5 Myths That Keep us Trapped in a Eddy

God's will for us is like a river. We are moving in it all the time, but sometimes we get diverted into eddies, circling swirls on the side of the river, going around and around, making no real progress to his intention for us. Eddies are very comfortable. The require little action or consideration on our part. Notice how in this video some break free to continue on down the river, while others seem like they are moving, but are really not. There are some myths that we believe that keep us in these circling eddies. 1.  We believe that ultimate truth is found in our feelings 2.  We forget our Identities 3.  We come to believe the temporary place where we find ourselves are permanent. We chose permanent solutions for temporary problems. 4.  We believe that resistance...

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Government or Business which is the Monster

Both government and business  are trustworthy if they hold each other accountable. Both government and business  are tyrants without each other. They are both the Monsters and the Pillars of democracy. They must both be healthy for democracy to thrive. The truth is that all things human are corruptible. We are all selfish and manipulative by nature. This is self-evident and biblical. I see a lot of distrust to the point of hatred of both government and business in America by believers and non believers alike. The arguments presented to us are about the constitution, the intent of founding fathers, the privilege of the rich, the fundamental fairness or unfairness of things. The basis of these positions seem to be that you either trust government and don't trust business, or...

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Changing Organizational Culture: The LARC Device

"Sir" the Chief said "There's something in the bushes your peeing on."  Culture is a living dynamic entity that exists in every company and in every  network of companies (or ministries) that do business or ministry together. It grows whether it was intentionally tended or not.  It responds reflexively to the things that happen to it. It can be assessed, and believe it or not, it can be Shepherd by intentional leaders. A LARC device is a tool that can Help. Culture:  the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time. : a particular society that has its own beliefs, ways of life, art, etc. : a way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization -Miriam Webster 5  Principles 1.  Acknowledge that culture...

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5 STAGES OF THE BIRTH OF A NEW BAM COMPANY

Peter Shaukat , CEO of Transformational SME (TSME), identifies five stages in the emergence of a new business as mission company. Each stage, from conception to launch, involves the integration of missional and commercial elements. Preparation Stage This is before the ‘baby is born’, the preparation that has taken place even before the business journey starts. It is about recognising what God has already done in the practitioner’s life in regards to their sense of missional call and life experiences; the tapestry woven together in their life before the BAM entity begins to be incubated. Preparation includes both business preparation and missiological preparation. What has God been doing to both missionally and professionally prepare the person, in terms of their skills...

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The Parable of Mission Camp - Enterprising Ministry For the Next Wave

 I had a dream in 1994. No, really... I had happened every night for several weeks, and each night the dream continued on adding  the next chapter of the story. I wrote it out, and even sent to a friend to edit it. I lost it to a computer virus in 1995. I am brought back to it today 22 years later because I think the time is right for it, the story makes more sense now than ever.  The story unfolds like the lives of those called to Kingdom Business Entrepreneurship with whom I have worked  for all these years since the dream.  If you are called to minister before God in enterprise, Prayerfully consider whether there is a message here for you. Arrival By accident The Hotel The Cafe The Camp The Tower The Equipping Center The Perimeter The Kidnapped The Raiders...

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Three Things Company Culture is, Three Things it is Not

The following points are shamelessly stolen from a blogsite called Military Leadership Methods, and is about how the Marine Corps built and is managing its culture.  The U.S Marines are a very long and successful cases study of deliberate organizational Culture management. The article points to three things that company Culture is, and is not ( editor has created the question bits) 1.  It is the result of  collective interactions. 2.  It Is not "owned by anyone". Even North Korea Culture is influenced by how Kim Jung Un's  leaders choose to react to his control. Who owns the culture here? The answer shouldn’t just be the boss or any one person. Is everyone encourage to engage in culture discussion? If leadership is not looking through a wide lenses at...

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Business as Mission:a Possible Funding Structure

Disclaimer: I'm a business guy trying to solve a business problem-and every business or non profit is structured differently. I'm not a lawyer, please don't take any of this as legal advice or execute any plan with out running it be legal where ever you area.I'd welcome a comment from someone who knows more than me. Problem:  Many Non-Profit entities want to provide funding for Independent For-Profit business start up and expansions, which are providing an income source directly to a non-profit entity in a remote region around the world. This has been a difficult thing for 501(c)3s to do. 501(c) 3s can own for profit companies, as long as all income comes back to the 501(c)3. But they cannot give money to an independent for-profit business except for services rendered. Some States...

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LC3 Still not legal in Texas

Prior to 2008, the prevailing for-profit business entities required high returns on investment.   Because most socially beneficial business ventures are not highly profitable, organizations pursuing these objectives are commonly set up as non-profit corporations. The problem with non-profit organizations is that they have very limited access to capital due to IRS regulations that restrict profit-seeking objectives.   For social and community conscious business ventures to succeed, they need a flexible, lightly regulated business structure that allows access to investment capital. The L3C format was designed to satisfy this need. In 2008, Vermont became the first state to enact legislation authorizing the creation of the L3C as a new business entity. Since then several states...

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5 Culture questions-is your Company Culture Special?

Is your talent strategy rooted in your business strategy? Culture can’t just be an assortment of well-meaning HR practices; it has to grow out of distinctive business practices. As I reflect on the great companies I’ve gotten to know — companies that are winning big in tough, competitive fields — they all exude what brand strategist Adam Morgan calls a “lighthouse identity.” Every time you encounter them, however you encounter them, you understand what makes them different, what they’re prepared to do that other companies aren’t, and why what they’re doing is relevant today. That’s why building a great culture starts with intellectual clarity about what your organization stands for and why you expect to win. There can be no talent strategy without a compelling business...

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The Ministry of Words

A man has Joy in an Apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word. Proverbs 15:23 Like Apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right circumstances Proverbs 25:11. The "word" in these verses, is the Hebrew word " daw bawr' " (. H1697 דּבר dâbâr daw-bawr' ) From H1696; These are only two of the over 1300 times this word is used in the old testament. The English translation to "word" is a vast understatement of the meaning. It can mean: a speech a plan a course of action a communicated issue a "thing" a story a Chronicle a communicated promise a communicate commitment a gift a cause a message an accusation a report a deed a timely, deliberate doing of nothing an instruction, a teaching a blessing and many more, depending on context. A more complete...

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Low Profit Limited Liability Corporation ( L3C) Update

I believe Low Profit Limited Liability Corporations (L3Cs),  are key entities that will allow believers to fund  BAM initiatives in mission environments.. L3Cs are entities that may allow Corporations to Fund Entrepreneurial Projects and yet still receive Charitable Contribution tax credits. It's  still complicated to set up, but there is legislation pending, the PRIs Promotion Act, which is aimed at making funding of  BAM and other social enterprise start ups easier. The following article is an update on the status of the L3C and the legislation. ******************************** by  Steve Gunderson, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations. Earlier this year, Americans for Community Development held its inaugural conference, “L3C...

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From the Regeny

Three Kingdom Business/Business as Misssion related books Reinventing the Wheel: A New Spin on American Business Leadership By Jonathan D. McDowell  As America loses faith in current models of leadership, the current need for a new type of leadership is described. A reinvention of leadership is suggested through the use of Romans 12:9-21 as a baseline. After laying that foundation, three foci for a leader are outlined: Purpose, Community and Fortitude. These ideas from contemporary business thought are then applied to business with the text of Romans 12:9-21. The result is what a reinvented American business leader should aim to achieve in personal and organizational leadership.  Servant Leader Workplace Spiritual Intelligence: A Shield of Protection from Workplace Stress By...

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Is My Business Labor an Act of Worship?

The word "ministry" carries different meanings depending who's using it and what's being described. In the last decade, there's a movement among some workplace-based believers who pursue business labor as an act of worship.One of the names the movement carries is  Business as Mission (BAM). People involved in Business as Mission, Workplace Ministry, "tentmaking", church planting, Kingdom Business Professionals, Great Commission Companies use the word ministry in a way that appears to carry  a different meaning than when the word "ministry" is used by clergy. Some clergy participating in BAM discussions cautiously explore what BAM people mean by the word "ministry". Some questions they ask are: Do you mean...

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5 Christian owned Companies Uncomfortable With BAM

Christian entrepreneurs who own some kinds of businesses will become uncomfortable the deeper they get into Business as Mission. BAM Questions the world view that make them successful,and when they ask the hard questions, they must either embrace BAM  or turn away from it. People who own these five kinds of businesses will be challenged by real  BAM concepts: 1. Business by The World's Book :Acknowledge Responsibility only to the law and shareholders. Shareholders are majority Christian but exert not influence or do not believe they are accountable for the actions of the company. 2. Old School Sacred/Secular Separatists: Businesses who's Christian owners believe that business is inherently "old nature", and they separate secular and sacred activities and...

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