CEOs against cancer

"It's a good idea, but it won't cure cancer."

Phrases like that represent the magnitude of the disease called cancer; the affliction is so massive and so complex that its cure is deeply embedded in our lexicon of skepticism. Everybody wants cancer cured but precious few have the personal, professional and economic margin to commit to something so elusive and seemingly inevitable, and that is why In Business For Life finds Warner Baxter intriguing. Leaders tend to take on challenges that they can reasonably see solved in a finite period or season of time, but cancer is something that requires being content with small yardage instead of quick scores. 

There are similar causes in this category: curing AIDS and a host of crippling diseases known mostly to third world country remains a hard slog, but there are other long term problems that get less visibility that IBFL readers might consider adopting. Adoption (and especially cross-cultural, cross-ethnic adoption) come to mind. Opposing the opening and sustenance of abortion clinics is another hard slog. 

IBFL commends Warner Baxter, CEO of Ameren Missouri, of leveraging his personal and professional margin for a hard slog of a cause. 

CEOs Against Cancer site: http://www.acsworkplacesolutions.com/ceosagainstcancer.asp. 

Active or Passive Witness? Bible says: Yep.

Chris Patton at Christian Faith at Work writes a helpful, concise post about two competing schools of thought that really should not be competing: whether believers should be active (evangelizing by the initiative spoken word) or passive (evangelizing by life style and example). If the "active" school is too aggressive and the "passive" school too quiet, Patton's essay is a refreshing reminder that the Bible calls us to be doers in word and deed.

He commends the active:

"Barna reports that roughly 40% of the U.S. adult population is unchurched. That means there are plenty of people around you in the workplace that need what you have. They need you to share your faith."

He commends the passive:

"This means your business practices are to be above reproach. You are to walk what you talk! You are to live out all that Jesus has commanded us – in every facet of your life. You are not free to live as you please simply because you are good at approaching complete strangers with the truth of the gospel.  

12 Bible Promises for Business Planning

Does the Bible mean business? Author/Speaker Dr. Jim Harris found 12 Bible promises that he says should inform a Christian businessman's company plan, and he has fit them into four categories. You can find the full post and verses at http://www.toahigherlevel.com/business-2/12-bible-promises-for-business-planning.


1. CRYSTALLIZE YOUR KINGDOM PURPOSE

Jeremiah 10:23
Proverbs 20:24
Proverbs 16:9
Proverbs 16:3
Psalms 37:4-6

2. SEEK GODLY ADVISORS

Proverbs 15:22
Proverbs 20:18
Proverbs 24:6

3. TAKE YOUR TIME

Proverbs 21:5
Proverbs 23:4
Proverbs 28:20

4. COUNT THE COST

Luke 14:28-29

17 Big Companies That Are Intensely Religious

Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood have grabbed the lion's share of headlines lately for religiously-minded companies wanting to practice their business in accord with their faith, but there are many more such businesses across the United States and this 2012 article in Business Insider profiled 17 of them.

For some, making the company's bottom line square with God's bottom line has hurt business while others credit it for their success sauce. Most regard mixing faith and business as simply the foundational "cost of doing business" and they are content to succeed or fail on that recipe.

Read the full article here: "17 Big Companies That Are Intensely Religious," by Kim Bhasin and Melanie Hicken at Business Insider.

Men: You're invited to the "War on Women"

Are men unwelcome to matters regarding abortion because of gender? Pro-life women are saying that real men are needed more than ever.

"Join in the debate, guys," writes Chelsen Vicari, Evangelical Program Director for the Institute on Religion Democracy. "You will be surprised how many of us ladies welcome your voice." 
Read her July 17 column appeared in the Christian Post.