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.

Got Questions?

Do you have questions? Have an idea that you would like to hear more teaching on? We want to know what they are! Starting Sunday, July 11th, we will be doing a series called, ‘You Asked For It”.

We will spend several weeks answering your questions. That’s right, you set the topics for these messages. We will do our best to answer as many submitted questions as possible and we promise you, we will keep your identity confidential.

The best way to ‘ask for it’ by submitting your questions is to visit Meadowland’s website and fill out the “You Asked For It” form by clicking this Link or by filling out your communication card on Sunday Morning.

Remember, the only stupid question is the one that isn’t asked, so send them in!

Sunday Rewind 5.23.10

- Sunday was BEAUTIFUL weather wise, and I was so THANKFUl for the air-conditioning units in the auditorium that were donated last year!! Made a HUGE difference.

-John and his team did a fantastic job leading us in worship Sunday! The team performed “Hold Us Together” as a response song and seriously rocked it!

- I taught on Exodus 17:8-12 on Sunday.  I really enjoyed teaching from the Old Testament!

- There are times in our lives when God Blesses Us and their other times He Calls Us to Battle!!

- I believe the following 3 things about all of us:

1. God wants to do an incredible work in you and through you!
2. Life is a Journey and we WILL experience battles along the way!
3. You cannot do battle alone for long!

- One of the things I find so interesting about Exodus 7:8-12 is that the Israelites very well could have lost the battle is Moses was ARROGANT enough to think he do what God asked him to do ALONE.

- In your life do you have people around you that hold you up, encourage you and pray for you  when you are in Battle?

-If not there are several ways to begin building those relationships at Meadowland Church today!!

- I am PUMPED about our upcoming Series:

• Starting on June 6th we are going back into the Sermon on the Mount to study prayer in a three week series called “Pray Like Jesus”
• Starting on July we are launching a new series called “You Asked For It”.  We will be answering questions that have been submitted by you on Sunday Mornings.
• If you would like to  submit your question for the “You Asked For It” Series, you can do so by clicking HERE.

- Meadowland Church- I love you and am so thankful for you.  I am so excited to see what Jesus will do next as we continue to take our next steps on the Journey together!!

Sunday In Review 5.02.10

- Seriously, I am having a hard time believing that it is already May, although I am loving the weather!

-Again this weekend at Meadowland Church we saw people surrender their lives to Jesus and take the next steps on their journey.

- I have to throw out a SHOUT OUT to Kurt and Carmen Rice for all the hard work they did on the Illustration this Sunday.  I showed up Sunday and it was there all set up and ready to go.  Thank you for help and service.

- There were a ton of things going on Sunday morning that usually do not happen.  There were technical issues, key people got sick or could not make it do to surprise circumstances.  I believe Satan did not want this Sunday to happen at Meadowland Church. Thank you to everyone who filled it, worked extra hard, and LEAD the Charge this week.  You are all amazing!!

- We believe LIFE is a JOURNEY and YOU should not have to walk ALONE.  No matter where you are at on your JOURNEY, we want to help you take the next steps towards Jesus.

- At the end of the Sermon of the Mount (Matthew 7:28-29), Matthew records that as people listened to WHAT Jesus had to say and HOW He said it, that they recognized His AUTHORITY.

- I love this quote from Andy Stanley, ” People who are the most dissatisfied with God are those who have never fully surrendered to him.”

- Our relationship with Jesus, our obedience to Scripture, and our Spiritual Growth all start with SURRENDERING to Christ’s AUTHORITY.

- When we try to bring our desire for CONVENIENCE into the our relationship with God and the Church, we begin to walk on very dangerous ground!!

- Jesus did not DIE on the CROSS and RAISE from the DEAD to leave us the way we are.  He want more for us, He wants us to have LIFE TO THE FULL (John 10:10).

- The Worship team lead us in the song “From the Inside Out” by Hillsong – that song MOVED ME!!  Powerful words for worship!!

- We talked about a guy named Demas today.  Demas hung out with Paul and was involved with Paul’s Ministry, however when things got tough and the cost was too high, Demas BAILED on Paul for “his love for the present world”. (2 Timothy 4:9-10).

-Sunday’s Message was a hard one, but I believe Jesus really is calling us to take the next steps on our Journey and ask ourselves the question: ” is there ANY area in MY life that I need to SURRENDER to you” .

- For the next 4 weeks we will be answering the question “What Now?” and discovering God’s truth as we take the next steps on the Journey!!

-Meadowland Church- Jesus is doing amazing things in and through the people that make up HIS Church.  Thank you for your willingness to follow Jesus, even when it is not easy!!  I believe Jesus has more in store for us.   Continue to surrender to Jesus, make Him LORD of your Life and put NOTHING before HIM!!

Sunday Rewind 4.25.10

- Reading through the communication cards and prayer requests this morning, it is clear that Jesus is moving in the hearts and lives of the people who make up Meadowland Church!!

- I absolutely loved the fact that it was raining this Sunday as we studied Matthew 7:24-27!!

- We have been studying the Sermon on the Mount here at Meadowland Church since the first Sunday in January.  This Sunday (May 2nd) we will begin a new series called “What Now?” as we study the last verse of the Sermon on the Mount!  You do not want to miss this!!

- Every single one of us is building around something in our life. What are you building?  How are you building it?

- We build things in our lives based on 1. Where we invest our time  2. Where we spend our Money and  3. The Habits we Form in our lives.

- Jesus promises us in Matthew 7:24-27 that there will be STORMS in our lives.  The rains WILL COME, the wind WILL BLOW and the floods, WILL RUSH IN.  Are you ready for the storms of life?

- Jesus says the difference between  STANDING and FALLING has everything to do with your FOUNDATION!!

- The Wise Man BUILDS by hearing GOD’S WORD and DOING IT.

- The Foolish Man BUILDS by hearing GOD’S WORD and NOT DOING IT.

- This Sunday we had a guest worship team “Cyrus Jones” lead worship this week. It was great being able to give our entire worship team a week off!

- Seriously, you DO NOT WANT TO MISS this upcoming series!  I BELIEVE God wants to do BIG things in the hearts and lives of people.  Do whatever it takes to be here this Sunday!!

- Meadowland Church- I love you and am honored to be your Pastor.  I am so excited to take our next steps on the Journey Together!!