More Good $ense — January, 2008
The monthly e-publication from the Good $ense Ministry
In This Issue:Dear G$ Friends and Colleagues,
Role confusion can cause some big problems. Sometimes it results in something very important not getting done. "Oh, was I supposed to do that!?" Other times we may think something is our role when it's not. Like when I used to think it was my role to change Sibyl in some ways I thought would be good for her. That kind of role confusion can cause some really big problems!
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"Where there is no vision, the people perish." – Proverbs 29:18a (KJV)
The start of a new year is a popular time for vision casting. And this month's Transforming Truth is popular among motivational speakers—both Christian and secular—for encouraging such work. Too often, though, the verse is misunderstood as referring to the vision of an earthly leader—whether the leader of a Fortune 500 company or the leader of a weekly small group. The verse really refers to God's vision. As the New Living translation puts it, "When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild." Or, as the Message paraphrase puts it, "If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves."
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News You Can Use What Would Jesus Buy?
That isn't just an intriguing question; it's the title of a new documentary by the filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, of "Supersize Me" fame. The film follows performance artist William Talen (AKA "Reverend Billy" www.revbilly.com on his various crusades against our consumer culture. Leader of the satirical Church of Stop Shopping, Talen warns of America's impending "shopocalypse." It's a humorous approach to a topic about which Talen is deadly serious.
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Ronald McDonald Gives the Grades
Some 27,000 grade school kids in Seminole County, Florida are bringing home report cards with McDonalds advertisements and coupons on the cover. As reported on Brandweek's "Brand New Day" blog, the fast-food giant is picking up the school district's $1,600 printing tab for the report cards in exchange for the ad presence.
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Gaming for a Purpose
Fast Company recently described a video game that's part of a fascinating new trend: Goal oriented gaming. The game profiled, Ayiti: the Cost of Life, brings attention to poverty in Haiti. Players aim to keep an impoverished family from dying and then to secure an education for as many members as possible.
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Automating 401(k) Plans May Not Be Enough
When a new law made it easier for employers to automatically enroll workers in their 401(k) plans, there were high hopes that the approach would get more people saving for the future. But new research indicates that even putting savings plan enrollment on autopilot may not be enough. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, a survey of some 5,500 plans shows a lot of workers being left out of automatic enrollment plans, as they tend to include only new employees. In addition, those who are signed up under the automatic enrollment plans tend to save a lower percentage of their salary than they would have chosen on their own.
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"Nothing is more dangerous than a single, compelling idea that is lived out." That's the premise behind the ministry of Community Christian Church , a multi-site church founded 20 years ago in Naperville, IL. Each week the church puts a laser-like focus on one theme. It's not just the foundation of the sermon; it permeates all ministries in the church, from small groups to children's ministries.
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Debit cards are now used more frequently than credit cards, and all forms of electronic payments are now more popular than checks. Those are among the findings of the latest Federal Reserve Payments Study. In 2003, 23 percent of all non-cash purchases were made with credit cards. While that figure has held steady, the use of debit cards has risen rapidly—from 19 percent of all non-cash purchases in 2003 to 27 percent in 2006. Electronic payment methods held a slight edge over the use of checks in 2003 (54 percent versus 46 percent), but they now clearly trump the use of checks (67 percent versus 33 percent).
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Do Not Miss:
“Good $ense Train-The-Trainer Events”
The next training for Budget Course Teachers or Counselor Trainers will be held at Willow Creek April 18-19. Click HERE for Budget Course information or HERE for Counselor Training information.
Budget Course Participant Guides
Don't forget to take advantage of quantity discounts when you order participant guides for your upcoming courses. Click HERE to check it out.
40 Day Spiritual Journey To a More Generous Life
This best selling 40 day devotional from Rev. Brian Kluth is now available at discounted rates to your ministry. Check it out HERE.
Debt Reduction Workshop
Consider following up your Budget Course with the two hour Debt Reduction Workshop as additional help for those with serious debt problems.
Pursuing Spiritual Transformation: GIVING
For those looking for a small group study to go beyond the Budget Course, consider this seven-week study that deals with money, debt, a biblical lifestyle and developing a heart of compassion. Read more...
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