I’m not suggesting unity at the expense of sound doctrine, but I am suggesting that we come together to support one another in business. To contribute to the needs of those less fortunate. To take care of widows and orphans. To financially tithe into our local church and let the Holy Spirit guide us toward additional offerings/gifts to other ministries.  To support those among us who step out in faith into the ministry. To promote our Christian brothers or sisters in sports, media, politics, business and the arts. To help start new church plants and to help encourage new church planters. To preach the word in season and out.

Any takers?

Featuring:

• Fireproof
• Facing the Giants
• Flywheel

Get details for their next movie by following them on Twitter

Here are the rules for the contest.

Submit a post to me at bryce [at] simplifiedsolutionsllc [dot] com by Next Monday February 15th at 8AM EST.

I will announce the winner in Next Tuesday’s Newsletter.

Each post will need the following to qualify.

1. A Christian Business you truly respect and recommend.
2. A Christian Product we may not be aware of- online is preferred.
3. A Christian Church Plant, Ministry or Mission you support.
4. A Christian Influencer (athlete, celebrity, business leader, politician, etc).

Make sure you doublecheck the site for current links. The goal is to add new content to the site.

I am the judge of which posts make it to the blog. Hopefully all of them will but I want to make sure they are in the spirit of what this site is about- Connecting Christian Causes to Christian Businesses.

This is the first of several contests to help launch this community.

The answer for me until the last few months was no. He was an adviser at times, or a board member I flew in 4 times per year for a quick consult. He was who I went to when I got in a jam. Did I bring him in as a full blown partner? Not until recently. After reading the biography of R.G LeTourneau I realized that I must turn it over to him. I must go where he takes me and my motives need to be as pure as those of Jesus.

If you haven’t seen Flywheel yet, then rent it or I’d recommend buying it as you’ll want to watch it a few times. It is a truly powerful picture of what God can do with a business owner who lets him steer the ship.

In reading James the 4th chapter this morning, I realized a few things.

1. The 4th chapter of James became my new favorite text in the bible.
2. The 4th chapter of James is like a what if.

I’m not a bible commentator. There is my disclaimer, but the word of God is living and active and speaks to my heart just like it does yours. So here goes.

What if in verses 1-3 we would ask God for what we want with the right motives? I think about how many times my will was secretly for more. More recognition, more money myself, more comfort or freedom. What if my petitions were more about the right motives? I believe he’d answer much more frequently which leads to less quarreling, fighting and coveting.

What if in verses 4-10 we would make Jesus Lord of all of our life? What if we stepped out of the world 100% instead of 1/2 or 3/4? God is jealous for our attention or as the NIV says the spirit he caused to live within us envies intensely.

What if we resisted the devil? James tell us the evil one will flee. I’ve read of some amazing turning points in the lives of Christian businessmen who experienced tremendous success after this scenario played out. Come near to God and he will come near to you. He will exalt you if you humble yourself you double minded man. Sometimes I read these verses and think my picture should be next to the text.

Lastly, what if we let God whittle our goals, dreams and visions down to his will for our life. His will is that none should perish, above that you’ll get a million opinions. What if we dreamed big dreams with a sense of destiny, but approached them humbly. What if we avoided not only sins of commission but sins of omission like James refers to in verse 4:17. What if we showed up daily for our walk?

How much more could we build God’s kingdom if we made him the majority partner in our business?

I heard Max Lucado yesterday on the radio say, “Do most what you do best”.

What kind of a view do we take of this pain and suffering? Do we march on in faith as God has commanded us to do so many times. The 11th and 12th chapters of Hebrews makes it clear that God thinks highly of those with great faith. Whenever I’m completely defeated and beaten down, those two chapters bring a spring to my step.

I have been reading a little about a great hero of the twentieth century Winston Churchill. The story has been told many a time of how Churchill wrote a letter home to his mother after surviving a battle and dispatching several enemies. He told his mother he believed he had been preserved for greater things.

What if we fellow Christians (by the way don’t let the revisionist historians tell you that Churchill wasn’t a bible believing Christian) approached our lives with the sense of destiny. Churchill made a statement in his twenties about acts he fulfilled in his 80′s. Wow.

The same could be said for Abe Lincoln who failed and failed and failed. In those fiery furnaces of failure a man of such perseverance and diligent character was formed. If not he couldn’t have possibly lead our country through it’s toughest times.

Keep showing up and believing that God has preserved you for higher things. Yes this world is temporary. Heaven is home but while we’re here let’s walk forward in faith. It’s much better than fear.

Sounds like a great time to plug Max Lucado’s new book “Fearless”. I need to pick up a copy.

I have no idea where this is going but I’m gonna start by showing up everyday and pouring myself into it. Let’s start this movement at the grassroots level. God just needs imperfect people with a humble heart, an obedient attitude and a sincere faith.

I hear about a lot of Christians going into mission work and ministry. I hear about a lot of Christians planting churches. What I don’t see happening- a lot of Christian businesses and leaders stepping up to fund these kingdom builders.

Maybe we’re just disconnected. Maybe we aren’t leading in this area. I think we should and I think God is ready to use those who show up each day and say not my will but yours be done.

So tune in, follow along and when you’re ready to turn it all over to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith; sound off.