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From Theory to Reality
I’ve been talking quite a bit lately about the business model that I call Simplicity Solutions that is meant to run along side the ministry of Simplicity. One of the 4 purposes of Simplicity Solutions is to create business opportunities for those who are getting back on their feet.
There are currently two people that God has put into my life that fit that description. Both have overcome difficult odds and by God’s grace have made the choice to move beyond the past. In both cases finding work has been difficult due to transportation, education, related work experience, etc…
Today the Lord impressed upon me that it was time to move Simplicity Solutions from theory to reality. So I established dealer relationships for both of them with Fuller Brush Company. Starting next week we will begin canvassing businesses and neighborhoods with Fuller Catalogs working to build their businesses. It is my responsibility to help them be successful in this venture, so I will work very closely with them in the early stages to get them moving forward quickly.
It will be interesting to see where this part of the journey takes us, but I believe when all is said and done God intends to leave us all in awe of His work on our behalf.
If you would like to see what Fuller Brush has to offer, we would love to have you as our customer. Please visit www.fullerbrushsolutions.com to see our product lines.
The Wonderful Ways of God
Today my business partner and I met with the factory rep for the Spinner II product that his company sells. My business partner had asked me at the end of last week if I would change my relationship from that of a consultant to that of a key player in the company. He and I share the same vision of using commerce as a means of bringing Christ into the market place and furthering the ministry work of God’s kingdom.
I shared with him, that my concern was the same as with my own companies…I can see the future potential, but what do I do to pay today’s expenses. At that moment my friend said, “I meant to tell you I’m going to pay you the X dollars you need each month to make ends meet.” I asked him if we could stop right there and I expressed my gratitude to the Lord for His glorious provisions.
I taught Sunday on Jesus feeding the 5,000. As part of the teaching I talked about the need to look for the places that God is bringing order to the chaos of our circumstances. For example Jesus instructed the crowd to be seated, but then he had them divided into groups of 50 and 100. Jesus was bringing order to the chaos as he brought the miracle of the feeding into full view.
I have been watching the Lord bring order to my friend’s business for the past 3 months and have had a strong sense that we were about to see an amazing move of God in it. Today I am even more convinced that the hand of God will be unmistakable in the days to come. The Lord has been preparing me this week by having me study Gideon once again. Gideon was addressed by the Angel of the Lord as a “Mighty Warrior.” This title was not an accurate description of Gideon at that moment in time, but instead described the man God would transform him into.
The molding of this journey has been difficult, but the crucible is a place of refinement for the fulfilling of our God given purpose.
Out of Gas
You may have noticed that the intervals between my posts has increased. Life has gotten hectic; therefore, updating the blog has taken a back seat to other things. In the past few weeks we’ve celebrated Christmas, had Christopher home, had Christopher’s girlfriend visit, launched new business ventures and prepared Elishba for her return journey to India.
This past weekend for me was difficult. The Lord continues to mold and shape me in ways that are excruciatingly painful at times. This weekend we learned that our 6th attempt at finding a place of residence in Corpus Christi was down the tubes…now because I don’t have a verifiable salary, weekly paycheck, etc…. This wasn’t a big surprise, when I was a loan officer I didn’t approve loans like that either. My greater challenge came from the question of why, for the past 2 years, we have been unable to get settled. There is always something that stops us dead in our tracks.
So the questions began to whirl in our minds…are we even doing the right thing? One negative thought lead to the next and before long I was ready to throw in the towel, definitely not pretty. One of my advisers keenly observed that I needed full-time employment, another said I needed to trust God as my source, another said not to lose hope I was sowing seed for the future.
In the days of preparing to leave the church this past fall, I had sent out over 40 resume’s without so much as a nibble. The only job offer I received was to run a children’s day care program in Florida. It was during that time the Lord showed Carol and I that He wanted us to live by faith. Towards the beginning of December, He showed me the next piece, starting Simplicity Solutions and off to the races we went. I’m currently in the beginning stages of that process, with expenses outrunning profit for the moment. God has provided every step of the way, the bills are paid and the refrigerator stocked, but in the fog of the moment, I wasn’t seeing that picture anymore. I just saw no current solutions and many current obligations.
Saturday, we went to see a friend who has offered us space in his home if things were to get really dire. While we were there, he asked me the question God had been waiting for….”how are you?” That was all it took to open the flood gates and the tears began to flow. I poured out my heart to him and even admitted that I didn’t know if really trusted God. My friend said something that utterly shocked me…he said, “that’s great, you are right where you need to be.” He elaborated by reminding me of a stormy night when the disciples didn’t trust Jesus anymore. You see, Jesus was asleep and they were in fear of drowning. When they couldn’t take it anymore they woke Jesus up and admonished him for his lack of concern over their predicament. My friend then made this profound statement: “Since Jesus couldn’t calm his disciples down, he calmed the storm instead.”
All of the sudden, I felt my fog begin to break. I had awoken Saturday morning with a song in my head: “My deliver is coming, my deliverer is standing by…” My wife had shared with me that the story of Ruth and Boaz, the kinsmen redeemer, was impressed upon her and wouldn’t you know it as we pulled up to my friend’s house “My deliverer is coming was playing on the radio.” Between the reminders of my deliverer and my friend’s counsel that I was in a great place, because I was out of trust…I couldn’t muster anymore. I was out of solutions, because I don’t have any left. Now is the time that I need to be looking for my deliverer to speak to the storm. My friend also reminded me that God had already given me His vision for the ministry and the business model, but now it was time to mold me in such a way that those things can become reality.
I can honestly say, I don’t yet see the solutions, but I am once again filled with peace that my deliverer is coming. Just in case I wasn’t sure of God’s message for me this week, my devotions are covering the name of God, Jehovah Shalom, the God of perfect peace.
Exciting Times
These are certainly exciting times for me. Tomorrow we will have our first baptism service since launching Simplicity. I will have the privilege of baptizing 3 who have put their faith in Christ. We will be conducting the baptisms at Emerald Beach along the Corpus Christi bayfront.
This week, I finally got my dealership materials to begin the primary businesses of Simplicity Solutions. Simplicity Solutions is the for profit enterprise that will be used to support my family, fund the work of Simplicity Church Network, help church planters develop businesses to support their families and create businesses for those trying to get on their feet.
After much searching I narrowed down my MLM ventures to four companies that offer a wide range of product:
- Amsoil – Synthetic oils and lubricants for automotive and industrial applications
- Aggrand – Organic fertilizers and supplements for agriculture (part of the Amsoil family)
- Amway Global – They’ve moved beyond soap and granola bars and now partner with mainline stores such as Office Depot, Barnes & Noble, etc…
- Commission River – Primarily focused on telecom and internet technologies, can be operated e-commerce or traditionally marketed.
- Fuller Brush Company – Based in Great Bend, KS (where I began my investment firm in 2001). Fuller Brush manufactures commercial/household care and cleaning supplies.
In addition, we are running a number of e-commerce sites through both Commission River and Amazon. These include:
- The Fone Store – Cell phones, upgrades and service through all of the major carriers
- International SIM Cards – Allows you to use your cell phone overseas(144 countries) with high competitive per minute rates
- Cardparison – Compare current rates, features and offers from multiple credit card issuers
- Anglerz Supply – Fishing tackle and supplies
- Luv My Hog – All things Harley Davidson
- HealthMartXpress – An online health and wellness shop, along the lines of the corner drug store
The latter three e-commerce sites are affiliate stores of Amazon.com. Sales made through these stores generate a commission for the sale. Additionally, any product offered on Amazon.com can be purchased through these sites and also generates commission.
Those who are interested in supporting our ministry in an ongoing manner can simply become customers of the products and services we sell. Carol and I began this business enterprise by seeking the Lord’s guidance for the portion that was immediately His. We be giving the first 30% of revenue from Simplicity Solutions to the Lord for the furtherance of His work.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information on the business model, product catalogs or to place orders.
Saying Goodbye to 2008
When 2008 began, the journey to Simplicity was the furthest thing from my mind. I had just completed year number 1 in my latest pastorate and was boiling over with excitement with the addition of a full-time worship minister, the first in nearly 5 years. 2007, had been filled with some bumpy road along the way, but 2008 was looking grand.
As the year progressed, the Lord would take me through the deepest spiritual journey of my life. I would spend a week in silence before the Lord, culminating with the deliverance of the most devastating message the Lord has ever had me speak to a group of people. I spent the summer being pressured by others to back away from the proclamations of that message and ultimately watched as all the Lord had declared came to pass in September. By the time it was all said and done the ministry was on life support, the staff were released by the Lord to follow Him in new directions and I found myself asking, “Where do I go.”
The answer to that question had been formed in my spirit some months earlier. The Lord had birthed a desire for simple faith, that was powerful in its manifestation. In a matter of 6 weeks, Simplicity moved from prayer journal to reality. I began to see God moving in and through me in ways, I had been yearning for. I watched as lives changed and God’s love released the prisoner from their chains.
Of course, powerful moves of God do not come without opposition. The hiccups and obstacles have been constant…cars, toilet seats, personality conflicts…yet God remains faithful. With each obstacle the vision is refined and reinforced.
2008 could best be summarized as the refining of my faith. It all began with the question: “Am I the Lord of every kingdom of your heart.” It is ending with the challenge: “How far will you trust Me?”
As Mike and I prayed over the direction of our lives and ministry yesterday, the Lord’s direction was clear. Focus on building the foundation. In this directive are many things that we know will stretch us both further than we’ve been stretched before. In our ears rings the question: “How far will you trust Me?”
Mike and I both sense that 2009 is a turning point both personally and in our ministry call. For my family 2008 was the completion of what I am understanding to be a 7 year crucible of refinement. The past seven years have included surviving a direct hit from a killer tornado, a business failure, financial loss and hardship, a miscarriage, personal trials on every side. A few months ago, my intercessor inquired of God as to why the pressure was great on my life? The answer given to her was that the Lord was making me “unbreakable.” I laughed and said, “If this is what it takes to be unbreakable, what is the pressure I will be up against in the future?”
I look at our world today, and I understand that God needs unbreakable men and women. People who will say yes, in spite of the personal cost. The message of Christ is no longer gladly received and many will choose to hide their light in the heat of opposition.
As we approach 2009, I believe God is opening a door of opportunity for the body of Christ. I believe the difficulties in our nation will once again have people crying out to God for deliverance. It is for this very reason that I believe God is molding and positioning us to be the bearers of the “Good News” we’ve been given.
Simply a vessel
Today I have watched as the Lord reached into His toolbox and chose me as His vessel of choice. What a thrill it is to be used of the Master as He goes about the work of the Kingdom.
This morning, Carol and I were talking and she mentioned that she really felt as though the Lord wanted me to spend some time in prayer at the building today. I felt much the same, as I have been wrestling through my own uncertainties over the past few days.
After having lunch with a friend I went to the building and began praying. The Lord led me to deal with some things in my life, most notably my “attitude” this Christmas. This is the first year in my life, that I have not had a Christmas tree up in my home (it is buried in a stack of storage boxes in the garage). This is the first year my wife and I have not trekked out to joyfully purchase presents for our children (finances have not allowed for it). Needless to say, I was having a bit of a pity party. The Lord; however, is always good about bringing me back to reality and today was no exception. He reminded me that I have been ministering to people this week with no roof over their heads and no source of food and no bathroom and no family and no….you get the picture. I spent time in repentance over the “importance” I have placed upon the “traditions” of our family. In reality having our family and having our Savior are simply enough.
As I finished working through that, I went into a time of silent listening. As I was listening, I heard the door open and looked up to see two men entering, removing their hats and looking down at the floor. I learned that they had been living out of a truck at one of the parks while they were doing framing work on the island. Unfortunately, the man who they were working for skipped out with their money and the Marina Patrol was threatening to tow their truck if it wasn’t moved. I offered to put gas in the truck to help them get down the road. Unfortunately, when we got to the parking area, the truck had already been towed.
Both men were horribly distraught and so we returned to the church and prayed. They asked me to take them to a co-worker’s apartment and as I was driving there, the Lord prompted me to ask a simple question: “Have you guys eaten?” I learned that it had been a number of days since each man had eaten, and so I immediately found the nearest Whataburger and ordered these men their first hot meal in days. As we were driving one of the men reminded me of this passage of scripture:
Hebrews 13:2 (NASB)
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Tonight I picked up a man who we met on Saturday during our breakfast at the park. Sunday we were able to find him housing and Tuesday he joined us for Organic Group. When I watched him Tuesday I noticed a conflict going on in his spirit as the Holy Spirit began to move through our time together. Tonight, I asked him about the conflict and he shared a raging battle within, one side calling him the enemy of God and the other calling him a child of God. I told him that at some point in the evening I wanted to lay hands on him and pray.
As we were getting started Mike all of the sudden changed gears. He later shared with me that God told him to go no further with the Bible discussion he had planned, but instead directed him to focus us on the God’s love. As we began to talk about what God was showing us through the Holy Spirit, I again noticed the conflict welling up within this man and the Lord prompted me that I needed to pray over him. I asked him if he could tell me who Jesus was to him? He responded by giving me a historical account of Jesus, so I asked him again, “who is He to you?” He began to stammer and shift, at which point I asked him, “Are you able to say these words: ‘Jesus is Lord of my life?'” He immediately began laughing and said its hard for me to say that. He then laughed again and I asked if I could pray, to which he responded, “Do you what you have to.” As I began to speak the name of Jesus over him, he began to sigh deeply and then he began to weep. Once I had finished praying we sat in silence for a few moments, when he asked if he could pray. I said yes, but I’m going to let you pray from your heart. As he began to pray tears were still visible in his eyes and he made this profession, “Jesus you are the Lord of my life, my Savior and King.” Mike told me later that at this point his countenance had changed. We both sensed that the bondage of this man’s soul was broken this evening.
One of the things I am learning about this man is that he has never had a true friend or even a family. We will be opening our home to him this Christmas and tomorrow I am taking him fishing for the first time in his life. God could have used anyone, but today He chose me. Glory unto His name!
Partners and Pancakes
As I shared in my last post, the Lord gave me a business model that does nothing less than make my heart leap with excitement. There are four main things that this model seeks to address:
- Providing for missionary pastors
- Furthering the spread of the gospel
- Meeting the physical needs of others
- Giving an opportunity for those getting back on their feet to work
The Lord led me to use network marketing and affiliate marketing as the primary vehicles, because we can help a struggling person move from unemployed to employee (dependent upon a company) to business owner (controlling their own financial future).
I shared this concept with a room full of friends on Friday and everyone got excited, the ideas began flowing and we all agreed that the Lord had just birthed a Kingdom venture.
Today we went to South Bluff Park to make breakfast for the homeless. South Bluff Park is home to a large transient population and is primarily known for the drug dealing and prostitution that takes place. Our group had the pleasure of cooking up pancakes and ended up feeding about 20-25 people throughout the morning. Many quickly grabbed their food and moved on, while others stayed and allowed us to build relationships.
There is a battle going on for the heart of our city. I am convinced that we will never see Corpus Christi transformed until we see this part of the city transformed. The sweeping move of the Holy Spirit is necessary for the bondage of addiction to be broken.
T
Simplicity Solutions
I am developing a for profit business model called Simplicity Solutions that will be used to help fund the church planting, benevolence and other ministries of Simplicity.
Simplicity Solutions is a conglomeration of MLM and Affiliate commerce ventures that will be used to provide an income for new church planters, people getting back on their feet and the lead pastors for the Simplicity network.
Simplicity Solutions…Life Shouldn’t be Complicated
Mission: A for profit corporation that is in business to create financial funding for the furtherance of the Great Commission through Simplicity Church Network and its affiliated ministries.
· Purpose
o Bring Christ into the Marketplace
o Use commerce to fund the work of the Kingdom
o Give the servants of God a means to support themselves
o Give the lowly a tool to improve themselves
· The Model
o A business of businesses
§ Utilizing ecommerce and MLM strategies
· Creates ownership
o Profits used to for:
§ Financial provision for Simplicity Church Network pastors and their church planting efforts
§ Seed money for church plants
§ Ministry projects
§ Reinvestment for further profits
o Creates a tent-making role for church planters
§ Constant contact with the unchurched
o Creates a place of work for those needing a fresh start
· Goals
o A complete support solution for church planters
o Support for Kingdom work worldwide
o Providing employment opportunities for those getting back on their feet
You can join in on the action as well as we will be looking for affiliates for our the different businesses and people to market product. This is also an opportunity for you to make some additional income as well. The primary thrust of these businesses is marketing, although some of these offer a traditional sales model.
Here are the first few pieces of Simplicity Solutions:
And the hits keep coming…
Today started out as one of those days that you really would have just liked to have gone back to bed and gotten up again tomorrow. I’ll keep my whine session brief…basically, the house I own in Pennsylvania and can’t get rid of, is now empty once again, because of the damage being caused by the leaking roof that we lack the funds to replace at this time. Secondarily, the house I’m now living in will be going through an estate sale, so we have to find new accommodations by January 15th and lastly, we will need to revisit our 501(c)(3) status after I came across a doctrinal/philosophical issue that I am unwilling to compromise on with our current parent association of churches.
Ok…enough pity party!
God continues to blow me away with His movement in the hearts of people. This week I have visited by phone with men in Cedar Rapids, IA and Ballinger, TX who will be launching house churches in January and would like me to walk beside them in their efforts. In tonight’s Organic Group I watched the Holy Spirit begin to work on the heart of one of the young men as we began discussing the differences in the new covenant and the old covenant.
Lastly, we began a working relationship with a Bible College in Uganda. I had the privilege of putting together certificates for each of the students that they will be given as they enter the mission field for hands on instruction beginning in January.