Hong Kong    

My trip to attend the Call2All conference in Hong Kong was a kaleidoscope of impressions, relationships, and sensory input that is going to be hard to capture. So many were packed into such a short time….

First, who Call2All is…from their web site - Call2All is a worldwide movement calling the church to a renewed, focused collaborative effort to complete the Great Commission.Call2All is about all nations, all spheres of society and every unreached person everywhere in the world. It is a strategy-centered, action-oriented movement focusing on where the Church is NOT, rather than where it is. Its purpose is not to replace existing ministry but to network, train and focus the body of Christ to fulfill the Great Commission. Call2All is about engaging Christian leaders in new and more comprehensive strategies.Call2All Let’s start with the event itself. Call2All is drawing together the Global Church in an unprecedented way to reach the least, the last and the lost.Call2All convenes Christian leaders in Strategy Congresses and provides new avenues for training to foster a global move of God.  

This year the invitation included an unusual pronouncement:

God has been speaking to us about involving the “whole church” in the call2all movement and we are responding to his call.  We have acknowledged that for too long we have focused on the “professional” missionary agencies and churches to spread the word of God to His people.  We realize that if the other 95% of the Body of Christ joins us we can reach many more people for Him.  In that effort, we are warmly inviting leaders from the Workplace, including the Market Place ministries, BAM (Business as

I was invited to be a part of the strategic planning group who were called together to begin forming strategic objectives to accomplish the integration, and did meet with that group on three afternoons. As might be imagined getting agreement on even simple terms was awkward at first and there is way more yet to be done than was accomplished in the three days. But it was a start and if we are willing to listen to God and set aside preconceptions and personal prejudices who knows what might happen?

The mornings were times of teaching, worship, and prayer and it was thrilling to see thousands of Christians from across Asia and around the world joining together in praise and worship. A huge world map was spread out in the middle of the hall and people would wander to stand on a country to pray for that nation.

The afternoons were broken into three teaching threads, missions, church, and business taught by leaders from around the world. I shared a small part in one breakout and was amazed at the response. Kent Humphries and I stayed for 30-45 minutes after the session counseling and praying with business owners from Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Polynesia, and other countries. It was a very moving time to see the sincerity and passion for Jesus and His way in their businesses and to be able to stand with them and bring them to Him in prayer. That part alone would have been worth the whole trip to me.

I distributed a few books and pamphlets and exchanged a bunch of business cards and as always it is hard to measure the direct benefit from attending an event like this. Some people that seem to be very interested disappear and others who you meet only briefly pop up and are indeed “divine appointments.” I believe that I was supposed to go and that God will use the trip in His way and time. Time will tell. I didn’t go to make business contacts but there were many of them as well.

One of the most powerful memories that I will hold of this time is that of the young, very very bright, and capapble, committed Christian business owners that I met who hold no brief with a separated life but see themselves as 24/7 Christians. I met several from China are risking all they have and sacrificing all that they could have in a career in a position in the US by starting and leading various businesses as ministry. The clear and sparkling look in their eyes as they talked to me about the visions and calling they hold inspired me. I just wanted to give a hug and anything else that I could to encourage them and speed them on. God is indeed at work in the marketplace and in places and ways that we don’t hear about through people we may never meet this side of heaven. The gathering in Hong Kong was a glimpse of a bit of what heaven may be like.

Further from Proverbs 7 - Verse 12 describes ”the immoral woman” as “lurking at every corner.” Verse 7 describes her victim as “a young man devoid of understanding.” In this current age so many of us are the young man. The world has its agenda, constantly offering alternatives to God and His way in life, and it is sometimes subtly sometimes not so subtly, but always constantly, pressing it’s false promises against us as the harlot in the 7th chapter presses her charms against the “young man.” She knew his weaknesses and used them against him until he went for her and then “an arrow pierced his liver.” The world presses agianst us as water presses against a dam and an arrow waits for those of us who listen to her as well.

 Water presses against a dam in a totally committed search for a weak spot. The pressure of the water never goes away or diminishes. If a weak spot appears the water increases pressure just there until a breach can be made. If a breach occurs water then rushes through it to expand the breach. The goal of water is ultimately to totally destroy the dam and remove every trace of it. Water has ne mercy for the dam. The “world” has no mercy for its victims either.

The world presses against us young men in the same way. The “immoral woman” that tempts and attracts us comes disguised as things like “a perfumed bed covered with tapestry and Egyptian linen” or in “enticing speach ” using “flattering lips.” Often she presents herself as religious having “paid my vows.” All are designed to lead us into her trap. In our contemporary culture she tempts us with “stuff” and “status.” We could make a more definitive list but at the root we will find pride, pleasure, and the need for approval, which can only truly be found in God, but which “the immoral woman” promises but can never deliver.

In American culture the “immoral woman” works through creating discontent in the midst of the richest culture ever. We have more but she says it is never good enough and we believe her. In reality she tells us the God doesn’t love us enough to give us what we need to be happy but she will! She lies, she can’t and won’t. But almost every ad and cultural standard or measure support her claims. More is aleays better and so is bigger or more expensive. All lies.

The devil is behind the “immoral woman.” Since the garden of Eden he has used disguises to offer alternatives to God and His way in life. From the Garden to this day these  disguises have two primary purposes; either to steal our salvation or to steal our joy, destiny, or eternal rewards if he can’t divert us from God’s only true path to “life abundant.” If we are lost he offers plausible alternative religious schemes, once we are saved he offers distractions, dilution, distortion through the “immoral woman.”

The best life that can be found on earth is found only on “the narrow path.” The “immoral woman” stands just off to one side and beckons us, “Come over here, it’s better here and you will find the pleasure and fulfillment that you seek. Don’t listen to God (”my husband is not at home and we will have all night!” ) He is way out there and much later!” Some young men, only a relative few really, see The Bitch for who she really is and turn away. They set their plumb line down the center of the narrow path and press toward the one who stands at it’s end. She calls but they recognize her lies and press on. They keep their eyes on the real prize and won’t settle for the counterfeit.

 So, how about you and I? Are we deceived into thinking that we can dance with her but not take the next step? Are we willing to hold hands but no kissing? Well, maybe a kiss or two but nothing more? Don’t go there! Jesus says this:”Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths;” She has wounded and destroyed many strong men and “her house is the way to hell, descending to the  of death.” Stay on the narrow path, flush the floozy, and press on! The Bema awaits!

As many you know I frequently cycle through the book of Proverbs reading the chapter that coincides with the days date. I don’t do so every month but occasionally, as I think of it. Today is the fifth of the month and there is a sequence starting in chapter 5 that I thought you might enjoy sharing with me. So, if you like, hang with me for a bit! 

Start Chapter 5 by seeing that the words “wisdom” “knowledge” and “understanding” occur in the first 2 verses (NKJ version). Review our definitions for the three. (Wisdom = the ability to see things from God’s perspective. Knowledge = A knowing of God and His ways based on the fear of the Lord and study of His Word. Understanding = Seeing God for who He is and self for who I am , and acting accordingly.) 

Then in verse 3 substitute “the way of the world” for the “an the immoral woman.” When I think of the way of the world I imagine all that is part of “the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the sinful pride of life” (I John 2:16) or those things that the evil one offers to us as alternatives to God and His way in life. The temptation and allure of money sex and power, trust in mammon, the desire for the approval of man, etc. are the siren songs of “the immoral woman.” 

As you read through the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters look for the references to her and reflect on the world’s way of attempting to seduce us from the narrow path.  

Note the references in verses 5:20, 6:24, 26, 32, 7:5 and look for the exhortations and warning in the verses that precede them, and then follow the path of “the simple” in Chapter 7 starting in verse 6 as he goes for the bait of the harlot and witness the result in verses 21-23. A particularly applicable warning jumps out to me in 7:26 “For she has cast down many wounded, AND ALL WHO WERE SLAIN BY HER WERE STRONG MEN! Leaders are strong men! You are all strong men! And the devil offers strong men many attractive alternatives to replace Jesus as the center of our lives. David was a strong man. Jim Baker was a strong man. Ken Lay was a strong man. Whether by actual sex sin or through the “cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things…” strong men are first tempted then lured out of God’s way and often rendered fruitless. Remember, every sin begins with a single thought, as does every righteous act, so apply Proverbs 4:23 by “taking every thought captive to Christ…” Ditch the Bitch - and press on!!! The Bema awaits!   

Christian Business?

Can a business be Christian? Of course it can! In the same way that a school, or a family, or a genre of music or literature can Christian, so can a business. For years I have heard the spurious arguement that since “a business can’t go to heaven” that the use of the term Christian applied to same is invalid. This is nonsense. The word can and is completely properly used as an adjective, to modify and further clarify a noun, And it is amazing to me that every one of the pious critics that I have encountered who declaim the term when used to describe a business have no trouble at all using it in the previously mentioned contexts and others. This distraction is not helpful. The question is not really can a business be a Christian busines but how and what does the term mean?

When we use the term Christian as an adjective to describe a school we understand that a Christian school is an organization that teaches things like math and science etc. but, because of the modifying adjective, we know that it will do so with a Christ-centered worldview, striving to express and apply Jesus Christ’s teaching and functioning under His direction and Lordship and accepting His values. A Christian school will be judged academically using all the criteria that the world uses but also by an additional measure of obedience to the Biblical standards and principles it professes. A business is simply an organization as is a school, an organization gathered to work toward producing a predetermined result. Providing an education in the case of a school, providing a valuable product or service in the case of a business. Either can only be dedicated as Christian by the organizing authority or owner(s) and once made the commitment relieves no obligation to provide quality or value in its primary service or function. Use of the modifier Christian merely gives information as to how and by what standards it plans to do so. The organizaion will strive to act coherently with the values of Christ as it functions.

So, the term is proper but is it appropriate? Can we flawed and struggling humans perfectly apply the ways of God in Christ in an organization? Of course we can’t but does that mean that we shouldn’t try? Or should we wait until we have it all together before we claim to represent Jesus Christ or to be called by His Name?. Do you know of a perfect church? A perfect Christian song? School? Family? Novel? No, you don’t and I don’t either. But we both know that our God has chosen to shine His light through earthen vessels wherever He places them, individually or gathered into groups. Wherever. God is not limited and His Kingdom extends to our businesses. The question isn’t can a business be a Christian business but “how ?” Like-minded Christian CEOs and owners across America and around the world are meeting together on a regular basis to learn “how to” and to help one another apply God’s ways in “Building Great Businesses for a Greater Purpose.” Visit www.c12group.com for more information.

Is there hope for America? Can our slide down the slippery slope to godless secular humanism, greased by relativism, falsely defined tolerance, and self-centered greed be slowed and stopped? Can the impotence of the American Christian church be reversed and can we regain the moral authority and influence we once had and that Jesus Christ surely deserves? No, there is no hope and it won’t happen unless…

We learn from history. If we refuse to learn from history we are indeed doomed to repeat its mistakes. We have only to look across the Atlantic ocean to the lands of our historical roots to see our future. All of Europe lies today as basically a spiritual wasteland. Yes, of course there is a spiritual remnant, there is always a remnant, and there will be a faithful remnant here. But the Church has literally no influence in society or on the citzenry. Less than 2% go to church across Europe and the nations are drifting morally and in the process of becoming “Islamized.” It will happen here unless…

We change and change substantailly.I agree with Charles Colson and his conclusion drawn in his excellent book “Faith - Given Once, For All” where he says that the only hope ifor America and the world is for Christians to set aside worldliness and begin to live authentic, Christ-centered, Biblical lives. The gap between the typical evangelical life and values expressed and measured by George Barna et.al.,and what will be required to change the world is gaping and has nothing to do with how the message is presented but everything to do with how the life claiming to belong to Jesus Christ is lived and portayed to those who observe and experience it. There will be no political or economic solution for the moral rot in our nation and in all of mankind. It wouldn’t matter if we had a completely Christian supreme court, legislature, and administration, as long as the culture of our churches remains one of corrpromised materialism it will leaven the rest of society. But there is hope if…

The greatest untapped resource having the potential to influence and ultimately change our national culture lies in the Christian leaders and owners of businesses in the marketplace. Americans have become calloused or almost immune to the  “programs” of the churches and are not impressed with our expensive buildings and praise teams. But they are not so indifferent to personal example and the testimony in the real world where they live and work. The light shines brightest in the darkest places and in the darkest times and I suggest that the marketplace, business, where we spend most of our time and reveal our true values the most clearly, presents our greatest opportunity and hope.

I once had the pleasure of meeting Max Depree, a godly Christian man and former Chairman and CEO of Herman Miller Corporation. In the course of our introductions Mr. DePree asked me “What do you do Buck?” I answered that “I try to help Christians integrate their faith into their businesses.” He paused for a moment and then said, “Buck, don’t you have that just backwards? Shouldn’t we be seeking to integrate our business into our faith? Isn’t Jesus the center of our lives? And shouldn’t we be bringing all of our lives under His rule?” It was an revelatory moment for me. Of course he nailed it. Jesus is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. We don’t just add Jesus to our lives to be saved and avoid hell. When we are saved He becomes our Savior and the Lord of our life all the time and everywhere, a Lord who rules and reigns. A Lord whose Word is the final authority and whose way leads to truth and life.Honestly, how many Christians do you know who live their faith at a cost of anything? If you closely observe your pastor and the members of your congregation how would you know they were Christians and how would the difference contrast from what you might observe in moral heathen? There should be distinctive  differences and they often are seen in sacrifice and service. True believers have always paid a price to belong to Jesus and the Church has never profited from attempting to be like the world or make the world comfortable in its sin. 

In 2006 we surveyed our membership that had been a part of our groups for 10 years or more. We found that, not only had they outperformed a comaprable group of typical businesses selected by the Business Roundtable in top and bottom line performance by over at a three to one ratio, but in two of 16 businesses they had recorded over 250 salvations that occurred through business contacts. That is and average of 25 per year or 2 per month! If these businesses had been churches where do you think they would rate against the national average? Do you see 2 per month come to know Christ in your fellowship? Chances are about 95 to 1 you don’t. In fact you are more likely not to see ANY in a year based on national statistics, But wait, these are not churches - they are businesses, a construction company and a steel distributor. And they are exceptional only by degree, they have the most but far from the only similar results, and salvations are not the only form of ministry that we see. Employees, customers, vendors, and even competitors are being discipled and placed in local Biblically based congregations across our nation. Profits are given to those in need in the Name above all names in and through these Christ-centered businesses led by Christ-centered leaders. I have observed and participated in this work for 35 years and it is real. But to see it happen requires a basic paradigm shift in the heart and mind of the leader. An eternal prespective must replace contemporary thinking influenced by the world around us, and we must recognize our true identity as Ambassadors for Christ. All of this is happening every day across our nation but will it coalesce quickly enough to make the difference and reverse the downward slide? I don’t know, but I believe that we do represent the greatest and perhaps best hope for transformation and renewal we have.

I have been using a devotional book called “God IS Enough” this year. It’s a selection of devotions collected from the writing of Hannah W. Smith, author of “The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life.” This is one I take out about every 5 years and am always encouraged and refreshed through it. The May 22 reading is worth your attention and mine.

“Some Christians seem to think that all the requirements of a holy life are met when they are very active and successful in Christian work. Because they do so much for the Lord in public, they feel a liberty to be disagreeable and unchristlike in private. But this is not the sort of Christian life I am depicting. If we are to walk as Christ walked, it must be in private as well as in public, at home as well as abroad; and it must be every hour all day long, not only at stated periods or fixed occassions. We must be just as Christlike to our employees as we are to our minister, and just as “good” in our place of work as we are in our prayer meetings. It is in daily living indeed that practical piety can best show itself; and we may well question any “professions” that fail under this test of daily life.

A cross Christian; an anxious Christian; a discouraged, gloomy Christian; a doubting Christian; a complaining Christian; an exacting Christian; a selfish Christian; a cruel, hardhearted Christian, a self-indulgent Christian; a Christian with a sharp tongue or bitter spirit - all these may be very earnest in their work and have honorable places in the church, but they are not Christlike Christians.”

And then on May 23:

The life hid with Christ in God is a hidden life as to its source, but it must not be hidden as to its practical results. People must see that we walk as Christ walked if we say that we are abiding in Him. We must prove that we possess what we profess.

This means a great deal. It means that we must turn our backs on everything that is contrary to the perfect will of God. It means that we are to be a “peculiar people” not only in the eyes of God but also in the eyes of the world around us. Wherever we go, it will be known for our habits, tempers, conversation, and pursuits, that we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must no longer look on our money as our own but belonging to the Lord, to be used in His service. We must not feel at liberty to use our energies exclusively in the pursuit of worldly means, but must recognize that if we seek first His Kingdom and righteousness all needed things will be added. We will find ourselves forbidden to seek the highest places or to strain after worldly advantages. We will not be permitted to make self, as heretofore, the center of all our thoughts and aims. Our days will have to be spent not in serving ourselves but in serving the Lord. We will find ourselves called on to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. All our daily duties (including our work) will be more perfectly performed than ever, because whatever we do will be done, “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”

As Christians called to a holy and important work we can never be reminded of these things too often. Others are always watching everything we do. We, in our strength, can’t lead lives worthy of our calling, but we can beg Him to live His through us and He surely can! Remember the mystery of the Gospel is Jesus in me, as me, through me, to others!

My wife Bonnie and I hust returned from a trip to Ongole, India, where the Lord provided for us to be used to build two Church/Orpahanage buildings for two growing Indian congregations. It was a short visit but I came away with an insight that made very real to me something that had been shared with me by my friend Dennis Peacocke years ago. It has to do with the difference between “wealth” and “riches.”

In the villages that we visited the people were extremely poor in terms of “riches” but very “wealthy” in terms of Kingdom values. If we think of “riches” as money, property, possessions, and pleasure, and “wealth” as love, character, contentment, joy, and the fruit of the Spirit we gain an insight into God’s level playing field. All Christians don’t have equal access to “riches” but all have equal access to “wealth.” Those we met and prayed with in the villages of India were very wealthy indeed, but very poor!

This can contrast with the lack of “wealth” that we see in so many “rich” American business owners and leaders. While there is equal access to “wealth” for all Christians, the distractions of “riches” can erode or steal it entirely. “Things” can be a curse or a blessing depending on how we perceive them and use them. Hoarding them brings a curse, sharing them with others a blessing.

I know this is short and perhaps even simplistic but my intention is to cause thought, not to teach at a deep level, I will trust God to do the deep teaching, just think on this idea a bit and ask Him.

Let me give you an example. Before the opportunity to fund the buildings buildings came to us I had an IRA. In reality it was just a bunch of numbers on paper that I received regularly from my broker. It was a bit interesting to watch the numbers go up and down with the value of the stocks but it had no real value to me or to anyone else. I exchanged some of the numbers on paper for two buildings in India that will serve Christian believers and orphans for years to come and was privileged to see and share in the joy and hope in the lives of others that I had never met and who could never repay me (nor should they have to). As we celebrated God’s goodness together in dedicating the buildings to His glory and purpose we shared in His wealth, even though there were no riches to be seen. Riches can be exchanged for wealth, wealth never can be exchanged for riches.

The numbers on the paper meant so very little to me, or to anyone else, but the exchange we made this past week couldn’t be compared and the wealth created is eternal.

The Scriptures say, “Without revelation (or vision) people cast off restraint.” (Proverbs 29:18.) Vision may be defined as “a perceived worthy reslult.” It is something far off or future in nature that draws us on toward it, an “end game.”

For Christians, our end game is, or should be, to hear Jesus say, “Well done good and faithful servant!” Truly there can be no higher or better result of our lives than to hear those words. When our eye is clear, and our “end game” clearly in mind, it, in and of itself “restrains” us. It helps us focus on what Stephen Covey calls “First Things” as in “Keep First Things First.” First things are those that feed those things most important to us and help us accomplish our vision. They are strategies and tactics that support us and help us remain focused amid the noise and distractions that the world, the flesh, and the devil throw in our path.

Our end game is eternal, not to be realized in this life, but in eternal life with our Lord Jesus. He will be our judge and our effectiveness will be judged by His standards alone. Without “restraint” or focus distraction will cause diffusion of our efforts and diminution of our fruitfulness. Loss of focus will ultimately result in our eternal loss. So, what’s your vision? Is your business a means to an end, and is that end eternal? What “restrains” you?

There are at least two dimensions to this question. First, if you are the only one in your business that sees the business as the platform for ministry and stewardship responsibility that it truly is, and are using it as such, and you leave, sell, or die - the ministry, your ministry, ends with a period. It would be described as personal, singular, and single generation in scope.

If you are engaging others in the ministry, and they are actively and strategically seeking to do ministry in and through the business, your ministry, at least for a season, ends with a comma.

Yet, even if you have a fantastic ministry team of co-laborers ministering with you and are experiencing outstanding ministry fruitfulness and business success, and you sell the business to unbelievers, your ministry ends with a period. Don’t be deceived, unbelievers can’t and won’t continue ministry. It would be multi-dimensional but single generational.

The choice will be yours. The consequences of your choice can be eternally significant.

We are talking about a type of succession planning here that is rarely discussed but should be considered in great depth. It is all related to the answer to the fundamental question, “Who owns the business?” If God owns it, and we are merely stewards, and if we rightly see it as our platform for ministry, and are using as such, do you imagine that God would want it to end with a period? Can you imaging God wanting the ministry in a successful church to end with a period when the pastor leaves or dies? It is possible but I think much more likely that God is into multi-generational creation, investing in us so that our ministry always ends with a comma. What do you think?

Jesus said in John 15:8 “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourseives to be my disciples.” (NIV) In our last post we said that what God cares most about is what He paid the highest price to obtain, and that the salvation of His children is His focus. But what does that mean to us, in our modern expression of life? How can we contribute and what can we do to participate with Him? And how does that relate to bearinf fruit>

I would like to offer this; the fruit that God seeks to bear through His children is what might be called “eternal fruit.” Eternal fruit means “lives turned toward God.” In other words, if, as we live in the world that surrounds us day by day, others are influenced toward God, eternal fruit is produced. Some of those we meet and interact with will come to salvation because of the relationship, some who are already saved will be encouraged because we encountered them, and some will just have the precious ointment of God’s love lavished on them in His Name through our work to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and visit those in “prison.” (There is more than one kind of prison.)

We can do all these things at work as well as anywhere else, in fact, maybe to an even greater degree if we choose to. The question isn’t “Is there an opportunity?” It is “What will we do with the opportunities we have?” And “How do we do it?”