and we sign contracts that we violate. Man is an unfaithful sinner and no matter how hard we try we find ourselves struggling to be faithful. I'm amazed at the fact that even the most devout believer struggles to be faithful though saved and sanctified. The only one whose faithfulness is unchanging, constant, irreversible and unquestionable is God's.

Faithfulness is an ongoing demonstration of commitment and allegiance to a person or cause. It is a time tested attribute. Faithfulness is not something that we were; it is something that we are. You cannot say I used to be faithful, because once you cease to be faithful you no longer can claim faithfulness as a character trait. If you have been married for 50 years and divorce out of unfaithfulness, that act of unfaithfulness eradicates all the 50 years of faithfulness you had put in. One act of unfaithfulness corrupts years of faithfulness. Faithfulness is never past tense it is always present tense. You can see how difficult it is for man to be faithful. Faithfulness requires endurance, perseverance and longsuffering. It is an unconditional act towards a changing person to remain committed no matter the circumstances. Though it is difficult for man to be faithful, there is one whose faithfulness is eternal, uncompromising and steadfast; our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. God's faithfulness is eternal and irrevocable.

How can God be so faithful though we struggle to maintain our own faithfulness? The secret to God's faithfulness is that it is not dependent upon us fulfilling our end of the bargain. God made a deal with Abraham and could not find anyone to swear by so he swore by himself, Hebrew 6:13-19. Imagine that, someone makes a deal with you and recognizing your limitations and frailty he signs both sides of the contract to ensure that the contract will be realized no matter what you do. God's faithfulness is independent of man; it is totally dependent on the very nature of who God is. That is why he says in II Timothy 2:13 that even when we (man) are faithless He (God) remains faithful because He (God) cannot deny himself or His very nature. God made a deal with himself concerning man that He will accomplish certain things through man regardless of man.

Many kingdom entrepreneurs struggle with condemnation and guilt because we are unable to carry out our end of the bargain regarding the covenant we made with God. We allow the devil to trick us into believing that we are not enjoying certain privileges or we are going through certain difficulties because somehow God is not pleased with us or God is dissatisfied with our performance. Here is the good news; relax and thank God for Jesus who paid a dear price for your freedom and to make you right with God. God's love towards you is not conditional to what you do for Him or to Him but it is solely dependent upon what His Son did on the Cross of Calvary. To make sure that we had no excuse He sent His Son to demonstrate faithfulness so we would not have to struggle with it but just walk in it by taking on His Son. Wow, what love.

Do you struggle with faithfulness? Do you struggle to keep the commitments you make towards God or others? Stop trying to keep them based on your own strength which leads to self condemnation. Recognize that you are limited and turn to Jesus Christ and take on His nature so He may show Himself faithful through you. Faithfulness cannot be accomplished outside of a devoted relationship with Christ. God's faithfulness towards us is able to bring us into His image and likeness which enables us to walk in His faithfulness.

Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

From Mission Impossible to Possible

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "with men this is impossible but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26.

Have you ever had an assignment or project that you felt in your heart there is no way I can do this? Is your business facing a challenge that seems impossible for you to overcome? The fact is most kingdom assignments are impossible for us to carry out in our own strength. They require supernatural intervention if we are going to be successful.

In Matthew 19:16-22, we learn of a rich young ruler who had obeyed the Ten Commandments from his youth but now desired to ensure that he can make claims to eternity. Jesus' response to him requires an act of compassion towards the poor and a commitment to follow Him forsaking all that is important to him. However, the rich young ruler did not value eternity enough to make the necessary sacrifice. For the rich young ruler this request of Jesus was an impossible mission.

In contrast, we find another rich young ruler in the Old Testament in the book of Genesis Chapter 12 called Abraham; God calls him to leave his father's house and his country and go to a land that He will show him. Forsake all that you know and follow me to a place that you do not know. This young ruler obeyed and God made him very wealthy and he became the father of many nations.

What impossible task has God ask you to carry out? Like the rich young ruler you may have faithfully obeyed God's word for years but yet God is requiring more from you. He is requiring you to do something that will require you to exercise another dimension of your faith. Kingdom assignments are never solely based on our own ability but based on God's ability. How do you turn an impossible mission into a possible mission?

The difference between the rich young ruler and Abraham was the following:

1. Abraham believed he had heard from God while the rich young ruler was uncertain of the deity of Jesus Christ;

• Make sure that your instructions are from God

2. Abraham believed God while the rich young ruler did not believe Jesus since he did not trust in His deity;

• Make sure you believe God, because the scripture says all things are possible to those who believe. Mark 9:23

3. Abraham trusted God while the rich young ruler put his faith in his riches;

• Make sure you put your trust not in what you have acquired or accomplished but in God and God alone

Operating a kingdom business is an impossible mission; it is impossible for man on his own to make decisions that risks his natural stability trusting heavenly stability. It is impossible for man to love his customer more than money. It is impossible for man to love his employees more than their productivity in the business. It is impossible for man to love and pray for his competitors. It is impossible for man to be more concerned about community transformation then business growth. It is impossible for man to conduct his business in an environment where bribery and corruption is the norm for business profitability. It is impossible for certain businesses to be profitable or even maintain positive cash flow in the current economic environment.

All these things are impossible with man, but with God all things are possible. Not just some things but all things that are according to His will. Whatever your situation, make sure your instructions are from God. Believe God and put your complete trust in Him, and not only will He turn your impossible mission into a possible mission, but he will reward your faithfulness in the process.

Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Biblical Ownership

"So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city" (Genesis 23: 17-18).


We all know that the earth is the Lord's and everything therein the world and they that dwell therein - Psalm 24:1. We are therefore mere stewards of God's resources and God is the true owner. As stewards, however, we must understand the value of legal ownership and its biblical implication. Legal ownership is not a new concept; it existed since the time of the patriarch Abraham.

In Genesis chapter 23 we find Abraham needing a burial place for his wife Sarah. Since he had not yet taken possession of the Land of Canaan and did not want to go back to the place the Lord instructed him to leave, he negotiates with the current occupiers of the territory, the sons of Heth (the Hittites), to purchase the land as a burial place for his wife and family. What is interesting about this interaction is that the people of the land wanted to give it to Abraham at no charge; "What is money among friends?" they said. However, Abraham insisted that he would purchase the land. They sold him the land for four hundred shekels of silver and the property was deeded to him.

Here is Abraham, a steward, holding the title to a piece of property that made him the official owner of that property. Does this mean that God was less the owner since the property was deeded to Abraham? Why did Abraham need to buy the property? How does ownership impact our stewardship? By purchasing the land Abraham ensured that the land remained under the control of his heir even beyond his lifetime. Had they given the land to Abraham it would have remained theirs and he could not transfer it to his heirs. Many believers have made the mistake of not ensuring proper legal ownership of things and lost the right to exercise authority over it.

The fact of the matter is that we cannot be proper stewards of something that we do not have legal ownership of or control over. The law of ownership gives the legal owner the authority to exercise control over the thing they own. And because we are Kingdom business stewards with legal ownership over our businesses we are, in fact, Biblical Owners. Biblical Ownership is taking legal hold of an idea, concept or thing and utilizing it for the benefit of God's kingdom. Biblical Ownership gives us the legal right to become stewards of the things of God.

If I were to visit your home and began to use your television to watch inappropriate movies, and you stood up and reminded me that the house was the house of the Lord consecrated for Holy purposes and asked me to stop the movie since it did not honor the Lord, and I refused and insisted on watching the movie, you would call the police. What do you suppose they would do once they arrived? Of course they would ask me to leave the house because you were the legal owner of the home with the legal right to determine what can and cannot be done in the house. However, if you visited my home and I was watching an inappropriate movie and you insisted that I stopped and called the police they would ask you to leave because you have no legal right in my home. Biblical Ownership does not just give us legal control of a property but it gives us the legal right to allow the will of God to done on the property.

God valued ownership so much that He protected the sanctity of property by prohibiting theft in the eighth commandment; Exodus 20:15.

What has God called you to own for His glory? Have you completely consecrated everything you own to Him? Remember the only value for legal ownership for believers is that it gives us the legal right to be stewards of God's resources on His behalf.
Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague      ALL RIGHTS RESERVED      Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Another reason we need the Africa Initiative

(by Skye at RCE)

The folks at Wild Hope are doing amazing work. Every so often I get over to one of their blogs, especially Let's Put the Kettle On. (I guess I want to be like Lisa when I grow up.) :)

But this post, Watching Africa Blow Away,  really made my heart hurt for the people suffering, for so many different reasons. Hopefully our business development centers can make a difference for individuals, families, communities, and eventually, the nations, starting with Burundi and Rwanda.

Here's a taste of her post:

We drive across the East African plains and wonder at the moonscape they have become. Along the roadside, the trees stand brittle and covered in a heavy coat of dust. The faces of the little shacks along the way are the same. Fine, powdery dust has lifted easily in the dry wind and painted everything a lifeless brown. The monotony of color is strange and disturbing...



Africa, it seems, is blowing away.
 
Even the elephants are skinny...
 
Now, everyone knows that East Africa experiences cyclical droughts, but this is different. A combination of man-made and natural factors have collided to set up the perfect non-storm. No rain of significance over the last couple of years and 2 harvests in a row have failed now.



"And, what will happen?" I wonder to myself. Will East Africans stop felling the trees that draw their rains? Will the farmers finally learn to protect their topsoil by ploughing with the contour of the land instead of up and down the hillside? Will the pastoralists who have lost so much grazing land reduce their herds and stop stripping the fragile environment right down to bare earth?


And will the world notice?

(Keep reading...)

Blogger

I see blogger has a new text editor...
Just thought I'd try it out. But where's the cute little icon for a hyperlink? Now there's just the word 'link'...
Well, I guess it will probably still work just fine...

RCE homepage

Hmm, interesting...

Here's a picture of Tom Stansbury, who received an award last month from NPIM for his teaching of Biblical Entrepreneurship in Ukraine. Congratulations again, Tom!

Destined By Design

Another treasure!

Doug Chandler presents an insightful seminar on destiny, purpose and meaning. What is your purpose here in this world? Can you find meaning in the midst of trials, challenges, or even the daily grind?

Take a look!

http://www.regent.edu/admin/media/fms/butterfly/butterflyURL.cfm?address=5000057

Unconditional Obedience

"But Simon answered and said to Him Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down my net" (Luke 5:5)

Would you like to know the secrets to overwhelming blessing and favor beyond your wildest expectations? Of course we all would. The reality, however, is that this "secret" is not really a secret at all but a well-known principle that we know but struggle with its application. This principle is called unconditional obedience. We have all heard of obedience, which is defined as listening with a desire to act. True obedience is about submission; it is the act of completely yielding oneself to the person giving the instruction. It is about rejecting our will and embracing His will. Unconditional obedience takes it a step further; it is not just completely submitting our will to the will of God but it is doing so without reservations. Unconditional obedience is listening with the desire to act without reservations.

This principle is demonstrated in the first encounter between Peter and Jesus. After Peter allowed Jesus to use his boat to preach the Gospel, Jesus, in his desire to bless Peter, instructed him to "launch out his net in the deep". Peter, a professional fisherman, had been fishing all night without success but his response to Jesus was that at His Word he would let down his net.

Though Peter was not certain of the outcome of his action, he unconditionally obeyed the Master and as a result he was extremely blessed beyond measure. He caught so many fish that day that he needed help to pull the net out of the water and the net even broke. This demonstrates that Peter had never caught that many fish in his professional career and had not planned on it, because if he had, he would have had a stronger net to handle such a harvest.

How long have you been toiling without real success? Fortunately we are at a time when the fate of our economy has been removed and we are all facing the real consequences of our actions. Our disobedience and inefficiencies can no longer be hidden in the abundance of the economy because it has been exposed by the current crises.

Like Peter you have recognized Jesus as Savior of your life. However, it is time to recognize him as Lord. You trusted Him with a part of your assets but it is time to trust him with all of your assets, including your profit centers. It was easy for Peter to let Jesus use his boat since this act did not impact his profit center. Taking operational advice from Jesus would impact his profit center; it was recognizing Jesus' Lordship over everything he had. What does a rabbi know about fishing? What does the Bible really have to say about business?

Peter obeyed Jesus unconditionally even though he did not know what the outcome would be. Will you turn everything to him? Will you obey Him unconditionally? Will you allow your business, your life and everything you do to be guided by the Bible? Of course your outcome may not be like that of Peter where he experienced immediate blessings. It may be like Daniel's, where His unconditional obedience led him into the lion's den or like Joseph, where his unconditional obedience led him to prison. Whatever challenges you may face as a result of your unconditional obedience will be nothing compared to the surpassing weight of Glory that awaits you. So go ahead and obey Him unconditionally and watch Him perform a miracle in your life and in your business.

Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Life Balance, Overload and Renewal

Found a treasure!

Regent's Media Services just sent me some updated links from some recordings made a couple of years ago. This one, entitled Life Balance, Overload, and Renewal, drew my attention right away: who doesn't struggle with stress and balance in life, at least sometimes?

Here's the link from Fall 2006, I believe: http://www.regent.edu/admin/media/fms/butterfly/butterflyURL.cfm?address=5000052

Doug Chandler, who taught this course, is a good friend and was very much appreciated by students while he was teaching at Regent Universtiy.

Protecting Your Birthright

"But Jacob said, 'sell me your birthright as of this day.' And Esau said, "look, I'm about to die; so what is this birthright to me?" Genesis 25:31-32

Do you know your birthright? Are you guarding it with your life? According to the Old Testament a birthright usually belonged to the oldest son or one sovereignly chosen by the Lord. The birthright included the inheritance of the father's wealth, prestige and special grace. Though in the Old Testament this honor was bestowed upon one child, usually the oldest, in the New Testament we all have the opportunity to inherit great wealth, prestige and grace from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As special as this birthright is, it could be lost. John 10:10a states: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy."

I strongly believe that he is after the birthright of those who have made Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior and are actively involved in the work of the Great Commission. This birthright is tied to God's overall plan for our lives; to our life mission or the calling that God has for us.

If the devil can keep you from fulfilling your life mission he will keep you from inheriting the wealth, prestige and grace that God has prepared for you. This is especially true for those of us called into the marketplace. We are currently facing very difficult economic times and as a result many have forsaken their calling for security and safety. They believe the lie that the only way to preserve what they have acquired is to play it safe and stop or slow down their pursuit of purpose. This is a lie from the pit of hell and it is a sure way to lose what you have gained and compromise the mission you were given.

How can I protect my birthright at all cost?

1. Do not trade it for anything no matter how desperate you are

2. Obey every instruction that God gives you whether big or small no matter the cost

3. Maintain a righteous lifestyle and give no place to the enemy

During these difficult times we can be tempted as Esau was to trade our birthright for temporary provision whether it be job security, meeting cash flow or increasing our income. Do not yield to temptation and remember the price that Esau paid. He traded the inheritance of the Abrahamic covenant to satisfy his stomach. What is tempting you right now? No matter how tempted you are remember that "man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."

If the devil cannot get us to trade our birthright for something else less valuable, then he will try to cause us to disobey God in the little things. Do not be like King Saul who lost the birthright of his son Jonathan by not fully obeying God's instructions. It is true that there is the temptation of partially obeying God because full obedience seems dangerous and scary. Often God gives us instructions without revealing to us the complete picture or outcome. Remember partial obedience is disobedience. What instructions has God given you? Obey them in full and trust God for the complete outcome.

Finally if he cannot get us to disobey God's instruction then the devil will tempt us to sin. Remember Reuben who committed an unrighteous act with his father's concubine and as a result lost his birthright as the eldest' son. Guard yourself against the pride of life, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eye. The devil will use one of those three methods to cause you to sin and lose your birthright. No matter how tempting the situation or proposition, it is not worth it. It will provide you a temporary high but a permanent and devastating side effect.

Like you, my journey as a Biblical Entrepreneur has not been easy. There have been ups and downs. The temptation of giving up or compromising and selling off the birthright is always present. Esau's statement, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me", is not foreign to those of us who are operating in the marketplace as kingdom business people. We should never give into that inner fear that causes us to think if we do not trade off our birthright we will die. Remember, you can make a choice but you cannot choose the consequences. Esau made a choice and he lived to regret it. What choice are you going to make?

Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Lord is my Chairman

"The Lord is my Sheperd; I shall not want". Psalm 23:1

The chairman is the highest ranking officer on the board of a corporation. Though there is a slight difference between the board chairman of a non-profit and a for-profit organization, the basic responsibilities are the same. The chairman presides over the meetings and provides the leadership to ensure that the organization achieves its mission in a fiscally responsible way. There are times however when this title is merely an honorary designation without any actual executive responsibility. This is especially the case with respect to some for-profits organizations. However in a non-profit environment the board chairman always has a fiscal obligation because the government requires non-profit entities to be particularly accountable to a board.

I have operated a non-profit organization for the past 13 years and have been blessed to have great individuals serve as chairman of our board; individuals that can hold me accountable and to whom I can run to for guidance and support. Individuals that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt have my best interest and the interest of the organization at heart. As great as these individuals have been there is no greater chairman than the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether or not you have an actual board, you need a chairman. Someone you can look to for guidance and accountability. Someone you can run to for support and encouragement. There is no greater chairman then Jesus. The very familiar Psalm 23 written by King David, where he describes God as his shepherd, is a great illustration of what we can expect of our Lord Jesus Christ as chairman of our board of directors. King David understood the importance of God as his chairman as he faced attacks from competing nations, the potential overthrow of his government from within, and even from his own character flaws.

He recognized that he needed a chairman he could rely upon for guidance, accountability, support and encouragement.

As you face the challenges of growing a kingdom business be encouraged by these words as you look to Jesus as the Chairman of your board. Make this a part of your business plan and mediate on it daily:

The Lord is my chairman; I shall not want (no matter the economic condition).

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me besides still waters. He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness For his name's sake (after all it is His company).

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (where there is competition, economic crises, limited cash flow, distrust, uncollected receivables, growing payables), I will fear no evil; for He is with me;

His rod and His staff comfort me (His rod and staff is used for discipline and protection but yields the fruit of comfort).

He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies (He will cause you to prevail in the mist of your competitors and those haters who do not want you to succeed).

He anoints my head with oil; My cup runs over (there is an overflow of joy, gratitude and peace that passes all of your understanding once you have this knowledge that your Chairman Jesus will never leave you and never forsake you).

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and business; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Wow, now I understand why, when David had moral failure and his Chairman gave him the option of personal discipline by Him or by his enemies, he chose to be disciplined by his Chairman. I understand why he had great confidence when he went out to battle even as a young man going against a lion, bear, and a giant. I understand why, when faced with an overthrow of his government by his own son, he did not take matters into his own hands but trusted his Chairman to restore his kingdom.

Is the Lord your chairman? What business issues are you facing? What concerns have you been attempting to address on your own? Why don't you call a board meeting with God the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and cast your cares upon them since you have the assurance that He cares for you. Keep this prayer in your office and use it to remind yourself during the difficult times who your chairman is and the assurances you have in His promises.

Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Whole Foods CEO

This post may not have so much to do with BAM, but here is a CEO with a mission for his business for sure. Whole Foods CEO John Mackey gave an interview earlier this month to the WSJ, and references to it have popped up in a variety of places. I just think it's worth a read.

Among other things, Mackey says business has a noble purpose: providing needed goods and services, and also providing jobs--this is good for individuals and also for the economy. It's refreshing to hear of a CEO who is not taking an outrageous salary and who is concerned for the good of his employees (Whole Foods has been on the 100 Best Companies to Work For list for 12 years straight).

The 4 Principles of Leadership

Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Exodus 18:18-19

Does the world need another document written on leadership? So many people have written oceans books on every dimension of leadership that one can find. I definitely claim no unique revelation though I must obey my father and bring out that which He has given me. The success of every family, business and government depends solely on its leadership. There is no other greater position upon which rest the rise and fall of any institution. I believe that is why there can never be too much written or read on the subject, it is just that important.

Are Biblical Entrepreneurs leaders? If they are not, then who else can be? As a matter of fact I believe more people are leaders then we think. There are two types of leaders; born leaders and learned leaders. Though they are very few born leaders, most individuals are in position of leadership and as a result must learn how to lead. Position of leadership include: parent, older sibling, committee head, head of a business or organization, supervisor or manager, etc... All of us who find ourselves in any of these positions must take the responsibility to learn how to lead.

As for Biblical Entrepreneurs, like Moses we are called to lead our employees, customers and community from the bondage of an economic system that puts money above God, greed above love, and profits above people to a system that recognizes God as the owner and sovereign ruler of the universe and us are the stewards who must give Him an account for our service to humanity and our handling of His resources. Therefore, as Jethro reminded Moses, we must be reminded that we can not do it by ourselves. We must inspire the people around us to work with us to realize the vision the Lord has laid on our hearts. Leadership is the ability cast a clear vision and provide direction and guidance to others through your example and influence. In order to be an effective leader they are four basic principles that you must continuously walk in.

The principles are as follows:

1. Leadership is service - effective leadership begins with service. Every leader is a servant but every servant is not necessary a leader. To serve is to put the needs of others before your own. The distinction between a leader and a servant is that a servant is only responsible to fulfill an assignment or project while a leader must not only serve but also assume the position of authority and the responsibility of oversight. Faithful service leads to greater responsibilities.

2. Leaders must be responsible - as effective leaders serve faithfully they are rewarded with greater responsibilities. To be responsible is to accept the demands to serve honorably without superior authority and oversight. Effective leaders do not need on site supervision but rather they are always mindful of the responsibilities bestow upon them. If a responsible leader is to be effective he or she must delegate.

3. Leaders must delegate - A responsible leader is able to delegate effectively to ensure that work gets done, without relinquishing his/her responsibility. The more faithful a leader is in their responsibilities the more responsibilities they are given therefore being able to delegate effectively is necessary for them to be able to handle their growing responsibilities. To delegate means to transfer the control of an assignment or project to someone, as well as the ability and authority to carry it out without relinquishing your responsibility. Remember you can not delegate something you have not fully taken responsibility for and delegation does not relinquish you of your responsibilities. Effective delegation leads to accountability.

4. Leadership accountability - Everyone is accountable to someone; effective leaders must give an account and they must demand account from those who report to them. To be accountable is to assume responsibility to achieve certain goals and provide ongoing reports on the status of the goals. Without proper accountability, projects are incomplete and goals go unmet.

How effective are you in your current leadership of your staff and associates? Review each of these principles and allow the Lord to direct you on how you can improve on your current leadership.

Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. -->

RCE's Tom Stansbury receives award

RCE Entrepreneur-in-Residence Tom Stansbury was honored as 2009 Biblical Entrepreneurship Teacher of the Year at NPIM's Annual Banquet.

Tom taught Biblical Entrepreneurship in Ukraine and continues to be a strong supporter of Ivan Papish, the director of RCE's daughter center in Ternopil Ukraine. Tom is also a raving fan of the Africa Initiative (formerly the Africa Project) and has a passion for transforming the nations through business.

We're proud he was chosen to receive this award.

Congratulations Tom!

Fight the Good Fight

" Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." I Timothy 6:12

In these volatile economic times, some individuals and businesses can be tempted to be distracted from their primary mission or to give up on their assignments altogether. They ask themselves, "Why continue when the forecast looks so bleak and the indicators such as rising unemployment, negative growth, foreclosures, decreased sale revenues, and much more are not very encouraging?" It is in these times that Kingdom businessmen and women need to remember that they started their businesses to meet market needs for profit while fulfilling the Great Commission in the marketplace.

If the focus of your business has become simply to make money, or if your business model is purely transactional, your business could falter during these tight financial times. Your business must promise the delivery of a product or service that meets clear needs in people's lives with a passion, or you will not survive these tough economic times. You may ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?" or "Is there a higher purpose than just making money?" My question to you is: are you involved in the good fight?

Life is a fight and no matter what you are doing you are fighting, either for something or against something. You have to make sure that you are fighting for the right reasons and against the right enemy. The good fight is a battle against the works of darkness for the soul and destiny of humanity. In the marketplace, this battle is waged through the venue of commerce.

Great battles are won or lost not based on the might of an army, but based on the magnitude of the mission and the selflessness of the army's purpose. If an army goes to war just for the treasures of victory and the joy of destroying an enemy, the soldiers will not remain inspired during the difficult times of the war. If, however, their mission is significant and their cause is greater then themselves, then no matter how difficult the war, they are prepared to die for what they are fighting for and that gives them a great advantage.

This is a time to reflect on the reasons you entered into business in the first place. Review your purpose and mission and ensure that it is for a cause bigger than yourself, then realign your activities with your purpose and mission.

Those who are engaged in the good fight cannot lose. The fight was already won at Calvary by our Commander-in-Chief, Jesus Christ. The battle is not ours. It is the Lord's. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

What are you fighting for? Make sure you are fighting the good fight. Then you will have the stamina to make wise business decisions in tough times that will produce profitable physical and eternal dividends.

Copyright © 2008 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

We have won!

And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad? Luke 24:17.

To win means to obtain the advantage over the opposition; to successful achieve the goals and objectives set forth. When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was sent to earth by His Father, His assignment was to give up His life in exchange for the salvation of all those who would believe in Him and establish a family of believes called the body of Christ who would continue carry out His message. To accomplish His mission He recruited 12 disciples who He trained and equipped to carry out His message throughout the earth after his return to His father. Though one of the disciples would betray Him which was a part of the plan He would accomplish his objectives. After His death and resurrection, He finds His disciples perplexed, sad and confused because it was the third day and they had not seen Him, thus concluding that the goal that he set forth was not accomplished. He did not rise as He said He would. Everything He taught us was not true. What are we to do now?

As they are having their pity party; Jesus Himself draws near them and begins to listen in. "Why are you so sad?" He asked. "Why are you talking so negatively?" They respond by reciting to Him what happened, how the Christ was supposed to rise after His death, but it did not happened. He then responded by rebuking them and reminding them of the scriptures and then revealing Himself to them as the risen Christ. Here it was, Jesus' disciples were walking around defeated and sad, talking negatively in unbelief, thinking they had lost when they had actually won.

Many of us may currently have the same attitude; because of what we are seeing, hearing and experiencing in the current crises we conclude it is over. I have news for you: we have won. Yes wining is an attitude, and the one what has a wining attitude will be the ultimate winner. Jesus said in John 16:33 "in this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world, and the Psalmist said in Psalm 34:19, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all". No matter what you are going through right now, you must maintain the attitude of a winner because a high price was paid for your victory.

Maintain a wining attitude is not easy given the fact that though we are called in scripture to live by faith many of us are continuously led by sight. We allow what we see, feel and experience to influence our state of being thus determine the outcome of our objectives.

In order to maintain a wining attitude you must to the following:

1. Focus on your relationship with the Lord - the most precious and valued asset you have is your relationship with the Lord; do not allow anything to interfere with that.

2. Keep a consistent diet of the Word of God through personal study and hearing the word - Our attitude is shaped by the information we receive, put the word of God in you through your personal devotions and hearing bible based teachings because faith comes by hearing.

3. Maintain a steady prayer life - pray without ceasing; a constant communication with your father is essential to achieving a kingdom assignment

4. Keep your eyes on the prize - Remember your ultimate reward is not here but in eternity.

5. Stay on mission - Your mission is your life, do not confuse your mission with your strategy

6. Change strategies when necessary - You must be flexible and adjust your plans based on new information and circumstances. This is not given up. You must never give up.

7. Walk by faith and not by sight - do not allow external circumstances to influence your feelings and emotions. Be direct by your internal belief and the word of God.

These seven things will keep you on the winning side every time. Remember in spite of how you feel and what you are going through, we have won. All you have to do now is execute. As you executive stay away from losers and surround yourself with other winners. A loser is someone who allows their circumstances to determine their outcome and maintains a negative and defeated attitude that is contagious while a winner is someone who has an attitude of success and knows that no matter what they have the advantage because they already won.

Copyright © 2008 Patrice Tsague

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14

Imagine you wake up during the night and there is no light in your house because of a storm which knocked the electricity out. You open your curtains hoping that the light outside the window will light up the house but there is no light on the outside either. The entire neighborhood has no light. The storm was unexpected and no one was prepared. No candles, no lamps, no flash lights. One by one, your neighbors begin to get up and notice the same thing, they begin to worry. It is dark, damp and no one has a light. The entire neighborhood is concerned and scared. Without light people cannot see where they are going, the elderly, the children and the handicapped are at risk of hurting themselves. Without light thieves can easily break into houses and stores because no one will notice them. Without light someone can get hurt in his own house because he cannot see where he is going. Imagine that this lasts for days, weeks, months and years. Of course overtime people will develop alternatives to illuminate the night until the real light comes back but no matter how great the alternative, it will only provide a temporary fix until the real light appears.

When Jesus appeared on the scene over 2000 years ago to begin His public ministry, He found Himself in the midst of darkness; the poor faced economic uncertainty, the church and state were corrupt and oppressive, and entrepreneurs were greedy and manipulative. There was complete darkness. Although temporary lights provided direction until His appearance, Jesus, the real Light, was now here. As followers came to Him for answers concerning their conditions and how to address the problems of their day within the government, church and economy; His response was not an escape plan from the world nor ammunition to overthrow the government and church leaders, rather He reminded them that they are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Jesus recognized that the reason the world was in such darkness was because there was no light. He encouraged them to not run and hide from a world full of darkness but to make themselves visible to all by the works that they do. Over 2000 years later, much has not changed; we still face economic uncertainty, corruption, oppression, and a marketplace full of greed and manipulation. The consequences are mortgage crises, bankruptcy and corporate bailout by the government. The marketplace is in darkness and in need of light.

Light is something that enlightens and illuminates, and provides direction and awareness. Biblical Entrepreneurs and kingdom businesses are the light of the marketplace. Our economy is facing tremendous turbulence - illustrated by the mortgage and financial crises - and the only hope seems to be government bailout. We all know that the government cannot solve market problems; all it can do is bandage the problems or provide a short fix. Solutions to permanently address market problems must come from the market and not the government. The role of government is to provide sound economic policies that are market friendly. Since the solution of the market crisis must come from the market and not the government, Biblical Entrepreneurs and kingdom businesses must provide leadership to solve the problems of the market. We are the light of the world; the reason why there is darkness in the marketplace, causing uncertainty and financial crisis, is because we are not letting our light shine. Our light must not be kept under a bushel nor hidden. This is the moment to let our light so shine before men so they can see our good works and glorify our Lord who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Are you letting your light shine in your industry?

Copyright © 2008 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Recession-Proof Living

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35

A recession is a significant decline in general economic activity that extends over a period of time, usually two consecutive quarters. The US economy faces recessions almost every 10 years but they do not last long. Signs of recessions include: an above the norm increase in the unemployment rate, two consecutive quarters of declining GDP, less business activities that last at least three months, personal income decline, and increase in the prices of consumer goods. If not dealt with, a recession can turn into a depression. To protect yourself from financial failure during an economic recession you must minimize your spending, increase your saving, remain consistent in your giving, pray without ceasing, and stay in the Word of God. Though Christians are not immune to economic recessions, we have a competitive advantage since we can tap into the supernatural.

Worse than a natural recession though, is a spiritual recession. A spiritual recession is a significant decline in spiritual activities over a period of time. The fruit of this recession is often anxiety, fear and doubt. Like the economic recession, if not dealt with, a spiritual recession can turn into a depression. A spiritual depression is a spiritual and mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a loss of hope. Avoid a spiritual depression at all cost. To avoid it, you must make sure you do not get into a spiritual recession; if you do, you must deal with it as soon as possible. The signs of a spiritual recession are: decline in your devotional life and prayer, decrease in your giving and church involvement, and a longing to isolate yourself from other believers. How do you have a recession-proof life? If you live a spiritual recession-proof life, you will not have to worry about the economic recession because you will either be immune to it or prepared to handle it.

Here are 7 things to do to live a recession-proof life:

Stay in the Word
The Word of God will give you hope, wisdom, clarity, and insight to deal with every situation that you face in every aspect of your life. Maintain a daily devotion that is designed to get the Word of God into your spirit. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8

Pray without ceasing
Prayer is direct communication to the throne room of God to make petitions and requests and give thanks for all He has done and is doing in our lives. It is essential because it enables us to address current problems and future problems before they occur. Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:17-18

Take care of your family
You may say, "What does taking care of my family have to do with living a recession-proof life?" Well, the reality is, if God views you as worse than an unbeliever you will not be in favor with Him. If you are not in favor with God then you are in trouble. Also at the end of the day, the only people who will be there for you through thick and thin are members of your family. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. I Timothy 5:8

Do not forsake assembling with other believers
It is amazing how the devil uses isolation as a strategy to trap and manipulate believers and bring confusion into their lives. No matter how you feel, never isolate yourself from others; stay committed to a local assembly and to a network of other believers with like minds and common interests. Human beings are relational beings. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

Exercise and eat healthy
Most believers get so focused on eternal things that they forget they live in a physical body. Some even believe that exercise and maintaining a proper diet is not an important spiritual activity. Scripture puts a greater emphasis on spiritual virtues such as the fruit of the Spirit than it does on our bodies, but it recognizes the importance of taking care of our bodies through exercise and proper diet. The lack of exercise and maintaining a proper diet will lead to physical and mental health issues which will contribute to a spiritual recession. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. I Timothy 4:8

Know the state of your resources
Nothing can bring us into a spiritual recession like finances. Some people are so heavenly minded that they have become no earthly good. You need finances to handle most things here on the earth. Finances are as critical to your participation in the daily economy as blood is to your body. The lack of finances can bring you into a spiritual recession. Take proper control over your finances and become the steward God intends you to become. Do not ignore this area. Do not think that as long as you are praying and reading your Bible it will take care of itself. God has given you a mind, use it. Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. Proverbs 27:23-24

Count the cost and finish
Believe it or not, unfinished projects and activities are a great cause of recessions. You were created to fulfill your vows, you were created to maintain integrity, you were created to finish, and you were created in the image and likeness of God. Just as God cannot ignore unfinished projects without violating who He is, neither can you. Many people fall into recessions because they are overwhelmed by the amount of unfinished projects and activities that require their attention. To avoid this, you must count the cost. Make sure that before you commit yourself to anything, you have enough spiritual and physical resources to finish it. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' " Luke 14:28-30

Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Godly Contentment: A Learned Behavior

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" Philippians 4:11

Contentment is an interesting concept in an entrepreneur's world since all entrepreneurs are looking for more business, more customers, and more money.

How do we remain content in a process that rewards the pursuit of more and views lack as defeat and failure? We find ourselves in a market place environment that rewards the pursuit of more and puts no limitation on how to achieve it except to not get caught. The reality is that in order to understand godly contentment, we must first change our paradigm of business. It is impossible for us to be content with the world's approach to business because it uses discontentment as a tool to motivate people to be innovative and productive.

A new Biblical Entrepreneur Certified Instructor told me that his supervisor in a company he once worked for took him to a dealership to finance a brand new car in order to motivate him to increase his sales. TV advertisements are full of images that are designed to cause us to be discontent with our current circumstances so that we want more. Contentment is not something we are born with, nor does it come automatically with the born again experience. It is a learned behavior. I read of a Quaker who placed a sign on his house that stated, "I will give this house to any man who can prove to me that he is content." After some time, someone came knocking at the door and said he saw the sign and wanted to claim the house, he stated that he was perfectly content. The Quaker asked what he meant. He said, "I have everything I want, all the money I need, everything in life that could satisfy me. I am perfectly content. "The Quaker said, "Friend, if thee so content what does thee want with my house?" Many of us are like that man; we claim to be content while still seeking for more.

What does it really mean to be content? Contentment is the Spirit-led ability to accept God's will for our lives no matter what our circumstances may be. It is a learned behavior that gives us the ability to achieve great gain in Christ. I love the definition Ray C. Stedman gives; he defines contentment as only wanting what you have. This is a great way to view contentment. Since most of us are always looking to get what we do not have, Stedman reverses it and gets our focus on what we do have. How do you achieve godly contentment? How do you get to the point where you only want what you have and no longer focus on trying to keep up with the Jones' or the Gates', especially as an entrepreneur.

To achieve godly contentment you must keep the following seven things in mind:

1. Recognize that you have brought nothing into this world and you will carry nothing out. I Timothy 6:7, Job 1:21

2. Recognize that both riches and poverty are from God. 1 Samuel 2:7

3. Learn the lessons taught in the times of lack. James 1:2-4

4. Master the art of stewardship. I Corinthians 4:2, Luke 16:1-13

5. Learn to appreciate every blessing no matter how great or small. I Thessalonians 5:18

6. Put your trust in Christ and not your resources. Mathew 6:33

7. Guard against the love of money. I Timothy 6:10, Luke 12:15-21

Recognize that implementing these things cannot be done by might, but must be done by the Spirit. You cannot will yourself to be content; Christ must empower you and give you the grace to achieve contentment. The dangers of not aspiring towards this virtue are great. I Timothy 6:9-10 explain it best: "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Therefore, pursue contentment, and with it, godliness, and you are assured to avoid great failure and have great gain in Christ.

Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague

ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDScripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Ramadan 2009

Just a reminder to all--Ramadan is here. Let's pray for those who are seeking God during this time, that He would reveal Himself to many. Also pray for those living and doing business in lands where Ramadan is observed: that each person would have wisdom to know whether or not to participate and how to conduct themselves courteously and discreetly, even if they are not fasting.

May the Name of the Lord Jesus be lifted up!

Resource pages:

http://www.30-days.net/category/ramadan/

http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/ramadan.htm

The Faithful

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Faithfulness is a steadfast allegiance or affection toward God's Word and God's eternal will no matter what the circumstances. It is a spirit-led determination to do God's will no matter what. Those who are faithful do not quit in the face of trials. Faithfulness is time-tested and requires perseverance.

To be faithful to God's will you need faith. To have faith you need a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Faithfulness requires a revelation of God's will for your life. Without knowledge of God's will for your life, you can become discouraged along the journey. The question becomes, "Why am I doing all this?" I call this the "so-what" factor. The "so-what" factor is our need to have a clear revelation of God's will and his purpose for our lives. A revelation of God's will gives you perspective and insight beyond the circumstances that you see with your natural eyes.

The assurance of eternal life and heavenly rewards also keeps us full of faith. "For he who comes to God must believe that He is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrew 11:6b). Our assurance of God's character as a rewarder keeps us looking upward and keeps us enthusiastic no matter what we face now. Hebrews 11 profiles some of the biblical heroes who were faithful in spite of very difficult and challenging circumstances. Let us reflect on these passages:

By faith Abel offered God a more excellent sacrifice then Cain (verse 4).

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death and was not found because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God (verse 5).

By faith Noah being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith (verse 7).

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going (verse 8).

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past age because she judged Him faithful who had promised (verse 11).

By faith Moses when he was born was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command (verse 12).

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days (verse 30).

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace (verse 31)

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthat, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented--of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. (verses 32-38).

What are you facing right now? How is it compared to what these early heroes of the faith went through? Can God count you among the faithful?

Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2a).

Copyright © 2008 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

The More Abundant Life (part V)

The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

We began this series by defining the more abundant life as an existence in Christ that is overflowing with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. We then stated that there are three attributes for walking in the more abundant life: righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

So far, we learned that righteousness is living your life in line with God's will by His power and not our own. We also learned that peace is the inner tranquility and poise of the believer whose trust is in God through Jesus Christ. This peace is not an absence of trouble, but rather a result of trusting Him in a way that gives us comfort and courage to face trouble.

Now we will conclude our series with how to experience joy in the Holy Spirit. Joy in the Holy Spirit is an emotion of profound happiness that comes from the Spirit of God. Jesus came to bring joy to the world, especially to those who would believe in Him. Because of a deep, inward excitement about the blessings of God, joy produces outward expressions of praise. Sincere expressions of joy, along with God's righteousness, are the outward evidence of the abundant life.

Why is this joy important? The Bible states in James 1:2, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." And Hebrews 12:2 states that "For the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame." Joy is important because it gets us through the difficult moments of life.

Joy is the outward expression of an internal assurance of God's ability to see me through. It is confidence that the challenge I now face is not in vain, but that there are great rewards that await me as a result of my obedience. I possess joy when I believe He sees me and intimately knows my needs in this situation. He is with me and on my side even when circumstances are beyond my control. He promises to work all things for my good, and He is faithful. What great happiness and joy to have confidence in His nearness and promises!

A lack of joy says that I am not confident that I will make it and that there is no reward for my suffering. You cannot lack joy in the Holy Spirit and experience the abundant life at the same time. This is critical, since the more abundant life is a blessed life; it is an exciting life; it is a life that is completely dependent on the Vine, Jesus.

How do you experience joy in the Holy Spirit?

- Ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit

- Seek God's wisdom to handle trials with joy and hope

- Choose obedience to God's Word

- Assure yourself of His promises, even during difficult times

As a kingdom business steward, how do you know you have joy in the Holy Spirit?

- You exemplify the fruit of the Spirit in times of pressure.

- You persevere through trials and challenges.

- You rejoice in the midst of difficulties.

- You choose obedience to God's instructions no matter the cost.

There is no greater moment than now to walk in this attribute. While the world is anxious, angry, and afraid of the current economic meltdown, kingdom business stewards allow the limitation of credit, the loss of contracts and clients, the cash flow challenges, and the reduction in our investments to cultivate patience in us. Patience produces godly character. In times like these, we are challenged to conform to God's Word like never before. We spend more time drawing near to Him and experience deeper fellowship with Him. As a result, our faith, trust, and joy increase and mature. We rejoice because we know that "our light affliction which is for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

My prayer for you is that the Lord will cause you to walk in the more abundant life this year like never before, that you will be immune from the ups and downs of the economy, that your business will prosper in the midst of lack, that He will work everything together for your good, and your existence will always be found in Him. May He give you wisdom to manage any crisis or challenge that comes your way, and may He prosper the works of your hands. I pray that He will show you favor with your customers, vendors, creditors, and employees. Above all, I pray that righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit will be the evidence and testimony-to you and others-of the abundant life of Christ in you.

Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague
ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDScripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Spiritual Buffalo

(posted by Skye at RCE)
Sara Groves on her Spiritual Buffalo...

There is a scene in the movie Dances with Wolves where the Sioux are on a much anticipated buffalo hunt. As they come up over a hill, they are shocked to see a field full of buffalo carcasses. The tragedy of that moment is that where the Sioux use every piece of the buffalo—the bladder holds water, the bone makes a tool, the skin is a covering for a tent- whoever has done this has taken the best part of the buffalo for himself and has left everything else to waste. There is no way to make good use of all that is lying in this field.

I was so convicted when I went to Africa that I am not using all of my spiritual buffalo. I have developed this one side of my personal relationship with God. I go to church, I have incredible worship, and I listen to incredible speakers. I have money to buy devotionals, and leisure time to do those devotionals. I have spent a lifetime grooming a personal faith in Christ, but have I been taking the best piece of the buffalo for myself? There has been a joy in discovering the good use of my life. There is a reciprocal redemption that happens when we enter into stories of helping our neighbor—not just around the world, but in our own communities. When I came home from Africa, instead of feeling guilty for my life, I began to hear God in a very clear way say, ‘that thing carries water, that thing makes a tool, that is covering for a tent.’

There is a beauty to the good use of a life, and to the acknowledgment that everything you have and do has a Kingdom purpose.

The More Abundant Life (part IV)

The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Once you reject your own righteousness and put on the righteousness of God, the second attribute to the more abundant life is peace. Peace is the inner tranquility and poise of the believer whose trust is in God through Jesus Christ.

The world sees peace as a lack of external conflict or trouble; however, in God's kingdom, peace can be present in the midst of conflict and trouble. Peace gives you the internal comfort and courage to face difficult situations and external problems. Without God's internal peace, you cannot address problems effectively nor can you obtain external peace.

The prophecy in Isaiah 9:6 describes Jesus as the Prince of Peace. A prince is the son of a sovereign ruler; so Prince of Peace means that Jesus is the bearer, or ambassador, of peace. When Jesus talks about giving us the more abundant life, He is talking about a life that will allow us to experience peace with God, with ourselves, with nature, and with those who choose peace. This peace is not the empty promises that the world offers through materialism, false religions, and false treaties. It is a godly peace that passes all earthly understanding.

This peace is beyond the world's comprehension. In the midst of an economic meltdown, you have peace; in the midst of bad news from the doctor, you have peace; in the midst of limited cash flow, you have peace; and in the midst of uncertainty about the future, you have peace. This peace is not circumstantial, but rather it is based on a complete trust in God through Jesus Christ. As a kingdom business steward, how do you achieve this peace? You achieve it by abiding in Christ.

Here are five things that keep you abiding, or finding your existence, in Him:

A personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which gives you peace with God

Keeping your mind on Him

Being spiritually-minded no matter the circumstances

Prayer - drawing near to Him with your worship and expressing your needs to Him

Keeping the Word of God in your heart

This peace disappears the minute you take your eyes off Jesus and begin to focus on yourself or your situation and not on His perspective and promises.

Why is this peace so necessary? It is a peace that the world cannot take away, and it guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. This peace is a spiritual shield around your heart and your internal nervous system to protect you against sudden heart attack or mental breakdown.

Many people in business have experienced heart failures and mental breakdowns as a result of bad news that they received about their businesses. This news can range from market changes, loss of contracts, loss of investments, or lawsuits. Remember, the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy; he uses people, things, and information to achieve his goal. But Jesus came that you may have life abundantly.

What are you facing right now? Are you experiencing the abundant life? Do you have a peace that passes all understanding? If not, seek the Prince of Peace, set your mind on Him, remain spiritually-minded, pray, and put His Word in your heart. Before you know it, peace will start coming over you. Although your problems may not disappear, this peace will give you comfort and the courage to face your problems; this is what it means to walk in the more abundant life.

Next week, we will discuss the final and most critical attribute of the more abundant life; joy in the Holy Spirit.

Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague

ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDScripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Links for researching grants...

I'm just doing a little web searching, and posting my results here. This way I'll have the info all in one place for when I have time to look into it further (and, in the meantime, it might be useful for someone else too!).


http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073791553

www.grants.gov

http://www.strategycorporatefinance.co.uk/grant-funding.html

http://search.business.gov/startLoans.html

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/learning/Pages/grantee-technoserve-business-training-coffee-farmers-africa.aspx

www.gatesfoundation.org

http://guides.wsj.com/small-business/funding/how-to-get-government-grants-for-training/

from: http://www.business.gov/
Financing Your Business
Federal and state government agencies do not provide grants to minorities for starting a business. However, there are a number of low-interest loan programs that help individuals obtain startup financing. Some non-profit and local organizations provide a small number of grants to help minorities and those in economic disadvantaged communities to start and expand businesses. Visit the Loans and Grants Search Tool to get a full list of grant, loan, and venture capital programs for which you might qualify.
ACCION USA Small Business LoansOffers flexible loans (up to $50,000) to small business owners who have limited or no access to traditional business credit, including women and minorities.
U.S. Dept of the Interior - Indian Loan Guaranty and Interest Subsidy Program Financing for Indian-owned businesses that significantly contribute to a Tribe's economy.
USDA Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and RanchersMakes and guarantees loans to approved socially disadvantaged applicants to buy and operate family-size farms and ranches.
Delaware Access ProgramLow collateral loan program geared to small businesses, including minority and women owned businesses.
Hawaii Consumer Micro-Loan ProgramProvides low cost loans up to $7,500 to Native Hawaiians who are experiencing temporary financial hardship due to unforeseen events, or who wish to enhance their careers.
Illinois Minority, Women, and Disabled Participation Loan ProgramSmall businesses that are 51 percent owned and managed by persons who are minorities, women, or disabled, with loans up to loans up to $50,000 or 50 % of the total project.
Iowa Target Small Business Assistance ProgramProvides loans, loan guaranty, and equity grants of up to $50,000 to help women, minorities and persons with disabilities start and expand their businesses.
Massachusetts BDC Capital Community LoansFinancing programs for women-owned, minority-owned businesses.
Mississippi Capital Access Loan ProgramProvides financing for borrowers who, for various reasons, might have difficulty in obtaining conventional loans. Borrowers must apply for a loan through a lending institution.
Mississippi Minority Business Enterprise Loan ProgramAssists new and existing minority businesses in gaining access to needed capital in the form of direct low-interest loans.
Montana Indian Equity FundA grant to assist a current Native American business or a new Native American business owner. The funds are available only to enrolled members of Montana’s federally recognized tribes in Montana and to enrolled members of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe.
Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan FundLoans to help start-up and expansion of Native Hawaiian owned businesses.
Nebraska: Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation Small Business LoanMicrolans available to any new or existing business or community development project that is located on or near the Winnebago Indian Reservation.
New Jersey Urban PlusProvides financial support to small, women- or minority-owned businesses, manufacturers, redevelopers and non-profit organizations in the following endorsed New Jersey municipalities: Camden, Trenton, Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, East Orange, New Brunswick, and Atlantic City.
New Mexico Community Development Loan FundAssists businesses and non-profits that provide positive social benefits, meet other special requirements, and are unable to access loans from traditional sources, such as banks. Particular emphasis is placed on helping low-income people, women and minorities.
New York State Micro Loans for Minority and Women Owned BusinessesListing of organizations that provide micro loans to businesses who often do not qualify for bank loans as well as one-on-one counseling and business development assistance to facilitate credit-readiness. Funds are provided by the state's Community Development Financial Institution Assistance Program.
Ohio Mini-Loan Guarantee ProgramProvides loan guarantees for fixed assets for small business (start-up or existing business expansion) for projects of $100,000 or less. The state has targeted 50 percent of the guarantee funds for allocation to businesses owned by minorities and women.
Ohio Minority Direct Loan ProgramProvides direct loans for businesses locating or expanding in Ohio that demonstrate they will create new jobs for Ohio citizens.
Pennsylvania Minority Business Development AuthorityLow-interest loan financing to businesses owned and operated by ethnic minorities. Funds may be used for fixed assets including land and building acquisition; building, construction and renovation; machinery and equipment acquisition and installation; and working capital.
Tennessee Small and Minority-Owned Business Assistance ProgramFinancial assistance for new, expanding and existing businesses in Tennessee that do not have reasonable access to capital markets and traditional commercial lending facilities.
Wisconsin Linked Deposit Loan SubsidyProvides an interest rate subsidy on lender financing to women or minorities who start-up or expand a business.

The following programs are specifically for women entrepreneurs. Use the Loans and Grants Search Tool to get a full list of programs for which you might qualify.
ACCION USA Small Business Loans Offers flexible loans (up to $50,000) to small business owners who have limited or no access to traditional business credit, including women and minorities.
California: Women's Economic Ventures Small Business Loan Fund Low interest business loans available to women-owned businesses in Santa Barbara or Ventura County that are unable to meet traditional bank lending criteria.
Delaware: Delaware Access Program Low collateral loan program geared to small businesses, including minority and women owned businesses.
Illinois: Minority, Women, and Disabled Participation Loan Program Small businesses that are 51 percent owned and managed by persons who are minorities, women, or disabled, with loans up to loans up to $50,000 or 50 % of the total project.
Iowa: Target Small Business Assistance Program Provides loans, loan guaranty, and equity grants of up to $50,000 to help women, minorities and persons with disabilities start and expand their businesses.
Massachusetts BDC Capital Community Loans Financing programs for women-owned, minority-owned businesses.
Mississippi: Capital Access Loan Program Provides financing for borrowers who, for various reasons, might have difficulty in obtaining conventional loans. Borrowers must apply for a loan through a lending institution.
New Jersey: Urban Plus Provides financial support to small, women- or minority-owned businesses, manufacturers, redevelopers and non-profit organizations in the following endorsed New Jersey municipalities: Camden, Trenton, Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, East Orange, New Brunswick, and Atlantic City.
New Mexico: The Loan Fund Assists businesses and non-profits that provide positive social benefits, meet other special requirements, and are unable to access loans from traditional sources, such as banks. Particular emphasis is placed on helping low-income people, women and minorities.
New York: Micro Loans for Minority and Women Owned Businesses Listing of organizations that provide micro loans to businesses who often do not qualify for bank loans as well as one-on-one counseling and business development assistance to facilitate credit-readiness. Funds are provided by the state's Community Development Financial Institution Assistance Program.
Wisconsin: Linked Deposit Loan Subsidy Provides an interest rate subsidy on lender financing to women or minorities who start-up or expand a business.
Wisconsin: Women's Business Initiative Corporation Small Business Loans Offers small business loans with a maximum loan amount of $100,000. Loans can be used for expenses associated with starting or expanding a business, including machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures, inventory, supplies and working capital

For Non-profits (from http://www.snpo.org/):

Nonprofit Links: Fundraising & Grant Writing
Funding Alert - Monthly e-mail with current funding opportunities sorted by category. Published by the Society for Nonprofit Organizations.
Nonprofit Auctions - CMarket - cMarket is the leading provider of charitable online auction services to nonprofit organizations raising funds for worthy causes.
Resource Development Course - Distance education course in resource development taught by an expert in the field - Jimmie Alford.
About.com: Grant Proposals - Links to tips and techniques compiled by About.com.
American Association of Fundraising Counsel - Since 1935, AAFRC Member Firms have served clients of every size and purpose-from local to international-in the arts, culture, and humanities; health; education; human services; religion; advocacy; public/society benefit; the environment and wildlife; and international affairs-in cities, suburbs and rural areas-virtually every type of nonprofit organization. Each year, the Association publishes, Giving USA to provide the latest facts and figures on philanthropic giving (Some of the charts from this publication are available on the web site).
Aspen Institute: Nonprofit Sector Research Fund - The Nonprofit Sector Research Fund supports and disseminates relevant, high quality research to improve the operations of nonprofit organizations and inform public policies affecting them.
Association of Fundraising Professionals - For more than 40 years, AFP has been the standard-bearer for professionalism in fundraising. The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents 25,000 members in 165 chapters throughout the United States , Canada and Mexico , working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs.
Carnegie Library Foundation Center - The Foundation Center is a resource for nonprofit organizations and individuals seeking information about grants and grantmaking organizations.
Council on Foundations -- Looking for a Grant or Grant Funding? - The Foundation Center is an independent national service organization established by foundations to provide an authoritative source of information on foundation and corporate giving.
DonorDigital.com - Donordigital, LLC, was founded in October 1999 by Nick Allen and Mal Warwick. Donordigital is a company that helps nonprofits use the Internet for fundraising, marketing, advocacy, and e-commerce. Based in San Francisco , California , Donordigital develops Internet strategies and membership and fundraising programs, builds Web sites, helps organizations arrange sponsorships with major Internet sites, and runs online promotions.
Environmental Grant Makers Association - The EGA exists as a voluntary association of foundations and giving programs concerned with the protection of the natural environment.
Foundation Center: Finding Funders - The Center's mission is to foster public understanding of the foundation field by collecting, organizing, analyzing, and disseminating information on foundations, corporate giving, and related subjects.
Fund$Raiser Cyberzine - A FREE digital magazine dedicated to bringing the world the latest and most complete news and ideas in fundraising.
Funding Opportunities database - Maintained by the Community of Science Web Site (Subscription Required)
Fundsnet - Grantwriting Resources - Fundsnet is a privately owned Web site created in 1996 to assist nonprofit organizations find funding resources on the Internet.
Fundsnet Online - Fundsnet Online Services provides parents, teachers and non-profit organizations with hundreds of quality resources available on the World Wide Web. This Web site provides you with one of the most comprehensive directories of foundations and funders in existence on the Internet.
Grant Getting Page - Maintained by the University of Illinois at Chicago .
Grant Seeker's Page - Resources and tips designed to help an organization find funding and connect with some Internet resources that were compiled by a private consultant.
Grant Sources for Educators - Sources of educational grants maintained by Kathy Schrock
Grants Information Center - The Grants Information Center is located in Memorial Library at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. It is one of a network of approximately 200 collections established by the Foundation Center , an independent national service organization in New York , to provide an authoritative source of information on foundation and corporate giving for nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit organizations looking for grants will usually want to begin at our site, Resources for Nonprofit Organizations. Elizabeth Breed offers free seminars for nonprofit organizations on the topic "Researching Funding Opportunities."
IRIS (Illinois Researcher Information Service) - This service also contains about 7,000 funding entries.
Justgiving Online Personal Fundraising Pages - Justgiving provides easy, affordable and powerful web-based tools to help you raise more money and simplify administration. Your supporters set up their own pages where they tell their story and describe their passion for your cause with their own pictures and text. They invite their family, friends and colleagues to visit their page and support them by making a secure online donation.
Marquette University - Memorial Library - Funding Information Center - Marquette University's Funding Information Center is one of over two hundred worldwide cooperating collections of the Foundation Center in New York City. A Resource for Nonprofit Organizations, Grantseekers and Fundraisers
Michigan Comnet -- Grants & Funding - Michigan Comnet is an online community and information sharing network for non-profit public service organizations in Michigan .
Neighborhood Fundraising Network - A nonprofit organization that provides hands-on, customized professional resource development and technical assistance to community-based nonprofit organizations with annual operating budgets under $500,000 at below-market rates.
Office of Minority Health - Resource Center Funding Database - OMH-RC has also developed both a Funding Guide as a source of information for grantseekers.
Proposal Writing: Internet Resources - Maintained by the Grants Information Center at U.W. - Madison . The Center also has an annotated list of print resources related to the topic of proposal writing. Some of the links and references at these sites have a bias towards funding research.
Raising More Money: Free On-Line Course - An interesting free course (non-interactive) that focuses on approaches that build individual giving.
SchoolBench.com, LLC - Fundraising consultants and makers of the Compleat Angler free fundraising software.
SPINPlus - Sponsored Programs Information Network (InfoEd) - The #1 Source of Funding Information. It is a computer database with detailed and up-to-the-minute information about thousands of Federal and Non-Federal funding opportunities. (Click on Pre & Post Award)
The Grantsmanship Center - "The nonprofit sector's leading source of training and funding information."

http://www.npguides.org/