I'm reading a book entitled, "Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek.   Sinek writes that not only do acts of generosity make one feel good, the one who receives the generosity and the one who "witnesses the act of generosity also feels good.  Simply seeing or hearing about acts of human generosity actually inspires us to want to do the same."  

A chemical in the body called oxytocin is released in these instances.  Simply stated, this chemical gives us this same feeling when we are in the company of our closest friends or most trusted colleagues.  It is the release of this chemical that causes people to feel good when helping others.  It's no reason why charitable organizations grow and succeed - they feel good about what they are doing.  It is for this reason that political movements and the like grow because people are surrounded by those they like and trust.  Generally, elections are won by candidates who are liked by the voters.  Voting for someone you like makes you feel good.  You get a shot of oxytocin.


In my previous blog post, I talked about how we need to make investments in people.  I firmly believe that we must start investing in people from all walks of life.  For example, investing in a teen or young adult now may allow that person to become more involved in their community or be on their local school board or voice their ideas to their boss at work.

In the next weeks and months, you will learn more about the Believe.Act.Serve organization that I am forming because the future is now. This organization will become more visible in the community in next year to two years.  Our main goal is to build relationships in many communities throughout Lancaster County that share the common belief that helping and empowering others is a way to lead people to a better tomorrow.  We want people to start taking a more active role in their community, politics, and helping others by first providing venues for people to come together to share ideas, concerns and formulate solutions to issues facing society today.

I'm tired of sitting on the sidelines.  

If you truly BELIEVE in something then starting ACTING on that belief by SERVING your family, neighbors, friends co-workers and community.

A link to a song by Matthew West called "Do Something" is speaking to me follows.  I trust that it will speak to you as well.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_RjndG0IX8
  

Tim Auld, who pastors a church near Ottawa, Canada, is one of my lifetime friends.  Prior to moving his family back to Canada several years ago, our families would hang out together a couple times per month, either at a local restaurant or at our houses.  A running joke between our wives was which Tim would grab the dinner check first.  You see, our families never asked the server to separate the checks.  Tim and I wanted our families to focus on dinner and the conversation and not so much on who was paying the bill.  However, when the check came, we each wanted to pay.  Not so much to puff out our chests, but just be nice to the other family.  I met my match in Tim because he wanted to pay each time.  It was difficult for me to allow him to do just that.  And, it was difficult to Tim to allow me to pay, thus the "grabbing of the check" comment many sentences back.  Without saying anything to each other, Tim and I inherently knew the thought process behind each other's willingness to pay --- money was used to grow the friendship of the families and not something to come between the families. It was an investment in our relationships.

The federal government hands out money to people all the time, whether in the form of a welfare check or a corporate subsidy. Too many times, we focus on the money given to individuals than to a huge corporation.  How many times do we hear people on the right say, "welfare recipients need to get a job if they want to keep getting their free money."  Still, how many times do we hear those on the left say, "CEOs and companies make too much money - they don't need any tax breaks from the government."  It goes round and round and like a circle. There is no beginning and end --- just a continuous flow of the status quo.  And no solution.

To my friends on the right - the ones who watch only Fox News, read Drudge, listen to Rush, only vote GOP, complain each day - I call on you stop blaming the government, the Democrats and the President for this nation's path to socialism.  Somewhere in the past 30-40 years, you have played a part in letting the government take the lead in making investments into people.   We can argue as to what these investments lead to such as a dependent class or solid voters who only vote with the left.  Suffice it to say, the government is in the charity business.  

Joe Carter of the web site firstthings.com sums it up this way: "The fact that the government needs a safety net to catch those who would slip between the cracks of our economic system is evidence that I have failed to do God’s work. The government cannot take the place of Christian charity. A loving embrace isn’t given with food stamps. The care of a community isn’t provided with government housing. The face of our Creator can’t be seen on a welfare voucher. What the poor need is not another government program; what they need is for Christians like me to honor our savior."

Do you want to reduce people's government dependence, reduce the deficit and restore this nation?  It all starts with you.  Start investing in people, whether that it saying a kind word, picking up the check for a stranger, donating clothing to Goodwill, giving to your church, or praying for the poor.  

• Believe that investing in people leads to less dependence on the government
  
• Act kindly towards people
  
• Serve others with humility
  

It's time we start acting like my good friend Tim - grab the check and use money to make an investment in people and to build relationships.

....more on this topic in several days...

Writer's note: this post is the last one of a series called "Burning" that examines the Biblical account of Moses & the burning bush and how this account is a blueprint for restoring this nation.

Blueprint:
1) [re]Connect
2) Assemble [a team]
3) Ask [for help]
4) Formulate [a plan]
5) [Be] Peaceful
6) No Fear
7) Stay True [to the message]
8) [strive] to Change Hearts
9) [Let] God Lead

Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. 

After the plan to have the Israelites released from captivity was executed successfully, God did not abandon His people or Moses.  God continued to lead them.  He remained in control of the situation since He first spoke with Moses on that mountain.

Moses, since the very beginning of his journey, stayed true to himself.  He never wavered from the plan that God laid in his heart.  He didn't get mad when Pharaoh refuted his requests. He remained calm and passionate.  In the end, he knew God would prevail.

So we come to the end of this special blog series called "Burning".  What have I learned?  All plans, great and small, begin with a connection to God and end with His leading. 

It's no secret to my readers of this blog that I am considering running for Congress in the future.  At times, I have been on an emotional roller coaster ever since God laid this desire on my heart over a year and a half ago. However, as time moves on and as I continue talking with more and more people, I can sense that God's leading for me to run is BURNING.  

I'm moving on to step 2.

Believe.Act.Serve. 
One's Belief must lead to like-minded, genuine Actions, which leads to humble Service.  
Always Act how you Believe.  
Don't Serve others if you are not willing to follow your Beliefs.

Writer's note: this post is a part of a series called "Burning" that examines the Biblical account of Moses & the burning bush and how this account is a blueprint for restoring this nation.

Blueprint:
1) [re]Connect
2) Assemble [a team]
3) Ask [for help]
4) Formulate [a plan]
5) [Be] Peaceful
6) No Fear
7) Stay True [to the message]
8) [strive] to Change Hearts

Exodus 12:31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested.

Pharaoh's heart was hardened.  We know that by the numerous scripture verses in the book of Exodus.  It was not until Pharaoh's heart changed did he then agree that the Israelites should be released from captivity.

If I run for Congress, I will surround myself with three groups of people:  1) campaign advisors and strategists  2) people that believe in my calling and mission to help others and 3) accountability and prayer partners.    I will tell these groups that in order to succeed in restoring this nation, we cannot be forceful in our debate, dialogue or rhetoric.  We must be, in fact, all unified that the changing of someone's heart or attitude is a vital part of the roadmap to success.  

Slow, steady, and non-argumentative dialogues is the recipe that I follow when discussing issues.  As I recall, the turtle won the race - slow and steady.

I try not to raise my voice.  Above all, I listen intently.  Again, if the goal is to change someone's heart, they first must know that you care enough to listen to their point of view.   Remember the 1960s show "Dragnet"? (I've watched courtesy of TV Land).  A repeated phrase in that show when interrogating a witness is, "just the fact ma'am."  Stick to the facts when making your point and move on.  Don't let your emotions play into your conversation.

Just like Moses learned, real reform in government will not take place until those in power have a change a heart.

Believe that people want the truth
Act by listening first and talking second
Serve others first