Ten years ago when I became the Pastor of Northwood, I knew that God had brought Joy and I to a special place and was making us a part of a very special family.  I knew that God had big plans for this congregation and I trusted that God would use us together to make a difference for Him in this community.

In the past ten years we have seen God do some very amazing things!  We have all watched together as He has grown and shaped this church into a body of believers that have an amazing potential to really make a difference in this world and for eternity.

There were a lot of things that I did not know.  I did not know that I would be the father of two amazing daughters.  I did not know that we would be hit as a country with circumstances that have left so many in a very tough place financially.  I did not know that our culture would become so calloused and hard hearted towards the things of the Spirit.

I know today that who we are and what we do as a church is more important than it has ever been and I know that we have our work cut out for us if we are going to seize the opportunity to fulfill the calling that God has place in front of us.

It is my hope that in the following paragraphs you will get a glimpse of

my heart and the vision that God has put in it for the future of Northwood!

IMPACT2013

We need to take the next 4.5 years to work on two major goals!

Goal #1 – Grow The Body!

Goal #2 – Delete The Debt!

If each one of us will commit ourselves to these two goals and doing what it takes by working hard and giving of ourselves, I believe that we will see God do even greater things on our behalf for His glory!  We will grow the body by focusing on six value areas.  These values must drive everything that we do and guide every decision that we make.

We will delete the debt by each one of us stepping up and finding ways to give above and beyond.  With the debt deleted, we have a whole new freedom in front of us!  It is amazing what God can do through us together!

What if people really meant what they say? Have you ever thought about that?  I have people everyday that say things to me about how much they love, appreciate and support me.  I have been in ministry to God and service to people long enough to realize that what most people say and what most end up actually doing are two very  different things!  And what is really disturbing is most of the people that I am talking about profess to have a relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!

In my time with God this morning – I was thinking about how many awesome and wonderful things could be accomplished if what people say was actually true.

People say:  I support my church! What does that actually mean?  If you are supporting your church then you are giving above and beyond any expectations, especially your own.  You are giving more than 10% of your income.  You are giving of your time without any thought of what you are going to get in return.  You are giving of your spiritual gifts – just so that God  will get the glory!

People say:  I support you! What most of them really mean is this:  “I support you as long as you are doing what I want or as long as things are going the way that I think they should!”  Churches everywhere have been blessed with men that love God, love the church and love the people – yet these men and their families often have to ride emotional roller coasters depending on which side of the bed people got out of this morning!

For the people in my congregation – thank you to those of you that say it and mean it! You are a strength and encouragement that goes beyond anything that words can describe.  I am so looking forward to what God is going to accomplish through our working together!

I just want everyone to know that I am super pumped right now! The past several weeks have been absolutely amazing.  God is teaching me and showing me so many different things.  Do you know how it is to know that you know something, but then it gets confirmed and you know that you really know it? That is the kinda stuff that has been going on in my life and it has really got me excited about what God is up to.

I just wanted to take a moment to say to all of you that read this blog and share words of encouragement – thank you! Your sticking with me and allowing me to have a little impact in your life means more than you can know.  I want more than anything to be able to help people discover that there is a God, He cares about you and He really wants to have a personal relationship with you!

I am so looking forward to our teaching time tonight at Northwood – it is going to be a great time of learning about how to really give God control. And I cannot even began to try and help you understand how excited I am about this coming Sunday.  God is going to take this church to a great and new place or get ready to shut it down!  I am hoping, praying and working for the great and new place!

I hope you enjoyed the ramble – I’m out!