Leadership & Management | Sonnie's Porch

Tithing and Financial Freedom

March 29th, 2009

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tithing1

A few Sunday’s back, instead of the usual scenario where I follow up my kids to bring their tithes to the Lord, they proudly came to me prepared.

I have been instilling to my children the value of tithing and how this should be handled.

A tithe is giving back to the Lord the 10% of your earning as a sign of respect. It’s not about the amount, rather the act of worship.

It’s NOT an Old Covenant requirement but a biblical practice long before Moses set up the Old testament worship rules. Abraham gave a tenth of his loot to God even before the nation of Israel was established.

The principle of tithing was established during the creation, in the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve everything but gave strict instruction not to touch the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil (that’s the tithe).

What’s Wrong With The News?

February 28th, 2009

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Every time I listen or read the news form the mainstream media, specially on the aspect of the economy, it’s as if doomsday is at hand. I’m certain the folks behind mainstream media exert considerable effort to balance their story, but the impression it creates, at least on me, is still negative.

Last Wednesday, a colleague and myself attended a gathering of entrepreneurs and top executives to learn the best business practices during hard times. Part of the discussion is the Philippine economic outlook for 09. While it is true that we are affected, and corruption is rampant, it is not that bad after all. We are better off than our neighbors and the Philippine economy is still expected to grow together with China and India. If my understanding is correct, our economy is not dependent on exports, like Hong Kong and Singapore, and we consume 60-70% of our produce. Add to these, are the remittances from OFW’s.

Loyalty

February 16th, 2009

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Loyalty

It’s supposed to be a season where job is a rare commodity, but I received a call from a headhunter requesting for my updated CV. Her client is a flourishing company, despite the present crisis, and in need of someone to head their HR dep’t. The budget is rather tempting, so before I put myself in a complex situation, I decided to politely pass the opportunity.

I have seen people change employers as often as they change their underwear, in the name of money. While this is not necessarily wrong, I am not comfortable with it for several reasons:

Make 2009 A Better Year

January 1st, 2009

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As we celebrate the new year with festivities, in another part of the world, they are observing it with air raids, bombs, fear, and uncertainty.

Blame it not on Israel for it’s continued air raid and ground assault, neither the Hamas for the rockets fired. This conflict had it’s root from the decisions made by one man.

A look at history will help us make better and conscious decision for 2009.

Both the Arabs and Jews look at Abraham as their father, and both are monotheist. But why are they at war with each other?

The problem goes beyond the establishment of the nation Israel on what the Palestinians claim as their land.

It goes back to the ancient times when God promised Abraham that through his seed, God will establish a great nation (Gen 15). The promise, from the Jewish perspective, becomes a reality through Isaac and Jacob. On the Arabs perspective, the promised became a reality thru Ishmael .