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Issue #199

Posted: September 18th, 2008

Welcome to Issue #199 of “A Christian Networker’s Perspective” Newsletter.

In today’s issue:

1. Welcome – Re-launch update

2. Article – Principle of Celebration

3. Other Articles Around the Web

1. Re-launch of A Christian Networker’s Perspective – and NEW FORMAT!

If you are an email subscriber you’ll no doubt have noticed that your email only included a link to this site, rather than the full email.

I’m not happy with the quality of the email format yet, so I’m testing this method of delivery. I’m looking at the possibilities of a new background theme, or a new email delivery system.

There will be continued improvements over the next few months as I look to provide the best information to the most people possible.

Thanks for coming. Your feedback, in the comments section of this post, would be greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,

Danny Gamache

2. The Principle of Celebration

Celebration is a valuable process in business, and yet one we don’t do enough of. In traditional business you can celebrate when your company achieves a goal, when your employees complete a project or make a big sale, or when your local community has a big event. Unfortunately most businesses do not do this enough, and therefore employees doing feel recognized, and goals get completed without any special recognition – people simply move on to the next goal but with a lower level of motivation.

In the home business world, celebrating success is even more important. People who work in a home business are independent business owners but need to come together to celebrate.

In your home business you can celebrate when:

  • someone gets their first new customer
  • someone books their first appointment
  • you or someone on your team advances their business to the next leadership status
  • you reach your goal for the month

It is important that you determine benchmarks for when to celebrate. Often your company’s compensation structure will help you do that, but you can go beyond the compensation structure when you celebrate.

In our business we celebrate whenever:

  • someone enrolls four new customers in a month
  • someone enrolls eight new customers in a month
  • someone reaches a total of 20 customers
  • someone advances to the first leadership level or helps other people to do the same
  • someone burns their mortgage that they paid off using business income

Each of these examples are benchmarks. They are set because they are important in growing our business, because they can be challenging, and because they are worthy or recognition. It is important that you set benchmarks in your business about when you will celebrate – both for your own achievements, and for those of your team members.

Scriptures are filled with examples of how celebration is important.

Jesus

To many it was surprising that Jesus celebrated so much. The Pharisees called him “a gluttonous man, and a drunkard (Luke 7:34).” Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding celebration (John 2:1-11). Throughout the Gospels we often see Jesus going to people’s homes for a feast. All of these are acts of celebration.

The Prodigal Son

Many examples that Jesus shares about celebration come when people return to God and find the Kingdom. One such story is in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). When the son returns the father calls out his servants and asks them to “Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry (v.22-23).” The other son protested this lavish expense for his brother, but the parable ends with a clear defense of the celebration. When something worth celebrating happened, it was a good thing to celebrate.

Old Testament Law

We can see God’s desire for celebration throughout the Old Testament law as well. The people of Israel are called to celebrate with various feasts throughout the year. Leviticus 23 describes several of these times.

The feasts were often proclaimed as a celebration and a reminder for what God has done in the past. Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year: “This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God (Leviticus 23:41-43).’” This celebration is a reminder about the exodus from Egypt!

Connecting Business and Scripture

Clearly the call of Scriptures is to celebrate what God has done and what God is doing. The same premise can be true in your business – you can celebrate business success because of what God is doing. If we truly believe that all things are from God, then the blessings in our business are from God. Celebrate with thankfulness.

Danny Gamache

http://dannyg.makemoreathome.com

3. Other Articles From Around The Web

I had a guest article published on the Free Money Finance Blog called, How to See the Olympics on a Budget

On my other blog, The Success Professor, I wrote about:

- The Joy of New Beginnings and How To Make Them Work For You

- How to “Down Time” into “Bonus Time”

A blog I read called the Art of Manliness has a great article on How to Be A Great Dad.

I hope you enjoyed this issue. I look forward to comments with your thoughts on the new format.

God Bless,

Danny

http://dannyg.makemoreathome.com


Newsletter Issue #198

Posted: September 2nd, 2008

Welcome to Issue #198 of “A Christian Networker’s Perspective” Newsletter.

In today’s issue:

1. Re-launch of A Christian Netoworker’s Perspective – and NEW FORMAT!

2. Article – Are You the Fragrance of Christ?

3. Other Articles Around the Web

1. Re-launch of A Christian Networker’s Perspective – and NEW FORMAT!

As you have no doubt noticed the email newsletter ‘A Christian Networker’s Perspective’ (CNP) has been absent for the past several months. This period of absence was for a couple of reasons:

  • I gave a period of time for other goals to have a priority
  • I wanted time to reflect on a new format and delivery method for this newsletter

(For a deeper explanation, check out this page on the HISTORY of CNP.)

The period of time for other goals is passed and I am back and have goals to grow and develop CNP. The new format is a new website that will host the newsletter in a blog format. CNP will STILL BE AVAILABLE BY EMAIL. As a current subscriber you don’t need to do anything any you will get the newsletter each time it is posted by email. You can also follow along on the blog and through an RSS reader.

Other advantages of the new blog format will be the ability to link to articles and resources around the web, and for YOU to participate in discussion after each issue. Each newsletter will have an online comment section where you can share your thoughts and give feedback on that issue.

Other changes:

In general, I will attempt to publish one issue per week, however at times they may come a little more frequently or a little less frequently. Articles will be shorter and I will also share links to other articles I have written around the web.

CNP will remain focused on helping the Christian home business person to grow their business and integrate faith and business. I look forward to hearing your feedback. Visit the site by clicking on the title at the top of this article and comment at the end of this article!

Sincerely,

Danny Gamache

2. Are You the Fragrance of Christ?

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 says:

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”

The verse should be a challenge to all believers. We are called to be the “fragrance of the knowledge of [Jesus].” How are you doing at that? It is important that we frequently ask ourselves this question. It is very easy to go through life living just like everyone around us, and therefore carrying around the same “fragrance” as them.

What does it mean to have the fragrance of Christ?

It means to:

  • Live with love as our primary purpose: the love for God and the love for others (Matthew 22:36-40).
  • Always have an answer for your hope, but give it with gentleness and respect for others (1 Peter 3:15-16).
  • Become all things to all people so that you might save some (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
  • Care for the poor, the widow, and the orphan – and all of those outsiders (James 1:27, Luke 10: 25-37).
  • Don’t complain or argue, be blameless in all you do (Philippians 2:14-15).

How do you live this kind of life in your home business?

  • Let love be your overriding motive – not profit - act with love even if it costs you profit.
  • Look to bring conversations around to spiritual topics, live in such away that they will ask you questions – if people are not asking you questions, how effective is your life witness?
  • Be a servant to others, going out of the way to be there for them.
  • Go where non-believers are. Don’t isolate yourself because of your beliefs. Certainly you will want to draw the line someplace, but don’t draw it too early. You need to meet people where they are.
  • Give money to those in need.
  • Elevate the outsider – treat them with a high level of respect, and speak highly of them in front of others.
  • Be gentle and respectful – don’t argue with people, don’t condemn them. The person on the street corner shouting out condemnation may speak some truth, but he does so in a way that no one will ever hear him.

Certainly the business run by a Christian should be different than a business run by a non-believer. Why? Because the owner themselves is different. The owner should be the fragrance of Christ. That will be very different indeed.

How is your business different? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Danny Gamache

http://dannyg.makemoreathome.com

3. Other Articles From Around The Web

Read stories from my recent mission trip to the Olympics:

http://dannygamache.blogspot.com/2008/08/olympic-stories.html

On the “Dumb Little Man” blog, I wrote a guest post about:

7 Tips to Develop the Habit of Daily Exercise

On my other blog, I wrote about:

A Story of Persistence, Goal Setting and Passion

I hope you enjoyed this issue. I look forward to comments with your thoughts on the new format.

God Bless,

Danny

http://dannyg.makemoreathome.com