10 Hard Questions from Perry Noble

This year I had the opportunity to be a part of Perry Noble’s Coaching Network. Perry is the founding Pastor of NewSpring Church which is one church with multiple locations through South Carolina.  One of the things I admire about Perry is his authenticity, realness, love for Jesus, the Church, and People, and his “don’t pull any punches” attitude towards life.   I personally gained a lot from my time with Perry and the staff at NewSpring and from time to time will repost stuff from Perry’s Blog.

Pastor Perry posted this one this morning – and I got to be honest- the Lord spoke to me through some of these questions this morning.   I saw a post from John Maxwell recently  on Twitter that said -”If your habits don’t line up w/ your dream, then you need to either change your habits or change your dream.”

So I thought I would post Perry’s questions here for you to read and think through these questions in your own life.

“10 Hard Questions” by Perry Noble:

Too many times we believe that being busy is equal to being godly…when the Bible says quite the opposite.

Psalm 46:10" href="http://biblegateway.com/bible?version=31&passage=Psalm+46%3A10" target="_new">Psalm 46:10 SLAYS me every time I read it…CONVICTED!

David said in Psalm 23 that the Lord makes him lie down in green pastures and leads him beside still waters.

The LONGEST, most detailed command in the 10 commandments is the one on rest.

Yet, all of us…especially those in the ministry…wrestle with this.  One of our MAIN temptations is being busy…here are a few questions we can wrestle through to see how busy those of us in ministry are…

#1 – How many times a day do you check your email?  Is there really any reason to check it as often as we do?

#2 – How many times a day do you check twitter?

#3 – How many times a day do you check your facebook page?

#4 – When you go home to do spend time with your family…or merely “tweet” about how you are spending time with your family?

#5 – Do you tell your kids you are too busy to go to their game…but then go to the game of the church members kid so you don’t get into hot water with them?  (BTW…good luck explaining that one to your kids in 20 years!)

#6 – Do you have a time during the day when you turn off your cell phone so that you can uninterrupted study time, prayer time and time with your spouse?

#7 – Do you always have to have noise around you…such as do you always have to have the radio on in the car OR the TV on at home, even if you are not listening to/watching it?

#8 – How much time do you spend commenting on blogs and social media sites?  (honestly, don’t know too many certified blog commenters that are actually changing the world!)

#9 – Are you accessible at any time of the day by anyone who needs you?  (LOTS of pastors LOVE to make this claim…usually at the expense of their family and their own walk with God.  If you want to walk with Jesus you can’t do it by always having a crowd around…you’ve got to have some time set aside.)

#10 – Are you willing to make the adjustments that you need to make based on the nine questions above?  If not then you are most likely addicted to noise and being busy…which looks good to others but absolutely destroys our walk with God.

PSALM 46:10!

ONE MORE THING…this is absolutely the most convicting blog post I’ve ever written…He’s PRESSING into me to make some major adjustments in regards to the noise in my life, would appreciate your prayers as I try my best to fully obey Him.

How To Make Sure Church is Boring by Perry Noble

Perry Noble posted this on his BLOG this morning and I had to repost it.  Church should not be boring, the gospel should never “get old”, but if you were looking to make Church a little boring, Perry has 8 steps to make it happen!!

How To Make Sure Church is Boring:

I know some people do not agree with me…but I FIRMLY believe that church should not be a boring place…because…

• The Bible is NOT boring–the teachings of God’s Word are more relevant and exciting that anything on the planet.
• Jesus was NOT boring – to see His life lived out in the Scriptures AND to see WHO HE IS should inspire AWE, not apathy!
• Our message is NOT boring – Jesus was DEAD, came BACK TO LIFE and offers us the same opportunity, to cross over from death to life and be reconciled to God–THAT’S FREAKIN AWESOME!!!
• The Book of Acts is NOT boring – there is NOWHERE in the book of Acts that ritual replaced relationship!

If the tomb is empty, Jesus is alive and HOPE is possible then HIS church should reflect that.

BUT…if you want to make sure your church is boring, here are Eight Simple Steps…

#1 – There has GOT to be apathetic leadership – Seriously, the leaders in the church MUST be obsessed with not rocking the boat and pursuing personal comfort!

#2 – There CANNOT be a desire to reach people far from God! Seriously, new birth can bring excitement to a church, which is NOT what people in pursuit of boredom desire.  SO…don’t focus on the Gospel…instead teach lots of history lessons and talk about things that very few people actually care about.  This will keep people far from God away from your group of people, thus not messing up the chemistry in your holy huddle.  WHATEVER you do…DO NOT talk about the Gospel…it changes people!!!

#3 – DO NOT call for ANY type of commitment from ANYONE–EVER! People MUST be allowed to come and go as they please…and must NEVER be made to feel uncomfortable under any type of circumstances.  If people begin responding to God it will increase the excitement level, which cannot happen in a boring place.

#4 – Always be predictable. Do the same songs at the same times, pray the same prayers and make SURE that people can look at their watch at any point in the service and know exactly what’s coming next.

#5 – Make excuses when things are done poorly! WHATEVER you do…do NOT address the obvious issues that are right under your nose.  In fact, if you will simply criticize any church or ministry that IS seeing success it will take the attention off of your dysfunction and allow you to maintain the current state of your church.

#6 – PLEASE make sure not to make ANY type of references to culture in your church services. If you want to have a boring church then you’ve GOT to make people believe that the lives they live Monday through Saturday and then the life they live on Sunday are two separate things.  You cannot teach that Scripture speaks to culture…because if people begin making that connection then they will begin to experience what Jesus promised in John 10:10" href="http://biblegateway.com/bible?version=31&passage=John+10%3A10" target="_new">John 10:10!

#7 – You’ve GOT to allow people to pretend that their lives are perfect! Seriously, if someone has a problem then you must either put them out of your church OR tell them to act as if they are perfect.  If people begin to bring their junk to your church and Jesus begins to help them work through it and they get delivered from it…your church cannot maintain its boring status.

#8 – You MUST focus on the external and NOT the internal. Make the way people dress the MOST important issue…and the way they LIVE a non-issue!!!

What is your Personality?

I just took the new Personality Pattern test.

Here are my results, thought it was pretty accurate!

Friendly

You would rather hang out with others than spend time alone, and you’d far rather be doing something with your friends than just sitting around. You’re happy in a crowded room, club, stadium, or auditorium.

You’re not a private person who is ill at ease in a group; you don’t view excessive socializing as a waste of time.

Accessible

You’re comfortable expressing yourself in words and actions, with no self-censorship. You believe that if someone doesn’t like what they see it’s not your problem, but theirs. A high score on the “accessible” trait suggests that you have a lot of friends, socialize often, and enjoy rap/hip-hop music.

You don’t see the need to keep your thoughts to yourself, or to have a zone of privacy that encompasses only yourself and a small circle of friends and relatives.

Passionate

You are in touch with your emotions, and sometimes you react before you think. The good news: you don’t tamp down your feelings. The bad news: you sometimes say or do things that you later wish you could take back.

You do not live your life on an even keel; you do not go for long periods without experiencing some mood swings.

Curious

You like to get to the bottom of things. You’re not content knowing what someone did; you want to know why they did it.

You don’t simply take things as they are and move on; you’re not content skimming along on the surface; you don’t feel you’re wasting time by digging for the meaning of things.

Assertive

You behave in a confident and forceful manner, take charge of the situation, raise your hand in class, stand up for what you think is right, and lead others. Among those who have a high score on the “assertive” trait, many have jobs in which they are valued for their organizational skills as well as their talent for supervising others.

You are not interested in fading into the woodwork, leaving everything to fate, taking more time than necessary to accomplish a task, or avoiding confrontation.

Warm

You have a genuine interest in other people. You’re a natural host, and are always thinking about how you can increase the happiness of those around you. When friends have problems or are in trouble, you’re usually the first person they turn to for aid and comfort. Scoring high on the “warm” trait suggests that you are among those who enjoy domestic activities — doing things around the house — and are enthusiastic about charitable work, helping others, and making the world a better place.

You don’t always say exactly what you’re thinking; you don’t like the idea of causing anyone pain because of your criticism.

Understanding

You are willing to take the time to find out what’s going on with other people, especially if they’re in distress. You’re a good listener, you don’t criticize, and you offer unbiased, respectful, honest advice when it’s requested. With a high score on the “understanding” trait, it is likely that you are enthusiastic about charitable work, helping others, and making the world a better place.

You don’t feel the need to impose your standards on others or say things that, even though true, cause pain.

Tender

You are gentle with others, both physically and emotionally. You are careful not to upset people and go out of your way to find the nicest way to say something. You naturally focus on the fact that the world is full of wonderful people, places, and things. More often than not, people with a high score on the “tender” trait enjoy spending time with children, love romantic movies, and are enthusiastic about making the world a better place.

You don’t think of yourself as tough-minded or gruff, nor do you need to be seen as some kind of objective source of truth and rationality.

Innovative

You come up with a lot of ideas; if one doesn’t work out, there’s always another waiting in the wings. You often have interesting solutions to difficult problems. You’re practically a one-person brainstorming session.

You are less interested changing the world than in dealing with things as they are. Unlike those who spend all their time trying to solve problems, you prefer to zero in on things that work and stick with them.

Competent

You strive to master everything you undertake. You tend to learn quickly and do not shy away from challenges.

You are not a “que sera sera” type of person, nor do you go easy on yourself when attempting to master a new skill or get a job done.

Vipers #3

#3. DO NOT ENTERTAIN VIPERS

Vipers are people who are Envious, Furious, and spread their poisonous venom through Gossip and Slander.  They lash out and cannot be trusted.

We have all ran into Vipers in our lives.  You know the coworker who starts every conversation with, “Did you hear?”.   The friend who criticizes  everything and thinks if everyone where more like them and listen to everything they had to say, the world would be a better place.

One of the mistakes you and I can make when we come across Vipers, is rather than getting out of their striking distance, we try to become Snake Charmers.  We try to stay one step ahead of the bite,  try not to participate in the Gossip but will listen, and hope we can stay just close enough without getting hit with a striking blow.

Here is the problem – snake charmers will eventually get bit!

There is no such thing as an innocent bystander when it comes to gossip.  Even though you might not be the one speaking, gossips need people to listen to them.  Charles H Spurgeon once said in regards to Gossip , “the tale-bearer carrieth the devil in his tongue, and the tale-hearer carries the devil in his ear.”

Stop Trying to tame the Vipers, you will get hit with the bite of venom!!

Philippians 4:8- Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Vipers #2

Growing up I had family that lived in the Southwest.  My Uncle’s job required them to move a lot and as I remember they moved back and fourth between Arizona and California a few times.

Growing up we would hear stories about my Uncle, Aunt, or Cousins waking up in the morning to find a Rattlesnake cooling off on their tile floor in the kitchen.  I was always terrified of the idea of visiting because I knew there was a chance of coming across a rattlesnake!

We need to treat “Vipers” those who are full of bitterness, are always furious, strike with their gossip, and inject venom that kills just like we would any other poisonous snake!

Yesterday I posted 5 tips for dealing with Vipers in your life.  Today we are talking about location, because location matters!!

#1. STAY AWAY FROM VIPERS!

You know what always amazes me about the National Graphic and Discovery  Shows that highlight venomous snakes?  These guys always know exactly where to find the snakes!  That is because snakes have places they like to hang out, places to hunt, and places to hide out as they enjoy their latest kill!

Where do the “Vipers” hang out in your life?

Is it by the water cooler at work?  A friend who loves to email other people’s secrets? Someone you know who always starts the conversation, “Did you hear……”.

Find our where the Vipers Hang out, know what they like and then…..

#2. RUN AWAY FROM THEM

Remember, Vipers always strike and when they do, they inject venom that will destroy you!

A Viper Cannot bite you if they cannot get close enough to Strike at You!

Stop trying to play “Snake Charmer”, when you see a Viper coming your way, RUN, because the Viper has one agenda and it leads to death!