Saturday, September 29, 2012
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Monday, October 31, 2011
Forgive and Forget
Recently, more like a year and a half ago, I formed a grudge on another girl. And yes, it was over a boy. Don't pre-judge me. I am not usually the grudge-holder type. This was a special exception though. So after having a grudge for the last year or so, I have officially decided that I need to let it go. It has taken me way longer than ever to forgive and forget but I am working on it now. Forgiving people is really important. I have distant relatives that all fought over a piece of land that was left to them and none of the siblings speak anymore. It is a really sad story and it just caused the family to break apart. Being unforgiving only causes a life of regret. So forgive your friends and your enemies. Here are some tips!
Realize the magnitude
One person who has done you wrong is such a small, minuscule, and tiny thing. Is one person really worth all of the fuss? There are so many other important things in your life to worry about. Seriously though, if you are so caught up with this grudge you are holding, you may need to rethink your priorities. The magnitude of this grudge should be microscopic compared to what else is happening in this world.
Decide now
Make a solid decision. Don't be wishy washy or think that you will forgive them only if they're nice to you. Make a decision and stick to it. Don't try and back out half way through the process. Make sure you make a conscious decision. If you need to you can tell a friend or write it down but you don't have to.
Be nice
Nice is such a broad and overused word but it is effective in this case. BE NICE to the person who wronged you. I know it's hard but in order to forgive them you must treat them like a human being, which they are. I know it's hard to believe because to you, they are the scum of the earth. Remember that they are a person with feelings also. I write the word “Nice” on my hand every day to remind me to be nice to people. If it works for me, it can work for you.
It's in the past
Remember that what happened is in the past. It already happened and there is not much you can do about it anymore. If you realize this, it will be a lot easier to forgive. The Amish know how to do this. After a man named Charles Roberts shot five of their children, an amish family immediately forgave him. “They not only used words, but also acts of forgiveness, attending Roberts' funeral and setting aside some of the approximately $4 million they received from well-wishers as a gift for the Roberts family, with a special concern for the shooter's children.” This Amish family forgave him instantly because they knew it was more important to do that than to hold a grudge.
If someone like your room mate or your teacher or your family member does something that has offended you, forgive them. It saves a lot of time and energy and will help you live without regrets.
About the Author
Meagan Hollman is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them understand which courses are available through accredited online colleges to help them reach their goals.
Realize the magnitude
One person who has done you wrong is such a small, minuscule, and tiny thing. Is one person really worth all of the fuss? There are so many other important things in your life to worry about. Seriously though, if you are so caught up with this grudge you are holding, you may need to rethink your priorities. The magnitude of this grudge should be microscopic compared to what else is happening in this world.
Decide now
Make a solid decision. Don't be wishy washy or think that you will forgive them only if they're nice to you. Make a decision and stick to it. Don't try and back out half way through the process. Make sure you make a conscious decision. If you need to you can tell a friend or write it down but you don't have to.
Be nice
Nice is such a broad and overused word but it is effective in this case. BE NICE to the person who wronged you. I know it's hard but in order to forgive them you must treat them like a human being, which they are. I know it's hard to believe because to you, they are the scum of the earth. Remember that they are a person with feelings also. I write the word “Nice” on my hand every day to remind me to be nice to people. If it works for me, it can work for you.
It's in the past
Remember that what happened is in the past. It already happened and there is not much you can do about it anymore. If you realize this, it will be a lot easier to forgive. The Amish know how to do this. After a man named Charles Roberts shot five of their children, an amish family immediately forgave him. “They not only used words, but also acts of forgiveness, attending Roberts' funeral and setting aside some of the approximately $4 million they received from well-wishers as a gift for the Roberts family, with a special concern for the shooter's children.” This Amish family forgave him instantly because they knew it was more important to do that than to hold a grudge.
If someone like your room mate or your teacher or your family member does something that has offended you, forgive them. It saves a lot of time and energy and will help you live without regrets.
About the Author
Meagan Hollman is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them understand which courses are available through accredited online colleges to help them reach their goals.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
5 Ways to Cut Spending and Start Saving
Are you living from paycheck to paycheck? Do you worry about how you would manage if you were facing some type of emergency? Gaining control of your finances so that you are actually able to meet all your monthly expenses and start saving money may seem like an impossible task, but there are many things you can do to cut back on spending.
1. Find out where your money is really going.
Most people fritter away a great deal of money on small things; candy, gum, cappuccinos, bottled water, energy bars, magazines and the list goes on. But if you pay attention to the little things, you’ll discover they really add up quickly. To get a good idea of how much money you are spending, make a commitment to track your spending for at least two weeks, preferably a whole month. During that time get a receipt for every single purchase you make, right down to each and every pack of gum or chocolate bar you buy. At the end of the time period, add it all up. Once you know how much you are spending on the small stuff, you can determine whether some or all of that spending can be eliminated.
2. Cut way back on impulse purchases and casual spending.
Many of the small items you buy are impulsive purchases. With a little planning you can eliminate that type of spending without sacrificing the things you really need or want. If you can’t do without your energy bars, buy them in bulk rather than paying high prices at the corner shop. If you drink bottled water, stop. Studies have shown that bottled water is no safer than tap water and it’s certainly more expensive. If you don’t like the taste of tap water, consider filtering your own water. If you have a favorite magazine that you always read cover to cover, then get an annual subscription instead of picking it up when you are doing your grocery shopping. You can usually save thirty to fifty percent off the cover price of magazines with a subscription.
3. Re-evaluate all your regular monthly expenses.
If you are paying for something you don’t actually need or use, cancel it. Also take a close look at things like insurance, bank fees, cable or satellite television, cellular, telephone, and internet services, as well as credit card interest rates. Often you can save money by renegotiating contracts, switching service providers, bundling services or transferring credit card balances to cards with lower interest rates.
4. Create a budget and stick to it.
Operating without a budget is like embarking on a journey with no idea of your destination. Very few people manage to save money without clear financial goals and a specific plan on how they are going to achieve those goals.
5. Never pay full retail price for anything.
Getting a good deal on almost anything has never been easier. It may take a little extra effort on your part, but shopping around for the best prices can save you a great deal of money. You can find price comparison sites online, that will search for the best deals available. Often local retailers are willing to match lower prices that you have found, providing you ask. Cutting spending and saving money requires discipline and perseverance. Take it one step at a time but think long term. It takes time to establish new money habits, but once you do, you’ll never look back.
My name is Muzammil Bashir. I’m working with the Senior Editor of Net Effekt –specialising in white label email marketing white label email marketing.
1. Find out where your money is really going.
Most people fritter away a great deal of money on small things; candy, gum, cappuccinos, bottled water, energy bars, magazines and the list goes on. But if you pay attention to the little things, you’ll discover they really add up quickly. To get a good idea of how much money you are spending, make a commitment to track your spending for at least two weeks, preferably a whole month. During that time get a receipt for every single purchase you make, right down to each and every pack of gum or chocolate bar you buy. At the end of the time period, add it all up. Once you know how much you are spending on the small stuff, you can determine whether some or all of that spending can be eliminated.
2. Cut way back on impulse purchases and casual spending.
Many of the small items you buy are impulsive purchases. With a little planning you can eliminate that type of spending without sacrificing the things you really need or want. If you can’t do without your energy bars, buy them in bulk rather than paying high prices at the corner shop. If you drink bottled water, stop. Studies have shown that bottled water is no safer than tap water and it’s certainly more expensive. If you don’t like the taste of tap water, consider filtering your own water. If you have a favorite magazine that you always read cover to cover, then get an annual subscription instead of picking it up when you are doing your grocery shopping. You can usually save thirty to fifty percent off the cover price of magazines with a subscription.
3. Re-evaluate all your regular monthly expenses.
If you are paying for something you don’t actually need or use, cancel it. Also take a close look at things like insurance, bank fees, cable or satellite television, cellular, telephone, and internet services, as well as credit card interest rates. Often you can save money by renegotiating contracts, switching service providers, bundling services or transferring credit card balances to cards with lower interest rates.
4. Create a budget and stick to it.
Operating without a budget is like embarking on a journey with no idea of your destination. Very few people manage to save money without clear financial goals and a specific plan on how they are going to achieve those goals.
5. Never pay full retail price for anything.
Getting a good deal on almost anything has never been easier. It may take a little extra effort on your part, but shopping around for the best prices can save you a great deal of money. You can find price comparison sites online, that will search for the best deals available. Often local retailers are willing to match lower prices that you have found, providing you ask. Cutting spending and saving money requires discipline and perseverance. Take it one step at a time but think long term. It takes time to establish new money habits, but once you do, you’ll never look back.
My name is Muzammil Bashir. I’m working with the Senior Editor of Net Effekt –specialising in white label email marketing white label email marketing.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
By Golly...Don't Give UP!!
In these tough economic times many churches and ministries are tempted to scale back on planning events so that it won't put any added burden on women who are struggling to make ends meet. The problem is that this is exactly the time when we need to gather for fellowship and encouragement. Here is a "Top 10" list that can help women's leaders plan more effective events that are perfect for this tough economy.
1. Use your own members: Organize an event that uses your own members as the leaders. You can find different women who have specialties and have them lead small groups or you may have someone who would be able to teach a large group time. Look around and see who has a story to tell that others can relate to and go from there. You may want to gather several women and hold a panel discussion on a specific topic. be creative and allow God to direct you to the right women.
2. Reinvent the covered dish: Most often the cost of an event is largely tied up in the food. Keep costs down by either asking everyone to bring a dish to share or enlist a team of women to organize the different dishes you want to offer and let them designate who brings what. You could decide on a theme and plan the food around that.
3. Network with Other Churches: Find some other churches in your area and share or trade Bible Study materials with them. Your church could buy one study and theirs a different one then after you finish, trade studies.
4. Plan 1 night events: Schedule your next event on an evening so that your costs can stay low. You even start a little later so that everyone has dinner before arriving then offers a dessert fellowship after the program.
5. Serve Others: Remember that if the economic crisis has hit you hard then it has devastated many others. Organize your women to focus on helping others. Service projects are a great way to build strong bonds and show people the love of Jesus in a practical way. The bonus is that your struggles tend to diminish in the face of what others may be dealing with.
6. Start a Support Group: Offer the opportunity for women who have lost their jobs or whose husbands have lost their jobs to gather for support and encouragement. Let your community know it is available and you may be surprised at the outreach it can become.
7. Get Out of the Church: Take your Bible Studies out of the church and hold them in different homes in the community so that people don't have to spend much time or money on gas to be involved.
8. Decorate for Less: Women's events always have the issue of decorating. Go old school and use things you already have at the church or enlist different women to hostess each table and make decorating her table part of her duties.
9. Simplicity and Relevance: Don't ignore the issues that people are dealing with but rather plan an event to specifically address them. Make it a brown bag night or just very simple in all details. Offer topics such as how to dress, dine, and decorate on a budget. Consider inviting a financial specialist to speak on practical advice in troubling times.
10. See the big Picture: Plan your events to coincide with other large gatherings like just after church or when the youth or children are already doing something. Take the stress off of women who are worried about being all things to all people and who feel guilty for taking time out for themselves.
These are just a few ideas. Whatever you decide to do, don't give up on ministry. Women need encouragement and support more now than ever before.
1. Use your own members: Organize an event that uses your own members as the leaders. You can find different women who have specialties and have them lead small groups or you may have someone who would be able to teach a large group time. Look around and see who has a story to tell that others can relate to and go from there. You may want to gather several women and hold a panel discussion on a specific topic. be creative and allow God to direct you to the right women.
2. Reinvent the covered dish: Most often the cost of an event is largely tied up in the food. Keep costs down by either asking everyone to bring a dish to share or enlist a team of women to organize the different dishes you want to offer and let them designate who brings what. You could decide on a theme and plan the food around that.
3. Network with Other Churches: Find some other churches in your area and share or trade Bible Study materials with them. Your church could buy one study and theirs a different one then after you finish, trade studies.
4. Plan 1 night events: Schedule your next event on an evening so that your costs can stay low. You even start a little later so that everyone has dinner before arriving then offers a dessert fellowship after the program.
5. Serve Others: Remember that if the economic crisis has hit you hard then it has devastated many others. Organize your women to focus on helping others. Service projects are a great way to build strong bonds and show people the love of Jesus in a practical way. The bonus is that your struggles tend to diminish in the face of what others may be dealing with.
6. Start a Support Group: Offer the opportunity for women who have lost their jobs or whose husbands have lost their jobs to gather for support and encouragement. Let your community know it is available and you may be surprised at the outreach it can become.
7. Get Out of the Church: Take your Bible Studies out of the church and hold them in different homes in the community so that people don't have to spend much time or money on gas to be involved.
8. Decorate for Less: Women's events always have the issue of decorating. Go old school and use things you already have at the church or enlist different women to hostess each table and make decorating her table part of her duties.
9. Simplicity and Relevance: Don't ignore the issues that people are dealing with but rather plan an event to specifically address them. Make it a brown bag night or just very simple in all details. Offer topics such as how to dress, dine, and decorate on a budget. Consider inviting a financial specialist to speak on practical advice in troubling times.
10. See the big Picture: Plan your events to coincide with other large gatherings like just after church or when the youth or children are already doing something. Take the stress off of women who are worried about being all things to all people and who feel guilty for taking time out for themselves.
These are just a few ideas. Whatever you decide to do, don't give up on ministry. Women need encouragement and support more now than ever before.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Choosing Spiritual Team Members
Choosing worship team members is a critical yet often hurried step, especially in the early stages of building our ministry. Often times just for the sake of building a group, we will rush into this process and we will end up getting ourselves in a tough situation. By that I mean we can end up adding someone to the group who really doesn't have the same vision or priorities that you have. That is why it is so important to have a plan in place for creating a band and choosing new vocalist and instrumentalist. So today we will take a look at some guidelines that you can use in creating your worship team that will lessen or even eliminate some issues down the road.
As you build your ministry no matter the style or affiliation, there are a few basic things to consider.
Pray, pray, and pray some more. When choosing group members your #1 priority should be to pray. Pray that God would lead you to the right people for the positions that are needed. What are some specific things that you might want to look for and pray for?
Choose heart over skill. The key qualification for being part of the group must be more spiritual rather than practical. The group must be made up of worshipers. I mean that is the purpose and the goal of the worship team right. Though I know it can be tempting to choose someone simply because of their musical skill, we must not loose site of the goal and remember that the heart must come before the art. Believe me you will save yourself a lot of frustration by choosing someone who though might have the lesser skill as a vocalist or an instrumentalist but they are spiritually strong. Just trust me on this one. Someone who plays or sings well and just wants to be in the band is not a good candidate. In worship there is no room for performance. The goal is to glorify God not themselves. A person that is considering being a part of this ministry must have a passion for glorifying God. The bottom line is to look for calling over gifting.
What are some other areas that we might want to consider? Are they committed to the church? Do they regularly attend? What kind of personality do they have? Do they seem to get along well with others?
A word of caution must be pointed out here. Be careful not to become judgmental. That is not the purpose here. The goal is for us to heed the leading of the Holy Spirit in choosing team members. Again can't stress this one point enough, pray! The focus of the worship team must be first on glorifying God and second leading His church in worship.
As you build your ministry no matter the style or affiliation, there are a few basic things to consider.
Pray, pray, and pray some more. When choosing group members your #1 priority should be to pray. Pray that God would lead you to the right people for the positions that are needed. What are some specific things that you might want to look for and pray for?
Choose heart over skill. The key qualification for being part of the group must be more spiritual rather than practical. The group must be made up of worshipers. I mean that is the purpose and the goal of the worship team right. Though I know it can be tempting to choose someone simply because of their musical skill, we must not loose site of the goal and remember that the heart must come before the art. Believe me you will save yourself a lot of frustration by choosing someone who though might have the lesser skill as a vocalist or an instrumentalist but they are spiritually strong. Just trust me on this one. Someone who plays or sings well and just wants to be in the band is not a good candidate. In worship there is no room for performance. The goal is to glorify God not themselves. A person that is considering being a part of this ministry must have a passion for glorifying God. The bottom line is to look for calling over gifting.
What are some other areas that we might want to consider? Are they committed to the church? Do they regularly attend? What kind of personality do they have? Do they seem to get along well with others?
A word of caution must be pointed out here. Be careful not to become judgmental. That is not the purpose here. The goal is for us to heed the leading of the Holy Spirit in choosing team members. Again can't stress this one point enough, pray! The focus of the worship team must be first on glorifying God and second leading His church in worship.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
An Interview by Terri Terry as to Women in Christian Leadership
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Become a Travel Professional with Benefits
Do you or anyone you know like to travel? Would you like to travel for pennies on the dollar? Are you tired of owing at the end of the year instead of receiving a return? Has the current recession left you feeling like you need to do something other than work your 9 to 5 in order to get ahead? Consider becoming a travel professional with YTB.
Here is the real truth about this company: YTB stands for Your Travel Biz and is has two sides: marketing and travel. This company was founded eight years ago and their home office is located in Wood River, Illinois. This is a publicly traded company and YTB is a part of the Direct Selling Association. Many people believe that when they are going to make immediate money with this business. However, this is not a get rich quick scheme. If you want to make money, just like with any company, you will have to be willing to work hard.
Although there are other online travel sites available, what sets YTB apart from others is the fact that so much is offered on their site. When you purchase a site with YTB, not only do you have the ability to sell travel, you are now also able to sell flowers, golf tee times, sports and concert tickets, cars, and outings for those who like to hunt. YTB has recently introduced Your Travel Wear! Your Travel Wear includes clothing for men and women, bath and body items, the cost to join YTB is affordable. Really, YTB is considered to be a travel store, because they offer so much more than travel.
Did you know that as a travel professional you are entitled to more tax breaks than the average business owner? Feel free to go the following website for more information: http://www.yourtaxbuddy.com or consult a tax professional. As a travel professional, you are also able to go and enjoy relaxing vacations offered at deeply discounted prices by the vendors. These trips are offered at certain times of the year and known as familiarization trips.
So, if you are looking for a home business that can provide you with a better quality of life, a business that will allow you to take advantage of tax breaks, a business that will pay you residual income, and a business that you can will to your children, YTB is a great choice.
Here is the real truth about this company: YTB stands for Your Travel Biz and is has two sides: marketing and travel. This company was founded eight years ago and their home office is located in Wood River, Illinois. This is a publicly traded company and YTB is a part of the Direct Selling Association. Many people believe that when they are going to make immediate money with this business. However, this is not a get rich quick scheme. If you want to make money, just like with any company, you will have to be willing to work hard.
Although there are other online travel sites available, what sets YTB apart from others is the fact that so much is offered on their site. When you purchase a site with YTB, not only do you have the ability to sell travel, you are now also able to sell flowers, golf tee times, sports and concert tickets, cars, and outings for those who like to hunt. YTB has recently introduced Your Travel Wear! Your Travel Wear includes clothing for men and women, bath and body items, the cost to join YTB is affordable. Really, YTB is considered to be a travel store, because they offer so much more than travel.
Did you know that as a travel professional you are entitled to more tax breaks than the average business owner? Feel free to go the following website for more information: http://www.yourtaxbuddy.com or consult a tax professional. As a travel professional, you are also able to go and enjoy relaxing vacations offered at deeply discounted prices by the vendors. These trips are offered at certain times of the year and known as familiarization trips.
So, if you are looking for a home business that can provide you with a better quality of life, a business that will allow you to take advantage of tax breaks, a business that will pay you residual income, and a business that you can will to your children, YTB is a great choice.
What Leadership is NOT
What Leadership is not:
Leadership does not come with a title or the letters of credentials after your name. It does not matter what position you hold when it comes to the question whether people will follow you. What does matter is your ability to directly influence other to follow your vision. But it must be earned.
Leadership is also not necessarily conferred upon someone just because they have blazed a trail like many entrepreneurs have done. That entrepreneur may get the project off the ground but often they must team up with someone who is good with leading people to bring the project to fulfillment.
Sometimes, people assume that because someone has "more degrees than a thermometer," they must have the education to be a leader. In most cases, the leaders are ones who will enlist the help of the technical experts and PhDs to influence the people in their organization while supporting their vision.
What Leadership is:
If you watch people interact in any kind of impromptu meeting where some leadership and order is necessary, you will find that some people will rise to the occasion while others are content to follow. What inner traits do these people possess?
A leader has more depth and breadth of character than a non-leader. You can see this in their eyes, how they carry themselves and in their confident communication. This confidence has come from having experienced the successes and challenges of past endeavors. They have had more successes than failures and give their followers confidence that they can help them be successful too.
In their experiences of life and business, they have connected with people at a deep and real level thereby developed relationships that last a lifetime. They have learned many lessons along the way and have not been afraid to fail along the way. But they always get back up and learn from their mistakes. They have proven that they are not ever going to quit, no matter what happens.
Along this path to becoming a leader, they have also striven to gain the knowledge of their business. At the same time, they utilize the experts to build synergy in their team. With their knowledge firmly established, they also now apply their intuitive skills to see into the intangible components of their followers. They can sense when morale needs to be uplifted, or when shifts in the group energy need to be adjusted. They can intuitively create the circumstances in their organization to create momentum for everyone's benefit.
Success leads to more success and a seasoned leader has proven himself to others. He has proven that he is capable of leading a winning team. Most people want to be on the winning team, and will naturally allow themselves to be influenced by a proven leader.
So if you want to become a stronger leader, practice leading whenever you can. Maybe you volunteer to do that extra project at work. If you are building a business, build your character and see if you can influence others to follow you. One place to practice this is with some type of volunteer organization, such as a nonprofit organization, your school committee, or your homeowner's association. Have fun with learning leadership and realize that what you learn will go with you the rest of your life into whatever roles of leadership you choose.
Leadership does not come with a title or the letters of credentials after your name. It does not matter what position you hold when it comes to the question whether people will follow you. What does matter is your ability to directly influence other to follow your vision. But it must be earned.
Leadership is also not necessarily conferred upon someone just because they have blazed a trail like many entrepreneurs have done. That entrepreneur may get the project off the ground but often they must team up with someone who is good with leading people to bring the project to fulfillment.
Sometimes, people assume that because someone has "more degrees than a thermometer," they must have the education to be a leader. In most cases, the leaders are ones who will enlist the help of the technical experts and PhDs to influence the people in their organization while supporting their vision.
What Leadership is:
If you watch people interact in any kind of impromptu meeting where some leadership and order is necessary, you will find that some people will rise to the occasion while others are content to follow. What inner traits do these people possess?
A leader has more depth and breadth of character than a non-leader. You can see this in their eyes, how they carry themselves and in their confident communication. This confidence has come from having experienced the successes and challenges of past endeavors. They have had more successes than failures and give their followers confidence that they can help them be successful too.
In their experiences of life and business, they have connected with people at a deep and real level thereby developed relationships that last a lifetime. They have learned many lessons along the way and have not been afraid to fail along the way. But they always get back up and learn from their mistakes. They have proven that they are not ever going to quit, no matter what happens.
Along this path to becoming a leader, they have also striven to gain the knowledge of their business. At the same time, they utilize the experts to build synergy in their team. With their knowledge firmly established, they also now apply their intuitive skills to see into the intangible components of their followers. They can sense when morale needs to be uplifted, or when shifts in the group energy need to be adjusted. They can intuitively create the circumstances in their organization to create momentum for everyone's benefit.
Success leads to more success and a seasoned leader has proven himself to others. He has proven that he is capable of leading a winning team. Most people want to be on the winning team, and will naturally allow themselves to be influenced by a proven leader.
So if you want to become a stronger leader, practice leading whenever you can. Maybe you volunteer to do that extra project at work. If you are building a business, build your character and see if you can influence others to follow you. One place to practice this is with some type of volunteer organization, such as a nonprofit organization, your school committee, or your homeowner's association. Have fun with learning leadership and realize that what you learn will go with you the rest of your life into whatever roles of leadership you choose.
Monday, February 21, 2011
What are channel management strategies?
Channel management strategies are indispensable in today's business world. It has shed light on more pressing management needs such as partner satisfaction and improvement. All strategies have certain key components that ensure its successful execution. For channel partner management, partner portals are ultimately essential.
Partner portals are web based applications that allow parent companies to communicate and collaborate effectively with the different members of their channels. It enables them to work alongside their partners efficiently as formed business relationships are nurtured and managed optimally. When these portals were not yet the standard in channel partner management, the various distribution channels used to accomplish tasks through methods such as telephone calls, fax, email messaging and the like. Although useful to a certain degree, such technologies do not guarantee rapid results, accuracy and optimum efficiency. But now, thanks to these innovations, parent companies can easily connect and interact with their partners so that their channels can perform at their best.
2 Big Reasons to Use Portals:
1. Business Process Improvement
A partner portal requires partners to provide authorized logon credentials so that they may enjoy real-time access to the application and the many benefits it offers. It permits them to take advantage of the various information, reseller programs, deal registrations, leads, contacts, support and other resources they would require to function well for the channel.
Since the members of the channel can gain access to all the resources, information, programs and support they would require, and then they will be satisfied. The parent company can enjoy loyalty and commitment from these partners if they utilize portals to take care of business relationships. It is not enough to simply recruit a high-performance company into the channel. Manufacturers should do well to remember that a company will not strive to do well for one manufacturer if nothing is in it for them. That's the reality of the business world.
Furthermore, there is increased transparency in channel management thanks to the applications' real time environment. Parent companies can easily identify areas that require modification, and the partners that are proving to be assets or mere liabilities. This way, management tasks can be executed accurately and effectively.
Through enhanced collaboration and communication, partners and partnerships are managed, maintained and improved. Members that perform well equate to a successful and efficient channel distribution network, which in turn implies an exponential progress in business processes and productivity.
2. Channel Conflict Prevention
As mentioned earlier, there is transparency within a channel thanks to portals. Behaviors, performance and partner needs are easily identified which in turn allows managers to act accordingly and provide the best possible management strategy. The proper management of a channel distribution network is dependent on having a clear and direct view of channel activity and keeping track of sales contribution. If this is not accomplished, a series of problems can arise which may potentially harm the network.
The best way portals prevent channel conflict is by integrating deal registration. Deal registrations benefit channel members by deepening and widening business relationships. The end result is a significant decrease in conflict and an increase in sales volume and partner loyalty.
Partner portals are web based applications that allow parent companies to communicate and collaborate effectively with the different members of their channels. It enables them to work alongside their partners efficiently as formed business relationships are nurtured and managed optimally. When these portals were not yet the standard in channel partner management, the various distribution channels used to accomplish tasks through methods such as telephone calls, fax, email messaging and the like. Although useful to a certain degree, such technologies do not guarantee rapid results, accuracy and optimum efficiency. But now, thanks to these innovations, parent companies can easily connect and interact with their partners so that their channels can perform at their best.
2 Big Reasons to Use Portals:
1. Business Process Improvement
A partner portal requires partners to provide authorized logon credentials so that they may enjoy real-time access to the application and the many benefits it offers. It permits them to take advantage of the various information, reseller programs, deal registrations, leads, contacts, support and other resources they would require to function well for the channel.
Since the members of the channel can gain access to all the resources, information, programs and support they would require, and then they will be satisfied. The parent company can enjoy loyalty and commitment from these partners if they utilize portals to take care of business relationships. It is not enough to simply recruit a high-performance company into the channel. Manufacturers should do well to remember that a company will not strive to do well for one manufacturer if nothing is in it for them. That's the reality of the business world.
Furthermore, there is increased transparency in channel management thanks to the applications' real time environment. Parent companies can easily identify areas that require modification, and the partners that are proving to be assets or mere liabilities. This way, management tasks can be executed accurately and effectively.
Through enhanced collaboration and communication, partners and partnerships are managed, maintained and improved. Members that perform well equate to a successful and efficient channel distribution network, which in turn implies an exponential progress in business processes and productivity.
2. Channel Conflict Prevention
As mentioned earlier, there is transparency within a channel thanks to portals. Behaviors, performance and partner needs are easily identified which in turn allows managers to act accordingly and provide the best possible management strategy. The proper management of a channel distribution network is dependent on having a clear and direct view of channel activity and keeping track of sales contribution. If this is not accomplished, a series of problems can arise which may potentially harm the network.
The best way portals prevent channel conflict is by integrating deal registration. Deal registrations benefit channel members by deepening and widening business relationships. The end result is a significant decrease in conflict and an increase in sales volume and partner loyalty.
Male Misconceptions about Us!
Women have been in the white-collar workforce for a generation, but plenty of things about them still puzzle many a male manager. As an HR leader and working women for a generation myself, I've compiled this Top Ten list of tidbits that the women in your workplace would love for you to know.
1) View me as myself, not a stand-in for The Working Woman.
Women tell stories, when they get together, about being the token woman in the management meeting, the only woman in the sales meeting, the only woman on the business trip. That's not the bad part - the bad part is being viewed as a specimen, representative, and spokesperson for the entire gender.
2) Don't compliment me by saying that you wish you could compliment me.
Ten years ago, it was irritating to have to listen to boorish male co-workers say "Gee, that skirt really shows off your legs." Today, it's almost worse to hear them say "I'd tell you that you look great in that skirt, but I'd get in trouble!" Just can it - the lame disclaimer doesn't help.
3) Don't assume that I don't know what I'm doing.
It shouldn't happen, after all these years, but female software engineers still report that their male colleagues say things like "Check her code again, just in case." Because she's a woman. And it shouldn't happen, but when a woman gets promoted, someone is sure to say "Well, they must have needed more women in management." What if she's just, well, qualified? Can we assume that men and women are equally equipped to do their jobs?
4) Don't ask me about my child-bearing plans.
If you and I are friends, that's one thing. But if we're not, you have exactly no right to ask me a) whether I plan to have children; b) whether I plan to have another one, once I've had one child; or c) anything else relating to my family planning. Why do some managers assume, that because my three-month absence for maternity leave might have some impact on the business at some point (if I'm still working here, when I have kids, if I even make that choice) that they have a right to know about it?
5) Don't put me in the Girl Ghettos.
If I apply for a job in PR, Marketing or HR, that's your cue that I'm interested in one of those jobs. If I don't, please don't jump to the conclusion that I need to work in one of the designated Female departments. If I'm succeeding as a mechanical engineer or the Director of IT, that's because I like the work. Let me succeed or fail in it!
6)Don't get freaked out when two of us arrive.
Many a female manager has noticed that as long as she's the only woman in the group, her male co-workers do okay. But when the second women leader shows up, people get nervous....as in, The Women Are Taking Over! That's ridiculous. Men still rule the roost in corporate America, for better or worse, and two (or three, or four) women in leadership does not a coven make.
7) Don't worry about my family - they're fine.
Working women report being caught in a vise - when they're going great guns at work, their bosses still give them less challenging assignments or stall their career growth "for the sake of your kids." They're my kids, for Pete's sake! I'm perfectly capable of deciding how many hours at the office, how much travel, and what size job I can manage while parenting them. You, as my boss, have nothing to do with it.
8) Don't dismiss my non-linear judgment.
It's well established that women's and men's brains operate differently. But there's a great tendency in the corporate world to pooh-pooh and belittle the non-linear, intuitive decision-making that so many women are so good at. If I'm getting the right answer most of the time, I deserve to get airtime: even if I don't lay out my argument in your favored PowerPoint-style, data-driven format.
9) Don't freak out when I get emotional.
Look, male managers pound their fists on the table and everyone's supposed to deal with it. But let a woman show a little mist in her eyes, and people say "She's emotional," "She's hysterical" and "She's not playing fair." You've got your emotional expression, and we've got ours. We're tired of hearing that our hard-wired emotional reaction to an emotionally tough stimulus is any less PROFESSIONAL than yours is.
10) Don't make me your mother, or your child.
It happens every day: a working woman realizes that her male boss or co-worker has substituted her for his mom or daughter, to her utter dismay. If you're treated with respect, kid gloves, deference and have no influence in decisions - and are "protected" from bad news - then you're Mom. If you're treated graciously and carefully and kept out of difficult or thorny situations, you're somebody's surrogate daughter. Women won't tolerate that. We are just who we are - women that you hired, women who will make your company thrive and flourish, if you let us.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to YOU!
Top 10 List of Things to help De-stress Christian Women Events
In these tough economic times many churches and ministries are tempted to scale back on planning events so that it won't put any added burden on women who are struggling to make ends meet. The problem is that this is exactly the time when we need to gather for fellowship and encouragement. Here is a "Top 10" list that can help women's leaders plan more effective events that are perfect for this tough economy.
1. Use your own members: Organize an event that uses your own members as the leaders. You can find different women who have specialties and have them lead small groups or you may have someone who would be able to teach a large group time. Look around and see who has a story to tell that others can relate to and go from there. You may want to gather several women and hold a panel discussion on a specific topic. be creative and allow God to direct you to the right women.
2. Reinvent the covered dish: Most often the cost of an event is largely tied up in the food. Keep costs down by either asking everyone to bring a dish to share or enlist a team of women to organize the different dishes you want to offer and let them designate who brings what. You could decide on a theme and plan the food around that.
3. Network with Other Churches: Find some other churches in your area and share or trade Bible Study materials with them. Your church could buy one study and theirs a different one then after you finish, trade studies.
4. Plan 1 night events: Schedule your next event on an evening so that your costs can stay low. You even start a little later so that everyone has dinner before arriving then offers a dessert fellowship after the program.
5. Serve Others: Remember that if the economic crisis has hit you hard then it has devastated many others. Organize your women to focus on helping others. Service projects are a great way to build strong bonds and show people the love of Jesus in a practical way. The bonus is that your struggles tend to diminish in the face of what others may be dealing with.
6. Start a Support Group: Offer the opportunity for women who have lost their jobs or whose husbands have lost their jobs to gather for support and encouragement. Let your community know it is available and you may be surprised at the outreach it can become.
7. Get Out of the Church: Take your Bible Studies out of the church and hold them in different homes in the community so that people don't have to spend much time or money on gas to be involved.
8. Decorate for Less: Women's events always have the issue of decorating. Go old school and use things you already have at the church or enlist different women to hostess each table and make decorating her table part of her duties.
9. Simplicity and Relevance: Don't ignore the issues that people are dealing with but rather plan an event to specifically address them. Make it a brown bag night or just very simple in all details. Offer topics such as how to dress, dine, and decorate on a budget. Consider inviting a financial specialist to speak on practical advice in troubling times.
10. See the big Picture: Plan your events to coincide with other large gatherings like just after church or when the youth or children are already doing something.
Take the stress off of women who are worried about being all things to all people and who feel guilty for taking time out for themselves.
These are just a few ideas. Whatever you decide to do, don't give up on ministry. Women need encouragement and support more now than ever before.
1. Use your own members: Organize an event that uses your own members as the leaders. You can find different women who have specialties and have them lead small groups or you may have someone who would be able to teach a large group time. Look around and see who has a story to tell that others can relate to and go from there. You may want to gather several women and hold a panel discussion on a specific topic. be creative and allow God to direct you to the right women.
2. Reinvent the covered dish: Most often the cost of an event is largely tied up in the food. Keep costs down by either asking everyone to bring a dish to share or enlist a team of women to organize the different dishes you want to offer and let them designate who brings what. You could decide on a theme and plan the food around that.
3. Network with Other Churches: Find some other churches in your area and share or trade Bible Study materials with them. Your church could buy one study and theirs a different one then after you finish, trade studies.
4. Plan 1 night events: Schedule your next event on an evening so that your costs can stay low. You even start a little later so that everyone has dinner before arriving then offers a dessert fellowship after the program.
5. Serve Others: Remember that if the economic crisis has hit you hard then it has devastated many others. Organize your women to focus on helping others. Service projects are a great way to build strong bonds and show people the love of Jesus in a practical way. The bonus is that your struggles tend to diminish in the face of what others may be dealing with.
6. Start a Support Group: Offer the opportunity for women who have lost their jobs or whose husbands have lost their jobs to gather for support and encouragement. Let your community know it is available and you may be surprised at the outreach it can become.
7. Get Out of the Church: Take your Bible Studies out of the church and hold them in different homes in the community so that people don't have to spend much time or money on gas to be involved.
8. Decorate for Less: Women's events always have the issue of decorating. Go old school and use things you already have at the church or enlist different women to hostess each table and make decorating her table part of her duties.
9. Simplicity and Relevance: Don't ignore the issues that people are dealing with but rather plan an event to specifically address them. Make it a brown bag night or just very simple in all details. Offer topics such as how to dress, dine, and decorate on a budget. Consider inviting a financial specialist to speak on practical advice in troubling times.
10. See the big Picture: Plan your events to coincide with other large gatherings like just after church or when the youth or children are already doing something.
Take the stress off of women who are worried about being all things to all people and who feel guilty for taking time out for themselves.
These are just a few ideas. Whatever you decide to do, don't give up on ministry. Women need encouragement and support more now than ever before.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Christian Grant Funding Sources
Christian grant funding sources
The question of what foundations to turn to for funding is one Christian ministries and churches ponder over all the time. There are of course various factors to consider. The degree of compatibility between your mission and the aims of a foundation remains the most important consideration. But at a time when foundation funding is declining, it helps to know which foundations are giving the most - along with knowing a little about their overall purpose, the kinds of Christian organizations they fund, and the kinds of programs that interest them.
The following are the top 20 Christian grant funding sources in terms of funding generosity.
1. Of all the Christian grant foundations accepting applications at this time the Alpharetta, Georgia-based National Christian Foundation (NCF) provides the most funds. Seeking to further the gospel of Jesus Christ, its funding territory is national. This is largely a donor advised fund. A donor-advised fund is a charitable giving vehicle administered by a third party and created for the purpose of managing charitable donations on behalf of an organization, family, or individual. A donor-advised fund offers the opportunity to create an easy-to-establish, low cost, flexible vehicle for charitable giving as an alternative to direct giving or creating a private foundation.
NCF helps individuals and families plan their giving through such programs as the Legacy Fund (after death giving). It advises them on asset giving (cash, stocks, real estate, business interests, restricted securities) and shows them how to balance income needs and estate planning goals (through charitable trusts and charitable gift annuities.)
The Single Charity Fund allows supporters to donate all kinds of assets; the Professional Advisors group - comprised of financial planners, CPA's, attorneys, and more - advises supporters in the art of tax-efficient giving.
2. The Christian Aid Ministries is a foundation based in Berlin, Ohio. Having an international gift giving scope, the Ministries seeks to "provide spiritual and material assistance such as food, clothing, medicine, and Christian literature to needy people in various countries." It also provides emergency funds and in-kind gifts. The Ministries supports Amish, Mennonite, and other conservative Anabaptists as they minister to the physical and religious needs of people worldwide. It aids victims of war, famine, and natural disasters.
3. The Nehemiah Corporation is a foundation out of Sacramento, California. Its mission is to facilitate "home ownership and asset development opportunities for diverse populations in underserved neighborhoods across the U.S., while maintaining a commitment to successful, responsible homeownership." It gives mostly to California foundations and individuals and to Christian organizations that support its mission.
4. The Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana is a foundation from Tustin, California. It supports Christian services and organizations that seek to spread the gospel around the world. It provides care, comfort, and emergency aid to the sick, the disabled, the homeless. It is also known for producing televised religious broadcasts for ministries that spread the gospel worldwide.
5. The Barnabas Foundation is a foundation from Tinley Park, Illinois that supports its nearly 200 member Christian ministries through planned giving and estate planning. Its participating churches include Legacy Churches, Good Steward Ministry Churches, Member Asset Management Churches, Member Churches. It also offers stewardship education as well as development programs that facilitate stewardship "based on God's ownership of all gifts."
6. The J. Bulow Campbell Foundation is an independent foundation from Atlanta, Georgia. The foundation seeks to uplift "intellectual and spiritual life, preferably projects of a permanent nature or for capital funds." It does not fund operating expenses or recurrent programs except in cases where funding might allow a significant new program to succeed without continuing support from the foundation. It gives anonymously to church-related agencies of the Presbyterian Church, but not to congregations. It mostly supports organizations in Georgia, though it does give to organizations in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
7. The Rupert H. Johnson Foundation is an independent foundation in San Mateo, California that generally funds only educational programs in California and Virginia. Only Christian organizations seeking grants for education programs in these two geographic regions would be eligible for funding.
8. The Rees-Jones Foundation, a family foundation based in Dallas, Texas, funds "programs that help improve the quality of life for the under served of north Texas." It provides employee/matching gifts and funds capital campaigns, general operations, management and program development, and scholarship funds. It supports churches that seek to relieve hunger, and it provides medical care for the mentally and physically disabled, educational opportunities for youth, and affordable housing, shelter, and spiritual development for those left behind.
9. The Poplar Foundation is an independent foundation that mostly gives within its base of Memphis and the metropolitan area. It funds mostly youth services and education. Ministries that focus on these two areas are eligible for funding.
10. The Wege Foundation, an independent foundation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, gives mostly within Kent County and above all in Grand Rapids. Christian agencies that provide health, human services, and education are likelier to receive funding from the foundation than those that do not. It funds annual campaigns, building/renovation, capital campaigns, curriculum development, endowments, equipment, matching/challenge campaigns, and program development.
11. The Hope Christian Community Foundation is a Christian public charity community foundation in Memphis, Tennessee that "helps Christians share their wealth with others in the most thoughtful and efficient ways." It serves ministries by administering and managing agency funds, offering a cash management pool, investing endowments, and making grants through the Hope of Memphis Fund. It partners with churches to serve the community, administer church and donor-advised funds for church members, and offer a cash management pool.
12. The Maclellan Foundation is a Chattanooga, Tennessee-based independent foundation. It gives internationally and nationally, stressing Chattanooga. It is the largest of a group of four family foundations that are committed to "fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ through strategic giving." The foundation provides financial and leadership training to local organizations that enhance the spiritual well being of the Commission by working "to extend the Kingdom of God to every tribe, nation, person, and tongue." Toward that end, the foundation offers consulting services, equipment, general/operating support, program development and evaluation, and seed money to Christian organizations.
13. The New York City-based American Bible Society is a foundation that translates, publishes, and distributes the Bible in every language it can. The Society wants every person "to experience the Bible's life changing message." It collaborates with other Christian organizations including Faith Comes by Hearing, the creator of an audio version of the Bible. Other partners are Feed the Children, the Military Ministry, Mission Year, Samaritan Purse/Operation Christmas Child, United Bible Societies, and the National Association of State and Regional Bible Societies.
14. The National Endowment Association is a public charity in Princeton, Indiana that helps small to mid-sized charities in the United States, mostly religious ministries, endow funds. The objective is to free ministries from the constant demands of fundraising so they can devote more time to their missions. The association helps them solicit long-term planned gifts, something the larger charities already have the means to do. It helps them tap into larger funding sources through tax-exempt planning. It also helps them promote their charity by offering website templates, educational classes, marketing material templates, marketing/fundraising consultation, and donor/consumer seminars.
15. The Harold Simmons Foundation of Dallas, Texas is a company-sponsored foundation. It provides grants that support zoos, arts and culture, education, energy, health, substance abuse treatment, HIV/AIDS treatment, disaster relief, athletics, human services, human rights, community development, programs that address women's issues, and Christian organizations. It gives mostly in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
16. The Norcliffe Foundation is an independent foundation in Seattle, Washington. It gives to organizations that benefit the arts and cultural organizations, hospitals, early childhood development, higher and secondary education, and historic preservation. It also supports medical research and health associations, hospices, the environment and conservation, and social services that include programs for the disabled, the homeless, child welfare, youth agencies, and the aged. The foundation's Christian grantees are the Roman Catholic Church and religious associations. It gives mostly in the Puget Sound area of Washington, especially in Seattle.
17. The Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation of Wilmington, Delaware is an independent foundation that gives throughout the United States. It supports nonprofit institutions, communities, and organizations that support research, medical, health, educational, sports, social services, and artistic programs in communities across the nation. Christian organizations that work in any of these areas are eligible for funding.
18. The Harry J. Lloyd Charitable Trust in Overland Park, Kansas "supports God's work as described in the Great Commission by spreading evangelism throughout the world." It primarily supports organizations and programs that further this mission. The Trust provides grants that help start new ministries or new programs or expand current programs. It funds organizations that are creative, accountable, stable, and effective. It also funds Christian programs that provide housing, food, medical assistance, and education for the poor. It may also support medical research in different areas.
19. The Lynn and Foster Freiss Family Foundation is an independent foundation out of Jackson, Wyoming. It mostly funds faith-based entrepreneurial programs, especially one-one-one mentoring. The foundation provides general/operating support, matching/challenge support, and program-related investment/loans.
20. IBS-STL is a foundation from Colorado Springs, Colorado. It came about in 2007 from a merger of the National Bible Society and Send the Light. It gives nationally and internationally to Christian organizations that further its mission of translating, interpreting, and publishing the Bible. Its goal is to give more and more people throughout the world the opportunity to experience the Bible.
Some foundations exist solely to benefit Christian ministries and churches. Others lack a direct connection to Christianity but work to solve problems that are at the core of Christian concern. Some have a limited geographic focus; others have a national focus; still others have an international focus. But wherever your organization operates, and whatever programs it has, many (if not most) of these foundations are viable funding possibilities for your organization. And there are countless other possibilities. The Christian Funding Directory (CFD), Foundation Directory Online, and Foundation Search are the most valuable sources of information about foundations.
The question of what foundations to turn to for funding is one Christian ministries and churches ponder over all the time. There are of course various factors to consider. The degree of compatibility between your mission and the aims of a foundation remains the most important consideration. But at a time when foundation funding is declining, it helps to know which foundations are giving the most - along with knowing a little about their overall purpose, the kinds of Christian organizations they fund, and the kinds of programs that interest them.
The following are the top 20 Christian grant funding sources in terms of funding generosity.
1. Of all the Christian grant foundations accepting applications at this time the Alpharetta, Georgia-based National Christian Foundation (NCF) provides the most funds. Seeking to further the gospel of Jesus Christ, its funding territory is national. This is largely a donor advised fund. A donor-advised fund is a charitable giving vehicle administered by a third party and created for the purpose of managing charitable donations on behalf of an organization, family, or individual. A donor-advised fund offers the opportunity to create an easy-to-establish, low cost, flexible vehicle for charitable giving as an alternative to direct giving or creating a private foundation.
NCF helps individuals and families plan their giving through such programs as the Legacy Fund (after death giving). It advises them on asset giving (cash, stocks, real estate, business interests, restricted securities) and shows them how to balance income needs and estate planning goals (through charitable trusts and charitable gift annuities.)
The Single Charity Fund allows supporters to donate all kinds of assets; the Professional Advisors group - comprised of financial planners, CPA's, attorneys, and more - advises supporters in the art of tax-efficient giving.
2. The Christian Aid Ministries is a foundation based in Berlin, Ohio. Having an international gift giving scope, the Ministries seeks to "provide spiritual and material assistance such as food, clothing, medicine, and Christian literature to needy people in various countries." It also provides emergency funds and in-kind gifts. The Ministries supports Amish, Mennonite, and other conservative Anabaptists as they minister to the physical and religious needs of people worldwide. It aids victims of war, famine, and natural disasters.
3. The Nehemiah Corporation is a foundation out of Sacramento, California. Its mission is to facilitate "home ownership and asset development opportunities for diverse populations in underserved neighborhoods across the U.S., while maintaining a commitment to successful, responsible homeownership." It gives mostly to California foundations and individuals and to Christian organizations that support its mission.
4. The Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana is a foundation from Tustin, California. It supports Christian services and organizations that seek to spread the gospel around the world. It provides care, comfort, and emergency aid to the sick, the disabled, the homeless. It is also known for producing televised religious broadcasts for ministries that spread the gospel worldwide.
5. The Barnabas Foundation is a foundation from Tinley Park, Illinois that supports its nearly 200 member Christian ministries through planned giving and estate planning. Its participating churches include Legacy Churches, Good Steward Ministry Churches, Member Asset Management Churches, Member Churches. It also offers stewardship education as well as development programs that facilitate stewardship "based on God's ownership of all gifts."
6. The J. Bulow Campbell Foundation is an independent foundation from Atlanta, Georgia. The foundation seeks to uplift "intellectual and spiritual life, preferably projects of a permanent nature or for capital funds." It does not fund operating expenses or recurrent programs except in cases where funding might allow a significant new program to succeed without continuing support from the foundation. It gives anonymously to church-related agencies of the Presbyterian Church, but not to congregations. It mostly supports organizations in Georgia, though it does give to organizations in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
7. The Rupert H. Johnson Foundation is an independent foundation in San Mateo, California that generally funds only educational programs in California and Virginia. Only Christian organizations seeking grants for education programs in these two geographic regions would be eligible for funding.
8. The Rees-Jones Foundation, a family foundation based in Dallas, Texas, funds "programs that help improve the quality of life for the under served of north Texas." It provides employee/matching gifts and funds capital campaigns, general operations, management and program development, and scholarship funds. It supports churches that seek to relieve hunger, and it provides medical care for the mentally and physically disabled, educational opportunities for youth, and affordable housing, shelter, and spiritual development for those left behind.
9. The Poplar Foundation is an independent foundation that mostly gives within its base of Memphis and the metropolitan area. It funds mostly youth services and education. Ministries that focus on these two areas are eligible for funding.
10. The Wege Foundation, an independent foundation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, gives mostly within Kent County and above all in Grand Rapids. Christian agencies that provide health, human services, and education are likelier to receive funding from the foundation than those that do not. It funds annual campaigns, building/renovation, capital campaigns, curriculum development, endowments, equipment, matching/challenge campaigns, and program development.
11. The Hope Christian Community Foundation is a Christian public charity community foundation in Memphis, Tennessee that "helps Christians share their wealth with others in the most thoughtful and efficient ways." It serves ministries by administering and managing agency funds, offering a cash management pool, investing endowments, and making grants through the Hope of Memphis Fund. It partners with churches to serve the community, administer church and donor-advised funds for church members, and offer a cash management pool.
12. The Maclellan Foundation is a Chattanooga, Tennessee-based independent foundation. It gives internationally and nationally, stressing Chattanooga. It is the largest of a group of four family foundations that are committed to "fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ through strategic giving." The foundation provides financial and leadership training to local organizations that enhance the spiritual well being of the Commission by working "to extend the Kingdom of God to every tribe, nation, person, and tongue." Toward that end, the foundation offers consulting services, equipment, general/operating support, program development and evaluation, and seed money to Christian organizations.
13. The New York City-based American Bible Society is a foundation that translates, publishes, and distributes the Bible in every language it can. The Society wants every person "to experience the Bible's life changing message." It collaborates with other Christian organizations including Faith Comes by Hearing, the creator of an audio version of the Bible. Other partners are Feed the Children, the Military Ministry, Mission Year, Samaritan Purse/Operation Christmas Child, United Bible Societies, and the National Association of State and Regional Bible Societies.
14. The National Endowment Association is a public charity in Princeton, Indiana that helps small to mid-sized charities in the United States, mostly religious ministries, endow funds. The objective is to free ministries from the constant demands of fundraising so they can devote more time to their missions. The association helps them solicit long-term planned gifts, something the larger charities already have the means to do. It helps them tap into larger funding sources through tax-exempt planning. It also helps them promote their charity by offering website templates, educational classes, marketing material templates, marketing/fundraising consultation, and donor/consumer seminars.
15. The Harold Simmons Foundation of Dallas, Texas is a company-sponsored foundation. It provides grants that support zoos, arts and culture, education, energy, health, substance abuse treatment, HIV/AIDS treatment, disaster relief, athletics, human services, human rights, community development, programs that address women's issues, and Christian organizations. It gives mostly in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
16. The Norcliffe Foundation is an independent foundation in Seattle, Washington. It gives to organizations that benefit the arts and cultural organizations, hospitals, early childhood development, higher and secondary education, and historic preservation. It also supports medical research and health associations, hospices, the environment and conservation, and social services that include programs for the disabled, the homeless, child welfare, youth agencies, and the aged. The foundation's Christian grantees are the Roman Catholic Church and religious associations. It gives mostly in the Puget Sound area of Washington, especially in Seattle.
17. The Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation of Wilmington, Delaware is an independent foundation that gives throughout the United States. It supports nonprofit institutions, communities, and organizations that support research, medical, health, educational, sports, social services, and artistic programs in communities across the nation. Christian organizations that work in any of these areas are eligible for funding.
18. The Harry J. Lloyd Charitable Trust in Overland Park, Kansas "supports God's work as described in the Great Commission by spreading evangelism throughout the world." It primarily supports organizations and programs that further this mission. The Trust provides grants that help start new ministries or new programs or expand current programs. It funds organizations that are creative, accountable, stable, and effective. It also funds Christian programs that provide housing, food, medical assistance, and education for the poor. It may also support medical research in different areas.
19. The Lynn and Foster Freiss Family Foundation is an independent foundation out of Jackson, Wyoming. It mostly funds faith-based entrepreneurial programs, especially one-one-one mentoring. The foundation provides general/operating support, matching/challenge support, and program-related investment/loans.
20. IBS-STL is a foundation from Colorado Springs, Colorado. It came about in 2007 from a merger of the National Bible Society and Send the Light. It gives nationally and internationally to Christian organizations that further its mission of translating, interpreting, and publishing the Bible. Its goal is to give more and more people throughout the world the opportunity to experience the Bible.
Some foundations exist solely to benefit Christian ministries and churches. Others lack a direct connection to Christianity but work to solve problems that are at the core of Christian concern. Some have a limited geographic focus; others have a national focus; still others have an international focus. But wherever your organization operates, and whatever programs it has, many (if not most) of these foundations are viable funding possibilities for your organization. And there are countless other possibilities. The Christian Funding Directory (CFD), Foundation Directory Online, and Foundation Search are the most valuable sources of information about foundations.
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Dilemmas of Being a Woman...and Christian
In today's lifestyle there are several reasons why women are either single by choice, single again or widowed at a young age. Many of these women are struggling to live a Christian life and they have the forces of the world beating them down daily. Economics make up a large portion of problems for single parents. Loneliness is faced daily. Work obligations enter into the lives of the parent and the children and there never seems to be enough hours in the day. Then there is the ever problem of living a life where God calls for purity in our life in all areas.
The single life gives us a unique time and opportunity to work on our own personal self, develop a variety of relationships and a variety of ways that we can serve in the church. However, single women particularly, face a "stigma" in the church. Since "people will be people"; this will likely never change. Single women must constantly take care of their behavior, their dress, their associations and every word that is spoken from their mouth if they are to live a separated life and maintain respectability. God's word tells us that a good reputation is worth more than fine jewels. It is priceless yet it is constant maintenance and dedication to achieve.
Many churches offer their own single groups for Sunday School and fellowship. The success of these groups in accomplishing the job of ministering and discipleship of the single woman is often the success or failure of a godly leader. Often it is difficult to find such a leader, due to the complications and time that a singles ministry requires. Ideally a good group is headed by an older married couple who stand together in responsibility of the singles.
Christian women must often stand alone in the church, maintaining a reputation of a godly life. "Dating around", friendships with married men and not having a quiet spirit can be deadly to the reputation of a single Christian woman.
Our culture often puts the single Christian woman in the fire. However, single or married, we all have the same heavenly Father, the same offer of salvation and the same love from Jesus.
The dedication of ourselves to children and family, if they are in a woman's life is a wonderful basic. The dedication of a Christian woman to a ministry for God will fulfill and sustain as He is molding the woman's life for the future.
Any friendship or dating relationship must be viewed as a possible potential mate and special care must be taken to slowly build and nurture it. Both parties must first have their eyes on the Lord and die to self as far as temptations or the desire to move ahead too quickly.
There are many challenges and victories to the life of a single Christian woman. The opportunity for growth can reach mountain-top peak level or it can bring you into a valley so deep you are tempted to just follow the world and give it up. A godly life is worth the struggle and will be the example for your children as they struggle in a broken family. It is a matter of giving and trusting in God to deliver you up to that mountain-top where the rewards will be worth it
The single life gives us a unique time and opportunity to work on our own personal self, develop a variety of relationships and a variety of ways that we can serve in the church. However, single women particularly, face a "stigma" in the church. Since "people will be people"; this will likely never change. Single women must constantly take care of their behavior, their dress, their associations and every word that is spoken from their mouth if they are to live a separated life and maintain respectability. God's word tells us that a good reputation is worth more than fine jewels. It is priceless yet it is constant maintenance and dedication to achieve.
Many churches offer their own single groups for Sunday School and fellowship. The success of these groups in accomplishing the job of ministering and discipleship of the single woman is often the success or failure of a godly leader. Often it is difficult to find such a leader, due to the complications and time that a singles ministry requires. Ideally a good group is headed by an older married couple who stand together in responsibility of the singles.
Christian women must often stand alone in the church, maintaining a reputation of a godly life. "Dating around", friendships with married men and not having a quiet spirit can be deadly to the reputation of a single Christian woman.
Our culture often puts the single Christian woman in the fire. However, single or married, we all have the same heavenly Father, the same offer of salvation and the same love from Jesus.
The dedication of ourselves to children and family, if they are in a woman's life is a wonderful basic. The dedication of a Christian woman to a ministry for God will fulfill and sustain as He is molding the woman's life for the future.
Any friendship or dating relationship must be viewed as a possible potential mate and special care must be taken to slowly build and nurture it. Both parties must first have their eyes on the Lord and die to self as far as temptations or the desire to move ahead too quickly.
There are many challenges and victories to the life of a single Christian woman. The opportunity for growth can reach mountain-top peak level or it can bring you into a valley so deep you are tempted to just follow the world and give it up. A godly life is worth the struggle and will be the example for your children as they struggle in a broken family. It is a matter of giving and trusting in God to deliver you up to that mountain-top where the rewards will be worth it
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Act or the Church? Which are YOU?
Do you go to church? Where do you go to church? I remember being in the company of believers hearing them exclaim " I Belong To The Church of.." or "I Attend...." It was as if they had an exclusive membership to a club or something. People will often flock to a church in which the leader is like a celebrity. It seems to bring a sense a pride to member to proudly say "I Attend New Wave Ministries" and "My Bishop Is..." How impressive.
There is nothing wrong with church pride, but church membership is not a promise of salvation. Your faith in Jesus Christ is what gets you into the body of Christ. Belonging to a prominent church with a membership of 1000 or stronger, doesn't mean that church has the monopoly on the teachings of Christ nor are they "THE" path to God the Father. Identifying with a favorite teacher, preacher, pastor or prophet is not good because they are just ministers (servants) of the gospel.
Paul had a similar problem with... the Corinthians (Corinthians 3), rather than identifying with the Body of Christ, the people identified themselves as being apart of Paul or Apollos. Paul referred to this type of behavior as carnal. Who is Paul but a minister (servant) of the gospel?, who is Apollos but a minister (servant) of the gospel? Who is your Bishop or favorite Evangelist or celebrity Prophet, but a servant of the gospel? In the book of Romans 8:7… “because the mind of the flesh is enmity to God, for to the law of God it doth not subject itself (Y.L.T).”
The ministry (service) has no place for superstars and heroes, we (the believers) belong to the body of Christ not to a building, not to a movement, not to a denomination or an organization. Attending a geographical location faithfully on a Sunday morning or being proud of the celebrity status of your church and its leaders does not equate to citizenship in the Kingdom of God.
When looking for a place to fellowship with Gods people, don't be fooled by the celebrity of the leadership of the high-tech gadgetry in the building that others call church. I'm sure there are many who are reading this article, have heard a hundred times, "You Are The Church?". Far too many people will express their disappointment in a Leader after he or she falls. But we are God’s people, how is it that we are and at times can be so easily fooled? In many cases we have only ourselves to blame.
Understanding who and what the church is will cause you to realize that you can't sign in, you must be Born again and keeping a close walk with the Savior won’t allow you to be taken advantage of by the “wolves in sheep’s clothing”.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Excellence: Personal or Capital?
Personal excellence is something that you can not pay for, but it will pay your the highest dividends over the course of your life. It takes lifelong dedication to achieve personal excellence, whether it is in your business, your job, or your personal life.
Achieving personal excellence is a worthy pursuit and should be pursued above all else.
**Building Your Intellectual Capital is Key**
If you want to achieve personal excellence building your intellectual capital is where you need to start. There are three forms that you can gain.
Developing these forms of intellectual capital takes hard work and study, but they will pay you in personal satisfaction and higher income.
Your knowledge, skills, and abilities is the first type of intellectual capital that you need to develop. This is gained through education, training and experience. This Type of intellectual capital will determine how well you perform your job and the value that you can add to your business.
**Tacit Knowledge**
Your tacit(what's inside your head) knowledge of how your company runs internally is the second form of intellectual capital that you should possess and further develop in order to achieve personal excellence. Knowing the different methods, policies and practices of how your business operates makes you very valuable to your company and hard to replace.
Tacit Knowledge is very valuable, especially if you work for someone else. You would be the last person they would want to let go during a recession.
**Build Your Ability to Get Results**
Finally, your ability to get results, will be the determining factor on how marketable you are and your income level.
How well you know your customers, your serve and products will determine your ability to get results to meet and exceed your company or business goals.
You can not develop this overnight. It does take years of dedication and training to hone the skills your need in this area. As long as you continually invest in yourself in this area you will be able to increase your ability to get the results you need and live with a spirit of excellence.
Commit today to develop and increase your personal excellence.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Community Empowerment Event-Jacksonville, FL
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Challenges of Women working in Church Ministry
In these tough economic times many churches and ministries are tempted to scale back on planning events so that it won't put any added burden on women who are struggling to make ends meet. The problem is that this is exactly the time when we need to gather for fellowship and encouragement. Here is a "Top 10" list that can help women's leaders plan more effective events that are perfect for this tough economy.
1. Use your own members: Organize an event that uses your own members as the leaders. You can find different women who have specialties and have them lead small groups or you may have someone who would be able to teach a large group time. Look around and see who has a story to tell that others can relate to and go from there. You may want to gather several women and hold a panel discussion on a specific topic. be creative and allow God to direct you to the right women.
2. Reinvent the covered dish: Most often the cost of an event is largely tied up in the food. Keep costs down by either asking everyone to bring a dish to share or enlist a team of women to organize the different dishes you want to offer and let them designate who brings what. You could decide on a theme and plan the food around that.
3. Network with Other Churches: Find some other churches in your area and share or trade Bible Study materials with them. Your church could buy one study and theirs a different one then after you finish, trade studies.
4. Plan 1 night events: Schedule your next event on an evening so that your costs can stay low. You even start a little later so that everyone has dinner before arriving then offer a dessert fellowship after the program.
5. Serve Others: Remember that if the economic crisis has hit you hard then it has devastated many others. Organize your women to focus on helping others. Service projects are a great way to build strong bonds and show people the love of Jesus in a practical way. The bonus is that your struggles tend to diminish in the face of what others may be dealing with.
6. Start a Support Group: Offer the opportunity for women who have lost their jobs or who's husbands have lost their jobs to gather for support and encouragement. Let your community know it is available and you may be surprised at the outreach it can become.
7. Get Out of the Church: Take your Bible Studies out of the church and hold them in different homes in the community so that people don't have to spend much time or money on gas to be involved.
8. Decorate for Less: Women's events always have the issue of decorating. Go old school and use things you already have at the church or enlist different women to hostess each table and make decorating her table part of her duties.
9. Simplicity and Relevance: Don't ignore the issues that people are dealing with but rather plan a event to specifically address them. Make it a brown bag night or just very simple in all details. Offer topics such as how to dress, dine, decorate on a budget. Consider inviting a financial specialist to speak on practical advice in troubling times.
10. See the big Picture: Plan your events to coincide with other large gatherings like just after church or when the youth or children are already doing something. Take the stress off of women who are worried about being all things to all people and who feel guilty for taking time out for themselves.
These are just a few ideas. Whatever you decide to do, don't give up on ministry. Women need encouragement and support more now than ever before.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Single, Marriage & Ministry....Whoa
You are single and you have never been married, and God has a calling on your life for full time service to Him. You have a zeal for God and you only want a lady that has a zeal like yours to serve God. In essence you want a lady to partner you with a great anointing of God on her life also. This article is written for you. Enjoy reading and if you agree pray the prayer and write a comment on the article.
**TIP 1** Be honest with her and yourself
A lady with an anointing on her life for full time ministry is a person that treasures honesty and she is love with Jesus, someone that NEVER lies to her. A lady needs a husband that can lead her house and be the head, and if you are not up to the task it is best that you don't try and pretend that you are!
You can kid yourself and think that you are a spiritual person, but there were many spiritual people when Jesus walked the earth also, even New Age people are a lot more spiritual then many Christians.
If you are sold out to Jesus and the will of God, then by all means seek the hand of a lady with a calling on her life.
**TIP 2** Be Sold out For God's Will in Your Life
Don't kid yourself or God. To win the heart of a lady called by God, you and her visions for your future should be the same. If God has been calling you to go to Africa for years you should be pursuing that for God. You should not be searching for a lady who also has a calling to Africa on her life.
This is part of being honest with yourself and with her. In some of the very first conversations with a potential lady you should not be afraid of mentioning that God is calling you to Africa.
You should take the lead when you talk about where you are called. You will know the "right" lady when as you mention this, she is quick to tell you that she has also had a calling to go there also.
Paul said it is best that a man does not marry and therefore devote all of his time and resources to God. I agree, many men spend all of their earnings on a wife and family, and these men could have done a lot more for God if they had remained single.
Be prepared to go to Africa without a wife man of God! Do firstly what God wants you to do. Seek first the Kingdom of God and He might bless you with a helpmate.
The Lord God is a jealous God. He would rather you be single then for you to have a wife that hinders you from completely doing the will of God. God does not favor men and women that make an idol out of their partners.
A woman that has been called by God for full time ministry will see this zeal on your life and your passion too serve the King of Kings and this will attract her more then any romantic words spoken by you could!
**TIP 3** Make it clear that you want to serve God first in your marriage
Living in Africa can mean that you don't have the electricity of the West and toasters, jugs, electric blankets and all manner of luxuries of the West. To have a wife with a calling on her life fall in love with you means that you will serve God, no matter how much you have to go without.
Many people don't serve God in their life because the world is so attractive with its high wages and all that they can buy. But to have the servant heart of Jesus you might not be a person that puts much stock in the goods of the world and the life in Africa would not be such a huge cost for serving God for you.
Many women want to serve BOTH God and their families. But a precious women of God with a great calling on her life will care little for the things of the world and the luxury of the West. They will already be the women that Jesus and the Father speak to tenderly and you might find that they are quite old and have been waiting patiently for the man of God that has been promised to them so many years ago.
They won't be married once and wanting to have a second marriage with you.
***Mark 10:11-12 (New International Version)
11He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." No matter what the world says, second marriages are adultery. So the woman called by God won't have been married once and now want to marry you.
No, the women called by God might even be in her forties or older, yet she would have always been waiting for a man of God. A woman called of God would not have settled for a lesser man of God to starve off her loneliness as Jesus would have been her partner for years.
No matter how many gifts a woman of God might have, if she has been married once and her ex husband is still living; she is not the woman for you. You have to be strong and prove you will serve God first and not her want for you.
**TIP 4** Be patient when it comes to God's will in your life.
Many people tend to march ahead of God and move and do things that the Spirit has not asked them to do. Having a website might be a popular thing to have if you are in ministry. But, you must not make a website UNTIL the Spirit of God tells you to move and do that.
Jesus only did what His Father told Him to do through the Holy Spirit. You also need to learn only to move when the Spirit calls you to move.
This may be very important when it comes to asking a lady out on a date. A woman called of God might have noticed you, but she may need more evidence that you are the right sort of guy for her.
If you are interested in a woman with an anointing by God, be patient until the Spirit gives you the go ahead to ask her out.
This applies to nearly all your decisions that you make and most certainly the big decisions. It is vital that you let patience have its perfect work in you. Jesus could have started to preach when he was 14 years of age, but he waited till He was 30 years of age, the minimum age of a Rabbi.
As a man of God, it is a tremendous responsibility to be called by God to serve Him full time and double as much responsibility for you to marry a woman with an anointing by God.
It is vital therefore, that you learn to move as the Spirit of God moves. If revival breaks out, you might want to go and check it out, but you must first consult the Spirit of God, as to if you can, and when you should go.
The Holy Spirit might want you to start another fire at the same time from your own ministry as the same angel that came to the first revival comes over and anoints you.
A woman that has waited many years for the husband that the Lord of Hosts has destined for her does not want to be disappointed with you with you making a financial commitment or some other decision "without" the Holy Spirit giving you the go ahead.
God does some of his greatest works through men and woman of God that have waited twenty or more years for their visions coming into being. There is just such a special anointing reserved for people willing to go through the refiner's fire and storms of life for many years before God raises them up into major ministry.
Only a patient man will win the heart of a very patient woman of God. An anointed woman isn't looking for clever talk; she is looking for well developed fruit in your life. Sure, she may "feel" the anointing when you preach or "feel" the anointing on what you write, but many men have the anointing and lack the fruit to sustain the sort of calling she has on her life.
Can I pray for you:
Father of Lights:
We come to you today and seek Your Will in our life when it comes to marriage. Father give us the patience to seek only your best and to do only Your Will. Lord lead us more and more by You Holy Spirit. Teach us only to move when we see You Moving. Teach us to become leaders and not followers. Lord anoint us to break new ground for you and bring into our life the fruits of the Spirit through the storms of life. Lord give us the wisdom to read and re- read this teaching so that we know what we need to do to win the right anointed woman to be our partner.
Father, anoint us, give us the power to do Your Will, lead us by Your Spirit and keep us learning the things that we need to know to do Your will in our life. Keep us away from distractions and keep us from touching those things that are not pleasing to You. Teach us from every medium we experience, and mentor us through the voice of the Good Shepherd and Teach us the Word of God from the Teacher, the Holy Spirit.
Give us the endurance to weather the storms of life and keep us from sin to the appointed day that we marry the lady for us.
In Jesus name we ask
Amen
If you have prayed the prayer take a second to rate this article by pressing how many stars out of five, or writing a comment that will take a few minutes.
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