Observations From Hadleyville: CREATIVE FINANCING

Friday, May 16, 2008

CREATIVE FINANCING

My congregation is really feeling the economic squeeze. Along with marketing powerhouse “Starbucks,” Quartz Hill Community Church has turned in disappointing first quarter earnings. I’m getting tired of seeing my treasurer walk around with an icepack on his head.

And we’re by no means alone in this. At the last meeting of the high desert association of churches we cooperate with, most of them reported lower-than-average giving. One of our most prestigious congregations is considering laying staff people off.

All this got me thinking; the sports world has benefited from their pact with the corporate devil, why not churches? Here in SOCAL we already have Qualcomm Stadium, Staples Center and Petco Park. So let’s up the ante. I envision a whole slew of renamed churches, proudly broadcasting corporate sponsorship: Coors Distributing Community Church, BMW Baptist, Our Lady of Perpetual Tampax, Assemblies of Pepsico. Why, the possibilities are endless.

And don’t forget the jackpot: Trump Cathedral!

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Don the Baptist considers himself to be both intellectually deep and extremely humorous. Don the Baptist assumes no responsibility for blog browsers who cannot tell the difference between the two. Blog browsers are advised to consider any "Observations from Hadleyville" content that makes no sense to be the result of a lack of intellect or sense of humor on the part of the blog browser and not that of the blogger. Don the Baptist is a non profit guy so don't bother suing Don the Baptist as it would be a waste of time and resources.

WORDS OF WISDOM FOR WRITERS

The secret of becoming a writer is that you have to write. You have to write a lot. You also have to finish what you write, even though no one wants it yet. If you don't learn to finish your work, no one will ever want to see it. The biggest mistake new writers make is carrying around copies of unfinished work to inflict on their friends.

I am sure it has been done with less, but you should be prepared to write and throw away a million words of finished material. By finished, I mean completed, done, ready to submit, and written as well as you know how at the time you wrote it.
-Jerry Pournelle

WHAT'S THIS HADLEYVILLE THING?

Those of you familiar with Mark Twain’s works might recognize my blog title. As Samuel Clemons grew older, he became increasingly disillusioned with humanity. Towards the end he began referring to the Damned Human Race; employing the secular and religious epithet at one stroke.

I find I’ve not reached that level of despair myself. I still believe in redemption and I still see signs of nobility even among we fallen, damned creatures. So, I could not bring myself to call this blog “On the Damned Human Race.” I do however, resonate with another of Clemmons stories; “The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg.” And viola, there you have it. “Observations From Hadleyville.”