Here are my picks for the two most important trends of the decade we’re just starting:

1. Change: The infrastructure of massive connection is now real. People around the world have cell phones. The first internet generation is old enough to spend money, go to work and build companies. Industries are being built every day (and old ones are fading). The revolution is in full swing, and an entire generation is eager to change everything because of it. Hint: it won’t look like the last one with a few bells and whistles added.
2. Frustration: Baby boomers are getting old. Dreams are fading, and so is health. Boomers love to whine and we love to imagine that we’ll live forever and accomplish everything. This is the decade that reality kicks in. And, to top it off, savings are thin and resource availability isn’t what it used to be. A lot of people ate their emergency rations during the last decade. Look for this frustration to be acted out in public, and often.

I think the coolest thing is that just about everyone gets to pick which one of these two alternatives they want to spend their time on. And being frustrated about change doesn’t count as doing both.

I choose change.  How about you?

From Pastor Perry Noble:

One of the lessons I’ve learned while being in the ministry for the past 17 years is sometimes what people say isn’t exactly true…things such as…

(WARNING…you will probably only like this post if you are a pastor or a staff member of a church!)

What They Say:  “I’m looking for a church that preaches the Word!”

Kenny

What They Mean: “I’m looking for a church that preaches MY view of the Word.  I think the BLANK translation should be used…I think BLANK should be talked about a lot while BLANK should be ignored.  And if you ever stop preaching my view of the Word I will leave and tell others that you don’t preach the Word!”

What They Say:  “Lot’s of people have been coming to me and saying they don’t like is…”

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang trailer

What They Mean: “I basically only have three friends…and all of them think exactly like me.  The other night we were enjoying a time of self righteousness because, after all, we are right about everything…and were also slandering you (in the form of prayer requests) and thought it would be wise to approach you with our pet peeve.  We’ve actually talked to no one else about this but said “lots” because we wanted to validate our dysfunction.”

What They Say: “I’m leaving the church.”

What They Mean: “Beg me to stay.  If you will just ask me I will share with you several ways you can compromise God’s vision that He’s given you, thus becoming nothing more than a people pleasing pastor who is more interested in popularity than obedience.  If you don’t bow to my demands I will remind you that I tithe and that the church needs my money, reducing you to a mere preaching whore…one who is paid for a service for the pleasure of another person.”

What They Say: “I want a church that is more focused on discipleship.”

What They Mean: Reno 911!: Miami video “I want a church where everyone knows me and how important I am!  I don’t want to reach people who are different from me, be it economic class or race or even musical preference.  I already know WAY more than I do…but I somehow equate spirituality with knowledge rather than application and I rather enjoy feeling intellectually superior to those who don’t know as much as me.”

What They Say: “Don’t take this personally…but…”

Stewart Lee: 90s Comedian dvd

What They Mean:

The Adventures of Pluto Nash full movie

“I am about to lower the BOOM on you…but you can’t get angry because I told you not to take it personally.  Even though you have dedicated your life to this and pretty much invest every ounce of energy you have to this cause…and I think about it once or twice a week…you need to receive my attacks, even when they are personal…and you cannot retaliate because, remember, it’s not personal.”

OKAY, that was fun!  I typed it all with a smile.  Trust me…I’m not mad or frustrated with anyone…I just thought a pastor or two MIGHT get a smile out of this. 

Original Post

Warbirds hd Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls ipod

“The american church is a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament Christianity. The goals of American Christianity are often a nice marriage, children who don’t swear, and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered. That’s for the “radicals” who are “unbalanced” and who go “overboard.” Most of us want a balanced life that we can control, that is safe, and that does not involve suffering.”

Wow. Just thought i’d share what smacked me in the face.

• download Cirque du Freak: The Vampires Assistant movie

• Futurama: Benders Big Score dvd K-9: P.I. download The Good Bad and the Ugly buy

  Spy School aka Doubting Thomas dvdrip

  Confessions from a Holiday Camp psp

  Nightmare Man dvdrip

A Fish Called Wanda ipod

Stigmata full movie

These are exciting days! Just yesterday Daryl dropped off 25,000 invitations at the post office(I actually got mine today). This is one of his most favorite things to do. Actually, he said he’d rather hit himself over the head with a rubber mallot(atleast I think that’s what he said). Anyway, back to what I was saying…This is an exciting time to be apart of Lifepoint. We have seen record attendance. Lifechange. New faces serving on the Dream Team. And just around the corner…FALL KICKOFF.

With all of this excitement I have a favor to ask of everyone who reads this and calls Lifepoint home. I need you guys to do a few things for me.

1. Please park on the side of the school by the dumpsters so that we can free up the best parking spots for our guests.
2. When you come in the Auditorium please sit as close to the front and as close to each other as possible so that we can leave plenty of chairs for our guests who may arrive a few minutes late.
3. Help us make Sunday a welcoming environment. If you see someone who has that “deer in the headlights” look, introduce yourself to them and help them find their way around. They are probably a first time guest.
4. Sign up for the DREAM TEAM. If you have yet to discover your place to serve please let one of our staff know so that we can get you plugged in. These days are too exciting to sit on the sidelines. You can email info@lifepointnow.com if you would like to serve.

Over the next month or two we will see many new faces. Let’s do all we can to show them the love of Jesus! Thanks for making Lifepoint so amazing!

“A critic is someone who never actually goes to the battle, yet who afterwards comes out shooting the wounded”–Tyne Daly

“A critic is a man who knows the way but can’t drive the car.“–Kenneth Tynan

“It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic, is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things.”–Theodore Roosevelt

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”–Theodore Roosevelt

To all of these I would add: Anything worth doing is worth being criticized over…keep doing!

What a quote.