VBC 2013 Stewardship DevosMen and Women Who Experienced

OVERFLOWINGGrace for Stewardship - Psalm 23:5

Sunday thru Thursday, Nov. 10-15, 2013

Many of the great men of God in the Bible were herdsmen, farmers, managers, governors, kings, or tent makers and not preachers. Besides Amos (Amos 1:1, 7:10-15), men like Job, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were handlers and holders of livestock. Joseph was a business manager and government official. Bezaleel and Aholiab were artisans. Joshua was a soldier. Nehemiah, was a government official. Paul was greatly helped by numerous Aquila and Priscilla types, as evidenced by those he often cited in the closing words of his epistles. Several others could be cited. The point is, that the Bible stresses strongly that some-one can be very influential in the cause of Christ, without being a preacher. And of course numerous women played amazing roles in God’s scheme for the redemption of the world - from Eve to Sarah to Rebekah, to Leah and Rachel, Jochebed, Naomi, Ruth, Abigail, Esther, Elisabeth, Mary, Anna, Dorcas, Lydia, and so forth! The cause of Christ down through time has been carried on the backs of those who – with their time, talent and treasure – were supportive of the propagation of the truth - even at times overflowing with God’s grace!

Sunday, November 10Making Men Clean Within and Without! – Part One

READ: Isaiah 1:16-18 – 12-year old William awoke with the sound of someone pounding on the door of the house. It was the middle of the night in the small town of Shoreham, near London. William Pitt, the British prime minister, had sent a private messenger to warn his friend - William's father – that he must leave England or risk imprisonment or death. People knew that Robert Colgate had sympathized with the Americans during their recent fight for

independence. The Colgates boarded a ship for Baltimore. William's father formed a company to manufacture soap and candles, and William helped. When 19 years old, he decided that he would go into business on his own, however, his business failed within a year. He determined to try again – this time in New

York City. "Be a good man. Give your heart to Christ. Give God all that belongs to Him. Make an honest soap. Give a full pound" advised a friend, a canal boat captain who was a Christian. William read the story of Jacob's vow (Genesis 28) and was challenged to give God first place in his life, and to give God a tenth of his profits.

Monday, November 11Making Men Clean Within and Without! – Part Two

READ: Titus 3:3-7 – William Colgate and Company (a starch, soap and candle business on Dutch Street in New York City) met with success from the start (1806). As his business grew, so did his family. In 1811, he married Mary Gilbert, and they became the parents of 11 children – giving most biblical names. They attended church, and read the Bible together. William became a deacon. As he prospered, he increased the amount he contributed to 20% and later to 30%. It seemed that the more he gave, the more he prospered. He liberally supported missions, temperance, and Christian education. He donated large sums to several educational institutions, including Madison College, in Hamilton, NY. It's now called Colgate University in his honor. He took an active interest in Bible translation, publication, and distribution. In 1816, he helped organize the American Bible Society, and later assisted in forming the American and Foreign Bible Society. The soap king died in March, 1857, but his influence continues. (Adapted: csiahmadikuwait.com/Articles/colgate.htm)

Tuesday, November 12Initiative, Ingenuity and Industry for Christ!

READ: Proverbs 6:6-8, 13:4 – His German im-migrant parents hoped their first of eight children, Henry, would grow to be a minister. But even though from an early age he showed a great interest in spiritual things, he also had a great knack for gardening and the initiative to sell the fruit of his labors. “At age 6, he started helping his mother tend a small backyard garden behind the family home. At age 8, Henry was canvassing the neighborhood with a basket under each arm selling vegetables door to door. By 9 he was growing, grinding, bottling and selling

his own brand of horseradish sauce.” (Wikipedia) His customers gladly received the prepared product because handling horseradish was more unpleasant than that of onions. “At 10 young Henry was given a ¾ acre garden of his own and had graduated to a wheelbarrow to

deliver his vegetables. At 12 he was working 3½ acres of garden using a horse and cart for his deliveries to grocery stores in Pittsburgh, PA. At 17 he was grossing $2,400 a year” (ibid) – quite a sum for the times. When he was 25, Henry J. Heinz married a devout Christian named Sarah Young. The year was 1869. His business grew and his product line expanded but Heinz continued faithful in the teaching of his Sunday School class, serving in church leadership and faithfully contributing over and above the tithe. He stayed faithful through ups and downs in business

in his early days and built a great company while maintaining a Godly reputation until his death in 1919.

Wednesday, November 13Stranded but then Surrendered!

READ: Psalm 25:1-7 – James Lewis Kraft, born in 1874 on a farm near Ontario, was the second of 11 children brought up with the religious teachings of his Mennonite parents. As a young adult, He went to Chicago, IL, to look after the company branch in that city, and while there, his partners eased him out of the business. Stranded in Chicago in 1903 with only $65 to his name, he put his knowledge of merchandising to good use. He obtained a horse (called Paddy) and wagon, and every day bought cheese in the wholesale warehouse district of the city and resold them to small stores, saving the merchants the task of making the trip. The business began to prosper, and by 1909, was incorporated under the name of JL Kraft & Bros Co. He soon began to manufacture his own products, including new and traditional varieties of cheese. Most of these cheeses were

packaged in glass jars or in foil-wrapped packages. By 1914 the cheeses were available across the USA. James’ early experience with cheese instilled in him the desire to change certain qualities in cheese to give it a longer shelf life and more uniform flavor. His work resulted in a product that could be packaged without waste, maintain a uniform quality, and be sold in convenient sizes. A Baptist church leader, Kraft was once quoted as saying, “The only investment I ever made which has paid consistently increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord.” (Adapted from a brief article found at kraftfoods.com.au)

Thursday, November 14Many Today Still Proving Malachi 3:8-11!

READ: Malachi 3:8-11 – Interstate Batteries, a business founded by a very principled man named John Marvin Searcy, is now one of corporate America’s stunning success stories, a robust company that enjoys an unparalleled reputation for excellence and honesty. Part of what makes Interstate a unique company is its unabashed mission to conduct bus-iness in a way that honors God. That was Norm Miller’s vision when he became President in 1978. He speaks to a variety of audiences interested in how he found the truth of Christianity and how he learned to effectively apply Biblical Principles to create a more successful business. Norm Miller, from a humble beginning as a traveling salesman for Interstate, worked his way up through the ranks to become CEO and chairman. Norm is also a believer in God’s power to change lives, because it was that power that turned his own life around after years of

drinking as hard as he worked. Candid about his failures, overflowing with a wealth of practical advice, and always colorful, Norm shares what he’s learned along the way. Norm is also a board member for Dallas Theological Seminary. He is cofounder of the Great American Race, America’s premier vintage car event.

Friday, November 15A Statesmen Extraordinaire

READ: Proverbs 3:5-10 - “Armed with a keen business sense, a work ethic forged during the Depression, and a personal and business philosophy based on biblical principles, Truett Cathy took a tiny Atlanta diner, originally called the Dwarf Grill, and transformed it into

Chick-fil-As the nation’s second largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain with more than $4.1 billion in sales in 2011 and nearly 1,620 locations”, Cathy cites on his website, “I was not so committed to financial success that I was willing to abandon my principles and priorities. One of the most visible examples of this is our decision to close on Sunday. Our decision to close on Sunday was our way of honoring God and of directing our attention to things that mattered more than our business.”

Further, an organization named “The WinShape Foundation was created by Cathy, and his wife, Jeannette, in 1982. Its purpose is to strengthen families and bring people closer to God and each other. Each ministry within the WinShape Foundation is committed to equipping Christ-centered servant leaders who live life on purpose; with purpose; from children to college students, families, couples, business leaders...” (http://www.winshape.org/about/history)

There are so many others that could have been cited, such as Steve Green, the president of Hobby Lobby; Bo Pilgrim of Pilgrim’s Pride Chicken. etc.; and of yesteryear: Henry Parsons Crowell (1855-1943) - Quaker Oats; Asa Candler (1851-1929) entrepreneur behind the successful marketing of Coca Cola; Anthony Rossi (1900-1993) of Tropicana; Henry & Esther Snyder - founders of the In-N-Out hamburger chain. Of course, there are also numerous men down through the history of VBC, and their wives, who have made this far reaching ministry possible through their giving of time, talents and treasure!

VBC 2013 Stewardship DevosMen and Women Who Experienced

OVERFLOWINGGrace for Stewardship - Psalm 23:5

Sunday thru Saturday, Nov. 3-9, 2013

Many of the great men of God in the Bible were herdsmen, farmers, managers, governors, kings, or tent makers and not preachers. Besides Amos (Amos 1:1, 7:10-15), men like Job, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were handlers and holders of livestock. Joseph was a business manager and government official. Bezaleel and Aholiab were artisans. Joshua was a soldier. Nehemiah, was a government official. Paul was greatly helped by numerous Aquila and Priscilla types, as evidenced by those he often cited in the closing words of his epistles. Several others could be cited. The point is, that the Bible stresses strongly that someone can be very influential in the cause of Christ, without being a preacher. And of course numerous women played amazing roles in God’s scheme for the redemption of the world - from Eve to Sarah to Rebekah, to Leah and Rachel, Jochebed, Naomi, Ruth, Abigail, Esther, Elisabeth, Mary, Anna, Dorcas, Lydia, and so forth! The cause of Christ down through time has been carried on the backs of those who – with their time, talent and treasure – were supportive of the propagation of the truth - even at times overflowing with God’s grace!

Sunday, November 3Merchants Who had a Higher Master than Money

READ: Matthew 13:45-46 – Humphrey Monmouth lived in the 1500s. He was not a trained theologian. He was a wealthy merchant. But as an affluent businessman, he played as key a part in the Reformation as any of the more famous theologians and preachers. We would not have the Bible in English, humanly speaking, had it not been for men like him. A corrupt Latin translation was the only legal Bible there was during the Dark Ages (500-1500 AD). How could we have had the America of the past 400 years (from the Pilgrims to recent times) without the effects of the English Bible upon it! In England, Monmouth had

introduced Tyndale to an underground society of London merchants called The Christian Brethren. This secretive group was financing and importing Christian literature to advance the cause of the Reformation in England. It was a secretive movement in a hostile environment. Financial support for Tyndale’s personal and translation needs came out of this group. By the time he was able to print, Tyndale was in Germany, with the merchants’ backing still intact. In fact, his Bibles were smuggled into England in the

bundles of cloth that were the source of Monmouth’s wealth.

Monday, November 4Stewards Extraordinaire of the Truth

READ: Jude 1-4 – Early into the 20th century, in the face of the rising tide of the polluted waters of theological liberalism and unorthodox teachings that were threatening to overthrow the faith of many who were not sufficiently doctrinally grounded, a gathering of respected preachers were assembled to speak to various subjects dear to the faith. Their sermons were taken down and put into print. R.A. Torrey wrote as follows: “In 1909 God moved two Christian laymen (Lyman and Milton Stewert, who were in the oil business) to set aside a large sum of money for issuing twelve volumes (later rebound into four) that would set forth the fundamentals of the Christian faith, and which were to be sent free to ministers of the gospel, and others engaged in aggressive Christian work throughout the English speaking world.” The dedication in the front of the book read, “To the two laymen whose generosity made it possible to send several millions of volumes of ‘The Fundamentals’ to ministers and missionaries in all parts of the world, for their confirmation and upbuilding in the faith, these volumes are dedicated.”

Tuesday, November 5When Ingenuity and Integrity are Not Enough – Part 1

READ: Proverbs 3:5-6, 22:29 – He left this life in 1971, but his name has been a part of the American way of life since 1902 when he opened his first store bearing his name. He was a man who not only had a great business mind but also a Godly outlook on life. He said, “The assumption was that business is secular, and service is religious. I have never been able to accept that line of arbitrary demarcation…” His name was J. C. Penney – a man, who by 1924 was earning more than $1.5 million dollars a year. Although religious, he did not come to true salvation until midlife. In the midst of the Great Depression of the 1930s, he says: "I was at the end of my rope….My business had crumbled, my relations with col-

leagues had faltered, and even my…wife and children were estranged from me. It was all my fault." He was even contemplating suicide. An old friend convinced him to enter a sanitarium. The rest and medical attention did him good, but there was one special event. One morning he awoke too early for breakfast and was wandering the corridors when he heard a hymn he remembered from childhood. “Be not dismayed whate'er betide, God will take care of you…” With what soon followed, he was a changed man.

Wednesday, November 6When Ingenuity and Integrity are Not Enough – Part 2

READ: Psalm 26 – The actual spiritual dimension that came into J.C. Penney’s life follow-

ing the sound of the singing of the hymn, came about as he stumbled upon a chapel filled with worshiping doctors and nurses. Someone read a Scripture passage: "Come unto me all you that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." It was a moment of clarity for the hard-working entrepreneur. He had been striving all his life to honor God with his business, but now it was time to rest in the Lord's grace. "At that time something happened to me which I cannot explain," he said. "It was a life-changing miracle, and I've been a different person ever since.” He was saved through faith in Christ. In the years following his epiphany in that hospital chapel, Penney spoke often of that experience. He talked about the mistakes he made in trusting success rather than God. His financial situation rebounded in the mid-1930s, accordingly, he renewed his support of various charities and putting millions of dollars into the Christian Herald magazine, and more than 100 other organizations ministering in the United States and around the world. He was publicly active until he was 95, often sharing a Bible verse memorized as a child: Psalms 26:1-2.

Thursday, November 7God Owns My Business

READ: Malachi 3:16-17 – Four thriving companies testify to Stanley Tam’s business success, yet this man’s prosperity is the result of a long journey of faith. Getting his start

during the Great Depression of the 1930s, Tam had a few ideas but little financial backing. After his initial attempts at marketing a device used to recover the silver used in the photographic process left him nearly bankrupt, he submitted his business to God’s ownership. Although his faith was stretched several times after that surrender, God nevertheless supplied his needs. Tam learned that God often commands first, and only after we obey does He supply the means.

For example, when Tam felt called to make God his senior partner (owner of 51% of his company’s stock) it seemed foolhardy for a struggling entrepreneur to cede most of the company’s profits in this way. Yet God grew Tam’s business. Not only has he held his executive salary at $72,000 since the early 1970s, but he also has far exceeded his lifetime prayer goal of giving $100 million for the cause. Multiple demonstrations of God’s faithful-ness led Tam to state, “Expect a lot of miracles when you are connected to God.”

Friday, November 8How a Salve Sent Salvation Across the World!

READ: Jeremiah 8:22 – Our world is hurting. It has been since the fall of man in Eden’s Garden some 6,000 years ago. However, as there was in Jeremiah’s day (600 BC), there is a balm – a healing ointment for all mankind. This balm is not meant to convey that what man needs is merely a surface religion, but rather there is a salve for the everyday hurts of life, be-cause of the benefits of an eternal and internal salvation from God! After years of experimen-tation in his company laboratory in Wichita, Kansas, Albert A. Hyde introduced the original

“Mentholatum Ointment” in 1894. Becoming a man of great wealth because of the ointment’s success, Hyde decided to give all his money away during his lifetime. He gave literally millions away to Christian causes, especially missions and fulfilled his wish of leaving behind no accumulated wealth at the time of his death in 1935. His little green jar of salve may have soothed millions but, in a sense, it saved thousands! The ingredients of Mentholatum: Camphor 9%, Natural Menthol 1.3%, Fragrance, Petrolatum, Titanium Dioxide; simple but potent. Nothing is too little for the Lord to use mightily!

Saturday, November 9Earth Moving, Eternity Shaking Christianity!

READ: Psalm 46 – R. G. LeTourneau became the greatest obstacle-mover in history, building huge earth-moving machines. During WW II he produced 70% of all the army's earth-moving machinery. He spoke of God as the Chairman of his Board. R. G. shared his faith with millions during his life. For years, he lived on 10% of his income and gave away 90% to Christian work, especially missionary efforts in Africa and South America. Even when his business was in financial jeopardy, he continued giving his sacrificial pledges to Christ's work. "The question" he said, "is not how much of my money I give to God, but rather how much of God's money I keep for myself." Throughout his life, LeTourneau emphasized God's ability to help the common man with everyday problems. Before his death in 1969, at age 79, he said: "Everything considered, I've had my share of ups and downs, but thus far my life has been a miracle of God's grace all the way through." A man who truly lived by His grace, for His glory!