Content & Culture with Byron Easterling (Ep 111)

Introduction

---

Jason: Thank you for listening and welcome to the podcast. I am your host, Jason McConnell. I am pleased to announce that I have another great guest joining me for this episode. Byron Easterling spent 40 years traveling the globe, ministering in a variety of platforms. Following the lead of the Holy Spirit. He is an author, a speaker of philanthropist, and now he's a content creator on substack, which you can [email protected]. I will have a link in my show notes to that, so be sure to check that out. And join Byron on his substack, where you can find articles, notes, even weekly chats, along with monthly inspirational videos, online video calls, and so much more. He's well educated, spiritually strong, and there is a lot to pack into this conversation.

So without further delay, let's meet our esteemed guest.

Welcoming Byron Easterling

---

Jason: So [: 00:01:00

Byron: Thanks for having me. Glad to be here.

Jason: I'm glad you're here too. Thank you for, I always think of it as a gift. You're gifting us your time today, so I

Byron: That's cool. That's very cool. Yeah,

Jason: So

Byron's Favorite Bible Verse

---

Jason: I ask everyone to provide a favorite verse, and I usually read it, but you put the whole of Ephesians one.

Byron: actually. Actually, I have all, all of Ephesians. It's hard for.

Jason: Well, fair enough, fair enough. I, I, you know, I like to kinda lead off with why is that your favorite, but let's go ahead and throw Ephesians out there. Why, why, why does that resonate with you?

y come back to later because [: 00:02:00

It's such a, a usable piece of scripture. You know? It's not just, it, it, it's, it, it just lays it out there so, so easily, so beautifully.

Jason: Yeah. And, and I recently did an episode. It was, it was a daring episode for me. It was on gender roles in the household. Of course, Ephesians five,

uh, in the context of that. So that was, that was fun.

Byron: oh, I would, I, I, yeah, I would love to plug a book that somebody else has for that. That's a brand. A brand new book that's just come out. Yeah.

Jason: really?

Right on. We'll have to circle back to that. Um, I like to let listeners get to know my guests.

Byron's Background and Faith Journey

---

Jason: You mentioned you grew up Christian household. Um, you, you, I think you mentioned that they honored both family and faith. Uh, and you went through kind of a season of rebellion before. This triumphant return to the father as I'm, I'm gonna call it. Um, it just, you know, if you're willing to share some of your background, whatever you're comfortable with.

Byron: Sure. [: 00:03:00

ught I was kinda whacked and [: 00:04:00

But, um, yeah, it was a very interesting time for me. So I think that set up really trying to understand all sides of the coin in Christianity is really important to me to be both. Knowledgeable, encounter the spirit of God and understand the word at a depth that it's not just used for my own purposes, if I could say that.

Discovering the Golden Circle

---

Jason: Yeah,

Byron: and I think from that then one thing I wanted to talk about in my life, I don't know if you've heard of Simon Sinek, uh, he's.

Jason: yes, I have heard of him. Yeah.

hat? A how, and the bullseye [: 00:05:00

Jason: Yep. The.

Byron: Yeah,

Jason: Yep. I think I've read that book.

Finding Your Why or something like that. Yeah.

Byron: Yes, yes, yes.

And it's such a cool. Uh, it's such a cool way to discover. It really has a lot to do with identity and the things God has done over the last 20 years in helping people discover their personal identity in him. And this, this, this understanding of Simon Sinek helped me get to a place where it was almost more than my personal value.

elt life-giving moments, and [: 00:06:00

Now, Christ is at the center of that, but, but it is how I see and perceive life. I felt like that's probably more important than the things I've done at this point, but I can happy to talk about those. But

Jason: It's fine. That's fine. I think that's a good way to get to know you. That really plugs into your, as you said, your why, and uh, gives us some context for what you're doing.

have done ministry wise since: 1979

Yeah,

Excellent. So in our, in our [: 00:07:00

Um, you used to be involved with a vineyard movement. Uh,

I go to a vineyard church. I mean, it's not really a question or related to the topic, but I thought that was pretty cool. I don't know a whole lot of other vineyard people outside of my little church.

Um, so I thought that was kind of neat because I do love my church. Um. I did take a kind of a special interest in one of your books. I haven't finished

yet the Introduction to New Era,

Byron: Yeah.

Jason: and it's probably because in our, it's kind of a topic in our previous conversation, but I, like I said, I, I did buy it, started reading it.

The New Era of the Church

---

Jason: Um, any chance you could just give us a 30,000 foot of, of that book, of what's going on in there?

brief, I'll catch you up. In: 2008

ere experiencing. And then in: 2015

Jason: I like it.

Byron: and that's, that's. I, I will consider myself a pioneer in that and, uh, and be blessed by that.

education is looking at our [: 00:09:00

Of how long ago this actually started and the things that God has been doing to get us to this point. Revelation, of course, is the knowledge that in the spirit of God that he brings to understand why it's happening, and that's then leads to activation, which is how do we take part? And that's really overall to me, what that book is about.

That's a, that's the big 30,000.

Jason: Yeah. And you, you mentioned in the book, in, in our previous conversation, that we're kinda living in a post-Christian society in our country. Um, and I was curious, as I was thinking and planning for this conversation, you know, does that mean Christianity is dying in America or something else happening? I.

we're no longer living in a [: 00:10:00

we've been living for, what,: 1700

Jason: It.

Byron: it's the structure. Yeah. It's been a minute. Yeah. It's the structure of that church, um, is changing.

hical, organized church. Um, [: 00:11:00

It doesn't mean there's not leadership.

Jason: Right, right.

Byron: Yeah. But I think it's how it's approached and, and how leadership is approached and, and, and carried out on the earth. Yeah.

Jason: And, you know, and I don't know if this is kind of falls in line with that or not, but at, at our church, our, our campus

pastor, our head pastor, uh, and the one that was there prior, uh, if somebody had an idea, he would say, great, what do you need? Go run with it. And he didn't know all the ins and out of everything that was happening.

He, you know, he would, he would, you know, he'd check in, make sure that the ministry's going well, but that's it.

Byron: Yeah.

f it. And if you need church [: 00:12:00

Byron: Yeah, well that, and that's Ephesians four. We're back to Ephesians four. We, I mean, to me that's the, that's such a big part of this season, of the new era. Many seasons in an era, call it an epoch, a time, an era. They're all the same. But there are many seasons within an epoch or an era. Thousands because, you know, a season could last, you know, um, a few months to a few years.

But a, an epoch that's a, a time or an era as many, many, many moons.

Jason: Yeah. And you're saying this isn't a revelation, this isn't a revolution, this is, this is transition to something God has created that's entirely new

that, that we're moving into a whole new, well, as you said, era of, of church. I. Kingdom. There we go. Yeah.

'm, I'm gonna throw the word [: 00:13:00

Jason: That's fair. It's fair. It's a good place. Um, I did mention the introduction. You spent 40 years traveling the world and ministering. You had told me my journey is one of pursuing and chasing. After the wild goose following the lead of the spirit. And I thought that was such a unique way. 'cause even when you say chasing the wild goose, it kind of gives a negative connotation.

But I don't think that's what you meant, I think,

Chasing the Wild Goose

---

Jason: I think maybe it was something else, but I was curious if you'd be willing to tell us a little bit about that season of your life.

tarted, I was a youth pastor [: 00:14:00

Uh, I wasn't much of a youth pastor. Don't hire me.

They had a little library. It was one of those, it was right by Washington University. It was one of those gothic beautiful sanctuaries. And, you know, they had, they had a, a library and I would go in there at midnight. I was a late nighter. I was a musician for so many years of my life. I, you know, late nights were a part of life.

or bad behavior, and between [: 00:15:00

It was called the practice of the Presence of God. I think it's a 15th century monk. I still have that copy of that. I stole it

and I have,

yeah. Well, they, they didn't mind, let me tell you. I told.

Jason: Tune in next week for more confessions on my ministry mission. Right.

d, but he was focused on the [: 00:16:00

And for me that, that there's, there's so many stories that God has. Provided in our lives because we've been willing to say, yes, Lord, to, to listening and following after what he's saying to us. Right. We all do it. If you're really hungry after God, you're going to have to follow after the spirit of God, you're gonna Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, because he's speaking, he's in us. He's dwelling in us, speaking to us. Yeah.

Jason: That's fair. Yeah.

d. Um, I'll, I'll frequently [: 00:17:00

something.

Byron: Yeah. Yeah, we had some, we lived in Texas for about nine years and we had a few acres. We were blessed to have a few acres. We loved it out there and I loved it 'cause I'm a small town Midwest kid who grew out, out, kinda out in the edge of town. And, um, I just, I, it was, I'd come home from trips and just be out there working this property, just enjoying.

Time and so many times I've got so many beautiful moments with the father, you know, just mo mowing the lawn or

cutting cutting down something, you know?

Jason: Absolutely.

Byron: Yeah. Yeah.

Engaging with Cultural Topics

---

Jason: I feel, I feel compelled to circle back to, to cultural topics to, 'cause we talked about that in our, in our pre-interview

ld you it's been top of mind [: 00:18:00

culture as Christians,

uh, how we're called to engage it. And you know, you mentioned Ephesians four, and Ephesians four, if I'm not mistaken, is a lot about

Christian living.

Byron: Yes.

Jason: I figure that's a good intro to, you know, let's, let's talk about what's important to know about Ephesians four.

Byron: Yeah. Oh, perfect. Yeah.

Ephesians 4 and the New Era

---

years we've been [: 00:19:00

Jason: Right.

Byron: It is been a lot of, um, it's been a lot of discovery. It it, it's not a bad thing. It, it's been a lot of discovery, but it, it, it, there comes a moment when it becomes self-serving and I, I, I think if we don't step into 12 and 13 versus 12 and 13, and I think that's what's happening, which those verses are basically, it says.

That those gifts, those five gifts are for the edification, for the nurturing, for the preparation of, of the, of the Holy Believer. One, one says the, the believer to basically fulfill all that God has called them to do. So where can that happen? It can all happen inside a church building. There's not enough room, there's not enough options.

So we see a lot. [: 00:20:00

So again, for me. It comes back to the relational dynamic. We don't have to make stuff up. We, we, all we have to do is go meet people. But where do you, where do you do that? Well, maybe you're a coffee guy, you know, maybe you're a coffee shop guy. Then go hang out at a coffee shop and get in a conversation.

yer, I've seen it happen for [: 00:21:00

Jason: It is true.

ump off just a little bit. In: 1913

Prophetic Vision of a Billion Soul Harvest

---

, so many people have talked [: 00:22:00

But, but it's, it's just break that word down. Well, what's it, it you're gonna meet people. They're gonna encounter Jesus because of you and because of him. And then they're gonna have a choice to respond to him. Well, that's all the Lord wants. He just wants to get people to know him and we're his ambassadors.

Role of Equippers in the Kingdom

---

Byron: So, yeah, that's, that's to me what Ephesians for is all about. It's, it's the ability for leaders and, and equippers. Really, it's that equipping word. If you feel like you're an equipper, then you have the ability to equip somebody. To me, that's what you're doing with your podcast. You're providing a way to equip people with something.

You're the equipper [: 00:23:00

Jason: That's the goal.

Byron: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And so the equippers then go help others get released.

Gospel in Action: Living Out Faith

---

Jason: Yeah, I, so I'm, I will admit I'm not great at walking up and talking about, uh, Christian topics, but, but what I, what I feel is also important, um, sometimes I feel it's a little bit more important than what we say is what we do. Our actions can be gospel in movement, gospel in action.

And I think, I think that's really important because I, I have had people come up to me be like, how can you be so positive?

How can you feel this way? How can you, and that's an opening to be like, well, let me tell you what,

Byron: That's

Jason: what's happened to me.

Lemme tell you what, what Christ has done for me.

Byron: yeah, yeah,

Jason: and they're interested at that point because they're like, I don't understand why you're not like frustrated or, or, or jumping off a roof.

Byron: yeah. Absolutely.

The Holy Spirit's Work Within Us

---

the thing, it's not one way. [: 00:24:00

I don't see how a Holy God lives within me. And it deposited. I, I should, I would think I'd just blow up into little bits because, you know, the Holy Spirit, I mean, come on, the Holy Spirit's deposited in me. That's phenomenal. That's absolutely phenomenal to me. So we actually, it's just, it's, it's taking. So what is it?

e to go. Ask, go ask. How do [: 00:25:00

I actually have a routine to get people to stop talking to me.

Jason: Do you.

Byron: it, and it, my wife laughs. She just laughs 'cause she goes, well, there they go. And, you know, five minutes after I get off the plane or five minutes after I, it could be in a. It could be in a, it doesn't matter where people just start pouring out their life to me and she just laughs.

take. Full authority of that [: 00:26:00

And and that could be, listen, Jesus sent people out in pairs. Maybe it's better to go be with somebody. Maybe it's, who knows? It's asking the Holy Spirit. And that goes back to that following the lead of the spirit. Go back and ask the spirit of God. He really wants to give us that way forward.

Jason: He does. Absolutely. I love that.

Byron: Yeah.

Jason: Yep. So

Building His House: A Nonprofit Journey

---

Jason: I do wanna make sure to mention your nonprofit, the building, his house. I

wanted to plug that while we're

Byron: just, yeah, just build his house.

Jason: Build, build,

Build,

his house. I'm sorry.

Byron: That's, that's alright. Yeah. Yeah.

Jason: well, you, you guys go out and help impoverished families, uh, find the way to financial independence

and, you know, whatever you wanna say about that.

Let's

Byron: Oh, cool.

Jason: But, but what you're doing there, it sounds,

sounds amazing.

Byron: Yeah.

Farm Training Program in Nicaragua

---

Byron: So in: 2000

erity, but in the kingdom of [: 00:28:00

Now that's been done. It's not nothing. It's nothing new. But at the end of that, a good friend, his name's Lek, Heflin, Le, and Cynthia, he took on. The role of developing a farm training program there in Nicaragua. Yeah. You, you don't want me doing that. That's,

Jason: I could a cactus.

amily and built this program [: 00:29:00

And now we're taking, 'cause that training was in Spanish, so we're now taking the farm training. It translated into English because there's 1.5, basically 1.5 billion people who speak English. It's pretty many. Uh, so. Now the farm program, the training program is gonna start going out to other nations. And that's what I, I always wanted that, but I needed luck and Cynthia who could help develop that and, and we have agronomists down there and now we're building that program to go out.

but I think it's important. [: 00:30:00

Jason: That's amazing. That's amazing.

Exp Weekly: A Platform for Content Creators

---

Jason: So, I, I, you know, we've, we've talked a lot about Ephesians, about culture, about your BHH and I, you know, I wanna give time to also talk about your substack

because. You know,

uh, exp weekly.com. Um, you know, you've got a lot of written articles, videos, podcasts, personal notes, uh, chats, indirect message.

I mean, you got a lot of stuff there,

Byron: Yeah. What do you do?

at, give that some attention.[: 00:31:00

Byron: Sure. Um, I was looking for a place where everything's all inclusive, and I don't know if people have heard of Substack. It's, it's growing so fast. It's actually a radical platform because it includes writing and notes. Uh, it includes live video. You can go live, you can do, you can upload video. You can do, you know, it, it started out as a writer's uh, platform, but it's just expanded so much.

pics. Uh, I have right now a [: 00:32:00

Sometimes it's, it's, it's just what the spirit is, you know, it has a lot to do with the new era, but, but it is also as it grows, um, and expands. We're seeing that there are, there's need for interviews, uh, with different individuals. Uh, I'm definitely gonna put this on as, uh, at this time because I, I want people to hear of your, uh, I get to return the favor, as it

Jason: I appreciate that.

audience starting to expand [: 00:33:00

Jason: That's amazing.

Um, if somebody were to go there, there is so much where, where should they start? Just go to the front page and look for stuff that's

Byron: Oh yeah. Yeah. Just go to exp weekly.com and you'll see the way I have it set up, the most recent. Exp weekly newsletter is right there at the top. You just click on that and then of course there's a list of, I think the top 20 or something in there. You can go there and they, they put all that up for you.

You actually,

Yeah.

They, if you wanna do a podcast, it's, it's a platform for podcast. It's free, you know? Uh, yeah. It's a free, you know, video. All of it's free. So, whereas, uh, and another thing is why also it's like if somebody wants to, I don't promote it, but if somebody wants, that's how we we're donation-based ministry, so always have been.

dy wants to, uh, they have a [: 00:34:00

Jason: Yeah,

Byron: Yeah. Yeah.

Jason: absolutely. But they don't. Don't have to, they can just go

Byron: Oh, no, no, everything's free. All mine is free. I, I, we, we, that's the way God has had us. Again, I've tried to do it other ways and the Holy Spirit is just like, no, that's just not you, man. So,

Jason: you go. That's fair. That's fair. Yes. No, I, I, I do pay for my hosting, which, you know, if anybody wants to go to the show notes and click to buy me a coffee link.

Not be heard. No, I'm just kidding. I do, I do try to keep one in there. It's not, it's not necessary. Um,

Byron: that. That's good.

Jason: but so I wanna, I wanna wrap this up.

Final Thoughts on Relationship and Function

---

Jason: Do you have any final words, any final thoughts, anything we didn't get to that you wanna bring up, uh, for the listeners here?

ply my why, which is to live [: 00:35:00

It, it's a loving. His son, he sent his only beloved son. He didn't send his rejected son, he sent his beloved son.

Jason: It's true.

Byron: You know, everything has to do with a relational dynamic, and I wanna encourage, I lived a life of function. Everything was based around how much I could get done for many years, and God put us, put a wall in front of me that I called the relational wall that I couldn't go over.

It was too high, I couldn't [: 00:36:00

Otherwise we go to a group and we meet some people and maybe a relationship builds out of that, but a lot of times it never lasts past that function when the function ends. So does the relationship. Majority of time.

Jason: It makes

a place of social awareness [: 00:37:00

So if we start with relationship and we, and we don't just let it become only social. We begin to say what's on our heart to do in the kingdom?

Jason: Yeah.

Byron: what, what, what is it that we wanna do? How could we get involved in the community? How could we, you know, what is it that God would love to do with, with our friendship?

And see what God would build out of that. And I think that's a big part of the new era. It's relationship focused because the world is hungry. For authentic, genuine, what I call heartfelt life-giving understanding in their lives. They want authentic, they want real, and we have to be the ones. Why shouldn't we be?

lly real. We have a God who, [: 00:38:00

And they are, they're gonna, it's happening already, but, but we have to know. The thing is with that, that's the Ephesian force then comes back in. We all get to play. That's a John Wimber. Play.

That's a John Wimber statement. We all get to play. We all get apart.

Jason: yeah.

It's, it's a hard posture and, and I know it's hard for some, but if you don't genuinely care, if you don't genuinely love others.

You can't fake that.

Byron: yeah. That, oh, Maney.

Jason: can't fake that to God. So you, you have to, you have to submit

Byron: Hmm.

i love, the, the decision to [: 00:39:00

It's tough. There are people that you just don't wanna love.

Byron: yeah, yeah, yeah,

Jason: And those are the ones that God's like, you gotta work harder.

'cause that one's important to me too.

Byron: The eg,

Jason: Yes, but

Byron: yeah. The thing about EEG are, you know that I love. Extra grace required

is that there are ones in my life and I am one in someone else's life.

t out. But thank you, Byron. [: 00:40:00

Byron: Yeah, you bet. Jason really enjoyed it and I look forward, uh, to sharing this as well on my substack, so

Jason: to it. I look forward to

Byron: yeah.

Jason: But for the rest of you listeners, until next time, keep loving your neighbors. Dive into God's word daily. May the Lord bless you and keep you and fill you with his peace. Take care. God bless and God bless you, Brian.

Byron: Thanks much appreciate it.

Share Episode

Shownotes

Transcripts

Follow

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube