UNLEASH Live Blogging Session 1

Live blogging the 2009 Unleash Conference

Session 1: Perry Noble

2 Kings 7
There are language differences between the North and the South
Shagging in the South means to “dance” – in the North it means “bow chicka wow wow”
There’s been a major breakdown in communication between Jesus and his church.
Matthew 16 – Jesus said I will build my church and Hell will not overcome it.
The Communication breakdown is, instead of asking Jesus to build his church, we are asking him to build our church.
We’ve stripped the bride down of her wedding garments and placed cheap lingerie on her to make her a cheap slut!
3 Questions for the Church:
1. Are we willing to embrace change? (Vs. 3)
The # of Christians is declining and its the church’s (corporately) fault. We’ve been unwilling to change!
Every denomination has been declining for 30+ years, if it were our money we would have done something about it!
We have to be willing to embrace change.
Everyone can look at other churches and call the change they need to make, but can you look at your own church?
Most people cannot change because they are married to an idea, not to Jesus
Churches have a choice, change or die. – God had to kill off an entire generation before he could take the Israelites into the promised land.
Grandparents would you give up your life for your grandkids? How about your music in church? We are losing a generation because people want change.
You cannot manage, orchestrate, or create a move of God…it just happens.
Acts 1:14-15; Acts 2:41-
You’ve got to be comfortable being uncomfortable – (My note) YES!!!
You think this freakin’ building just dropped out of the sky? Do you think we just prayed about a youth building and it just appeared?
You have to make financial changes!
Church planters don’t let money guide your decisions, let Jesus.
The Pastor cannot do everything – If the church is going to be effective the pastor has to get out of the day to day operations of the church.
New Spring’s youth went from 200 to 800, because Perry hired a Godly youth pastor let him hire a team and moved out of the way.
If you think a video screen can stop the anointing of God on a man’s life who is called to preach, your God is too small. Multi-site does not stop a move of God.
The church has to stop competing with one another and start completing one another!
2. Are We Willing to Work? (Vs. 5)
The church is more willing to pray about something than actually doing it.
Is there anything in your church that you are manufacturing energy for in your church?
We are worried about hurting someone’s feelings but Jesus was not (See Matthew 23)
Is there anyone on your stage that cannot sing?
Pastors: A) Have people who investigate the obvious.
Pastors: B) Ignore the Jackass
You’re only as deep as the last person you served.
Do you think when Jesus was dying on the cross he said, “Now my people have someone to preach their funeral?”
3. Are we serious about reaching the world?
Terms that get overplayed in church:
Contemporary = Our pastor wears a sweater vest, our pastor gets his underpants from Victoria Secret, and we treat him like our boyfriend rather than our King.
Blended = No one in our church actually possesses a set and will proclaim where we stand, so in an effort to keep everyone happy we reach no one.
Missional = Most overplayed term in the church. No one is showing up, so we sought out a term to disguise our disfunction.
Emergent = We’re a bunch of spoiled former church kids who have a problem with authority, even the authority of the Bible, and because of their movement Hell is going to be fuller because we’ve sided with Satan in questioning the Bible.
Perry, “I’m obsessed with numbers because I was one of those numbers”
If numbers is not important then why are Numbers all through ACTS?!?!
The church for years has been cruising around, but it is like a sports car, they have so much power in them, if they would just stomp it, God would use them for things that would blow your mind.
Don’t compare yourself with New Spring, because he probably wants to do greater things with your church!

March 10, 2009August 17, 2009

One in Fifty US Children Homeless

I saw this story today…

One of every 50 American children experiences homelessness, according to a new report that says most states have inadequate plans to address the worsening and often-overlooked problem.

The report being released Tuesday by the National Center on Family Homelessness gives Connecticut the best ranking. Texas is at the bottom.

“These kids are the innocent victims, yet it seems somehow or other they get left out,” said the center’s president, Dr. Ellen Bassuk. “Why are they America’s outcasts?” [Read Entire Story Here]

Continue reading “One in Fifty US Children Homeless”

March 9, 2009

The Official “You Need Jesus T-Shirt”

You better hurry! It was on sale at the Evans, Georgia Wal-Mart for $1

I almost bought it for myself, but it was a Large and I don’t want to live that nightmare again!

I may regret passing it up, but hey, if one of my friends buys it, maybe I can read it…often.

March 6, 2009March 6, 2009

Kingdom Day Right Around the Corner

PDYM Kingdom Day is right around the corner and will be here before you know it. Kingdom Day is a ONE day service project where the church comes together as ONE body to accomplish ONE purpose. The Church and Christians talk a lot…there is no doubt about that, but we are usually found absent when it comes time to back that talk up.

Kingdom Day is all about the Church putting our hands and feet where our mouth is. We say we love…we’re going to show it. We talk about sacrifice…we’re going to give it. I hope you will join with us on April 25th for Kingdom Day.

Kingdom Day has been encouraging student ministries all across the US to partner with another student ministry in their community to work together (across denominational lines), as One body to serve those who are less fortunate than we are. Every group is atonymous and is working on the project they feel led to do for their community. Our goal is to go beyond talking about a Gospel of love to acting it out. One group plans on working on a local camp, other groups are working soup kitchens, while others are seeking out shut ins to assist with cleaning their homes and cleaning up their yards.

The Question I want you to ask yourself is this, “Is there a need in our community that our student ministries can tackle?” If there is, I encourage you to contact a student ministry in your area and plan a service project with them for Saturday, April 25. Some churches have talked about participating in Kingdom Day as an entire body with other churches, so don’t let the word Student Ministry narrow your focus, adults are more than welcome to participate as well.

The Purpose Driven Youth Ministry is fueling Kingdom Day, but you do not have to follow the PDYM paradigm for your ministry to participate. If you plan on attending PDYM the Conference at Saddleback on March 24-27, we would love to meet you. We’ll be participating in the conference at some point. If you want to attend, there is still time and room at the conference, you can register HERE, if you are not attending because of finances, contact us, and I can get you in touch with someone who can assist with a discount.

Click Here to Register your Group.
Click Here to Follow PDYM Kingdom Day on Twitter.

March 5, 2009

Its Not Reality TV…Its Marketing TV

I’ve heard a lot of chatter this morning on Twitter and some blogs about the outrage that the judges on American Idol brough Tatiana Del Torro back onto the show. It was just a few days ago the chatter on Twitter and the blogs was about the outrage that Jason Mesnick was allowed to dump his fincee Melissa on the Bachelor. After all, she was the girl he selected as his fiancee when he dumped Molly, who is the girl he reunited with as soon as he dumped Melissa. What single guy would not love to be on this show? Really? You get to select from like 25 ladies, make out with them, get an all expense paid vacation to date these girls, and then you get to dump them and watch them cry, but oh wait, if you make the wrong choice, the show will help you get the one you let slip away back.

Tatiana on the other hand is one of the most annoying contestans that has ever been on American Idol. She was not voted by the fans to remain on the show, but apparently American Idol felt we got it wrong, so what did they do? They allowed the judges to do one of those “bring an idol back” sessions (which they have not done consistantly) to bring miss Drama queen back into our living rooms. Haha! And you thought this was reality tv!

No, this is Marketing TV, and part of that is to make you believe you are in control, but you’re not. I am convinced that the Bachelor had to cover their poor video editing, which a normal person caught. It was just a few weeks ago when Twitter and You Tube blew up over a video where someone discovered that Jason was going to select Melissa. See, Melissa wore a pinky ring and in the final shot (where it shows Jason proposing) you cannot see the girl’s face, but you can see her pinky ring. I believe this killed the ratings for the final show. Sure it could have boosted the ratings, but the whole ordeal went a little too far. The reunion show with Jason and Molly was too staged.

Finally, you have Tatiana Del Torro, oh yeah, and Nick Mitchell on American Idol. They define two of the horrible selections made by the judges this season. Of course there is also the swimsuit girl who didn’t get in on musical talent. The problem with American Idol and Tatiana and Nick is the fact that this is American Idol. The fans agree they are not “American Idols” even if they can sing a little. They have preached for years that an American Idol is a complete package. Who knows, maybe they have been wrong this entire time since only about 3 American Idols have ended up being American Idols and there was that guy who lost and made it bigger than the other 4 duds combined. So just remember when you are calling in to cast your vote, most of these people did not just walk in off the street, the show knows a lot more about them than you and I will ever know. Most of the final contestants have been doing music for years! The first few rounds are just to filter out the extra noise the judges allow through for ‘show’ and in this particular horrible season if you don’t have Drama (Tatiana and Nick), you don’t have much of a show.

Join the Conversation: What’s Your Thoughts?