Today on MoneyLife with Chuck Bentley

The current recession has had an impact on our financial behavior. A recent survey by Securian Financial Group shows remarkable changes in attitude and behavior regarding money:

• More saving for emergencies
• Spending is less appealing
• People looking for ways to save on food, fuel
• More likely to fix things they own, buy second-hand goods
• Borrowing is less popular, use of credit is down
• Downside: not much progress in reducing debt
• Debt is a significant barrier to having security in retirement

I believe if you’re going to change your financial behavior that you first must change your financial beliefs:

• Turn to God
• Understand the principles of His economy
• Apply His Word
• He will change your heart, your mind, and your financial behavior will change

Our guest today is Phyllis Hendry, CEO of Lead Like Jesus. Lead Like Jesus was co-founded by Ken Blanchard, author of many books including The One-Minute Manager.

Ken became a believer later in life. He was a behavioral scientist, studied the words of Jesus closely and was amazed that Jesus did everything He talked about perfectly!

Jesus took 12 imperfect men and changed the world. Ken began speaking and teaching workshops on how Jesus led the disciples. He wrote a book called Lead Like Jesus. God has used the message to impact people worldwide.

Mission of the ministry is to glorify God by inspiring and equipping people to lead like Jesus:

• Jesus was a follower of God, sought to please the Father (John 17)
• He did everything God asked to do
• Jesus loved the people around Him
• He had an amazing love for everyone
• Jesus had a desire to serve people
• Jesus got results
• 2,000 years later, over 2 billion followers
• Jesus is the greatest leadership role model of all time

Everyone is a leader. There are organizational leaders and life role leaders. Leadership happens anytime you influence the thinking, behavior, or development of another person. Leadership is influence. We all have influence in many places, in many ways. Every Christian is called to lead like Jesus.

What you believe about God is the most important thing about you. Your beliefs shape you.
If you believe you came from God and are going back to Him, it changes everything in between. See Phyllis' article, "Journey to Wholeness."

What you believe affects everything you do including handling money. Knowing God is more important than financial skills. When we know Him, it transforms our minds. Jesus provides the power of change. We need intimacy with Christ.

Here’s how you can apply what Phyllis shared to be a financial leader in your home:

• Be a great follower of Christ
• Strive not to be just financially free, but a sold-out follower of Christ seeking to glorify God in everything
• Abide by the principle of love
• Love God more than money or any material possession
• Get out of debt, save money, be generous, experience the joy God wants you to have, love Him first
• Desire to serve God rather than money, if you’re in financial bondage, you’re serving money
• Focus on results
• Trust God, follow His ways, let Him renew your mind with truth
• You will be transformed

Leadership that Goes the Distance

With charisma alone, influence becomes increasingly more difficult to sustain. With character, influence builds and requires less work to sustain.

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A New Remnant of Priests

God is calling forth a remnant of businesspeople whom He will use mightily to bring good news to those who have never heard the gospel..

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Being Excellent in a Mediocre World

It should be sufficient to say that God established excellence as our norm. To accept less is dishonoring to God and demoralizing to us.

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Becoming a Valued Draft Pick System

God saw something in Zerubbabel that He could use for His purposes.

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Other Resources:

• ABCs of Money Package
• Career Direct
• God's Principles for Operating a Business
• Business By the Book
• Crown Mvelopes