Posted by ventures under Featured Articles, News & Updates | 
On Tuesday, November 1, 2011 my great aunt turns 100 years old. Congratulations Aunt Hope. Today, at her church she was honored and rightly so. However, sitting there in the church pew my mind reflected on the legacy she has left behind. You see, she totally sold out to the Lord from the moment of her conversion at age 15. She never married but instead married the Lord. The ministry that God entrusted to her involved both pastoral and missionary charges. Haiti was a beloved missionary field of hers, so much so, that a school there has been named in her honor. But here’s what I really want to say…
As I sat there in the church pew, minister after minister shared how Rev. Hope Bascome had influenced their spiritual life and discipled them in one way or another. Many of them came to know the Lord under her ministry. So I am mindful of a passage of scripture in the 2nd epistle of Timothy, chapter 2 and verse 2, also known as the 2 Timothy 2:2 principle. This verse teaches that the things that have been entrusted and given to us should be passed on to the next generation, and the next and the next. This is the essence of discipleship. Paul to Timothy, Timothy to faithful men, and faithful men to others (4 generations). Aunt Hope practiced this verse and this verse was a common thread throughout her ministry.
May God continue to bless Aunt Hope and give her long life upon the earth.
Posted by ventures under Advice, Featured Articles |
So often we hire or pay for services from professionals to assist us in our lives, to help solve our problems, or to help us through a challenge or calamity. We also spend thousands of dollars in the process! What if there was a way that you could access a myriad of professionals from the comfort of your home, on demand, for a fraction of the cost. I have been recently introduced to a wonderful product which is helping me improve my important personal relationships and I would me negligent not to share it with you. I’m talking about my relationship with my spouse, my daughter, and my extended family. What about your marriage – the most important earthly relationship you could have. I’m learning about my love language, how to handle conflict, conflict resolution, strengthening my parenting skills, how to hold a family conference, how to improve my communication with my spouse, and how to create greater harmony in my life!
Well I’m talking about FamilyIQ, as featured on the Dr. Phil show as well as the Tyra Banks program. If you’re interested to learn more you can visit FamilyIQ for more details. Be sure to claim your free gift (bottom right hand button). I hope you like what you see, the program is really helping me improve my personal relationships and that is priceless!
Posted by ventures under Faith, Featured Articles |
Hey guys, just got back from our church conference’s annual Sunday School meeting. Got me reflecting on how important it is to train up our kids, young men and young men in the way that they should go. Sunday School has been such a big part of my own spiritual development that it is hard to know where I would be in this life had it not been for the faithful and committed teachers of Sunday School. Our conference text was 1 Timothy 2: 1-15 in which Paul admonishes Timothy to keep certain spiritual disciplines foremost in hos life and ministry. We focused on the first verse – all about prayer! Yes, prayer is vital to worship and worship is not just the “praise and worship” we do every week at church. Worship is a lifestyle and not merely an act that occurs on Sunday morning. We encouraged the kids to make prayer a necessity and a part of their daily lives. We covered the various kinds of prayer using the acronym ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). Within supplication we included intercession, which is the most unselfish of prayers in that we are praying for the needs of others. We made a prayer list of certain friends, family, government leaders, world leaders, famous people, and third world or “closed” countries. We challenged the kids to use this model of prayer (ACTS) and encouraged them to incorporate this list into their prayer life. It was a wonderful time in the Lord and the young and old did indeed receive a blessing from the Lord.
Posted by ventures under Featured Articles, News & Updates |
Hey everyone, yesterday was an awesome day. We celebrated our 100 Men Breakfast at 8:30am Atlantic time (7:30am EST) at Allen Temple AME Church in Somerset, Bermuda. Yes, that’s my home church and where I worship every Sunday morning (unless sick or abroad 
). Every January we invite all the Christian men (irrespective of denomination) and encourage them to invite unsaved friends and family to our church for a time of food and fellowship. We’ve been doing this for 19 years now, and yesterday was no different. We were fed both physically and spiritually, and left full in both respects. Pastor Dean Smith from Open Door Christian Fellowship shared the Word, and it indeed grew mightily within all of us and prevailed! His text was Psalm 37-15-17. Our theme was “Men Under Construction – Building A Life That Honors God”. It was great to see old friends and make new friends. Oh how good it is for brethren to dwell together. Looking forward to next year already God willing. If you’re ever visiting Bermuda during the 2nd or 3rd week of January, you are most welcome to attend, just let me know! Special thanks to the ladies who served and provided the necessary helps ministry to make this event a resounding success.
Posted by Kent Bascome under Advice, Featured Articles |
The Christian’s Present (Phillipians 3:12–16)
The figure of a runner is a favorite with Paul (see 1 Cor. 9:25–27; 1 Thes. 2:19–20; Heb. 12:1–3; 2 Tim. 2:5). Of course, Paul is not suggesting that we run to get to heaven! The Olympic runners in ancient Greece had to be citizens of the nation they represented. They also had to be free men, not slaves. The unsaved sinner is a slave, but the Christian is a citizen of heaven (3:20) and has been set free by Christ. Each Christian is given a special place on the “track” for his or her own service, and each one has a goal established by Christ. Our task in life is to “lay hold of that for which Christ laid hold of us” (v. 13). Paul is not talking about salvation but sanctification—growth and progress in Christian life and service.
How do we reach the goal God has set for us? For one thing, we must be honest with ourselves and admit where we are: as Paul declared. “Not that I have already attained” (v. 12). Then, we must keep our eyes of faith on Christ and forget the past—past sins and failures, and also past successes. We must press on in His power. The Christian life is not a game; it is a race that demands the very best that is in us: “This one thing I do” (v. 13). Too many Christians live divided lives. One part enjoys the things of the world and the other part tries to live for the Lord. They get ambitious for “things” and start minding earthly ambitions. Our calling is a “high calling” and a “heavenly calling”; and if we live for this world, we lose the prize that goes with our high calling.
Satan wants us to live in the past. God wants us to press on in the present with an eye to the future. We often let those things which are behind to distract us, whether they be “good” things or “bad” things, we may let them keep us from what God has in front of us.
Think of how the above spiritual lesson parallels in our business. We need to perservere when things look dim and success seems far away.
Posted by ventures under Featured Articles, Leadership |
I haphazardly picked up my copy of John Maxwell’s The 21 Most Important Minutes In a Leader’s Day. John asks a simple question: “If you were to reproduce yourself in another leader, would you be satisfied with the results?” This has been a rather thought-provoking question in my mind. To look at it another way, if you were doing your own leadership evaluation, how would you be coaching yourself to change? And perhaps another important question would be, are you reproducing yoruself in another leader at all?
The purpose of leadership really isn’t to reach the top, but to help somebody else get there. Further, the goal of leading people is to develop them to their full potential, not to use them to help you reach your own. In fact, we’re at our greatest when we’re developing others anyway. So how do you reproduce your leadership qualities in someone else? Just a few thoughts…
- Find someone to lead. Tribes are everywhere, just waiting for the right leader.
- Pour your life into other leaders. By life, I particularly mean time.
- Listen, learn, and respond to leaders. Don’t just talk – you don’t know it all.
- Provide opportunities for leaders under you to take risks, even when you will end up sharing the cost.
- Empower people with the time, resources, and help to get the job done.
- Check in. People don’t respect what you don’t inspect.
- Model your values, techniques, and passions – don’t hold back.
- Be accessible. People can’t grow under your leadership if you’re hiding in the ivory tower.
- Get fed. Find a mentor. Don’t stagnate in your own leadership growth.
- Remember that you were quite wet behind the ears when you started out!
Who are you leading? How are they doing? Are they a satisfactory reproduction of yourself? Would you be, based on how well you’re leading now?
This article was posted by our guest, Brandon Cox, who leads a church in Bentonville as Pastor. He also blogs at Life Here and There and designs web sites.
Posted by ventures under Faith, Featured Articles |
Have you ever considered how the 10 Commandments as found in Exodus 20 could apply to business today? I suggest that each one could have a dramatic effect on you as a leader, business person, and mentor. Individually…
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Do you put Christ first in all you do? One of the most common pitfalls for Christian entrepreneurs is allowing their work to become their first passion. Do you wake up every morning thinking about your business and find that it’s the last thing on your mind before going to sleep. Your business can become your god! God started with this commandment for a reason – He is to be FIRST in all that we do; not in word only but also in action.
What to know – Your head will be where your heart is. If you spend most of your time thinking of your business, it will become your god.
2. Thou shalt make no graven images
You might say “I don’t have an idol I worship,” but let’s look at this commandment just a bit deeper. Ancient people made sacrifices to their idols. They would lay the sacrifice at the foot of the object, desiring forgiveness, success or even fertility. Do you go anywhere other than the foot of God with your sacrifices of work, praise, and success?
What to know – Do you sacrifice more for you business than you do for Christ? Have you created a business that is a GRAVEN image to which you bow down?
3. Thou shalt not take the Lords name in vain
Most of the time we look at this commandment as using foul language. And I agree with that. However, the definition of vain is “without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless”
Notice the first part of the definition, “without REAL significance.” I hear people use the name of the Lord when they believe it will benefit them in some way. Wouldn’t that be “without real significance?” If you talk differently because of whom you are in front of, it is possible that you are taking the Lords name in vain. For example, with one person you might say “God has given us the ability to…” and with another person you might say “we have the ability to…” Did you throw in the name of God just because you know the setting and it could help you in some way? Or did you leave it out with the other because you are not sure where they stand? You might be using the Lords name in vain.
What to know – Gods name is NEVER to be used lightly. It is not just about foul language.
4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy
Entrepreneurs have the ability to work, work and work some more. Time can be your biggest enemy. God is not only telling you take time off. He is tell you to keep the day HOLY. By doing this you remain grounded. Monday through Friday are better if you have a proper perspective. He did not say keep the morning Holy. He did not say “go to church.” He said “keep the DAY holy.”
What to know – Don’t cheat yourself from rest. Keep the entire day holy, not just part of it. You will be more productive the rest of the week. The work you would do on Sunday afternoon or evening really is not worth it.
5. Honor thy Father and thy Mother
As entrepreneurs, we have the ability to say things like “what I become or the business I build will be an honor to my parents”. And yes, this is true in part. However, if you look at the word honor you’ll see that it conveys integrity, fairness, and honesty. If you run your business without integrity, fairness and honesty it is dishonorable to your mother and father. Do you think the CEO’s of ENRON, AIG or Freddy Mac and Fannie Mae have brought honor to their parents? NO, because of the way they conducted their business. Now on a side note – your mother and father would be most honored if you would spend time with them! Regardless of what has happened in the past spend time with them.
What to know – To honor your father and mother means to act in an honorable way in business.
6. Thou shalt Not Kill
I am sure you are not a murderer! As leaders we must understand the influence we have over people with how we talk to them, our demeanor, and our body language. Leaders are watched for every detail. We might not literally commit murder, but do we kill the spirit of people? The team you assemble will be the success of your organization, so RESPECT is required.
What to know – When you kill someone’s spirit, it affects your organization.
7. Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery
Work relationships don’t work. Successful people must know that the temptation of the opposite sex is very strong. People are attracted to the position/money/success and NOT always the person. Don’t believe the lie that the grass will be greener on the other side of the fence. If you fall to this temptation, you will lose it all. It isn’t worth it. No business, regardless of how big or small, is worth compromising the most basic of moral principals.
What to know – People are attracted to successful people not for who they are but for what they have built. Don’t throw everything away for someone who DOES NOT love you!
8. Thou Shalt Not Steal
In our business we have received overpayment of checks of thousands of dollars. Some have been small checks and some have been large. We once had to decide if we would cash a particular check and if caught give it back, OR call the client and let them know. This was a very large company we were working with and they would have never missed the money. We probably would have never been caught. Without hesitation we called and then drove the extra check over to the client. You see they might not have known about it but it was NOT our money so therefore, to have kept it would have been stealing!
What to know – Integrity is doing what is right even when no one is watching. Cheating on taxes or shaving off the top IS stealing.
9. Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness
Entrepreneurs have the tendency to create the world the way they like to see it, making them or their organization look better and bigger than it is in reality. Bearing false witness IS talking down about your competitor unjustly. Learn from what they do right, improve on what they do wrong, but DON’T tear them down to lift yourself up.
What to know – Making statements about your competition that are not true IS bearing false witness. If you get a sale because of making false statements about your competitor then you have won by cheating.
10. Thou Shalt Not Covet
SHOW ME THE MONEY! We have all heard this statement, but the word of God says “what does it profit you to gain the world…”. If money, houses, and things are your motivation you will NEVER be satisfied. Learn to be happy with the accomplishments and success of others. Your mansion is set in heaven so don’t worry about what others have or what you don’t have.
What to know – Satisfaction will NOT come from the things we acquire. Instead of focusing on what others have or what you don’t have, be content in where you are now. Life is short – don’t spend it on focused on things that rust.
Posted by ventures under Advice, Featured Articles |
The entrepreneur is born with a unique drive and ambition. Starting something and carrying it through to completion becomes a lifelong passion for those born with this entrepreneurial spirit. To do anything but start a business will lead to frustration, and starting a business from scratch and seeing it through to success will fuel our passion.
As a kid, I always knew I wanted to start and run my own business. This intense desire for the entrepreneurial challenge may have been provided by a series of early experiences. At age 9, I took a paper route and was thrilled the first time I purchased something with my own hard-earned money. When it was time for our scout troop’s popcorn drive, I was tenacious about out-performing my friends in popcorn sales. I also watched my father’s career end early and in personal tragedy as a result of a careless and unrepentant Fortune 500 company to which he had devoted his life. In any case, I knew that SOMEDAY I would start a business and chart my own path.
The problem for me was that SOMEDAY simply did not come. While in college, it seemed like I was the target of every get-rich-quick scheme. Thankfully, I never took the bait. In my twenties, I spent lots of time researching what seemed like several perfectly viable ideas, but I kept waiting for one of those “home run” ideas where talk turns to action. So I kept working at a job that I didn’t particularly enjoy but I knew that SOMEDAY things would be different.
What I realize now is that there are not that many “home run” business ideas. Most companies that are wildly successful today (Google, Microsoft, Wal-Mart) started very small and grew over time with many years of hard work. The founders of these companies took an idea and invested their lives to realize the often distant target of success.
I’ve learned some secrets along the way to successful entrepreneurship, and it would be unfair of me not to share them with the world.
1. Find a skill or talent you already possess.
2. Form an idea from your talent that you’ll love to pursue.
3. Cultivate your passion – good ideas don’t change the world without passion.
4. Ask yourself, “If I were independently wealthy and didn’t have to do anything, how would I spend my day?” Develop your business concept around the answer and you’ll be that much more committed to it.
5. Do your research and gather facts. Educate yourself as fully as possible.
6. Form friendships and find mentors that will help support the successful execution of your idea.
7. Realize that not every good idea is a winning idea.
8. Also realize that perfect opportunities do not exist.
9. Calculate the risks involved, but don’t be crippled by fear.
10. Find something that you can start part-time, while you keep your bill-paying job and when the part-time income exceeds the full-time, make the switch to your new entrepreneurial career.
11. LAUNCH! Start this process today.
12. Give back. Share your experiences and invest in others.
You can’t complete what you won’t begin. Take the leap with courage and pursue your passion, and start today!
photo credit: Erik Charlton
Posted by ventures under Featured Articles, News & Updates |
Welcome to the new online home of BIC Ventures, where we’re excited to promote and inspire entrepreneurship with purpose! This site will become a place where believers can grow their spirits as well as their business. We will soon be offering articles on a variety of topics relevant to Christian entrepreneurship as well as services to help you grow your business.
We welcome feedback and input and hope that this online resource motivates, equips, and inspires you to pursue excellence in business and leadership, all for God’s glory.
photo credit: iChaz
