Archive for the ‘Vision’ category

How?

August 16, 2008

Normally I wait until I’ve completed a book to comment on it, however Peter Block’s “The Answer to How is Yes” has got my mind on overdrive – and I’ve just passed the first chapter. He suggests that the question “How?” could be more of an obstacle rather than a help to an end. He uses “How?” as a symbol because it is the most frequently asked question following critical conversations about changing directions in our jobs and lives. Coming to the decision that something should be done is often easy. The raising of the question, “How?” inevitably leads to a halt in progress until we have some perceived certainty.

One of the best observations I’ve read yet is when Peter says that, “if we were really committed to the pursuit of what matters, we might well be served to hold a moratorium on the question ‘How?’…If we could agree that for six months we would not ask ‘How?’, something in our lives…might shift for the better. It would refocus our attention on deciding what is the right question, rather than what is the right answer. It would force us to act as if we already knew how – we just have to figure out what is worth doing.”

What is keeping you from pursuing something that has captivated your mind? Removing the question “How?” from the conversation leaves us with only a decision to decide what matters most. Think about your life and after evaluating what matters most, make it a priority to take the first step toward seeing that “thing” happen.

World Vision

July 28, 2008

I’ve been having a thought lately about what the possibilities could be for people like you and me to have a large influence on the endeavor of both health, education and hunger relief in our world. World Vision is one of the most respected aid organizations in the world today. They utilize detailed accounting to express their importance in keeping track of donations from their side, and accountability from the donors side.

A “what if” question I have had is, “What if World Vision were able to reduce it’s expense in fund raising, how would that help the bottom line in terms of monies being spent to help people?” Last year World Vision spent 9%, or 88 million dollars on fund raising. If that number could be cut in half, a tremendous surge could begin toward even more of the incredible effort they pursue in global aid.

Think about the possibilities and remember that Jesus said – “everything is possible”.