Financial Crisis

Sure I'm concerned. If what I hear overseas is an indication this is a sincerely global financial melt-down and no one country is going to fix it.

Read a editorial in the Hong Kong paper however which is helping me greatly to find perspective. I summarize:

Workers are being laid off. Housing values are tumbling. Retirement investments are in decline and retail food prices are escalating.

All true but the vast majority of the world's people do not have bank savings, shares, their own homes or salary-paying jobs.

Non-industrialised countries account for 3/4 of the world's people. It is easy to forget almost half of the total 6.7 billion population live on less than $2.50 (USD) per day. 80% less than $10 (USD).

For these people our talk of fiancial turmoil is met with a shrug and confused "What crisis?"

For many of these people they cannot get any poorer. 4 out of 10 do not have adequate sanitation, almost one in six did not get enough education to be able to read and write and a quarter of humanity live without electricity. They are not too impacted by loss of refrigerators, flush toilets and televisions. Nice to have but not considered a necessity.


Here in the Philippines, where I'm writing now, a help wanted add helps bring this into perspective. There are some jobs. But competition is tough. A Pizza Hut in Aalamba City says "Qualifications 18-25 years old, at least 160cm tall for femailes 165 cm for males, must be at least in the second or third year of college in any 3-5 year course, maximum of 18 units currently enrolled, good communications skills with pleasant personality, smart and agressive.

So...if you don't have money to go to the university, are not young, tall, good looking and a linguist, you cannot deliver pizza.

Tough world out there.

Sure I am as eager as anyone for this recession/depression (whatever it is) to end. But come on now, let's keep perspective.

Behind on blogging

I made a commitment here to keep in touch 3x per week. I am woefully behind in this. And it is still January.

I spoke in Manila last Sunday on the theme "The dot or the line?" Stole this thought provoking question from Randy Alcorn an old seminary buddy. Do not however blame Randy for the rest of my message.

The message was requested by my good friend Peter Tanchi--senior pastor of CCF a 20,000 member church. They are beginning construction on a new 8000 seat auditorium. We need to pray for their success.

Part of their vision is to use this sight as an "Asian Training Center." There, they can house and train leaders from all over Asia and in particular a focus on China. Success will have a major world wide impact.

Back to the title. One of the major focus now of GFA is "Provision Financing." We wish to offer zero interest loans to rural people. This is done through local churches in the provinces. Not only will these people have sustainable livelihood they will be taught to tithe back to their churches which moves that work forward.

I briefly mentioned this endeavor during the five services as one approach to investing in the line (eternity). Before leaving Manila, Pastor Tanchi called to say simply, "CCF wants to join in this Provision Financing concept."

We already have an existing relationship with CBAP in this arena. They have over 600 churches scattered throughout all regions of the country.

Together we can make a dent in poverty (address the dot) and keep the main thing the main thing...focus on the line (eternity).

If you would like to know how you can be a part please contact us.

By the way, was good to be over here for Fun Hei Phat Choi. Welcome the Year of the Ox.

Poverty brings danger

I leave tomorrow for a brief overseas trip. Suppose the better part of wisdom is to not share the itinerary prior to going. Isn't that a shame.

Just signed off on an email from a friend who lives in the country of destination whose last words were "Be careful. Lot's of kidnapping there now."

Last trip a trusted friend told me that the business men and women in his church will never be on the platform or allow their names to be in a bulletin or website since they are in constant fear, for themselves and their families, of kidnapping.

The following day I walked to the bank to transact some business. My next stop was less than one-quarter mile down the street. Weather was nice so I decided to walk. It was 10:00 in the morning. The area is a major metropolitan business district.

For some reason I glanced over my shoulder to see a newer model bright red SUV keeping pace with me not more than 4 feet over my shoulder. I looked into the car. The windows were tinted. Could see nothing. Probably because of the previous day's conversation I immediately walked backwards a few steps to see what it would do. The SUV slowed. Thought it was going to stop. But it kept moving...very slowly. A cab came along and I took it.

Another friend who has family in this country met me at the condo. We left to meet a group for dinner. They had released their driver. They asked how I planned to get to the restuarant? I said "taxi of course." I found out later. Even though they had lived in this country for many years and visit often it was their FIRST taxi ride. Fear of being set up for robbery---or worse.

Such is the fear and paranoia millions live with every day of their life.

Poverty brings out the worse in people. When there are no jobs, no way out and no hope of anything better people do evil things.

Feeling bad helps no one! One strong focus of Grace for Asia is "Provision Financing." We work through trusted partners who help us identify good people who simply need WORK. We offer zero interest loans. By the end of 2009 we are hoping the number of people being assisted will grow into the hundreds. So far these loans are being repaid allowing us to reinvest again to provide hope to people who only need a chance.

Will this keep me from looking over my shoulder. No. But we change the world by meeting one need at a time.

If you are interested in participating in this Provision Financing you can locate us by going to http://www.graceforasia.org/. Love to share more with you.

Gene Wood is pregnant

Imagine my surprise when I opened my email to read: "Gene Wood is pregnant."

It was 5:00 a.m. and as I had not even sipped my first cup of coffee. My first thought was another spam email selling something bizarre.

But the note was from a denominational leader in Mindanao Philippines. I had known him for years. He is a trustworthy and respected friend.

Here was his note:

"Congratulations Gene. You are pregnant. When I first heard this I was doubtful. But then a pastor from Manila visited Arakan and says it is true. He has seen it.

Do you remember a couple years ago when you were in Davao doing a training seminar for pastors? Some of the attendees approached me and asked if I could help them with transportation. They travel all over the mountains by foot in Cotabato. It takes so long to visit the churches. You took some money out of your pocket and gave it to them to buy a horse.

Well, to remember the gift they named the horse Gene Wood. It is true Gene Wood is now pregnant. So congratulations!

Pastor Johnny Dilisay, Davao Philippines

Gene Wood is pregnant. The fun of glocal friendships.

Glocal Goals

We're into the first week of 2009. Despise goal setting if you like. To your own loss. As January 1,2009 approached I pulled out my faded file on goals.

I wish I had been more disciplined in my life but I did find a written history of goals set going back to 1982. I like to divide them into three sections. First professional goals. Second personal goals. Third private goals.

Perhaps there should be no difference between the last two categories but I discovered for myself unless I make this distinction I am unwilling to set the final category of goals and those matters deal with the character issues. What are some of those matters? Well they're...private.

An interesting discovery over the past quarter century of personal goal setting. I often was unable to achieve the one year goals but totally underestimated what could be accomplished in three to five years. Lesson. Just keep moving forward. Growth in most every field is exponential. We strive for the most simple things seemingly without movement and then presto the same effort produces unexpected results.

One of the exciting results of continual effort has been the results of purposeful networking.
Most of us readily admit that at the beginning of our careers it is not so much what we know as who we know. I'm not sure that reality ever truly diminishes in life.

At the end of the day we are largely a compilation of what we read and who we hang around. So it makes a great deal of sense to set goals in both those arenas of life.

By the way---one goal for 2009. Communicate more regularly with you via this blog. I've been horrible. Why would you check in if I'm not writing.

So here we go--a personal goal in public. I'll write something here no less than 3x per week. Might open the blog for your comments. If not, those of you who have my personal email address are invited to write me with your impressions, thoughts, responses and of course words of undulated admiration.

Talk to you in a couple days.