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PathLight

Book Reviews, Goble Properties, PathLight,

Under New Management

David Burkus has written a fun book for anybody who manages people. Under New Management looks at how organizational management is changing in ways we never thought realistic. You really should get a copy of this book if you oversee any group of people.

Some of the ideas are idealistic — such as chapter one, “Outlaw Email.” Other ideas are very thoughtful and doable, such as chapter two, “Put Customers Second.” Many of the ideas, such as “Hire as a Team” and “Fire the Managers”, have been around a long time but have only recently gained steam in the marketplace.…

Belize, PathLight,

Poverty Does Not Surrender

It was a calm Friday morning at the PathLight office in Belize – well, as calm as could be expected when dozens of students were coming by to pick up their textbooks. Orderly and focused, the students were full of smiles as the PathLight mentors guided them through the process. I was with my wife D’Aun and a group of friends who joined us so they could see what PathLight was doing to help students like these.

Dennis Thomas, PathLight’s Belize Field Director, gathered my friends into a private room to share a few thoughts. He told us about the …

Book Reviews, PathLight,

Shane Claiborne

Last week Shane Claiborne was in town for a PathLight luncheon. It was an honor to interview him and hear his take on faith, culture, justice, and activism. Plus I had fun teasing him about not following me on Twitter (he does now — woohoo!).

Shane is deeply concerned about the death penalty and recently wrote Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why It’s Killing Us. Although our interview did not cover this topic, PathLight gave a copy of the book to the 35 people who attended the luncheon. It is a powerful account of the …

Belize, PathLight,

PathLight Leadership

It’s hard to believe that this will be PathLight’s tenth year. It was 2006 when Mark and Adrienne Parcher partnered with D’Aun and me to begin this wonderful journey. Joined by my assistant, Anne Stoneberger, we started a nonprofit and got to work. We had no idea we were launching a ministry that could impact an entire nation!

It started with the humble desire to serve. We were not sure in what capacity to serve, but we clearly felt God’s calling on our hearts. In time we saw the opportunity to impact the education system in Belize through personalized programs …

PathLight,

Back from Belize

I returned from Belize a week ago and I’m still excited about the amazing things happening there. PathLight is doing something special and the team is up to something big!

The trip began with a staff retreat on the coast, and it was fun to hang out with such great people. We had productive meetings of course, but we also had delicious meals together, sang karaoke songs on the pier (well, okay, the others sang as I laughed with them), and enjoyed the beautiful Caribbean.

Conversations ranged from forward looking ideas about expansion to basic housekeeping topics like the staff …

PathLight,

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Junkyard Wisdom! Here’s a letter I wrote some time ago but still seems powerful and has always been one of my favorites. My hope is it gathers us together toward the true hope, meaning, and power of Christmas.

David L. Fleming writes, “The son of God became poor by becoming incarnate. He embraced poverty in the circumstances of his earthly life. God was born in a stable manger and was given the name Jesus. His parents fled with him as refugees to escape a murderous tyrant. Later he lived a simple workman’s life in Nazareth. He became …

Belize, PathLight,

PathLight Catalog

Tired of buying gifts nobody wants? Me too. So here’s a great alternative from PathLight. Gifts that truly matter and give back to those who need it most.

Here’s how it works:

(1) Choose a gift in honor of somebody on your list.

(2) After checkout PathLight will provide a beautiful, downloadable card to share.

(3) You make a big difference for students, teachers, and communities in Belize.

Super easy, super cool, and frankly it gets at the heart of Christmas. Sponsor a student, train a teacher, provide tutoring, buy a meal…simple, easy, meaningful gifts that whoever you honor …

PathLight,

Concert in the Vineyard

So who wants to go to a concert in the vineyard?!?!

Crawdad Republic, a blue grass band, is performing in our Livermore vineyard on September 19, from 6-9 pm. Food will be provided by Double Barrel Wine Bar, and McGrail Vineyards will have wine available. All profits from tickets will go to PathLight.

The weather in September should be wonderful — though it might get a bit chilly so bring a sweater. The sun sets across the vineyard and we should have a beautiful evening of good food, good wine, and fun music. Plus lots of fun friends …