People who live generously don’t get there by accident. They make intentional decisions along they way to help them reach the place of being a joyfully generous individual. Here are six items to reflect on relating to your own generosity. Ownership or Stewardship: What is the difference between being an owner of your possessions and being a steward? How do …
How do the best leaders sometimes make a mess of their family? David was the second king in the history of Israel. His resume was remarkable. He entered the throne in a time of tumult but brought unity to his kingdom. He subdued the surrounding nations and brought peace. His riches were vast. But something went awry with his …
Have you ever wondered why someone so young and talented would give their life away to serve in a country far away from their home? She was young and talented. A writer. Sincere. Her own life was a spiritual history. Her grandmother had served on the mission field. And so did her parents. I suppose it came as no surprise …
Generosity knows no geographic bounds. It is a universal language. It can be given and received in any country. The power of it—no matter how big or small—is profound. Read below from the blog of Ethan White. I’ve known the White family for years. Just recently their oldest son Ethan took off to work for the Peace Corp in Fiji. …
The Generosity Movement is real, and it’s changing. Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen an incredible rise in the stock market. But we’ve also seen wealth transfer occur from War Generations to the Boomers. Additionally, we’ve also seen family owned businesses mature and sell as people as families exit those businesses. Each of those things have lead to an …
In Jewish culture and the Old Testament, families celebrate the Passover. The Passover is their story of trial and suffering while in the land of Egypt. Ultimately, God delivers them from their slavery. As part of their celebration of Passover, a dinner is held with elaborate preparations and symbolism of the past. To start the celebration, the youngest child asks …
As the calendar flips from one year to the next, it’s a great time to begin thinking about getting your legacy in order in the new year. Notice that I said legacy and not estate planning. Estate planning is part of the equation. No doubt for some the issue of naming trustees, dealing with taxes and similar issues are all …
As the 2015 giving year closes out, there will be no doubt some winners and losers. Some charities will feel like their coffers are full while others are struggling for solutions. But the climate is changing. Few recognized it, but it happened. Out of nowhere it seemed that thousands of charities sprung up overnight. The number of non-profit organizations has …
The perfect gift in imperfect circumstances. Think about it. An apparent ill-timed pregnancy–Mary and Joseph endured the scorn of their friends and family. A burdensome census—it required travel at the worst possible time. Less than hospitable delivery conditions—she delivered in not much more than a cave, dugout, smelly and dirty. Shepherds called away from their post—leaving their sheep, they came …
How does family legacy relate to the cherished American value of individualism? Don’t we want our children to become strong, independent individuals who make their own mark on the world? I want to answer that question in the context of history: how have expectations for families and children have changed over our nation’s short history? There was a time in …
