David Whiting Live

Favorite Charles Spurgeon Quote

We've spent a TON of hours preparing for tomorrow (2/28/10), and I think we are ready. We had a big rehearsal involving over 40 people today for an eight minute "presentation" in the service.  Believe me, you WON'T want to miss it. If you don't attend Northridge Church - I hope to have a video for you next week here on my blog.

But in thinking about tomorrow and all the guests we plan to have - my favorite Charles Spurgeon quote came to my mind:

"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. if they will perish, let them perish with our arms around their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

In the 30 seconds it took you to read this blog - 53 people died around the world. I wonder what committed Christ-follower loved them enough to share the greatest news in history?

Moments ago - I received an email from a good friend asking prayer for tomorrow. She is sharing some details of her life tomorrow in the service that 99% of the church would never know. And for the sake of the Gospel - she wants people to see the power of Christ in changing a life. I can't wait!

Don't be late. Don't miss the service or the 10:00 OPEN HOUSE CELEBRATION. BUT - if you must miss one of the other - skip 10:00.  You won't forget the service and you won't regret being here.

Come early. Park far (satellite parking if you can), Sit Close!!

Three Things You Won't Want To Miss

Three Things You Won't Want To Miss:

1. Sunday's service is going to be GREAT! You won't forget it. I can't wait!  It is going to be amazing! It is the "Grand Opening" for our new building (three weeks in).  It is for our neighbors who haven't gotten a personal invite to come the first three weeks, and we want to give them a "normal" service, with some added touches. You won't want to miss it!  We've invited all the construction workers that have worked on the building and will be feeding them lunch following the 2nd service.
2. At 10:00 on Sunday will be the "Open House Celebration."  Mayor Duffy will be here. It starts in the new worship center.  NO CHILD CARE.  So if you attend 8:30 - pick up your children from the nursery, 2's and 3's or HIGH POINT and bring them with you to the worship center.  If you are coming at 10:00 - keep your children with you until you drop them off before the 11:00 service.  The time in the worship center will be brief and children will be welcome.  We expect it to be packed!!  COME EARLY and SIT CLOSE. After the brief time int he worship center - the entire building will be open for you to see (backstage, baptistery, nurseries, HIGH POINT stage, youth building, etc...).  Free coffee donated from Starbucks and free snacks!!  Don't miss the 10:00 hour!!!  We have no child care because we want ALL areas of the building to be open for self-guided tours.
3. One other thing I would encourage you to "not miss." I have a good friend who I've been pushing for over a year to start a blog. He is a GREAT writer and a GREAT thinker. I've NEVER pushed you do check out a blog and anytime someone asks me to push something - I always say 'no.'  So this is totally from me, without his knowledge or consent... but I would urge you to check out Harlan's blog. You will see very quickly that he is a gifted writer and thinker. And more importantly - he loves God with his MIND!  I wish I could write like Harlan, but I'm trying to be thankful for my gifts.  Harlan can write - I can verbally communicate. We make a good team! Check his blog out by clicking HERE. (http://prodigalspath.typepad.com/a-prodigals-path/)

See you Sunday!

Following and Believing and Doubting

A friend sent me a quote from a book I read long ago (Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard) about our current sermon series and I loved it so much I used it at the end of this Sunday's message. I thought it may be good to post for those who struggle with doubts...

"We do not choose to believe or not. Our beliefs and feelings cannot be changed by choice. We cannot just choose to have different beliefs and feelings. But we do have some liberty to take in different ideas and information and to think about things in different ways. We can choose to take in the Word of God, and when we do that, beliefs and feelings will be steadily pulled in a godly direction." (p. 248)

I love that!

Northridge Church - A few more pictures

So many great pictures were taken by Michele Doer of our first couple of weeks!  I wanted to share just a few more.

 

a great perspective of the baptism

backstage - after the baptism

i love this picture!!

this picture represents SO much of what I want northridge church to be...

do you think HIGH POINT keeps the kids engaged? :)

A Couple of Outreach Thoughts

I have a couple of thoughts on creative ways to reach out to people in your sphere of influence.  We talk a lot about our strategy - PI² (pray, invest, invite).

Let me give you a couple of creative ways to do this:

1. I have heard two stories of people "tagging" themselves in Facebook with photos of our new church building. In two cases - people have asked about what church it is and expressed interest in visiting. One specifically asked about the baptism photos and their desire to see a baptism! Use this tool if you use facebook!!  Take photos and tag yourself...
2. Last Sunday's sermon, STEP ONE: FOLLOW, can be a GREAT invite tool.  Why not purchase a few CDs of the sermon and ask someone to listen and see what they think? It may just open the door for them to accept an invitation to come and check Northridge Church out. I've heard of a couple of people already doing this. Your friends will more likely listen to a CD than go on the website and listen online. Why not invite your friends to "follow?"

Northridge Church - First Sunday - part 2

Still unable to put my mind around my experience on Sunday... so many things I could tell, but I will let pictures do the job.  Make sure you read to the end!!!

 

Jud & Andrea - checking out the selection in the cafe cooler.

I think this is a cool area... my wife says it is "cozy" - I still don't know what that means...

Delgattis - during the dedication prayer.  I love this picture!!

This is a monitor in the front row.

Two more baptisms are happening this Sunday.

As News 10 was getting set up for a video interview, a more important conversation was happening first... I hope you hear his story one day...

A couple of other thoughts:

• This Sunday may be the BEST Sunday EVER to invite someone who has not placed their faith in Christ. I really believe that.
• Also - someone gave me an idea. If you have pictures from Sunday (or take some from this blog) - post them on your facebook - to give exposure to our church. Everyone who checks your facebook can get find out about Northridge... just an idea.

Northridge Church - First Sunday - part 1

Hey Northridge Church!

I've received several emails and phone calls asking for an update, so let me give you a brief one. I started to write one Sunday afternoon, but I couldn't think clearly so I gave up.

I'm still not thinking clearly because I am so overwhelmed at God's amazing goodness to us. So rather than my words - I will let some pictures tell some of the story.

Thanks for all your work, prayers and invites. I was told we had 1075 people!  It felt like it!!

As I was falling asleep Sunday night - I said to Sue, "It still hasn't hit me. I feel like I was a guest speaker at a really great church, in an awesome building."

The sound system is amazing. And our worship band is so talented, but more importantly - they LOVE to see Christ magnified and to lead people in adoring Him.

Room to stand and fellowship!  AMAZING!! 

Three channels did interviews... 8, 9 and 10. I saw two of the news spots (didn't see channel 10). They asked really good questions and some hard ones (why are you growing while other churches are closing). But I was thankful that they showed up.

Two days later - and I'm still overwhelmed with emotion... Someday I will be able to put my feelings into words, but not today.

"Glory to God - Glory to God - Glory to God -  -  - FOREVER!"

Tomorrow IS the Super Bowl for Northridge Church!

Hello Northridge!!  Here are some final thoughts before the big day tomorrow:

• Hundreds of you have given a lot of time and money to make tomorrow happen. THANK YOU!! A few have given a large part of your life to this project over the last three years. THANK YOU - can't do it. But I pray that God's blessing would be on you in a HUGE way!
• Don't be late tomorrow! You don't want to miss the opening video summarizing the project! (Thanks, Josh!)
• After the baptism - celebrate like someone's life has changed (let's PLEASE believe that trusting Christ and being baptized is more important than a football game)!!
• We know that at least one TV station will be there tomorrow. They want to interview people from the church.  If they interview you - here are tips I've given in the past about media interviews:
• • Try to talk about Jesus as much as possible.
  • Pray that the exposure that Northridge gets to point people to the Gospel - not you.
  • 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 misquoted.
  • Remember that when you speak, you are not simply representing yourself...  Remember that what you say won't simply impact YOUR reputation...  I'm representing Jesus.
• Don't forget about EQUIP classes at 10:00.
• Don't forget to check out the bookstore and cafe...
• Remember - no food or drinks in the worship center. So grab your coffee before your EQUIP class.
• Some of you are parking off-site (with van shuttles).  THANK YOU!

Will you pray before you go to bed tonight for God's incredible blessing tomorrow?  THANKS!

EQUIP Room Numbers for Sunday

Here are the EQUIP room numbers for Sunday:

• Starting Point (all ages) - Room 402
• 20s - Our Walk with God - Room 105
• 20s & 30s - What Every Christian Should Know - Youth Ministries Building (Carriage House)
• 30s & 40s - Walk Thru the Old Testament - Room 107
• 40s & 50s - Changing Hearts, Changing Lives - Room 417 
• 50s & 60s - James: A Study of His Book - Room 206
• 60s+ - Various Teachers and Topics - Room 419
• Teens - Room 110

I look forward to seeing you.  Classes are at 10:00 AM.

First Service - 8:30 AM

EQUIP Classes - 10:00 AM

Second Service - 11:00 AM

You WON'T want to be late to the service!!  You want to be there at the starting moment!  PLAN AHEAD! Park far!! Sit close!!

Big Work Night

Wednesday night a few small groups worked on the new building. Much was accomplished (during the day and evening)...

One of the groups meeting before getting started.

This was set up when we arrived this morning.

The sign on the cot said, "Overnight Accommodations for Northridge Staff and Volunteers"

The new front entrance (once was the side wall of the old worship center)

Many of the signs were installed tonight.

 

After putting together a new piece of equipment, we needed someone to try it out...

Addison C helped us check it out.

As the guys hold some frames in place...

...the girls give instructions and opinions.