How to think like an investor when you give*.

How do we aim for impact when weโ€™re granting? One of the best ways I know is to evaluate our grants like investors evaluate investments and measure charitable โ€œreturns.โ€ But what form of measurement do we use to determine charitable returns? Quantifying a nonprofitโ€™s โ€œreturnโ€ Through my work as CEO of Simple Charity and director …

Be still and know I am God*

Hummingbirds are known to flit around and it's entertaining to watch how busy they are. But apparently, this bird has learned how to "be still." Psalm 46:10 He says, โ€œBe still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.โ€ This is hard for me to do, but I so needed it. I need to treat my sabbath like this to renew my soul, …

Eleven Giving Guidelines to Fight the Pull of Materialism*

*Randy Alcorn I believe the only way to break the power of materialism is first, to see ourselves as stewards that God has entrusted these money and possessions to, and second, to give. Jesus says, โ€œIt is more blessed to give than to receiveโ€ (Acts 20:35). As long as I still have something, I believe I own …

A thankful test for your Thanksgiving table by Rick Villodas*

I recently took a survey that revealed my most-used words on Facebook: โ€œspiritual,โ€ โ€œawesome,โ€ โ€œwonderful,โ€ โ€œKnicks.โ€ (Being the New York sports fan I am, those words donโ€™t really go together.) But the survey brought to mind an important, hypothetical scenario: If God were to run a report of the words I use regularly, how high …

Sell It All.

By Dr. Scott Rodin* I have always found it rather unnerving to read these two texts side by side. The contrast could not be sharper. A certain ruler asked Jesus, โ€œTeacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?โ€ โ€œWhy do you call me good?โ€ Jesus answered. โ€œNo one is good except God alone. You know …

Knowing Your Moment*

<Listen> Of course we are nearing the end of the age. Jesus seemed pretty frustrated at his contemporariesโ€™ refusal to understand their times. โ€œFools,โ€ he called them. Because knowing your moment matters. Knowing where you are in the story is critical for your survival. Every moment is not like another. Living at the beginning of the Lord of the Rings is …