80,000 Miles

I happened to look down at my odometer today and saw my little ministry-provided 2002 Focus was turning 80,000 miles. Now, I realize that this milestone may not be a "big whoop" for many of you. I know a few people that have that many miles on a two-year-old car and also have met people that have well over 200,000 miles on their car...but for me, it's a milestone.

You see, for most of my adult life, I was a Ford employee. Ford and "Generous Motors" our rival across the freeway in Detroit were both known for providing good company benefits including great opportunities to buy, lease and drive new cars. As a result, our family always had pretty new cars. When I left the company I turned in two new cars that my wife and I drove and also called my daughter and had her turn in her Ford Explorer at the local Ford dealership in Illinois.

While it was always fun getting a new car, sometimes it was a little ridiculous. Back in the late 1980's, Ford had a small problem selling all of the cars we built (a reoccurring problem actually) and Ford company car control was "turning" the sales cars in the fleet, two and three times a year. As a result, I had three different 1989 Lincoln Continentals in a twelve month time frame. I remember loaning one of them to my Pastor and his wife on a couples retreat and he confessed later that he enjoyed driving it but intentionally parked it a block away so no one would accuse them of living "high-on-the-hog".

So, my having 80,000 miles on a great-running, nice looking silver Ford Focus is kind of a milestone for me. Most of my friends would understand and certainly agree that driving a five-year old compact car doesn't make you feel any less of a "success" than if I you were driving a new Lincoln Continental (they are Fords after all).

I'm reminded of that verse in Psalm 37: 25, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." This entire Psalm is a response to that often asked question,"why do the wicked prosper and the good suffer?" Psalm 37 answers in verse after verse, that the present situation is only temporary--God will untimately reverse things, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked.

The thing that I like is that God can also reverse your thinking. God will bless you and allow you to understand that He has provided everything for you to enjoy and that our focus (get the pun?) is to be on the people we get to love and care for and not the things that are strictly material, and will ultimately just rust away and really don't matter.

Memorial Day: One life at a time

This weekend is a holiday. The traditional three-day weekend which announces the beginning of summer. In particular, it is also Memorial Day weekend and it's very fitting that we pause for just a moment, especially with our nation at war, to remember our heroes. I suggest we try to remember them one life at a time.

If you listen to any of the news reports this weekend, it's likely that you may be reminded of the literally thousands that have fallen in our nation's wars. At the same time, the numbers (while important) sometime discount the opportunity to understand that these are individuals who have given their all. Often for a cause that at the time was at misunderstood or maligned. Yet, these brave men and women served, took up the challenge and many died.

Freedom is won, one truth at a time and one life at a time. These wars have been fought because ultimately there are many things worth dying for. Typically fighting for people that were helpless, unable to fight and find victory for themselves.

Fighting for those who can't fight or help themselves is actually quite analogous to what Christ did for us on Calvary. Romans 5:6 says, "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."

Those of us that have come to understand the truth of this verse in Romans have come to understand that this victory that has been won for us is personal and individual. It comes from Christ, one life at a time.

This is Memorial Day weekend so let's remember each of these lives, one life at a time. There were thousands, and each one individually made a difference:

• The American Revolution had over 4,000. The Civil War which created so much of the history of my adopted state of Virginia had over 800,000 casualties on both the North and the South.
• World War I was the "Great War" to my grandparents generation. My grandfather was one that came back from the European theater. Over 116,000 did not. World War II followed closely thereafter and over 400,000 Americans lost their lives that we may have freedom.
• Korea and Vietnam were never very popular. Likely because 36,000 died in Korea and 58,000 in Vietnam; yet things (for us) remained relatively unchanged.
• Today, our men and women, our sons and daughters, are fighting what started as a US led coalition called "Enduring Freedom" in Afghanistan. The conflict continued with the US led coalition that took the fight to Iraq in March of 2003. That fight continues and over 3,400 have died.

Memorial Day: One life at a time. Our victory, One Life for all time.

Irony, you are the Big Three

As a former auto guy, I read with some interest and with more than a little bit of irony that the announcement that the now infamous Daimler-Chrysler merger back in 1998 has been undone. Back when it was announced, the world press heralded it as a harbinger of the future globalization of not only the auto industry but all of the world economy.

I didn't see it that way back in 1998 and it looks like perhaps that opinion was correct.

The new Daimler-Chrysler (back in 1998) was to be a cost-efficient automobile behemoth with over 500,000 employees and annual revenue of $140 billion. The new company, at that time, would be the fifth largest automobile producer and the efficiency gained by the combination of these to entities was to be a competitive advantage that would "challenge GM, Ford and Toyota". The Chrysler Chairman at the time, Robert J. Eaton, said that that the World class products and brands (would) complement each other, and Daimler-Benz Chairman Juergen E. Schrempp, said that the two companies would be a "Perfect fit of two market leaders for further global growth"

So much for the predictions of two very over-paid people.

Today, if you read the fine print you'll find that the German executives of Daimler had to pay the American Cerberus Capital Management company over $1 billion to take the now-failing Chrysler Division off their hands.

They paid $38 BILLION for this company in 1998 which is less than ten years ago and now have to pay another BILLION to get rid of the thing.

That's about $40 billion in 10 years, $4 billion a year or about $11 million a day.

Pretty expensive mistake don't you think?

Now, what is the point? Why mention this in this Blog?

Simple: All that is said to be "new and improved" isn't. Just because people that run very large organizations say something is "good" doesn't mean it is.

I've found that truth in the statement that often the simple can confound the wise. The Bible says that God has chosen the foolish things of this world to shame the wise, the weak things to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27-28).

Big isn't always, "better" and new isn't always "improved". The strength of Chrysler was their brand image and economies of scale. Automobile companies do well when they focus on the basics, build good cars and keep their costs down.

If you excuse the simple comparison, Churches and other ministries can sometimes get caught up in the "bigger is better" view of reality. While bigger can be better, it is also sometimes less personal and less effective. Smaller ministries are often much more focused on a specific purpose and much more effective in getting the job done.

Recently, I've met some people that are pretty single-focused. God has given them a vision of how they can be helpful in some very small way that makes a difference in His kingdom. These people may not be running large organizations or be people of note, unlikely to be included in biographies of "movers and shakers".

At the same time they are both individually and collectively making a difference in real lives and as a result, we are all better because of their work and ministry.

Just another example of the simple confounding the wise.

Faithful in the Little Things

I've been speaking recently at our conferences on the topic of Integrity. Just this week I changed much of my talk to focus more on the theme of Integrity itself rather than using it as a precursor to engage my audience in how churches and nonprofit groups demonstrate integrity (or the lack thereof).

I'm reminded me of the verse in Luke. "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much." (Luke 16:10)

I have used this verse a number of times in talking about money. It's very much in context as Luke starts off this message with Jesus teaching about the unjust steward who cooked the books in order to ingratiate himself with those who could help me after he was fired by his boss.

In talking about integrity however, I realize that it's really about being faithful in the little things.

To me, integrity is really an alignment of our character with the character of God and our behavior as a result reflects God's character.

Neat idea, the proof however is being faithful over time. Faithful in the little things.

I'm convinced that while none of us have been completely faithful, we can demonstrate integrity in all areas of our life. While many of us have a long way to go, if we start now with the little things, we'll be proven ultimately to be faithful in the big things as well.

If you are one of those people that have really failed big time some little test, take heart. God isn't done with you yet and you can start today to begin work again on becoming faithful in the little things.

I don't know why our society has seemingly become so callous that it appears most believe that integrity doesn't matter or somehow a person's character and integrity can be compartmentalized. As if a person that is unfaithful to his wife would never be unfaithful at work. Or a father that doesn't have time to be a "dad" to his young son or daughter would somehow spend the necessary time to do other right things when pressed for time.

Little things are great starting places for us. They don't take a lot of effort, just a simple alignment with those things that we know are right and true.

Thank God for the little things.

Charitable Giving Increases Dramatically

Recently, there have been a few articles related to how charitable giving is changing and also how charitable giving is increasing somewhat dramatically.

Giving USA 2006, which is a compilation of facts and figures on giving in the United States and has information from the Year 2005 ( the latest information available) , stated that Americans gave total contributions of $260.28 billion for 2005, a growth of 6.1 percent. This is a healthy increase in giving and is likely partially attributed to the increased giving due to Tsunami and Hurricane relief, estimated at over $3 billion.

In Arthur Brooks best selling book, "Who Really Cares", the author states, "The data tell us that the conventional wisdom is dead wrong. In most ways, political conservatives are not personally less charitable than political liberals—they are more so."

Brooks goes on to say in the book that the reason for the charitable difference gap isn't so much related to political ideology, i.e. Conservative vs. Liberal, or Republican vs. Democrat, it's that this gap is 100% related to the difference in faith.

That's right, Brooks concludes, "the enormous charity gap remains between religious people and secular people." It seems that because so many people of faith consider themselves to be politically conservative skews the results so that the conservatives appear to give more than liberals. The difference however is the "faith" not the political persuasion, as Brooks discovered in his research that people of faith GAVE, regardless of their political persuasion.

I did some of my own research based on ECFA financial information. ECFA member organizations saw total income increase 13% in the last fiscal year (combination of 2005 and 2006 data). That is more than TWICE the rate of charitable giving overall. ECFA member assets also increased by 22% to a total of more than $30 billion.

While I'd like to attribute the difference between ECFA charities and all charities (13% vs. 6.1%) to something inherent in ECFA accreditation, integrity and financial transparency, I'm going to have to just attribute it to faith.

As it should be!

I Wish We'd All Been Ready

Yesterday's tragedy at Virginia Tech weighs heavy in our hearts.

when events like this are close to home, when our sons and our daughters are affected and when the nation reels at how vulnerable we all are, it's good to pause, pray and ponder.

We pause because we are stunned. Stunned at the brutality and stunned because we are reminded that true evil does exist.

We pray because we naturally turn to the One who ultimately is in control. We may not understand why seemingly senseless tragedies happen but we pray knowing that God can heal, God can mend and God protects.

We ponder because we are confronted with our own mortality. The bible says, "we do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)

I realize that the media is full of reports from people that want to use this opportunity to express their opinion on a variety of subjects, from gun control to campus security to the need for the government to do something....anything.

I'll take this opportunity to pause, pray and ponder.

For some reason (perhaps you know) I'm also reminded of the song by Larry Norman, "I wish we'd all been ready", and recently recorded by DC talk. If you'd like to see the video, you can click on the link

Life was filled with guns and war
And all of us got trampled on the
floor
I wish we'd all been ready
Children died, the days grew cold

A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we'd all been ready


Chorus

There's no time to change your mind
the Son has come and you've been
left behind
I wish we'd all been ready
A man and wife asleep in bed
she hears a noise and turns her head he's gone
I wish we'd all been
ready

Two men walking up a hill
one disappears and one's left standing
still
I wish we'd all been ready

Chorus


The Father spoke
the demons died
how could we
have been so
blind
There's no time to change your mind
the son has come and you've
been left behind(2x)
I hope we'll all be ready(you've been left behind) (3x)

Strategy for the 21st Century

I find I read a lot of books.

Perhaps I read because I've learned that someone, somewhere has likely written down some instructions I may need at some time. Abraham Lincoln supposedly said, "Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new after all."

Or perhaps I read books because I travel so much and I'm embarrassed to be seen with People Magazine!

I've been reading a few good titles on Nonprofits and Nonprofit Board Management. Recently I finished a good book on "Governance as Leadership", by Chait, Ryan and Taylor, published by Board Source (available on our website as well). I immediately liked the book because it dismissed the oft-told theory that there is a one-size-fits all to board governance. Don't you believe it. Running a nonprofit is hard work, regardless if you are the Executive Director or a member of the board.

The authors get into the idea of Strategic Planning and have a great section on what they call, "Strategic Disillusionment". In brief, they make the comment that while many boards have attempted to embrace a formal strategic plan, typically the formal document is neither "strategic" nor a "plan".

I don't have time to address all of their issues but I did nod in agreement when I read about the first of six related problems with nonprofit strategies for the 21st Century: Often Boards create Plans without traction.

In reality, strategic plans are supposed to detail how an organization is to move from the current situation to a preferred state. However, most nonprofits typically create the vision of the preferred state without much attention to the road that will be required to be traveled in order to arrive at the preferred state. In essence, "the blue-sky quality of these plans overshadows down-to-earth considerations --the practical yet crucial daily routines that must change to realize a new vision."

When I was in the business world, I believed in the 90-10 rule. I think I was somewhat infamous for the 90-10 rule. In essence my 90-10 rule said that if you could accomplish 90% of what you wanted to accomplish with only 10% of the effort, go with it.

We recognize that the 90-10 approach may not work for those that are involved with airline or other product safety issues. It, however, usually is a good approach for tactically involving people, products, services and events and likely a good tactic for a nonprofit.

I believe that all too often, nonprofit boards and their senior leadership teams embrace strategies that may appear to identify the preferred state-of-affairs. Often these plans need a strong dose of pragmatism and realism regarding the road and the steps that they need to take to get them to where they would prefer to be.