David Whiting Live

Harry Potter and the Gospel

The past couple of years I finally read the entire Harry Potter series. I tried years ago but didn't get beyond book 3. I didn't really enjoy it, but a couple of years ago, my girls really got into it - so I thought I should track along with them.

Please check out this video for a beautiful explanation of Harry Potter and the Gospel. It is about seven minutes long, so I assume that only Harry Potter fans will be interested. But I enjoyed the Gospel themes of Harry Potter, but didn't see them quite as vividly as Jerram does. I really appreciated this video!

 

If you receive this via email - click HERE to see the video. 

If you want more about whether or not Christians should read books like Harry Potter - you can see a great blog post on it HERE.

Who Do You Trust? Well... NOT Diesel, the Dog

That is a photo of Diesel, a Mastiff.

On Sunday we began selling Patrick McGoldrick's book of sermons called, "Who Do You Trust?" 

Apparently Diesel was very interested in consuming the content of the book... The family came home to discover the preface in Diesel's mouth and the rest of the book is shown below. The owners said his tail was wagging - so they believe he enjoyed the book!

 

Patrick's Last Words and Last Sermon

Yesterday I mentioned a book of sermons by my friend, Patrick. I was reminded in reading the book of the final words of his blog. He wrote these words just three weeks before entering the presence of Jesus:

I am ready. I know my time is down to weeks, not months.  I have accepted that this is the path God placed me on.  I would not have chosen it.  I don’t like it.  However, I am submitted that God in His Sovereignty, decided before all of time to give me a shorter life on earth.  And if it keeps His name going forward and promotes His Kingdom, then who am I to question it?  Who am I but God’s servant placed here to bring Him glory?  It’s not supposed to be about me…it’s about Him.  If this promotes His Kingdom and Christ’s name, then so be it.  Just like Joseph, Job, Daniel, Esther and many others throughout Scripture who ended up in circumstances that they did not ask for and they surely did not like, I daily must choose to focus on submitting to God’s will, crying out for His grace and pointing to my Savior.  After all, my sins are still my worst problem and Christ took care of that.  (December 5th, 2012)

On December 26th at 10:05pm, Patrick McGoldrick took his last breath while on this earth. He awoke in the presence of the Savior He loved and served.

As I mentioned yesterday on this blog, Tim Stevens (Patrick's brother-in-law) edited and compiled eleven sermons that Patrick chose to be a part of this book. It includes his final sermon he delivered that I was able to attend just over a year ago (April 22, 2012).

You can pick it up on Amazon.com or at our bookstore (in Irondequoit) or our book table (in Greece).

Tomorrow @ Northridge

I'm looking forward to tomorrow @ Northridge. Here are just a few things:

• I am teaching two of my favorite verses in all of the Bible and clearly my two favorite verses in 1 Peter. 
• We have a very funny video that we will show during the countdown. Don't be late... In fact, be at least 3 minutes early.
• We have a great story of life change during the sermon that is very powerful. I think you will love it.
• And, of course, we have a great Mother's Day video.

I hope to see you tomorrow at our Irondequoit campus or on the screen at the Greece campus! 

A Book From My Friend, Patrick

My friend, Patrick, who went to heaven just after Christmas suffered from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). His brother-in-law, Tim, compiled a few of his sermons into a book.

The book is called "Who Do You Trust?" which is the final sermon that I heard Patrick preach almost one year ago.

Patrick died in the prime of his life, yet he left a legacy of faith, integrity and thousands of changed lives. 

This book is available in our bookstore at church or on Amazon.com. All the proceeds from the book will go to his wife, Dena, as they continue to adjust to life without Patrick and without Patrick's income. 

Who I Am in Christ

On Sunday I taught from 1 Peter 2:9-10 and the point was: "If we fully embrace our identity in Christ, it will radically impact our behavior in the world."

The passage lists four pieces of our identity and how they will our behavior.

I don't know where the following list came from, but I've used it for years to remind me of who I am in Christ:

• I am God's child (John 1:12)
• I am Christ's friend (John 15:15)
• I am united with the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17)
• I am bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• I am a saint - set apart from sin and set apart to God - (Ephesians 1:1)
• I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8)
• I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14)
• I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27)
• I am free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2)
• I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
• I am free from any charge against me (Romans 8:31-34)
• I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
• I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18)
• I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)
• I cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39)
• I am established, anointed, and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
• I am assured that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)
• I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
• I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)
• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)
• I am the branch of the true vine (John 15:1-5)
• I am God's Temple (1 Corinthians 3:16)
• I am complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)
• I am hidden in Christ with God (Colossians 3:3)
• I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
• I am God's co-worker (1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1)
• I am God's masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10)
• I am confident that good works God has begun in me will be perfected (Philippians 1:5)
• I have been redeeemed and forgiven (Colossians 1:14)
• I have been adopted as God's child (Ephesians 1:5)
• I am a slave to righteousness (Romans 6:19)

Rejoice in who you are in Christ!

To This I Will Give the Rest of My Life (a video)

Our opening video from 16:5 was exactly what we had envisioned. If you missed it - here it is.

16:5 Opener 

 

If you receive this by email - click HERE to see the video.

I'm Looking for a Story - Can You Help?

I'm looking for a story - can you help me? I'm looking for someone who wasn't a believer and actively opposed to others who were (either openly or privately opposed). Maybe it was a family member, neighbor, co-worker, classmate or even a friend. But the behavior and love of a Christian won you over.

Do you have a story like that? If so - will you email me and let me know? I'd love to hear your story. Just email me at dwhiting@NorthridgeRochester.com.

 

An Update on Gina (who was injured in the Boston Bombings)

Here is an update on Gina from her blog:

http://cragsandclay.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/my-injuries/

It is reposted here:

Dad don’t read this.

So everyone is asking what happened to me and what’s wrong and what’s going on and how quickly I will recover, so I figured I’d explain it all as best I can.

When the bomb went off, something made a huge gash in the back of my right leg right near the bend of my knee. It is about a 9-10 inch horizontal cut. It was so deep that it severed my main artery and 2 main nerves. I lost a ton of blood. I think I got at least 4 units, but I’m not sure if I got more than that. My left leg has some cuts on it as well, but nothing that required stitches or anything. It is all black and blue and ugly with scratches and cuts, but it will heal fine. Back to my right leg. So in my first surgery they repaired my artery and cleaned it all up. A portion of my calf was also cut off/blown off? But it was small so it’s not like I’ll have a huge gap in the back of my leg where my calf should be  . Ok so second surgery I have no idea what they did. Third surgery they reattached my nerves and closed up the wound. My entire leg is in a splint with my knee kept bent at an angle. The reason for this is so that the nerves don’t get stretched while they are trying to heal. I also have a boot on my foot. I am getting a hard cast on Tuesday and it will again be my entire leg. And I’m sure I will keep the boot on my foot.

My foot has no feeling. I have a small spot in the arch of my foot where I can feel if someone is touching me, but other than that, nothing. I also can’t move my foot or my ankle. This is because of the nerves being cut. Nerves repair at a very slow rate. In my case, since the nerve now has to “grow” from my knee to my toes, they said it will take roughly 400 days for the nerve to get all the way down. So I may not feel, or be able to move my toes for over a year. I’m not sure what this means for walking. Also, since it is my right leg this also means I may not be able to drive for over a year. Which is a very frustrating thought!

Since the nerves have been reattached I have CRAZY nerve sensations going on all in my foot and toes which is a really good sign, but still no feeling. So if you are praying for my injuries maybe this will help you be a little more specific. Pray my nerves repair way faster than expected, pray I regain feeling and movement in my foot/ankle/toes, pray that I don’t die being in a full leg cast for 8 weeks  , and pray that my wound heals up perfectly.

Thank you all so much for the unbelievable support, love and prayers. I certainly couldn’t do any of this without you.

 

The Power of Community

I recently found an email from someone involved in community groups at Northridge. Are you in one? If not - listen to one woman's words (names taken out for privacy):

Please know that small groups (starting for us with the __________ amazing hospitality, dedication, and authenticity) have been transformational in our family and marriage.   In the same way our study of Ephesians demonstrated our position and practice, life groups at Northridge are the place where the reality of more and better disciples is realized.   We've never seen such thoughtful and careful planning before - without the sense that we were some how part of a special club, out to convince others to drink the kool aid, too.  Instead, people are genuinely invited to drink of the goodness of God and enjoy abundant life in him...whether or not they would make close friends in a different setting.  People's willingness and even joy in multiplying (as we were so humbled to see in our group through the leaders) are just one of countless examples that it is the Gospel that is celebrated at Northridge-not the method.  Thank you for all the hard work, attention to detail, and all the other behind the scenes hours that go into shepherding and training.  

We'd love to have you try out a Community Group. The next four weeks - all groups will be doing sermon-based DVD discussions. It is a great time to try one out! Just see Brad at the Irondequoit campus tomorrow or the information center at the Greece Campus!