When I examine my career path, on the surface it seems to be wīndy and disconnected. But in the tapestry of life and with hindsight, I see God’s divine direction. Moving from CPA to car rental entrepreneur to banking, then consulting, and finally ministry may seem strange, but God had a plan. Today, I primarily minister to small business ...
The Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade was wrapping-up when evil surfaced. Gunfire rang out and people began to scatter, while some lay wounded or dying. This day of celebration turned to mourning as our city learned of one death and twenty-two injuries, including many children. Fortunately, the community of Kansas City immediately rallied. Prayer vigils and fundraising campaigns ...
My friend, Toby, who has experienced significant business success, was interviewed in the Kansas City Business Journal about his most recent business that didn’t fare too well. The refreshing part of the interview was Toby’s transparency and candor. He shared about the pain and embarrassment that comes with a business closing, and the reminder that not all businesses succeed. Toby’s ...
Deciding whether to close a business is a heart wrenching decision. For followers of Jesus, the key consideration should be God’s will. Travis was leading a business during a significant industry decline. When closing the business seemed the only viable option, Travis surprisingly offered to buy the company personally. Although his decision seemed crazy, God continually affirmed Travis’ decision. ...
We all have a purpose to glorify God and God has a calling for each of us personally. You may be struggling, however, to determine your calling. It’s important to realize that calling comes in stages. God had to prepare Moses to lead the Israelites by allowing him to tend sheep in the desert for 40 years. Likewise, you may ...
There are certain chapters in the Bible that seem to overflow with pearls of wisdom. For wise business counsel, I find great treasures in Psalm 37. One common mistake I’ve seen in business planning is to first develop our plans, then pray that God blesses our plans. But Psalm 37 reveals a progression in business planning God’s way. First, we ...
When musician, Chris Tomlin, was 18, he was asked to lead worship at a youth camp. It was Chris’ first worship engagement, but he only knew three songs. His inexperience became obvious. Later that week, a camp speaker named James said to Chris, “I’ve been praying for you. God has shared two things with me. First, you don’t have ...
Every budget process I can recall has projected a revenue increase the following year. Yet, since 1923, America has experienced 15 recessions: approximately one every seven years. This caused me to reflect on UBN’s history. We began in January 2002. Seven years later the Great Recession hit, resulting in a difficult year financially for UBN. 2016 had some personnel and ...
In America, when we pray “give us our daily bread,” I suspect most of us don’t really mean it. We usually desire far more than just today’s provision. There are seasons, however, when some small business owners see payroll approaching and discover there is simply no cash in the bank. Suddenly, praying for our daily bread may seem more relevant. ...
In 1827, Sarah Josepha Hale, author of the nursery rhyme, Mary Had a Little Lamb, began a campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. For thirty-six years, Sarah lobbied senators, governors, and presidents to declare Thanksgiving as a national holiday. She believed that a national holiday of thankfulness could bring healing to a divided nation. Sarah’s persistence finally ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
