David Whiting Live

When the Bible Isn't Enough (video) - REPOST

I was told the link didn't work if you recieved it by email - so here is the same email and video... 

Last Sunday I talked the cultural war Christ-followers are losing (same-sex marriage). You can see that sermon HERE.

I also suggested that if we want to win the cultural war when it comes to a definition of marriage, we need more than the Bible. The Bible isn't enough. That almost sounds heretical and the opposite of what you always here me say, but be sure you hear what I'm really saying.

The Bible IS enough for me and for those devoted to it. And if the Bible is the only resource we have for morality, that is enough. But if we want to convince our culture whose consciences are not bound to the Bible, we need to think of cultural and logic support for a traditional view of marriage if we want to win the battle over marriage. 

Here is one such argument. Take a look at this video - I'd love to know what you think:

 

If you receive this by email, you can click HERE to see the video.

What do you think? Does it make a compelling case? What logical or cultural arguments would you make?

When the Bible Isn't Enough (video)

Last Sunday I talked the cultural war Christ-followers are losing (same-sex marriage). You can see that sermon HERE.

I also suggested that if we want to win the cultural war when it comes to a definition of marriage, we need more than the Bible. The Bible isn't enough. That almost sounds heretical and the opposite of what you always here me say, but be sure you hear what I'm really saying.

The Bible IS enough for me and for those devoted to it. And if the Bible is the only resource we have for morality, that is enough. But if we want to convince our culture whose consciences are not bound to the Bible, we need to think of cultural and logic support for a traditional view of marriage if we want to win the battle over marriage. 

Here is one such argument. Take a look at this video - I'd love to know what you think:

 

If you receive this by email, you can click HERE to see the video.

What do you think? Does it make a compelling case? What logical or cultural arguments would you make?

Things to Not Miss Tomorrow @ Northridge

Here are some things I'm looking forward to tomorrow @ Northridge:

• BAPTISM: You will hear another great story of life-change and see a baptism. Mark plays professional hockey. He played for the Amerks last year and played in Germany this year and is spending part of his off-season in Rochester, and wanted to get baptized at Northridge. I can't wait for you to see his story. It is happening very early in the service at the Irondequoit campus (in the first ten minutes). The Greece campus will see the video fifteen or twenty minutes into their service.
• SERMON: Tomorrow will be one of the more controversial sermons I've likely preached at Northridge. I'm prepared for it to be loved and disliked by many on opposite sides of the biggest cultural battle in America today. In other words, I'm not sure tomorrow sermon will make anyone totally happy. But I think it is what God would want me to say.
• ISRAEL MEETING: We have Israel meetings at both campuses tomorrow - five minutes after the service is over. If you are considering going to Israel with our church next February, you will want to attend. The meeting should take about ten minutes. Pick up your kids and come to the meeting.

I hope to see you tomorrow!

 

Do I Have an Accent?

Occasionally someone will tease me about how I say a certain word. This website is amazing. It explains 22 of the most popular differences in how we say certain words and sounds in various parts of the country.

I have tried to adapt - I now call them sneakers (not tennis shoes). I typically call it soda (not pop). and I try to say the word "roof" like those in the east say it. 

But this website is really interesting. Here is an example:

Enjoy!

Click HERE to see all 22 maps and explanations.

 

Let's Go to Israel!

(Photo of the Sea of Galilee)

We are going to Israel next February (10th-19th). Can you join us? We have an informational meeting this Sunday (June 2) and next Sunday (June 9) after each of our services on both of our campuses. The meeting will be brief (approximately ten minutes) and you will have most of your initial questions answered.

Here are just two great benefits of going to Israel:

1. You will likely discover it to be a unique spiritual time in your life. There is nothing like being at the very locations were the Bible happened. It is very moving and you will grow in your love for God, love for His people, and love for the land He chose.
2. You will never read the Bible the same again. I've been to Israel twice, and it is impossible to describe how differently you read the Bible and in your mind can "see" the locations that it talks about. Your Bible will "come alive" for you in a new way. 

I hope you can come to the informational meeting this Sunday or next.

(photo of Beth Shan - where Saul & Jonathan were killed - at the top of the hill)

 

 

A Phrase I Never Want to Hear

I have often talked about phrases that I dislike hearing people say when I am counseling. It includes things like:

• "I can't..."  My response: "You can't or you won't?" Or "You can't or you don't want to...?"
• "He/she NEVER..." My response: "Never? Wow... that's a long time." I think that "never" is "never" accurate and using that word "never" helps a situation.
• "He/she ALWAYS..." My response: same as above - "Always? Really? Every time?" I think that "always" is almost "always" an exaggeration that rarely helps solve a conflict.
• "I've tried that before, but it didn't work."... My response: "Did you REALLY try? What did you try - exactly? How many times? For how long? How consistently?"  This usually means it was a single attempt that didn't go well - so they determined "it doesn't work."
• "I don't know."... My response: "Stop to think about it and try to give me an answer."  With my daughters, I say that "I don't know" isn't allowed when I ask a question that requires thinking. People often don't want to think deeply and in counseling that drives me crazy.
• "I don't have time to..." - this is usually in response to the homework I'm asking them to do.  My response: "How much TV did you watch this week?" We always find time for what we think is important.  Many people want help, but they don't want to work hard to get to biblical solutions.

You get the idea.  Other phrases I hate to hear:

• "I've done everything I can." (Really? Everything? How about....)
• "It isn't my fault." or "Don't blame me." (You have no blame in this? No part of it?)
• "Don't ask me..." (I am asking you...)
• "I'm just one of those people who..." (That may be who you are - is it who you are supposed to be?)
• "That is impossible." (Difficult and impossible are two different things)
• "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." (Thankfully, you aren't a dog...)
• "It won't work." 
• "I'll never forgive him/her."

I've talked about all those phrases in the past, but I figured out a new one that drives me crazy.

So - how about we avoid this phrase? "I had no choice..."

This may be heard this way:

• "I had no choice; I just couldn't get there on time."
• "I had no choice; I couldn't get out of bed."
• "I had no choice; he told me to do it."

It would be better to say, "the short-term benefits and low risks and quick satisfaction was much better than any other choice - so that is why I did that."

The most important choices in life tend to come when many may feel there is no other choice. 

And saying or thinking that we have "no other choice" cuts off options, creative thinking, biblical obedience, and removes responsibility. 

Let's stop using that phrase... unless we say, "I FELT like I had no choice..." Maybe it is usable in that context... Maybe...

Throwing Out the First Pitch @ Fenway Park

A brief update on Gina (who was injured in the Boston bombings - along with her brother and his girlfriend):

Gina, who is a member at Northridge, is home and continuing rehab. She was able to speak at Fusion last week (our senior high youth ministry). Her dad (also a member of Northridge) was able to be with Gina's brother when he threw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game this week! 

As Red Sox fans, this was a pretty big highlight for the DiMartinos!

Here is the video: 

 

If you get this by email - click HERE to see the video. 

Harry Potter and the Gospel

The past couple of years I finally read the entire Harry Potter series. I tried years ago but didn't get beyond book 3. I didn't really enjoy it, but a couple of years ago, my girls really got into it - so I thought I should track along with them.

Please check out this video for a beautiful explanation of Harry Potter and the Gospel. It is about seven minutes long, so I assume that only Harry Potter fans will be interested. But I enjoyed the Gospel themes of Harry Potter, but didn't see them quite as vividly as Jerram does. I really appreciated this video!

 

If you receive this via email - click HERE to see the video. 

If you want more about whether or not Christians should read books like Harry Potter - you can see a great blog post on it HERE.

Who Do You Trust? Well... NOT Diesel, the Dog

That is a photo of Diesel, a Mastiff.

On Sunday we began selling Patrick McGoldrick's book of sermons called, "Who Do You Trust?" 

Apparently Diesel was very interested in consuming the content of the book... The family came home to discover the preface in Diesel's mouth and the rest of the book is shown below. The owners said his tail was wagging - so they believe he enjoyed the book!

 

Patrick's Last Words and Last Sermon

Yesterday I mentioned a book of sermons by my friend, Patrick. I was reminded in reading the book of the final words of his blog. He wrote these words just three weeks before entering the presence of Jesus:

I am ready. I know my time is down to weeks, not months.  I have accepted that this is the path God placed me on.  I would not have chosen it.  I don’t like it.  However, I am submitted that God in His Sovereignty, decided before all of time to give me a shorter life on earth.  And if it keeps His name going forward and promotes His Kingdom, then who am I to question it?  Who am I but God’s servant placed here to bring Him glory?  It’s not supposed to be about me…it’s about Him.  If this promotes His Kingdom and Christ’s name, then so be it.  Just like Joseph, Job, Daniel, Esther and many others throughout Scripture who ended up in circumstances that they did not ask for and they surely did not like, I daily must choose to focus on submitting to God’s will, crying out for His grace and pointing to my Savior.  After all, my sins are still my worst problem and Christ took care of that.  (December 5th, 2012)

On December 26th at 10:05pm, Patrick McGoldrick took his last breath while on this earth. He awoke in the presence of the Savior He loved and served.

As I mentioned yesterday on this blog, Tim Stevens (Patrick's brother-in-law) edited and compiled eleven sermons that Patrick chose to be a part of this book. It includes his final sermon he delivered that I was able to attend just over a year ago (April 22, 2012).

You can pick it up on Amazon.com or at our bookstore (in Irondequoit) or our book table (in Greece).