Dr. Jay's Blog

I find it such a privilege to be able to communicate with so many of you via this little blog most every weekday.

Your feedback, which is usually verbal, is always very encouraging. The occasional notes and emails are also much appreciated.

I'm going to be taking my family on a one week "get-away" to celebrate our 40th anniversary and to unite us once again for just a brief period of time.

I've found over the years that nothing helps to cement the value and importance of family than being together away from the normal routines and responsibilities of "home life."

If you're not able to do that, even just a weekend can make a huge difference.

Therefore I won't be blogging this next week and want to say how honored I am that some of you find this helpful and encouraging. I look forward to returning to blogging and twittering beginning August 5 and on for many days thereafter.

May the Lord bless you in this coming week!
Dr. Jay

This Sunday, Carol & I celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary! I’m not even going to try to put into words what God has done in our lives in 40 years, but I do want to answer the question that I get asked the most; what does it take to be married 40 years?

The answer is simply 2 words: humility…and grace. Humility, which willing and often says “I’m sorry” and asks forgiveness for the hundreds and hundreds of times that you fall short – intentionally or not – in the other person’s eyes. Grace, on the other hand, is to learn to give things that the other person needs to know more of the love of Jesus, more joy, peace and appreciation in their lives.

I’m still growing in both of those and I’m very thankful for my wife who has taught me so much about living a life of following of Jesus, not just talking about it. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for us.

Blessings!

Pastor Jay

For those of you who follow my blog, you know that for the last 10 days or so I’ve been trying to “take a study break” and get some time of rest and recovery.It hasn’t really worked out that way, but there have been some incredibly meaningful moments over the last days.

One occurred last evening when Carol & I were able to spontaneously sit down with a North Way couple that we know well but have not spent any serious time with for several years. It was a fun, insightful and very renewing exchange as we both shared some of life’s challenges, opportunities and blessings.

I wonder how much of that kind of thing we miss out on because we “schedule out” any opportunity for spontaneous connections! I know that’s something I’m trying to sort out and pray that in the months and years ahead I have plenty more of the kind of evening as I had last night.

Blessings,

Pastor Jay

Today's one of those days when you see the “true colors” of people in uncertain times.

All of the weather forecasters predicted rain for the day and a wipeout of the Car Cruise which, as most of you know, is a huge event here at North Way through the summer. Well, despite the forecast, it appears that things are going to hold off and we’re going to have a Cruise tonight as scheduled with thousands of people and many activities for the entire family!

Because a few people really leaned into the process and made up the slack that appeared because so many thought we were going to cancel, we’re going to get this done and it will be done well! Thanks to Kathy Yoho, Eric Fitting, and numerous other volunteers who determinedly set about their tasks even though under-manned and underneath threatening skies!

It’s these kinds of moments that make me proud to pastor this church because people care enough to go over and above what’s expected of them instead of taking the easy way out.

Looking forward to a great blessing for a lot of people tonight! Join us if you can!

Blessings,

Pastor Jay

Though this is my study break time and the season which I really try to pull away from the things that are constantly on my plate, every once in a while something so important comes along that I really must share it with you.

Jamie & Amy, long time North Way members and friends, son of Ike & Shelly, lost their twin babies within the last 24 hours and are mourning the loss of the expected joy that they had in this 26 week pregnancy.

Please keep the family in your prayers and ask for the Holy Spirit to comfort them and to remind them of His sovereign love and grace in these very difficult moments.

Things like this remind me that every day is a gift and that every blessing that we have is a demonstration of God's goodness. It's also a time when we have to draw heavily upon His mercies.

Blessings,

Dr. Jay

One of the tough things about managing life well is the fact that you aren't always able to do the things at one stage in your life that you were in another.

Young adults scoff at this and feel invinceable until they tear their ACL or have some other injury while playing some kind of pick up game of sports or a similar type of accident.

Recently I stretched the tendon in my right elbow and have discovered that the therapy for such an injury is rather long and very tedious. As much as I'd like to say that it doesn't bother me, every time I shake someone's hand pain shoots up my arm and I find myself having to say "praise God" rather than something less honoring.

However, this also reminds me that I'm just a "clay jar" as Paul said and the real glory is the inner glory of God's Spirit. And so as I'm taking therapy and trying to be restored in a couple parts of my slowly fading external body, my inner man is rejoicing at God's goodness.

May it be so for you as well.

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

I had a great visit today with Emanuel Pothen, founder of Influence International, Inc.

Check it out at http://www.goinfluence.org!

Despite the brutally hot day, we had a "cool" time just being together as an all church ministry team today!

Some of our guys championed the grilling of burgers and dogs for lunch and the conversation around the tables was friendly and positive. Make no mistake, that isn't a given in today's culture and is something we cherish here at North Way.

The real icing on the cake was the nearly 30 minutes of water bombing out in the parking lot where, in the 90 degree temperatures, everyone from our worship leader in Oakland (Kassi Hemerka) to the big guns such as Chris Fitting tried to bring down "Hugs" the mascot. Amazingly it was Doug Melder who provided the accuracy and the distance to win the award and also bring the most joy to the crowd.

I count each member of this team as a blessing and pray for many more such days as we continue to navigate the opportunities and joys God has given us.

Blessings,

Dr. Jay

The past two days have been both humbling and rewarding to me. Your expression of appreciation for this weekend’s patriotic service and challenging message has been overwhelming. (If you missed the weekend service, you can watch it here www.northway.org/videos )

Let’s all listen to God’s Spirit and do what He tells us to help save our great country!

Blessings,

Dr. Jay

Well, in just a few hours we start our 4th of July festivities with the launch of the Starlite Car Cruise! Already there are about a hundred cars in the parking lot and there are a number of special events tonight including a color guard, a tribute to our troops and the moment of dedication and prayer of our nation along with comments from Congressman Jason Altmire.

Such things really stir me up because I realize that for lots of people this will be their only recognition of what the 4th of July is really all about. It's sad in a way, but it's great that we will have 7 or 8 or 9,000 people here tonight to celebrate with us and perhaps even those few moments will have an impact on them and soften their heart for the gospel.

I believe there are great days ahead for us and look forward to the weekend that is a mixture of lots of responsibilities for me but also a time to celebrate God's amazing faithfulness.

Blessings to you as you celebrate and give thanks on this 4th of July!

Dr. Jay

I'm not sure if this will be a preview of my 4th of July message but I was "stopped dead in my tracks" this morning when I read the following in William Federer's book "America's God and Country."

"At the beginning of each session of the court, as the justices stand before their desks, the crier opens with the invocation:

'God save the United States and this Honorable Court.'"

The picture in my mind of those nine justices standing in front of their chairs with the Ten Commandments behind them and the crier before them, calling upon God in a nation that has turned it's back on God in most every way, is an incredible contradiction which I believe is symptomatic of the depths of the problems that we face as a nation.

We really must take this seriously and pray earnestly for God to save America, because I believe that left to our own devices, we will most certainly destroy her.

I'm not trying to leave you with a heavy note, but just something that I found really challenging today.

Blessings,

Dr. Jay