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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 i...

Don't drink the koolaid!

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?"  Romans 10:13-15  It's becoming fashionable in the name of diversity or non-judgmentalism that one not hold firm beliefs anymore, or at least not share them openly if you do. There are a few things I do know for sure!   Yes, there are absolutes.  There is truth that stands for all times, generations and locations.  Truth is truth whether you believe it or not and truth will prevail.   Some do not proclaim absolutes because they are afraid of offending others or hurting them but perhaps the worst way in the world to hurt someone would be to fail to speak the truth and thereafter have them face tragic consequences as a result.  People ...

Things that puzzle me

People who claim they have seriously prayed and prayed and prayed some more over something but make an immediate decision. People who use the term, "my pastor" and don't let anybody truly "pastor" them.  I love what Pastor Ed Russo says:   "Please don't call me pastor if you aren't going to let me pastor you."  People who think that marriage with a new person is going to be any easier than marriage with their ex. Women who think that sharing a man with another woman is better than having no man at all. Women who think he won't cheat on them after he cheated with them. Women who are shocked that their husband had an affair when they haven't had sex with them in a long time, or very often. People who find no correlation between their giving or lack thereof and stuff that happens -- good or bad --  in their lives. People who are surprised that having kids changes their lives.  Kids of ANY age who live with th...

Please explain this...

Person One and Person Two both are members at the same church.  However they have nothing to do with each other.  Oh, they know each other, but they rarely speak other than hi and bye, and they don't hang out in the same social circle.   They seem to have no desire to spend time together although they have had many opportunities to do so.  In some cases, Person One or Person Two may even express the fact that they have little interest in hanging out, being that aside from attending the same church they have little in common.  One day Person One decides to leave the church.  Suddenly out of the blue Person One feels the urge to call Person Two and let them know they think it's important that they establish a relationship.  Upon their departure they contact Person Two to talk on the phone, extend invites for lunch or dinner, and send emails or facebook messages,among other things.  However, they sat in the same church for ...

Think about this when it rains in your backyard...

It never fails that when I come back to the USA, (especially after a trip where God does amazing things) I pretty much get immediately hit with things that try to pop my balloon. Things I didn't expect.  Things that in my mind, I shouldn't have to deal with.  I'm sure every pastor feels that way.  I know I am not alone, and I do realize at the end of the day, what we're talking about is spiritual warfare.   It is all designed by the enemy to cause the man or woman of God to never want to step out and do anything again.  Does a person ever really get used to spiritual warfare?  I'm not sure.  As for me, I think  I will forever be learning how to handle it until God takes me home.  This time as I laid in my bed, very tired the last few days, mulling over things that were hitting me here and there, I decided to do a little comparison with something a co-pastor friend of mine in Kenya shared with me on this last trip.  I have le...

i miss you

Happy Sunday to my friends that I was with last week at this time...til' we meet again...

Depression after a missions trip

Does anyone else ever face this but me?  Evidently so because I just Googled it today and found that it happens to others.  I know many have trouble with re-entry into the USA in dealing with how much we are blessed vs. the poverty they just experienced.  I feel that of course, and more than just after a trip.  Africa has gotten so into my heart that it's something I face on a regular basis. My husband asked me yesterday, "how much MORE can you possibly SLEEP?"   I told him that he doesn't really understand the difficulty of the upside down schedule, first of all.  Turning it right side up when your days have been nights for a week is not easy.  Second, even with that I hardly sleep while I'm actually over there.  I am so keyed up about everything I can hardly let down.  The more I go to Africa the more excited I get, not the other way around.  It never becomes "old hat" to me.  Sometimes I get up in the middle...

More sights from Africa

Some boys pushing a cart with fruits and veggies down the road... One of the many food stands along the road... One of the worship teams for the conference - from East AG These ladies are amazing ministers in music and such servants...they also served us food after each service.  Preaching with Susan interpreting on Saturday... Preaching Sunday at East AG, in the dress the ladies gave me the day before. Children at Mathare Valley waiting for us in the kids church room. One of the precious children from Mathare enjoys a piece of candy given to her by Celebration Church. One of the places Pastor Jane took us to in Mathare Valley  Two little cuties along the walk in Mathare... Couldn't resist snapping this little lady's photo along the way in Mathare.