Skip to main content

What To Do First to Make a Profit

The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started inve

Why I am Not Afraid of Getting Ebola in Africa


With the current Ebola outbreak at various places in the world, many people have expressed concern about the fact that my son Jordan and I are going to Africa on Wednesday.  I know people mean well, and love us very much.  I appreciate that. I don't get angry when people express their concern to me, although I do get perplexed at times.

Even before the current Ebola outbreak, there were people pleading with me to stay home from Africa  for various reasons. I have traveled there alone, this being my fourth time -- and I've heard concern about everything from a plane crash to a terrorist attack. So you can imagine, with the Ebola outbreak in a few countries, people have gone into overdrive expressing their fears, begging me to reconsider this trip and stay home. Yesterday alone, I heard it from at least 15 people.

I do not mean any of this in a condescending way. I am trying to educate because by the way others speak to me about this in such fear, I realize they do not know the truth. Or if they do, they have momentarily placed all reason aside.

A Geography Lesson

Africa is not a country.

Africa is a continent.

Three of the United States would fit inside the continent of Africa.

There are 54 countries within the continent of Africa.

I am going to the country of Kenya.

As of today, there are no reported cases or outbreaks of Ebola in Kenya.

None. 

However it's interesting that there are several in the United States!

I am actually closer to Ebola by being in the United States, than in going to Africa.

Please let that sink in for a moment...

All of you precious ones who are worried about Jordan and me, wringing your hands and pleading that we stay home. We are more in danger in Florida than we are in Kenya! (At least when it comes to Ebola.) 

People hear the word "Africa" and assume it's all the same no matter what country is being referenced.

Earlier this week, it kinda took the cake when someone told me they were going to stay away from me for a while when I return from Kenya, just to make sure they don't catch Ebola. And they were not joking.

Whaaaaaaaat?????? [Shaking my head.]



Please take a look at this "Ebola map."  The countries indicated are those with Ebola outbreaks. The rest of the countries have no cases at this time. I am going to east Africa. As you can see, the Ebola outbreaks are to the west. 

This is not to diminish the horrible plight of those countries and people including our own in the USA who are experiencing an Ebola outbreak. My prayers are with them.

I also realize that people can be at risk on flights. However, this can happen anywhere, including the USA, as was evidenced recently, when a plane full of people traveled with someone who had Ebola, from Dallas to Cleveland. Yet I don't hear a lot of people gasping in horror at people taking flights within the United States. It seems as if Africa is getting a bad rap here. And really, anything is a risk. I am taking a risk this morning as I get in my car and drive on 75 South to work.  If we avoided all risk whatsoever we would become hermits, have no life and miss the destiny on our lives.

I ask that your prayers go with Jordan and me as we go to Africa. Pray for safe travel and that many lives be changed and touched. But please, don't feel the need to spend any more time pleading with God (or with us) that we don't catch Ebola. Truly we needed the prayers to be protected from Ebola much more while still here in the United States.

If you have been one of those people worried about us, please let your heart be comforted and your mind at ease. 

I am not afraid of catching Ebola in Kenya because first of the geographic reasons explained, but also because God called Jordan and me to go on this trip, and He is going with us.

Thank you for loving us so much. We love you all. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What Verbal Abuse is Really Like, and Why We Must Care
Guest Post: Terri von Wood

In my speaking travels, I meet the most amazing people. Some are connections that go beyond just a night or a weekend of preac hing. One day on my journey, I met Terri von Wood, and we immediately clicked and have been friends ever since.  Just a reminder that all of our guest bloggers this week are available to chat with you in the comment section here on the blog or on my facebook page where the blog is also published.   *** People who have never suffered through or witnessed abuse (including pastors) often don't know how to help women in abusive situations. Knowledge is power and it is my belief that if the church understood the prevalence of abuse, help would be made available.  First, we must acknowledge that the divorce rate is the same  in the church as in the world.  Second, we must understand that the 50% divorce rate does not include all the women who are abused but stay because they do not know what else to do or do not have anyone to turn to.  If those women we

Relevant Church doing something...

incredibly RELEVANT!

I just heard some news today that really inspired me. A church here in Tampa, Relevant Church is doing a new thing this month called the "30 Days Sex Challenge." (I've never visited the church but Pastor Trinity - our children's pastor - has visited or has met some people from this church and he was very impressed.) Realizing that this is a major element missing from some marriages (the frequency factor) their lead pastor, Paul Wirth, has issued a challenge for all the married couples to have sex for 30 days in a row. At the same time he has issued a challenge for all unmarrieds to completely abstain from sex. Of course we know the Bible says that those who are unmarried should not have sex in the first place but the point is, a lot of unmarried's aren't obeying the Lord's command to abstain and this is just one pastor's way of trying to get them to see that indeed, there is a better way! (God's way!) At the same time, many married couples are not

Stuff I Adore That Costs Little to Nothing...

Okay...taking a break today from writing about heavy things...like grief, loss, and bawling. Time to write about random stuff today that nobody may be interested in reading. Nevertheless here it is... Stuff I adore that costs little to nothing... Listening to playlists I make on (free) Spotify Drinking out of canning jars Reading books again that I already have on my shelf. Walking and riding my bike. Admiring crepe myrtle trees. Taking a bath in the daytime with the lights off in the room. (Natural light.) Naps. Snuggling with my husband or one of the kids and watching a movie at home. Having all noise turned off when no one is home. (No TV, no music, just silence.) Prayer.