Mourning and Remembering

This week we lost a great person. His legacy is remembered by thousands. Perhaps millions. Those who were touched by his performances were changed for ever. Though unique. Though perhaps not a classic handsome man he was loved and will live on in the lives of all who knew him.

No. He never moonwalked. To my knowledge he did not sing. His performances were anything but gyrations. In fact some might have deemed him boring.

When I was 18 years old and going to school in Portland Oregon I sat under Dr. Roger Congdon for only one semester.
I'm not sure what his IQ was but surely it was off the charts. He was a brilliant.

At a convention in Michigan this week someone mentioned Dr. Congdon had passed away. He evidently continued to speak and teach past his 90th birthday.

As I recall he had 11 children. If I am missing some details please forgive me. I only sat under his teaching for one semester. That was 40 years ago. I was a student. He the professor. Perhaps that is what makes this so meaningful.

The power of a teacher to impact a student 40 years later. A reminder to all professors, preachers, teachers, and coaches. Because you cannot see the impact at the time does not mean there is none.

I won't miss the moonwalking. I do miss solid men and women of character who pour themselves into an apparently inattentive and unappreciative college freshman.

Great Book

A couple weeks ago I was doing some training at Messiah College. The day before flying home Peter Greer, CEO of Hope International graciously allowed me to come and spend a couple hours at their headquarters.

For the past two plus years we have been dabbling in micro financing. By dabbling I mean one hundred percent trial and error. I realized GFA was over their heads and we desperately needed direction from an experienced and successful organization.

The two hours spent with Peter and Kevin in the office were immensely helpful to me. I discovered that we are at least now asking the right questions after finding out what either does not work or works marginally well.

Hope International has about $30 million out in loans now world wide. Believe they said around 250,000 loan recipients. The repayment for this MFI is over 99%. I judge that successful.

Before leaving, Peter handed me an 8.5 x 11 manuscript of his new book "The Poor Will be Glad." I sat down and devoured it in one sitting. It is a primer for all organizations who have the desire to help the world's poor by making loans available to provide sustainable livelihood.

Hope International is different from most MFI in that they intentionally address the physical and the spiritual components of healthy living.

Peter's new book will be published by Zondervan in the coming year. I will be giving a copy of "The Poor Will be Glad" to everyone we work with.

This morning we will gather with around 70 guests for our first GFA "Teach a Man to Fish" luncheon. If you have interest in knowing how you can invest any sum of money and see it work again and again, don't hesitate to contact me. Helping the poor is not easy but it is possible and for those of us who have been blessed - it is right.

Defining Glocal

Just finished a great planning meeting last weekend. About 23 of us spent some hours talking about the next year and setting some goals.

I asked each participant to write on a 3x5 what they felt "glocal" meant. Received 23 different answers.

Obviously it is a hybrid word combining global and local. Although at one seminar overseas one person looked at the title of my book "Going Glocal" and declared "that is so arrogant,"Global and California." That made me laugh.

No question the word is going to be around for a while. The fight is now how we will define it.

Most all agree it should define the shrinking of our world due to technology. Most agree we have a fresh responsibility to the entire world now due to: awareness, access, and ability to meet needs.

The word certainly cries out with the assumption that the difference between what we do at home and what we are doing overseas is more one of perception than reality. The globe IS our home now. We are inter-related in more than theory. Our economy, illnesses, air-quality, educational systems and religious endeavors are all one and the same. If we fail we all fail.

I wish to add a vital component for glocal practitioners. In this tiny world, we must celebrate the ability we have as individuals and local organizations to craft projects and events directly. The technology and accessibility is present so we are able to streamline the mission.

Even smaller organizations/churches/clusters can connect with others of like mind around the world. Communications technology make it possible now to create, strategize, agree, negotiate, evaluate, and recreate visions and achievements, which just a few years ago, was left to the mammoth agencies.

By working through local established churches and organizations already in place in strategic locations, we may accomplish what was unimaginable a short time ago.

Dream it, find someone already in place dreaming the same thing, do it.

How would you define glocal?

Glocal Comes Home

Been too long since I've talked to you here. Excuses? Plenty. Most of them are glocal. Been a busy past month.

Was in Pennsylvania for LTC training last week. Hosted by the national conference of the Evangelical Church denomination. . Wonderful group of people. Thoroughly enjoyed their company and good sense of humor. Perhaps that's why they invited me.

Had a chance to visit while in Harrisburg with former staff members from the distant past (Ez and Peggy Scheffel) and more recent past (Geoff, Susan, Connor and Baylyn Ellsworth).

Now my excuse for not sharing more often. We have had house guests for the past several weeks. Glocal guests.

First Richard Cai, CCC vice president from Sichuan China stayed with us. We hosted the the Hua Mei board meeting in the USA for the first time. Important step for a board made up of leaders from the East and West.

Admire Richard's courageous and wise leadership. Also proud to know he and his lovely wife named their son "little Gene" (at least his English name). He is a HANDSOME boy.

When Richard left a pastor from Manila, Val Natcher moved in for a couple weeks. We have developed a good friendship over the past years and he wished to spend a portion of his sabbatical here looking over what we are doing.

The day he left Ivy moved in for three weeks. She is a delightful and intelligent young lady. Student at Purdue University studying Pyschology. Her father, Mr. Gu is director of the RAB in Jiangsu Province and encouraged her to come to California for her summer break. We are enjoying her refreshing perspective on life.


This is glocal living. Travel is two way. We share business, conversation, food, and when relationships grow we learn to share one another's homes.

Enough excuses. Will write more often.

Another new Look

If you have not checked out the www.graceforasia.org sight in a while I'd encourage you to take a look.

Alina has done some great work for us and is trying to bring some freshness in an effort to help us share the
glocal story in a more effective and enjoyable manner.

I'm especially eage to take out "Provision Financing" opportunities public now. For the past several months we
have been working hard behind to bring our existing files up to where we want them to be. Believe we are 95% where we want to be with those.

With 2.9 billion people living below the poverty line today - that is -living on less than $2.00 per day - it is time to reach out and make a difference. Helping the poor is the responsibillity of all who have been trusted with resources.

I was at a conference in Seattle this past week. I heard much about holistic efforts. Unfortunately some well intentioned friends seem to have a hole in their holistic approaches. People are body, sold and spirit. Unless we address ALL the components we forfeit the right to claim a holistic title.

In the next few blogs I'd like to share how "Provision Financing" is a step beyond micro financing.

Hope you''ll enjoy browsing the new sights

Glocal World Realities

Interesting to pick up a newspaper throughout travels and see daily evidence of this new glocal world. Basically glocal means we live in a tiny world. The boundaries are breaking down. Please don't dismiss this as "more theory" and philosophizing. It is real --- very real.

The bible indicates we can expect to see two unprecedented changes.

A one world religion. Certainly that is happening. In this age of tolerance it is increasingly unpopular for any belief system to say "they are wrong and we are right." The mood is "we are all right." Not very logical since religions teach diametrically opposite viewpoints. Nonethelss political correctness demands to pretend everyone is agreeing even when we all know that is ridiculous.

A one world government. Now what needs to happen for that to occur? Unified military. When pirates attack a US ship and held a captain hostage the court of world opinion shouted "do not take unilateral action but work through the U.N." Glad we did not listen. That poor man would still be floating on a row boat.

Eventually we must have a one world economy. That likely means a one world currency. Read in the South China Morning Post today (Hong Kong newspaper) that Asian politicians are talking more and more about moving to a new currency called SDA. Basically it would be a composite index of the U.S. dollar, Chinese yen, Euro, and Japanese currency.They would each be assigned a percentage and the universal currency would reflect that.

Guess there is nothing wrong with this but just a few years ago the thought would have been nothing more than meaningless discussion. Prediction. It will happen. Possibly in my life time.

A personal story. Met a man in the restroom of a hotel. Asked where he was fun. He said Inida and asked about me? I said "USA--your good friends." He said "not such good friends! The USA makes us poor."

I had no idea what he was referring to but chose the path of least confrontation. "Oh we like one another in India and USA. The problem is all the politics." This actually brought a knowing smile. He agreed "yes it is just the politicians."

People world wide do want to get along. We realize we cannot build a wall around us any longer. Those days are gone. Therefore the pressure will continue to build to break down all barriers.

We can either run from this glocal movement or embrace the positive aspects it brings. While not willing to change any of my fundamental beliefs I'm choosing to embrace it as an opportunity for effective service. Our backyard is bigger. Our ministry focus expanded. What doors should you be walking through.

Look forward to seeing Stan Smith and his team over here in a couple days.

Think you have a tough job?

All humans have feelings.

Attended an NBA game a couple nights ago. The woeful Clippers. I've followed this team for many years. I'm numb. There is not much which surprises me. Several years back Sports Illustrated had a cover article entitled "The Worst Team in Professional Sports." You guessed it---our L.A. Clippers.

This is year is no exception. Their won-loss record will be among the lowest three in the NBA and they deserve it. Injuries sure. Players don't want to play hurt so they were down to only two reserves on the bench by the end of this game. Lost to one of the other 3 worst teams. It's bad.

The last quarter the home team fans began to shout in unison "FIRE DUNLEAVEY.' He is the coach of the Clippers.

Mike Dunleavy was a pretty good ball player. Probably not a bad coach. What any long time Clipper fan knows is that it really does not make any difference who coaches the team. Ultimately it matters who owns the team. That would be Donald Sterling. A rich playboy who doesn't show his face much around the arena. To do so might be dangerous.

I sat and listened to the chants and though as frustrated as any fan and wishing at least one season we would not be embarrassed I found my self feeling bad for coach Mike.

He'll probably claim he does not hear the fans. Impossible. He hears them. He'll probably say "I understand their frustration." But can you imagine going to work and having thousands of people shouting for your to be fired. Ouch. Tough job. Sure a few million dollars a year softens the blow but nonetheless that is hard.

What is my point? Guess if I have one here it is to remind myself and all my friends that humans hurt. Had to wonder if Mike Dunleavy's wife was sitting there.

Let's be kind to one another---even public figures. We buy a ticket and reserve the right to express ourselves but good grief. Nothing wrong with being nice.

By the way. Believe it was about this time of year on our calendar a thoughtless group of people shouted "Crucify Him. Crucify Him." Wonder if some of those were thoughtlessly joining in the lynching?

Let's think before we speak or yell. The consequences of not doing so may not only be hurtful but regretful.