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| www.cbn-usa.org | Newsletter
- November 2006 |
 This Month The Transforming Power of Redemptive Action
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FROM THE EDITOR Bill Gaffney A few weeks ago I was in a Dayton Region steering committee meeting. As I looked around the room I saw people who were not only involved with CBN-USA leadership, but involved with leadership in many other ministries and volunteer organizations as well. Every one of these people is also very successful in business. They may not have the total financial success the world measures by, but they are regarded as leaders, people that make things happen, and people you can count on, as well as having many other positive attributes. Both spiritual and secular people regard them that way. These people are winners. There is a saying that goes, “Stick with the Winners”. I think this month’s newsletter could probably take on that theme. From Harvey Hook’s article on “Redemptive Action” to Brian Benson’s “State of the Organization” letter, and finishing with our “Featured Member”, every one of these people demonstrate to us how to be a winner. We in servant leadership in CBN-USA would like to thank all of you for being winners. We also want to wish you and your families a great Christmas. We will see you in the New Year. Bill THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF
REDEMPTIVE ACTION
Jesus took redemptive action. The word “redeem” means to: purchase, buy back, set free as in releasing someone from slavery. He entered her world and met her where she lived. He was willing to speak to a hated, promiscuous outcast, making himself ceremonially unclean, for the purpose of touching a heart in need. He chose connection with the “lost and least of these” over acceptance by the religious establishment. He was willing to sacrifice His reputation for the sake of His character because He wanted to set her free. Jesus created a reconciling relationship. The word “reconcile” means to: make friendly again, to bring in to harmony and to make atonement for sin. He acknowledged her as a person of value and worth. This allowed him to connect with her at her point of deepest need. It created a doorway that He passed through on His way to her heart. He was willing to sacrifice His reputation for the sake of His Father’s message because He wanted to create harmony in this world and in the world to come. Jesus restored her to God and to the world in which she lived. The word “restore” means to: bring back in to a former or normal condition, or to give back something that was taken away. He was not afraid to love her. He was not afraid to offer her “spiritual water.” He was not afraid of personal rejection. He was willing to sacrifice His reputation for the sake of her soul because He wanted her to meet His Father. In the end, she and many in her village – many, as the result of her testimony - were restored to God and to one another. You and I have been called to follow in the steps of Jesus. We’ve been called to take redemptive action on all that we know about God and ourselves by creating reconciling relationships with others that set them free to be restored to God and the world in which they live. It’s redemptive, it’s powerful, and it’s transforming. Who will you touch today? Will it be one of the lost and least of these? Will it be redemptive? Harvey Hook is Executive Director, The Gathering/Columbus, a CBN-USA partner and author of The Power of an Ordinary Life to be released by Tyndale Publishers in April 2007. Contact Harvey
This is always a very controversial subject, one that can lead to wars within congregations. But I don’t intend to go there and talk about whether you tithe off the gross or tithe off the net, or whether the Bible says you give 10%, etc. There is a Jewish teaching that there are actually eight (8) levels of giving. The lowest one is where you give grudgingly, with a sour countenance (can anyone relate to that?) and the highest one is where you help a man to become self-sustaining. The highest one is what I want to briefly discuss. Like many in this audience, I grew up and graduated high school in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Those of us in that group saw the true start of Welfare, and many of us I am sure, were avid supporters of the concept. Today, without editorializing, we have seen the outcome of that. The bottom line is we gave a problem, or if you prefer a situation, money to make it go away. And what are the results today? I will let you answer that. And don’t we do the same thing in many situations in our life. We throw money at it to make it go away. We give our church money, we give our spouses nice gifts, and we give our kids things. All of this is done so we can avoid giving of our time. Yet in each situation mentioned above, wouldn’t the time be more valuable most of the time than the money? One of the most successful prison ministries, in terms of low recidivism, is Chuck Colson’s. The primary reason is they do not take the prisoners, give them a few bucks, a probation officer and set them free. They give them mentors and teach them both life skills and job skills. Isn’t that what Christianity is all about, giving people new life skills? So the next time you reach in your pocket to give a few extra dollars to a worthwhile cause, stop and think if maybe your time might be more valuable to them. They can usually find people to give money. Time is the tough commodity. So help the person to become self-sustaining. Bill I pray that 2006 has brought you many blessings, and that you are looking forward to an even better 2007! As we approach the Christmas season and things slow down a little bit from a work standpoint (ideally anyway), we should all look back over the year and recognize all the great things God has done and is currently doing in our lives. With regards to CBN-USA, God is still busy at work. Through 2006, CBN-USA has gone through significant change and organizational growth. We have surpassed the 400-member mark and the numbers keep rising every month. Our 3 regions will soon be expanding to 5 regions as Pittsburgh and Cleveland continue to gain momentum through outstanding leadership in those areas. We have barely scratched the surface of what CBN-USA could ultimately be, so we will continue to submit this organization to God’s will and enjoy the ride! I hope your affiliation with the Christian Business Network has been a positive experience and that you plan to maintain your membership with our organization in 2007 so you can continue to network among fellow believers in the marketplace. If you have been active in your local chapter(s), I’m sure you have developed some good relationships with people you wouldn’t normally have met, and this is a big part of what CBN-USA is all about. By maintaining our volunteer leadership structure, we are able to keep the annual renewal dues at $90 which is a tremendous bargain compared to any other networking group. Like any other business investment, you need to make sure you are getting a positive return on your investment so that you are capitalizing on all the benefits that come with your membership, such as:
Have a very Merry Christmas and a tremendous New Year! I hope to see you at a CBN-USA event in 2007! Have a red letter day! Brian FEATURED MEMBER – VERONICA GRABILL Veronica is CBN-USA Dayton’s version of Norman Vincent Peale. She is Ms. Positive Thinker. And you had better not tell her something can’t be done. That is a challenge that it will be done. Veronica was first introduced to CBN-USA by something she saw in the newspaper. She attended her first meeting in early 2005 and joined shortly afterwards. She has been serving CBN-USA since the beginning. Many of our current members and other visitors have been introduced to the organization due to Veronica’s efforts. Veronica helped to organize and start the Dayton Region’s Warren County chapter as well as head up a number of the Region’s Business Showcases. She also helped to organize the first charity golf outing. Veronica has recently taken over as the Region’s membership chair and already has several events planned around membership growth. She also serves on both the Regional steering and executive committees. In her business life, Veronica is co-owner of GW Land Title, a successful and growing title agency in Southwestern Ohio that is not even three years old. Veronica is active in many chambers, the Dayton Homebuilders Association, Dayton Area Board of Realtors, and a number of other professional associations. She has served in leadership roles in most of these organizations as well. Veronica and her husband Vic live in Springboro and are active in leadership roles in New Covenant Church in Middletown. Vic says they have been married for 14 “glorious” years and that Veronica has an unbelievable ability to bring other people together and facilitate relationships, something we have seen first hand in CBN-USA. They have 4 children, three of whom are adults and live in the NYC area. Veronica is also currently working on her PHD in ministry and serves on several ministry boards, including Praise 89.5, a CBN-USA partner. Where does this woman find all the time? Please say thank you to Veronica for all of her work on behalf of CBN-USA and the Lord. DON’T FORGET RENEWALS ARE DUE!!! Please visit the renewal page FEB 2nd – Next Columbus Regional Event. More information to follow. Please watch the front page of the web site FEB 8th – Dayton/Cincinnati Business Showcase. Information & RSVP
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