Pat Condell offers some insight and thoughts on the ground zero mosque and Islam’s influence in our country. Interesting, to say the least.
Priorities
2010
07.04
07.04
After almost two weeks, my daughter was released from the hospital. The stay included a few days in ICU.
While in ICU, I held a man who had to face the death of his 9 year-old son. The boy had drowned.
It takes an experience like that to really help bring things into proper focus. We are all on the hunt for the grail of business excellence. And, that is a good thing.
But, when we start neglecting our families and the love that we are supposed to give to God and others, we miss the mark of life by a long, long way.
I will never forget that boy with all of those tubes connected to him and stuff going down his throat.
I will never forget that man’s knees buckling under the overwhelming pain of the loss of a child.
And, I will never forget what awesome love the LORD has given me in my wife and children.
Sometimes, it takes a shaking to get things lined up properly.
Business and Government Need Humility
2010
06.05
06.05
I saw this picture on CNN supporting an article on the Gulf oil crisis. Look at the eyes of this creature. You know? The LORD loves this bird.
Do you think that the mess that we created registers with this bird? He is trying to survive and is covered with toxic goo. He isnt concerned about profits and pundits. He just wants to live.
This is similar to the people living in the Gulf region. As soon as the big storms come in, life is really going to get interesting.
America’s decline continues. 2 Chronicles 7:14 has been coming up for quite a while now. Perhaps we are getting closer to humility entering in and people turning to God out of repentance. Perhaps not.
The leadership in our country in business and in government could use a big lesson in humility. Serving the people and a greater good is lost. Recognizing that there is a God in heaven Who created all and worshipping Him for who He is is also lost. But, the time is coming and soon is when we will know Who our Master is. And, out of our exposure and ashes, we will rise up, and He will wipe the mess from us.
I find it comical that the BP leaders are debating with other sectors on whether plumes in the Gulf are a certain level of oil or whatever. I dont think that our bird friend cares either. Everyone covers themselves. Adam and Eve tried that too, and God gave them a loin cloth because their little fig leaves weren’t sufficient. Wall St. and Washington, your fig leaves wont work either. Stop trying to cover up the mess. Turn to the LORD.
Humility is a big deal and is sorely needed today. Our country is being humbled.
It is only a matter of time.
And with that so perfectly said, I shall go and dine at my own table of pride. God help us all.
Perfectionism
2010
05.22
05.22
I am on day 4 of a 5-day fast.
Today, I had coffee. Yesterday, I had some juice.
I felt that I have failed my fast. I want to believe that the LORD will not bless me because of that.
The revelation is that this is a works-based mindset and perhaps the fruit of the entire fast itself. This alone might be worth the price of admission.
God will bless me because I am His. I dont need to work for His love. Yes, there are some things that you press into. I have gone without food for several days. I have drank water 90% of the time. I have afflicted my soul. I didnt get it 100% perfect.
But, I believe, as we approach Pentacost that the LORD is going to pour Himself into me in a new way. And, that is what I really want.
More of Him.
It is amazing how we often feel the need to do things perfectly to earn the love of those we are close to when all the while we can have it for free.
Consulting in the Light
2010
05.11
05.11
When you work with people, are you honest and transparent? Do you give room for people to see who you really are?
Today’s businesses find all workers – from the janitor to the CEO walking around trying to hide their shame or guilt or whatever. If that prospect were to find out who you really are, he would never do business with your company. If that business partner knew about the cracks, they would choose another. And, you would be rejected.
No one wants to be rejected.
Never before have we had the opportunity to consult our clients with openness. Everyone today tries to pretend. So, those who are straight forward and honest will be seen as breath to a man trapped under water. We can bring darkness to the light and do business in transparency.
Your prospects and clients will be amazed. You will too when they choose to do business with you in spite of the cracks and breaks and because of your trustworthiness. People want to do business with people that they can trust.
Consult your heart. Do you tell the truth? Do you really tell the truth? Are you honest with yourself? Are you honest with the market?
If you can muster enough trust to be open and honest, you will be astonished at how much your business increases.
Proverbs 20:6
Many a man proclaims his own loyalty. But who can find a trustworthy man?
Casting Your Net in Business
2010
05.06
05.06
As business leaders, we develop “best practices” to our daily efforts. Companies pay consultants top dollars to develop the “best” way to earning a greater profit. Strategic planning sessions spend countless hours on analyzing the gaps with the hopes of closing them.
Peter, John and some of the others were fishermen. They knew their trade inside and out, and I am certain that they had figured out how to develop their own best practices to fishing. We see this when Peter was tending to his nets on the shore. They knew what they had to do to keep their own operations working at peak efficiency.
Yet, we find that one time, they stayed up all night trying to catch something. Things were tight. They didn’t get much of anything. In fact, you could say that sales were zero.
And then, Jesus shows up and says to cast their net on the right side of the boat. I guess it was best practices to fish on the left side or something.
The disciples obeyed, and the rest is history. They caught more fish (sales skyrocketed!) than their nets could hold.
John 21
6And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.
Many of you are trying to do it your own way. You think that you know the best way to do it. Sometimes, man’s wisdom is not quite enough. God’s wisdom is needed. He can tell you what to do, where to do it and when to do it.
God’s best practices are truly best.
Perhaps, you should seek the LORD for what He wants you to do next.
Book Recomendation for Business Leaders
2010
04.21
04.21
Os Hillman has a new book out.
I am pleased to tell you about a just released book Os has written entitled, Experiencing the Father’s Love: How to live as sons 
and daughters of our Heavenly Father. At first glance it appears it is not a marketplace book, but in fact, it is very much a marketplace focused book. Let me explain.
When the modern-day faith at work movement was birthed about 15 years ago it represented a “son” that was birthed to the body of Christ. However, the Church has been reticent to embrace this spiritual calling of men and women in the marketplace. As a result, many men and women have strived to gain acceptance among their local churches to validate their calling. This has led to striving and performance. In essence, many today still live as slaves and orphans instead of sons and daughters in the area of their calling. The key to acceptance is living as a son or daughter, not gaining validation from others.
MarketPlace Leaders surveys reveal that in an average audience less than 10% of those in attendance had their earthly fathers say the words “I love you” during their growing up years. As a result of the disconnect between many men and women and their fathers, it has left a void of being able to personally experience the love of their Heavenly Fathers. This book addresses this void and how to reconcile it in their lives. I believe this is a very important message for the Body of Christ. We pray this book helps you personally experience the Father’s Love in ways you have never experienced. We find very few people who personally believe the scripture from Zephaniah 3:17: The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
Learn more about the book and read the first chapter free, or order the book from this page.
As a leader of other leaders, Os wishes to make this book available at a discount of 50% for case quantities of 100 per case. We encourage you to resell or make this to your constituents to provide income to your organization while at the same time provide a very important message for them. This is a great Father’s day gift. Please contact Karen in Os’ office at 678-455-6262×101 for this special discount. Also, please visit their website for more ways to use this book in the lives of others at http://www.experiencingthefatherslove.com/ that features other resources related to this topic. A special video has been done on this message you will find on this page.
Also, you can send others to this website to read the first chapter free.
Urgent Bill in the State Senate
2010
04.20
04.20
URGENT REQUEST!
IMPORTANT PRO-LIFE BILL STUCK IN COMMITTEE.
Contact the Georgia Speaker of the House, David Ralston, (404) 656-5020 – office
One of our generation’s most important pro-life bills is being held in committee by a Republican Speaker of the House. Georgia’s Senate Bill 529 is a simple bill that protects a woman from being forced to have an abortion against her will and prohibits the use of abortion as a means of race or gender discrimination. It was passed by Georgia Senate with overwhelming support and is now being held up in the House Judiciary committee after a hearing last Tuesday. Georgia Rep. Wendell Willard is the chairman of the committee.
This has quickly become a national issue. Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion providers have acknowledged that SB529 will change the practice of abortion in America. They are trying everything to defeat it because they believe it could be used to challenge Roe v Wade in the courts. To that end pro-abortion forces have brought national pressure and resources to Georgia to fight against the passage of SB 529. We must show them that we are ready to fight back!
Many national pro-life leaders have been asked to contact Speaker Ralston as well as encourage pro-life citizens with in their respective networks to call Speaker Ralston’s office and pray for this bill’s passage. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has made an appeal to have this bill passed out of committee and sent to the house floor for a vote. (You can hear Gov. Huckabee’s phone call here.)
The campaign for this legislation represents an incredible success. A broad based coalition comprised of social conservative groups like Georgia Right to Life, and civil rights organizations like Georgia Chapter of the NAACP, and Georgia Chapter of the SCLC have come together in support of this bill. This unified coalition recognizing the use of abortion for race and gender discrimination has abortion advocates terrified!
It is important that you call your Georgia State Representative’s Capitol office today and ask him or her to encourage House Leadership to move SB 529 out of the committee and to the floor of the House for a vote. Some of the best pro-life attorneys in the nation have helped craft the language of SB 529 and it is very important that the bill pass the Georgia House with NO amendments to be voted on as was in the Senate.
If you live in Georgia, we are asking you to please contact your Georgia State Representative today to urge them to support SB 529.
If you don’t know your Georgia Representative, please go to
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/state/main/?state=GA&view=myofficials#0 to get his or her phone number. With time running out on the 2010 legislative session, you must contact your Georgia State Representative as soon as possible. If you live outside Georgia please contact Speaker Ralston urge him to get this bill out of the Judiciary committee now! Also, let anyone you may know in Georgia to support this bill by contacting his state representative. We have a great opportunity to serve the cause of life nationwide. Please get involved today in helping pass SB 529.
Thanks for making a difference!
Dean Nelson
Executive Director
Network of Politically Active Christians
For more information please visit these links.
http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/sum/sb529.htm
http://theunchoice.com/pdf/FactSheets/ForcedAbortions.pdf
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15606229
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/senate-abortion-bill-continues-440932.html
Consulting on the written and spoken word of God and Kingdom leadership.
Business and Government Leaders Watch: Wives Tales
2010
04.10
04.10
Men in business and government, you have a call on your lives. And, you are to walk in unity with your wives. Sometimes, it doesn’t feel like those things are in alignment. In fact, some of you are on the brink of divorce. We examine four stories of wives in the bible and their husbands who did amazing things for God. Watch, and get the key.
elevate29 consults with business and governmental leaders to help them realize the fullness of who God has called them to be.
What's up in the Kingdom?
2010
04.05
04.05
Christians have opportunity to shine in a big way. But, there is a problem. Love, joy, prosperity, generosity, patience and other “Christian” qualities are seen as the exception rather than the norm. In fact, many people turn to other religions because of the hypocritical nature of the Christians that they know. This is problematic. Also, many Christian businesses do not operate at full throttle. They are supposed to prosper. Look at Chic fil a. They do amazing things as a Christian busin
ess. That does not mean that they are perfect, but there are lessons to be learned.
elevate29 conducted a survey to Christian business leaders to find out how their businesses lined up with what God says about business. We broke the questions along three lines: organizational, relational and spiritual. We know and have heard that it is the heart of Christian business leaders to make a difference. The survey highlighted this. But, across the country, it seems to be that things are different. The matter does not seem to be about intention. So, what brings the disconnect?
Rather than give a bunch of stats, the top observations are below. See how you compare:
John Stein