Category: hmm… thoughts

I don’t know if I’m headed to this years summit. But I do think this is a great advertisement for it. I know what I’ve gotten out of the summit is two-fold.

1. I get to listen to some of the great minds in leadership inside and outside of the church.
2. I get to listen to the same stuff that church leaders will be talking about, writing about, and thinking about for the next year.

Well done video, by the way.

By the way. Go to the YouTube page for this… the first comment is very funny.

There are people who "don’t get" viral marketing, how it works, or it’s power. There are a lot of people trying to do it… and most people think it’s a waste… here’s a little piece CBS did on the power of viral marketing.

I’m camping out at Sempre Caffe today to finish 4 different articles I have due. Good stuff… just super busy.

2 for the Romeo Peach
1 for YMX
1 for Simply Youth Ministry

1. 
   A new couple came to our small group last night. It’s incredible and I hope they are here to stay.
2. Google introduced "themes" for their personalized homepage. These things are so sweet because they respond to your location. As the day progresses the sun comes up and sets. If it rains it rains on the picture… all kinds of cool.

This is the video of Zach Hunter I showed in Light Force last night as I encouraged them to take risks for God. Isn’t it great to know that God calls His people to live boldly for him? I am careful not to put Zach on a pedestal, yet he is an example of the power of students.

I wonder what Light Force students are capable of doing? In fact, I dream about what they could do…

CNN Interview – Feb. 18th

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There is little I find more odd about being a pastor than getting hate mail from other Christians.

I just don’t understand why Christians do this… they disagree with something I say or do and then send me mail or email. Do they really think that this pleases Jesus? Christians attacking other Christians is just sad.

Now for what I got today. I get it… some people hate Rick Warren. Some people hate the Emergent Church. Some people hate worship music. Some people hate that our church wants to reach people with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. And others just hate me. OK, I can handle it! (Thick skin is part of the job!) In fact… I find getting stuff like that funny. Really, I do.

Here’s some unsolicited advice for hate mailers and hate emailers:

• If you want me to read it, put your real name on it. If you think you are going to change the world with an anonymous letter or email, think again. Stop reading this and watch the movie Luther again. The dude signed his name. The first thing (OK, the second… I’m human) I want to do when someone attacks me is see how I can talk to them and find out how I can restore the relationship. (Most issues between believers are simple misunderstandings in my opinion) If you are just hating me and don’t put your name… I can’t do anything with that and I will simply delete it.
• If you want me to take it seriously, use a decent source. I mean… do you really think places like Light House Trails or Southwest Radio are reputable? I don’t know these people personally… but I do know that they have no credibility among anyone but hyper-fundamentalists. In fact, I’d be happy to point you to examples where they intentionally sensationalize things to prove their own point. Including blatantly avoiding attempt to fact check their "facts." Likewise, their practice of "guilty by association" and "secondary assosiation" are clearly anti-biblical concepts. Anything that comes to me from these sources goes straight to the trash (folder). Hit me with someone who at least has a similar belief system to me, OK?
• Don’t contact me because you have an issue with someone else. I believe in Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 18. I don’t get why people send me hate mail because of someone else. Someone… explain that to me! If you don’t like someone’s ministry… contact them, not me! If you can figure out how to contact me… how come you can’t figure out "rickwarren@saddleback.org"?

That said… 99% of the comments, mail, phone calls I receive would NOT constitute what I’m labeling "hate mail." I would define hate mail as people who try to contact me anonymously with accusations via my blog’s comments, email, or snail mail. In fact, most emails, phone calls, comments, and snail mail are quite pleasant… even in disagreeing. I can handle disagreements… but hate mail just makes me laugh.

This guy makes being disabled look good. This is a classic "When life deals you lemons, you make lemonade" story.

So this afternoon I went to a Farmer Jacks to pick up some stuff for our event tonight. When I think supermarket, I like to think of finding everything I need in one place. Convenient, right?

Wrong. Nothing about "supermarkets" are convenient. Who puts cookies in the produce section? Who puts water in an aisle with baby food? How come the "fast lane" is anything but fast? How come things are labeled as "sale" but they really mean "sale if you have our loyalty card?"

See, bad supermarkets take advantage of their convenience and make the process completely inconvenient. To top it off, they have terrible customer service that goes out of its way to make you feel unimportant and stupid for not knowing that they hide cookies next to the fruit.

Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be a solution that provides convenience and good prices.

I feel rather odd about this. But for the first time in 3 years, we are receiving checks from the government and not writing one. It’s little things like this that bring so much joy. And getting a refund instead of writing a check guarantee’s vacation plans for 2007. This makes Kristen very happy.