Bill Easums Observations

Sometimes I go several months before running into what I consider to be “great books.” Then out of the blue, several such books will fill my “to do” pile. I thought I would share a few of the books that I read this month I consider to be great books.

Untamed, by Alan and Deb Hirsch, may go down as a raw classic in how to change our domesticated view of Jesus.

And, by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay is a long over-due missional directed book showing us one way to bring together all the various church models on behalf of the Kingdom.

Exponential, by Dave and Jon Ferguson, not only tells the story of Christian Community Church and the pilgrimage of Troy McMahon, but it also lays out the principles for starting a church planting movement.

Viral Church, by Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird, has to be one of my all time favorites because it lays out the potential for church planting movement in such simple terms that even I can get it. It’s message is “multiply everything.” Told you it was simple, but another classic.

Trust Agents, by Brogan and Smith, is a secular book showing how to build influence  and improve your reputation on the web.

It’s not many a two week period when I run across this many books of this calibur. I hope you can grap a copy of each and devour them

I wish this had been Alan’s first book. It would have eliminated some of people’s misunderstanding of his message- namely did he believe at all in the institutional church. After reading this book there is no doubt- he does believe in the institutional church, just not as most institutional churches live out their faith.

This book destroys any sentimental, sterile, sweet, nice, domesticated view of Jesus and the church.  He challenges most of the practices of modern day Christians and congregation. He re-introduces us to the wild, untamed, radical Jesus we all are suppose to be like. He and his wife challenge us to live a reckless life worth telling stories about. They ask us to “abandon the domesticated faith of suburban consumer Churchianity in order to live a life of risk for the love of a savior….”

This book will rock the very core of a safe, consumer oriented faith. If you can read this book without feeling uncomfortable and moved to make some changes in your life and ministry something is radically wrong with you.

Grab a copy now and watch it change your life.

Bill Easum
www.churchconsultations.com
easum@aol.com

As one of my network and regular readers, I wanted to remind you about the National Outreach Convention in November in San Diego. It is one of the largest gatherings each year, with a single focus– how do we reach more with the message of the Gospel? Now, more than ever outreach is critical area on which every smart church leader is focused. The opportunity to connect with un-churched is unprecedented as people search for truth – desperate for good news and hope.

The “NOC” is known for providing practical, powerful and innovative teaching. You can learn from leading churches in numerous outreach areas: assimilation, community transformation, church planting, multi-ethnic outreach, ideation, digital strategies, social media and many more…Take a few minutes to read about all the sessions available. www.outreachconvention.com/sessions

Presented by Outreach Magazine – this is one gathering you should strongly consider adding to your calendar for 2010. You will leave with new ideas, inspiration and focus for effective outreach in your own community. Bring your team and use it as a strategic planning and vision casting opportunity. Make use of the networking, the online community with conversations between leaders just like you, the discussion groups, book signings and a huge exhibit hall with all the latest resources and tools in various areas of ministry. It’s a 3-day experience that will powerfully impact your ministry – I know, because I’ve been there!

This year, I am presenting a session about…Leadership in a Wild Card World.
Topics Include:

The Cultural and Economic Wildcards Affecting Ministry
How to be Proactive in a World Gone Mad
Achieving More Ministry With Less Money
Sharing Faith with Ozzy in the Jungle
Outreach that Works

See you in November.

Bill Easum
www.churchconsultations.com
easum@aol.com

I’m doing a seminar in a large church in the south. I’ve nearing the end of two of five days and speaking to the congregations when someone raises their hand and says “What you’re saying suggests you’re a young man in an old man’s body.”  He was referring to my understanding of the new world and how I had shared it with them in an effort to help them understand why they needed to make some changes to reach the new world with Jesus.  It was the best thing that anyone ever said about me.

So, why is it that some people never age in their mind and heart and some do? I could give you several reasons.

• I read 2oo to 3oo hundred books a year
• I still ask Why?
• I am driven by a passion to reach new generations no matte what
• I know that methodology or tradition makes diddly when it comes to someone finding Jesus and having their life rearranged.
• Helping people to find Jesus is more important than anything else in life.
• the list could go on

I just thought I would share this comment and what it means.  What would it mean to most established churches if most of the leaders were able to respond to the new world this way and not get mad? Give that some thought. bill

Alan Hirsch continues to give us much to think about.  His new book Untamed is a book you must get and not only read but make sure you key leaders read it and have a group discussion on it.  It has the potential to revolutionize the way your leaders think about Jesus.

Here are some quotes to give you a taste of what awaits your reading.

“You simply cannot be a disciple without being a missionary- a sent one.”

“Jeebus made me do it”

“A sanitized Jesus is a misrepresentation of him and leads to sterile lives.”

“Allow Jesus to offend you again!”

“Your God is too sick.”

“If your conception of God is radically false, then the more devout you are, the worse it will be for you.”

And that’s just the frist 60 pages. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next. Grab a copy now.

If you can read this book without feeling uncomfortable and moved to make some changes in your life and ministry something is radically wrong with you.

It’s not to late to invite a friend to worship this Easter Sunday.  In fact, if you have a staff why not ask each of them to invite at least one friend today or Saturday and offer to go by and pick them up.

“82 percent of the unchurched are at least “some what likely” to attend church if they are invited. Perhaps we need to pause on this response. Perhaps we need to restate it: More than eight out of ten of the unchurched said they would come to church if they were invited. If you take anything from this book, please remember this point.” Rainer, Unchurched Next Door

The problem is just a handful of Christians take the time to invite a friend much less develop the relationship with them that needs to preceed the invite.

So what are you waiting for? The phone is just a step away- the next door neighbor just a few steps away. the person you work side by side with just a few miles away?