David Whiting Live

It Doesn't Get Better Than This (Tomorrow)!!

Tomorrow we have four more baptisms.  At the first service, two teens will get baptized. In both cases, dads will be baptizing their daughters! How cool! I baptized all three of my daughters and there is nothing like it!

At the second service, a new Christian will be baptizing her parents. There is NOTHING better than that.  She, herself, came to Christ a couple of years ago and was baptized last year. Now, she will be baptizing both her parents, who have become Christ-followers in the last year. And her dad trusted Christ on Easter!  That TRULY is what all of this is about. Seeing people follow and trust in Jesus and turning around and helping those they love to follow and trust in Jesus.

And don't forget - the services times are at 9:00 and 10:45.  If you want to see all the baptisms - we will probably put them online, but if you want to see them live, you will need to come to the first service and stick around for the first ten or fifteen minutes of the second service.

NEW SCHEDULE starting Sunday @ Northridge Church

Just a reminder... Sunday we being our new times.

• 1st Service - 9:00 AM
• 2nd Service - 10:45 AM

Please adjust your mental "clock" to arrive on time.

 

The BEST Billboard EVER!

Is this the BEST billboard - or what?  Of course, it is based on the reality that Jesus didn't return as Harold Camping was CONVINCED He would...

Maybe not the best ever... but the best one I've seen in a LONG, LONG time!

 

The Secret of Concentration...

The secret of concentration is elimination.

- Howard Hendricks

This is SO true!!

 

 

"Can Romance Novels Hurt Your Heart?"

I read an article today called "Can Romance Novels Hurt Your Heart?"  You can read the entire article HERE. It may be worth reading. I'd be interested in your perspective. Are Christian Romance novels often a type of Christian female pornography? 

I love the last paragraph of the article:

This is not to equate morally “romance novels” with the grave soul destruction of pornography. But it is worth asking, “Is what I’m consuming leading me toward contentment with my spouse (or future spouse) or away from it? Is it pointing me to the other in one-flesh union or to an eroticized embodiment of my own desires? Is this the mystery or a mirage?"

What GREAT questions!  Here are two other paragraphs that I really loved:

A lot of this genre, though, is simply a Christianization of a form not intended to enhance intimacy but to escape to an artificial illusion of it. Granted, there’s no graphic sexuality here. The hero and heroine don’t sleep together; they pray together. But that’s just the point.

How many disappointed middle-aged women in our congregations are reading these novels as a means of comparing the “strong spiritual leaders” depicted there with what by comparison must seem to be underachieving lumps lying next to them on the couch?

What do you think? Is that fair or unfair?

Rochester - #1 in the nation for buying a home!

Did you see the newspaper last week that said that Rochester is ranked #1 in the nation to purchase a home? Forbes magazine did the ranking based on the following factors: colleges and universities, the affordability of housing, the unemployment pictures compared to other parts of the nation, and the quality of local schools.

The last three years - the cities to ranked #1 were Houston, Denver and Boston.

The next three in this year's list?

• #2 - Pittsburgh
• #3 - Utica, NY
• #4 - Oklahoma City

I love living in Rochester - even with all of you who complain about the weather... and with you who will immediately think of the reasons Rochester SHOULDN'T be rated #1. :)

Here's a link to the original article: Click HERE

Ladder Photos - from Easter

Yesterday, I shared a video from our Easter service.  You can watch "Ladder Stories" HERE.

At the end of the service, we invited people to lay their ladders and place their faith in Christ. See the pictures below... We had 111 ladders "laid down" on Easter Sunday. About half of them marked that on the communcation card and we have followed up with them to help them with their "next steps." Praise God! Amazing to be part of something God is doing! It NEVER gets old!

Here are a couple of photos...

Ladder Stories - from Easter

On Easter Sunday - we had one of those unforgettable illustrations.  Here is the video... it is the stories of people who laid down their ladders, then it is the video of what happened during the Easter service following their stories.  And - some didn't recognize this - but the ones who come on stage with their ladders are the same people from the video.

The idea of "laying down your ladder" comes from the concept that we all try to work our way to God. We all try to climb the morality ladder, and we must lay our ladder down and place our faith in Christ. You can see the entire sermon HERE.

But if you want to see the stories, and the illustration - watch this video.

If you receive this by email - click HERE or on the title above to see the video.

EQUIP - Class #2 - Video Available

For those who are signed up for the EQUIP class, you can now watch yesterday's class at our church website.

Go HERE (http://www.northridgerochester.com/NextSteps/EQUIP/SpiritualInfluence?id=2)

At our church website, you find it under "Next Steps" - then "Equip."

This video is for those who have signed up for the class and is password protected. At the location of the video, you will be given instructions on how to get the password.

 

Busy Weekend @ Northridge

Here's what's coming up...

• Today is our second EQUIP class on Spiritual Influence.  It goes from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM TODAY!
• Sunday AM - we have our regular services, but don't forget the times are 9:15 and 11:00 AM. (We will adjust those times in two weeks.)
• Sunday afternoon - we have an EXPLORING NORTHRIDGE class.  Lunch is at 12:20 in 417. Childcare is provided.  We meet for two weeks from 12:20 until 3:00 PM (May 15 & 22)
• Also, today at 1:30 is a memorial service for Jim Karr, Sr. He was a godly servant who was a consistently great encourager to our staff. He was in church just a couple of weeks ago. I am so glad when someone doesn't suffer a long illness waiting for heaven!

I also wanted to let you know (or remind you) of what the next two books are for EQUIP.  Make sure you pick them up and start reading! These are GREAT books that you will enjoy and be challenged by!

When People Are Big and God Is Small - by Ed Welch (to be read for June 11 meeting)

Relationships: A Mess Worth Making - by Paul Tripp (to be read for July 9 meeting)

These books are available in the bookstore today and Sunday!