hard to not look past...

This Thursday is Christmas Eve, and North Way has 4 services in Wexford (1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm) and 2 services in Oakland (3pm, 5pm). I'm excited for these services, and I'm obviously excited to celebrate Christmas Friday with my family. But...

I'm preaching the Saturday and Sunday after Christmas. So, my mind is already beyond Christmas and on what I will share on the last weekend of the year. I've decided to preach a sermon titled "Not Finished Yet" from Philippians 1:1-11. I desire this sermon to be a huge encouragement for North Way from Paul's letter to the church at Philippi. I hope you can come.

taking a final test today...

I am currently enrolled in a Masters of Christian Studies program through Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and I've been chipping away at this degree while taking one class per semester for a year and a half now. Each of these courses have either had writing assignments for their finals and little quizzes throughout the semester, but this class (New Testament Survey) is the first class that is having an accumulative final!

I have not had a final exam in 10+ years! I forget how to study! I was trying to study last night, and I woke up wondering where I was and what I was doing! God, help me...I'm trying.

almost didn't make it in...

If you were in Pittsburgh Sunday morning, you know how horrible the roads were around 7:30ish - 10:30ish. I was trying my best to make it in for the Worship Cafe service, but I had a ton of trouble. At one point, I walked back home to wait it out (that's when I shot the video below). Once I got on my way again, I tried going on the Turnpike, and it was temporarily closed. I then tried to go Rt. 910, but it was temporarily closed. So, I sat in my car for a long while in a Target parking lot until they opened the Turnpike. I finally made in to North Way Wexford around 11:40...just in time for the service to end.

I made this video just in case I didn't make it...they showed it anyway...ha!

Merry Christmas from my family to you!

Merry Christmas to all of you that I have the privilege of sharing life with...May God bless you this Christmas season!



photos courtesy of hotmetalstudio.com

this little light of mine...

So proud!

The Lighthouse

Tonight, I went with a friend of mine to deliver some warm coats and new toys to The Lighthouse on 5th Ave. in Arnold, PA. The folks there were so appreciative, and they showed us a list of kids and adults that would benefit from North Way's donations. They send a huge thanks to all of you that donated One Warm Coat and One New Toy! Great job North Way! Well done!

Ready for Christmas?

I'm thinking about this weekend that kicks off North Way's Christmas series, and I had a thought pop into my mind. I'm not even ready for Christmas. My neighbors have had their lights up for a couple weeks now, and my daugthers keep asking when we're going to put up our Christmas lights and tree. I keep telling them this Saturday.

We're ready for all the Christmas parties. We have the Christmas presents bought...all we have to do is wrap. We are ready, but...

How did we get here when Christmas is all about Jesus coming to this world as a baby? I have to make sure that we're getting as excited for Jesus' birthday as we are for the presents under the tree. As a dad, that's on me, and I have to be leading my family well in that truth this year!

uncertainty...

As we're getting ready for the Christmas season at North Way, one of the main themes that we want our church to hear is that "all of us live in the uncertainty, but we don't have to live in the darkness." As people who have the light of Jesus in our lives, the uncertainties are illumined by His light. Jesus' light exposes those things for what they really are. The darkness of this world no longer has to overcome us because Jesus has overcome the darkness.

As we make our way through this season, fan the flame that is Jesus inside you. Be intentional about shining your light this Christmas season!

If you're reading this, and you are feeling the uncertainty of life more than ever, I encourage you to come to a North Way service this weekend. Check out the service times and locations HERE.

Thanksgiving...

As I look forward to tomorrow's Thanksgiving celebration(s), I have so much to be thankful for in my life. If I were to list all of those people, places, things, etc., I'd be writing all night. I will not bore you with my list, but I am so grateful to God for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon me!

Do what just feels right...

This is a re-blog from Walt Mueller. When I saw this commercial, I was stunned for a few seconds...only a few.

Mueller:
Youth culture is a map and a mirror. It is both directive and reflective. We watch it to see where it's sending us and our kids. We watch it to see where we are. We monitor, deconstruct, and exegete it to know how to bring the map of the Biblical world and life view to bear on the realities that exist. A world that's not the way it's supposed to be keeps heading in that direction. We're in desperate need of being straightened out, fixed, and made new. That's why we listen and watch carefully.

Looking for a cultural map and mirror to ponder and talk about over the next month or so? Here's one worth engaging.

"You 86 the rules. You do what just feels right. . . "