David Whiting Live

War of Words...

Yesterday I talked about being interviewed for newspaper articles and TV news programs. You can read that post HERE.  I listed five things I keep in mind when doing the interviews... ways that I'm careful with my words so that I can't be misunderstood, misquoted, or misrepresented. 

And it hit me later - those five things to keep in mind - should be the five things I LIVE by - not just use when being interviewed.  Imagine if EVERY conversation I had - I followed these five "rules":

• Because of the fear of being misquoted or taken out of context - I always try to pray and ask God for help with my words.
• I try to talk about Jesus as much as possible.
• I long for the exposure that North gets to point people to the Gospel. 
• I try to speak in short sentences and simple thoughts... If it isn't a short, simple answer - it increases the possibility of being misunderstood or maybe misquoted. 
• I need to remember that when I speak, I'm not simply representing myself...  I must remember that what I say won't simply impact my reputation...  I'm representing Jesus. 

Those are pretty good "rules to follow" - I think - in EVERY conversation!!

By the way - the book "War of Words" by Paul Tripp is a GREAT book on how we use our mouths.

What Did I Say? Waiting to See How I'll be Quoted...

A handful of times over the past few years, I've been interviewed for a news program or by a reporter.  Experiencing the interview - then seeing the news clip or reading the article has taught me a lot.

No matter how long the interview is - they will probably only use a sentence or two of a quote - so I need to speak carefully.  Here are some of the things I keep in mind:

• Because of the fear of being misquoted or taken out of context - I always try to pray and ask God for help with my words - especially if I haven't had time to prepare for the interview (like this week).
• I try to talk about Jesus as much as possible.
• I long for the exposure that North gets to point people to the Gospel.  But it is hard to talk about swine flu and the Gospel (this week's interview).
• I try to speak in short sentences and simple thoughts. They won't use long quotes or complicated thoughts - so I try to keep it very simple. If it isn't a short, simple answer - it increases the possibility of being misunderstood or maybe misquoted.  The interview I did this week was probably ten minutes in length, but the quote in the paper is three sentences (at least the online version).  Wow!  That's scary...  Because I don't choose the content - I must be careful with each word I speak.
• I need to remember that when I speak, I'm not simply representing myself.  What I say won't simply impact my reputation.  When interviewed, I am representing our church body and (more importantly) - I'm representing Jesus.  I want to tell people what I'm really thinking, but I need to use wise discretion because more reputations than mine are on the line.

Seeing what "sound byte" or quote they choose to use is a scary thing for me.  I was told that an article will appear today that I was interviewed about this week.  I haven't seen the paper, but I found the article online today. A reporter called me about the swine flue and precautions our church is taking... ummm... good question.

If you didn't get the paper today - you can read the online article HERE.  Notice how a ten minute interview ends up in three very short sentences! 

By the way, some reporters make me more nervous than  others.  This week's reporter (Chris Swingle) made me very comfortable by her interest, questions, and follow-ups. 

Check out the Article about SAM!!!

I read the paper this morning (Wednesday) and on the front page of the LIVING section - I saw a face that I see every Sunday - SAM COTTONE!  Buy the paper and check out the great story... Or if your cheap (like me) - you can read the article online HERE.

A Conversation with Death - by John Piper

I read this on the desiring God blog months ago, and thought you'd enjoy it too:

A CONVERSATION WITH DEATH ON GOOD FRIDAY:

CHRISTIAN:

Hello, Death, my old enemy. My old slave-master. Have you come to talk to me again? To frighten me?

I am not the person you think I am. I am not the one you used to talk to. Something has happened. Let me ask you a question, Death.

Where is your sting?

DEATH, sneeringly:

My sting is your sin.

CHRISTIAN:

I know that, Death. But that’s not what I asked you. I asked, where is your sting? I know what it is. But tell me where it is.

Why are you fidgeting, Death? Why are you looking away? Why are you turning to go? Wait, Death, you have not answered my question. Where is your sting?

Where is, my sin?

What? You have no answer? But, Death, why do you have no answer? How will you terrify me, if you have no answer?

O Death, I will tell you the answer. Where is your sting? Where is my sin? It is hanging on that tree. God made Christ to be sin—my sin. When he died, the penalty of my sin was paid. The power of it was broken. I bear it no more.

Farewell, Death. You need not show up here again to frighten me. God will tell you when to come next time. And when you come, you will be his servant. For me, you will have no sting.

O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

 

Before You Come to North Today...

If you get time before coming to North this morning (Sunday, September 20) - read 2 Kings 5:1-19.  I think you will enjoy and be challenged by today's message from the life of Elisha.

And don't forget - we are meeting in the gym for the next few months.  I think it will be a fun adventure!!

As always - if you can avoid the 10:00 service - it will help us.  We were full last week at 10:00 and had a total of 797 (by far - a non-holiday record)...  So if you can come at 8:30 or 11:30 - it will help us (especially 11:30)

One of My Favorite CD's - LAURA STORY - "Great God Who Saves"

Here is a video introducing one of my favorite singers - Laura Story. She is best known for writing "Indescribable." I heard her sing about eleven or twelve years ago and was thrilled when she started making CDs. Watch the video and see what you think... If you don't have the CD - you should buy it. Every song really is great!

Moving to the Gym for Worship...

This Sunday is the day we move to the gym for our worship services. Asbestos is being removed from the old school library (choir room), the computer room (the old choir loft), the worship center, and the lobby.

Here is the worship center in its present condition... carpet and tile are gone, the stage is gone, asbestos removed.

For those of you who have been around a long time - I thought you might want to see the foundation of the old pulpit and communion table.  With the stage taken away, you can see the former foundation of those two items:

We will meet in the gym this Sunday...

It is almost set up and ready to go...

Empty Worship Center...

How strange it looks empty...

Since this picture was taken - they've removed the stage and the asbestos removal has begun.

I Was Wrong (about What My Wife Would Think)...

Sunday I mentioned that 2 Kings 2:23-24 would bother my wife.  For a reminder, here is the story...

(23) From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!"  (24) He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.

In church, I mentioned that I LOVE this story, but my wife would be bothered by it.  Well, she informed me I was off base.  Her basic reasoning was that nothing annoys her more than disrespectful and disobedient children.  So it didn't phase her one bit... Wow, that is pretty big pet peeve if bears mauling 42 kids doesn't bother her.  Maybe my wife isn't as merciful as I thought!  I know this... I don't want to be disrespectful to her - she might want to have me mauled by wild animals!!!

 

Latest Building Pictures - A Lot Is Happening

These pictures were all in the program on Sunday (VERY SMALL)... So, in case you wanted to get a larger view (or you missed church on Sunday) - here you go...

New gas lines have been hooked up and are operational. The new gas meter near the southeast corner is installed and the one in the furnace room has been removed. 

The rooftop AC/heating units are now completely functional. 

Concrete sidewalks and curbing have been poured around the new building.  

Cabinets have been installed in the nursery area and the classroom. This cabinet is in the infant nursery. The first coat of paint is also completed in the nursery and classroom. 

The ceiling in the worship center has been painted black. The acoustical "clouds" have been installed and are being covered with drywall. 

The ceiling grid in nursery, AV room, and golden ager room has been completed. They are starting to install the ceiling lights in those areas. 

The welcome center has been stained and one coat of varnish has been applied. (They are building the welcome center in the large classroom.)

 

All of the outside glass windows and doors have been installed. The crosses will soon be covered with stucco. The roof shingles on the front part of the building have been installed. 

Concrete steps have been completed for the new exit door to the boiler room, the baptistery and the sound booth (baptistery steps seen here).

The electrical transformer was put in place (on top of the vault) and the main distribution panel was installed. The wiring between the transformer and the main panel has been completed.