Day One.

First off, this has been one of the most fantastic conferences I’ve ever attended, and we’ve only just begun.

So far, the turnout has been excellent. Lots of families have attended, and I spoke with one gentleman who was earnestly looking for a way to integrate his somewhat uninterested family into a family business venture, and after the introductory lecture, I think his eyes were opened even further to the opportunities and responsibilities God has provided in regards to Entrepreneurship.

Tonight, all of the speakers who have arrived in San Antonio gave a short synopsis of their lectures. The lectures will go as follows:

Scott Brown said he will be teaching about half on theology behind biblical family integration into business, and half on application of that theology. He mentioned how he and his son have a close relationship in their Entrepreneurial efforts, and he will be speaking about that in his lecture, ‘Father’s and Son’s working together’. A likely title, for what looks to be an excellent lecture.

Don Hart, an attorney, will be covering some of the legal issues of family businesses, such as tax advantages, labor laws and management, etc. He has over twenty major points that are critical to family businesses in terms of legal understanding an legality, and he aims to speak on more than just small scale business efforts; he specifically mentioned that he will be speaking on bigger business ventures and their legal issues as well.

Arnold Pent III, the author of the beloved book ‘Ten P’s in a Pod’, available from Vision Forum, is going to be covering an essential point; the importance of seeking Christ first, and being faithful to our families. He will also be speaking on the importance of promoting an entrepreneurial spirit in your children. Excellent topic, I’m split as to what topics to attend, but this is one that really draws my attention. He also wants to explain residual income, and why it’s such a blessing to a family with a multi-generational vision.

Nick Logan topic is ‘A Christian entrepreneurial Vision for Marketing and Retail’, and will reveal the ‘four p’s of retail marketing’. An interesting topic, and one that I’m really interested in attending, but as of yet, I have not decided.

Wade Myers, whom I had the pleasure of meeting tonight, has put together a presentation on building businesses strategically from start to finish. He also mentioned legal tips, though he says that Don Hart’s will be the authoritative lecture on legal matters, and some business management skills. A very interesting topic to be sure!

Isaac Botkin will be representing a lecture he did at the History of the World Mega Conference in July, called ‘The History of Technology’. He covers some of the great technology of Europe, China, and Islam in history, and how they’re affecting us and our different business today. I’m definitely going to be attending this lecture, God willing.

Geoffrey Botkin will be presenting his two hundred year family plan, which sounds excellent. This is probably the lecture I look forward to most of all, and it’s being presented tomorrow. Geoff Botkin will also be discussing leadership in the twenty-first century and it’s applications to business. I’m very much looking forward to this lecture as well. Also interspersed throughout his lectures will be American history in regards to long term business establishments.

Other speakers will be present that were not here to introduce their lectures include Jim Sammons, Ted Pittenger, Joel Salatin, and Jim Leininger. Their lectures cover a broad range of subjects, and I hope to be able to attend some of them.

After the introductions to the conference and it’s speakers, Doug Phillips presented the keynote lecture of the day; Getting the Big Picture for Entrepreneurship and the Christian Family. He spoke quickly, concisely and accurately, and doing so presented perhaps the best single lecture I’ve heard on independent family business ownership and a biblical vision of entrepreneurship. As the lecture notes state, he offered some ‘theological, practical, and historical considerations for the entrepreneurial Christian family.’

I didn’t write nearly fast enough to catch all the material, but I’ll present some highlights for you to read through. He said that he wanted to spear several sacred cows in the Christian world with regards to finances, and he slayed them quickly. They were,

1.) Poverty is a virtue. He stated quite simply that no, poverty is not a virtue. Adam, Abraham, Job, David, Solomon, were all rich, and yet very virtuous men, and foundations for the faith. God commands us to take dominion, and we can’t do that in spiritual or physical poverty. God said that ‘seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you’. We shall not be lacking, if we are Christians.

2.) Disenfrachisement as desireable, which is a false view of the gospel. We are not to take up ‘world flight’ or become non-operative in the affairs of the world. We must take dominion. There was more here, but he covered it so quickly, and my pen was so slow that I was not able to record all the material properly.

3.) The “get me outta here!” gospel. The idea that all we are to do is witness to people and then wait for the ‘rapture’. That is false. While we are to witness to others as a part of the dominion mandate, we should not be desirous of leaving the world until we have fulfilled God’s role for us as dominion takers spiritually, and financially. To think otherwise is a false gospel.

4.) The prosperity gospel. The idea that we can ‘blab it and grab it’ without actually obeying God’s word, and that any sign of a lack of health or wealth in others is simply a lack of faith. It’s simply a presumptious arrogance regarding God’s promises, and a despiteful looking down upon others. We must be careful to avoid this view.

5. Material success as a prime objective. As Arnold Pent pointed out, we are to ‘seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,’ not the material wealth itself. The wealth is a blessing from God, whom we are to seek first. We can find material wealth apart from God, but it is not a success to do so. He told a story of a man who came to him and said, ‘I have been home educating and running a home business for ten years, and I’m not any better off than when I started!’, to which Doug replied, ‘But have you won the hearts of your Sons?’ ‘Yes.’ The man replied. ‘Well, I call that success! Praise the Lord for his work in your life!’ I loved the story.

6. The sociology of the postmodern work ethic. What is the postmodern work ethic? The idea that there is no distinction between sexes. That children are a burden. That debt is the way everybody goes about getting things. The idea that a good job opportunity is one which provides the most security. That mothers working outside the home is a good opportunity financially. He listed many other such false concepts, and shattered them. We must revert to a totally biblical viewpoint of everything, and completely separate ourselves from the false views of postmodernism.

Scott Brown concluded the evening with prayer to God, and we went our separate ways. On the way out though, I met some fellow upcoming filmmakers and entrepreneurs, and some other acquaintances from the film festival. I talked briefly with Wesley Strackbein, Phillip Leclerc, Isaac Botkin, Spencer Weaver, and a few others as well. I was pleased to meet Mr. Wade Myers, who told me that his children had enjoyed Bubble Trouble. I quickly relayed the message to Gator, who then went on to meet Mr. Myers.

Importantly, I managed to spend a little time with Tait, though he was very busy working with the other staff, we did have some good time discussing a few things, and he introduced me to one of the other interns. I had an excellent time fellowshipping with other likeminded young men at the convention, as well as listening to the older men speak with each other. I haven’t heard anything from Pastor Bacon yet, but his grin was enough to give me a hint what his feelings were in regards to the conference.

In all, it’s been a very fruitful, though somewhat tiring day. I look forward to the rest of the conference with a great deal of anticipation, and I do sincerely wish that you all could have been able to attend, particularly you filmmakers. Mike Thorn would still be walking on the crowds in regards to a few of the statements made here tonight, which I’ll be sure to relay.

Well, I hope to have Day Two’s report posted a little bit earlier, but that’s not a promise. Merely a goal. Stay tuned!

In Christ, John.