What do we do in this turbulent economy?

I got the privilege to attend a breakfast presentation this morning with Steve Forbes and Northwestern Mutual CEO John Schlifske in DC. What amazed me was that much of their thoughts/ teachings was how much of it was biblical wisdom that it regularly offered in sermons weekly (or at least should be). Love it when truth is shared that reaffirms our faith. Truth is truth regardless of where it's applied or what industry embraces it. It works every time. Read for yourself.

These are notes adapted from the forum discussion by these financial wizards (and I've adapted some of them into biblical, spiritual, church-oriented principles):

3 steps to financial strength:
1. Financial plan- like a game plan- each person needs both an offensive & defensive plan,
2. Financial advisor- like a coach, we need someone to help guide and implement that plan,
3. Save more. Consume less, save more. Basically, the borrowed the Lifehouse-ism of "live on less to give more" (or in this case, retire with more).

• When investing, emotions are our enemy. They do immense harm causing people to buy high, sell low. -Forbes.
• Be patient when investing. Compound interest is a true miracle -Einstien.
• If it feels good, don't. If feels bad, probably right. This one surprised me. Sounds like the counter-cultural, counter-intuitive teachings of Jesus and the way of the cross.
• 3x harder to preserve wealth than to build it. Why? Once we have, we spend/ waste. We adjust our lifestyle to abundance, rather than maintaining our values and purpose for wealth.

Top Focus for Investing:

• Keep long-term perspective rather than looking for quick fix solutions. 'When do you plan to use your investment?' If you have time, then don't panic, don't jump early. When people panic, they do stupid things when market fluctuates and make bad decisions that are personally destructive. Same could be said spiritually.
• Life expectancy continues to increase, so plan further ahead. Make sure your making preparations for deep into retirement. Plan to live a long time. (On spiritual note- are we planning past retirement to eternity? How far ahead are you planning?)
• Greatest risk is to under-estimated expenses in retirement, esp. health care costs. So, plan for higher expenses in retirement. (Spiritually, greatest risk is not to be prepared for eternity and underestimate the reality of hell/ eternity. It cost Christ more than you can imagine.)
• Most critical tool in current business climate- cash flow. Businesses need working capital. Don't waste cash in moment, but plan 5 yrs down the road.
• Can eat well or sleep well, but not both. (Spiritually, whatever you sow, you'll reap. If living for self, reap destruction)
• Stay focused on core competencies rather than areas where you can't add value. Clear on mission & purpose both in non-profit & business. (I think they borrowed this concept from Blanchard's Leading at Higher Levels and Warren's Purpose Driven Life).

How do we balance risk & investment? (allow me to insert the word faith for risk, just for the sake of spiritual application)

• Recognize key areas of risk- disability & out-living your income. Faith areas- possibilities that we can predict and eternity.
• First, focus on risk management, then think about wealth accumulation. Take care of "risk" areas first, then start to build wealth. (Faith trumps this lifetime. Have we made proper preparations for eternity or are we just re-arranging the chairs on the Titanic).
• Quickly adapt to change and new factors in market. The speed of adaptability determines longterm health of business.
• Accept changes- plan for them, then take risk step of investing. (Do we appropriately expect challenges and hardship, then allow our faith to full us through? Are we willing to take bold steps of faith in the midst of difficult circumstances, even when the odds are against us?)
• Gold, like oil, won't stay up forever- only 5% of portfolio. (Nothing lasts, even gold will eventually be destroyed)
• Like at-bat in baseball, take risk on 3-0 count, since you'll get another chance if you miss NOT on 0-2 count when you'll strike out.

What's holding economy back? (this one's for church leaders. Application- think "what's holding back the church from fulfilling her mission?)

• Policy- gov't runs $. Like running the engine of a car, if it lacks gas, goes empty but too much gas, flooded. Fed putting in too much 'gas' by printing $, which slows down recovery and drives up prices, (What codified policies are holding back the Church from impacting our communities? What "old", not necessarily biblical, methods are flooding the church with the wrong busyness and distracting her from her mission?)
• For economy to truly stabilize, the dollar must be relinked to gold, which has intrinsic value. (Where does the church derive value? Faith in Jesus, truly living the absolute truth of the Bible)
• Tax reform- congress must simply the tax code. Most significant documents in world are brief, unlike the 9.5 million word tax code. (Keep our faith in Jesus simple and practical)
• Need positive reform of health care by cutting out the middle man 3rd-party system to allow free trade between customer & medical providers. Give patients back control of their health care.
• US in painful pause but not decline,
• Revenue base (taxes of 2.2 trillion) devoured by entitlements (about 2.3 trillion) plus all the rest of government spending (another 1 trillion).

Where's interest rate going?

• Inflation/ bonds won't explode,
• Biggest issue is employment,
• Greater risk in deflation now than inflation,
• 8% annual expectation for return on investments is hopeful not likely,

Leadership thoughts:

• In business and investing, keep focused on core purpose/ mission (yeah, that works well for the church too),
• Earning trust- great leaders don't leverage position but earn trust over time.
• Help people (those you serve and those you employee) see something bigger than themselves (find bigger purpose/ Cause- can't think of a Cause greater than eternity),
• Respond quickly to 'curveballs'- focus on changes, adapt fast,
• Focus on details to generate productivity or the details will devour it,
• Stick to Values: NorthWestern Mutual's: 1. Strength (provide a stable, strong investment environment for clients); 2. Pay dividends (add value to those you serve); 3. Do the right thing all the time (wow! any church/ Christian could take these values, which seem very biblical and apply them to their life).

Secret to growth:

• Don't rest on laurels from past or relax or try to preserve greatness, since there are others trying to catchup,
• Don't forget the "why" & where your going (keep your eye focused on the destination).

Hope you found this helpful from both a financial and personal/ spiritual/ leadership perspective.

Would love feedback and thoughts?

Please RSVP- Unquenchable Life Seminar TOMORROW

All Lifehousers are invited to join us for the Unquenchable Life Seminar!

Please RSVP immediately and register here, so we know you're coming and have lunch ready for you.

"Life can leave you feeling empty, dry, and insignificant, but don't you long for something more?  A life that outlasts death.  An identity that's more than what we see in the mirror or what we write on a resume.  We long to accumulate what can never be spent.  To serve something more than ourselves. We long for the Unquenchable Life..."


Join me and other guest speakers THIS Saturday April 9th at UNQUENCHABLE, a one day seminar that will inspire and refuel your spiritual life.


This event includes powerful worship experiences, inspiring teaching sessions, corporate prayer gatherings, and the opportunity to choose from several interactive workshops that cover topics such as: The Fire of Prayer & Worship, Living for a Greater Cause, Finding Purpose in your Gifts, Understanding God & Money, and Building an Unquenchable Community.


Free lunch and childcare are available for pre-registered guests, so feel free to reserve your tickets below or visit http://unquenchableseminar.eventbrite.com for more information.  Isn't it time to experience the joy of The Unquenchable Life?

Check us out on Facebook.

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Demystifying Leadership of The Church- Lesson 7 from 2010

Lots of people rightly complain that too many churches identify leaders based on an American political model. So, they'll say, "the church is full of and run by politics!" Agreed! And most of us hate politics in the church. Politics means that leaders are identified for these type  of reasons:

• influence: a person has influence in business, government, or finances SO we give them influence IN the church,
• popularity: a person is popular and everyone likes them SO they should be in leadership,
• the vast majority of people in the church like the person or vote for that person So they should, by virtue of democratic vote, be in some type of leadership,
• secular leadership: a person is a leader elsewhere SO they must be able to lead in the church,
• money: they give lots of money SO let's give them a voice for how that money should be used.

Okay, you read that list and could probably add lots more to it. But the point is, that we hate politics and hidden/ false agendas within the Kingdom of God.

So, how does the Bible state the leaders are identified? Let's Demystify the Leadership Code in The Church:

• Spiritual Maturity: Paul tells Timothy that leaders in the Church should not be novices, young and immature in their relationship with Christ (1 Tim 3:6). Maturity is not measured by years but spiritual growth, in essence, is a Jesus-follower a reading the Word, in prayer, and multiplying by sharing and showing God's love with others.
• Character: people who are growing in the Character of Christ can be entrusted with influence and leadership. The Church can only give influence to those who exhibit growing Christ-like character, and must remove from leadership those who consistently demonstrate a lack of character and are unteachable or unwilling to repent (1 Tim 3).
• Competence: obviously a person must be capable of either leading now or learning to lead, in order to be a leader in a particular area of the Church. This means they have the capacity, giftedness, desire, and willingness to lead well (Romans 12),
• Calling: along with giftedness, a person must have the heart or passion from God to lead. People don't ask to lead, they are asked by God to lead. Ephesians 4 makes it clear that God gives to the Church the gifts of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers for the equipping of the saints...
• Faithful: leaders prove themselves by being faithful in lesser areas of responsibility and influence. If a person is unwilling to do the unnoticeable tasks, they won't be faithful in areas of greater influence. Jesus taught that within His Kingdom, those who are faithful with little will be entrusted with much and vice versa. Luke 16:10-12.
• Fruitful: a person could be all of the above and still not be a leader, if they are not fruitful. Seed that lands of good soil, in Matthew 13, produces a fruitful harvest of 100, 60, or at least 30 times what was sown. We can recognize leaders within the Church by those who take the "little" that has been invested and given to them, and they produce "much" with it. They share and show God's love. They make disciples and lead people to Jesus. They develop others into servants of Christ, leaders in the Church, and help others grow.

There it is! Those ware the demystified keys of how we identify leadership within The Church according to the Bible?!

You can save a baby's life!

The Hagerstown Area Pregnancy Center is an incredible organization that serves those in a crisis pregnancy, as well as their unborn child.

Several churches in our area have rallied support behind the Center to raise funds to help them become a full-care center open 5 days a week.

If you're collecting coins for the Hag.Pregnacy Center, fill your baby bottle and bring it into Lifehouse by the end of February! (Please return unfilled bottles as well.)

Thanks so much for turning your change into a BIG change!

Lifehouse MOMENTUM- part 3

How can YOU partner with us?

Our goal is to quickly turn around this facility so that when the Grand Opening date arrives,  both Leitersburg Cinema, LLC and Lifehouse Church East will generate excitement and positive feedback from the community.  Since the Grand Opening date is only months away, we must quickly raise the resources to begin renovations immediately.

What's exciting is that we'll see immediate impact on the investment we are making in God's Kingdom.

This is your opportunity to join us in partnering both in prayer and giving. You may also consider volunteering time to work on a crew to help renovate.  

If you are interested, please consider maing 18-MONTH Pledge by emailing us at info@lifehousechurcheast.org or turning a pledge card on Sunday June 7th or by mail.

We are asking that you would consider making an initial sacrificial offering on Sunday, June 7th, and then give a monthly pledge over the next 18-months. Also, we strongly encourage you to pass this email, letter, or blog post along, to those you believe will be willing to partner with Lifehouse in this bold adventure.

Our hope is that Exodus 36 will come alive at Lifehouse as you and our church family join in what God is doing:

“…the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”  Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.”

We covet your earnest prayers and generous giving. I can assure you that we will keep our focus on sharing and showing Jesus’ love to our community, and this building will be a tool to advance the Cause of Christ.

We are grateful for your financial support of Lifehouse and are encouraged by your confidence in our ministry. May God bless you abundantly!

Fired up!

P.S. For more information about the renovation project or your 18-Month Pledge, please call our church office at 301-824-4656.

Lifehouse MOMENTUM- part 2

In February, we learned that the Hagerstown 10 Cinema complex was going up for auction, and we immediately called our church to prayer. During that season, we fasted, prayed, and waited. As we waited, we didn’t feel led to bid on the property.

On March 17th, the auction came and went with no buyer. That day, the owners asked us to consider purchasing the property. I read Joshua 3:2-5 that morning:

“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God… you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it.”  Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

In the past, I have been reluctant to lead the church to own or buy a building.  This was for several reasons:

• Most church buildings consume the bulk of the church’s resources (over 50%),
  
• Ministry events and gatherings begin to gravitate toward the building rather than toward the community,
  
• The community and the believers begin to identify the term “church” as a building rather than a people.
  

I did not want the ownership of a building to hinder Lifehouse’s focus on the community. So in the past, I have explained to our leadership team that we would own a building only if ministry was hindered by not having a building, and if our resources would not be tied up in the facility.

Thankfully, God orchestrated a business plan that would not only enhance our impact in the community, but it would not burden the church financially.  Between March and May, we prayed and negotiated with the owners, and on May 15th, we signed a lease-to-buy agreement.

The miraculous part of the story is that Joe and Lois Quesenberry, our congregational pastors, prayed over this very property back in 1978.  At the time, the theater was a sordid business, even showing X-rated movies to families.  The Quesenberry’s prayed that the property would be redeemed and used for the glory of God. 

Here's a video of their story:

Who knew that 30 years later, they would be ministering at the very church that would occupy the property!

Details and Business Plan for the Cinema Complex

The owners had a $2.8 million contract on the property two years ago but declined the offer.

Our final agreement: 

• Beginning June 1, 2009, Lifehouse will lease the cinema complex for one-year for $3,000 monthly.  This amount is nearly equal to what we currently spend leasing the theater on Sunday mornings and using office space elsewhere.
  
• At the end of the one-year lease, we have a guaranteed option-to-buy the 7.2 acres of the cinemas and parking area for $838,000 (what owners owe on it).
  
• Also in the lease, after two years, we have a second option-to-buy the additional 11.6 acres for $892,000. (Giving us room to expand.)
  
• Hagerstown Cinema 10, the current theater company renting the facility simultaneously with Lifehouse, will operate in the building as usual until the end of August.
  
• Leitersburg Cinemas, LLC (a new theater company) will occupy the cinemas beginning in October in a separate lease agreement with the owner. Their lease will be $7,000 monthly, plus 95% of utilities.
  
• During our one-year lease, our use of the building will increase significantly, and we will be able to renovate and use office space on the second floor.
• At the end of our one-year lease, we will purchase the cinema complex and discontinue making payments of $3000 monthly. Then, as the owners, we will continue to lease the building to Leitersburg Cinemas, LLC to cover the full mortgage and additonal costs.
• The income from Leitersburg Cinema, LLC will cover all mortgage costs, nearly 95% of utility costs, and the company has additionally agreed to tithe 10% of their profits to Lifehouse.
  
• Additionally, Leitersburg Cinemas, LLC is owned and managed by a Christian businessman at Lifehouse, who has agreed to operate the cinemas as a family-oriented business.   The cinemas will NOT show R-rated movies, and will create a very family-friendly environment.
  

To summarize, Lifehouse will have the benefit of owning the building without the financial burden.  Because the building will continue to operate as a theater, Lifehouse will continue to focus on the community, and the church will continue to be viewed as a people rather than a building.  Our hope is that Lifehouse Church East and Leitersburg Cinemas, LLC will be able to work together to use the theater property for God’s glory.

Renovating the Cinema Complex

To make this endeavor successful, our part is to renovate the building to make it a highly visible, attractive facility.  In doing this, we will increase the impact of our church, and attract business to Leitersburg Cinemas LLC. 

• October 1, 2009 is the target date for a Grand Opening of Leitersburg Cinemas LLC and the new Lifehouse Church East building.  Our initial phase of renovations must be complete by that date.
  
• The initial phase of renovations include: new bathrooms, roof repairs, new lobby and café area, cosmetic exterior improvements, landscaping, parking lot sealing and relining.
  
• By December 2009, we hope to renovate 2nd floor office space for Lifehouse.
  
• By April 2010, we hope to finish the exterior structural renovations.
  
• Total cost for renovations are estimated at $550,000. 

Divine "Coincidence"

On occasion I'm caught off guard by God, or better yet God-moments. Subtle encounters where you can see the fingerprint of God looking back on what just happened.

Well, I had one last week.

I've been carrying $5 in my pocket waiting to fulfill my day 16 challenge to give the money to someone that I didn't know who was in need. It wasn't for lack of effort. I've been carrying it with me looking for the "right" person. It feels like so little, but I knew I needed to be led by God in the moment when to give.

Well, I was early to a meeting at 6:30 one morning, and waiting in my car, I prayed, "God, I really want to give this money away, but I don't know to whom, and I'm wondering why you haven't led me to anyone yet. Please lead me, so they I can be a blessing to someone in Your Name." Then I reached over and grabbed my devotional to read the challenge of that day.

Just then, a guy with a gas can in-hand walked right up to the window of my car and ask for help with some gas money. He was coming to town for a job interview and his van stalled right across the street from where I was parked.

I helped him happily. He was genuinely grateful and even came into the restaurant to find and thank me. It's cool when you can see the "fingerprints" of God in your life.

'Tis the Season

Just read an article that I found interesting, Scrooge Lives.

"...researchers found, is that some would-be donors don't trust how churches and religious organizations would use their donations... several church families say they don't have high levels of trust in their denomination's management and allocation of funds."

"A larger problem isn't that the parishioners distrust their churches; it's that they [congregates] are acting just like them [the churches]. American families are repeating their churches' examples."

"Relatively little donated money actually moves much of a distance away from the contributors," ...The money given by the people in the pews, it turns out, is largely spent on the people in the pews. Only about 3 percent of money donated to churches and ministries went to aiding or ministering to non-Christians.

"...major reason Christians do not give is because they are not asked to." Americans know that nearly all denominations teach that Christians should give away 10 percent of their incomes. But this teaching is rarely reinforced. Pastors are reluctant to bring it up because the issue is so closely tied to their own salaries. And the study found that pastors themselves are often not great models of financial giving, which can exacerbate their reluctance to preach on it."

Wow! Challenging article, challenging ideas!

My thoughts:

• You've heard it said to you, "You can't out give God," but I say to you, "Let's try and fail!"
• You've heard it said recently to you, "This is the worst economy in generations, so let's hoard, save, and hid what we have left," but I say to you, "This sense of desperation is good. It drives us back to priorities, to simplicity. Spend less. Give more. Make presents. Give more compliments and fewer flowers. Give more love and less unnecessary packages."
  
• You've heard it said to you, "If I give then I will have less," but I say to you, "We can't afford not to give."
• You've heard it said to you, "Seek wise counsel on how to invest your money, so that you'll get the best return on your IRA, 401k," but Jesus said to us, "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where thieves cannot break in and steal, and moths cannot eat.