Stick With the Basics

Staying current makes for a tiring pursuit.  I mean, there are so many avenues of information out there and we need discernment to know which path to take.  Nevertheless, I continue down some path each day that leads me to thinking about topics with relevance to both our generation and the next generation.

One such topic is making a living.  Yes, that thing we do upon finishing some level of education and enter the real world.  Maybe this is a Westernized notion, but we do need shelter and food on the table and the means to getting this here in the U.S. is through a job.

From some of my reading, I sense there is a redefinition of “making a living” in the works.  Particularly among the next generation, there appears to be a type of entrepreneurship going on that espouses linking a new startup venture with some technological discovery that will make millions.  For example, the rush to create new applications for the I-Phone seems to be a particularly ripe area for making money these days.  The number of new applications does appear to have a limit though.

Some like to refer to these entrepreneurs as “heroic,” that is, someone who ventures away from the common path to seek a new path of riches perhaps driven by a vision to make the world a better place for all of us.  Now this might be a stretch.  Can an I-Phone app make for a better world?  These things have a life span, you know, and they ultimately end up being replaced by something newer, faster, slicker.  Last time I checked my world was just fine even before the I-Phone.

This brings me to the point for the next generation—stick with the basics.  Begin by asking questions like, “What are the basic things needed in my life, the lives of the typical person or family here in this country?”  Or, “What are the basics for a successful business?”  We have pushed to the edge so much in recent years that I fear we have gotten away from an understanding of the basics.

Perhaps this is further clarified through a Proverb I read this morning.  “He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgement” Proverbs 12:11.  Fantasies refer to schemes for making easy money.  Is that where we are today with the scads of schemes for making a buck on the web or with these unending myriads of applications for electronic devices?  Again, you can only carry these things out so far before they end up consuming the consumed.

The notion of “working the land” is what I would refer to as a basic.  Working the land implies a steadiness, a knowledge that there is a God who provides me something to do with my hands and helps me in this daily act of “making a living.”  If you work the land, you are dependent on good weather and regular attention to caring for the things you planted.  It seems that some of the next generation want to bypass the planting and get on to the reaping.  That is a rather short-term view.

Let’s return to the basics.  It may be more satisfying than you can imagine.

A Message for Nonprofits from President Barack Obama

In his inaugural address this week, President Barack Obama included a message that should induce hope in the hearts of nonprofit leaders.  He stated, “What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility—a recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world.”  To paraphrase, Americans must dig deep to share the responsibility for the situation we find ourselves as a nation and we must, in a dutiful way, support the causes that are near and dear to our heart as a testimony to the world.

This message will likely produce conflicting feelings of hope and despair for nonprofit leaders.  The hope is that Americans step up to the plate for their favorite causes and lend their support.  The despair is bound up in the uncertainty of the economy and whether Americans will respond to the message of hope they hear from our leader as 2009 progresses.

In his commentary in today’s issue of The Wall Street Journal, Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, points to the Philanthropic Giving Index (PGI) perhaps as an indicator of where we may be heading in 2009 in the bigger scheme.  This index published by the Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy shows that the PGI over the past six months dropped from 83 to 65 on a scale of 0-100. PGI is determined by nonprofit leaders and is similar to the Consumer Confidence Index.  As a tool, the PGI is useful but does not indicate where the pain may be or by how much donors may lower their giving.

Ministries and religious nonprofits should take heart, however, according to further research by Mr. Brooks.  The logic goes like this:  conservatives give more than liberals because conservatives are more religious.  Extracting this from its political implications, folks who attend church services and who consider themselves religious tend to out-give those who are not by more than $1,100 per year.  Mr. Brooks further shows that these same people decrease their giving less during economic downturns.

I am not sure of the age demographic for all of this information.  I suspect that the younger generation that responded favorably to the fund-raising appeal of the Obama campaign heard the words “hope” and “change.”  They thought electing a new president would result in the change.  Now the task is to get this next generation to step up and become responsible supporters of the causes they hold dear.  For next generation believers, it is time to consider what stewardship really means and which ministries merit their support.  This is the mandate for us all.

Stewardship and the Ultra Rich

Conde’ Nast Portfolio published a feature article called “The Generosity Index” in their November issue.  This profiles the upper tier of philanthropy in the U.S., complete with a ranking of the wealth and generosity of billionaires whose giving is known to the public.  They are quick to point out that the list may not include billionaires who choose to do their giving in private (apparently a sizable number of the wealthiest choose to remain anonymous).  As Scripture says, do not announce your charitable deeds with trumpets (Matthew 6:2); I wondered if that was what they were thinking.

During this time of great economic uncertainty, the ultra rich could seize an opportunity to set an example of generosity.  But do they?  As I looked over the short profiles of these billionaires, I saw that their gifts were directed largely toward three areas:  education, the arts, and health care.  Poverty and the environment come in there in lower numbers.  Curiously absent from these profiles was any major giving to religious causes.  It almost seems that the ultra rich want to play God instead of lending their largess to those ministries doing the Lord’s work here on earth.

A theme that emerges from this article is that the rich give to try to outdo one another.  One fundraising consultant summed it up, “Successful men and women want to outdo other successful men and women.”  One possible result of this one-upmanship is philanthropic dollar inflation.  In other words, an eight-figure gift can’t get you any respect these days.  The consultants are saying you have to have a $100 million gift in order for your charity to upgrade.  The billionaires are coughing up more, but doing it over a multi-year period in order to get into the category of nine figures.

I have wondered many times whether philanthropy on these levels really accomplishes much.  It seems that billions have been spent in the name of finding cures, increasing scholarship, and defining quality in the arts.  What has been the lasting effect?  One has to wonder.  I remember reading something by economist and educator Howard Bowen written back in the 1970s that dealt with “the revenue theory of cost” in higher education.  Essentially, this theory stated that in higher education the costs will always rise in accordance with how much money can be gotten or raised. Bowen argued in his works that the economics of higher education centered not on profit motives, but rather on prestige and increasing the quality of students’ educational experience.  I would argue that prestige might be the number one factor in organizations seeking larger and larger gifts.  It seems the one-upmanship of the givers has been transferred to the charitable organizations they lavishly support.

Should the next generation look to these billionaires as embodiments of stewardship?  My thinking is that we might learn from these folks, but the true lessons learned are by being faithful with the amounts we have—whether large or small.  The Lord looks on the heart.  I wonder what the hearts of some of these rich look like and I hope that they one day might experience the heart change that Christ has to offer.  Let’s learn to give from the heart, and not from our desire to attract the admiration of men.

Responding to Economic Uncertainty–Some Practical Tips

After seeing the Presidential debate last night, I felt a little uneasy.  Yes, the primary topic was the economy and I was not real sure if either candidate knew a proper solution to our current situation.  In fact, I was hoping to hear someone invoke the need for prayer and how we need to rely on God during these times.  There was never a mention of appealing to God about anything.  I wondered who were the candidates’ primary economic advisors.   We listened for reassuring words and got nothing.

As a believer, we know we are stewards of God’s things so why worry?  In Him is the assurance we need.  Happiness is not based on what we have and do but rather on who we are in Christ.  We keep telling ourselves these things during tough times, however the uneasiness creeps in.  What are some practical things to do now to help us respond to the economic uncertainty we see?

1.  Resist the urge to compartmentalize. Compartmentalization leads to reliance on self rather than reliance on our Lord.  If you take all of the areas of life, i.e. family, finances, jobs, hobbies, church, friends, there is a tendency to keep some of these areas separate from the others.  It is like we are not an integrated whole.  When we place all these things with Christ at the center, then we move away from compartmentalization and see our lives as integrated wholes in Christ.  Finances probably fall into the compartmentalization problem more than others just by its nature.  Resist the tendency and lean on the Everlasting Arms.

2.  Focus on the attributes of God. I have been so encouraged by reading through passages of Scripture referring to the attributes of God.  Our God is faithful, He is love, He is truth, He is good, He is wise, He is omnipotent, He is omniscient, and He is patient.  Because of who He is, we have stability, we have certainty, we have hope, and we have assurance.  I would encourage anyone to take time to go through key passages in the Bible and rest in knowing that we serve a God who truly cares for us as we face the issues of the day.  As Psalm 121:1-2 expresses, “. . . where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

3.  Give yourself first. This may sound simple.  I recommend keeping it simple.  Reach out to others during this time and give of yourself.  Fellowship and sharing are good for the soul.  We need more of this during times like these.  Also, give yourself first to the Lord before you stress over stewardship issues.  Just like the Macedonians that Paul commended in 2 Corinthians 8:5, they gave themselves first to the Lord and this undergirded their generosity in all matters.  Uncertainty fades away when we know others are experiencing similar things.

4.  Remind yourself where your devotion is. I always say, “when you love, you give.”  This is an underlying stewardship principle.  Don’t stop giving in troubled times.  Find ways to give.  Giving expresses devotion, trust, reliance, honor, dependence, and gratitude to the Lord.  This is not the time to argue about topics like tithing and investing.  Merely give and show your devotion to He who is greater than all these things.

This list could go on and I would encourage you to personalize your list of ways to combat the uncertainty of today’s economy.  Make the list, and then put it into practice!

Obama’s and McCain’s Charitable Giving: Observations for the Next Generation

By now you are probably aware that both Barack Obama and John McCain have posted prior year personal tax returns on their respective websites for public inspection. Public officials being public about private financial matters merit some positive and public praise. But let’s be careful as we scrutinize the candidates’ charitable giving.

Yes, we see that Obama’s giving was minimal for years 2000-2004 (close to a cumulative $10,000 for these 5 years) and suddenly shot up in 2005 as he honed in on his candidacy for President. This coincides with a dramatic increase in his AGI to $1.6 million the same year; however, total charitable giving was still less than 5% of the Obamas’ AGI. In contrast, McCain’s charitable giving appears relatively stable from year to year within a range higher than 20% of his AGI. We do know that his wife Cindy inherited a fortune from her family and that her tax returns have not been made public. The Foundation they give from favors the private schools their children attended.

I don’t care to analyze the candidates and their charitable giving at length, but what are some observations we might make for Christ followers and next generation stewardship from this cursory review?

Why not start with the fact that our tax returns are not made public, but our Lord knows them. If we truly believe in an omniscient God who knows us and watches over us, then our giving is no mystery to Him. So, to whom are we accountable? It would appear that public officials publicizing their tax returns strive for accountability to the public that they serve; likewise, as a Christ follower we should strive for accountability to our Lord we serve, properly handling the resources that flow through us. A good question to ask is, “Lord, what do You want to give through me?” Not, “Lord, what do you want me to give?”

Also, our giving to the Lord’s ministry should not be done to gain favor in the eyes of other people. Political candidates especially seem sensitive to gaining favor from groups as a way to enhance their political stature. Sometimes I fear that the successful business owners within our congregations seek positions on stewardship campaign committees to gain the favor of their fellow congregants rather than truly being sacrificial. What happened to the “not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice”? I’ll never forget the time we joined a church and went to the counseling room with a couple of deacons, one a real estate agent who on the way out of the counseling room gave me his card and said to call him if we were interested in buying a house. Business owners should nail their business cards to the cross when they come to church.

Another observation is that public officials give themselves to their parties first. Undoubtedly this influences their charitable giving. Who have we given ourselves to? I like to think that we, like the Macedonians in 2 Corinthians 8:5, first give ourselves to the Lord and to His will. Then, out of that giving flows the freedom of passionate stewardship of what God has entrusted to us.

Do we owe an account to the public? Yes, to be the faithful stewards of the witness of how Christ has changed our lives. Public officials may deem their financial transparency adequate, but show me one who is willing to go the extra step to be accountable to the Lord. The next generation cannot afford to compartmentalize their stewardship, but to make it one of the marks of their devotion to a cause that is greater than any political party on the face of the earth.

Google-ing John 3:16

You all have felt it. It was just a matter of time. Years of surfing the internet has finally caught up with us. Yes, I am talking about the effect of spending massive, cumulative amounts of time online on our brains.

For me, I can think back into the 1990s at some point when the web enticed me into its massive reserve of available information. I had been a library junkie all my life, leafing through pages of information about places and things I enjoy for long periods of time between the stacks. Now thanks to the internet, I could search volumes of information with mere clicks. Pretty soon I got to be very good at this and could ramble through web page after web page without processing anything but key words from the pages. Now, I must confess, these days the web has become the conduit for lots of the information that flows into my mind.

I found a concern over this online information processing in a recent article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” by Nicholas Carr, in the current issue of The Atlantic. Carr says that his past decade on the computer rendered him unable to concentrate, that perhaps the neural circuitry of his brain is remapped and his memory reprogrammed. Further, Carr says he used to be able to immerse himself in books and long articles, relishing the narratives of these talented authors; however, today he becomes fidgety and cannot endure any extended amounts of time reading. Huge amounts of research can be done in little time, a boon for writers like Carr, but this form of “power browsing” mimics a form of skimming, i.e., hopping from one source to another source and retaining only small snatches of information.

This may have implications for future generations of Christ followers. Young believers, and some not-so-young believers, today spend huge amounts of time plugged into something, whether it be the internet, cellphones, blue-tooth devices, all making some folks look like human cyborgs. Even text messaging is a hybrid, cyborg-ic form of communication with its short, pithy remarks and lack of care over spelling and form. Our imaginations can run with this stuff and cause us to worry over the technological advances that supposedly have made our lives easier and more advanced. The web has woven something, and I think it is our brains. There may be an appearance of wisdom, but something is lacking.

Is there any wonder that fewer today are reading their Bibles? (Check out the Barna polls). We know that God’s Word is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16), but how can it be if we are unable to meditate on it, dwell in it, and talk about it coherently. Have we been reduced to a mish-mash of gray matter that cannot process even one book of the Bible without losing focus? It is time to counter this trend and return to the tried and true methods of observation, interpretation, and application of God’s Word so that our faith, which is more precious than gold, will be refined and be our one constant in a day of rapid change. God’s Word is a lamp for our feet, and a light for our path—it is not merely a hyperlink to heaven in this cyber age. We may be just one step away from the New Revised Google Version of the Bible.