Criticism – it’s everywhere.

I find it amazing the amount of criticism I see about my church, NewSpring Church.

Videos on YouTube, blogs, web sites, etc.

I just have to wonder. If these people spent a fraction of the time they spend criticizing churches on how they handle ministry and instead,  actually did something to spreading the Gospel, what might that look like? I just watched a 5 part video criticism about media-driven churches, of which my church was a primary focus. Lots of time was spent on producing that thing. And to what avail?

In what way does this work toward the growth of God’s Kingdom?

I’m sorry, but if my church can see 562 people get baptized in one day – so what if they play Garth Brooks. I personally think Garth sucks…but who cares?! However, in the way these people think, I’m certain that the fact that there were grills, big screen TVs and people actually having fun, that baptism doesn’t count.

Because they obviously know oh-so-well how Jesus wants His Bride to behave. In their case, more like a beaten dog that’s afraid to be seen in public, but barks loudly from the safety of the backyard fence – or picket line!

I actually wasted too much time on this already.

Hardee’s eminent downfall

Hardee’s eminent downfall, originally uploaded by DJ Wilson.

They were doing so well. Unlike everyone else, they were focusing on what they did best – burgers.

I predict this is the start of their decline.

Good-bye Thickburger…at least the way we knew you.

My reluctant drink of choice.

My reluctant drink of choice., originally uploaded by DJ Wilson.

For today at least.

Not fun. Nor is it tasty.

Via iPhone.
“I am not, but I know I Am.”

Decay

Decay, originally uploaded by DJ Wilson.

Great decaying home I found whilst riding around today.

“Stand up and piss against the wall like a man”

This gem comes courtesy of Los at Ragamuffin Soul.

Haha. This guy is actually serious!!

For Reference -

1 Judges 14:10 (King James Version)
“Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. “

(NIV)
“Because of this, I am going to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam. I will cut off from Jeroboam every last male in Israel—slave or free. I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns dung, until it is all gone. “

Guess you gotta read a “man’s Bible” to find the deeper meaning like that.

Starbucks closed…and I didn’t notice.

But, many did.

In fact, I’m sure there were tears shed all across the States from the hours of 5:30pm – 8:30pm yesterday as Starbucks shut its doors.

Why’d they do it?

Howard Schultz and Starbucks say, “to teach, educate and share our love of coffee, and the art of espresso.”

However, ChurchMarketingSucks.com seems to believe there were ulterior motives.

“Shutting down your operation creates buzz. Apple knows this; they do all their online store updates in the middle of the day, and they bring down their whole site as the rumor sites go ablaze in anticipation. Starbucks knows this, too.”

It’s a great article.  Check it out in full.

 

There Will Be Baby

From my friend, Justin B.

“I drink your Sunny D!  I drink it all up!
SLLLLLLLUUUUURRRRRRP!!!
Fo’ shiz!”

Haha – White people and bottled water.

From:  Stuff White People Like

#76 – Bottles of Water

“Logically, you would assume that drinking the most expensive premium
bottled water (Fiji and Voss) would be enough to show the world that
you are too good for tap water. And a few years ago, you would have
been right.”

Oh this is just too much fun!!!  Isn’t it the truth.  I notice this daily.  The water bottle has exceeded its purpose and slipped into being simply a fashion staple.

But that’s not it.

Apparently awareness of the waste in plastic bottles has come to the forefront.

“The leading edge of white people have started to use sturdier, refillable bottles.”

Yes.  I know some of them. 

Here’s what I like, and is SO true of “white people”.  Upon confronting someone drinking from a plastic bottle while you behold your far superior metal, screw cap, refillable, $20+ bottle….

“Following your confrontation, the white person is likely to have a
metal bottle just like yours. If this happens, there will be an
implicit pact whereby they will do favors for you provided you do not
tell everyone they got their bottle after you.”

Hehehehehe. 

If you haven’t read Stuff White People Like, then do yourself a favor and go catch yourself up.  It’s a laugh riot!

Stop hatin’!

Luke 10:27 (NIV)
He answered: ” ‘Love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

“…as yourself.”

How do you feel about you? 

Mostly, I’m my own worst enemy.  I’m hyper-critical and negative.

Is is safe to assume that judging others is the byproduct of our own self-criticism?  I bet so.

For me, I think it’s time I stop hatin’ on myself, otherwise I’m always gonna have cramped middle finger while stuck in traffic.  I think it’s time to start hugging myself.  Treating myself the way I want others to treat me, so that in return, I can honestly treat others with that same level of love and compassion.

Is it selfish to love ourselves?  I don’t think so.  Especially if we claim to be vessels of the Holy Spirit; created in God’s image.

Love yourself, first, so that you may love your neighbor as yourself.

Anything else just seems fake to me.

Unstoppable Idiots.

We recently had a sermon at church about God’s calling of ordinary, normal men. We looked at Scripture and it’s clear that Jesus associated, in kindness and close proximity, to everyone except the religious zealots and pious leaders of the day.

Jesus posse included fishermen, tax collectors and prostitutes. Not a single scribe, Pharisee or Sadducee.

God freed Israel with a stammering old man named Moses.

God chose plain old Noah to save the animals and his family from the flood.

God chose David, a little boy, to slay a giant and become king.

Acts 4:13 (NIV)
When they [rulers of the law, Sadducees, etc.] saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Perry and Craig Groeschel (Senior pastor of Lifechurch.tv) both pointed out that the word for ordinary is the very same root for which we get our word idiot.

The religious rulers saw that these men were idiots and they had been with Jesus. They were astonished!

David danced naked in the street when he became king.

Paul was stoned and left for dead, but he dusted himself off and went back into the city.

Idiots.

And in Acts 5, the rulers of the law were furious with the disciples persistence and plotted to kill them, but one of the Pharisees said this:

Acts 5:38-39 (NIV)
³⁸“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Idiots for God are unstoppable.

They have the favor of God.

Fighting them is fighting God.