The Story
In 5th grade the teacher asked everyone in my class what they wanted to do when they were an adult. Each student told their version of the ideal jobs for them. A few didn’t know but some had an idea. I remember my answer. I wanted to be a police officer. I wanted to help people. I wanted to be that good guy… the hero.
Fast forwarding, I was sitting in a restaurant with a group of friends as we discussed our immediate future plans since high school graduation was soon to come. Two were headed to college and one to the Army and me to the Navy. I didn’t like school so college wasn’t for me. After my enlistment was over (serving in military law enforcement), I interviewed with my local police department. I was not impressed with how they handled the onboarding process. I was actually disappointed with what I experienced. I knew that if that was how they operated I didn’t want anything to do with them. My childhood dream was crushed. But my desire to help people had not changed.
Shifting my focus to emergency medicine. I enrolled in the paramedic program. I was granted special permission to push through all the classes to take the state board. During that time I got very involved in Bible study and church. God pressed upon me to pursue ministry and not medicine. So back to school… ugg! I completed an undergrad in Biblical studies and then a Masters in education (Christian) and then another Masters in Divinity with a concentration in Biblical counseling. Still having that desire to help people with truth and hope. Real help. Real truth. Real hope!
So ministry was my way to help people. Children’s pastor, pastoral assistant, camp director, executive pastor, church planter, missionary trainer, college professor of distance education. I have been blessed with a variety of experience and education both in churches, missions, camps, and colleges.
At the same time I have used computers and the internet to produce education venues in all of these setting. Managing websites, hosting platforms, learning management systems, social platforms, with everything from dos and cpm to windows and my favorite, the Apple OS.
Connecting all these experiences along with the formal education and training to be useful for God and helping others has been my passion. This has placed me in a unique position. I have watched the trends in the world and the church over this time and can see what is happening
The Solution
Finding that source of honest truth can be difficult, even scary. Giving your hard earned money and dwindling available time to follow this or that method is a leap of faith. Why is that spiel from the used car salesman effective? Because of two things, a nugget of truth and the promise of hope. Do you know how to beat a lie detector? Believe the lie. In every lie there is some small connection to the truth. Our minds take in this smattering of truth and agree so the rest of the story becomes “truthful” or believable. You want it to be true. You can see yourself in that future situation. You like the idea of having what they offer. You see a way to relieve a problem or pain in your life. You have hope!
Scripture provides some ways to deal with this. Regarding that nugget of truth… 1 Thessalonians 5:21 provides, But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. And regarding hope… Jeremiah 29:11 promises, “For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.- New English Translation.
Francis Schaeffer in his work “How Shall We Then Live” used the phrase “true truth.” How sad that truth now requires some delineation between all the shades of with is real. I want to say that truth is TRUTH. It is not based a perspective or belief. It is true regardless of how you or I see, think, or feel about it. It is what is!
Today when someone says, “I hope you will be there” it implies the possibility for you not to be there. Biblical hope is not at all like we use the word. It is far more grounded in the concept of truth. It is better understood as inevitable. It will take place. It will happen. This is how God uses hope (a future promise).
The Fundworker Podcast wants to give biblical truth and hope. On this show we will strive to follow two great commandments. You know the two Jesus said encompasses the whole of the law “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” -Matthew 22:37-40
The primary guiding principle of the Fundworker podcast is Galatians 5:6, “the only thing that matters is faith working through love.” I will endeavor to live this in thought, word, and deed. To bring you truthful tips and advise that will give you hope and success. Showing you how a funding stream frees you to pursue your passion and calling without having to worry about money. After all, this is tentmaking for the 21st century!
The Problem
Our culture and society has largely gone the way of Hebrews from the Bible. They had God’s blessing and watchful eyes keeping them safe and prosperous. But they always declined in this sin spiral until God sadly corrected them. They would be sorrowful and repent finally to be restored. Seven times this cycle of sin, suffering, sorrow, salvation can be seen in their old testament history. It seems the USA is embracing that same cycle.
The church is in decline and prayer is not allowed anymore at public events. Tolerance toward other beliefs is given tremendous leeway but Christianity is being banned in many ways. With attendance waning in our churches the giving has decreased. Churches are trying to do as much as they can with as little as they can. So there is less money for church programs and salaries. Less money coming means less going out so the giving for missionaries isn’t as available.
The two income families scenario is takeing a toll on the family. Moms and dads able to spend less time at home. A second income is often needed. Working remotely or in a virtual business is on the rise. The craziness of the world over global virus response has changed the way working at a brick and mortar location is doing business. What does all this mean? While some look to the media and government for answer and others toward God or both. One thing is certain. The internet, the digital world is getting larger. Expanding at a wild pace in ways never dreamed of prior to this.
With so many options and ways to spend money online people are quickly adopting new ways to spend money. The brick and mortar methods are reassessing how to shift their emphasis to capture what they are losing. Government agencies are trying to find more ways to interface with people digitally. Schools are using distance education at an incredible rate. Individuals out of necessity or desire are getting onboard to supplement or replace their traditional jobs with online options.
This internet based business isn’t new. It has been around for years but the explosive growth is more recent. People are using the internet for almost everything now. You can get everything you need from your computer and have it shipped, delivered or downloaded immediately.
But how can you get into this? Who do you learn from? Who do you listen to? Who do you follow? How do you know what is real and hasn’t been photoshopped? It seems the screaming used car salesman from the old TV days has found a new soapbox. He will sell you a way to walk away from your current job and make more money staying at home binge watching every season of Downton Abbey while your computer makes your bank account grow like the national debt. According to them you can get their new system, add their new plugin, join their group, use their new product, buy their new software to learn their secrets way to make thousands of dollars while you sleep like magic. (Fine Print: Your actual results may vary!) They will tell you in the disclaimer… that they can’t promise you this new “shiny thing” will give you the same results because they don’t know you or your situation!
While it is true the opportunity for having a second income or primary income from the internet is attractive and doable. But, who do you trust? What is the truth? How can you know which option is best?
The Promise
I want you to succeed. I want you to fully serve the Lord without interruption or distraction. So on the Fundworker Podcast you will hear the truth. You will get advice, tips, and resources that have been tested and are trustworthy. If you will implement what is given on the show it will bring hope… Biblical hope. This is the Fundworker Promise!
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