My 5-Year-Old Goes to Kindergarten

Corbin has ventured off to all-day kindergarten. These pics were at www.desmoinesregister.com. He's a man of many faces!

Veni, Vedi, Velcro

That's Latin for I came, I saw, I stuck around. As we approach our 12-year anniversary at Christian Life Assembly, I am so glad I stuck around. I'm glad I stuck around to see:

• The miracle of 40 acres on the Highway 5 Bypass
• The launch of elevate youth ministry and KidsCount Bus Ministry
• Over 1,200 people at last year's Toys for Tots Distribution
• Scores of people involved in life giving small groups
• Worship services that break through to God's presence
• People giving their hearts to Christ every Sunday

We've come a long way from Lakewood Elementary. I'm glad I stuck around. More than that, I'm glad you stuck around, too!

Defining Leadership

In his book Masterplanning, Bobb Biehl defines leadership as

Knowing what to do next,

knowing why that's important,

and knowing how to bring the appropriate

resources to bear on the need at hand.

As a leader, the question is simple, "What do we do next?" That question cuts through the fog and enables us to establish our priorities. Priorities, according to Biehl, are either the problems we need to solve or the goals we need to accomplish.

I'm working to create my priorities for the next four years. Why four years? Because in four years, I'll be 40! I want to reach some goals and solve some probelms by that time. What about you? Do you have priorities for the next 90 days? The next 2-3 years? The next 20 years?

Hooter's

Here's a great blog from www.perrynoble.com about men, women, and Hooter's.

"For those who do not attend NewSpring–let me explain what happened this Sunday…
We are currently doing a series on finances called Deal or No Deal; however, towards the end of the message I threw in a relationship nugget. I made the comment that I do not go to Hooters because in doing so I would dishonor my wife…and I challenged the married men in the room to ask their wives if this was dishonoring.

When I made the comment I just moved on…but since Sunday I have had several women tell me how much they appreciated me making that comment. One woman actually told me that three other women called her on Sunday night and said, “Did you hear what Perry said about Hooters?”

Guys–I know, you go for the food, right? WRONG! I am a man…I know how men think…I know what a man wants to look at…and so if you are a regular customer at Hooters…I KNOW why you go…and it’s not for the food but rather to feed lustful desires. Come on men…you can’t argue here…you know it’s the truth.

What I have discovered about my wife is this–she wants to know that she is beautiful to me. She makes an effort to take care of herself and, when we go out, to take a little extra time for me…she wants me to check her out–to tell her she is beautiful…and when she goes through this effort and I check out another woman or feel the need to go somewhere that puts women on parade to fuel my incredibly weak male ego–this hurts her. Once again men…if you don’t believe me–ask!

Men…I know we all live in a tough world. Sex sells…and beautiful women are used to sell everything from a new car to a cure for hemorroids. (Where does that logic make sense? “Hey–can I have the hemorroid medicine that the beautiful people on television use?”)
Maybe that is why Scripture tell us in Job 31:1 that he made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully at a woman…and we need to do the same.
It’s tough…I know–especially in the gym. I remember once a lady getting in front of me with some shorts that were so short that her rear end was literally hanging out! Later that day I was having lunch with a dude who held me accountable and I was telling him about it. He said, “Well…as soon as you saw her on the machine in front of you you moved didn’t you?”

“Uh, no,” I replied.

“Well Perry, how long did you stay there?”

“Uh–about thirty minutes…” I was busted–he called me out…and I never will forget that day that I taught myself the phrase when an attractive woman walks by, “That’s not my wife.” I have had to say that out loud!!! (It really freaks people who are with me out!)
Men–we need to be pure with our eyes…it matters to the woman we are married to. Single dude–it matters to your future spouse. Fathers–it matters to your sons and daughters. You are modeling for you sons how to treat women…and for your daughters how they should allow men to treat them. So…a family trip down to Hooters shows them nothing more than women being treated as objects of lust…and remember when they go down that road in the future–you discipled them.

One more thing and I will let up on this…and this is a challenge to women…the way you dress can greatly affect how a man thinks about you–or what he thinks about you. And I am not talking about those “women in Hollywood.” I am talking about women who claim they love Jesus…but also feel the need to reveal their cleavage to the world.

Ladies–if that offends you–check yourself…you don’t want to be treated as a piece of meat…then you can help yourself out by ot putting so much of yourself on display! I know this is a challenge for many of you–where is the line between being beautiful and dressing like you are for sale? My advice–ask a man who is in love with Jesus…and give him permission to be honest…and he will let you know. What might be “cute” to a group of women can be “seductive” to a group of men.

Men have a responsibility to control themselves…but you have a responsibility to help us do so…it is a partnership…and as we work together God will be honored in this.

From the Ponderosa to the Pigpen

We're gearing up for Round Up Sunday, September 10. It's going to be a great day of rounding everyone up after such a busy summer. Round Up Sunday will feature:

• The Illustrated Message From the Ponderosa to the Pigpen
• The Launch of our Fall Small Group schedule
• Horseback Rides for all children

This is one of the most powerful illustrated messages we've ever presented. Start inviting your friends and family. There are going to be some great surprises during the service that you won't want to miss.

You don't need priorities...

Here's the idea. You don't need priorities...if you don't have any dreams. If you have dreams and no priorities then all you have is despair. What are your dreams? Let those dreams determine your priorities for this day, month, and year.

Back to School Rally

Thank you to all of the volunteers for this year's Back to School Rally. We gave out more backpacks than ever. Plus, our attendance for the rally was the highest-ever at 828 people across the two service.

Again, thank you to everyon who helped out!

Back to School Rally Sunday

We're getting ready for our annual Back to School Rally this Sunday. We've had over 400 people sign up for our free backpacks. Gary Lydic of America's Family Coaches is going to be our special guest. I'm going to present the illustrated message, The Three Chairs. It's going to be great.

Don't forget there are two services: 8:30 and 10:30. The 8:30 is primarily for our guests receiving backpacks, though anyone can attend. We're encouraging you to bring guests to the 10:30 service.

If I'm not as excited about Back to School as I should be--it's because Corbin heads to Kindergarten! We moved Morgan out of her baby bed last weekend and now this! Our kids are growing up! In a year, Grant goes into the elevate student ministries. We're to young to be parents of a near-youth!

Soda, Pop, or Coke!

My dad worked for the Coca-Cola company while I was growing up so we never had any other product in the house. In fact, we called all soft drinks coke. In fact, most people were we lived would say, "Do you want to get a coke?", but that could mean Coke, Dr. Pepper, or any other soft drink.

Here in Iowa, it seems that pop is the name of choice. Somebody actually did research to find out the prevailing name across the country. Here's the link. Interesting!

http://www.popvssoda.com/countystats/total-county.html

Pull Up Your Stakes

What a great weekend we had at Christian Life Assembly. It was so great to be back after vacation. We had a powerful service where we discovered the need to pull up some stakes in our lives.

I am convinced that God wants to do more in our hearts and lives that what our current tents can contain. So, we've got to pull up the stakes that hold us in. Stakes like other people's opinions, our past, our bad habits, our lack of knowledge. Israel had to pull of the stakes of a shameful past and a barren present in Isaiah 54. We've got our on stakes to pull up so we can expand our tent.

Let's pull up some stakes this week. Next Sunday, we're going to continue in this Breaking Free series with a look at Running through Troops and Leaping Over Walls. It's going to be great.

Call the DOCTOR

While I was at Cape First, Gary Brothers gave me the book Masterplanning by Bobb Biehl. I've not read the book yet, but he uses an interesting acronym to describe the planning process:

D Direction
O Organization
C Cash
T Tracking
O Overall Evaluation
R Refinement

It looks a like a great way to develop a simple, but effective masterplanning process in a church or any organization.

It's Great to Be Back

What a wonderful two-week vacation Amberly, the kids, and I had. We visited our family in Kentucky, spent a week in the Smoky Mountains, and preached at Cape First with Gary Brothers in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It was awesome.

But, it's good to be back in the saddle again. When I got back, the team had "Welcome Back" posters with pictures of my favorite things: Tommy Barnett, Elvis, Dr. Pepper, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and Mickey Mouse! There was also a life size, stand up picture of George Bush in my office welcoming me home. What a team.