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 ...
Some may have issues with Christopher Columbus, but you have to admire his adventurous spirit. Columbus persistently pursued his dream of sailing to what he believed was the West Indies. Although Columbus set sail with some faulty assumptions, it still took a great deal of courage to set out on a journey no one had yet traveled. According to graciousquotes.com, ...
In my career, I’ve started businesses without God and some with God. The difference is like running a race with heavy winds and storms in your face versus running with the wind at your back. When contemplating starting a business, it is critical that you remember one important principle. God owns it all. God has charge over all the universe, ...
Many in the business world have a scarcity mindset. These leaders believe that business is a zero-sum game; if you win, I lose. Therefore, every competitor is a threat that should be squashed. If a competitor is harming customers and the industry’s reputation, helping to eliminate the competition may be appropriate. But usually, we ought to encourage competitors rather than ...
In the story of Esther, Esther’s goal was to convince the king to save the Jews from annihilation. She wisely decided to first invite the king and Haman to a feast. She could have made her request then, but she didn’t. In Esther 5:6, the king says, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is ...
In the story of Esther, Esther was forced into a beauty pageant, resulting in her becoming Queen. She likely thought she was only there for her beauty. As the story unfolds, however, we realize that God had planned an inside job. The Jews were about to be slaughtered and God needed someone to influence the king. In Esther 4:14, Esther’s ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
