I wonder how many of us give up on our dreams too early.
It’s not uncommon, I’m sure, but it’s such a sad thing when we think we’re either too far behind the curve, too old or too out of touch to continue to believe God for the dream He put into our hearts.
Just today, I was on the phone with a friend who had 20+ years of business experience plus some other kinds of non-profit work but in his heart of hearts always wanted to be a pastor.
By most measurements he really shouldn’t have kept his dream alive because being in his 50’s he was too far along in his career to make this happen.
But with technology today, the advent of all kinds of creative ways of doing church, there was a space for him and he is now in his second year of being a full time pastor, and loving it!
The lesson for me was to not let my dreams die just because circumstances may be getting in the way. As long as the Holy Spirit continues to nudge me in that direction, continues to sustain my belief, then I’m going to trust God to open the doors and make it happen. (After all, isn’t that what He did with Abraham? Romans 4:17)
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
It's Been Eighteen Years
Eighteen years ago Bill Antolec walked into the doors of North Way to check out this church as a possibility to grow spiritually. Bill met Susie here while playing volleyball. They soon married. Little did they know the future plans God had for them!
Being in the computer world and coming out of a pretty difficult background, Bill needed stability and support along with challenge and a contemporary edge.
By God’s grace, he found that at North Way and much more. Over the years he became our IT Director and then after 1 mission trip about 8 years ago, he believed that God would ultimately have him full time on the mission field.
As we shared lunch today, just a couple weeks away from his departing to go to Thailand on a full time basis, we both marveled at the hand of God who has engineered circumstance, relationships and opportunities to provide a place for Bill & Susie to serve Jesus in a land literally half way around the world.
The best part of all is that this is something that Bill finds incredibly exciting and rewarding and is simply the culmination of faithfully obeying the Lord in what was put in front of him to do.
I think that’s one of the secrets we all can learn in our spiritual journey.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Being in the computer world and coming out of a pretty difficult background, Bill needed stability and support along with challenge and a contemporary edge.
By God’s grace, he found that at North Way and much more. Over the years he became our IT Director and then after 1 mission trip about 8 years ago, he believed that God would ultimately have him full time on the mission field.
As we shared lunch today, just a couple weeks away from his departing to go to Thailand on a full time basis, we both marveled at the hand of God who has engineered circumstance, relationships and opportunities to provide a place for Bill & Susie to serve Jesus in a land literally half way around the world.
The best part of all is that this is something that Bill finds incredibly exciting and rewarding and is simply the culmination of faithfully obeying the Lord in what was put in front of him to do.
I think that’s one of the secrets we all can learn in our spiritual journey.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Uncertainty of Life
Just the other day, I was in the neighborhood with my family and encountered one of our friends who I hadn’t seen in a while.
This particular person is friendly, soft-spoken and extremely physically fit! He’s a muscular person on a big frame and quite imposing in that regard.
However, when I saw him this time I could tell that he had obviously lost some weight and also had apparently shaved his head for the summer (or so it appeared).
In fact, the conversation revealed that he had contracted cancer and was undergoing intense therapy at the time.
A year ago, I could not have imagined a more physically fit person or, in other words, someone less likely to be in this position in such a short while.
Beyond the obvious summons to pray and reach out to him in some way, it also reminded me of the fact that every single day of good health is a gift from God for which we ought to stop and give specific praise. My natural inclination is to assume that things are always going to be the same when in fact we have no guarantees that that is the case.
If you’re enjoying a run of good health, stop right now and thank the Lord for every part of your physical body, which houses the Holy Spirit, and how beautifully and wonderfully you are made. It’s a good time to give thanks to the Lord for His goodness in your life and to know that He’ll be there for you if things should become difficult.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
This particular person is friendly, soft-spoken and extremely physically fit! He’s a muscular person on a big frame and quite imposing in that regard.
However, when I saw him this time I could tell that he had obviously lost some weight and also had apparently shaved his head for the summer (or so it appeared).
In fact, the conversation revealed that he had contracted cancer and was undergoing intense therapy at the time.
A year ago, I could not have imagined a more physically fit person or, in other words, someone less likely to be in this position in such a short while.
Beyond the obvious summons to pray and reach out to him in some way, it also reminded me of the fact that every single day of good health is a gift from God for which we ought to stop and give specific praise. My natural inclination is to assume that things are always going to be the same when in fact we have no guarantees that that is the case.
If you’re enjoying a run of good health, stop right now and thank the Lord for every part of your physical body, which houses the Holy Spirit, and how beautifully and wonderfully you are made. It’s a good time to give thanks to the Lord for His goodness in your life and to know that He’ll be there for you if things should become difficult.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Monday, June 15, 2009
Go Pens!
As I watch the incredible Pens parade (from a distance), I'm reminded how important it is
to take time and and even make an investment in celebration and appreciation. Too often,
we labor endlessly (it seems) and don't remember to put things aside and rejoice!
Perhaps the best illustration of this is in Nehemiah, where after the incredible accomplishment of
rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, Nehemiah decreed eight days of celebration and thanksgiving.
We are so wired to always be thinking about "the next thing", that we often don't savor the joy
of the present moment. Props to the Penguins and people of Pittsburgh for giving a couple hundred thousand folks that moment in person; and probably a million more via media!
We should do the same without apology as we see God work through us!
Pastor Jay
to take time and and even make an investment in celebration and appreciation. Too often,
we labor endlessly (it seems) and don't remember to put things aside and rejoice!
Perhaps the best illustration of this is in Nehemiah, where after the incredible accomplishment of
rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, Nehemiah decreed eight days of celebration and thanksgiving.
We are so wired to always be thinking about "the next thing", that we often don't savor the joy
of the present moment. Props to the Penguins and people of Pittsburgh for giving a couple hundred thousand folks that moment in person; and probably a million more via media!
We should do the same without apology as we see God work through us!
Pastor Jay
Friday, June 12, 2009
What Faith Does
As I write this piece today, it’s overcast and rather cool for an early summer day. The brilliant sunshine of a few days ago is past and not expected to return until tomorrow.
However, we’re expecting several thousand people tonight at our weekly Car Cruise despite graduations, the Penguins final game of the Stanley Cup playoff and even the unsettled weather.
It would be very convenient to cancel an event like this. However, faith risks the fact that some people may not show up for the sake of the many hundreds, actually thousands, who will and who hopefully come back again and again because of what they experience. What faith does is see the positive potential in everything, not simply the downside risk. Faith acts on that potential because it believes that God is bigger than the obstacles!
Snap that into your thinking no matter what you’re facing and the Lord may just show you how to move ahead!
Blessings,
Pastor Jay
However, we’re expecting several thousand people tonight at our weekly Car Cruise despite graduations, the Penguins final game of the Stanley Cup playoff and even the unsettled weather.
It would be very convenient to cancel an event like this. However, faith risks the fact that some people may not show up for the sake of the many hundreds, actually thousands, who will and who hopefully come back again and again because of what they experience. What faith does is see the positive potential in everything, not simply the downside risk. Faith acts on that potential because it believes that God is bigger than the obstacles!
Snap that into your thinking no matter what you’re facing and the Lord may just show you how to move ahead!
Blessings,
Pastor Jay
What Faith Does
As I write this piece today, it’s overcast and rather cool for an early summer day. The brilliant sunshine of a few days ago is past and not expected to return until tomorrow.
However, we’re expecting several thousand people tonight at our weekly Car Cruise despite graduations, the Penguins final game of the Stanley Cup playoff and even the unsettled weather.
It would be very convenient to cancel an event like this. However, faith risks the fact that some people may not show up for the sake of the many hundreds, actually thousands, who will and who hopefully come back again and again because of what they experience. What faith does is see the positive potential in everything, not simply the downside risk. Faith acts on that potential because it believes that God is bigger than the obstacles!
Snap that into your thinking no matter what you’re facing and the Lord may just show you how to move ahead!
Blessings,
Pastor Jay
However, we’re expecting several thousand people tonight at our weekly Car Cruise despite graduations, the Penguins final game of the Stanley Cup playoff and even the unsettled weather.
It would be very convenient to cancel an event like this. However, faith risks the fact that some people may not show up for the sake of the many hundreds, actually thousands, who will and who hopefully come back again and again because of what they experience. What faith does is see the positive potential in everything, not simply the downside risk. Faith acts on that potential because it believes that God is bigger than the obstacles!
Snap that into your thinking no matter what you’re facing and the Lord may just show you how to move ahead!
Blessings,
Pastor Jay
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Value the Rain
It’s supposed to rain today. In fact, as I look out the window there’s a very light shower even now. Most of the time, I find the rain restrictive and annoying, often foiling my best laid plans!
However, I’ve also come to value the rain and life-giving properties that it brings. I think you’ve all heard this before, but too much sunshine simply bakes the life out of anything around it. And so it is with prosperity and blessing in our lives.
That’s why James exhorts us to rejoice when trials come (i.e. the rain), because it softens the soil of our heart and keeps us open to receiving new seeds of life that the Lord wants to plant ,as well as watering those things which are already growing.
And so I’m actually praying for a strong rain today because my soil’s a little dry and I think it would do me good.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
However, I’ve also come to value the rain and life-giving properties that it brings. I think you’ve all heard this before, but too much sunshine simply bakes the life out of anything around it. And so it is with prosperity and blessing in our lives.
That’s why James exhorts us to rejoice when trials come (i.e. the rain), because it softens the soil of our heart and keeps us open to receiving new seeds of life that the Lord wants to plant ,as well as watering those things which are already growing.
And so I’m actually praying for a strong rain today because my soil’s a little dry and I think it would do me good.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)