Modern Day Daniel

Modern Day Daniel

By Kent Humphreys www.fcci.org


Daniel is my favorite Bible character. He was taken from his home country at about 14 years of age and went on to be one of the most influential leaders in Babylon over the next seventy years. A few weeks ago in Hong Kong I was able to spend time with a modern day Daniel who does business in the countries of Central Asia. Daniel’s father was a pastor in India back in the 1960’s, and before Daniel was born his father believed that Daniel would be a pastor in Russia. During his teenage years Daniel struggled in his faith and wandered away from his Christian heritage. About the age of 18 years he returned to walking with God. Then Daniel began to learn the Russian language in the university. But, as he got ready to graduate from college, the chaos occurred and the walls of the Soviet Union came down. In 1993 Daniel showed up in Central Asia and went to work for a large software firm as a marketing agent. He had no business training but adapted well and made many friends. For the next two or three years Daniel worked very hard and traveled twenty five days a month throughout the region of Central Asia.
Daniel was promoted three times because of his marketing and sales success. Finally in 1996, he was offered a move to Africa to head up a new office in Uganda. Daniel turned down the great financial offer because he felt called to Central Asia. For a year he worked for a financial services firm and tried to help a local church make up a fake platform for business. He spent a year on a church staff thinking that it was how he was going to serve God. Some ladies in his church began to pray and had a vision that Daniel would go into business and bring wealth to the nations. A pastor from Singapore met Daniel and told Daniel that God had called him to be a minister to the marketplace. Daniel had saved $60,000 from his earnings and started a trading business. His firm packaged and branded tea from India and grew a very successful business in just a few years. But, in 1999 the currency was devalued 50% and his savings were gone. While his inventory was devalued, he still owed his vendors over $500,000 and did not want to go bankrupt and hurt his trusted vendors. So, just as he got married, he was suddenly in deep debt for the next two years. His office was robbed, his key employee stole from him, and the KGB raided his facility. He could not even work for four months. Finally, the church in Singapore called him to come to Singapore. On a Sunday in Singapore, 12,000 members of the church gathered to lay hands on Daniel and pray for his business back in central Asia.
In 2000, Daniel started a new business in the Oil and Gas industry. He met with a firm in London and began to try to sell the 100,000 items in their CD catalog. For days Daniel called on perspective clients back in Central Asia. Finally, one night at 7:30pm he met a guy on the street who suggested that he visit an office in a basement of a certain office building. There Daniel met the key executive of a firm which would spend $4 billion on an oil and gas project over the next few years. After he saw Daniel’s CD, he asked Daniel if he really knew anything about all of these products. Daniel sadly admitted his ignorance. The man promised Daniel that if he would be a faithful supplier, that the executive would send key suppliers to Daniel to sell through Daniel as a distributor to his firm. He gave Daniel an initial order for $2,000. He had a huge project and needed distributors that he could trust. For some reason he felt Daniel could be one of those faithful distributors. This late night divine appointment changed the future of Daniel’s life and business.
Daniel’s business started with that small order and began to grow. It has doubled most years over this decade. Daniel’s oil and gas product distribution firm now has offices in fourteen nations across Central Asia employing 400 employees. In a Muslim nation where Christians are often discriminated against, Daniel has such an important business in the community and such a good reputation for service and integrity, that they can not make threats to him. He is respected by the top governmental and business leaders. Daniel’s business has started two schools and two children’s homes. By the way, the key executive that befriended Daniel back in 2000 had a heart attack a couple of years ago. Through the episode Daniel was able to lead his friend to Christ.
Daniel was named the “business person of the year” in 2006 for Kazakhstan and in 2007 began pasturing a church part time. He spends one day a week in the church besides Sunday and the rest of the time in the business. Understand that these nations are among the most unreached for Christ. Less than one percent of the population is considered evangelical. Daniel is an example of God’s grace. His story is how one man with the anointing of God on his life, the prayers of a supporting church, the provision of Divine appointments, combined with the hard work and courage to overcome continual difficulties works together to bring glory to Jesus Christ in the midst of atheistic nations. In some of the most “closed countries” to the Gospel in the world, Daniel regularly meets and does business with government and business leaders in the oil industry. He is a modern day Daniel in the secular nations of Central Asia. Check out Daniel’s company Gateway Ventures at www.gvcal.com. Daniel is a business leader doing Business as Mission for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith and Managing Risk

Faith and Managing Risk
A friend sent me an email this week asking the following three questions. Since they were insightful, I'm sharing our exchange. At the heart of these questions is a balance of taking steps of faith while using Godly wisdom to manage risk. Kings learn to do both.
1.  Does God bring business opportunities which seem beyond one's reach?
Don’t assume every "opportunity" is from God. Lots of opportunities will present themselves. We consider all of them using wisdom to make the best choices.
2.  How do you evaluate to determine whether the opportunity is a divine cause?
They can all be divine – it’s your job to pick the ones the represent the best opportunity for profit, ministry, etc.
3.  Of every business opportunity that comes our way, how shall I decide which is really viable; which needs to be tackled if one has the resources?
Assess the risks. The biggest mistake people make is choosing opportunities or investments based on their potential to succeed. Some opportunities succeed while others fail - hearing from God doesn't keep you immune from problems and failures. Wisdom is choosing opportunities that won’t hurt you if they fail; or at least having a strategy in place to "resurrect" from a failure. Christians are prone to assuming that God gave the opportunity and therefore nothing will go wrong. That theology sets us up for failures.
Expectations - Most of life's wounds have roots in sincere expectations about the future that were dashed on the rocks in a storm. We've all been there. Kings must have the ability to land on their feet when things go totally wrong. First let's examine the concept of "knowing the future."
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.     Matt 7:25 NIV
As Christians we are prone to think that God has the future under control and everything is all mapped out. Knowing His will is like knowing the future and we build a set of expectations around our beliefs about what the future holds - minus the storms. The premise is that God knows the future and, if we're in tune with Him, understand the Bible, and have prophetic insight, we can know the future too. Armed with that premise we launch investments, businesses and churches with a great deal of confidence that we are safely within the will of God and nothing can go wrong.... then something goes wrong!
The only flaw in our thought process (above) is that it hasn't always worked in the past and most of us carry some level of fear that something could go wrong (like it did before "most of the time!"). So we add one thing to our little theological recipe for life. We try to prevent the pain of failure by avoiding "or ignoring" the risk of loss. We falsely label reckless plunges as "faith." Instead of taking steps to manage risk to minimize losses, we forge ahead holding God responsible for the best. So, we are generally confident in God's goodness and believe things will go right. However, having felt the personal pain of expectations unfulfilled, we are specifically inclined to fear new endeavors that represent risk. We deal with our fear of risk by pretending it's not there! We think proceeding in the face of risk is faith. It's really a form of self-sabotage. Strangely, this dynamic starts to sound like unbelief. The things we fear most start to happen to us.
What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.         Job 3:25 NIV
Where is the risk highest? It can be when Christians do business together that real risk is most often neglected under the guise of "faith." Our spirit-led promptings are usually legitimate. Guidance is general in nature because God expects us to be stewards of our assets, cash flow, and initiative. It's our job to think through the details and make wise decisions that account for the risks.... "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" is Jesus advice for marketplace ministry!
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  Matt 10:16  KJV
What Does Work? - Having a sound, Bible-based concept of God makes risk a lot simpler. God does have a plan for the future. Jesus is coming back, Heaven is real... so is Hell for that matter. Mankind will face judgment and rewards in the end. That being said, God doesn't micromanage the details of our future. In fact, he grieves with us when things go wrong. He is not an impersonal "force." Our God is dynamic, alive, and personal; He communicates, rejoices, gets angry, adjusts His course, and even changes His mind. Servants are a little more comfortable with a less personal God that doesn't show emotion or change. Friends like the interaction. We all go through a maturing process from servants that just obey, to friends that interact with God and ask for their heart's desire in fellowship with the Father (Jn 15:15). We grow in our awareness of how personal God really is. He has invited us to help plan our own future... "reason together."
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD.  Isa 1:18 NIV
Although we have a destiny, our future is not completely scripted by God. We have many choices and many relational encounters with God as we face everything life brings us. Understanding the true nature of God and life brings us to this point: We are firm in our resolve and ultimate direction but we leave expectations and plans flexible regarding exactly how we'll arrive at our destination (or destiny). There is plenty of room for prayer!
Risk is Real, Accidents happen - The flaw in the thinking of many Christians is that God will protect us from risk. We take leaps of faith into the unknown and pray that nothing will go wrong. Then, when something goes south we are stuck; either blaming God or ourselves for the failure (both are bad choices). The Bible is full of stories of God's miraculous intervention. He still does miracles all the time. However, managing your risk by expecting God to provide a miracle every time a storm comes is wrong practically and theologically.
Another flawed theology is believing God sovereignly controls everything and that there are no accidents. If something Goes wrong we falsely conclude it's either God's providence for our good or his judgment on us for sin. Here's the middle of the road; God can control anything he wants to regarding the future (miracles). However, He is committed to working with kings and He leaves most of the future open for us to manage. Accidents can and do happen all the time. They don't imply God's will or judgment. They often point to our lack of foresight to manage risk.
Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! Luke 13:4-5 NIV
What if we stopped pretending there is no risk? What if we admit the future is partly open and it's our job to work with God to shape it according to His purposes? What if our family and business plans accounted for all the things that could go wrong (instead of keeping all those fears hidden in a closet)?
Before you face your next "storm," realize that you are a King working with the King of Kings. You not only share the setbacks, you chat about the options to resurrect the situation so that God is glorified and the Kingdom is built. Faith has vision and risk; wisdom adds the ability to anticipate what could go wrong and plan for it, or better yet, avoid it. If we hit a home run, God is glorified and the Kingdom is built. If we encounter problems, we implement a strategy to solve them (avoid or manage the risk) so the Kingdom is still built. Whether it's the easy way or the hard way we are still walking with Jesus (the rock) and we'll still arrive at the same destiny if we stick with it. Pretty cool isn't it?
Here's reality - We Kings live in real-world warfare but we operate in the power of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual attack is magnified because of the warfare, but our fruitfulness and opportunities are magnified even more because of His power that works so mightily in us.
Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us  Eph 3:20 NASB
To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.  Col 1:29  NIV
Strong Backbones, Flexible Expectations - Right now we see Kings experiencing the highs and lows. Some are in storms or under attack while, on other fronts, there are great victories. We (and God) don't control where the enemy may strike or what decisions those around us will make. Stuff happens... things change! Our resolve is like steel but our plans and expectations are very flexible. We anticipate risk and we're not taken by surprise of something goes wrong. The reason God calls us overcomers is because there are plenty of things to overcome.
FYI: I learned (and am learning) how to manage risk day trading. That world is 5 -10 decisions a day that require a quick decision based on an evaluation of the risk of a loss. The same decision logic applies to the rest of our lives too. Special thanks to some generous mentors; Greg Dalessandri and Dan and Nathan Gaub. I also want to recommend Who is God by Harold Eberle. We summarized this book in Releasing Kings, Chapter 7. Also, Trading in the Zone by Mark Douglas helped me understand how our inner healing issues can bias business decisions (most spiritual secular book I've ever read).
 
We're Dancing
 
John and Sue     www.Releasing-kings.com
 
PS: I want to recommend some follow-up reading.
Who is God by Harold Eberle provides the best explanation of a more relational view of God. It's must reading that connects our perception of God with everyday life.
Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace takes that foundation into marketplace ministry and the entrepreneurial nature of Kings. Fruit in the marketplace naturally springs out of sound doctrine.
Desire to Destiny - Takes the foundation and marketplace ministry and puts them in the context of seven practical keys or stages of growth you can apply in your own life.
You're invited into the vision to release Kings; communicate the message, make the money, and do the mission.
1.The Message - Our first goal is to get the Releasing Kings message into the hands of the messengers that will carry it... do it, preach it, teach it, example it.
2.The Money - The second goal is to help Kings break out of poverty by networking them with practical opportunities to prosper. We want to introduce them to the right people, the right opportunity, and the right financial approach.
3.The Mission - Network Kings with opportunities to mix business and missions. Accomplish the great commission through the marketplace and occupy the Seven mountains of: business, media, arts & entertainment, education and government in addition to the church.
____________________________________________________________________
You can get your copy of Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace or Desire to Destiny at
1-800-308-5837 (or)
www.releasing-kings.com
 

The Hazardous Christian

The Hazardous Christian

By James Ryle www.truthworks.org


"Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 15:26).

Marketers have called it the World’s Most Successful Ad. It was posted in The London Times in 1905 -- “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages. Bitter cold. Long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in event of success.” Signed E. Shackleton. He was looking for a crew to help him discover the South Pole.

The next morning, over five thousand men were waiting outside the Time’s office ready to go. Something in the ad touched something deep inside each man.

But there is an even more successful ad posted in the Acts of the Apostles, and over the centuries millions have responded to its higher call in an even deeper way.

Paul and Silas were commended as men who hazarded their lives. Contrary to what one may initially think, this does not mean to be reckless or irresponsible. The Greek word means “to give over to another.” In other words, they were men who had handed their lives over to Jesus Christ, so as to bring great honor to His name. And while the underlying thought might seem to be one of self-abandonment, the truth of the matter is that this is the ultimate act of personal responsibility.

Paul said, “My friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.” (Rom.12:1, Good News Bible).

The Amplified Bible says it is the "reasonable, rational, and intelligent" thing to do.

You and I were put on this earth to make Jesus famous. It is reasonable, rational, and intelligent for us to use our gifts and abilities to honor Him. But that’s not going to happen if we hold on to our own reputations as something to be cherished and mollycoddled, as they said in the old days. We must hazard our lives.

There is something deep inside every person that is stirred by the daring challenge to live a life of greatness for something other than oneself. Still, not all choose to do so; not every one hands their lives over.

Some settle for the pampered, risk-free environment of a lifeless faith and live out their days making no difference at all. But not you; surely not you. Start now and from this day onward, hazard your life for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Worship - The Door of Kings

Worship - The Door of Kings
(Meeting David and Rita)
Worship - In 1975 a guy named David Kitely came to our church and taught us how to sing over chord progressions and released the congregation and the musicians into a free flowing, extemporaneous worship that revolutionized the services. Prior to that praise felt like pumping water up hill. After learning how to flow, the praise easily moved into worship that felt like a personal communion with Jesus. We soared like eagles, released prophetical songs and instrumentals. I was particularly fond of great brothers and sisters that worshiped through their clarinet, violin, or trumpet. Between the worship, the prophetic songs, and the instruments, the church went to a whole new level in terms of experiencing the presence of God. Something happened in the spirit that caused our hearts to be released with joy into the presence of God. It was liberating, exciting, emotional, and holy at the same time.
Note: It's worth pointing out that our 1975 revelation of how to worship was so amazing that we developed a theology to go with it. We thought the presence of God was so real and powerful that the whole community would eventually be drawn into it. We actually did grow the church... however, instead of releasing Kings, we gave them seat assignments in the only mountain we could see at the time - the local church. Of course it eventually blew up and we all wondered why something so wonderful could end so awkwardly... probably God?
Releasing Kings - Worship is a natural ingredient in our discipleship process where we learn to release our hearts into a new freedom with Jesus. The Holy Spirit woos us week after week until we surrender to the thrill of soaring like eagles in worship; lost in the wonder of his majesty and no longer concerned with what others may think. It's an hour a week of learning to hear the voice of the Father and catching a ride on the wind of the Holy Spirit. There are times so rich that everyone present can prophesy because everyone can hear what God is saying so clearly.
Experiencing your release as a king is another expression of that kind of worship. It feel like a jailbreak from an obedient servant to a friend that walks in the desires of his or her own heart with a clear knowledge of what the Father is doing. It's a step into personal freedom that causes us to soar and reminds us so much of worship. And, it leads right into the presence and favor of God. We used to labor and pump and strive; and now something has changed and our "yoke" feels easy and our "burden" feels light. Networks come together, doors open, finances flow, and the creativity feels like an adventure.
Connecting the dots - God connected something for me. When we do conferences on Releasing Kings there is an amazing impact in people as they begin to awaken dreams and touch the desires of their heart that God planted in them. It's one part inner healing mixed with one part joyful jailbreak with a pinch of adventure thrown in for excitement. Worship is a natural bridge God builds into our hearts to release us as Kings in the Kingdom. We don't normally connect starting a business with worship... unless it's your business and it makes your heart sing and you realize it really is worship! Learning to set your heart free is a key ingredient to inherit Jesus' promise of abundant life (Jn 10:10). Worship is a great training ground for your heart.
Finding your calling in the marketplace will cause your spirit to leap. Or, reversing the sequence, when we learn to set our hearts free we will find our calling in the marketplace.
I met David and Rita Baroni last week (read their interview on the link). It was one of those connections that feels like you've found a long, lost friend. They have spent their lives in music and worship, and they carry that same ability to transform congregational worship and musicians, to set people free to soar in worship; released in the presence of God. Many worship services consist of songs with little participation from the congregation. David's music and his knowledge of free-form worship and the prophetic create a special place for people to "enter in" and release their hearts. You can hear some of their music on You Tube and learn more on the interview page. I'm committed to having a future conference with them to implement this dynamic... releasing hearts in worship and in the marketplace. David and Rita carry an anointing to do that. They are carrying on what King David started; a path to life filled with abundance, joy and pleasure.
You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Ps 16:11 NASU
Finding our role in the marketplace to minister is a song that is playing in our hearts. I think it's dance music! There is a new sound in the camp that is causing a generation to arise.

We're Dancing

John and Sue www.Releasing-kings.com

PS: I want to recommend some follow-up reading.
Who is God by Harold Eberle provides the best explanation of a more relational view of God. It's must reading that connects our perception of God with everyday life.
Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace takes that foundation into marketplace ministry and the entrepreneurial nature of Kings. Fruit in the marketplace naturally springs out of sound doctrine.
Desire to Destiny - Takes the foundation and marketplace ministry and puts them in the context of seven practical keys or stages of growth you can apply in your own life.
You're invited into the vision to release Kings; communicate the message, make the money, and do the mission.
1. The Message - Our first goal is to get the Releasing Kings message into the hands of the messengers that will carry it... do it, preach it, teach it, example it.
2. The Money - The second goal is to help Kings break out of poverty by networking them with practical opportunities to prosper. We want to introduce them to the right people, the right opportunity, and the right financial approach.
3. The Mission - Network Kings with opportunities to mix business and missions. Accomplish the great commission through the marketplace and occupy the Seven mountains of: business, media, arts & entertainment, education and government in addition to the church.

From Pew to Purpose

From Pew to Purpose
When the Saints come Marching - We live in a church culture believing we should equip the saints but we don't quite know how to graduate them into the marketplace to change the world. Last week we made A Case For Mentors. Let's take that theme one more step into the sequence we all go through. First it's permission to pursue your dream, then it's finding your purpose (mountain, vocation, ministry and model), and lastly it's hooking up with a mentor to convert all of these pie-in-the-sky dreams into a prosperous vocation and ministry.
1. Permission from God - Your dream begins when you give yourself permission to dream. I have to embrace the theological position that God has written His will into the desires of my heart. Not there? Many believe our hearts are evil and get trapped in religion, "I'm obeying the will of God for my life and I'm living above my carnal desires." That attitude is good for new believers, but over a life time, it will eventually ship wreck - I've tried it and so have you.
One of the early signs that God is unveiling your heart's desire is that you see someone else "modeling" your dream… you’ll be drawn to emulate that person. When you see someone with a calling, gifting, and anointing similar to your own, you naturally will gravitate toward them. You’ll experience a healthy envy that draws you into their anointing. They are examples the Lord is showing you to pull you into your own destiny. Let your envy work its way into mentoring. We are drawn into their anointing by the Holy Spirit. Godly mentors don't focus on accountability; they focus on making you a success and letting you hold yourself accountable to something that works.
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Cor 11:1
…for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 1 Cor 4:15-16
Join with others in following my example, brothers Phil 3:17
You became imitators of us and of the Lord 1 Thess 1:6
We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 2 Thess 3:9
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Heb 6:12
The Kingdom is being built by people who are having fun, prospering in every way, and sharing from a cup that runs over in abundance. If you're struggling in this area my first suggestion is to read Releasing Kings. It was designed to provide a very Biblical basis for this move in our hearts.
2. Coaching to Find Your Life's Purpose - It is helpful and encouraging to sit down with someone good at reading people, who will ask the right questions and help you explore what's in your heart. There are many professional coaches who can help you find your marketplace ministry. I'm borrowing a four step coaching sequence from Michelle Bizek as an example. Since we're mentioning Michelle we should also point out that women are particularly being called out by the Holy Spirit to pursue their hearts and often it's women coaches who are setting them free.
Explore where you are, what beliefs and choices got you here, where you want to go and what you want to change,
Discover your dreams, values, strengths, challenges and possibilities,
Align your discoveries to design goals and actions that satisfy and fulfill,
Integrate your actions to create new results and move you toward your goals.
A coach can get us started setting goals, writing a plan, making a schedule... getting off our south side. We wrote Desire to Destiny to address this same process. Read it - you'll be blessed.
Two Suggestions - 1) I'd like to see coaching happen in the church as a pastoral function. Why not set a goal that part of our discipleship process is helping every member of the body find their mountain. It's not that hard and its not very far from the counseling that already goes on in most churches... except it is proactive instead of reactive.
2) Our missions trips should include this same process. We're not about just getting people saved so they can sit in the pews. We need to think of follow-up in terms of helping / coaching new believers to connect with their marketplace calling.
3. Mentoring - It's important to distinguish between coaching and mentoring. Coaches make their money from the people they help and have a pastoral ingredient. Mentors make their money from their field of expertise and help people out of an apostolic fathering ingredient. They don't need your money! Although they love to share their insights and help people become successful, they can't afford to waste time on people that aren't serious.
Mentors can show you how to do things. Even better, they can show you what not to do because they have already made all the mistakes. Mentors have a life time of connections that allow them to get things done quickly and efficiently. They can shave years off our dream realization.
Who's your mentor? For starters, get acquainted with those same people you would like to emulate and ask if they would help you. Couch that question in terms of how you could help them. Use your phone and make a divine appointment! We're not just asking for information or training, we're asking for a relationship with a "father." Your commitment to succeed is measured by your willingness to find a mentor(s).
PS: many who read this newsletter are being called to be a "father" and provide this mentoring aspect of discipleship for others. We've used a web page called interviewing Kings to highlight a few examples of those folks. There are millions more... rise up and find your sons! Pull some one else up to your level.
 
We're Dancing
 
John and Sue     www.Releasing-kings.com

America's Economic Crisis - Lack of Confidence

America's Economic Crisis - Lack of Confidence

By Dr. Keith Johnson www.TheConfidenceCoach.com


I’ve heard it said that a recession is anytime people lose confidence in the future. I agree.
What is America’s economic crisis all about? Lack of confidence!
Consumers lack the confidence to spend in fear of future financial collapse. Lenders lack the confidence to lend, and borrowers to borrow. Shoppers have stopped shopping, and retailers have stopped hiring. Salespeople are hesitant to close the deal, and buyers are taking fewer risks. Homebuyers lack the confidence to even tour for-sale homes, and home builders are waiting, hoping.
“Therefore do not cast away your CONFIDENCE, which has great reward.” Hebrews 10:35
Fear, insecurity, and worry have hijacked the majority of American minds. They have lost confidence in the leadership of our country, of Wall Street, of our financial institutions, and the positive outcome of their futures. When people are unsure or afraid of the future, they do nothing! They don’t act. They don’t buy. They don’t sell. They don’t borrow. Scared or unsure people just sit, wait, watch, and worry, wondering if things are going to get better or worse.
Why Is America Great?
The greatest strength of the United States of America is not our great riches, beauty of our lands, our military powers, or our resources—our strength lies in our belief in God and our mental toughness. Americans have always been the most confident-thinking citizens in the world. We dream big, think big, build big, talk big, dress big, live big, act big, and give big. Why? Because confidence is a natural part of the American DNA. We live in a confidence- producing environment, modeled every day by good, decent men and women who accomplish their goals and dreams.
Then Why Is Our Confidence at an All-Time Low?
I believe there are two major reasons:
1. Leadership Crisis
Many Americans have lost confidence in our leaders because of their lack of character-centered leadership. Leadership is built on trust. When leaders lie, cheat, make decisions based only on what is best for them, and have immoral failures in their private lives, confidence is lost. Recent surveys reveal that 80 percent of Americans believe we are experiencing a crisis in leadership across the board, from government to business to financial institutions to churches to nonprofit organizations.
Confidence is built on two major ingredients: credibility and integrity. Nobody has confidence in someone who does not do what they say. United States President Dwight Eisenhower said, “In order to be a leader a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence, the supreme quality for a leader is unquestionable integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office. If a man’s associates find him guilty of being phony, if they find that he lacks integrity he will fail. His teaching and actions must square with each other. The first great need, therefore, is integrity and high purpose.”
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.” - Psalms 9:17
History has proven time and again that corrupted morals equal bad economics and moral integrity equals great economics. Our lack of confidence is the result of immoral leadership. When leaders lack integrity, the nation’s citizens eventually pay the cost and feel the pain, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. The first price we pay is a loss of confidence, and the problems get greater and costlier.
2. An “All or Nothing” Mentality
The media profit from disseminating information about fear, crisis, and tragedy. The media thrive on negativity because that’s what sells. They present an “all or nothing” perspective of the economy. You have heard it, “Everybody’s business is down this year. Nobody can get a car loan. It is hard to buy a house unless you have outstanding credit. Nobody is selling any houses. Everybody is losing money in the stock market.” Is this true or is it hype?
“Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear...” Mark 4:24
A few instances to the contrary: My organization had our best financial year in 15 years. I recently talked with a vice president of a major fast food restaurant chain who said they had their best year ever and set many company records. An entrepreneurial friend of mine started a new business at the end of 2007 with $1 million, and he grew his business to $400 million in one year. One of our local car dealerships is offering 0 percent financing. Someone I know had his credit damaged because of a divorce; however, he received a loan from a major lending institution for 4.9 percent and bought a beautiful four- bedroom home with a pool. A real estate friend in Florida told me she sold four homes in one week.
The truth: some people have had the very best year of their lives. Yes, some people are having tough times—but not “everybody” as the media would have you believe. America desperately needs leaders in government, media, business, and the church who will be voices of confidence and optimism within their world of influence. We need leaders in times of crisis to show fortitude, strength, character, and confidence to those looking to them for hope.
Regaining Our Confidence
Confidence is the byproduct of predictability. When something predictable is removed or a sudden change happens in our personal lives or organizations, people tend to feel insecure.
To restore your confidence, you must:
1. Ask yourself the right questions.
Jesus was a master at asking the right questions at the right time. Profound questions produce profound answers. Ask yourself, “What predictabilities have been removed from my life?” Then, “What immediate action can I take to make my life more predictable?”
A couple of my favorite questions that I ask myself during times of feeling insecure: “What three things can I do in the next 90 days that will make a 50 percent difference in the rest of this year?” “What one major problem do I need to solve that will make my life more predictable?” Start looking for solutions instead of focusing on problems.
“Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23
You must believe there is an answer to your current problems. If you will confidently believe that there is an answer to the problems you are facing, your mind will design a road map to find it. If you don’t believe there is an answer, your mind will not create one.
2. List your former successes.
“Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 1 Samuel 17:36
You can increase your confidence by using your memory. Your mind is designed to recall past events. Great achievers, like David, learn to replay the memories of their past successes. You can actually use your past success to supercharge your confidence. Listing your former successes and accomplishments will fuel your confidence to try it again. Your list will empower you with the confidence to say, “I did this before, I can do it again.”
3. Focus on your strengths.
“Do not neglect the gift that is in you...” 1 Timothy 4:14
Ask yourself, “What is my greatest strength or gift?” You might not know right away, but simply ask yourself, “What do I do that seems to be very easy for me, but it is hard for others?” When you answer this question, you have discovered your single greatest strength. Design your life around your strengths and you will notice an instant confidence boost.
Conclusion
What one person calls a crisis, another person calls an opportunity. No matter what kind of challenges you are facing, remember that no one can stop you but you. Confident people do not sit around waiting for someone or something to tell them what their future is going to look like—they create it. Leadership guru Peter Ducker said,
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” I suggest you do the same. You are a leader! You can be the voice of confidence to a fearful world. Promote, support, and vote for leaders of integrity and not leaders of charisma.
Stop listening to the voices of negativity. Build your confidence to an all-time high. This year can be your golden opportunity—go for it.
By Dr. Keith Johnson, America’s Confidence Coach. Receive 5 Free confidence building products when you visit our website at www.TheConfidenceCoach.com

A Case For Mentors

A Case For Mentors
Releasing Kings - Lest Week's newsletter, Church or Kingdom, was the kick off for this theme. The church isn’t mentoring people into their mountains. Five-fold ministers generally lack the expertise for mentoring people in non-church mountains and are specifically not able to teach others how to multiply finances. The Kingdom goal is to help people find a ministry vocation they enjoy (in the marketplace mountain of their choice) coupled with a prosperity ingredient that takes them well beyond a 40 hr/week job so they are really free to engage in the ministry and missions side of their work. We’re searching for a solution to fully equip the saints to the point of releasing Kings locally and to change the “salvation, church-planting only” approach to missions. The result is that missions should be thought of as at least self-supporting and perhaps profitable.
Mentoring - We have a vision brochure that provides a roadmap for releasing Kings based on Desire to Destiny. I want to suggest that in this present hour, personal mentoring is the missing ingredient that helps turn saints into Kings.
From Informational to Relational - Western Christianity is information based. We think if we have a sermon, coach, book, or conference we can run with an idea and bring it into reality. Prophetic people are particularly susceptible because the Holy Spirit is prompting them along the same lines as the "information" they are getting. So... they start a business, make an investment, or get a new job and fail. Why? They had the right idea and the push of the Holy Spirit!
"Information" and "revelation" are only the start of the process. Pastors, teachers, coaches, etc., can teach us what is possible, but mentors show us how. Our relational models to move from knowledge to practice, at present, are surprisingly “non-relational.” We’re prone to assume we can figure it out in one class or one seminar when the price tag is a life-time of being fathered to the next level and fathering others ourselves. Practically, the real secret to escaping poverty and becoming a King, is an enduring relationship with a "father" that is already moving in our vision.
Fathers vs Teachers - Let's clarify some terms and the sequence of events. First we articulate our heart's desire and set our goals on something we want to do and someone we would like to emulate (pick a mountain, a vocation, a ministry, and a model). The second step is finding someone who has the right experience to look over our shoulder and help us on an ongoing basis.
Note - Coaching is very popular right now. However, most coaches have experience in coaching and nothing more. They are generalists that lack the specific expertise you need. They can teach you how to coach and load you up with expensive materials that sit on the shelf. But, they may be missing real marketplace experience in your field. You want a mentor that is already successful at your chosen vocation / ministry in the marketplace.
The purpose of a mentor or father is to make you successful by showing you "how" and helping you see new opportunities. We don't need a contract or a covenant and they have no motive to rule over us or "lord it over us." The right mentoring relationship gets you through blind spots, poverty, and areas of self-sabotage that you can't see - otherwise the information would have been good enough. Get it? We learn by doing, not listening. It's called practice. We do need to be good listeners. Hearing information is just never enough. Teachers have knowledge, mentors have wisdom and understanding.
Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers... 1 Cor 4:15 NIV

Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Tim 4:3 NIV
The relationship can be a single father or mentor, a network of like-minded and experienced peers, or a home group of kings with experience in your area of interest. It's quite often a combination of all three; a father, a network of peers, and fellowship with your support system. Corporate CEO's usually have a "board" for exactly those reasons. So should we.
The price tag - Christians are usually familiar with the concept of apostolic fathering and carry a belief that it should be free. Many marketplace fathers are very generous with their time and interest in other people. However, it's seldom free. Business mentors don't want to waste their time with people that aren't serious. So you should expect to find a way to reimburse your mentor. This is a relationship that has spiritual and financial value. If you find the right mentor the cost will be a bargain relative to the financial gain you receive.
Here's a hint. If your mentor makes his money mentoring, he's a professional coach. You're looking for a mentor that makes his wealth in his business using his expertise. Coaches talk a lot (preach), speak in generalities, and make things sound mysterious. Business mentors can really do things. They can explain a path forward in simple terms and show you how to do it because they are doing it themselves. They can help you find a network of connections, help you through financial decisions, help you find start-up capital, and help make sure your business plan and cash flow are viable so you won't shipwreck. They can see problems coming, not just diagnose a disaster after the fact.
Missions - What if we had enough mentors to cover missions? The gospel isn't just salvation and church planting. Our message is abundant life and changing nations. What if the product of our missions work was self-sustaining believers functioning in the marketplace and contributing to their local society? Prosperous converts, rich in every way and generous on every ocassion! What if we taught them how to multiply finances? What if we learned how ourselves?... from a mentor. Now, go find one.
But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. Deut 8:18 NIV

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Cor 9:8 NIV

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion... 2 Cor 9:10-11 NIV

PS: I decided I wanted to switch from engineering to day trading 18 months ago. I'm not recommending that decision for everyone, "but" I found two mentors that embody the qualities of this newsletter. Greg and Dan... spirit filled, a vision to help people, and totally prosperous from their own trading endeavors. They are examples, not just theoreticians. Thanks! May the Lord unveil a million more just like them.

We're Dancing

John and Sue www.Releasing-kings.com