“For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17

I was greatly heartened by the overwhelming response from Tuesday’s blog. You all gave me great hope that perhaps there is a body of people who do want to impact the culture through the strategic takeover of cultural mind molders that shape the destiny of a generation. We have a growing community of brothers and sisters from Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, Africa, Central & South America, etc who are using this site as a way of connecting, supporting and even challenging each other. The posts many of you contribute not only help each other but give life back to me and I am grateful that you take the time to stay in touch and share your perspective!

I spoke Tuesday night to a group of business-minded entrepreneurs in Greensboro, NC and it was terrific! What a great bunch of people! Special thanks to those who drove up from neighboring states to join us. It was wonderful to meet you!

Like many of you, there were several who were struggling to figure out how they could get out of the difficult financial straits they are in. The main emphasis of my talk Tuesday night was on perspective — how you see and interpret the circumstances you find yourself in and how you see yourself. If you see yourself as a grasshopper or a pauper, that is what you will be. That is, at least, how you will live.

We first have to get a firm grip on who we are and what we are which helps us discern a little more on “why” we are. We are children of the King, but that doesn’t mean we are supposed to be spoiled rich kids. Rather we are to be trained to rule and reign with Him. Do you have any concept of what that means? Our King owns everything and I believe He wants us to learn how to manage (steward) some of those things. It’s not that He needs help. It’s that we do! We need to grow up and mature.

Acquiring and managing resources involves risk and training and reward. In the process we grow up. And even better, we grow in our relationship with Him as He trains us to manage the planet and rule and reign in life. Business is a context for relationship. What a shame for those God prepared and gifted for sharing in the joy and privilege of managing the planet, who shun that responsibility because they want to do something they consider to be “spiritual.” Let me tell you, it takes a great deal of spiritual maturity to acquire and manage wealth without being mastered by it. Jesus said it would be difficult (Mat 19:23) I look forward to growing together with you all.

Hello friends,

In honor of April 15th, I thought I’d pass along the message I just got from Jeremy over at ChristianBusinessDaily.com.  In light of today’s topic of conversation on the blog, you may particularly enjoy it.  The video is one of me on a similar rant from a few years back…

Blessings,

Michael

Dear Michael,

Happy Tax Day!

I’ll make this quick, because I still need to go wait in line at the post office.

If you’re a small business owner like me, I’m sure this is one of your least favorite days of the year.

By the time I leave the post office today, I will have mailed a 2007 income tax payment, a monthly payroll tax payment, and my 2008 first quarter estimates.  Tax day is now a monthly event for business leaders like you and I, but we all get hit especially hard on April 15.

While I wait in line, I’ll try not to think about how much more productive my small business could be with that money than the government.  In fact, given the way tax dollars are wasted, I think my tax payments would bring a more valuable return if the checks were cashed, shredded, and used as bedding for an animal…

Sorry.  Let me end my tax day rant right here.

Despite the fortunes that we deliver to the IRS each year, only to watch them get wasted… we are NOT helpless victims.

I don’t need to tell you that, because you are a small business leader.  You’ve already taken leadership into your own hands - starting your business with a vision of doing something different. Something great. Something that makes a difference on your industry, and the people you serve.

As Christian business leaders, our calling is especially important — and unique.

If you are a Christian business leader, you have been called to expand the Kingdom of God through the marketplace - whether you know it or not.

We can no longer separate the secular from the sacred.  Our business practices must shine the light of Christ in a very dark place.

We need to leverage our influence in our local communities to begin to take back the gates of commerce, and make an impact for Christ that cannot be ignored.

Friends, the battle to impact the culture with the Kingdom of God is heating up fast.  The stakes have never been higher!

Today… Tax Day 2008… We’ve set up a free video to encourage you in your work, and to help expand your vision of what God can do through Christian business people.

Click here to watch a free video from a remarkable event that you missed in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Then read the article to find out how we can make a lasting impact on our small towns, our cities, our states and our nations - through the potential influence we have in business.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Harrison
ChristianBusinessDaily.com

P.S. This free video will only be available through the end of the week.  Click here to view it now.

Yes, I did select this title to get folks to read the article. This blog is longer but important. It will take you all of 3 - 4 minutes to read it but it’s worth it. Here goes…

“For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” (Romans 14:11)

The other night I turned on the television and to my shock and amazement witnessed something I thought I would never see. It was “results” night for American Idol and there were all the contestants singing “Shout to the Lord”, originally a Hillsongs worship song. Tears welled up in me as I heard them sing so powerfully this song that opens with “My Jesus, My Savior…” Now I read that the night before they substituted the name of Jesus with the word, “Shepherd” but apparently folks got upset at that and they had them do it over again on Thursday night. No matter. Regardless of their beliefs, the contestants glorified God with their song and with their talents and millions were touched!

Now as some of you know, we got some questions about my blog from last week where I told about Pastor Sunday Adelaja from Ukraine who has a Club 1000 raising up millionaires in a relatively poor country. (Over 200 new millionaires in the first year) As usual, I was misunderstood by some who should know my intent better. It seems every time I bring up the subject of wealth and influence there are those who react quite negatively, grouping me with those who preach some form of a prosperity gospel of personal consumption and materialism.

The reason I will keep posting what I post is not so you can acquire untold wealth and live a lavish lifestyle. Your lifestyle is not my concern! I am concerned about the culture and the pitiful influence that we as Christians have on it. Wealth is not about getting people to envy you so you can share the gospel, although that may happen. Wealth is not about being a fat cat. The purpose of wealth is to establish the covenant. Even with Christ in us, working through us, in the last 50 years we as Christians have established very little. Sure we have established churches but most of them have taken the vow of silence on culturally relevant things like government and politics, having chosen to come under the sovereignty of the state with their 501(c)(3) status.  (There is a place for non-profits, but the church isn’t the place!)   I will rant on that another time!

Christians are so marginalized today and we deserve it. We are afraid to make money but quite willing to beg for it! What is wrong with this picture!?!?!  We shun wealth leaving the levers of influence that money buys, in the hands of the wicked. Shame on us! I for one will not apologize for wealth because I want to use it to in some meaningful way to establish the covenant and shape the culture, even though my brothers and sisters in Christ may naïvely accuse me of being caught up in a prosperity, get rich, selfish gospel.

Did you know that General Electric wants to spin off NBC? Wouldn’t it be something if Christians with a profoundly Biblical worldview could and would buy it?! But no, having money is evil according to too many Christians. Grow up! Be strong in Christ! Give your talents over to God. He just might raise you up to be the next owner of CNN. And no, I don’t mean to suggest that if Christians owned CNN or NBC, etc that it would be turned into a religious broadcasting network. We don’t need anymore of those. What we need is Christians with a brain and filled with the Spirit, walking in wisdom! That would be dangerous!

Why do you think Fox ran that “Shout to the Lord” song the first night without the name of Jesus?  Do you think they forgot the words? Do you think they were trying to improve upon the song? YOU KNOW THE ANSWER and so do I. There is incredible power in the media and that’s just one reason I want to see Christians with wealth so they can control those levers for good!  Wouldn’t it be great if the evening news was not stacked in favor of political candidates who do not share our values? Wouldn’t it be something if evil was exposed for what it was and good was celebrated? I could go on and on!

But too many of us, decry the evils of wealth and tell us instead to simply be more Christlike. As if being wealthy and Christlike were mutually exclusive! And by the way, if Christlikeness is really the goal, do you think He is sitting on a throne made of popsicle sticks? Do you think the gold on the streets is just gold colored paint? Get real! Want to be like Christ? Then be like Him in every way you can. Fully confident. Fully in union with the Father. Walking in love. Helping others. Never in lack.

I am in Greensboro tonight (April 15^th) speaking at Evangel Fellowship in Greensboro, NC with Pastor Otis Lockett and this message is burning in me. Care to join me? Pastor Lockett is doing a phenomenal work in that city and raising up business leaders to influence the culture. Join us if you can. See you there!

Well, it’s Rainforest Friday and I wanted to share with you the seven stages of growth every seed goes through to become a productive tree. If God can refer to us as trees of righteousness (Isa 61:3) then I certainly feel comfortable doing so. The rainforest makes an excellent business model for anyone so here are the seven stages you should know about that every tree (business) goes through.

1. Germination: The idea is acted on. Investment is made. Resources are committed.
2. Roots down: The new plant looks for security, sending roots down to get more water (information) and nutrients (capital) gaining stabilization before going to market.
3. Stems up: The stems support the leaves. Think of the stems as the leadership team going ahead and opening up the new location or venture which will ultimately support a team of productive workers (leaves). Leaders must lead. They need to go first.
4. Seek the light: Keep your eye on the vision. Be vigilant about continuously aligning your strategy with the vision. Position yourself to best pass on the vision to the rest of the team.
5. Grow leaves: Build your support staff and get productive. Leaves turn light energy (vision) into chemical energy (action) to produce food (product or service).
6. Flowers bloom: Flowers use shape, color, design and scent to attract pollinators such as birds and bees. Think of the flowers as marketing and the pollinators as early adopters. The pollinators are first to respond to the marketing message and they carry that message wherever they go. They spread the word on behalf of the marketer. That ultimately brings the next phase.
7. Grow fruit: Think of it as critical mass. According to Wikipedia, “Critical mass is a sociodynamic term to describe the existence of sufficient momentum in a social system such that the momentum becomes self-sustaining and fuels further growth.”

In the rainforest, once fruit is produced, every manner of customer flocks, climbs and crawls to enjoy its bounty. In the process the seeds within the fruit are freely distributed on the forest floor ensuring a self sustaining condition with continuous future growth. Hope you found this helpful. Details at 11:00 (o-:

Until next time, be fruitful, then multiply.

There is a sentiment I am picking up from the Body of Christ that there is a reprieve of sorts – a window of opportunity that has opened – where before the shift comes in a big way, there is opportunity both to get your financial house in order and to prepare to seize the opportunities that lay ahead of us. Both ideas are interrelated as you cannot seize on the new opportunities if you are strapped and burdened by the past.

I heard from an intercessor in Nigeria (Yemi Issachar) who is a watcher of the global economy. This is what God has been showing him… “The recession today I believe is God’s making, to pave great ways and open serious opportunities for His children to follow a narrow path everybody ignores to become the new leaders in the new USA that God is building. This is the year of open doors and God is the one at the centre of all these shakings to propel His own to a new beginning.”

Friends, we need to take some bold steps this year to eradicate debt and position ourselves not only financially but in a host of other ways to step up into the positions of authority God has for us in the marketplace. He will not give it to us if we are unprepared, ill-equipped and unbelieving. We must rise up on the inside to accept the challenge of the Holy Spirit before us, to get trained, get positioned and take territory. Want to catch that train?

I want to thank all of you who have been praying for me and my family. I do not take that lightly. We need prayer cover as the battle is intense. My wife and I deeply appreciate your care and love for us. We returned safely from Costa Rica and I am pleased to inform you that the manuscript for The Best Business Model on the Planet, based on the rainforest as a business model, is now in the publisher’s hands. It is scheduled for release October 7^th.

While I was away, I heard from Pastor Sunday Adelaja, a Nigerian born, Russian trained, Ukrainian pastor who now pastors the largest church in Europe. He shared this with me, “There are a lot of opportunities that God is giving to the Body of Christ these days; it is not the time anymore when we only give and then wait for elevation. He is opening people’s eyes, and we are training them to become champions in the market place.”

Pastor Sunday knows a little about training folks to be champions in the marketplace. He told me they have something they call Club 1000 which is, “…a practical club that encourages and opens doors of business for it members. We have a goal to make people millionaires between 2 - 5 years, and in one year over 200 members of the club have already accomplished this goal.”

I believe we could all benefit from what this man has to share and he has agreed to make himself available for a teleseminar when he comes to the States later this month. Keep watching for details. In the meantime, find a bookstore that has his book, Church Shift, and order it today. Then read it.

Today’s message is a guest entry from David G. Johnson of Epiphany Marketing, LLC.

“AND THERE was a famine in the land… Then Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favored him with blessings. And the man became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and distinguished; He owned flocks, herds, and a great supply of servants, and the Philistines envied him.” (Genesis 26:1a,12-14)

We said in my last message that the instructions Isaac received from God contradicted reason. He was to stay in the land despite the difficult conditions. What followed is a beautiful example of what happens when we partner with God to bring His covenant and His influence to bear on our circumstances.

“For we are laborers together with God….” (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Isaac planted at least one crop (maybe more!) when all around him farmers were failing. As he did, God put his “super” on Isaac’s “natural,” multiplying the results. Notice that Isaac didn’t “camp” in the land and do nothing, waiting for God to miraculously provide. Instead, he “occupied” the land and engaged in business. This, my friend, is how to partner with God.

Isn’t it fun that after it says he received a multiplication of results, the Scripture then says, “…and God favored him with blessings…”?! Most of us would’ve been happy with great business results, but God’s plan was bigger than that. By making Isaac a person of great influence, God was able to get the attention of the neighbors. Later in the chapter we find out that they came begging for partnership with Isaac because they saw that God was with him.

Friends, in every so-called “downturn” there are those who excel. If you’re under pressure today, make God your partner. Allow the pressure to increase your capacity. God wants to bring His influence to bear on your circumstances and on your sphere. It’s time for believers to occupy the “mountain” of business. This may very well your season for it!

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward… Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Therefore seeing we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily ensnare us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 10:35,38 & 12:1)

I write to you today from Costa Rica where I am wrapping up a three year study of the rainforest as a business model. What I have learned about how God gets abundance from scarcity is absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to share it with everyone when the book comes out in October. The publisher is calling it The Planet’s Most Successful Business Model. I am putting the final touches on the book on this trip.

I am writing from here today because I am burdened for you. I am concerned that you, like me, are experiencing what for us is an unprecedented battle against our souls. It’s a battle to weary us, to take us out of the game and to make us irrelevant. I feel it and I am pretty sure you feel it. Some of the battle is blatant and out in the open and much of it is disguised like the Fed takeover going on this week.

There is a shift coming of monumental proportion and what I am striving for and what I am pleading with you for is that we as a body of believers, press into God like never before. The greater the battle, the harder we press in, not growing weary in well doing, but praying without ceasing and walking in love. I have more to share in this regard, but will save that for future blogs.

Today’s message is a guest entry from David G. Johnson of Epiphany Marketing, LLC.

“AND THERE was a famine in the land… and Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. And the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I will tell you. Dwell temporarily in this land, and I will be with you and will favor you with blessings; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.’” (Genesis 26:1-3)

We’re hearing so much this year about the economy, the housing market, the falling dollar and business conditions in general. Hopefully, your business and family are not being affected by it personally, but whether you are or not, hearing about it frequently can have a mental, emotional and even spiritual impact.

With a variety of industries suffering in the local community here, I’ve had this passage from Genesis 26 on my heart quite a bit lately. Isaac found himself and his household surrounded by difficult conditions, and it’s hard to imagine how that may have weighed on his mind. As casual readers, we sometimes forget that his household was most likely substantial, with a lot of mouths to feed and a lot of people looking to him for answers. Today, he might be the owner of a small company — perhaps with 50 employees or more.

What to do?

What’s interesting to me is that when Isaac heard from God, the instructions he received were very counter-intuitive. Egypt would’ve been a safe haven for a nomadic family like his to go and find trading partners. But God instructed him to essentially start a business in a failing industry in an economy that was suffering, and in physical conditions that would not support his new venture. When there’s a famine, it’s generally not the best time to go into agriculture!

But when you have instructions from God, you have hope that others do not have! We’ll pick this subject up again in the next message, but in the meantime, consider this question: Are you getting instructions from God in this season, or are you allowing the conditions around you to shape your thinking?

“And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” 1 Cor 15:4

Are you tempted to give up? Think you have it bad? Maybe you do. Life can be tough, but don’t get stuck where you are. Stir up the gift of God, which is in you. What is that gift? Christ in you, the hope of glory. Sure there are other gifts, talents and blessings He has bestowed upon you, but none compare with the gift of Christ in you.

I know how it feels. You struggle and struggle for so long, making some progress but never experiencing the breakthrough you are working towards and you just want to take a break from it. Give it a rest. But the problem is that life is like a river. Our destination is the crystal lake at the headwaters of this river. When we stop struggling to reach the headwaters, we start drifting towards the sea. We must choose between reproducing life in the crystal lake or drifting out to the salty sea of humanity, just another one of many who gave up the struggle before completing the mission. Before fulfilling our destiny.

I don’t know about you, but I intend to spend the rest of my life heading upstream. Who knows, maybe my going in that direction will help others? Who is watching you? Have you considered the possibility that others are looking at you for hope? Maybe, just maybe they need to see someone they know pressing on, upstream, bent on fulfilling their destiny. All along the river, there are those who have lost their way who desperately need someone who hasn’t given up. This morning, I received this news clip of someone who is still swimming upstream at age 92 and changing the direction of an armed robber.

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