Download or read book Contagious Generosity written by Chris Willard and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2012-07-03 with total page 187 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The general practices related to church funding aren’t producing the same results they have in the past. There is a general acceptance that something has changed but little talk or interest is coming from traditional church leader training sources such as denominational entities and seminaries. Pastors are largely left to their own devices to “figure this out.” They need a lifeline. While some churches are experiencing exponential growth, some churches - despite their best efforts - have been unsuccessful at moving beyond survival mode. Coupled with increased competition from other nonprofits and a decline in the commitment to give to the church first, churches risk losing the funding they need. A growing number of leaders are beginning to discover there is another way and are struggling to understand what makes one church generous and another not. There is a need in the market to offer a simple, working definition of “generosity” and reveal the “secrets” some church leaders seem to have simply stumbled upon which are resulting in unexplainable ministry growth and unprecedented church funding even in the midst of tough economic times. The content of this material was developed and refined by Jim Sheppard and Chris Willard through years of ministry leadership in the local church, consulting with church leaders across a broad spectrum of church settings, and through participation in and leadership of the Generous Church Leadership Community facilitated by Leadership Network. Of particular benefit will be the collection of observations and best practices gleaned during the Generous Church Leadership Community that originated within real-life church leadership situations and scenarios by highlighting specific challenges, methods, and successes.

Download or read book Does Generosity Beget Generosity written by Jonathan Meer and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 46 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We investigate how undergraduates' financial aid packages affect their subsequent donative behavior as alumni. The empirical work is based upon micro data on alumni giving at an anonymous research university. We focus on three types of financial aid, scholarships, loans, and campus jobs. A novel aspect of our modeling strategy is that, consistent with the view of some professional fundraisers, we allow the receipt of a given form of aid per se to affect alumni giving. At the same time, our model allows the amount of the support to affect giving behavior nonlinearly. Our main findings are: 1) Individuals who took out student loans are less likely to make a gift, other things being the same. We conjecture that this phenomenon is caused by an "annoyance effect" - alumni resent the fact that they are burdened with loans. 2) Scholarship aid reduces the size of a gift, but has little effect on the probability of donating. The negative effect of receiving a scholarship on donations decreases in absolute value with the size of the scholarship. We do not find any evidence that scholarship recipients give less because they have relatively low incomes post graduation. 3) Aid in the form of campus jobs does not have a strong effect on donative behavior.

Download or read book Being Generous written by Lucinda Vardey and published by Vintage Canada. This book was released on 2009-06-12 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This extraordinary little book has the power to heal and foster relationships, console and empower individuals, create community and help save the world by providing a spiritual ecology for our daily lives. Think that’s a bold claim? It is, but it’s also true. We can all be generous with our money when an occasion like Christmas rolls around, or when disaster strikes as it did with the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. But Lucinda Vardey and John Dalla Costa say that this kind of giving segregates generosity, and makes it a special activity only for special times. If we’re truly going to help this troubled world, as individuals we must investigate other possibilities for being generous as well, by helping those we interact with every day: our children, colleagues, parents, friends and the homeless men and women we encounter when out and about in our cities. We learn that the four most generous words in the English language are “I’m sorry” and “Thank you.” We learn that if we ask, “What do you need?” we may be surprised how readily we can provide assistance, and how a single generous act may turn into something that circulates to include many. Lucinda and John are a married couple who have committed–they say “humbly and imperfectly”–to making generosity a central practice in their daily lives. What they refer to as their art of right living, within family, work and community, is both a mode of being and a value that infiltrates all others. Generosity inspires and guides them, and continually tests and teaches them. This book is filled with true stories they’ve collected about generosity in action. Being Generous is their gift to readers, written to enable and encourage us to follow the generous way. She was famous for her work with the poor in the streets of Calcutta. One day a beggar by the road ran up to her with a small coin–financially worthless to anyone but him. It was his day’s take on a long, hot and humid day, and he wanted to give it to her. She pondered what to do. If she took the money then he would have nothing at all, but if she rejected him, it would not only hurt him but insult his generosity. She stretched out her hand–he, who never had the chance to give, could give to Mother Teresa. The joy on his face said everything to her. The Lesson: Saying no to another’s offer denies them the joy of giving. Accepting what they wish to give–even if you don’t need it–is what practising true generosity is about. —from Being Generous

Download or read book Practicing Extravagant Generosity written by Robert C. Schnase and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2011 with total page 101 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Help implant the heart of giving within a congregation.

Download or read book The Paradox of Generosity written by Christian Smith and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2014 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In The Paradox of Generosity, Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson offer vital insight into how American adults conceive of and demonstrate generosity. Focusing not only on financial giving but on the many diverse forms philanthropy can take, they show the impact--both positive and negative--that giving has on individuals.

Download or read book Seventh Inning Stretch written by Dennis Labriola and published by Morgan James Publishing. This book was released on 2022-02-15 with total page 125 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through this collection of memorable short stories of Dennis Labriola’s life, the objective of Seventh-Inning Stretch is to entertain and trigger similar memories in the reader. This is a faith-based book with an intentional slant towards men and biblical manhood. Through the Dennis’ often-humorous storytelling, Seventh-Inning Stretch hopes to create an emotional response from the reader then offers biblical anecdotes to inspire the reader to acknowledge and appreciate the people God placed in their own life. This is not so much a teaching work, but is meant to be entertaining, with an Afterthought after each chapter pointing to a biblical precept. Seventh-Inning Stretch is unique in that it is a collection of short stories, making it easy to read stirring and inspiring the memories and emotions—and hopefully faith—of the reader. It also connects Dennis’ story with God’s story, demonstrating how deeply God cares about and walks with everyone, even if unaware.

Download or read book Deeply Rooted written by Candle L. Barnes and published by Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.. This book was released on 2022-06-10 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We often walk around feeling disconnected, misunderstood, or frustrated with where we are in life. Sometimes we are going from place to place taking bits and pieces of experiences or lessons but not truly applying all that we have learned in those places. Just as a tree is planted and its roots start to really connect with the soil to grow, we need this same thing in our relationship with God. When a tree is rooted in fertile soil, you will see the fruit of that soil. It is receiving all that it needs to grow such as nutrients, water, and sunshine. We can tell by the fruit or the leaves the tree is producing that it is well nurtured and taken care of. This is what happens to us when we deeply root or connect ourselves to God and his Word. Join in on this journey of life lessons and how being deeply rooted in God in every area of your life will cause you to grow and create beautiful fruit.

Download or read book Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 2021 Volume 6 written by Dr. D. K. Olukoya and published by Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries. This book was released on 2021-01-01 with total page 1217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Life-changing encounter with the God that answers by fire through a daily devotional. Its enriching and edifying. Start your day right with God.

Download or read book Deep Peace written by Todd D. Hunter and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2021-09-21 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Experience deep wholeness in your life that springs forth from the peace of God. We live in a fearful, anxiety-driven age where the problems and challenges of the world assault us from every direction and every media source, and they far exceed our abilities to respond to them. The sense of desperation that often comes of this leads to discord and violence: from bitter, cutting remarks to the atrocities of war; from pervasive racism to knee-jerk micro-aggressions. It contributes to our current, peace-bankrupt social discourse, leading to patterns of dismissing, dividing from, condemning, or hating people. But what if the root of these problems is not found out there, in the situations, the information or misinformation of what's happening in the world? What if they come from here: in our minds, hearts, thought-life, and emotions? In Deep Peace, Todd Hunter, founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, analyzes the anxiety and desperation of our current moment and brings it before a biblical framework of profound peace. This book provides practices to help Christians value and actively seek peace, becoming people of reconciliation in ordinary life. Deep Peace: Uncovers the ten things that are most harmful to peace in a person's life. Unpacks the "Trinity of Peace" found in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and how we can find rest in each person of the Trinity. Reveals spiritual practices that will teach you how to pursue an inner calm and become the kind of person that meets conflict with love and renounces fear. Deep Peace is a timely benediction that offers a practical and spiritual guide to recenter believers in the peace of Christ.

Download or read book The Message Promise Book written by Eugene H. Peterson and published by NavPress. This book was released on 2022-01-11 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Updated and revised with new topics and Scripture references, this pocket-sized reference arranges passages from The Message by topic. Offering the hope of God's Word on a wide range of issues, including stress, money, self-image, and relationships, The Message Promise Book is easy to understand and relevant to life today. This pocket-sized gift book includes a topical index of issues and 80 different topics.

Download or read book Living the Quaker Way written by Philip Gulley and published by Convergent Books. This book was released on 2013-09-17 with total page 175 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Publishers Weekly “Top 10 in Religion” selection. “This is nothing less than the gospel itself…a much-needed book.” —FR. RICHARD ROHR, OFM, Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, New Mexico “Living the Quaker Way is a treasure trove of practical wisdom about what it means to bear witness to our hope for a better world.” —Parker J. Palmer, author of Let Your Life Speak Philip Gulley invites us into a bracing encounter with the rich truths of Quakerism—a centuries-old spiritual tradition that provides not only a foundation of faith but also vision for making the world more just, loving, and peaceable by our presence. In Living the Quaker Way, Gulley shows how Quaker values provide real solutions to many of our most pressing contemporary challenges. We not only come to a deeper appreciation of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality, we see how embracing these virtues will radically transform us and our world. Living the Quaker Way includes a 30-day spiritual practice that applies the Quaker tradition of Queries.

Download or read book Year of Promise written by Rudolph Moseley Jr. and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2012-12-29 with total page 533 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Book Year of Promise is a collection of the many precious promises that are found in the Word of God. This book is comprised of 365 promises in 7 of the most popular translations of the bible. These translations help in the acquiring the full magnitude and depth of each promise. This is a valuable collection of promises that will strengthen the walk of any believer. My prayer is that as you read and meditate on the Word of God your faith will grow.

Download or read book Red Letters written by Tom Davis and published by David C Cook. This book was released on 2010-01-01 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me."? Matthew 25:42-43 ESV In many Bibles, Christ’s words are set apart with a red font. It should be obvious, but this distinction helps remind us that when God becomes Man and that Man speaks—it’s probably something we cannot afford to miss. So why doesn’t the church take these “red letters” to heart? Why aren’t we doing more to be Christ’s hands and feet to the poor, the disenfranchised, the weary, the ill, the fatherless, the prisoners? It’s all there—in red letters. Why has the Church shirked its responsibilities, leaving the work to be done by governments, rock stars, and celebrities? The Gospel wasn’t only meant to be read—it was meant to be lived. From the HIV crisis in Africa to a single abused and lonely child in Russia, the Church must seize the opportunity to serve with a radical, reckless abandon. Author Tom Davis offers both challenge and encouragement to get involved in an increasingly interconnected, desperate modern world.

Download or read book My Sanctuary a Spiritual Journal written by Jewel Harper and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2016-01-03 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book can be used as a weekly support group guide with a facilitator. By going through each step weekly and sharing your experiences and thoughts that you deem valuable, you are able to interact and reflect with others about your shared addictions and journeys. This material is easy reading for all mature adults. This journal will be an awakening to Gods compassion and grace. Combining the twelve steps with Scriptures will allow you to heal from damaged emotions and continue to work on your long-term recovery with support and encouragement from others who are traveling along with you. This book will provide you with an opportunity to develop balance and to establish a renewed relationship with God. For book signing and speaking engagement, please contact [email protected] You may also in writing contact: 4447 N Central Expressway Suite 110-36 Dallas, Texas 75205

Download or read book The Power of Serving Others written by Gary Morsch and published by ReadHowYouWant.com. This book was released on 2009-04 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is about changing our world. It's not about a revolution, but it is revolutionary. It's about serving others--looking at others as people who could use a hand. It's about looking at our hands and realizing that they already contain what others need. This book starts with some assumptions--mainly that people really do want to help one another and make the world better, but they often don't know how to do it. It also assumes that people are looking for meaning and significance in their lives, but they don't know how to find them. They've tried accumulating wealth, tried increasing excitement, tried exercising authority, but those attempts left them empty.

Download or read book Hardship and Deliverance in the Islamic Tradition written by Nouha Khalifa and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2010-01-30 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Al-Tanuki was a judge who was born in Basra and lived in Baghdad during the tenth century CE. During his life, he wrote three books which compiled poetry, stories, anecdotes and hadith. In this introduction to al-Tanuki's works and thought, Nouha Khalifa identifies the central theme of hardship and deliverance within wider narratives about love, generosity and the journey. Al-Tanuki was principally concerned with how humankind can alleviate hardship and suffering in life and achieve deliverance. His unshakable conviction in the necessity of deliverance was rooted in his Mu'tazilite doctrine, an early school of Sunni Islamic theology which sought to ground Islamic tenets in reason, and which drew upon different aspects of early Islamic philosophy, Greek philosophy and Hellenistic philosophy. This is a fascinating commentary on medieval Middle Eastern culture, history, philosophy and religious thought.

Download or read book Choose written by Becca Gunyon MCC and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2019-11-14 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Choosing Life to the Fullest is about waking up and thinking great, inviting Jesus into our day, and finding ourselves in His identity. Amazing repetitive thoughts are key to this process.