Social Media: Your Opportunity to Give

I am discovering that through social media, I have an opportunity -- even a responsibility -- to give to others. Of course, I am trying to give in other ways as well including financial donations. However, one thing REACT Services has always been about is promoting Open Source and helping others realize that the more you give away, the more you get. That is not WHY I give, but it is a principle.
So what can I give to others?
I can give knowledge, information, and, to the degree I might have any, wisdom. I can give and/or pass on encouragement, motivation and inspiration.
The easiest thing I can do is give support by promoting others I appreciate and their work. In that way I give attention, admiration and respect. I can value others with my words.
Through Twitter, I am certainly learning that I might be able to bring a smile to people in 140 characters or less. In addition, I can retweet, share, and like! I can pursue giving love, hope and laughter.
I can give whatever I have, to whomever I can, as generously as I dare through thanks, appreciation and gratitude.
As Becky Robinson says (the inspiration behind this blog), "The power is in the gift."
What will you be giving today?

Fusion: The New Name for Partnering?

Is fusion the new name for partnering? Maybe. Perhaps with all the trendy and confusing ways in which especially partnership is used these days (it can mean everything from computer collaboration tools to financial connections) we might need a new word to strike some fresh meaning. Besides, I personal love the music connection that fusion implies!

Here is what one leader within the philanthropy movement said the other day.

The [new] story lies in the partnership, the fusion, of many organizations coming to the table in the name of the cause. Countless meetings, phone calls, site visits, and parking lot conversations have led to a shared understanding. As a group, we faced our own challenges and setbacks. We had to bridge relationships and push one another to think outside of our own boxes. We had to think bigger about philanthropy and partnership. Not one of our institutions could have done this alone. Ultimately, what we were working for was trust, where each of us could be honest and transparent. This trust is translating into action and it’s incredibly exciting.

Well, whatever we call it: fusion, collaboration, etc., that is the way partnering works! Relationships -- built on trust -- that unpack and address appropriate strategic response in ways that no one group can do by themselves. Marvelous examples in partnering are taking place all over the non-profit (and for profit) world. And, yes, it is incredibly exciting.

The questions we at REACT Services explore are: how does one catalyze partnering? How do we avoid getting distracted by structure questions (partnering versus partnership)? How is the idea moved forward to real action? How do we show added value of the fusion (i.e., collaborative effort) to each organization involved? How do we hold each other accountable to agreed upon actions? And, of course, how do we measure collective success?

Let me know what you think? Do you like the fusion connection?

Bob Costa on Tebow

Bob Costas great commentary last night on Tebow and the miraculous. Is God on his side?

Makes me wonder how believers view this. I am a big Tebow fan, but the fact is that the coach of the Chicago Bears is a well-known believer, too. Was he apparently not praying enough?

Just saying . . . .

Lies Leaders Believe

This from Leadership Freak, a blog site worth noting.

Top Ten Lies Leaders Believe
The truth is we tell ourselves lies. Lies seem to make life better, they make us feel more useful and in control.
I can always tell when I touch the lies people believe about themselves. They deny the obvious and defend the ridiculous. It reminds me of the time one of our children denied stomping up the crumbed crackers they were standing in.
Excuses are the way we defend the lies we tell ourselves. Someone said, “An excuse is the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.” I’ve seen plenty of stuffing. How about you?
The top ten lies leaders believe:

1. People love it when I tweak their work.
2. They’ll forget my emotional outbursts.
3. Hiding weaknesses works.
4. If I close my eyes, this problem will eventually go away.
5. Everything depends on me.
6. I am a good listener.
7. I welcome new ideas.
8. I don’t have a problem with arrogance.
9. I talk values, mission, and vision enough.
10. I need more time.

Bonus: My way is the best way.

What lies can you add?
Which lies are most dangerous?

What Books do you Read?

A recent poll by Christianity Today showed that most American Christians read these types of books:

• Fiction: 20%
• History/Biography: 14%
• Biblical Studies: 13%
• Theology/Ethics: 11%
• Spirituality: 9%
• Christian Living: 8%
• Christianity & Culture: 7%
• Apologetics/Evangelism: 6%
• Something else: 6%
• The Church/Pastoral Leadership: 3%
• Missions/Global Affairs: 2 %

Of course, for someone like me who works internationally, it is always sad to see the amount Americans in general (let alone just Christians) read in global affairs and missions. Still, I am intrigued by the something else category!

How well do you know the Middle East?

The Middle East Geography Test. How well do you know the region? CLICK HERE and you can find out.

Drag the country's name onto the map. There is no score or time limit - it is a learning tool. If you make an error, no issues, just try again. Once you are finished you'll be far more educated about this critically important region of our world.

Egypt

I had just returned from Malta, assisting partnering events focused North Africa and the Middle East, when the news came that President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt would step down. Yes, the protests fueled by Tunisia and then social media had reached their successful conclusion. A few thoughts.

* Smart phones and the Internet fueled the revolution in Egypt (and now elsewhere in the Arab world). Social media also helped curb the violence — because the world was watching in real-time everything that President Mubarak were doing. The biggest stories were of international journalists getting hurt!

Social media, especially Twitter and Facebook, was one of the main forces that ultimately led to the overthrow of a dictator. I am challenged afresh by power of social media. How can we be more effective at using this tool for the cause of of the poor and marginalized? How can I use it for my organization?

* We all hope that the transition in Egypt does not get violent or extreme. Egypt is the strategic center of the Sunni Muslim world. If this revolution goes well, it could have huge impact throughout the Arab world. However, we need to pray that whatever new form of government that happens will result in greater freedom of religion. I remember one scene during the demonstrations and before Mubarak stepped down, Christians linked arm and arm around Muslims as they prayed and protected them from the police. They also worked together to protect their homes and to clean their streets. What a symbol for the new country that Egypt could become.

* Finally, I am always suspicious of big conspiracy theories (probably why Glenn Beck does not sway me). Many are saying that the revolution in Egypt was fueled by Islamic fundamentalists whose desire is to eliminate Israel. Could be. Probably not. Are there concerns we need to be aware of? Of course. Will the Muslim Brotherhood be worth watching? Absolutely.

But as my friends in Egypt were telling me, "we are hopeful, we are optimistic, we are engaged -- perhaps for the first time we can remember. But we are also unsure of the future; unsure of what to do next."

And then this note came through from a good friend: "Brian, you can feel and smell how people are scared in their hearts, please pray that we may not be scared to share our love with others during this time." Now that is a good next step.

What have you been watching?

A period of time (week to 10 days) dominated in the USA news by a tragic shooting in Arizona. Yet what might be going on in the rest of the world? Oh, not much, just this:

• The worst natural disaster in Australian history as thousands are impacted by floods in Brisbane and Queensland.
• The government falls in Lebanon as Hezbolah asserts itself
  
• A bloodless, non-religious revolution takes place in Tunisia with potentially huge ramifications for the region.
  
• Hundreds die in major floods in Brasil
• One of the most significant elections in Africa's history taking place in Sudan
  
• Floods and thousands of displaced peoples in Sri Lanka.
  
• Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa continuing to have two governments! As one of my friends sent to me: " Most of the time we have curfews, uprisings, people are dying, some are speaking about civil war...the next two weeks will be so delicate. Please pray for us!

Of course, these do not even count the ongoing situations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, China an North Korea!

Another week in the life of the world? Seems like a bit more intense than usual!

Binistry or Businestry

My friend, Jeff Rogers of One Accord Partners, coined a new term today (for me anyway) at his marvelous presentation at a Kiros breakfast. The term was "binistry." I immediately latched onto it and it triggered several thoughts.

You see, one of my primary mentors has been Michael Novak, a Catholic philosopher, author, and winner of a Templeton Prize for Religion. In both his writings (such as the Spirit of Democratic Capitalism), and the privilege that I had to be with him personally in my time living in Washington, DC, he has made serious and significant deposits into my life.

One of those was the splendid little book, Business as Calling. In the book, Dr. Novak suggests that the three cardinal virtues of business are creativity, community, and realism.

As Regent College's Ward Gasque points out, all three of these virtues can be found in the first three chapters of Genesis, the story of the creation and the fall. (So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them', Gen 1:26).

We are to represent God in the world, to do His work, and to demonstrate is character 'in community'. We are called to stewardship and cooperation.

God is the great Artist. He made the world and saw that it was good. And He has called us to be co-creators with Him, in keeping with the special gifts He has given each one of us. That is why I love working in partnering and collaboration! I get to help people discover how their gifts (and the gifts their organizations have) fit together and make more impact.

God is also the great Companion. He created us for fellowship, for walking and talking in the Garden in the cool of the day. We are called, therefore, to community, to cooperation, to friendship.

Some of the most successful business people I have known have also been among the most creative people I have known. Several have also become great friends. Creativity is essential to entrepreneurship, and friendship is essential to doing good business.

The story of the fall in Genesis, 3 lays the foundations for the third fundamental to the business enterprise, namely, realism. The world is fallen and thus we learn to deal with that world as it is, even though we may be guided by the values of a new world that is coming.

Jeff's presentation this morning (walking through his journey on these questions) challenged those there -- primarily business leaders -- to the idea that what they do is full time ministry. Shockingly obvious. Yet, my observation (shared by many) is that few Christian people in business have a strong sense of their calling to the world of business. They feel they are there more by default. Yet, business is the calling of the majority of Christians. Of Americans employed today, roughly 70% work in the for-profit business sector. Some 22 percent work for the government, and about 8 percent work in the non-profit sector (including the church).

We have ceremonies that celebrate the calling of men and women to be ordained into ministry, to mission work, and to other church ministries. Where are the ceremonies that celebrate the calling of men and women to ministry in the world of business? That honor those who are serving Christ in and through business. Few churches I am aware of practice that.

Finally, what is the purpose of business? Some would say, "To make a profit!"

Not really. Profit is merely the score of how you're doing and whether you'll be able to stay in business. If you do not create a surplus, you will not be able to sustain the enterprise and it will fold. But the purpose is not profit.

I like the idea that the real purpose of business is service -- which, by the way, is really just a synonym for ministry. The business of business is people!

In business, the calling is to serve society (by offering a useful product or service); to serve workers and employees (by providing employment and significance); and to serve God (by fulfilling His creation mandate). We serve God and our fellow men by joining hands with one another in the enterprise of business, and the result is we also serve ourselves, our families, and our world.

So, thanks, Jeff for binistry (or should it be businestry?). The idea that believers involved in business are also involved in ministry (at least that's how I am choosing to use the word). That "full time ministry" really just means full time walking with God where ever we are and whatever we do.