Jay Passavant

Two nights ago, my daughter Amy responded to a rather impassioned plea from a very dear friend of hers.

As the story goes, her grandmother is very ill and home bound; likely facing her last Christmas unless something changes. When Amy inquired, it appeared that something the grandmother would really love was to hear her favorite Christmas carols being sung "live" rather than over the radio. Amy tried lots of ways to get some "talented" people to take an hour to fulfill this Christmas request but came up short. She went about simply asking some of her dear friends and family members if they would be willing to give half an hour to make somebodys Christmas.

We showed up at the door of the home where this elderly woman and her family were eagerly awaiting us. The rag tag bunch of singers who gathered had never once been together as a group, had no rehearsal and none of the experience that one associates with such adventures.

However, none of that seemed to matter as we entered the grandmother's room, joined by the family, and simply began to sing the familiar and beautiful carols of Christmas. It wasn't long before some tears were freely flowing, smiles were everywhere punctuated by some laughter and even some applause of sincere appreciation.

The whole experience lasted only 20 minutes or so but the memory will be in the forefront of my mind throughout the Christmas season. It's really what time usually pushes out of our lives: that is the personal expression of unconditional love that is at the heart of Christmas.

And so my night of our caroling experience will not go down as the best "performance" of my life but it may well be remembered as one of the most pure gifts that I've been privileged to give in a long time.

Blessings!
Dr. Jay

In last weekend's message, I made an offer of Tim Keller's excellent book called "The Reason for God" to any of our members who would be sincerely interested in reading it and having a brief discussion about what they read in subsequent weeks.

To my amazement, the response to this request has been pretty overwhelming. It seems that lots and lots of people are very interested in having some of their tough questions addressed by a thoughtful Christian writer, but even more than that they're willing to have some of their conclusions brought up in a conversation with a person they see as a spiritual mentor or pastor.

This is encouraging indeed! It reveals to me that there's a profound desire on the part of sincere seekers and even committed followers to understand some of life's more difficult questions. Perhaps we've just not previously given them an outlet to make such a connection.

For that many people (and the number's well over a hundred households) to be willing to give up their time to read the book and have a conversation tells me that there are probably double or triple that number of folks who would like to know but perhaps don't feel quite ready to make a commitment.

It's occurred to me all along that we often tend to brush these things under the table because we don't know where to turn to get answers for things like "How can Christians make such an exclusive claim?" or "Why does God allow suffering?" or "How can I know the Bible is reliable?" etc., etc.

I'm looking forward to the challenge of engaging as many people as possible in future discussions and will keep you posted in this space as to what some of my findings might reveal.

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

Two days ago, I heard a reporter on one of cable news channels commenting

It may have something to do with the idea of "joy" in the Christmas season or perhaps a little something less profound than that.

For whatever reason, I found myself in the midst of situations where there's been a great deal of laughter as of late. The staff Christmas party for our team here at North Way provided a serious amount of laughter thanks to some incredibly creative and absolutely crazy "white elephant" gifts that we gave to each other. Though of little monetary value, each gift had some sort of unique "twist" to it that brought out laughter from the recipient or those who would compete by trading their gift for it.

A similar experience was happening concurrently as the Senior adults met in our Atrium and also experienced a rather raucous round of "passing gifts" and laughing all the way!

It's a by-product, to be sure, but is none-the-less a restorative action for the soul. The ability to step out of responsibilities and demanding circumstances for just a while and to literally laugh along with others is one of life's great gifts that often gets lost in the heat of competition or many of the other things that press in on our daily lives.

Joy is much deeper than laughter. However, joy without laughter can leave us with an overly pessimistic view of the realities of life.

Why not create some moments when you can engage your family and/or close friends in "serious laughter" and enjoy the refreshing that comes by not taking yourself or the things around you too seriously!

Christmas blessings,
Dr. Jay

Driving home from the office this evening, I passed scores of homes with an astonishing array of beautiful Christmas lights. Even my own little neighborhood of

Last evening in our excellent Christmas presentation, "I Believe," a short video clip posed some very thoughtful questions under the heading of "What If?"

The essence of the video was to cause the viewer to ponder the possibility that everything we have thrown ourselves into around the Christmas season from shopping, baking and gift giving to traveling, partying and all the rest never really mattered because we've given no time to the real source of the Christmas story, the gift of Jesus the Son of God.

For whatever reason, it seemed that that particular moment connected with the congregation in a powerful way. I know it did for me.

It's so easy to be judgemental of people who are "materialistic" but that really misses the point. The real issue is whether or not people embrace in their heart and mind the reality that the greatest imaginable gift came in the person of Jesus, who redeems us from our sins and gives us power to live this life in a way that far exceeds any other possibility we could imagine.

And so ask yourself this question: What if I spent a little more time focusing on the reality of Christmas rather than the things that normally get all my attention? How would things be different and how might you be transformed this Christmas season? What if...?

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

One of the things that I resolved to do many years ago was to not react to the "extremes" that are so often points of struggle for sincere believers during the Christmas season.

On the one hand you have those folks who fall into the trap of becoming totally materialistic and pretty much push the reality of Jesus' birth and redemptive mission out of the Christmas story. They are the ones who fall into the "gift trap" and become the scrooges of the Christmas season!

On the other hand you have those that completely alienate their family and friends by overspiritualizing Christmas and rejecting the idea that unless a song mentions the name of the baby Jesus it doesn't really matter at Christmas time!

In my perspective, every song that communicates joy love and peace at Christmas time has been born from our heavenly Father's heart ("every good and perfect gift comes from above") and therefore we can enjoy those seemingly secular but very meaningful expressions of Christmas love.

On the other hand, nothing stirs my heart more than to focus on the incredible depth of the plan of God to send His Son to us as a baby, not a "knight in shining armor" to redeem mankind from our battle with sin.

And so Christmas is truly a "win win proposition" for anyone who's willing to choose a posture of balance in this beautiful and all too brief season that we call Christmas.

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

Today, I met with a group of about 15 pastors from around the North Hills area. The topic of our conversation for the meeting was to be "empowering members as servants" and I was supposed to be the person that was bringing the content for the day.

Instead, I chose to take a risk and in a very specific way asked each person to be willing to offer some of their own experiences as pastors and leaders who have sought to raise up volunteers and servants in their own ministries.

The result was a very energized and insightful exchange that literally caused the 90 minute time slot to race by.

I find this to be true in most every venue in which I participate. When people are asked to be involved, to add their input, to share their perspective, the corporate wisdom is much more valuable and insightful than one person's own individual perspective. Not only do folks stay engaged, they tend to add dimensions of insight that others had not even thought of because of their unique perspective and experiences.

I'm not sure what it takes for us to be set free from having to have "all the answers," however the longer I'm privileged to be in ministry, the more I realize that I don't have those answers so the easier it becomes to engage others.

Hopefully you might find the same principle works well for you.

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

Over the last few days and particularly this morning there's a great sense of anticipation here on our Wexford campus.

After months of rehearsal and diligent preparation, we are beginning the first of four evening presentations that we are calling "I Believe."

The anticipation for these evenings is palpable among those who have been involved in preparing for them from young children to the experienced adults: All of whom think this will be an exceptional experience for all who make the time to attend.

From my perspective, its really essential that we make the time to invite others to come and experience some times of reflection on the true and life changing events surrounding the Christmas story in the context of what is both entertaining and excellent.

I'm grateful for these kinds of things that take place a few weeks before Christmas so that we can savor them right up until our families and friends all gather on the holiday and thereby enjoy the blessing of this season for more than just a day or two.

It's said that anticipation sometimes exceeds the experience, but in this case I think anticipation is worthy of the experience.

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

P.S. If you are in the Wexford area please consider joining us any evening this week (Tues-Fri) though free tickets are "sold out" there's almost always a way to find a seat if you get here just a bit early.

In the gospel of Matthew chapter 24:42 Jesus says, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."

"Keeping watch" has many different interpretations and most of them are not necessarily apocalyptic. In other words, "keeping watch" has to do with interpreting the trends and values in a society and understanding our responsibility to "speak up" when matters arise that should concern us.

Recent proposed legislation by the current administration would require all businesses (including not-for-profits) to subscribe to the provision of birth control and abortion services even if such practices are in complete opposition to the values held by that organization.

Nothing has been determined on this matter to date, but if it should be passed into law then large groups of people who would be personally supportive of pro-life values would be required to provide abortion services or face federal prosecution.

Again, this has not been mandated but it is under consideration at the present time. These are the kinds of things where people of conviction need to be willing to speak up and to be "keeping watch" so that those values which we believe are central to our cultural witness are not surrendered by negligence or indifference.

These are complex times and require a spirit of vigilence with a heart of compassion.

Blessings!
Dr. Jay

I've spent the past two days with Emmanuel Pothen and our Board of "Influence

It's been a while since I've taken the opportunity to post in this space and there's good reason for that.

Over the last ten days I've been traveling quite a bit and have also had a couple of "health issues" which need no further elaboration except to say that they've been frustrating and a little painful!

Nonetheless, I have great reason to give thanks to the Lord and want to share some of those with you with the hope that it will prompt those of you who take the time to read this message to do something similar. In our family, we like to spend a few moments before we share our Thanksgiving feast to specifically name one or two things that each person is particularly thankful for this season.

For me they would include

• the great blessing of having all of our family together and in good health this season



• celebrating my mom's 85th birthday last night, including 6 years of "cancer-free" living following her difficult prognosis in 2005



• thanksgiving for the very smooth and edifying transition that has taken place in our North Way leadership team as we move forward into our "next 30"



• thanksgiving for the opportunities to continue to trust the Lord for the things that He has promised yet to fulfill in my own life



• thanksgiving for His gift of living in this wonderful nation, despite its frustrations and flaws



• thanksgiving for the fact that Jesus continues to reveal Himself in ways that I can't begin to fully describe or appreciate, yet understand that it's always His sovereign hand that is guiding me!

I'm sure that you have your own list which is important to you. I strongly recommend the practice of going around the circle at the table and spending a moment or two verbalizing those things as an open expression of praise and thanksgiving. The Word teaches us that God loves to hear words of thanks and you'll be rewarded by the blessing of His favor!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving feast,

Dr. Jay

For those of you who are accustomed to coming to this space on a regular basis, I must apologize for the absence of entries for the last week or so. As things would have it, I was out of town and once I arrived at my destination the Lord directed my heart to spend a lot more time "disengaged" from my normal responsibilities and pursuits. Unfortunately I didn't get that divine memo until it was too late to communicate and therefore this space remained unaddressed for the past week.

On the bright side, I did come home sensing a spirit of refreshment and expectation as we move into the Thanksgiving season, soon to be followed by the Christmas holiday! I'm excited and expectant because I believe that these are the most beloved times of the year for followers of Christ and for most people in our nation as well.

Today, I just want to plant a seed in your heart about specific expressions of thanksgiving as we are just a week away from our annual day of remembrance. Now is the time to do a little bit of planning about some sort of expression of thanks that you may give personally or you as a family may share when the holiday does arrive.

I have found that, given the opportunity, Thanksgiving can become a very meaningful moment as a family because hidden and often unexpressed sentiments are thoughtfully revealed if the opportunity presents itself.

In our family, we've begun the practice of simply having everyone share at least one thing for which they are particularly thankful that has taken place in the past year. It has revealed not just moments of great celebration and victory, but moments of difficulty and trial that have resulted in a deepening of faith and understanding of who God is.

Whatever the case may be, begin today to plan to make your Thanksgiving a very special experience.

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

We're living in a day when faith is no longer a 'religious term' that only a few really understand; but rather a necessity if you are to live a life of integrity before God and others.

One of the most difficult obstacles to overcome in the journey of faith for many of us is the willingness to take a step of faith and to act on what we believe God is telling us.

As Oswald Chambers says in his reading for today, "All of the grace of heaven is open to those who act on the voice of God."

For whatever reason, the Lord has committed Himself to wait for us to respond to what we will do with the direct guidance or revelation He gives us. If we chose not to act, then such blessing is lost. If we chose to act then it's incredible to see what God would do on our behalf.

This is true in the daily decisions of life as well as the major ones such as committing our resources, baptism in water, committing our business and professional decisions to Him and many other things.

I have found that far too many people are acquiring knowledge of what God wants and are even hungry to "learn more" but very reluctant to act on what they learn, which can mean they never really do experience the power of change.

Whatever God's lead you to do, act on it and you'll find that heaven will break open and enormous grace will flow into those places where you've chosen to be obedient.

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

Today was marked by a very encouraging time with a group of fellow pastors from our area here north of the city of Pittsburgh.

In my many years of experience, pastors don't tend to spend much time together other than when they "have to" for different kinds of denominational meetings or other specific purposes.

In our case, we've been meeting for the past 15 years in order to establish a fellowship around the fact that we are brothers in the Kingdom of God and pursuing the same goals and values.

Today was encouraging because we had some fresh faces and some renewed vision around the matter of our being "one body" and not churches in competition.

This is no small matter for those of you who are familiar with "church life." Too often, churches that are similar tend to have a competitive spirit rather than a mutually edifying one. That's not the case with this group of men and the churches that they lead. We are looking for ways to support each other whether we be larger or smaller, whether we be newer or more seasoned and whether our theological positions are the same or not.

I look forward to how this is going to unfold in the coming months and am thankful for the opportunity to provide some leadership as well as the opportunity to learn from fellow brothers in the faith!

This kind of unity is what I believe the Lord desires for His church wherever it meets!

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

Perhaps you fall in to the same trap I do when it comes to "regular" meetings with people. I think that I know what to expect in my 'slot' with them in terms of the content or exchanges.

Last evening, I broke most of my personal disciplines and stayed up until nearly 1:00 a.m. watching the 6th game of TheWorld Series. I'll say right out of the gate that I'm not a huge baseball fan, but the playoffs and particularly The World Series are simply too compelling to lay aside.

Last night, I fully expected to watch a portion of the game and be content but nearly 4 hrs. and 30 min. into it I was at the very edge of my seat!

In what will be called one of the most exciting games of all times, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers 10-9 in eleven innings! What was so remarkable about the game was that the Cardinals trailed four different times in the last few innings and were down to their last pitch on two occasions when the batters came through with clutch swings delivering tying and then eventually winning runs!

The real drama is to watch a highly trained bull pen "closer" who can throw the ball over 95 miles an hour (which is incredible) and get it almost precisely where he wants it to be in the strike zone. In this case the pitcher thought he could simply overpower the hitter and in fact the hitter (David Freese) connected twice to bring home the tying and the winning runs!

Face to face, head to head, one to one, is what makes baseball a unique game even though it's a team sport. Yes, there were eight other men on the field or waiting to bat, but in that one on one match up it was simply two guys giving it their best and only one could come out on top!

However, the enthusiasm and joy, actually the almost childlike explosion of delight following the winning run, reminded all the viewers that baseball, like life, is a "team sport" and when one person excels everyone benefits! There's another parallel here to how I see life being lived in community and the joy that happens when one individual makes an impact that all of us can celebrate.

Baseball is simply a game, but it also is a slice of the wonderful culture that God has allowed us to enjoy here in America. Last night was simply one of the best moments of enjoying that gift that I can recall since the '79 Bucks "went all the way"!

Can't wait for game 7,
Dr. Jay

As some of you who read this space would recognize, I've come to a new found appreciation for some of the more recent country music that's being produced by some very talented artists around the nation.

For me, the essence of this music is a little different than the average "pop" or "top 40" in secular music because it seems to have a thread of values and even spirituality at times that is totally absent from most other purely secular music.

One phrase in a particular song called "The Boys Have Fallen" singer songwriter Kenny Chesney writes "When you take on one of us, you get us all." It's an interesting way of saying we are one, we are united, we stand together no matter what.

I wonder how many church splits, sectarian battles and broken relationships would be erased if that simple concept were embraced by followers of Christ. Too often we tend to "be open" to the comments and criticisms of someone who doesn't even know the people to which we're committed.

We have an Elders Covenant in our church that speaks to this issue but it's not widely held throughout the congregation and would certainly be an amazing step of building unity if it were embraced in spirit, if not in literal detail.

So just remember that simple line, "When you take on one of us, you get us all." That certainly would slow down the tendency of people to lob grenades of criticism and even supposed discernment that end up simply dividing believers.

Blessings!
Dr. Jay

You may find it strange that something instructive should come out of having a root canal procedure but it has!

Just today I headed to the specialist for what was sure to be a painful and perhaps complex procedure known as a "microscopic" root canal.

However, I learned a few things because the experience was unusually affective and straightforward (at least for now)!

In some ways, having a root canal evokes about as much fear for some of us as sharing our faith. We may not feel like we are prepared to do what's needed or have the right words to say and as a result we often try to avoid those situations.

But here's what I learned from a root canal:
- Be confident! (My endodontist was supremely confident in her skills and therefore put me at ease.)
- Know your stuff! Having had much experience she knew exactly what needed to be done and just how to go about the process to cause minimal pain and maximum effectiveness.
- Check and double check! Along the way she took several x-rays to be sure she was doing things exactly right and then requires a follow-up visit in about 3 months to make sure everything has been affectively addressed.
- Have a team! She had an associate who knew exactly what she was supposed to do on cue and did so seemlessly.
- Keep it brief! (She did the entire procedure in about 45 minutes with no fuss or muss.)

Now I could go down each one of these and draw a parallel to sharing your faith. By far the most important one is to be confident. When people know that you simply are telling your story and offering it to them as something that you know very well because its "your story" it sets them at ease and makes them listen rather than be defensive.

All the other ones help if you think about them in parallel language. However, being confident took away my fear of "getting hurt" and replaced it with a sense of assurance that this was something I needed to have done even though I didn't want to!

At any rate, I don't plan to run back in for another procedure any time soon, but it was certainly instructive to me about a number of things related to dealing with issues that people may not want to look at. Sharing our faith with someone who may not want to hear it is just such a matter.

And so, witnessing is not exactly like a root canal but in some ways you can be enormously blessed if you think of those simple guidelines.

Smiling with a drool,
Dr. Jay

While scrolling through one of the numerous emails I received today I came across this link http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=drazmveab&v=001tn3vzqXP0za0o_txv3QW6MVx4qboJ9c47u8g5XdtWfaSiEaBZJl6nB0RAY4eDt0kseBuvmi60juthj89YGsQB2mJ_Zpnxya3L6Ta2GBGa3v0EFCts0J4e_pi7CL5G5MLSvut43FhZWY%3D from Davidmays.org quoting some interesting observations by R.C. Sproul.

For those of you who do not know, R.C. Sproul has been a person of major influence in the theological dialogue of conservative evangelicalism for the last nearly 40 years.

When I first arrived in Pittsburgh R.C. was the "hot young theologian" who was conducting seminars and speaking to young aspiring leaders from his home base in Ligonier.

His ministry has been influential both in writing and speaking as he represents one of the purist positions of reformed theology that is readily accessible to "everyday" believers.

In this fascinating summary, R.C. comments on the matter of "unseen realities" which is something that I find quite interesting. This would not be his normal focus of dialogue and the presentation of it reminds us that even conservative, reformed theologians take seriously the matter of "the unseen" versus the world's tendancy to measure everything by what they can touch and feel and measure.

Over the past months I've been made increasingly aware of the "spiritual warfare" of this unseen reality as the apostle Paul describes it in Ephesians 6 and several other important scriptural passages. One of the great issues that we must face is that ignoring these "unseen realities" does not make them go away nor does it help us advance the Kingdom by neglect.

I received his comments on heaven, hell, angels, demons, etc., as great encouragement to continue to delve into these matters and to teach them broadly both to our aspiring leaders and to any believers who will listen with open hearts.

I urge you to not only read the link but to do some digging on your own and discover what may be the key to unlocking amazing spiritual freedom!

Have a wonderful day.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay

Last week, we hosted a gathering in our home to introduce some of our friends and acquaintances to our new Lead Pastor. When I first thought of hosting the 'meet and greet' at our home, I expected about 20-25 people to accept the invitation on each of two nights. (that would have been about 50% of invitations sent out.)

Last evening was very special for us. One of the elements of life at North Way is that we consistently meet in homes according to the pattern of Scripture.(Acts 2:42ff)

However, we occasionally push that envelope a bit and have special meetings in homes when a large number of folks gather to meet one another, share thoughts and dreams about Kingdom growth and simply reaffirm the fact that we are committed to what we believe God wants to do to change lives throughout our region.

The ingredient of meeting in a home is significant because it brings down the level of formality and raises the bar of authenticity and engagement. People open up dramatically in homes and talk much more freely than they normally would in a more formal "church" environment or just simply in a restaurant or some other meeting place.

Last night was no exception as over 40 people talked for nearly an hour in personal conversation and then engaged our special guest with listening hearts and a clear sense of anticipation about the future.

A home is a wonderful thing to share and certainly helps to create the right environment for people to let down their guard and be real with one another. It's one of the things that the early church knew and regularly embraced because those values are enduring.

I'm looking forward to the next event which is just a week away.

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

P.S. Have you had some folks over to your home recently to talk about the things of God? Give it a try!

These days here in Western Pennsylvania the last glimpses of the beautiful autumn foliage are everywhere to be seen. Remnants of the blazing maples trees, the still changing Bradford pears and the bright yellow ash are all around.

At the same time, the increasing number of gray skies causes the palette of this beauty to be somewhat dulled as we are clearly between the seasons of autumn and winter.

As we sojourn through these days it reminds me to start to prepare for winter by thinking a lot more "internally." I mean that both in the physical sense of not being able to be outside nearly as much during the winter months and also with reference to spending more time reading, reflecting and examining my inner man.

I find that winter lends itself far more to such reflection than the other seasons. Because you're not free to run about at every whim, you necessarily make more time to read, journal and reflect about what's happening in your life, what the Lord might be saying to you through Scripture and what specific missional things He wants you to be about.

I trust that as you prepare for the changes in your own life that you'll make the time to slow down enough to hear what God is saying. The great rush that so many are in during the other three seasons should definitely be put aside for some respite during this season which I believe in the mind of God was created just for such a purpose.

Blessings!
Dr. Jay

Last evening we had an awesome gathering of about 80 people here in our Wexford Atrium to celebrate another successful season at the Wexford Starlite Car Cruise.

These folks represented the whole cross section of our volunteers, vendors, leadership team and supporters who helped to pull off this summer long event that reaches tens of thousands of people every season.

Last night was particularly special in that we acknowledged the "hidden hands" of the scores of volunteers who wave the flags, direct the traffic, serve the people, pick up the trash, start the conversations and literally do a hundred other tasks that help families, bikers, hard core car enthusiasts and everyone in between have a great experience!

We also identified that one of the reasons that people primarily came to the Car Cruise (and this came from the mouth of several non-church participants) was the family friendly and "warm and accepting" environment that we have created. Unlike other places where people are basically measured by what they drive or excluded for one reason or another, everyone felt welcome to attend and beyond that, valued for being here.

This is no small epiphany to me as there has to be an explanation to me as to why 7000-8000 or more people would show up every friday night for an event like this on a church campus! I wonder what hidden lessons there are for those of us in the church community about what draws people and what they're really looking for as a place to start a journey of making friendships and getting connected even if they don't share all the same spiritual values.

All in all it was a great night and a wonderful time to honor many people who helped to create an unforgettable experience for thousands of others.

We will hopefully be able to repeat this experience many times to come!

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

This past week, I spent a great deal of time in preparation for the weekend message and the responsibility that comes with teaching God's Word to a pretty large group of people. Not everyone realizes what it takes to put together a weekend message but in my case, it's at least 20 hours of rather intense study and preparation of various kinds, not to mention the underlying prayer and indirect spiritual preparation that goes on.

It's a great privilege, to be sure, to teach to a church family in multiple locations and one that I cherish. On the other hand, I still believe that the most significant impact in my life comes through the one on one contacts and connections that I make with individuals.

Today, I met with a couple members of our leadership team, but the best hour or so that I'll spend in the day will be with my son who works in the city and with whom I spend nearly every Tuesday at lunch.

The things that we talk about are personal and have to do with discovering life in our respective seasons, but its really a joy to me to spend time with him (that is any of my kids or their families).

Something "clicked" in me during that time about the way that Jesus spent His time with the crowd, the twelve and the few, even individuals for whom He made every effort to be available.

You may not have a crowd to speak to, but we all have individuals and small bands of folks that we influence. Never lose sight of just how much your testimony, your expressions of care and interest in the lives actually mean in helping them shape a Kingdom based set of priorities and values.

By the way, its likely the most blessed time you will know as a person who is seeking to follow Christ.

There's a real balance between the "saying" and the "doing" of the gospel.

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

Last evening, I was privileged to be part of the "Women's Choice Network" annual banquet which was held at one of the nicest restaurants on Mt. Washington.

The program for the evening included a number of videos and a talented guest speaker, but the real power for action came when three young women, whose first names all started with "J", shared their stories of how they discovered the Women's Choice Network and chose to keep their babies rather than have them aborted.

In the very brief 15 minute period (in total) that these women shared their stories the evening pivoted from being very informative and somewhat inspirational to being very convicting and motivating. The stories of these women, told in their own words, were rivoting and courageous. They spoke of how they faced incredibly difficult decisions, sometimes without family support, but did so because of the partnership of the Women's Choice Network and the people who believe so sacrificially in their cause.

By the end of the evening, (which closely followed their 3 brief testimonies) I know many people wanted to be part of what's happening in this ministry in our city and indeed were now prepared to do so.

The entire experience reminds me that "telling our story" can be the most convincing way to share with others about the difference that God can make in their lives. Somehow, by simply sharing what He's done for us, it helps others to believe that He will do it for them as well.

Last night was more than a banquet, it was a reminder to me that I must never stop telling my story and I would encourage you to consider that same reminder for your life as well. It may take courage and certainly faith, but in the end it's the most powerful thing that we can do for the sake of God and His Kingdom.

Gratefully,
Dr. Jay

One of the most important virtues and perhaps the most difficult to maintain is that of humility. It seems like every time we enjoy a season of blessing or success our hearts get distanced a bit from trusting the Lord and our perspective on our own importance can be significantly over exagerated.

Humility is an awareness that we're both imperfect and worthwhile at the same time. Humility is a high ground that traverses the bogs and swamps of great achievement and at times, self-hatred. At times, humility choses to follow God's plan over our own. When we live humbly, which can be defined as consistently choosing God's way of doing things over our own way of doing things, amazingly good things begin to happen to otherwise difficult people like me.

Humility also involves a component of acceptance of ourselves, sin and all. Humility helps us to see ourselves with one eye which evaluates and another eye which appreciates. It's not an easy balance to strike but one that is essential if we are to remain healthy and productive without becoming prideful and wayward from our God of great love.

In His grace,
Dr. Jay

It was a wonderful weekend for Carol and me as we journeyed into Manhatten to spend time with our youngest son.

As part of the visit we met and worshipped with his church family that meets at several different sites at both the Upper East Side and in the heart of the financial district.

It was an interesting contrast to see the "protesters of Wall Street" juxtaposed against the "prayers on Wall Street" who were taking quietly peaceful positions of praying for change, not simply demonstrating for it.

It's not my intent to demean or even comment on the motivations or desires of the protesters. It is, however, my desire to elevate the incredibly devoted commitment that I witnessed in the next generation of leaders that populate just one church in a very influential city in our nation.

These quiet bands of disciples are everywhere and what we simply need to do is to see them multiply if we're really to make a difference and affect the trajectory of our culture for Kingdom values.

Blessings in Jesus!

Dr. Jay

Though many commentators and men and women of very high stature have written or spoken far more eloquently than I ever could about the life and impact of Steve Jobs, the founder and CEO of Apple Inc., I felt one particular observation of his was very noteworthy.

One could easily focus on the incredible creativity, drive, passion for excellence and pioneering spirit that Mr. Jobs evidenced throughout his career. (By the age of 25, he was already estimated to have a net worth of $100,000,000.)

However, what jumped out at me in recent days was the speech he gave at Stanford University, his alma mater, when he was speaking about the reality of the finiteness of life.

I'll only paraphrase this, and I would urge you to perhaps read his entire message which you can easily find online, but knowing that his time was limited and destined to come to an end far more soon than he had hoped he simply said that "seeing life through the eyes of our physical limitations and certainty of the death that we all face, we will live differently.

Again, this is just a paraphrase but the gist of his discovery was that there is a reality that exceeds whatever patents, designs, creativity and wealth that comes with all these gifts and that reality is the level playing field that we all must face: there's something more that should affect how we live the one life we've been given.

We'll miss Steve Jobs and the incredible ways that he brought technology to help us all move through life differently, but let's also remember the wisdom of his own discovery before we must face it ourselves.

Have a beautiful weekend.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay

This was a wonderful day for many reasons; the best of which was the affirmation of our incredible team of staff servant leaders here at North Way.

Though many of you who may be kind enough to read this space, may wish you

In a few short hours, 30+ years as Sr. Pastor of North Way will come to a close. It's with great humility and joy that we come to this final day of the "formal" transition process.

Over the past couple of weeks I've been receiving a whole lot of very kind cards, notes and even small gifts regarding my pending "retirement." Very dear friends and well intended folks have gone out of the way to express their love and appreciation for the 37 years of ministry here in Pittsburgh and particularly the 30 years here at North Way.

The difficult thing for me to do is to recognize that I don't need to "correct" their perception. The reality is that I have a full time position that I am going to assume called "Founding Pastor" of this church and a rather substantial list of responsibilities that I will be tackling after a short break following this weekend.

The word retirement has all kinds of potential positive implications, but the Lord has clearly led me to see this next season of my life as a further investment in the Kingdom in a way that I believe will give me an opportunity to pursue the things that will benefit our church, the greater body of Christ and, in some ways, my family and friends, unencumbered by the very significant weight of the daily operations of the church.

I am blessed to be in this position and thankful for a great team that will be picking up those duties and advancing the Kingdom forward while I am freed up to follow Jesus in new paths of obedience and discovery.

So, I'm not retiring, just repositioning myself to let the Lord use me as He sees fit!

Thanks to all of you who have expressed your well wishes and personal appreciation in these past weeks.

I am deeply blessed by you all,
Pastor Jay

In these days leading up to the "Transition weekend" I am called upon to give answers to some challenging and rather humbling questions about how we managed to be in the 1/10th of 1% of all pastors that last 30 years in the same church.

This is not an achievement that I attribute to any of my preparation or diligence or hard work; but rather to the grace of God and the incredibly devoted people that have come around us over the years to help us "push back the darkness" and lift up the Light of Life who is Jesus alone.

In our staff meeting today, there was a sense of the magnitude of the transition that we're facing and the reality that the anointing of God will be shifting from one pastoral leader to another; but not in any way lifting from the church. This is important to recognize and embrace as what is taking place here is not about a person or his unique giftedness but about the people who have hungered for all that God has for them and are satisfied with nothing less.

If you're in the area, hopefully you'll join us for the celebration this weekend and give thanks a little bit every day for all that we have been blessed to share together in the past 30 years!

In His love,
Dr. Jay

For those of you who are familiar with our leadership here at North Way, the following will come as no surprise. However, I’m certain that there are some who read this space who may not know that after 30 ½ years of providing the primary leadership to this wonderful community, I am delighted to be “handing off” those responsibilities of leadership to my good friend and colleague Pastor Scott Stevens this weekend.

In scripture, there are numerous illustrations of “seasons” of responsibility in leadership. Jesus, for example, stayed completely out of the public eye for the first 30 years for his life. His primary ministry season lasted only 3 ½ years, but was perfectly aligned with the Father’s will concerning his mission to provide atonement for the sin of the world as well as living an exemplary life. The Apostle Paul had seasons of public ministry and seasons of restoration and reflection (see Galatians 2).

In our fast paced world, we basically see life as one long run and then we’re done. I’ve been blessed to have a number of seasons throughout my pastoral calling and I’m about to enter a new one that will provide encouragement, input, teaching, leadership and some perspective to the outstanding team that God has assembled here at North Way.

On the other hand, it’s amazingly difficult to think back over the past three decades and begin to summarize some of the primary learnings that God had graciously allowed me to experience. In the coming days, maybe even weeks, I’m going to attempt to do that in a way that is somehow transferable and applicable to your circumstance.

For now, I simply want to express that I’ve never been more appreciative of the grace of God or the people that He has placed in my life to be conduits of that gift to my family and me.

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Blessings,

Pastor Jay

Today I needed to have a very minor procedure done to help alleviate some of the more chronic back pain that I've learned to live with over the last nearly 20 years.

I relate to the apostle Paul who says in 2 Corinthians 4:16 "though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."

What a true picture of what all of our lives are like, but more so as the years advance.

The great news is that there is no limitation as to how this inward glory can continue to grow despite whatever physical limitations we might have.

That reminds me that we must necessarily pray for many who are afflicted in ways that many of us would find difficult if not unbearable. It's not unusual for people to suffer in silence rather than to be surrounded by people who will express or demonstrate support, love and encouragement.

And so, why not share some of the inward glory by caring for those who perhaps find the outer self in a time of distress. You'll be blessed as you do so and they will find great reward in your care.

I look forward to worship this weekend where we celebrate the eternal truth that our destiny is one of ever-increasing glory!

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

Just today, my daughter came in to seek my help in assisting one of her friends to "jump start" her SUV because the battery had drained off from the morning storms where the lights were left on.

It's a simple process, really. If you make the right connections there's an immediate infusion of more than sufficient power to turn over the average engine and restore full power in about 10-15 minutes of regular driving.

On the other hand, if you make the connections incorrectly, you can literally short circuit the wiring in both vehicles and, worse case scenario, even cause an explosion in one of the batteries.

Likewise, in our spiritual lives there are days or even seasons when we need a "jump start" from another believer who is fully powered. It takes a bit of humility to recognize you "left your lights on" and have been drained off, but overcoming that is no big deal in comparison to being unable to move.

Strangely enough, it sometimes simply takes one start to get you running again and back up to speed. On the other hand, if done incorrectly, it can throw you off and cause you even more damage, so choose your "charging partner" wisely!

At it's core, this is the essence of encouragement as seen throughout the New Testament and something that we can do intentionally or simply as a by-product of loving relationships.

Have a blessed day,
Dr. Jay

There's no doubt that my current circumstance is requiring me to look "down the road" and take stock of some pretty major decisions in my life.

On the other hand, I've learned that the best way to navigate life's "big moments" is by living fully in communion with the Lord a day at a time.

This may sound somewhat naive or even short sighted, but the reality is that the Lord gives revelation to us on a daily basis and rarely for months and years ahead. Occasionally, we'll get a glimpse of what He's going to do in our lives through us that affects things way into the future, but my experience is that that is a rarity indeed.

Instead, if we cultivate our fellowship with Him daily and listen to the voices that He sends across our path, we are more likely to make wise decisions on a day to day basis, which cumulatively lead to the assurance of His will being worked out in our lives.

It's in His will that we find peace, assurance and revelation for the future. It's in His will that we find the favor and blessing that we desire that brings great fruitfulness in our lives and through our lives to others.

Whatever you might be facing today, whether it's imminent or down the road, remember that all you need is to know His will for today. Live fully in that and you will most surely succeed in all that He has planned for you!

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

In doing some reading on the "marks of spiritual maturity," one of the things that has bubbled to the top is that graciousness is a key mark of those who are truly placed by God in positions of authority.

What that simply means is that we, at whatever level we've been given, never have to exert or apply authority; we simply reflect the authority of the Lord to others. We can, therefore, afford to be gracious to them because it's not us who is giving them permission or empowering them to minister, it's really God!

Graciousness is not defensive, argumentative or critical. Graciousness responds to negativity with a certain sense of peace because it knows that God is ultimately the One that dispenses His favor.

Graciousness is cultivated by times of communion with the Lord and then making choices to respond not out of the carnal mind, but out of what the Lord reveals to you.

I know this is a little deeper thought than normal, but it is a great bench mark for us to pursue.

Growing with you,
Dr. Jay

Along with million of other Americans, I have been spending significant time

There is a very well known, but challenging scripture that I want to reflect on today.

In Romans 12:1-2 Paul the apostle exhorts us to "present your body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."

I've been thinking in recent days about what it means to "present my body as a living sacrifice" which certainly includes things like

• presenting my mind to the Lord for Him to fill with thoughts that are uplifting and encouraging as well as kingdom focused. This is not as easy as it sounds as I am tempted, like so many, to want to rest my mind in front of the TV or computer and often veer away from this simple exhortation.


• - I need to present my hands and feet to Him as well. This has to do with carrying for others, acts of service and compassion and being willing to go where the Lord calls when He calls. This, too, requires a slaying of the "ego-centric" ways that I'm so often pulled to take care of myself and my own needs first and get to others if I can.

I am sure you could think of many other applications of this scripture to your life just as I can. The goal is that we "not be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds" and that is a life-long process which we engage in one day at a time.

Growing with you,
Dr. Jay

Over the past weeks I've been reflecting on the very swift and noticeable decline in the influence of many churches and non-profit ministries that bear the name of Jesus in our part of the country and nationwide.

It seems that in very subtle, yet clearly perceptible ways, the name of Jesus has been erased from the public square and even the ministries that once were established to lift up His name and carry out acts of kindness, care, compassion and justice.

Last evening I visited a ministry that was established under the covering of 30 some churches in an area of our city. There are fine people that are leading that ministry and it's doing a significant work in alleviating the needs of the poorest folks in our city; but I have doubts about whether or not Jesus is being exalted in the midst of what's taking place.

It's no wonder, then, that many of the churches that once supported that ministry have ceased to flourish because they have abandoned the gospel as well.

None of us do this perfectly. However, that's no reason to not continue to examine everything we do and make sure that it's rooted in bringing glory to the Savior that gave His all for us.

Wayne Cordeiro, of New Hope Church in Honolulu, clearly stated that any ministry that ceased to touch the lives of people in the name of Christ, probably had no room in the agenda of a truly evangelical church. I'm seeking to examine everything that I do and that our church does through this lens and I pray you might look at your life in the same way as well.

The blessing in all this is yours, of course!

Following Him with you,
Dr. Jay

After a relatively hot and soggy Labor Day weekend, we're back in "high gear" personally and as a ministry team looking with great anticipation toward the weekend.

Having some days when the schedule wasn't so full was a refreshing boost to both my inner and outer self, but it's also awesome to be engaged in a purposeful pursuit of sharing our life changing message of the cross of Christ with others in the days ahead.

We're anticipating this weekend's service with Kamal Saleem, a former PLO terrorist turned messenger for Christ since the 9/11 attack first happened.

I've found an amazing amount of openness in the minds of people who are not church goers to hear this message and would encourage you to pray for these many people that will be coming to hear what we have to say on this day of remembrance. (Please check our website for more details www.northway.org)

All of us were changed by what happened on 9/11/01. I wonder if that same dynamic can be released in a positive way through an encounter with the Lord this weekend?

Blessings,
Dr. Jay

In just the last day, I have had several exchanges with different folks from around the city that seem to be going through incredibly challenging and difficult circumstances.



It is very inappropriate to be detailed, but it is also worth reminding you that many people face unbelievably difficult challenges and do so in a way that cannot be shared or told to others.



I would expect this is the most difficult kind of “suffering”. That which you have to do alone. It is so much better when you can have community around you or at least a few individuals with whom you can share the travails of your heart.



Fortunately, we always have the Spirit of God who draws near to us in our time of need, but I want to encourage you to be walking through your day with your eyes open toward every person that you meet. Ask the Lord if there is some way you can be an encouragement to them whether it is a colleague, someone at work, a neighbor friend or someone in your family.



Encouraging words are deeply needed by so many in the days in which we live. You won’t know just how much this means to someone who may be going through the trial of a life time, but just can’t share it with you.



What I have found is, after the trial has passed, they will come back around and tell you how much your sensitivity and positive spirit meant to them.



By the way, the Lord promises that if you take care of the ones He loves, he will take care of you!



Blessings,

Pastor Jay

Last evening, I was privileged to meet with the very committed group of men that comprise the North Way Christian Community eldership from all locations.



It was a very encouraging meeting on many levels as stories of life change, baptisms, spiritual commitments and increasing outreach seem to be developing at every location where North Way has established a presence. (That is no small matter and one in which I give great thanks to God!).



I was then able to share with the men that this would be the last formal Elders meeting that I would be leading, though I will continue to participate as an Elder in the coming months and years. The wonderful time of reflection with several Elders who have made this long journey with me offered some insights that even I had forgotten about which reflected upon God’s Grace and our willingness to take risks of Faith that led to the establishment of North Way and the ministry as we know it today.



It is not easy looking backwards because you do not want to get hung up on “the way it was”. You simply have to give thanks and move forward and keep your eyes on the cross knowing that Jesus has already made a path that I simply have to walk in as He reveals it to me.



The best part is to know that I am not doing this alone, but in community with other men who share the same passion.



Take a look at Hebrews 12:1-3 and you will know what I mean.



Blessings, Pastor Jay

Over the past few days I’ve received numerous prayer requests and had several conversations with people who all seem to be feeling an enormous amount of “pressure” in these days.



I suppose this is nothing new, but I somehow sense the intensity of this is a little more pronounced now then in my recent memory.



Jesus said in John 16:33 “In this world you will have “tribulation”…the Greek word there is “thlipsis” which means pressure or stress! And then Jesus goes on to say “but rejoice, for I have overcome the world!”



What I’m not seeing in these days is a sense of assurance that Jesus is “overcoming” in our lives. It’s something we need to return to and hunger for as followers of Christ and committed members of the community.



I am constantly overwhelmed by the number of selfless and sacrificial acts that take place every day through so many of you who read this space, but I implore you to go beyond acts of service and start first with the heart of God for your life and for others who may need Him. May the Lord richly bless you!



Blessings,



Pastor Jay

Though many of us are watching the track of hurricane Irene and praying for folks in that path, we had a beautiful night on Friday. Thus, another amazing Wexford Starlite Car Cruise event.

Many who read this piece may have already read the book,

Last evening, about 150 of us gathered at one of the nicer venues in all of Pittsburgh to celebrate the One Year Birthday of North Way Sewickley Valley! It was a very diverse and well represented cross section of the community including ages from many children and students to some seniors and lots of folks in between.



The geographical spread was also impressive including communities within a 15 mile radius of Sewickley.



Perhaps the most important dynamic of the evening, in my mind, was the open expression of just how valuable a “local” expression of community is for people. To be able to be with “new friends” or to be able to invite a neighbor to a church that is only a few minutes away rather than 40 minutes away has been an enormous blessing to these people in Sewickley Valley.



The growth of the multi-site strategy in cities around the country is something I believe God has breathed life into and will continue to do so in the coming years. I am grateful that we are on the “tip of the spear” of this movement and so thankful to have days to celebrate like last night as well as days to support and encourage one another to be all that God wants us to be.



Blessings in Jesus!





Pastor Jay

In a rather emotional exchange this week, one person opened up to me about how hurt they had been by a promise of support from a family member for a particular financial situation. When the time came for the money, the benefactor said something to the effect that “well, you just have to ask me for it.”



As small as that may seem, it speaks to the most vulnerable part of us. It says to us that the other person is superior and that we are needy and they are not. It’s actually the height of pride n one sense but the effect can be devastating on the one in the position of need.



The glorious truth about our Lord is that He promises to give us abundant gifts whenever we need them and the only purpose in asking is so that we affirm our confidence in His care for us, not that we somehow earn that blessing.



Scripture is full of exhortations to ask the Lord about everything in detail. The result is not just the provision that comes, but the relationship that is built. That’s the difference between and asking God who loves us unconditionally and asking others who love us when we do what they want.

It’s been a full week since I have felt “normal.” I’ve mentioned that in this space earlier, but I want to reiterate the lessons I’m learning while recovering from whatever affliction I’ve been struggling with.



First and foremost is the fact that there are untold numbers of people who deal with physical and other kinds of challenges that drain the joy from their day. I think that was the thing that I struggled with the most. I had no joy in my efforts, no joy in my reading, no joy in my conversations because I simply felt terrible.



The other thing I’ve learned is that the Lord is worthy of thanksgiving, praise and worship despite how I feel. The few times that I did make the effort to thank the Lord for what He was doing in my life, I did feel a sense of His pleasure in that and understand it’s often when we give the “sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13) that the Lord receives the greatest pleasure.



Now that I’m starting to feel good again I’m all the more resolved to share the joy that I have with those in need.



Blessings in Jesus,



Pastor Jay

Because of a flexible day in my schedule, I was able to enjoy a morning bike ride around the local lake near our home in Pittsburgh. Today was one of those nearly perfect August days, just a little warm but very clear, and just a hint of the crisp winds of autumn to come.



Though I’m far from being a fitness guru, I want to recommend to anyone who takes the time to read this space to do something to take care of your body’s need to be physically stimulated. I passed many people just walking around the lake, and even at a leisurely pace, there is great benefit to you.



It’s also a time to pray quietly, to praise God for the beauty of His creation and to be aware of the fact that life is a gift and should be treasured for all of its beauty, both in creation and in others, and most especially in the Lord Himself.



I guess I’m going to differ a bit with the great Winston Churchill, who when asked if he ever exercised said “The only exercise I get is serving as a pall bearer for my friends who died while they were exercising.” Mr. Churchill was a fortunate man, but he also missed out on some of life’s most enjoyable moments.



Blessings,



Pastor Jay

It has been a full week since I have felt “normal”. I have mentioned that in this space earlier, but I want to reiterate the lessons I am learning while recovering from whatever infliction I have been struggling with.



First and foremost is the fact that there are untold numbers of people who deal with physical and other kinds of challenges that drain the joy from their day.



I think that was the thing I struggled with the most because I had no joy in my efforts, no joy in my reading, no joy in my conversations because I simply felt terrible.



The other thing that I have learned is that the Lord is worthy of thanksgiving, praise and worship despite how I feel. The few times that I did make the effort to thank the Lord for what He was doing in my life, I did feel a sense of His pleasure in that and understand it is often when we give “the sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13) that the Lord receives the greatest pleasure.



Now that I am starting to feel good again I am all the more resolved to share the joy that I have with those in need!



Blessings!



Pastor Jay

Some years ago, when my sons were heading out away from home, I spoke to them about Daniel and his approach to living a Godly life in an ungodly culture. One often wonders if such conversations make a difference, but every Dad needs to take the time to have those “reality checks” with their sons and daughters.



Daniel went against the grain in almost every way, despite being under the authority of the Babylonian empire. He was faithfully consistent in his prayer life; whatever else was going on, Daniel always took time to pray.



That’s why it’s no surprise that when things went south for Daniel in terms of circumstances he was still at peace. It’s interesting that scripture says that even the King, Darius, believed that “Daniel, your God whom you serve continually will save you.” (Daniel 6:16)



Not many of us can say that our prayer lives are exemplary enough that people are drawn to the God that we serve, but our life style should in some way cause people to take note of who is our primary authority in life and the one in whom we put our trust.



None of us do this perfectly but every step we take in that direction moves us closer to the center of God’s will.



Blessings,

Today, I had the opportunity to spend my lunch hour with a group of folks who listened to our majority House Leader here in Pennsylvania, Representative Mike Turzai, who lives right here in the North Hills.



Representative Turzai was passionate and articulate about the things he’s able to see changing in our government because of the shift in recent elections and the traditional values that we’ve held for so many years are beginning to be embraced once again because people care enough to be involved.



This has brought to mind the whole issue of what does it take to get things done. Good intentions abound everywhere. People want to make a difference but I see very little happening because so many people won’t give an extra hour, won’t spend time to talk with people who can make a difference, won’t give any of their resources to see these things through.



When I hear someone like Representative Turzai talk about the amazing influence that dedicated people can have, (passionate and sacrificial people, which is by definition what a Biblical Christian is), then I wonder what keeps more of us from engaging in the spiritual battle with that same passion.



If we expect people to come to Christ or to know the blessing of the kingdom of God in their lives, we’ve got to become more personally engaged, and that’s the bottom line. Otherwise, the options of life, the opportunities and responsibilities that weigh on us every day, will simply snuff out any “discretionary” effort we may have.



I was glad I got to observe today. I learned something and was once again challenged to give my all to the things that really count. I hope you do the same!



Blessings,



Pastor Jay

In this weekend’s message, I am going to be quoting author Robert Putnam who makes some very interesting observations in his book “Bowling Alone”. Putnam is a radical supporter of “authentic community”. He believes that much of what is missing in the human experience is because we are not connected to one another as we should be.



You have to hear the message to get some of the gems but one of the things that he has researched and claims to be authenticated is that the likelihood of you having physical problems is 50% greater if you are unconnected in life than meaningfully connected with another group of people!



Think about that, do you want to take a chance on doubling the likelihood of having problems in your life? Then avoid small groups at all cost. Avoid serving with others, avoid being with other people in a consistent and meaningful way.



On the other hand, if you want to enjoy the best life has to offer than by all means, become part of a small group as we launch in a few weeks or a ministry that will be getting underway as the fall comes along.



I don’t really need Putnam’s book to tell me that there is wisdom in that, the scriptures are full of exhortation to “encourage one another” to meet together because there is great wisdom in doing so!





Blessings,



Pastor Jay

There’ve been a few times in the past months that I’ve mentioned the danger of assuming that every day will go smoothly and without any hardship.



It’s natural to want to believe that the Lord will put down any storms and iron out any bumps in life because He loves us!



However, recently I’ve had more than a few days where I’ve had an inexplicable physical or relational situation that’s really left me sideways. None of them are life threatening or dangerous, but they sure can take a day and turn it upside down!



When that happens the only option you’re left with is to acknowledge before the Lord that without His strength you won’t make it, and more than that, that every day He gives you of good health and blessing is a gift for which you should give thanks and praise!



I pray that would be your posture today and if tomorrow should take you on a different path, may your posture be the same!



Blessings!



Pastor Jay

I had a great conversation recently with a young leader at one of our campuses. We were talking about the fact that individuals, as well as churches, can get “stuck” in trying to figure out what’s going on in their lives, whether by circumstantial issues or just the reality of the responsibilities that all of us face.

We came to the conclusion after a considerable conversation that, both scripturally and experientially, the best way out of “being stuck” is by sowing seeds of the Gospel into the lives of others and making investments outside of ourselves.

This may seem a bit counterintuitive as many people think they have to get “fixed” before they can help others, but in fact, I’ve experienced this over the years and seen it in my own life as well in our church.

It’s when we learn to look outside of ourselves, share the Gospel as the Lord leads, and invest in others that God starts to take care of the very thing that we’ve found most perplexing.

That’s my simple recommendation to those of you who are in a place where you are feeling “stuck”. Look for a way to share your faith, do something for others to make an investment or contribution of time, talent or treasure, and watch what God does to address the issue that you find frustrating in your life.

Put this simple principle to the test and see if God doesn’t work on your behalf when you fulfill the passion He has for the needs of others!

Blessings,

Pastor Jay