It occurred to me on this particular day, named Black Friday by the retailers, that many people will be in a quandary about what to do with their resources. The economy and its profound uncertainty is causing many folks to withdraw from the normal materialistic craziness of the season.
In one sense, it’s difficult to not be able to buy presents for the folks you want to express love to in this season. On the other hand, perhaps this will compel you to find a more creative way of expressing your love, and your thought, creativity and personal expression will come through far more than any simple gift might convey.
To me, I don’t see this so much as Black Friday as much as an autumn version of Good Friday in that I’m going to take extra time to figure out ways to show my love this Christmas Season without having to spend a lot of money to do so. God is able to provide all of our needs, but He also delights in surprising us when we are willing to listen to His voice.
Blessings,
Pastor Jay
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
What a Night!
There are a few times in our spiritual journey as a church that will stand out in my mind for years to come. Last evening was one such event, when we gathered the worship teams from Oakland, the Worship Café and Wexford Main, along with participants from all of these venues, for a Thanksgiving worship celebration.
What was moving to me was the profound sense of mutual appreciation and respect that we had across the generational lines that were broadly represented throughout the auditorium. It was awesome to have twenty year olds worshipping with people in their seventies, all giving glory and thanks to the Savior who has made us one through His blood!
Perhaps the most moving moments for us all was when about 40 people shared a piece of their life-changing testimony using a simple piece of cardboard. To express what they had been in the flesh and had become by the Spirit, simply by flipping over a card in front of a thousand people, was a moment I cannot begin to represent in these few words.
God is at work in our church and as a result I face each day with increased anticipation and excitement about what is going to take place as we conclude this year and launch into 2009.
Thanks for sharing in this wonderful night, and for those of you who weren’t able to be with us, you’re still part of the family and should still expect to be part of the blessings just ahead!
Blessings in Jesus,
Pastor Jay
What was moving to me was the profound sense of mutual appreciation and respect that we had across the generational lines that were broadly represented throughout the auditorium. It was awesome to have twenty year olds worshipping with people in their seventies, all giving glory and thanks to the Savior who has made us one through His blood!
Perhaps the most moving moments for us all was when about 40 people shared a piece of their life-changing testimony using a simple piece of cardboard. To express what they had been in the flesh and had become by the Spirit, simply by flipping over a card in front of a thousand people, was a moment I cannot begin to represent in these few words.
God is at work in our church and as a result I face each day with increased anticipation and excitement about what is going to take place as we conclude this year and launch into 2009.
Thanks for sharing in this wonderful night, and for those of you who weren’t able to be with us, you’re still part of the family and should still expect to be part of the blessings just ahead!
Blessings in Jesus,
Pastor Jay
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
One Church, Many Locations...
This evening we are going to gather as one church from many locations to bring our “thanksgiving” to the Lord! This is North Way’s annual Thanksgiving service which has changed significantly over the years.
Last year, for the first time, we brought in our worship bands from the three separate venues that we currently support: One in Oakland, one in our South Venue and the Wexford Main large auditorium venue.
The great joy of this time is to see and experience the praise, thanksgiving and rejoicing of God’s people of all ages and in various styles of music that requires us all to “stretch” just a little bit.
I think this is very pleasing to the Lord as we recognize that we don’t have to have things be just the way we want them, rather we can embrace others and their differences and thereby “prefer them” (Phil. 3:4) as the scripture teaches.
Most of all, this is a time to honor God and to thank Him for His incredible faithfulness to us. No one would say we’ve had an easy year in our nation or even in our church. However, the blessings far outweigh the challenges and it is a great joy to gather as one church covering many generations to give thanks to the Lord!
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Last year, for the first time, we brought in our worship bands from the three separate venues that we currently support: One in Oakland, one in our South Venue and the Wexford Main large auditorium venue.
The great joy of this time is to see and experience the praise, thanksgiving and rejoicing of God’s people of all ages and in various styles of music that requires us all to “stretch” just a little bit.
I think this is very pleasing to the Lord as we recognize that we don’t have to have things be just the way we want them, rather we can embrace others and their differences and thereby “prefer them” (Phil. 3:4) as the scripture teaches.
Most of all, this is a time to honor God and to thank Him for His incredible faithfulness to us. No one would say we’ve had an easy year in our nation or even in our church. However, the blessings far outweigh the challenges and it is a great joy to gather as one church covering many generations to give thanks to the Lord!
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Friday, November 21, 2008
Forgetting and Straining
In my preparation for this weekend’s message, I was meditating on the passage in Philippians 3 where Paul clearly talks about the importance of “forgetting what lies behind” and “straining forward to what lies ahead”.
I have found that both of these are critically important in our spiritual journeys. Some of us are straining, but we’ve not been able to forget what was behind and therefore the baggage holds us in check. We feel like we’re putting forth way too much effort with very little to show for it. The reason is almost invariably that you are carrying something that you need to “forget” (forgive, give up, turn it over to the Lord).
On the other hand, without really straining, that is to engage your full effort (the picture is of an athlete who is reaching for the finish line with every muscle at full capacity), then you may not engage with the grace that God’s provided. Grace doesn’t mean that you need no effort; it means simply that your effort will bear fruit.
Here in our church, we’re seeing those things converge. People are forgetting some of the things they needed to let go of and more importantly, they are straining forward in grace to embrace a beautiful destiny that we know God’s created for us. I’m personally excited about it and trust that as you read along with me today you’ll find a similar application in your own life.
Have a blessed weekend,
Dr. Jay
I have found that both of these are critically important in our spiritual journeys. Some of us are straining, but we’ve not been able to forget what was behind and therefore the baggage holds us in check. We feel like we’re putting forth way too much effort with very little to show for it. The reason is almost invariably that you are carrying something that you need to “forget” (forgive, give up, turn it over to the Lord).
On the other hand, without really straining, that is to engage your full effort (the picture is of an athlete who is reaching for the finish line with every muscle at full capacity), then you may not engage with the grace that God’s provided. Grace doesn’t mean that you need no effort; it means simply that your effort will bear fruit.
Here in our church, we’re seeing those things converge. People are forgetting some of the things they needed to let go of and more importantly, they are straining forward in grace to embrace a beautiful destiny that we know God’s created for us. I’m personally excited about it and trust that as you read along with me today you’ll find a similar application in your own life.
Have a blessed weekend,
Dr. Jay
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Seeking Input
One of the marks of humility that I’ve discovered is the desire to learn more about the true condition of your heart. It’s not a “knowledge” thing; rather it’s an issue of maturity as measured by attitude and obedience.
I had a conversation recently with someone who wanted some “feedback” on their ministry. It’s one thing to talk in terms of measuring specific goals and objectives which I gladly did; but when I began to talk about the condition of their heart I sensed a little resistance.
Granted, this is a subjective thing, but it’s something that scripture is rather clear that we are to attempt. In fact, Proverbs 4:23 says that “our heart is the well spring of life” and we need to guard it at all cost.
If you don’t have a trusted friend, someone more mature than you are in the Lord, who can help you to do this than that should be a high priority for you as you enter the New Year. True humility is being willing to have someone speak into your life and what you’ll discover is that you greatly accelerate your spiritual growth and allow someone else to be blessed in the process.
Blessings,
Pastor Jay
I had a conversation recently with someone who wanted some “feedback” on their ministry. It’s one thing to talk in terms of measuring specific goals and objectives which I gladly did; but when I began to talk about the condition of their heart I sensed a little resistance.
Granted, this is a subjective thing, but it’s something that scripture is rather clear that we are to attempt. In fact, Proverbs 4:23 says that “our heart is the well spring of life” and we need to guard it at all cost.
If you don’t have a trusted friend, someone more mature than you are in the Lord, who can help you to do this than that should be a high priority for you as you enter the New Year. True humility is being willing to have someone speak into your life and what you’ll discover is that you greatly accelerate your spiritual growth and allow someone else to be blessed in the process.
Blessings,
Pastor Jay
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
These Are Tough Times
These Are Tough Times
It’s difficult to turn on the television these days to watch ones “life savings” and major investments being slashed literally by the day is very painful for anyone who has worked hard to try to provide for their family and prepare for the future.
It’s precisely at these times that I have found myself most certainly comforted by the fact that it is not the government, my job or my retirement plan that is my provider; it is the Lord God Himself! This isn’t a simple platitude or a “pie in the sky” approach to harsh economic realities, it’s the essence of the promises on which my life is built.
Like many of you who are reading this message, my daily net worth is declining as well. However, my eternal value continues to grow as I make my regular investments in the Kingdom of God. The only thing I have to do is to watch how God provides for us (my family and me) in the interim time!
So if you’re inclined in these days, these tough times, to give up hope don’t do it. Rather, continue to make your wise investments in the Kingdom and you’ll find that your heart will grow along with your treasure.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
It’s difficult to turn on the television these days to watch ones “life savings” and major investments being slashed literally by the day is very painful for anyone who has worked hard to try to provide for their family and prepare for the future.
It’s precisely at these times that I have found myself most certainly comforted by the fact that it is not the government, my job or my retirement plan that is my provider; it is the Lord God Himself! This isn’t a simple platitude or a “pie in the sky” approach to harsh economic realities, it’s the essence of the promises on which my life is built.
Like many of you who are reading this message, my daily net worth is declining as well. However, my eternal value continues to grow as I make my regular investments in the Kingdom of God. The only thing I have to do is to watch how God provides for us (my family and me) in the interim time!
So if you’re inclined in these days, these tough times, to give up hope don’t do it. Rather, continue to make your wise investments in the Kingdom and you’ll find that your heart will grow along with your treasure.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
You may not be old enough to remember this number one song by Aretha Franklin called “Respect”! However, it’s one of the most important dynamics that I’ve discovered in my personal relationships with people.
The more I journey along with individuals I find that it’s not so much credit or accolades that people see, it’s the simple respect that comes from acknowledging that they are important to you and the organization they serve.
In some ways the concept is similar to the New Testament idea of “honor”. However, it goes just one step further in that honor has to do with more of a public acknowledgement and respect has to do with a sense that you get from another person. It’s what they see when they look into your soul and you know that they have it simply by the way they interact with you.
If you have someone in your life that you know needs that respect, don’t withhold it from them because it’s absolutely essential for them to feel connected to you.
By the way, respect is also something that you earn by trustworthy and diligent behaviors along with a positive attitude. So wherever you are on the spectrum, learn to give a little, learn to earn a little, but in everything, celebrate respect!
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
The more I journey along with individuals I find that it’s not so much credit or accolades that people see, it’s the simple respect that comes from acknowledging that they are important to you and the organization they serve.
In some ways the concept is similar to the New Testament idea of “honor”. However, it goes just one step further in that honor has to do with more of a public acknowledgement and respect has to do with a sense that you get from another person. It’s what they see when they look into your soul and you know that they have it simply by the way they interact with you.
If you have someone in your life that you know needs that respect, don’t withhold it from them because it’s absolutely essential for them to feel connected to you.
By the way, respect is also something that you earn by trustworthy and diligent behaviors along with a positive attitude. So wherever you are on the spectrum, learn to give a little, learn to earn a little, but in everything, celebrate respect!
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
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