(read carefully and completely and follow instructions at the bottom)
This is the truth
If we turn things upside down
We can’t hope for goodness to win the world
I would be lying to you if I said that
The human race has a great future ahead
That altruism could replace egotism
That your lives could be filled with joy
That your children could be safe and healthy
Before anything you must know
The human race cannot accomplish these things
And I am convinced of this because I know you
Corruption and selfishness are so ingrained in you
Compassion breeds weakness
when only the strong survive and
I refuse to believe under any circumstance that
You can turn things around in the coming years
This world may be sinking to new depths but
There are even more revelations to come
The human race has only one destiny
And whether you like it or not
This is what is real
I am the Lord, Your God
You should know I believe exactly the opposite
(now read back through backwards, line by line, from "I am the Lord, Your God" and see how everything changes.)
This text comes from a video by Community Christian Church who adapted an idea presented by Granger Community Church.
National Pastor's ConventionLast week I went to Zondervan's National Pastor's Convention in beautiful San Diego, California. It was very good. There were probably 1000 in attendance, and yet it was still an intimate and personal event. They threw out the red carpet for us! All books were 50% off, there was a Digital Cafe with wi-fi, drinks, reading areas, and a free chair massage person standing by. Every session they'd give us free books or CDs or downloadable goodies on our seat. Artists that performed included Fernando Ortega, Todd Agnew, and Nicole Nordeman. There were two different worship groups, and a whole host of Drama and Comedy acts. I was completely blown away by Ken Medema, who would summarize every main session at the end with a improvised song. He is a blind man, who plays the piano, and does keyboard sounds. He sits backstage and listens. After the speaker finishes he starts playing a new songs that sums up every aspect of the service, from skits to comments made in interviews, to the worship, and the speaking. He does so in a unique way everytime, and bring it all together in the end- truly amazing gift he has.
Main speakers were
Ruth Haley Barton,
John Eldredge,
Mark Labberton,
Brian McLaren,
Eugene Peterson, and
Bishop Kenneth Ulmer. Morning Bible Study was by Eugene Peterson and Stuart Briscoe. For seminars we could choose from this huge list:
John Burke,
Henry Cloud,
Tim Conder,
Bill Donahue,
Mark Driscoll,
Dave Ferguson (a Christian Church guy),
Randy Frazee (he sleeps 10 hours a day!),
Rozanne Frazee,
Alice Fryling,
Denise George,
Ruth Graham,
Kevin Harney,
Sherry Harney,
Shane Hipps (intriguing class!)
Al Hsu,
Mark Jobe,
Dan Kimball,
Brian Larson,
Greg Ligon,
Jimmy Long,
Larry Osborne,
Doug Pagitt,
Marshall Shelley,
Efrem Smith,
Jarrett Stevens,
Jeanne Stevens,
Geoff Surratt,
Greg Surratt,
Gary Thomas,
Phyllis Tickle,
John Townsend,
Richard Twiss,
Karen Ward,
Robert Webber, and
Lauren Winner.
It was a great conference. I'm tired and my brain's on overload. We had to make it back for church on Sunday, and due to fog in Harlingen, had to drive a Rental Car back from San Antonio. So we got in a lot later than was expected, but we made it, and now can start sifting through all our materials, notes, and insights revieved. If you ever get to go to NPC, go.
Just a quick note from San Diego, CA. The National Pastor's Convention is underway. I woke up this morning at 4:30 a.m. this time zone. I couldn't get back to sleep. Ran down in the foggy cold over concrete to the whirlpool only to find that it was locked until 7 a.m. They wouldn't open it. Oh, well. Hopefully I'll be able to stay awake through the late night options. Maybe I'll have to take a nap. Anway, I'm really looking forward to the Convention and the blessing that it will be and is already.
