GES

Be aware that Green R&D Projects appearing in the table above involve several radical innovations that always are hard to estimate regarding both time and cost. Relatively speaking, shorter times bring higher cost; longer times may allow lower costs AND final product refinement.  Prototyping resolves uncertainties and demands more patient, crafting labor.  Automated production efficiencies come into the picture later.

Donors purposing support of a capital budget involving R&D projects must exercise a degree of faith in helping to advance along the Green Corridor of Progress.  Projects can easily demand two or three times the dollar investment or time investment, or they may take half the expected expense or time. Much depends on design and who does the work. Qualified Spiritual men bring advantage to the implementation effort because the same Spirit that inspired the project is at work in the hands-on progress towards commercial success. It can take uncertain time to find such men, yet their input is far more important than schedule. Money is similarly less important in Spiritually-driven projects vis a vis financially-clocked industrial or government R&D projects. Lowest bidder doesn’t mean best bidder. Those devoted to doing God’s bidding are the best overall performers. Accordingly, it is necessary that capital project donors not try to assume the role of project manager over their gracious investment.  They give money, with hope, to someone else (GES).  It is no longer theirs.  Neither is it tax money demanding accountability to taxpayers, or venture money demanding accountability to investors, or company money demanding accountability to stockholders, or even loan money demanding payback with interest.  Every project is in God’s hands, and, ideally, in the guided hands of His servants, for His glory. GES donors are Spiritual givers supporting the work of God’s Kingdom with prudence and hope, and are best involved as prayer warriors for success as the baton of financial instrumentality is passed. Attempting to wield a financial or schedule yardstick over GES or its collaborators tends to surrender God and His Called agents to outside forces of unknown Spirituality, worldly expertise, or motivation.

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The tax-supported federal government has probably managed more projects and larger projects than anyone on the planet. Yet, their record for meeting either expense targets or schedule targets has been rather poor.  It is not that they fail dedication or accurate feedback (progress reporting to the government is administratively daunting). I would offer the simple explanation that it is easier to count money and days than it is to comprehend sophisticated organizations, professionals, and technology embodied in government project work. So, for GES, progress is entrusted to trustworthy servants of God, to God Himself, and to God-prospered donors whose effectual, fervent prayers give angel wings of success to their money. God knows all (1 Corinthians:2.16), we know some, and we let His will prevail (James:4.13-15), trying to obediently stay un-anxious (Philippeans:4.6). God ultimately answers all our prayers (1 John:5.14-15). Along the way, however, we must be satisfied with interim responses of “Yes, No, or Later,” as we refine our petitions and service (James:4.3).  
    
Christian ministers and missionaries usually are supported by faithful monthly giving from those served or sending. There is no issue of term or interest rates. Giving is tax deductible. A minister’s income treatment usually is handled by a board, trustees, or other agencies elected from and by a congregation, to represent them. His home (manse) and car often are given at no cost to him.  Non-profit agencies are handled similarly. Higher-level executives of for-profit companies also are accorded perquisites, like a company car, stock participation, and time-deferred income.

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Global Environmental Service cannot structure like a church or non-profit agency. Salutary projects, products, and processes must diffuse throughout the economy and become mainstream commerce if they are to relieve broad-based problems. Accordingly, business men (ideally Christian business men) must be free to plan, invest, negotiate capital needs, organize, buy land, build plants, acquire equipment, hire staff, design management control, debug manufacturing, develop a market, make a profit, pay taxes, etc., like any other business. Not-for-profit oversight boards can shackle an efficient, well-functioning, entrepreneurial business enterprise, especially if it is technically intensive. Since so many societal situations needing remedy have escalated to an emergency level, moving effectively to relieve problems in a context of crisis management further adds to cost.  Accordingly, estimates of capital costs of the sort faced by Global Environmental Service rarely derive from established market prices.  Innovation newness adds much uncertainty and cost escalation. A context of crisis brings even more cost escalation. Characteristically high first-costs can and should translate into good final solutions when God is for us (Romans:8.31).  Spiritually-motivated worldly-wise answers will be rich in potential for lowering cost of living, generating more economical products & processes, and adding permanence.

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Historically, the U.S. has relied upon organizations of greater and greater size to address its growing inventory of problems and bring about relief.  Big government, big business, big military, big finance, even big church or big entertainment, have moved center-stage and held onto respect from concerned citizenry. In the context of present super-bigness, however, there emerges an inescapable inertia and distancing from the individual, the grass roots, the details, even from things Spiritual. Super-organizations become detached, less manageable, slower to adjust.  They move too strong, often devaluing micro-individuality by their massive nature.  Accordingly, GES and other singleton voices of counsel that have greater freedom to inquire and adapt are becoming worthier navigators to society and to super-organizations. It is to individuals that inspiration, creativity, invention, and answers to perplexity flow. Organizations become important or essential for implementation work, once the spark of enlightenment emerges from solitary minds, often spiritual minds:

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Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,
 with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James:1.17

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My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (trials); Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting (lacking) nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James:1.2-8

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The Priesthood of Science & Technology (PST) is both spiritually-wise and worldly-wise. Their forte is to conceive ideas ideally worthy of business AND generate a start-up, usually by drawing others into it. If they enter their own business, it is unlikely that they will be free to serve any other subsequent need.  In difficult times, there usually is problem diversity beckoning solution diversity.  So, keeping the flow of heavenly creativity going requires that the priestly catalyst remain in a supported, diversely generative (multi-entrepreneurial) mode, and not settle into a single-business service-and-benefit stream.

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Unlike a world or nation or state government, Spiritual priesthoods do nothing via taxation. They spearhead establishment of a nation run by charity, totally free of taxes (Matthew:17.25-26).  It may just be their own money and labor and ideas that spark a start-up. If an elite knowledge worker is given a dislocation-free career, his post-career repertoire may be robust enough to self-generate a second career God inspires (Second Wind). In times of tribulation, however, few Spiritual people make it through career time unchecked financially. Usually, Christian wallets empty first when the going gets tough.  God always motivates remedial service, but His men may not always have the financial where-with-all to fund it. Therein rests the occasion for charity support from those foreseeing, needing, or receiving sacrificial service (Matthew:10.9-10).  Good shepherds serve no matter what, but supported service can go further and faster (John:10.10-13).  Those who laid heavy burdens on Jesus (Israel and Ancient Rome) did not do well in the aftermath. The Church Jesus commissioned began on a shoestring, but patiently and ultimately brought prosperity above all other kingdoms on earth.

The Priesthood of Science & Technology harbors holiness above worldly businesses or governments or social institutions. That qualification comes direct from God, and accords such men answers from heaven to ALL earth’s problems (John:15.7). The high priest of God gives gifts and makes sacrifices in the NAME (logos) of God (Hebrews: 5.1). He is not free to interpose worldly authorities between himself and the Almighty.  He must keep the chain-of-command pure. Worldly interposition would move the Son away from divine purpose into who knows what.  It is a direct report, never revoked, never violated. It may seem like autonomy, but the Free Man of God is obedience-bound to his Heavenly Father in an eternal sacred trust matched nowhere else on Earth (John:8.28-29,38).

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Jesus was a high priest of God, and the Bible testifies of such Called men (see Hebrews). Pharisees wanted to dominate him, but He could not subordinately join their numbers, as He was holy above any of them. Neither could He let pagan Rome rule His life and service. He was careful to protect traceability of the chain-of-command, that all might know He was God’s Son, obediently following every order of the Father. For-Profits and Non-Profits always have boards of directors, men usually with financial expertise and social conscience. They should not rule a Holy Man, lest money matters or the will of the people dictate Spirit. Not even churches or denominations or Christian service organizations should rule God’s High Priest. Ministers of even the highest in these categories are at best a form of Levitical priesthood, that is, priests of the law. That law connection is why modern Christians should seek Churches that preach true to the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Only one high priest from among the Levites was ordained to enter the Holy of Holies, and that was by God’s ordination. He is the highest intercessor, just above the Priests of the Law. His support was to come from God’s people through the Levitical priests.  Of course, corruption at the time of Jesus kept Our Lord from receiving anything direct from the Synagogues or Levites or extant High Priest. He was not a corrupt Levite.  He came from the Tribe of Judah . . . or heaven!  Offerings to Him came direct from the emerging community of faith, persuaded of His gifts and integrity of his sacrifices on their behalf. The old order mired in hypocrisy and denial. What disaster would have ensued if Jesus succumbed to the authority of High Priest Caiaphas, or the Levites, or the Pharisees, or the Sadducees, or Rome, or the wilderness serpent. He even made sure His dear Mother Mary was not promoted over Him during adult life (Matthew:12.46-50; John:2.4). He always preserved that vital connection to His heavenly Father, and that is always what we should look for and cling to, especially in times of tribulation.

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Jesus made sure His Church did not bow to money authority either. The Good Shepherd gives, even when there is no money, because he draws from a Well of Salvation that never runs out (John:10.10-13, John:4.7-29). The Apostles quickly learned that truth as they continued Jesus’ ministry on Earth after the Ascension. Judas left them beforehand, because there was no more money in the purse. So, the Inner Circle Jesus left behind really began saving the world with nothing in their purse (Matthew:10). The gold was in their hearts and minds and words.  Good News brought them needful support as they fanned out into a dark world, bringing light. When the situation begs salvation or revival, remember that you still have your whole talented self to give (1 Corinthians:12), even when your purse is thin or empty (Matthew:10.9-10).

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Not always at the front of the national mind is the fact that the U.S.A. is an advanced nation, beyond the zenith of its industrial growth, and settling into the maturity stage of national life. In a senior nation, per capita GDP and household income can be expected to decline. Work weeks can be expected to shorten.  Time to do other things, especially charitable things, can be expected to increase. While the nation’s support of world missions continues well below need, domestic treasuries for charity are not likely to grow from abroad.  Accordingly, financial giving must be extremely judicious. With less to give, and beautification on the increase, idolatrous investments must be avoided.  Prudent charity should flow to peace-keeping, works of permanence, and raising citizen self-sufficiency.