Encore! Encore!

Back when I started this blog in 2005, one of my first subscribers was a guy named Joe Wasylyk.  Joe was in search of a way for Seniors over 50 to give back to society, leave a legacy and share their wisdom and talents through entrepreneurship.  Five years and a ton of research later.  Joe is releasing his book entitled: Encore! Encore! Seniors (50+) As Entrepreneurs: Their Time Has Come.

Joe is releasing his book tomorrow on Lulu.com, iPhone, iPad, Amazon and other outlets. 

Here is a sneak peek at what it's all about.

The purpose of the book is to inspire more research and discussion to provide additional quality Lifelong Learning opportunities for Seniors (50 Plus), and to empower Seniors to become either for-profit business entrepreneurs (Seniorpreneurs) OR non-profit social entrepreneurs. In this long-term economic turmoil environment we desperately need more Seniors to get enough Financial Education, Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurial skills in order to find business opportunities to supplement their fixed pension incomes.

There is an urgent need to focus on Seniors (50 Plus) and help them raise their level of activity from entitlements and withdrawal to attaining social and economic power. Let's get involved by helping Seniors become more active, creative, productive and useful in Society as compared to the traditional image of Seniors as isolated, unimportant, politically weak, social discountable and economically insignificant.

We at Legacy Dad want to say congratulations to Joe and invite all Legacy Dad members to check out Joe's new book.

Putting things into perspective (Kingdom perspective)

Dictionary.com has the following definitions for:

mer·ry

1.full of cheerfulness or gaiety; joyous in disposition or spirit: a merry little man.

2.laughingly happy; mirthful; festively joyous; hilarious: a merry time at the party.

Christ·mas

[kris-muhs] 

1. the annual festival of the Christian church commemorating the birth of Jesus: celebrated on December 25 and now generally observed as a legal holiday and an occasion for exchanging gifts.

When you put what this season should really be about and what was given to the world, our perspective should change really quick.

For God so loved you and me that he gave his only Son for you and me to be born a virgin, to disciple men, to heal the lame and the sick and perform many miracles and to die for you and I. 

A little baby born in Bethlehem and Shepherds and a heavenly chorus sang to welcome this King. 

Putting things into perspective, Jesus really did give his all even to the end of his life – a brutal death on a cross to fulfill all the prophecy about him.  He gave, he served and he loved with reckless abandoned.  He came to seek the lost.  He came to help the poor and to love all those who society did not love.

Could there be any one better, to guide us, in this season of giving, then Jesus Christ the Lord?

I am just putting things in perspective (mainly for myself).

Dante

Servitude

Here is a follow up to Gary's post on serving. This is a letter to my kids on one of their giving projects this Christmas.  Also check out Dino Rizzo's awesome site and book Servolution. 

Dear Kids,

Hola! my name is Aracali Mus Say and I live with my husband in Panyebar, San Juan which is 7,000 feet high in the mountains of western Guatemala.  Our house is cement block with a tin roof. I am 28 years old and we have not started a family. We have prayed and are waiting on the Lord about the blessing of children.  In the meantime, we are working toward the goal of a more secure life fro ourselves and future children. 

My dear husband works in the fields and he works hard when he can find work. It isn't constant and sometimes there isn't enough for much food but there are only two of us at this time so we can share.

I was unable to go to scholl because my parents needed me to work.  I make beaded balls in joy for it means that we have money to pay for necessities.  We try to put aside for later needs and babies to come.  This is a blessing and special time that we have been given A time to prepare. 

Thank you so much for your gifts and assistance.  My favorite verse is Psalm 118:5 Praise the Lord.

Feliz Navidad,

Aracali

Plenitude

plenitude [ˈplɛnɪˌtjuːd]  n

1. abundance; copiousness

2. the condition of being full or complete

If you've read this blog for longer than five minutes, you'd see that I frequently spend time out of the US, most of the time in third world countries.  This has a profound impact on a person when it comes to reflecting on personal wealth, giving to others and helping the poor. 

This year, I have the pleasure of spending the holidays in the US and it is a drastic difference from the holidays in other countries.  During Thanksgiving this year, we had 12 people and two dogs in our home for the annual Thanksgiving feast.  During the prayer and talks afterwards, I noted that the amount of food on our table is more than most families in the world eat in one month. 

Did you know that if you make more than $50,000 per year, you are in the top 1% of wealth in the world?

Did you know that each time we stop at a coffee shop and order a fancy drink, that same money could feed a family in a impoverished country for almost one week?

How many times have we seen a church spend millions of dollars to build a new building but then only send a few thousand dollars overseas?  Furthermore, how many millions of dollars of vehicles are sitting in a large church parking lot every Sunday? 

When we look at the issue from this context, it makes me feel uneasy in my stomach.  Am I really doing all I can for the world or am I spending my time filling my own house with worthless trinkets?

  My wife and I had a great talk this year and we both said that enough is enough.  We've reached Plenitude.  We don't need more stuff, a bigger house, or a nicer car.  We'll keep funding the savings and retirement but also start giving more and more each year.  Our goal is to be giving away 25% of our income in the next five years and keep increasing it.

On top of this, we are going to start serving more than giving.  Throwing a few bucks in a bucket is easy.  What is hard, is taking your time and actually going to where the needy people are and actually serving them face to face.  This also has the biggest impact and life changing rewards. 

Our children are a little apprehensive about the thought of less, as they are still young and want every new gadget, but our example is continually shaping their character.  This year, my children are also starting to sponsor a child from one of the organizations that runs these programs. My child get to pick the child's age, gender and location in the world and then write letters and send money and pictures as the child grows with them.  My hope is that this simple task will continue to get them looking outward instead of inward as they mature. 

One of the best things we do at Christmas is sponsor a local child for the holidays. They have this program at most churches and shopping malls.  You simply pick a name of a child and buy them presents for Christmas.  The best programs actually allow you to deliver the presents directly to the child and family.   

Loading your car with presents and having your kids go into a poor neighborhood and hand them out creates a lasting Legacy that I cannot explain.  Each year we do this, our kids find creative ways to give more and more.

I challenge you this Christmas season to find plenitude in your life and to look more outwards than inwards.  An iPad, new Android phone or chocolate diamonds may seem like a great gift, but nothing beats the smile and tears from a truly deserving family and the lasting impact this has on our children's hearts. 

Esse Quam Videri

Lance

Acts of Giving and Kindness - James 1:27

On Saturday, December 4, 2010, Children's Hunger Fund hosted their annual Toy Wrap volunteer event. Since 1991, CHF has given hundreds of thousands of toys to needy children across America and around the world. When you give a child a toy, you are also giving away hope and love this holiday season.

All three CHF facilities (Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Antonio) shared their holiday spirit by inviting faithful volunteers to wrap toys for needy kids.  In Chicago, we wrapped over 20,000 toys (and books) in less than three hours. 

I have had the pleasure of being involved with the staff of this great organization for over 6 years and the experience keeps getting better.  There were just about 500 great volunteers and we enjoyed the time spent with volunteers, churches around the Midwest Area and just a heartfelt appreciation for Children’s Hunger Fund and their goal and desire to help those in need. 

My family and I have taken our responsibility of helping those in need very seriously.  We have been giving to causes like these and we cannot tell you the blessing that we see in return.  I don’t want to mislead you, because it is not always a monetary blessing nor is it anything like that.  The Bible talks about not letting your right hand see what the left hand is doing.  When we do this, it pleases our Father God and he knows where our hearts stand.

My wife and I believe that it is crucial parenting skills to teach our kids selfless acts of service and giving.  After all, Christmas, that is CHRISTmas is not about what we get in presents but about a gift of love from our God.  Christmas is about love and about a Savior promised to save us.  For God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us and rise again so we can all be saved.

Besides volunteering time and money for Children’s Hunger Fund, my family and I also give to charitable causes that pull our hearts to give.  Many of us in this economy may not have the gift of giving financial offerings, however, we have the gift of time.  We have the ability to make a difference in other people’s lives.  Whether that is working for someone or just serving someone else, it doesn’t matter.  What matters is when you give something and expect nothing in return.

The gift that returns is priceless.

There is a movie that I think that encapsulates this whole act of giving and just incorporates what every day of the year should be about.  The movie is called, The Ultimate Gift.  Without giving to much away, I have included the promo for this movie.  I highly recommend watching it before Christmas. 

James 1:27 says the following, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Think about it, society teaches us to put ourselves first.  Christ teaches us that to be first in the Kingdom of God, a leader must be last, that is, he must put himself in the place of a servant- a Servant Leader.

What are some ways that you have made a difference in this World?

Dante