Podcasts about community commitment

Follow Building in Public Podcast: https://x.com/builtnpublicpod Connor welcomes Sami, former co-host of the Building in Public podcast, to explore Bittensor, a decentralized AI platform revolutionizing how intelligence is developed and shared. They discuss Bittensor's potential to challenge centralized AI models like OpenAI, its unique decentralized approach with specialized subnets, and the importance of financial incentives for open-source innovation. Sami highlights the challenges of emission distribution and the community's dedication to improving the protocol, expressing optimism about Bittensor's future. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:19 - Recap of Previous Bittensor Episode 02:05 - Sami's Experience with Bittensor 03:03 - What Bittensor Means for the Average Person 05:17 - Importance of Decentralized AI 06:36 - Open Source and Financial Incentives 08:43 - The Power of Open Source Innovation 10:07 - Crowdsourcing Intelligence in AI 12:33 - Comparing Kaggle and Bittensor 14:32 - Incentives for Contributors in Bittensor 15:14 - Challenges and Improvements in Bittensor 18:00 - Community Commitment to Bittensor 20:16 - The Future of Bittensor and AI 21:11 - Sami's Journey and Conviction in Bittensor 25:47 - Closing Remarks and Resources Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

How do you scale your business while maintaining a personal touch? In this week's episode, host Nicole Jansen sits down with David Sauers, the co-founder and CEO of Royal Restrooms, to explore the story behind transforming a messy industry into a luxurious business opportunity. David shares how a challenging experience at a local event sparked the idea for creating elegant, high-end portable restrooms, and how this concept grew into a successful national franchise. From being a banker and avid golfer to becoming a pioneer in the portable restroom industry, David's journey is filled with unexpected turns and valuable lessons on transforming frustration into innovation. Throughout the conversation, David reflects on the challenges of entrepreneurship, from the sacrifices it requires to the importance of balancing work and family life. He also unpacks the power of community engagement, building a business with a personal touch, and the significance of maintaining strong values while navigating growth. For aspiring entrepreneurs, this episode is packed with insights on pursuing passion, overcoming fear, and creating a meaningful business that serves both clients and communities. Tune in for a heartfelt discussion that inspires listeners to take action and consider, "Why not us, and why not now?" What We Discuss in this Episode Inspiration Behind Royal Restrooms Transition from Banking to Entrepreneurship The Role of a Business Partner Balancing Family and Business Community Engagement as a Business Value Franchising with a Personal Touch Lessons from Failure and Success Challenges of the Entrepreneurial Lifestyle The Value of Adapting to Change Motivation for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Podcast Highlights 0:00 - Introduction 1:24 - How a family festival experience inspired Royal Restrooms 5:47 - Why partnership is crucial in entrepreneurship 8:15 – Learning how to balance family and business   12:31 - Navigating entrepreneurial stress 16:08 – Creating healthy work-life balance 20:44 - Family-Oriented Business Culture 25:23 - Community Commitment 30:15 - Values and Business 35:10 - Franchisee success 38:05 - Franchisor growth 42:27 - Adapting to market changes Join us in this heart-centered entrepreneurial conversation with David Sauers, gaining insights into the dynamic blend of business acumen and personal values that drive sustained entrepreneurial success. Favorite Quotes On Business Philosophy: "Our aim has always been to create a family-oriented business structure that supports personalized service and community involvement." On Community Engagement: "We set a target for our franchisees to achieve at least $25,000 in in-kind donations to community nonprofits, emphasizing our role beyond just business." On Sustainable Growth: "Our low franchise fees and royalties ensure that the focus remains on the success of our franchisees, fostering a sustainable business model." Episode Show Notes and Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/business/515-how-royal-restrooms-redefined-portable-luxury-with-david-sauers/   Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com ________

Series: Lord's Supper CommentsService: Sun AMType: SermonSpeaker: Justin Dobbs

One month ago, I climbed a mountain. Not once, not twice… But EIGHT times. Dive into this episode to hear about my experience completing the 29029 Everesting Hike in Whistler, Canada. I learned so much during this experience, about motivation, accountability, and the power of community. In This Episode:  -> Hear about how I went from extreme hesitation to actually buying my ticket because of the power of community and accountability. -> Let's talk about why having a clear, specific goal matters in business – and how that goal transformed my life months before the hike. -> Discover what happened on the trail that almost made me quit. And, what changed my mind. -> How adaptability and rolling with the punches is essential to any challenge you face in life or business. -> The importance of a support system and the role of a team from mentors and trainers to chiropractors, everyone on my team played a part. -> Learn who I dedicated each of my eight ascents to and why this activity truly kept me going. This hike was more than just a physical challenge – it was a journey and lesson in growth, resilience, and community. The lessons I learned on that mountain, from perseverance to accountability, are ones that I think we should all incorporate into our day-to-day lives. For more stories of remarkable women entrepreneurs, subscribe to the HerBusiness Podcast. Mentioned in This Episode: -> HerBusiness Network -> Why People Say Yes. A Conversation on Influence with Dr Robert Cialdini -> 29029 Everesting

In this inspiring episode of "A Place of Yes," we interview Skip Carlson, the renowned Vice President of External Affairs at Saratoga Casino. With a career spanning several decades at the same organization, Skip shares his unique insights on the importance of community involvement and the impact of steadfast dedication to one's profession. We delve into his experiences giving back to the community, his role in supporting local non-profits, and how his commitment has made a lasting difference. Tune in for an engaging conversation about leadership, service, and the power of staying true to your roots. FIND HEATHER & JAKE'S HELP FROM HEAVEN ❤️ Heather's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/ ❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ ❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp/ ❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven ❤️ Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceofYesPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sally Crosen and Misti Lorusso of Maid Brigade share their journey of managing a residential cleaning company, their commitment to community service, and the unique services they offer. They discuss their Maid Brigade Angels program, volunteer work, and the family-like environment they foster within their company. The conversation highlights their flexible and customizable cleaning services, their franchise model, and their dedication to providing exceptional customer service.TakeawaysMaid Brigade's commitment to community service and volunteer work is evident through their Maid Brigade Angels program and support for local schools and nonprofits.The family-like environment at Maid Brigade contributes to employee retention and a strong sense of loyalty and trust within the company.Maid Brigade offers flexible and customizable cleaning services, including laundry service, post-construction cleaning, move-in/move-out service, and organization assistance.Their franchise model allows for consistent and reliable cleaning services nationwide, with a focus on customer service and national recognition.Sound Bites"We've always been passionate about cleaning homes, but we realized that we could do so much more than cleaning.""We've done a lot of out-of-the-box cleanings. I mean, we clean, but we can clean anything.""We go into people's houses and we clean their house at no charge for four months in a row."Chapters00:00 The Maid Brigade Journey: Managing a Residential Cleaning Company03:37 Community Commitment and Volunteer Work: The Maid Brigade Angels Program08:29 Creating a Family Environment: Employee Retention and Loyalty13:00 Flexible and Customizable Cleaning Services: The Maid Brigade Approach15:18 Franchise Model and National Recognition: Maid Brigade's Nationwide Impacthttps://www.maidbrigade.com/https://thesocialcollectives.com/

Have you ever wondered how a deep-rooted commitment to community can  business growth? Jim Prussak, the enterprising spirit behind Applause Home Care, joins us to dissect his unconventional technique of nurturing community ties that transcend mere transactions. As we peel back the layers of Jim's philosophy, we uncover the symbiotic relationship between genuine service and brand development. His deliberate separation of sales from marketing and public relations has not only shaped the success trajectory of his business but also solidified his standing as a servant-leader within Bergen County. Hear the intricacies of how Jim's active roles in the VFW, Rotary, and Little League sow seeds that nurture both his company's reputation and his personal mission to serve.Venturing beyond the surface of traditional business strategies, this episode is a rare glimpse into the heart of trust-building through personal connections, particularly in the digital arena. The conversation with Jim Prusak is an intimate one, where we share experiences on leveraging social media to foster genuine relationships rather than pushing aggressive sales narratives. It's a candid look at the essence of being the face of your business, embracing the community through actions rather than just words, and the operational magic that frees up time to prioritize these connections. Through the lens of Applause Home Care, we explore how passion and authenticity elevate the personal touch in home health care, creating an authentic narrative that resonates with communities and clients alike. Join us for a heartfelt dialogue that inspires a different kind of entrepreneurial spirit, one that champions passion, service, and genuine care.

In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet welcome Michael Bell, Partner and Leader of the Financial Institutions Practice at Honigman, LLP, where he has become the nationwide leader and go-to legal adviser for credit unions seeking scale. In their lively conversation on M&A in financial services, Michael discusses the growth outlook for community financial institutions and ways that mergers and acquisitions help further the credit union mission and movement. He shares his belief that credit unions and community banks are ‘kissing cousins' – both sharing the same passion for serving customers and communities and facing similar regulatory and competitive challenges. Finally, they discuss data-driven decision making and the role of research in guiding growth strategies for community financial institutions, whether it's for M&A, branding or branching. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Join Tom Ackerman on KMOX as he wraps up Sports on a Sunday morning with special guest Jim Brennan, President of McKelvey Homes. They discuss Taylor Swift, the outlook for the St. Louis Cardinals in the upcoming season, the philanthropic efforts of McKelvey Homes, and their special promotions. Get insights into the Super Bowl matchup between the Chiefs and the 49ers, with predictions and analysis. Plus, learn about McKelvey Homes' commitment to giving back to the community, including their support for the Ronald McDonald House

In this episode of the "Stories to Create Podcast," host Cornell Bunting engages in a conversation with the Honorable Archie B. Hayward Jr., a distinguished native of Lee County, Florida. A 1984 Florida Bar admittee, Hayward holds a BA and JD from the University of Florida, along with an AA from Edison Community College / FSW. The discussion delves into his appointment to the County Court of the 20th Judicial Circuit in January 2008, followed by his election for a six-year term in 2010. Reflecting on his early days at Sears, Hayward shares insights from his time before his judicial role, including his tenure as the managing attorney of the Senior Advocacy Program at Florida Rural Legal Services. Before this, he practiced solo in general law, focusing on criminal defense for nine years. The conversation offers a rich exploration of the nuances of legal practice, everyday challenges, and the demanding hours involved. Hayward, who has taught as an adjunct paralegal instructor at Edison College / FSW and serves on its advisory board, is deeply committed to his community. He participates actively on the boards of various community agencies and non-profits and is a devoted member of his church and community service organizations. For those interested in engaging with him, Hayward is a prominent figure in community activities. Don't miss this episode to hear the perspectives of this accomplished individual on contemporary issues and more. Support the showThank you for tuning in with EHAS CLUB - Stories to Create Podcast

This united and strong couple, reflect on their wedding journey, highlighting the significance of their union in the context of same-sex and interracial marriage only being legal in the U.S. since 2015 and 1967, respectively.  Click HERE to become a premium subscriber and unlock all of the amazingness:       Ad-free, full length episodes      The TBWPP Wedding Planning Resource Center with  Access to 6 mini courses of The Big Wedding Planning Master Class  Wedding Planning Templates and Tools Emphasizing their commitment to what was important to them, they share how they navigated the complexities of family dynamics while maintaining clear boundaries. Their positive outlook and resilience shone through as they tackled wedding day snags with professionalism and grace. Melissa speaks passionately about how their queer love is both radical and revolutionary, underlining the historic and personal importance of their marriage. Topics We Covered Strategies for Curating the Guest List The Role of Community Commitment in Shaping Their Wedding Crafting Personalized Wedding Vows Avoiding the Pitfall of Over-Focusing on Minor Details Managing Family Pressure for Unwanted Wedding Elements Maintaining Focus Throughout the Wedding Planning Process Key Components to Incorporate into a Ceremony Script Handling Technical Issues During the Event About Our Guests Karissa Sullivan is an Assistant Principal at Ramapo High School with two Masters degrees and currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership from Columbia University. She's been in the education field since her early career, starting as a teacher before earning her advanced degrees. When she's not shaping young minds, Karissa's all about family life. She's a loving sister, daughter, and aunt, and together with her wife, they're working on growing their family, which includes their two furry companions, right in the heart of Nyack, NY and a ton of plants. She's actively involved in her community, serving on the BIPOC Advisory Board for the Phyllis B. Frank Rockland County Pride Center, and is also a charter member and Treasurer of the Black School Educators of Rockland County. Karissa's dedication extends to her role as the inaugural Grand Marshal of the 2023 Rockland County Pride Parade, making her a true advocate and leader in her community. Links We Referenced Ceremony Script: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pJxFCq3Tqe2PSraGjdv69oZs_YOAX-DQHq1k73GWFpo/edit?usp=sharing Wedding Coordination and Florals: @luxuryeventcollective  Photography/videography/Photo Booth/lighting: @stateoftheartvisuals and @societyofthearts  DJ: @djcoolee Hair and Makeup: @thekeylookllc @humblehands314  Wedding Cake: @bakerman1727  Rehearsal Dinner Event Space and Bartending: @xhousenyack  Rehearsal Dinner catering: @cravinjamaicancuisine      Wedding Officiant: Reverend Tabatha Holley @revfemmeblaqity  Dog day care: @papawsdoghouse Wedding Dress: @bridesbyyoung  Wedding Suit: @bindleandkeep NY Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/11/style/melissa-dandrea-karissa-sullivan-we Get In Touch:  The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is… Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez  Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics  On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention! Easy to get in touch with. Email us at hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This united and strong couple, reflect on their wedding journey, highlighting the significance of their union in the context of same-sex and interracial marriage only being legal in the U.S. since 2015 and 1967, respectively.  Emphasizing their commitment to what was important to them, they share how they navigated the complexities of family dynamics while maintaining clear boundaries. Their positive outlook and resilience shone through as they tackled wedding day snags with professionalism and grace. Melissa speaks passionately about how their queer love is both radical and revolutionary, underlining the historic and personal importance of their marriage. Click HERE to become a premium subscriber and unlock all of the amazingness: Ad-free, full episodes TBWPP Wedding Planning Resource Center Monthly Wedding Planning Happy Hours via Zoom with Michelle Bonus Episodes Extra tools and gifts get sprinkled in every so often! Topics We Covered Strategies for Curating the Guest List The Role of Community Commitment in Shaping Their Wedding Crafting Personalized Wedding Vows Avoiding the Pitfall of Over-Focusing on Minor Details Managing Family Pressure for Unwanted Wedding Elements Maintaining Focus Throughout the Wedding Planning Process Key Components to Incorporate into a Ceremony Script Handling Technical Issues During the Event About Our Guests Karissa Sullivan is an Assistant Principal at Ramapo High School with two Masters degrees and currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership from Columbia University. She's been in the education field since her early career, starting as a teacher before earning her advanced degrees Melissa Sullivan is a proud Brooklynite with over two decades of experience championing youth development, racial justice, LGBTQ+ advocacy, social justice and nonprofit leadership. Currently she's the Executive Director at PFLAG NYC, where she's all about making NYC more LGBTQ+ friendly. When she's not changing the world, you'll find her assisting start-up nonprofits, volunteering, reading a lot, and embarking on the journey of expanding her family with her wife and two adorable pups in Nyack, NY. She's a proud sister, adoptive mom of an adult daughter, Godmom to four super cool kids, and an aunt.  Links We Referenced Ceremony Script: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pJxFCq3Tqe2PSraGjdv69oZs_YOAX-DQHq1k73GWFpo/edit?usp=sharing Wedding Coordination and Florals: @luxuryeventcollective  Photography/videography/photobooth/lighting: @stateoftheartvisuals and @societyofthearts  DJ: @djcoolee Hair and Makeup: @thekeylookllc @humblehands314  Wedding Cake: @bakerman1727  Rehearsal Dinner Event Space and Bartending: @xhousenyack  Rehearsal Dinner catering: @cravinjamaicancuisine      Wedding Officiant: Reverend Tabatha Holley @revfemmeblaqity  Dog day care: @papawsdoghouse Wedding Dress: @bridesbyyoung  Wedding Suit: @bindleandkeep NY Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/11/style/melissa-dandrea-karissa-sullivan-we The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is... Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention! Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook. Easy to get in touch with. Email us at hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Anderson joins Clint on this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast for a conversation about all things leadership, Utah, community, and banking. They chat about what a rollercoaster the industry is and how things can change drastically overnight. As an integral part of Utah's history, Zions Bank focuses greatly on cultivating community and has done so since its founding in 1873. Scott is an inspiring leader who strives to help people become the best, most inspired versions of themselves, which can be achieved through community. It's no secret that Utah is growing rapidly and Scott shares some fun insights as to why Utah's business economy is so creative and future forward. "From the very beginning, the idea was that we were here to create value. Value, honestly for our clients, but value for our communities and that means giving back where we can."

This After Dark episode is a long anticipated conversation with legendary firearms instructor Kyle Defoor. Our paths crossed spontaneously while taking care of business in the same city so we sat down and cracked a cold one for this interview. We touch on the parallels between coaching in different industries and reflect on how our respective paths has led us to where we are now. You don't wanna miss this!Episode Sponsor:BioProtein Technology: https://bioproteintech.com/For $30 off your order use code "IRONSIGHTS" at checkout.BioPro+ can potentially help to improve balance hormones, increase sex drive, improves insulin sensitivity, and produce increases of mitochondria and nucleic acids to create a total system modulator. BioPro+ regulates, rebuilds, and regenerates at the cellular level to help you look, feel, and perform your best.After Dark #63 Timestamps00:00 Intro / BioPro+ HGH Growth Hormone Treatments05:03 Iron Sight's Podcast08:40 Getting Involved In Social Media13:01 Social Media As An Occupation In Modern Times17:38 Kyle Defoor25:28 Black Water Training, Curriculum & Instructing35:28 Fire Arms Instructor40:05 The Evolution Of Kyle Defoor's Career47:02 Bravo Company USA01:01:38 POW: Nobody Can Take Your Honor01:14:27 What Does The Company Look Like Right Now?01:18:25 Making Sacrifices For Your Business01:25:23 Why Do You Want To Be A Shooting Instructor?01:43:51 Gun Technology and Innovations In The Firearms Industry01:54:35 Contracting In The Military02:03:44 Lack Of Professional Association In The Firearms Industry02:09:57 Understanding Different Teaching Styles And Coaching Approaches02:13:20 Preparing For Real-World Success In The Military and Law Enforcement02:17:59 Preparing To Get Lucky02:27:34 Staying Relevant In The Business World02:31:28 Combatives02:42:00 Building A Tribe, Community Commitment & Respect02:51:20 The Growth Of Iron Sight's Podcast and Social Media Engagement02:54:55 Coaching, Followers, and Open Enrollment ClassesRed Dot Fitness Training Programs:https://www.rdftrainonline.comOnline membership (Full Access To All Programs & Virtual Coaching):https://www.reddotfitness.net/online-membershipVirtual Coaching:https://www.reddotfitness.net/virtual-coachingSelf-Guided Programs:https://www.reddotfitness.net/Self-Guided-Programs1Connect With Us:Website - https://ironsightspodcast.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ironsightspodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ironsMore Iron Sights Interviews:Triple Feed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMTc7AE0KaQ&t=384sKayley Gunner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfGqHxCv7Vc&t=522sMike Salemi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq-Nj6M0EBI&t=335sAdam Schafer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiyrdWdO1y8&t=8sSal Di Stefano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBdKdSjQ0BM&t=4425sJason Khalipa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTiq-sID-EMByron Rodgers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrtEyuVNNpwDonnie Oliver: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKY1_TLKHlIChris Cheng: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr0zSGSTzKM&t=2sTraver Boehm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_NLdIg3zBc&t=1394s

Tommy plunged into web3 by joining Nifty Gateway in its early days, even though he didn't fully understand the technology at first. Onboarding many artists to their first NFT collection he realized not only the power of the tech, but the potential for building bridges. Taking another leap of faith, he then became Head of Partnerships at Manifold, the disruptive platform that is now empowering artists to curate their own on-chain collections.Time Stamps 0:00 to 06:30 - Who's Tommy 06:30 to 11:00 - Open Edition Metas 11:00 to 14:00 - Manifold and Empowering Artist 14:00 to 17:30 - Thinking Tokens Differently 17:30 to 19:30 - ERC Tokens and Burning Mechanics 19:30 to 22:42 - Community Commitment 22:43 to 25:50 - Will there be Charts? 25:50 to 27:32 - Inspiring Creativity 27:33 to 29:03 - What's Around the Corner 29:04 to 30:40 - Pitching an Idea 30:41 to 35:03 - Are there plans for Music? 35:04 to 38:52 - Manifold Revenue Model 38:53 to 41:15 - Volume 41:16 to 42:45 - Cool Stories 42:45 to 44:10 - Manifold and Numbering Collections 44:10 to 45:44 - Manifold X Ordinals 45:44 to 48:58 - Team 48:58 to 52:38 - Security 52:38 to 55:18 - Verification 55:18 to 56:00 - Cross Burn 56:00 to 1:00:33 - Royalty Splits on Mint 1:00:33 to 1:02:24 - Onboarding Tips 1:02:24 to 1:04:26 - Rounding Off Guest Socials Twitter: https://twitter.com/tommyk_eth Website: https://manifold.xyz/ Manifold Twitter: https://twitter.com/manifoldxyz  Useful Links Based On Conversation Nifty Gateway: https://www.niftygateway.com/Foundation: http://foundation.appVincentVanDough: https://opensea.io/VincentVanDoughShepard Fairey: https://obeygiant.com/Glossary Open Editions: Open Editions are NFTs that have an unlimited number of copies available for purchase. Unlike limited editions that have a fixed number of copies, open editions can be minted continuously. This means that anyone can purchase an open edition NFT at any time, and the number of copies in circulation can continue to increase indefinitely. ERC1155: ERC-1155 is a standard for creating fungible and non-fungible tokens on the Ethereum blockchain. It allows for the creation of multiple types of tokens within a single smart contract, making it more efficient and cost-effective. ERC721: ERC-721 is a standard for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the Ethereum blockchain. Each ERC-721 token is unique and can represent a digital asset such as artwork, collectibles, or in-game items. They are used to verify ownership and provenance of these assets and can be bought, sold, or traded on various NFT marketplaces. Podcast Host: BunzyTwitter: https://twitter.com/0xBunzyBlockTalk || Pineapple WorkshopWebsite: https://pineappleworkshop.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/poweredby_pwDiscord: https://discord.gg/geNCbMYsZY

Most stores don't invite passersby to walk up to their shop, open a door, and help themselves—no obligation, no purchase required. But not long after opening new new yarn store in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia, Liz Sytsma hung a box on the side of the store labeled "Little Free Fiber Library." Inspired by the give a book, take a book model of the Little Free Library, Wild Hand wanted to create a place where anyone who wanted or needed yarn could obtain it freely. Instead of viewing the fiber library as competing with the shop's sales, the Wild Hand team views it as an opportunity to bring new crafters into the fold, make yarn accessible to all, and participate in their community. Liz left the nonprofit world to open Wild Hand in 2019, wanting to build a a yarn store that would promote the kind of community she wanted to see: inclusive, diverse, thoughtful, kind. She gathered a team to work together as managers, teaching artists, and colleagues who share a dedication to building the kind of yarn shop where everyone who comes through the door can feel welcome and valued. One of the first projects of Wild Hand was the Community Commitment, a list of 11 principles that guide everything from purchasing decisions to customer service. One of Liz's first collaborators was Theresa Hill, a spinner, teacher, independent dyer, and nurse. Theresa serves as one of the managers of Wild Hand, where she enjoys feeding the creativity and skills of the shop's customers. She appreciates the way Wild Hand encourages customers and staff members alike to be fully themselves in the space, free to be silly, make mistakes, and feel welcome. In addition to a storefront in Philadelphia, Wild Hand has included an online store since early days, too. When COVID-19 closed the shop's physical doors and the operation shifted entirely online for a time, the Community Commitment kept right up: Liz prioritized accessibility on the website, too, and even the Little Free Fiber Library is available to online customers (who cover the cost of shipping). Although neighborhood roots are important, Wild Hand invites everyone to be part of their fiber community. This episode is brought to you by: Handweaving.net (https://handweaving.net/) is the comprehensive weaving website with more than 75,000 historic and modern weaving drafts, documents, and powerful digital tools that put creativity in your hands. Now it's simple to design, color, update, and save your drafts. Our mission is to preserve the rich heritage of hand weaving and pass it down to you. Visit Handweaving.net and sign up for a subscription today! You'll find the largest variety of silk spinning fibers, silk yarn and silk threads & ribbons at TreenwaySilks.com (https://www.treenwaysilks.com/). Choose from a rainbow of hand-dyed colors. Love natural? Their array of wild silk and silk-blends provide choices beyond white. Treenway Silks—where superior quality and customer service are guaranteed. Links: Wild Hand website (https://wild-hand.com/) Ewe-Nited States of Fiber (https://www.ewe-nitedstatesoffiber.com/)

Jamie and Jeff Cascino explain the "Extra 'C'" in the Cascino name stands for "caring, community, commitment: and comes from a deep gratitude for the blessings life has given them. Their home--the former home of the beloved Mary Lou and Charles Haddad--to them is a home to be enjoyed by the community. Often the place for parties and gatherings, it is also the spot for the Cascino's annual "Wishing Tree" on which children and adults write their wishes on ornaments to be placed on the tree. It's a lovely tradition...warms the heart on December's coldest days...as the wishes are tiny prayers for hope and love.

Suzanne talks with Tracey Harvey at at Cadence Kent-Meridian in Kent, Washington. Everything they do from a life engagement perspective, they have some wonderful signature programs. Life engagement team members customize a program to meet the needs of residents. Learn more about Cadence Kent-Meridian and Tracey Harvey.

In this bonus episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by IntraFi Network — ABA's Peter Cook and Melissa Murray discuss the ABA Foundation's signature recognition program, the Community Commitment Awards. Applications are now open for the 10th annual awards, which recognize and promote extraordinary bank commitment to communities and the innovative, high-impact programs that improve the quality of life for customers and the communities banks serve. Applications are due July 1, and banks may enter in any or all of the following categories: Affordable housing Community and economic development Financial education Economic inclusion Protecting older Americans Supporting military families Volunteerism The George Bailey Award (for non-CEO bank employees who demonstrate outstanding service to their bank, industry and community)

The practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has come a long way during Helen Drexler's career. What started as some charitable donations and the occasional volunteer project has become a nonstop, comprehensive commitment to the community and its people—including a company's own employees. It's an expectation. Drexler, the CEO of Delta Dental of Colorado and managing director of Ensemble Innovation Ventures, joined the VOE Podcast to discuss the ways CSR is changing the corporate landscape and how the principle led to a pledge: Drexler vowed she would not lay off employees during COVID-19, nor profit off of the pandemic. The VOE Podcast is an extension of Voices of Experience, the signature speaker series at the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business. Keep tuning in each month for more business insights from Daniels' alumni voices of experience. Transcript Lorne Fultonberg: Hello and welcome to the VOE Podcast, Kristal Griffith: An extension of Voices of Experience, Nick Greenhalgh: The signature speaker series at the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business. Lorne Fultonberg: We're your hosts, Lorne Fultonberg Kristal Griffith: Kristal Griffith Nick Greenhalgh: And I'm Nick Greenhalgh from the Daniels Office of Communications and Marketing. Lorne Fultonberg: We'll be unpacking topics at the intersection of business and the public good with CEOs and other business leaders from the Daniels community.­ Let's dive in. Lorne Fultonberg: When COVID-19 first shuttered and hampered businesses across the country, Helen Drexler made a bold statement. She vowed that her company—Delta Dental of Colorado—would not lay off a single employee during the throes of the pandemic. And, she pledged to return tens of millions of dollars to the insurance company's stakeholders. We invited Drexler to join the VOE Podcast to tell us the thinking behind that decision and how these sorts of actions are redefining corporate social responsibility. Plus, we asked her how she's practicing CSR as the managing director of a new venture capital platform, Ensemble Innovation Ventures. Lorne Fultonberg: Helen, thank you so much for joining us. Helen Drexler: Glad to be here. Lorne Fultonberg: I want to start by talking a little bit about how you see yourself and see your role at Delta Dental of Colorado. I've heard you call yourself a community champion and an advocate for oral health equity. So, what does that term mean, oral health equity, and why is it important? Helen Drexler: Yeah. So, the word equity has come into our dialogue a lot more often in the last few years, I think. And when I first got to Delta Dental Colorado, our foundation had a mission to eradicate caries in children. Caries is the clinical diagnosis for tooth decay. Helen Drexler: After about a year, we decided to shift our focus to oral health equity, and what that means is that we know there are certain populations and certain segments of our community that do not have the same or equal access to oral healthcare as others. Helen Drexler: So, for instance, there are more children of color who don't see a dentist at their first year of life or within their first couple of years of life than their counterparts. And so, oral health equity is really about making sure that everyone, regardless of background or life circumstances, or social demographics, that everyone has access to affordable and quality oral healthcare, so that everyone can have a healthy smile. Lorne Fultonberg: Yeah. What do strong healthy teeth have to do with strong local communities? Helen Drexler: Oh, that's a great question. Actually, I think strong, healthy teeth lead to healthy smiles, which lead to overall wellbeing. And it's a little bit of a two way street in my mind. We know that oral health and overall health are connected. There's a lot of systemic diseases that have a strong correlation to good oral health. So,

Natalie + Mieka are two black cis women who are mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends to many.  We both work + live in North Philly and absolutely love connecting with the patrons within the library in authentic and transparent ways.  We truly believe that at the heart of library work, there is learning and growing with the community we serve as well as our fellow co-workers!

Community - Commitment - Mark Roberts - 6 February 2022 by Wollongong Baptist Church

Over the past three weeks, we have heard messages around our three commitments for 2022. This Sunday, we look at the early church in Acts and then have an opportunity to share and act on these commitments.Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give?c=397080)

University of Alaska-Anchorage Head Coach Matt Shasby and the Seawolf Hockey Alliance are bringing Div. 1 hockey back to Anchorage. After a long grass roots community and statewide effort the Seawolf hockey program will soon howl again.  Dump N' Change got a metaphorical seat in Coach Shasby's office as he discusses building a program from nearly scratch.  From the current day-to-day operations to the long term plan Coach Shasby breaks it all down with passion and vison. Recruiting, staff, compliance, scholarships, equipment, travel, schedule, corporate sponsors, and even future arena plans; it's all laid out. All your questions will be answered and then some. Coach Shasby has a plan and we are bought in. Let's go Green and Gold!! #alaskahockey #UAA #howl #NCAA #collegehockey #seawolves #THPN #draftkings #dumpnchangepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Community is a key element in what makes the restaurant industry thrive. And never has this been more apparent than now, as we've had to take extra measures to ensure this sense of community persists.  This week on Order Up, Cheyenne Terbrueggen, Marketing Communications Manager at Elephants Delicatessen, joins us to discuss Elephants' sustainability efforts, how they are giving back to their community, and why they expanded their business to include a wholesale program amidst the pandemic. Plus, hear about how Elephants Delicatessen won the 2020 Restaurant Neighbor Award! (00:26) - The Restaurant Neighbor Award in partnership with American Express (02:50) - All about Elephants Delicatessen (03:42) - Commitment to green practices (05:15) - Pandemic catering trends (07:49) - Doubling down on sustainability (09:32) - Accepting the Restaurant Neighbor Award (10:48) - Non-profit partners (12:37) - Helping people help people (13:09) - Customer commitment (16:40) - Holiday meals (17:52) - Nationwide wholesale (19:09) - Coming out stronger This podcast is not intended to provide medical or legal advice, and nothing in this podcast shall be deemed to create or grant any rights to any third parties. Podcast listeners are encouraged to do their own research, and where appropriate, obtain the advice or guidance of legal counsel or the input of other experts with respect to their practices and/or applicable laws. Listeners are encouraged to consider the applicability and suitability of the information provided for their own individual circumstances, and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the National Restaurant Association and their affiliates cannot warrant the applicability of the information to any particular listener or party. Given the rapidly evolving nature of the pandemic, guidance may change as our understanding of unique challenges that COVID-19 poses within each country, state, and locality evolves. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to https://www.restaurant.org/events/learning/podcasts/order-up (Order Up) in https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/order-up/id1511211971 (Apple Podcasts), https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9IcFhHRHhqVQ (Google Podcasts), https://open.spotify.com/show/3SOAkud8tkbaLCaU8W4Ne5 (Spotify) or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/order-up/id1511211971 (Apple Podcasts). It really helps others find the show. https://www.dante32.com/ (Podcast episode production by Dante32.)

FI-light-ER Episode 10 Show Notes: Segment 1: Red X Segment 2: Take Action Segment 3: Community Segment 4: Honor your Commitment Specific Links mentioned in this FILIGHTER Episode: S&P 500 Historical Annual Returns | MacroTrends NASDAQ By Year - Historical Annual Returns | MacroTrends Dow Jones By Year - Historical Annual Returns | MacroTrends Post 6.0 –> Four ways the COVID-19 Market Drop and Recovery Made You a Better Investor – FIlightER.com Post 3.0 –> We are in it together, …The Market (and Covid-19) – FIlightER.com 2.0 The Not So Simple Path to Wealth … – FIlightER.com Mat and Board Podcast Theme Music: Another Day – MJ Torrance BOOKS Mentioned: JL Collins “Simple Path to Wealth”  www.jlcollinsnh.com Email: lambothefilighter@gmail.com FILIGHTER PODCAST LINKS: FILIGHTER on APPLE https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filighter-podcast/id1533365446 FILIGHTER on STITCHER https://www.stitcher.com/search?q=FILIGHTER FILIGHTER on SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/show/6CFi5v1fTAv7IJ2yqrdJlc FILIGHTER on GOOGLE https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9maWxpZ2h0ZXIubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi1vteAuvbsAhWPY80KHfZhDRIQ9sEGegQIARAC WEBSITE and BLOG: www.filighter.com Facebook Group Remember our Disclaimer: I want to remind each of our listeners that content in this podcast including any show notes or links, the Filighter Blog, and the Filighter Website are entirely educational or entertainment in nature and you should seek a professional for Tax, Investment, or Legal advice or otherwise.  We are not Tax or Investment experts and are not in any way providing expert advice so please seek your own tax, legal, or other professional for advice and counseling.  Filighter or its creators accept no responsibility or liability for any actions or activities you may take based on anything discussed on the website, podcast, postings, or comments.

UNRIVALED's Beyond The Scoreboard introduces sports fans around the country to innovative programs and events that professional sports teams are executing for their fans and local communities.Athletic Greens sponsors this episode of Beyond the Scoreboard featuring Melinda Rogers-Hixon of the Jays Care Foundation, the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays. Melinda gives us an inside look at the team's Community Commitment program and explains why winning MLB's 2020 Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence means so much to the entire Blue Jays organization.Credits: Toronto Blue Jays, Jays Cares Foundation, MLB

Honor Credit Union is offering 23 scholarships worth $1,000 to area High School Seniors! Get details at www.honorcu.com/scholarship

In this episode, the leader of the Community of Big Hearts, Stu Starkey shares with us some of the community contributions Two Small Men is making to a handful of community organizations. Our goal is to continue helping, sharing how we help, and hopefully inspire others to do the same! Over the next few episodes we will hear from those organizations in the hope that it will inspire others to contribute to them as well! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taharka Brothers and Nestor make a huge announcement about local ice cream and community commitment

When many people think of Bucks County, they picture bucolic farm fields and parks, bustling cultural hubs, and established middle class neighborhoods. But behind that picture is a more complicated reality for those looking working to make ends meet. The Bucks County Opportunity Council – a non-profit based in Doylestown and with locations across the county - works to reduce poverty and partner with our community to promote economic self-sufficiency. In this episode, we're joined by Erin Lukoss, executive director and chief executive officer at BCOC, and Jake Iampietro, Director of Retail Banking at Penn Community Bank and a BCOC board member, to learn more about this important organization. In our conversation, we discuss the group's Economic Self-Sufficiency program, the impact of COVID-19 on the community, and the years-long partnership between Bucks County Opportunity Council and Penn Community Bank. ---- For more information on the Bucks County Opportunity Council, visit: https://www.bcoc.org/ Watch the 2020 BCOC Economic Self-Sufficiency Graduation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFsrrZf6Tf4 ---- If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating. And, as always, keep up with the latest from Penn Community Bank by following us on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn For more information about this podcast, links to past episodes, or to learn more about Community-first banking, just visit PennCommunityBank.com/podcast ---- Mutual Growth is the official podcast of Penn Community Bank - member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. It is produced for the benefit of current and prospective customers and partner organizations. This program is provided to you solely for educational and entertainment purposes. The information contained herein is based on sources believed to be reliable, but is not represented to be complete and its accuracy is not guaranteed. The opinions, views, and estimates expressed are those of the producer at this date and are subject to change without notice. Please email marketing@penncommunitybank.com regarding booking or repurposing of any part of this podcast.

Any reproduction, duplication, or distribution of The Queen's Lair in any form, is expressly prohibited. You MUST have written permission. The Queen's Lair Podcast may contain affiliate links and will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank You! |Press inquiries: E-mail - info@onyxqueenmedia.com | © 2012-2020 OnyxQueen Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Anya Schoolman, Executive Director, Solar United Neighbors Accessing Renewable Energy: Neighbors Going Solar Together, Anya has worked for decades on environmental projects and policy up and down the Western Hemisphere. This work has helped her grapple with the issue of sustainable development and how to make complex issues relevant to the community. Solar United Neighbors […]

Cultural Community Commitment Miranda Restovic, President and Executive Director of Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities​, Managing Director of Jessie Haynes of the Helis Foundation, and Deputy Director Chris Harter of the Amistad Research Center talk art, community and the Louisiana Culture Care Fund.

Nikole White, Senior Program Manager, Tucson Electric Power Limited Income Energy Programs: Supporting Our Community, Nikole manages residential energy efficiency programs that include Shade Trees, Limited Income Weatherization, Residential New Construction and Codes and Standards. Nikole is a native of Arizona has been with the company for 15 years in a variety of roles. She is […]

Gina Murphy-Darling, Host Renee Kreager, Owner of Renee’s Organic Oven

Government advice for self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide ranging effect on daily life in Australia. Families have had to make changes, businesses have come to a halt and outdoor activities are no longer allowed. Social networking, however, has not stopped.

Leader of The Community of Big Hearts, Stu Starkey, sits down with Community Leader and CEO of Direct Focus, Taylor Crawford as they announce a significant act of deliberate giving for the community!This is a BIG commitment to kick off the Community of Big Hearts movement and we are all inspired by the commitment from Direct Focus and Taylor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast continues a pre-Thanksgiving tradition by interviewing the winners of ABA's 2019 Community Commitment Awards. Recorded before a live audience at ABA's Annual Convention in Seattle, where the awards were presented, each interview explores the winning program or initiative at each bank and provides insights on how they might be implemented or adapted at other banks. These stories present the perfect inspiration as we prepare for the season of thanks and giving. The full episode presents excerpts from each interview. To listen to the full conversation with each Community Commitment Award winner, click on the links below. Affordable housing (co-winner): Alec Gorynski, VP for community development and corporate philanthropy, FNBO, Omaha, Nebraska, and Amanda Brewer, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Omaha. Affordable housing (co-winner): Kimberly Smith-Moore, SVP and NeighborhoodLIFT program manager, Wells Fargo. Community and economic development: Alex Fennoy, EVP for community and economic development, Midwest BankCentre, St. Louis. Economic inclusion: David Loundy, chairman and CEO, Devon Bank, Chicago. Financial education: Louis Beck, chairman, and Keith Borders, VP for community development, Union Savings Bank, Cincinnati. Protecting older Americans: Debbie Gulan, regional community banking manager, IncredibleBank, Wausau, Wisconsin. Supporting military families: Ruth Christopherson, SVP for Citi Salutes, Citi. Volunteerism: Donna Dodson, AVP and banking operations manager, First Financial Northwest Bank, Renton, Washington. George Bailey Distinguished Service Award: Kathy Luria, SVP for community affairs and philanthropy, Webster Bank, Waterbury, Connecticut.

A Community Commitment Week 9 of the Hebrews series Speaker: Tim Fritson Scripture: Hebrews 3:12-15 Download the slides for this message: (The slides show Hebrews 5:12-15 on the top. Note: the referenced scripture is chapter 3, not 5.) https://www.dropbox.com/s/eqfy3z5g5ebg1mm/Hebrews%20-%20Week%209.pdf?dl=0 (If using on mobile, click the icon in the top right and click direct download) Access the video clip of Eliud Kipchoge: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cusnef7kgle6wjr/Eliud%20Kipchoge%20-%20The%20Final%20Kilometre%20of%20the%20INEOS%20159%20Challenge.mp4?dl=0

Stop cursing your city. Are you committed to the city and community you live in?

To learn more please visit us at www.changemakerhighschool.org

Rev. Jeanne Pupke's Sermon for Sunday, 3-17-2019

The latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast features interviews with the winners of ABA's 2018 Community Commitment Awards. Recorded before a live audience at ABA's Annual Convention in New York, where the awards were presented, each interview explores the winning program or initiative at each bank and provides insights on how they might be implemented or adapted at other banks. These stories present the perfect inspiration as we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Interviewees are: Affordable housing: Lenny McNeill, SVP and national managing director for specialized mortgage sales, U.S. Bank, Los Angeles. Community and economic development: Phil Baldwin, CEO, Citizens Bank, Batesville, Ark. Economic inclusion: Nancy Stager, chief human resources officer, and Glynn Lloyd, executive director of the Business Equity Initiative, Eastern Bank, Boston. Financial education: Chris Gaynor, VP and relationship manager, Bank of Nevada, Las Vegas. Protecting older Americans: Sherry Schneider, SVP and operational risk director, Old National Bank, Evansville, Ind. Volunteerism: Christina Cudney, CRA officer, United Bank, Morgantown, W.Va. George Bailey Distinguished Service Award: Marcus Vasquez, VP and fair banking officer, Allegiance Bank, Houston

Cardinal Thomas Collins delivers a reflection on Christian Community Commitment and Mission (Luke 9:57-10:16)

Wondering HOW The Relationship School® changes lives? If it's really worth it? Curious why more and more people are saying it's life changing and the best thing they've ever done? In this episode, we hear the honest stories of four Relationship School students, each living different lives with unique challenges. SHOWNOTES Who are these four women? [9:00] How The Relationship School did what therapy could not [19:00] Community & Commitment make it work [25:00] Relationship School and your kids  [28:00] What is LUFU? [36:00] Get in touch with your needs [41:00] Top reasons to enroll [48:00] Contest details:   In order to qualify, you must 1)- be able to fly to Boulder CO on your own, 2) pay $100 (for a $1000 course) 3) have not won anything before. 4) be a member of the private smart couple facebook group   There are 3 big prizes.   1st prize: Free ($100 non-refundable deposit so we know you are in) admission to the Embracing Conflict weekend (value $1000). PLUS, you get to bring a friend for half price! boom! 2nd Prize: $200 toward any relationship class (Must be used by Feb 1st) 3rd Prize: $50 toward a hat, shirt or other merchandise in our store (expires Feb 1st)   Instruction to enter: Record a 1 min video of 1) the most triggering behavior your partner (or past partner) does and 2) how you normally deal with it, and 3) what your question is about how to do it better.   Video must be no longer than 1 minute.

I agree to treat everyone in the Airbnb community—regardless of their race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age—with respect, and without judgment or bias. Creating an account on Airbnb requires agreeing to the platform’s Community Commitment. When Airbnb became aware of users making plans to attend a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, the company took action to delete those accounts, and CEO Brian Chesky spoke out against Unite the Right, saying, “The violence, racism and hatred demonstrated by Neo-Nazis, the alt-right, and white supremacists should have no place in this world.”Jasper is joined by Hostfully marketing guru, Glenn Carter, to discuss Airbnb’s strong stance against the white nationalist philosophy. They also cover the latest in Airbnb’s ongoing conflict with the hotel industry, examining the Hotel Association of New York City’s hiring of a private security firm to hunt down illegal activity on the platform.But the news isn’t all bad! Glenn and Jasper also mention Airbnb’s latest milestone: The home-sharing site’s unprecedented four million listings – which account for more than the top five hotel chains combined. Other wins for Airbnb this week? They have announced a partnership with Vice Media that will promote their Experiences travel packages, and you can now book an entire island in Belize on Airbnb for a romantic getaway. Listen in to learn about these stories, as well as Google’s entry into the short-term rental space.Topics CoveredArticle #1: Airbnb is Deactivating Accounts of People Trying to Attend a White Supremacist Rally•Airbnb banned all accounts with suspected affiliation•Chesky doubled down after rally, citing Airbnb Community Commitment•Some believe Airbnb should allow accounts, ‘everyone has right to opinion’•Others support decision, agree that hate speech is criminal in nature•Airbnb has right to ban users from platform•Difficult to hide behind veil of free speech when advocate violenceArticle #2: Airbnb Now Has More Listings Worldwide Than the Top Five Hotel Brands Combined•Airbnb has 4M listings in 191 countries (500K in 2012)•US remains biggest market (660K listings), followed by France, Italy, Spain and UK•2M listings are instantly bookable•Popularity stems from desire to earn income from asset already own•Would be interesting to know number of hosts (average of three listings/host in March 2016)•Regulations requiring listing to be primary residence may alter dataArticle #3: Airbnb Has Shut Down 524 Portland Locations Since January•Violated policy against multiple listings•City regulations require operators to live in home they’re rentingArticle #4: Vice Partners with Airbnb to Offer Travel Packages•Youth-focused digital media company, promotes ‘living on the edge’•Joint venture will give away 100 customized tours•Moving forward, Airbnb will keep tour profits•Vice will receive advertising spending from Airbnb to market ExperiencesArticle #5: You Can Rent an Entire Island for $595 a Night on Airbnb•Bird Island in Belize•Perfect setting for romantic getaway•Accommodates up to six peopleArticle #6: Hotel Association Hires Ex-Cop to Track Illegal Activity on Airbnb•Former NYPD officer, Secret Service who founded private security firm•Undercover looking for criminal activity caused by Airbnb usersArticle #7: Meet Airbnb’s Newest Competitor: Google•Google making listings viewable through hotel search engine•7,000 listings exclusive to Europe thus far•Links to Priceline and booking.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Every employee that comes in has a natural instinct, I believe, to move in the ranks of the organization. - Scott BurgessIn this episode of Mastermind with Heather Christie, Heather is joined by Scott Burgess, CEO of the David Lawrence Center. From his beginnings as an entry level vocational counselor at Alexia Brothers Center for Mental Health, to Executive Director and now CEO, Scott is driven to help people achieve and in this episode he shares some of the ways he continues to do that. “You need to be the type of person that not only talks about that you’ll roll up your sleeves and do the hard work, but that you’ll do it.” - Scott BurgessFind more about Scott and his work at: http://davidlawrencecenter.org or on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/davidlawrencecenter/https://www.youtube.com/user/davidlawrencecenter?feature=watchhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/2890192?trk=tyah0:49 - Scott’s Career Path6:19 - Tailoring his education based on his passion and aptitude10:05 - Outside of initiative, what helped Scott’s climb?13:06 - The David Lawrence Center16:22 - Leading a large and diverse organization18:50 - Scott’s Community Commitment 21:43 - Scott’s Time management25:17 - Advice for Young Scott27:36 - How to find your purpose32:12 - Scott’s Challenges for LeadersKey Takeaways:1 in 4 will suffer from mental health issue1 in 9 will suffer from substance abuse2 suicides for every homicide (8 - 9 of 10 display symptoms for major depression and other mental illnesses). These are life threatening conditions that we don’t discuss.

Every employee that comes in has a natural instinct, I believe, to move in the ranks of the organization. - Scott BurgessIn this episode of Mastermind with Heather Christie, Heather is joined by Scott Burgess, CEO of the David Lawrence Center. From his beginnings as an entry level vocational counselor at Alexia Brothers Center for Mental Health, to Executive Director and now CEO, Scott is driven to help people achieve and in this episode he shares some of the ways he continues to do that. “You need to be the type of person that not only talks about that you’ll roll up your sleeves and do the hard work, but that you’ll do it.” - Scott BurgessFind more about Scott and his work at: http://davidlawrencecenter.org or on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/davidlawrencecenter/https://www.youtube.com/user/davidlawrencecenter?feature=watchhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/2890192?trk=tyah0:49 - Scott’s Career Path6:19 - Tailoring his education based on his passion and aptitude10:05 - Outside of initiative, what helped Scott’s climb?13:06 - The David Lawrence Center16:22 - Leading a large and diverse organization18:50 - Scott’s Community Commitment 21:43 - Scott’s Time management25:17 - Advice for Young Scott27:36 - How to find your purpose32:12 - Scott’s Challenges for LeadersKey Takeaways:1 in 4 will suffer from mental health issue1 in 9 will suffer from substance abuse2 suicides for every homicide (8 - 9 of 10 display symptoms for major depression and other mental illnesses). These are life threatening conditions that we don’t discuss.

Every employee that comes in has a natural instinct, I believe, to move in the ranks of the organization. - Scott Burgess In this episode of Mastermind with Heather Christie, Heather is joined by Scott Burgess, CEO of the David Lawrence Center. From his beginnings as an entry level vocational counselor at Alexia Brothers Center for Mental Health, to Executive Director and now CEO, Scott is driven to help people achieve and in this episode he shares some of the ways he continues to do that. “You need to be the type of person that not only talks about that you’ll roll up your sleeves and do the hard work, but that you’ll do it.” - Scott Burgess Find more about Scott and his work at: http://davidlawrencecenter.org or on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/davidlawrencecenter/ https://www.youtube.com/user/davidlawrencecenter?feature=watch https://www.linkedin.com/company/2890192?trk=tyah 0:49 - Scott’s Career Path 6:19 - Tailoring his education based on his passion and aptitude 10:05 - Outside of initiative, what helped Scott’s climb? 13:06 - The David Lawrence Center 16:22 - Leading a large and diverse organization 18:50 - Scott’s Community Commitment 21:43 - Scott’s Time management 25:17 - Advice for Young Scott 27:36 - How to find your purpose 32:12 - Scott’s Challenges for Leaders Key Takeaways: 1 in 4 will suffer from mental health issue 1 in 9 will suffer from substance abuse 2 suicides for every homicide (8 - 9 of 10 display symptoms for major depression and other mental illnesses). These are life threatening conditions that we don’t discuss.

Every employee that comes in has a natural instinct, I believe, to move in the ranks of the organization. - Scott BurgessIn this episode of Mastermind with Heather Christie, Heather is joined by Scott Burgess, CEO of the David Lawrence Center. From his beginnings as an entry level vocational counselor at Alexia Brothers Center for Mental Health, to Executive Director and now CEO, Scott is driven to help people achieve and in this episode he shares some of the ways he continues to do that. “You need to be the type of person that not only talks about that you’ll roll up your sleeves and do the hard work, but that you’ll do it.” - Scott BurgessFind more about Scott and his work at: http://davidlawrencecenter.org or on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/davidlawrencecenter/https://www.youtube.com/user/davidlawrencecenter?feature=watchhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/2890192?trk=tyah0:49 - Scott’s Career Path6:19 - Tailoring his education based on his passion and aptitude10:05 - Outside of initiative, what helped Scott’s climb?13:06 - The David Lawrence Center16:22 - Leading a large and diverse organization18:50 - Scott’s Community Commitment 21:43 - Scott’s Time management25:17 - Advice for Young Scott27:36 - How to find your purpose32:12 - Scott’s Challenges for LeadersKey Takeaways:1 in 4 will suffer from mental health issue1 in 9 will suffer from substance abuse2 suicides for every homicide (8 - 9 of 10 display symptoms for major depression and other mental illnesses). These are life threatening conditions that we don’t discuss.

The first of a four part series following the outlines provided by the Cadillac Area Ministerial Association to expound upon our community compact of shared commitment to the our common work of furthering the gospel in cooperation with each other and appreciation of each others unique gifts.

Community Banker Receives State & Local RecognitionCommunity State Bank’s VP & Commercial Lending Officer Neil Buchanan was recently recognized for his commitment to volunteering, mentoring and leadership throughout Racine and Kenosha County. In this podcast Neil sits down with CSBroadcast host Greg Wall to discuss the award, and his passion for serving the community.

The Beauty of Community Commitment to Each Other I'm so eager to preach this sermon to you. I can't wait, I can't wait. I just want to see the effect of the Word of God. Not just today, but over years to come. Just have in my heart a burning vision for what this church already is and what it will be through the ministry of the word and the spirit that we would be a genuine community of believers that love one another, cherish each other's sanctification and growth in the Lord, that thinks spiritually-minded about church. So I'm eager that God would use this message. We have close relatives that live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We went and visited them. Christi's sister and her husband and children, wonderful children. What a gift they are to us, and we love to go up there to Pennsylvania. And one of the things I love when we go there is to see the Amish. I just enjoy being there. I don't intrude on them, I don't stare at them, but they live such an interesting and fascinating life and just with my interest in church history, I know a lot of the history that's led to their commitments and the things that they do, and there's a lot I don't know about them, but this Thanksgiving as we were driving, and coming near to the house, I saw a number of Amish building, a large structure, maybe a barn, I couldn't tell what it was, but they were hanging on the wood working there and working together, and I don't think it was an Amish barn raising, but there were Amish people building a structure, maybe a barn. And it got me to thinking about that. And that's just part of their heritage. When somebody's barn burns down, the whole community will come together and the men and the women, the youth and the children they'll all be together and they'll be focused on one project; working together, building something together, that only one family in their community is going to use. They're all focused on that and there's a tremendous amount of sacrifice that goes into that and it's been depicted in a number of movies and it's a powerful part of their community. And I got to thinking how much I wanted to see something like that happen in our church. Now don't misunderstand me. You're saying, "I don't really need a barn actually, I don't have any need for the church to come to my yard and build a barn." And I think we live in a different kind of situation, but the building I have in mind is of a spiritual nature more than anything. And I asked my brother in law Bill, who I just love and we're just good friends and I said, "Does that kind of thing still go on?" He said, "Yeah, frequently." As a matter of fact, he knows an Amish family and in that case, it wasn't a barn, and it was a bakery that had burned down. A young married couple’s had burned down, and the whole community came together and built the bakery again and now it's a thriving bakery in the community and the couple is doing well. So it's still going on. It's still part of their culture. And I just yearn to see that happen here spiritually, more than anything. We have a beautiful building here. We have a church that we meet together, our needs are met. I'm not saying that there couldn't be a fire in our community and the need for a house and all that, but I don't know that many of us would be qualified to do that kind of building, but I know this, that God is building a different kind of structure in our midst. He's building the church of Jesus Christ. We are members of the Church, we are living stones in that structure and we're not done being built. And so, it's really the Church that's in my mind today, the church, this local church, First Baptist Church, and then, the universal church. And I just have two questions I want to put before you, as I begin. First of all, just let me ask you personally, how important is the church to you? How important is it in your life? What is the church worth to you in your priority structure, what would you pay of yourself to see the church develop to full maturity? How much of a focus is the church in your life? That's just one question, it's different versions of the same question but that's the question, how important is the church to you? Second question, how important is the church to Jesus Christ? What was she worth to Jesus in His priority structure? He said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." That's his priority structure. That's what he's doing in the world. What was he willing to pay for the church, his own blood, shed on the cross. He shed His blood for her that she would be pure in his sight. How much of a focus is the church in his life? Well, I tell you He ever lives to intercede for her, that's what he's doing; he never forgets the church, it is in his mind all the time. Let me shift a little bit. Just speaking very sweetly positively. Do you realize what kind of riches there are for you sitting around you in this room right now? And probably you don't even know it. Brothers and sisters in Christ, a richness of fellowship, of prayer, of mutual sharing of the ministry of the Word of God, of fellow times of worship. You're rich people, and I don't think you even know it. I don't think I do either. And I just want us to plumb the riches of one another, in our fellowship together. I want you to have a sense this morning of just how much happiness awaits this church. If we can push through what I perceive to be somewhat of a ceiling, or a plateauing of our fellowship that we would push through that and see us reach a kind of a level of unity and of ministry that few churches frankly really attain. I'd like us to drink in the benefits of a healthy ministry together, a full benefit of all, of each other spiritual gifts and to enjoy fellowship with brothers and sisters. I don't want to hear any more, "I just didn't meet anyone Or I just couldn't connect or just the... The fellowship here, it's too far to drive," and all that. That one always gets me. We haven't moved. And the people that stopped coming because it was too far, they didn't move either as far as I could tell, same distance, check it on the GPS. What ends up happening is the attractive features that first drew them start to wane in their estimation, and some other problems start to rise, and so then they stop coming and they look for another place. And my goal is to kindle in your hearts a love for the church, for this church, if you're a member here that you would have a deep love for this church and I want to describe a fully healthy church for you. That's what I want to do and I want to look at these two passages that we've looked at, we already two weeks ago looked carefully at Hebrews 3:12-14. I want to add the other one that Ron read. Hebrews 10;24 and 25. Works out great that the ones he read are the same ones I'm going to preach on so that's fantastic, isn't that wonderful how that just works out. So just the Providence is wonderful, how that works. I. A Community Commitment to Holiness: Hebrews 3:12-14 But what I want to do in the first passage in Hebrews 3:12-14, is talk about the church negatively, the benefits of the church in a negative sense, by that I mean a community committed to fighting sin in each other's lives. We've got a negative battle of sin, we're all fighting it and that's why we're drawn together, for help in that battle. We are to be a community fighting that battle with sin for each other in each other's lives, positively a community, committed to full fruitfulness in each other's lives. Fruitfulness, that you, each of you would have a full harvest, a rich life of good works to show Jesus on judgment day. And all the more as you see the day approach and we're going to talk about that. These are the two things I want to simply put; negatively you need to be involved in a church, in this church, I think if you're called as a member here, to help you fight your sin battle and so you can help other people fight theirs, negatively. And then positively you need to be committed to this church. If you're a member here, you need to be committed to this church so that you can be maximally fruitful in your life for Jesus. Without the church you're going to be a victim of your own sinfulness, you're going to be left aside because of it. Satan is going to get you. I just say that with all the seriousness I can muster. If you're alone, you're going to be a victim. And positively, if you've got a church around you that cares, you're not. The Lord's going to use that church to protect you and concerning the spiritual gifts, you're going to be maximally fruitful, if you're involved in the church and you are not going to do all of those good works that God has laid out ahead of you, if you're not. Let's look first of all at the... First one, Hebrews 3, a community's commitment to holiness. Look again at the verses. "See to it brothers that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God but encourage one another daily as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at first." So I'm just going to review what we did two weeks ago. I did the acts of Jesus, basically, I decided then we're going to be doing two sermons on Hebrews Three. The first would be just careful acts of Jesus and then the second would be that applications that will take up most of our time today. Let me review the acts of Jesus. That there is a danger right in the word here, the danger is apostasy turns away from the living God, αποστασία is the Greek, so we get this word apostasy. The Greatest Danger: Turning Away from the Living God It's part of a series of warnings on that same theme. Hebrews 2:1. "We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." Hebrews 3:12 speaks about turning away from the living God. Hebrews 6:6, which God willing, we'll get to in due time, talks about falling away, don't drift away, don't turn away, don't fall away from the living God. That implies conversely that the goal of our salvation is proximity to God, closeness to God, to be very near him, to be very close to him. And so we looked at verses that talk about that in Hebrews. Hebrews 4:16. "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence." Hebrew 7:19 says the New Covenant is a better hope, "a better hope is introduced by which we draw near to God." How beautiful is that? And then Hebrews 10 just immediately before the verses that Ron read, it says, "Therefore brothers since we have confidence to enter the most holy place..." How could sinners like us do that? To enter into the Holy of Holies, but we have boldness to do it. "By the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith." So proximity to God is the goal of our salvation. So in these verses, these warning verses here in Hebrews 3: 12-14, you have a sense, as I mentioned two weeks ago, the greatest danger that faces you individually, and that is the loss of your soul, the eternal loss of your soul. What good would it be for a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul. What would a man give in exchange for his soul, your soul is in jeopardy through sin, apart from Jesus, you will be lost for all eternity. So I can do no better at this moment, then to plead with you, if you have not yet trusted in Jesus that you would come to Christ, come to the cross of Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, you cannot survive Judgment Day without Jesus, you'll be sent to hell, you'll be condemned righteously and justly for your own sins, your transgressions of God's law, but if you'll just simply believe. If you come to the cross where Jesus shed His blood, you will be forgiven and I plead with you. At this time, Christmas time, what a great time to be saved. I tell you, any time is a great time to be saved. Amen. But why not today? If you're on the outside looking in, don't stay on the outside of the church any longer, but come in and believe and be part be saved. So the root cause of this great danger is sin's effect on the heart. And we're going to spend some time thinking about this today. Verse 12. "See to it brothers that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God." Sinful heart of unbelief. And really, the key here in verse 13 is that the heart can be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. The deceit is the real issue. We're dealing here with sins you don't see in your own life. You've been deceived in some way by sin and you need help with that. You can't save yourself from sins about which you're deceived, you've got to have people to help you. That's the remedy here in verse 13. "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." So a healthy church will be active, daily active in protecting its own members from the deceitful-ness of sin. This is what we do for each other. And so we've got this deadly danger of indwelling sin, we talked about in Romans 7. Paul says, "I do not understand what I do, for what I want to do I do not do, and what I hate I do." And, "as it is, he says, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me" that does it. I think about all the revulsion you could ever muster. But those phrases should cause you to shudder, there should be a sense of revulsion. Sin is living in me. This wicked tumor, this parasite that would take my very life, is living inside me. Yes, it is, and we all have these deadly blind spots of how sin is cropping up in our lives, we can't see it. We need the insights of others to show us how sin is deceiving us. The warning of this passage is only those who finish ever really began. Look at verse 14 again, "we have come to share in Christ, [past tense] if we hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at first." In other words, only those who finish ever really began. That's what I get out of this, you see it. So I had people come up to me two weeks ago and ask a wonderful question, good question. The Impossibility of Losing Your Salvation Now, are you saying with this whole teaching on apostasy that you can lose your salvation? Of course, you can't lose your salvation. We have been given eternal life and it's going to last for all eternity. It is absolutely true that He who begins a good work he will carry it on to completion. "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and those who come to me, I'll lose none of them, but I'll raise them up at the last day." Of course, you can't lose it. My question is, do you have it or not? And don't you think you ought to know now while there's time to do something about it? So that's what we're talking about here. So, we have this community commitment to holiness. I'm going to talk about applications, but that's how we explained the verse last time. II. A Community Commitment to Fruitfulness: Hebrews 10:24-25 Let's look at the second passage, Hebrews 10: 24-25. Now, I'm going to... God-willing, if God gives me time, if I'm still alive and we have the opportunity to do this, I will preach on Hebrews 10: 24-25 more thoroughly. So I just want to give you a thumbnail sketch of what's going on here. I'm not going to set it in context, do any of that, but full treatment later, but let's just kind of grab at it a little bit and get some things. "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching." So the angle on this one is a positive one, it's a positive one. It's a community verse, it's a church verse. Look at it in verse 24, "And let us", plural, "let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together." It's a church verse. Let's encourage one another. This is definitely a church verse friends. It's a community verse, a church verse. And the goal of these two verses, is fruitfulness, maximal fruitfulness. It's toward love and good deeds that's what we're getting at here. We want the love and good deeds to happen. And so really it's each other’s full fruitfulness. I need to care about a brother or sister, that they are characterized by love and good deeds, and I'm going to do things toward them horizontally to help them do the love and good deeds that God wants them to do. So that's the goal. The idea is Judgment Day, it says all the more as you see the day approaching, the day is Judgment Day, what's going on that day? You're going to give Christ a full account for your life, you're going to stand before Jesus, He's going to ask for all of the things he committed to you back, and he's going to ask you for what came from, and he's going to ask, he said, "I gave you five talents, what did you do with them? I gave you two talents I gave you, did you do anything. Did you trade with them? Is there some interest on the investment?" "You're a vineyard. I put a wall around you. I dug out a wine press, I saturated the soil with fertilizer. I rained on you. I gave you sunshine. I gave you everything you need, where's the harvest? I want the crop. What came?" And you give Christ an account. So what this verse tells me is I should care about your account and you should care about mine, horizontally. Now don't just care about your own. I should care about the brother and the sisters account, that they're going to give to Jesus. All the more as you see the day approaching, I want you guys to be ready for that day. Positively ready. I want you to have a full treasure trove of good works to show to Jesus, so I preach toward that end. The Danger of Forsaking Church Now, the danger subverting all of this, is that some people make a habit of forsaking the assembling of themselves together. They make a habit of it friends. Let us not give up or forsake the assembling of ourselves together as some are in the habit of doing. The issue here is habitual forsaking of the assembly. The Greek word is ethos from which we get ethic. They make it an ethic, they make it an ethic of their lives to forsake the assembling of themselves. And as I've analyzed this, I see it in two senses, number one, someone who stays committed to the same local church, but is very spotty in their attendance, intermittent in their attendance. They don't come week by week by week. Now, if you think I'm preaching a legalistic thing. You've got to be every single, and you're a wicked sinner if you ever miss church, I'm not saying that. The verse talks about a habit and I'm talking about making a habit of forsaking it's a choice you make. Again, I'm not talking about home-bound people friends, they're not forsaken. They yearned to be here. That's not what this is talking about. This is talking about people that make a choice. Habitually make a choice to not go to go to the church that they're members of. There's a second sense, and this is more subtle, but it happens too. And these are people who forsake the congregation they were committed to, to go to another one for spurious reasons. Church nomads, church shopping, church hopping, church consumers. You know what happens with this category of people, they come, they like it for a while, there's certain features they like, and certain feature they didn't, but they were willing to put up with it, but then those features start to get, like on the sound board or their life started to get pushed up a higher level, the other things start to push down and then... Still living geographically in the same area, but not here anymore. They were members, they are no longer members. Now, I don't say that it's sinful for somebody to stay geographically in the same area and go from one church to another, God does do that. He calls people to do that. Again just hear me, I'm not preaching legalism here. What I'm saying is there is a category of people that left and shouldn't have. That's all I'm saying. They left and shouldn't have. They should have stayed committed to their church. What are they looking for? I think sometimes it's a selfish view of, " What's in it for me? What can I get? Do I like the music? Do I like the people? Do I like the feel here?" That kind of thing. The Need for “Spurring On” Alright, so that's the danger. But positively, speaking, we've got here in these verses, Hebrews 10:24-25, a community that there's a rich cross-pollination, fertilization going on, and we are provoking one another, the word says. Just sticking in people's craw, until they do what they need to be doing. I mean it's really almost, it's a negative word, but it needs to be done well friends. It needs to be done with gentleness, with tenderness and all that, but I'm just telling you what the word says, provoking or stimulating or I like this one spur one another on toward love and good deeds. I've got spurs, that jingle jangle jingle, that kind of thing. It's like, "Boy I need to be spurred on right now." Well, I've got just the person for you, says the Holy Spirit. And in that person comes to spur you on to love and good deeds but hey, look, there's right ways to do these things and wrong ways. But that's what we're talking about. Now central to this, we have to be together and we have to know each other. Now here I want to give you, I'm already just totally stealing the thunder of that sermon that I may preach. But you forget I forget when I come to it, in Hebrews 10, when's that going to be? In like the year 2012? I have no idea. You'll have forgotten this, and I can do it like it was fresh. Okay, fair enough. But actually, the NIV, and some other modern translations is slightly off here. Not harmfully off, but just slightly off. What does it say? "Let us consider... " What's the next word in the NIV? How. Let us consider how, implies we're studying a methodology. That's not what the Greek says. The direct object of the verb is one another. So "let us consider one another to spur toward love and good deeds" is somewhat awkward translation, but you get the idea, how does it work? It means you think about brother, A or sister B, and you think about what their gifts are, and say, "Lord what good works could they do... What do I think they'd be good at, how could I go and encourage them?" And then you start to say, "Hey look, when you do hospitality, you do it as well as anybody I've ever seen, do that even more. That's so beautiful, how you do that. I'm so blessed by the way that you teach the Word of God and Bible for life do that more and more. Listen, Sister when you pray, I am just so blessed by that, You just pray with the faith that is so deep and rich, and I'm, strengthened by that." So, you consider the people in your church, you consider them to find out, "Lord, how can I spur them on toward love and good deeds?" So translation should be, let us consider one another. That's really how it should go. I don't know that I've seen any of the translations that do that, maybe NIS does but I'm not really sure but that's what it teaches. Let's consider. Know and Be Known So therefore, key to both Hebrews 3, and Hebrews 10 is we must know and be known, we really do we have to know each other. You can't tell if a brother or sister developing a sinful heart of unbelief, unless you know them. Talked about that two weeks ago, how can you tell? You can't check their sinful heart of unbelief meter. I used to work in a company which I was exposed from time to time to x-rays, and I had to wear a little badge. And then they would look at it and read and see how the radiation levels were. Okay, it'd be so much easier we could do that. "Let me check your badge. How are you doing? Ohh sinful heart of unbelief starting to develop." It just doesn't go that way. What you have to do is develop relationships and I do not say that they will happen Person A with every other person, 400 people in the church. It will not. But I'm looking for network so no one slips through the cracks. See to it brothers that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart, So that God would raise up brothers and sisters, appropriately for each one in a network so that we can see if a sinful heart of unbelief is developing. See same thing on the positive side. Let us consider one another means I don't know if I can go up to this person I've never heard of, and say, "Hey, you'd be really good at such and such," If I don't know them. We've got to know and be known, bottom line. So that's why it's in the sermon title, know and be known. Let's know each other and let's be known by each other. III. Ten Steps for FBC Toward a Happier, Healthier Community Life Alright, now what I want to do is just give you some practical steps for First Baptist Church, toward a happier and healthier community life. 10 of them. And they feed on each other, they build on each other, there is a certain logical progression here, and I just think this is the key, if we can just imbibe these. 1) Desire to Grow in Salvation and Help Others to Grow Too Alright, number one, desire to grow in salvation and help others to grow too or simply put understand salvation as is taught in the Bible. I never tire of telling you that salvation is a process, justification, sanctification, glorification. So you have to realize that not a single person in this church is done being saved. Our salvation is an ongoing work and so is yours. If you don't understand salvation properly, you will not understand the local church and your need for it properly. You will think you can do it on your own and you will forget that you have not yet fully been saved, you're still working out, you should be, as the Bible says, working out your salvation with fear and trembling. Salvation comes in stages, justification, sanctification, glorification, all truly justified people will most certainly be sanctified. There's just an indissoluble link between the two. And so we need to understand that we're not done being saved and no one else is that's here on earth. And so, as I already quoted Philippians 2:12, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." I think when I'm getting out of Hebrews 3 and 10 is work out other people's salvation with fear and trembling too. Not just your own. But care about whether other people are making progress in their salvation. So step number one is desire to grow in salvation and help others to grow too. Or perhaps another title for this would be: Understand salvation properly. You're not done being saved. 2) Understand the Grave Danger We Are All In Secondly, understand therefore the grave danger every last one of us is still in. We are in a war zone, spiritually, you don't need the full armor of God, except that you're in a war and you are in a war. So we have to see with spiritual eyes, the incredible danger we're all in from the world, the flesh, and the devil. These three ancient foes of the church are relentless and deadly. Only if we properly see their danger, will be properly committed to a local church. Every last one of us is in a vicious fight for the health of our souls. It says in 1st Peter 2:11, "Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful lusts which wage war against your soul." We're in a firefight and an analogy I had this morning, as I was thinking, we're in a firefight and the church is the fox hole. It is a dangerous world we live in, and we ought to be aware of this warfare and be intensely interested in it and concerned about it, not just for ourselves, but for our fellow soldiers. Somebody's head is up too high out of the foxhole, if a buddy loves him he's going to push his head down. The tracer bullet goes just an inch over where his head just was a moment ago. Jesus was intensely concerned about leaving his church, here in John 17, He says, "I will remain," He's praying to God the night before He's crucified He's praying, He says, "I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world. And I'm coming to you. Holy Father protect them by the power of Your name, the name You gave Me. So that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe, by that name you gave me. None has been lost." Do you have a sense of the danger we're in? And that none of us would be lost? We need an active protection from the world, the flesh and the devil. The church is part of God's plan to protect you. So understand the danger all of us are in. 3) Develop an Eternal Perspective Thirdly develop an eternal perspective. Hebrews 10 talks about, "And all the more as you see the day approaching." We fail to fully invest in a local church because we think far too highly of this present age in which we live. We think too much of the world, and so we think too little of church. That's what's going on, they're head-to-head. I really think the biggest danger, the biggest threat to healthy Church life, is the American dream. That your life does in fact, consist in the abundance of your possessions or the abundance of your achievements. It's sucking time from the people of God that should be given to the church. And the only way we're going to remedy that is to say, "How is all this going to look on judgment day? How is it all going to look, when I stand before Jesus? Is this commitment to do this or to do that, or to do the other going to look good on judgment day? Or should I be pulling back in and do what God told me to do?" He told me, "Focus on Christ personally, stay abiding in the vine, and commit myself to the local church and build in each other's lives." That's what He told me to do. And so we need to see everything in light of eternity. This brother, this sister that we're standing near, someday he or she is going to stand before Jesus. Does that matter to you? Can you do like CS Lewis said, "Bear the weight of their glory?" Can you carry that weight for them and say, "I want you to be glorious and radiant, fully obedient to the Lord. I don't want you to be a casualty in this war and I want you to be fully fruit, I want you to be, I want you to be rich on Judgment Day. Rich in good works, I really want that for you." And you should want it for each other. So ask a simple question about your church involvement. What will the Lord say on Judgement Day concerning your level of involvement in your local church? Can developing an eternal perspective help you focus more on what Christ is doing in the world? And what is Christ doing in the world? I already told you, I will build my church. That's what he's doing in the world, so therefore to love the church is to love what Christ is doing in the world. To hate the church is to hate what Christ is doing in the world. And to be indifferent to the church is to be indifferent to what Christ is doing in the world. This is what He's doing. 4) Weed Your Life of Distractions Fourthly, Weed your Life of distractions. Worldly distractions. The world is full of alluring alternatives to healthy church involvement. Enticing alternatives to healthy church involvement. Jesus in the parable of the seed and the soil called them weeds, they are depleting the soil of nutrients and resources that should be going into spiritual growth in His children. And they're weeds, they're idols. And so, therefore we're going to hit a plateau. We are going to hit a plateau, is a glass ceiling or something like that of healthy church life. Unless we are willing to make hard choices about the way we spend our time. And weed our life of distraction. So do an inventory. How much time do you spend in good but not Christian activities? We are a busy people, and not only that, we pride ourself on our busyness. I see it, I see it, a glint of pride. Oh we're doing this, we're doing that, we're committed. Well, we're running in 40 different directions. I just sense Satan in all that. Don't you? Growing families, who want experiences for their kids, they want their kids involved in different things; music, sports, scouting, community involvements, other things like that. Now let me tell you something, I'm always skating right on the edge of legalism. These things may be exactly what God's calling your family to do. This is exactly how you are called as a family to interact with unbelievers. This is your missionary endeavor. Do it to the... I'm just asking you through the Spirit, and through the Word of God to do an analysis of it, to do an assessment of it. Look at your time. It could be that you're too busy with good activities you have no time to develop your church commitments and relationship. And then there's the other side. How much time do you spend on just personal recreation, hobbies, electronic entertainment? We talk about it all the time, cable TV, internet, MP3 players, Wii Or X-box or whatever? I don't even know what's hot this Christmas, there's something every Christmas, they stand in line at three in the morning to get it. So I don't know what it is this year, but you know what I'm talking about, or... And please don't come and yell at me about this: golf. God may be calling on you to golf. Again I'm always... I'm not saying thou shalt not golf. But maybe there's too much of a good thing. Honey is sweet, just eat a little and then go on and be committed to the church. Hunting, I don't know. Shopping, I don't know what it is for you, but just do that inventory. 5) Love Your Brothers and Sisters in Christ With Sacrificial Love Fifth, love your brothers and sisters, with a sacrificial love. Simply put we will not make any changes in this area without sacrifice. You're just not going to. You have to love the brothers and sisters from the heart and care enough about their spiritual health, negatively and positively, to be involved in their lives and it takes sacrifice to do it. A fundamental discipline, Christian discipline is hospitality. It says in 1 Peter to offer it without grumbling. Well, the reason that we're tempted to grumble is that it is a sacrifice to open your home. And so it just takes sacrifice, to get to know the brothers and sisters, without the sacrifice your connection to the church will be limited. And I worry, when I do exit interviews with people who stay in the same geographical region but go to a different good church. I hear so often, nobody ever reached out, nobody ever connected. Can I just turn that around. And I'm not... I tend to be meek as a lamb at times like that. Maybe I should be more like a lion. I don't know people have different ministries, different personalities, but did you sacrifice yourself for somebody else here in this church? I find the people that do that, they never complain about they don't have enough friends. They don't have any... They just don't, they're just deluged with friends and connections. But it doesn't happen without sacrifice and yet part of it could be material. We have some needy people in the church that are struggling economically and 1st John 3 says, "If you have the world's goods, and see your brother in need, and don't do anything to help it how can you say the love of God is in you?" So some of our fellowship is going to be almost a literal kind of... Well, not exactly a barn raising, but sometimes there's going to be a time that we're going to be there with resources to help each other. But I'm talking, especially spiritually that we would sacrificial love each other, spiritually enough to listen, "What's going on in your life?" And then when they start to unload some mess on you, you're like, "I don't really want to get involved to that level." Sacrifice and love. 6) Humble Yourself Number six, humble yourself. This may be the hardest of all. Know and be known takes humility, it really does. What do I mean? Well, we have a tendency to present a spiritual facade to our brother and sisters and say, "Hey look, everything's going great." Or, and I'm going to tread on some toes here, including my own, but to have a category of, I guess one book calls it, "Acceptable sins that you can share." You know what I'm talking about? I'm really struggling with, I'm only praying an hour a day, and really God's been leading me to..." It's like come on. Is that really where your flesh is at work right now? Yeah, well I'm not sharing that. That would make me look like a horrible sinner that struggles with the flesh. Well, you've got to be humble, you've got to be willing to open up and be genuinely humble. Now, CJ Mahaney has done us all a good work by writing a book on this topic, Humility: True greatness. And he has a chapter entitled, inviting and pursuing correction. How's that sound to you? Does that sound good? I would like you to correct me, I invite you to correct me and to help me with my sin problems. It takes humility to do it. Now you know the story he told, it's very famous about a wealthy-looking guy, a business man who's at a breakfast shop, and he's eating a bagel, and he's got an Armani suit and he's got a well groomed moustache, he's got a Rolex watch, and he keeps glancing at his Rolex watch, because he's late to a meeting, and as he gets up to leave, he's got a big blob of cream cheese on his mustache. And CJ Mahaney is wondering "Should I say something?" Think about, would you say something? Total stranger, "You have a big blob of cream cheese on your face. I'm not sure you're wanting to bring that to whatever meeting you're going to." Listen to this, now, I want to read this direct quote because this is powerful and as you listen, I want you to hear. I'd like this kind of fellowship go on in our church. This is a clear description of what I'm asking God to do here in this church. Listen, let me tell you says CJ Mahaney about a cream cheese moment in my life. "One of many such experiences that have helped convince me that there is no sin more deceptive than pride. I am in an accountability group, with men who care for and watch over my soul." Do you hear that? I'm urging that kind of thing for men and women in the church. "In a meeting with these brothers, I was telling them of a certain pattern of sin, a specific pattern of sin I'd noticed in my life in the past week, I'd become aware of this sin and been convicted about it, and I'd confessed it to God, and I'd received His forgiveness. Now, I wanted to inform these men about it as well, and move on, because there was another particular issue that I was more concerned about and wanted to discuss with them. But as I described in detail my sin from the previous week, my friend started to ask caring and insightful questions about the root issue behind the sin." In effect, not so fast CJ, let's hang out here for a minute. "I assured them that the root issue was obvious: It was pride. I even transitioned into a brief teaching on pride. And then let the guys know I wanted to move on to something else, that I thought was more important and more serious. There was almost certainly a tone of mild irritation, in my voice. But the men had more questions. They had observations. And they began to challenge me to look deeper at the pattern of sin I had shown in the previous week. Again, I felt irritation. I assumed I understood that particular sin completely. Why were we spending so much time on something I had already figured out. In essence there was cream cheese all over my face and I didn't know it. My underlying sin had deceived me, I was blind, I didn't see it, I couldn't see it. But they saw it clearly. And in my pride, I thought no one understood my heart as well as I did, but Scripture doesn't support such a conclusion. Actually God's word tells me, "No, CJ, sin is subtle, sin is deceitful and sin blinds you, and you need feedback from others in order to understand your own heart." That's the church friends. He writes, "By God's grace because the men seated around me in that room are true friends who care for me and aren't afraid of me they persevered. Though I was arrogant not only in assuming I fully understood my sin and it's root issue, but also my reluctance to explore it more deeply, these men still persevered in kindness. And only by their kindness, and perseverance and only by God's grace did I finally begin to perceive how much my sin had indeed been deceiving me. I saw that my confidence about fully knowing my soul in the situation and in assuming I needed no one else’s eyes upon it was actually the height of arrogance. They were guarding my heart, they were helping me to see the true extent of my sin. I thought I'd already wiped the cream cheese from my face, and it was gone and they were faithfully telling me, 'it's not gone we're staring at it! And we're telling you this because we love you.'" Do you really want something like that in your life? And if the answer is no, aren't you already in spiritual danger? Now, there's more to say about all this. There are right ways to do it and wrong ways to do it they're right people to do it, and ones that probably aren't going to be as effective for you. May God match you up like a heavenly matchmaker to the right ones. There's a gentleness and a reciprocity that's so beautiful, but I want this done in my life, and I want you to want it done in your lives, so that no one slips through the cracks here. 7) Know and be Known So therefore, number seven is no one be known. Be willing to open up. I've already made this point. Hebrews 3, you've got to know and be known, for the sinful unbelieving heart and Hebrews 10 know and be known for your spiritual gifts. So be willing to invest in relationships. Pull down the facade, tell the truth. 8) Encourage by the Gospel Number eight, encourage by the Gospel. In verse 3:13it says, "Encourage one another daily as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sins deceitfulness." Hebrews 10:25, "Let us encourage one another." So, encouragement means fill your conversations with the Gospel. Fill your conversations with Christ crucified and risen, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, and future in heaven and judgement day and the seriousness of that. Just fill, saturate these relationships with the gospel. I'm not just talking about friendships, drinking tea partners or something like that, I'm not talking about that friends. That's just, that's the matrix of it. What I'm talking about is the actual sharing of the Word of God in these relationships. Men get together with other men one-on-one small groups share the Gospel with each other. Share scripture with each other. Women get together with in accountability relationships, prayer partners, do it. Youth share the Gospel with each other, challenge each other, by the gospel, help each other grow. Senior adults in your social times together, your outings and you're just eating a meal together, share the Gospel with each other. Encourage one another daily. 9) Pray Consistently for the Spiritual Health of Church Members Ninth, pray consistently for the spiritual health of church members. Now here I get very practical, and I'm going to share with you a commitment that the elders have made. This is like one of the center pieces of our ministry to the church. In 2011 we would like each of you to have a Church's membership directory, see this is a little one that fits inside your Bible, right in there. You can get bigger ones too. And what I'd like you to do, I'd like you to pray through this thing every month. I'd like you to take the day that it is, like today is December 12th, open at page 12 and pray for the people on that page. And then put it back in your Bible, and the next day pray for those on page 13. And by the way, there's a... What do we have now? 24 pages, pray that in two years we'll need 30 pages. Amen? Right now, you get six free days at the end of the month or seven, pray for anyone you want in those seven days. On the back inside, there are spiritual things to pray for. We're not just praying for medical issues or things like that. Financial, pray for spiritual growth and development things. Right on the back page, it's right in there. Every single day, the elders are going to do it. We are... Been doing it, but we're going to do it all the more, And we're urging you as well to do this. They're at the exits. Pick one up as you go. And if you get on that page and you're like, " I don't know anyone on this page." Well invite somebody over to lunch. Say," I was praying for you today, and I don't know you. And I want to get to know you." Have lunch with them. 10) Be Committed to Public Worship and Home Fellowships And then finally, 10th. And this is simple and obvious and straightforward, be committed to public worship and home fellowships. Don't be a church hopper. Don't come to me six months and tell me it's just not a great fellowship here and we... Don't do that, don't. Make it great. Reach out, connect with people. And if you're saying the distance is too far, that's what home fellowships are for. Be committed to your home fellowship, and what I mean be committed means when you sign up in August, still be coming in November and December. I don't mean to sting or whatever... I'm just saying, please if your commitment means yes, I'm going to be there then be there, again not legalistic. I know occasionally we need to miss, but what is the habit? Is your habit to keep coming to home fellowship, or is your habit to miss? And then in the context of that you can do so many things. Look use lunchtime after worship for getting to know people. Let's do some practical things. One final word, and I'll be done. This Wednesday in Acts class, we've been studying John Calvin. We're not going to do that this Wednesday, we're going to talk about these 10 points. And I'd like you to come. I'd like you to come and share your ideas and thoughts. There's going to be some give and take and some prayer. And I think it'd be a good time for us as a church to gather together and say, "Hey how can we make FBC a more Hebrews 3, Hebrews 10 kind of church? How can we do that? And I think it's going to be a fruitful time. Let's close in prayer. Father, we thank you for the time we've had in the word today, and thank you for just opening up this opportunity for us to listen and learn. And so Father, I pray in Jesus name, that you would take these truths and press them into our hearts, we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

The Beauty of Community Commitment to Each Other I'm so eager to preach this sermon to you. I can't wait, I can't wait. I just want to see the effect of the Word of God. Not just today, but over years to come. Just have in my heart a...