Mark Waltz | ...Because People Matter

Michael Franzese | Insider Business Tips from a Former Mob Boss

Skills are skills. Christ-follower or not. That's why I've never understood the choice some Christians make to find a "christian plumber", "christian roofer", or a "christian surgeon." Skills are skills. You can be a Christ-follower and be a poor plumber, a rotten roofer or a scary surgeon. Skills are skills.

Before Michael Franzese was transformed by God's grace, he was among the best at what he did. He made money. Lots of money. He was a successful businessman - with the mob. Michael had... and has skills.

That's why I think you should read Michael's latest book, I'll Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse (Thomas Nelson). If you run a business, lead people, want to be successful in life, or want to better navigate a difficult financial climate, read Michael's book. Michael has skills.

And, Michael has met Jesus. And that's changed - not his skills, not his street smarts, not his seasoned experience - but, Jesus has changed his motivation (and he operates within the law now). And that changes the outcome.

That's why I recommend Michael's book to pastors and church leaders, too. Michael doesn't just understand financial success, he understands people, goals, and bottom-lines.

I had a chance to ask Michael some questions about his book. Read on to hear from Michael in his own words:

Me: Michael, your story of life inside, and outside, the mob is captured in a gripping way in your book, Blood Covenant. In it you shoot pretty straight about the change Jesus Christ has worked in your life. What motivated you to write this new book - about business?

Michael: There are business insights I wanted to share that I developed from my old life that I am sure would be beneficial for all those engaging in or planning to be in business today. Insights that can’t be learned in a classroom or boardroom but rather that were developed on the streets.

Ashton Kutcher, Jesus Christ, & Love

I'm sure I don't have the full story. It's tough to capture someone's full journey from Twitter, although it can be quite revealing. Jeff Bell turned me onto Ashton Kutcher's Twitter today. He'd begun following his Tweets, intrigued by Ashton's frequent comments of his reading of The Shack.

To me, there's something about Kutcher that's free-spirited, fun and... well, just entertaining, so I hopped online to check out Ashton's thoughts. I stopped when I read this:

"I've had over 200 reply's about God Jesus etc. and the one word not mentioned is the only essential word LOVE."

It made me sad, then mad. Apparently, Jeff and I weren't the only God-believing Twitter stalkers to check out Kutcher's reading notes. And apparently, there are still a bunch of Christians who still miss the point.

Jesus summarized the whole Law, the whole story, the whole kingdom with these words:

"Love the Lord your God... and your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22.37-38)

Ashton, I'm sorry we missed the point while trying to make a point. Again.

Christians and Politics Make Me Crazy

I know that statement is a generalization. I know two or three Christians who have an informed, intelligent, graceful approach to politics. But, for the most part Christians and elections irritate me.

People are well-intended. I really think they are.

But it seems at election time Christians take up special license to...

• slander others
• invoke fear
• bottom-line issues without entering meaningful dialog

Much of this seems to be done based on hyperbole, worst case scenarios, and hot button issues. Most of it is thrown around in conversation, emails and blogs based on "research" consisting of someone else's poorly researched email forward, hate-filled blog posts and uninformed web articles. Christians enter the political spotlight with fictional time-warp letters of what is to come; they go on TV believing they're the only ones with family values; they attempt to trump with their Democrat or Republic card as though Christians can only be one or the other.

I'm tired of Christians behaving as though politics has a savior. I'm saddened when they pretend their view on a few "key" issues defines their spirituality. I'm angered that we alienate each other and a society of people who desperately need to know they matter to God.

• Every candidate matters to God.
• Every nameless person pegged and targeted by the "key" issues matters to God.
• Every person labeled conservative or liberal matters to God.
• Every voter. Every American. Every inhabitant of the planet matters to God.

That message gets shadowed, even lost, when we make a party the "right" party; when we label people based on voters' guides; when we boil the Kingdom agenda down to only a few things we call "critical."

Here are some other thoughts while I'm making my single political post:

• Have an opinion. But be well-informed. Many people who debate abortion, gay issues, war, even the economy draw quick conclusions with little listening. We tend to not finish the conversation. We confuse methods with outcomes and often miss the life/God-honoring outcome we could achieve if we really entered the complex dialog. Then, have an opinion.
• Be respectful. There's no room for slander. Just because you don't know McCain or Obama personally doesn't give you license to talk or write about them with hate or false witness (that's a top 10 commandment).
• Go vote. Regardless who you vote for - vote. Do so by reading blogs, books, articles that you would not normally read because you suspect you disagree. Read widely. Pray constantly.
• After Tuesday, November 4 - shut-up. Shut down any complaints, slander, fear-stirring. Pray. Pray for our new president and our new vice president. Pray for the men and women of congress. Pray for local, state and federal leaders.
• Then put all your convictions about "key" issues that have anything to do with the Kingdom into personal practice. Love God and love others well. Deeply. Value life and people the way God does -  in your speech, your service, your time, your resources, your heart.

I'm praying God will give me courage and clarity to practice what I'm preaching.