Bill Easums Observations

For a long time I’ve encouraged would be pastors not to go to seminary. You can find a long chapter I wrote on the subject over ten years ago called Seminaries: Strangled by Creeping Vines .

Here is a short excerpt:“I keep getting asked if I really mean it when I say that seminary training is a waste of time. Yes, I mean that, at least the way seminary is today. I also mean it because I see so many authentic ministries being accomplished without it. Here are some of my thoughts in rough draft form. “ for more click here.

Today I ran across a blog by Greg Atkinson that says the same thing. Way to go Greg.

This does not mean that pastors shouldn’t be educated. No way. It means that the way pastors are being educated is changing to become more biblical. Instead of relying totally on what I call a “data dump,” pastors are being mentored and coached by people who have done what the would be pastor feels called to do. Like the Disciples who followed Jesus around, the emphasis is on on-the-job-training.

So quit wasting time going to seminary. Find a mentor who is doing what you feel called to do and latch on to that person.Bill 

A couple of fund raisers have responded to my blog and both of them are still finding success raising money. That’s great! One of them is my good friend Clif Christopher of Horizon Stewardship.  This is good news.  He says that it is more of a local issue than a national issue. So, temper my previous post with what is actually going on in your community among your people and don’t listen to the national news media.

My worry is that reality is might be smothered out by fear because the national news media continues to hammer away at the economic downturn to the point that I wonder if perception is more real than reality itself.  

Here’s a question- if the national news media had never mentioned the economic problem and reported mostly good news, would people be as scared as they seem to be?

bill

We’ve been having a lot of conversation on our advanced forum about whether or not to have capital fund drives during such a downturn in the economy.  I responded to one person by saying if I could wait I would.  This sparked a round of emails, some of which were not realistic. I believe in having faith that God will provide, but Im also realistic. if the money isnt there, it isnt there. And believe me today it isnt there. On top of that there is a lot of fear going around. It wont last long, but for now its there.

Unless those people with deep pockets contribute liberally (and they cant if they dont have it) the capital fund drive is a bust.  And one of the most demoralizing things that can happen to a church is spend four months in a capital fund drive only to fall so short of the goal that everyone is disappointed.

Raising money is about three things:

1. a good vision to offer  that touches the imagination and heart.

2. a good plan for raising it lead by someone who knows how to raise money

3. Money being present, both poor, middle class, and those who have more than one pocket from which to give.

So if you are going to do a capital fund drive at this time make sure your people arent relying on the stock market in order to be able to contribute.  A person may believe deeply in the vision but if the money isn’t there the drive will be a bust. So be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

One of the best capital fund companies I know is Horizon Stewardship. They will never lead you astray.

I’ve had three major mentors in my life - Nelson Mandela, Carlyle Marney, and Billy Graham. Each of them very different from my theology and political persuasions but nevertheless men from whom I learned aot.

Nelson Mandela taught me never to give up on what you believe even if it looks hopeless.  Carlyle Marney, a very liberal Southern Baptist, taught me it is okay to be a rebel. He also edited my first sermon when I was 17 and told me it was crap! And Billy Graham taught me the guarding oneself from the opposite sex while doing ministry.

 So on the 90th birthday of Billy Graham I felt the need to thank him for all he did for me even though we never met. I was privileged once to experience him in a large rally back in the 50s.  The man was larger than life then.

Did you know that when he traveled he reserved an entire floor of the hotel. Had all the TVs taken out and had guards at the elevator doors and exit entrances so there would never be the hint of sexual impropriety.

Of all the larger than life religious figures Graham is one of the very few who made it through his entire ministry without as much as a peep of scandel. We can all learn a lesson from that.

Happy Birthday Billy.

Bill Easum
www.easumbandy.com

I’m going to rant today so go ahead and forgive me before you start reading.Aren’t you glad the elections are over?  It seems as if they get more negative every year.

Aside from that……Have you noticed - debate in this country is no longer considered important?  Well, it isn’t.  I invite you to consider the following:

In the past Universities were places where learners could debate issues without fear of being labeled or criticized. But today, some issues are no longer considered debatable in universities or seminaries and those who wish to debate them are criticized or labeled.In politics debate has given way to accusation and innuendo. Politicians don’t debate real issues any more, instead they sling mud.  Today, it’s not good to have a clear position on anything political.

Newscasters are no longer unbiased in their reporting, and that really ticks me off.  Where can I find unbiased reporting today? Every major TV news broadcasters are clearly biased on the liberal side and Fox is clearly biased on the conservative side and some major newscasters have been replaced because they allowed their political position to influence their broadcast. One of the San Francisco newspapers ran a double-edged, gay-hate editorial on the Haggard affair. Who can you trust to give you the real news? No one. Where are the Walter Cronkites who tell it like it is?Now to the religious scene.  Didn’t think I was going to pick on this one did you? Mainliners denigrate evangelicals.  Evangelicals look down their noses at mainliners.  Liberal leaders think their conservative brothers and sisters are stupid and naive.  Conservatives feel as if their liberal brothers and sisters aren’t even Christians.Where does it all end?I’ve found that those who throw mud do so because they don’t have anything positive to offer.  I’ve also found that those who think they have God under their thumb are the farthest from the Kingdom. Liberal and conservative take notice.If the above has any truth, then we are indeed in a hostile world.  Most of us worry about terrorists.  And we should.  But something more sinister is destroying the heart of our country. Hate, bigotry, and fear is tearing us apart.

One of the characteristics of the emerging world is polarization. At the same time the world is coming closer together, it is also coming apart.  The isolation of ideologies is at the core of this fragmentation. We no longer debate different opinions or tolerate other faiths. Now we seek to do the other in, no matter what it costs.  The Crusades are back! Jihad is the mantra! Conservatives are bigoted! Liberals are not Christians.

Where will it end?The fifth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles gives us a directive for a time such as this.  When the Apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin for treason, a Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel said,” …I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 

Why can’t we take that position today? I think it is because most leaders today are too insecure to trust what they believe.  I understand why the Muslims flew the planes into the Towers - they hate Christian’s guts the same way the Crusaders hated the infidels. Both violated the tenets of their faith.What I can’t understand is how people of faith hate one another or how reporters can violate their profession and let their bias color their reporting of what is suppose to be news. It just doesn’t compute to this Simple Simon. One of the key issues of our time is how to be radical about ones faith or position without being a bigot filled with hate.  Hate, whatever form it takes, is evil. So the next time you are prone to run down a brother or sister who is at the opposite ends of the Christian pole remember, there but for the grace of God goes you.Oh, I already hear the email banging away with people who want to tell me how wrong I am. I wonder if it will be a debate or?