David Whiting Live

We Need Your Prayers TONIGHT!

Tonight we are making a presentation at city hall to City Planning Commission to request a variance that would allow us to add 168 parking spaces to our property. We already are beyond the allowance for parking (one spot for every four seats). The problem is, we average less than two people per car (1.9 average per car the last six weeks).  It also will take us over 50% on the green-space regulation, but that is a later variance we will need to pursue with another city group.

Tonight's meeting is only to request a variance to add the 168 parking spaces. I will be presenting the need for the additional parking along with our representative from Marathon Engineering - who will handle the technical issues and questions.  Please pray for a board that is open to our needs and that they might rule in our favor.

Yesterday, we had our second highest "non-special" Sunday ever.  And during the second service, we had over 100 cars parked off-site and we still only one had one open spot in our main lot. Logically, we can "prove" we need more parking.  But that doesn't necessarily mean a lot in these situations when requesting a variance.

To avoid going to three services, we really need this parking. Please, please pray!

Here are two drawings that will help you understand where the parking will be, if approved.  The first one shows it finished.  The second one may be easier to tell what is current and what will be additional parking.

Thanks for your prayers.

 

How Do You Pray About the Hurricane?

Yesterday afternoon, three of us took a direct flight from Rochester to Baltimore and drove 90 miles to Fredericksburg, VA. Friday night we stayed in a hotel in the Fredericksburg area (60 miles north of Richmond). We are here for a free one-day conference that helps us prepare for multi-site. You can't beat a free conference... the problem is - HURRICANE IRENE!

We also discovered that our flight back to Rochester tonight is already cancelled, and all three of us have Sunday AM responsibilities. Waiting to fly back until Sunday isn't an option. So as soon as the conference ends this afternoon, we will drive back home. We hope to stay ahead of the worst of the storm as we head north. Wind gusts are expected tonight in the DC area between 30 to 60 mph and up to five inches of rain. (Don't worry, we will keep an eye on the weather in case we need to leave the conference early.)

But that raises a question - how are we supposed to pray about this hurricane and other natural disasters?

Yesterday while driving around Rochester, I heard someone pray concerning the hurricane and their prayer slightly annoyed me. The host praying on K-LOVE seemed to pray as if bad weather is something God can control if He wants to (and if we pray hard enough) but he prayed almost as if Satan creates bad weather. I do believe God allows Satan at times to use weather for his means (see the book of Job), but the bulk of biblical evidence doesn't indicate Satan's regular control of the weather. And the biblical material doesn't seem to correlate with how we often pray.

Here are some verses that come to my mind:

• Psalm 147:8, 16-18 - He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills... He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
• Psalm 148:7-8 - Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lighting and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding.
• Job 37:6-7 - He says to the snow, "fall on the earth" and to the rain shower, "Be a mighty downpour." So that all men he has made may know his work, he stops every man from his labor.
• Isaiah 45:7 - I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.
• Lamentations 3:38 - Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

So - how do verses like that impact how we should pray? Do you ever hear someone praising God for showing his power through natural disasters?

Free Book - A GREAT ONE - on Prayer

If you own a Kindle - or have Kindle on your computer, smartphone or other device - you can get a GREAT book for free right now!!  It is called "A Praying Life" by Paul Miller.  We sell it in our bookstore, but free is better than cheap!

Just open Kindle - go to "Shop in the Kindle Store" - and type in "A Praying Life."  And enjoy a great book on prayer!

Prayers for 16:5!

Our 16:5 Conference begins in one week!! Wow, it came quickly!

Those of you at Northridge Church - here are some things you could pray for:

• We need about 30 more registrations for the conference to pay for itself.
• Many/most churches coming have a pretty traditional background (think North about ten years ago).  Finding the balance by pushing their thinking without pushing them over the edge is tough to figure out.
• I'm speaking at three general sessions.  I want to come across as a humble learner on the journey with them - for the glory of God and the Great Commission.  In NO WAY do I want it to feel like we think we "know" the answers to the Great Commission challenges we all face.
• I can become overly sensitive to criticism. I'm sure some at the conference may be coming to criticize rather than learn with us. And others won't be coming for the purpose of criticism, but will disagree with some of what we choose to do as a church (what is an "old couch" to us may be a biblical conviction to someone else). Pray that I will only be consumed with what ONE Person thinks of me and what we are doing.
• We are praying for no snow storms next weekend.  We don't want people to miss because of the weather.

Thanks for your prayers!