David Whiting Live

My "Partners" in Ministry

We took some new staff photos today... here is one...

These are the people I get to work and laugh with every day.

In case you don't know everyone -

Sitting (left to right):

• Karen Mapes - Office Manager
• Mark Nelson - Youth Pastor
• Courtney Dyer - Children's Ministry Director

The Rest (left to right):

• Shawn Bantle - Youth admin. assistant (and intern's mom)
• Jason DeGraaff - Director of Connections (it was Director of Assimilation, but Star Trek fans said it was a bad title)
• Dave Boehm - Director of Facilities and Pastor of Care
• Nate Bantle - Intern
• David Whiting - Lead pastor
• Scott Bixby - Pastor of Small Groups and Outreach
• Adam Congdon - Project Manager
• Nate Miller - Pastor of Spiritual Development

I'm so thankful for this group of people!

Are You Up To Date with EQUIP?

Those of you who are part of EQUIP - are you up to date on your reading and the classes?  Did you miss the last class?

If so - go HERE (http://www.northridgerochester.com/NextSteps/EQUIP) to catch up on any classes you missed. The videos are password protected, but the website gives instructions on how to get the password.

This last month's class showed a sample counseling session. Make sure you catch up if you are behind.

And don't forget to be reading the book "What Did You Expect?" It is the best book I ever ever read on marriage. You have two weeks until the next class. Get as much of it read as possible!

If you want to go straight to the video for last month's EQUIP class - click HERE

2011.09.10 - Spiritual Influence - Lesson 5 from Northridge Media on Vimeo.

The next class is October 8th.

 

Things to Consider Before Going to Church Tomorrow

Here are some things to consider before showing up @ Northridge tomorrow:

1. In case you think "singing" and "worship" are exact synonyms - consider this before tomorrow morning:
   
   “Now it is totally true that we worship as we sing. But that is only one aspect of worship. We have subtly taught (in my opinion) a reductionist view of worship limiting it primarily to music and singing as what defines the word and practice… in terms of sacrifice – singing doesn’t cost us too much. We mentally and emotionally bring ascent to our thoughts as we sing and focus on God. But we aren’t really sacrificing something. Are we?” — Dan Kimball
   
   
2. If you get a few minutes, read Ephesians 6:5-9 and pray that God uses this well-known passage in your life tomorrow.
   
   
3. Would you consider serving others and parking far? Thank you to those of you who do this every day. I am convinced God is and will reward you. For those who haven't done it yet - would you consider helping us out by parking off site? Even if you only come to the first service... the in between times can be very difficult. Thanks for considering it.
   
   
4. I can't wait for the final song tomorrow. You will enjoy it and be encouraged by it! Hope you don't miss it!

See ya' tomorrow.

9/11: Blessings (a song via video)

I think the highlight of last Sunday at Northridge Church (9/11) was the song that Brittany sang. In case you missed it - or wanted to see it again - check this video.  The song starts at 1:30.

2011-09-11 Part 10 of 10 from Northridge Media on Vimeo.

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

Online Church - not the same

Today was the first Sunday I was away from Northridge since June. I'm on my annual study break. During my study break, I plan ahead for six to twelve months of series and individual sermons. This year, my primary goal is to be ready for the topics and passages I plan to teach through April (at least).If it goes really well, maybe I'll be ready through June with the topics.

I do this because it takes a huge amount of pressure off week-to-week. I'll explain it sometime...

Anyway, I don't like to miss Northridge Church. It just isn't the same being somewhere else. This morning I decided to visit two churches online. More and more churches are offering their service LIVE online.  I decided to visit two church services, and although I enjoyed them, I'm not a big fan of online church (practically or theologically).

I know that it is becoming more popular and my grandkids will probably tell me how old-fashioned I am and how I'm confusing preference and conviction (although Hebrew 10:25 seems pretty strong to me). I don't know how you can obey the command to "meet together" without "meeting together." But anyway, I definitely am not a fan of "online church" and I'm just sitting here missing my Northridge family.

I can't wait to get back to Ephesians next Sunday. 

And - I can't wait to watch the entire service online later this week. Although I certainly won't say that I "went" to church (here at the desk where I'm sitting). I will just watch what others experienced when they went to church. And by the way, I don't think the problem with online church is that you "watch" the sermon on a screen instead of "live" in the room.  I think the problem is - you can't BE the Church... alone.

What do you think? Is "watching" church online really church?

9/11: Ten Years Later - (videos from Sunday)

On Sunday, I gave a sermon on viewing 9/11 theologically. This past week we were totally surrounded with reminders of 9/11.  Yet most all of them were not from a Christian worldview. The goal of Sunday was to help us think biblically about 9/11, pain, suffering, and evil.  About half of the sermon was delivered via video from NYC.

I want to give a HUGE "thank you" to one of our volunteer videographers, Joel Witwer, who spent an entire day in NYC with me, and spent countless hours trying to make sense and edit all I said there.  And the opening timeline is his work as well.

In case you missed it - here it is (sermon only).

2011.09.11 - 9/11: Ten Years Later from Northridge Media on Vimeo.

Also, if you want to see the entire service - here it is: (this is always available at our website).

2011.09.11 - Full Service from Northridge Media on Vimeo.

If you receive by email, click HERE to see videos.

Amazing Video - "In My Seat" (video)

If you aren't 9/11 weary - this video is well worth watching. It is 15 minutes long, but it is an interview with a believer who was supposed to be the pilot on Flight 11 (the first plane that crashed into the towers).

What a great video! What a Gospel message! Check it out if you get time.

 

As always, if you receive this via email - click HERE or on the title above to see the video.

Two Things That Overwhelm Me...

For the last couple of days, I've been overwhelmed by two realities:

1. God's mercy and grace are SO great to me! I so badly deserve judgment - He gives me mercy. I deserve to try to "earn my way" and He gives me grace. This is no less true today than always, but I've been overwhelmed by it this week.
2. I am now a parent of three teenagers (Emily turned 13 on Tuesday). That is overwhelming to me. I have now been a parent for almost 17 years, and in 7 more years, I won't have any teenagers in my house. That is crazy! It sobers me - and frankly - it scares me. I am so blessed, but I need to be focused on what God has called me to do. I often remind myself - hundreds of people can pastor this church, but only one person can be a father to my children. I don't want to blow it.

Those two realities overwhelm me - and hopefully help me focus on enjoying God and pleasing Him.

 

Coming this weekend @ Northridge

This is a GREAT weekend to be at Northridge Church! Here are some things to be prepped for and consider:

• Saturday is our EQUIP class! I am excited to get back to the class and excited about what we will be talking about this Saturday! Those who are part of the class: be sure to read "ADDICTIONS: A Banquet in the Grave." It is easily my favorite book we've read so far. SO many great chapters! I'll see you at 9:00 AM on Saturday.
• Sunday's sermon is "9/11: Ten Years Later." I've been working on this one for a few weeks, and I'm excited about it (see sermon graphic below). We will be "reliving" that day - so if you have children that you don't want to see images of that day - make sure you take them to High Point.
• Brittany is singing a great song on Sunday that goes well with the 9/11 theme! It is SO good!
• Don't forget that the times change for our services on Sunday - now 9:15 AM and 11:00 AM.  
• I've been asked multiple times if this Sunday is a good Sunday to invite a non-follower of Christ. I would say, "yes."  I do not think they will agree with everything I say, but I don't think it will surprise them or that it won't provide opportunities for you to talk about your faith. Go for the invite!

How to Know God's Will (video)

A few months ago, one of my sermon points had to do with God's Will and how to know it. I still regularly hear comments on that section of the sermon.

So we thought it may be helpful to separate it from the rest of the sermon.  Do you know someone who tends to be overly mystical about God's Will?  Do you know someone who stresses about making sure they figure out what "God wants them to do?"

This may be a good video to point them to. It can revolutionize a life and give peace in the place of fear and stress.

2011.06.12 - Knowing God's Will from Northridge Media on Vimeo.

As always, if you receive this by email - watch the video HERE or by clicking on title above.