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A year ago I shared my encounter with the generosity of Amazon even though what took place was my fault.

Each year on March 18th, I will continue to post about the greatness of Amazon and recall this story of generosity.

Call it a business model if you would like but this one encounter has sold me as an advocate for Amazon and specifically the Kindle.

It makes me wonder if this one positive encounter can make me an advocate for Amazon/Kindle then what could churches learn from Amazon's emphasis on generosity and hospitality (even when dealing with a person who messed up and it cost Amazon money to remedy my mistake).

I came across Crowdtap while reading the "generosity project" blog.  Here is what the blog author says about Crowdtap:

Crowdtap is a marketing themed social game, integrated with Facebook, that let's members showcase their marketing skills with brands, acquiring points that build their status, and earning cash for gift cards and charity. From answering quick polls, ideating on marketing approaches and evaluating creative to sampling new products and throwing branded parties with their friends, Crowdtap provides a unique blend of online gaming paired with real world challenges. Participation is free, fun and rewarding.


It is still in beta and I am not very 'into it' just yet, but more exploring to come.

Theologizing on Seth Godin’s mini-essay in the “What Matters Now” project – “Generosity”

“When the economy tanks, it’s natural to think of yourself first. It turns out that the connected economy doesn’t respect this natural instinct. Instead, we’re rewarded for being generous.”

It might be said the American Christian church is suffering a form of “tanking”. While this is somewhat general and broad, it might be argued the Christian voice in America has been diluted by American exceptionalism, patriotism, individualism, consumerism, and several other ‘isms’ to the point that for many Christianity and American are almost interchangeable. The Church has lost its vision and focus and identity in many ways, and we are ‘tanking in many ways.

The declining of church membership and people joining “religion” can be seen and has been argued that the American Church is tanking and this has resulted in many faith communities looking inward. As Godin states, this is natural, but this ‘natural’ instinct is actually perpetuating the thing many faith communities are looking to reverse. As we look inward to meet our needs, we are not reaching out to meet the needs of our neighbor. This inward focus works like a spiral moving churches further and further downward until the church reaches the point of irrelevance or non-existence.

Rather, the Church needs to look outward. I know this is hard. I know this means those of us in the Church may have to stop doing ministries that feed only ourselves. We have to be willing to do ministries which there may not ever be a “return on the investment”. We may have to go into debt in order to help lift others out of the hell they are in.

I think the question that this sort of generosity asks is this: Is the Church for the people in the walls or outside the walls?

Let’s face it no church can walk this line perfectly and meet needs for BOTH. Every church will focus a little more on either those inside or those outside the Church. If we are going to focus a little more on those in the church then our inward spiral begins and slowly moves our churches into non-existence. So we cannot afford to only focus on the insiders only a little more than outsiders. Churches have to put the focus on those outside the Church.

And when that outward over inward focus happens, when that generosity happens, we will be moving toward the goal. Just look at the life and actions of Jesus.

Jesus was an outward focused person.