David Whiting Live

Desperate Versus Satisfied - A Thought on Leadership

If the opposite of satisfied is desperate, I think I always want to be a desperate leader. Here are some things I've realized recently (they are "early" thoughts - so be gracious with me):

• A satisfied church is terribly hard to lead. A desperate church is much easier to lead.
• A couple who feels like their marriage is "good enough" will rarely put in the work to improve it, but if they are desperate, they can find real solutions and deep joy for their marriage.
• I want to be desperate for the Gospel to spread in our community - never satisfied.

You get the idea. I could go on and on. I do think it is possible to be both content (biblical) and desperate (in the right sense of the word) at the same time.

I met with a group of leaders last night that I don't normally meet with, and I sensed a good desperation from them to see their ministry continue to make a significant impact. I don't love meetings, but I'll go to those kinds of meetings all day and night long.

There is nothing better than doing what matters with people who care - who are desperate for the glory of God and the good of the people they love! Thanks Northridge Church for letting me serve with you!

Great Valentine's Day Video

Here is the video we used a few weeks ago at Northridge Church to remind the husbands that it was Valentine's Day.  I love this video!!

As always - if you receive this by email, go to my blog by clicking HERE to go see the video.

Northridge Band Try-outs - A Video

It is a week of videos... I've been asked several times in recent weeks to share the videos we've been using - so we slowly uploading them.  Here is another one. It is the one we used for try-outs for our Praise Band. Mark Dudley has the ability to do two things very well: 1) make me laugh, and 2) embarrass his wife. He does both masterfully in this video.

As always, if you receive this by email - click on the title above or click HERE.

Shane's Baptism Video

Here is the baptism video from our first week in the new building. It is his story followed by the baptism. His fiance, Kate, baptized him.

As always, if you receive this by email, you need to click on "Shaine's Baptism Video" above, or click HERE.

Grand Opening Celebration Video

We made a video honoring our workers. We used it at the Grand Opening Celebration. In case you missed it or wanted to see it again - here it is. I love this summary video.

As always, if you receive this by email or in facebook - click on the title above "Grand Opening Celebration Video" and you will go to the blog to see the video. Or click HERE.

Favorite Charles Spurgeon Quote

We've spent a TON of hours preparing for tomorrow (2/28/10), and I think we are ready. We had a big rehearsal involving over 40 people today for an eight minute "presentation" in the service.  Believe me, you WON'T want to miss it. If you don't attend Northridge Church - I hope to have a video for you next week here on my blog.

But in thinking about tomorrow and all the guests we plan to have - my favorite Charles Spurgeon quote came to my mind:

"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. if they will perish, let them perish with our arms around their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

In the 30 seconds it took you to read this blog - 53 people died around the world. I wonder what committed Christ-follower loved them enough to share the greatest news in history?

Moments ago - I received an email from a good friend asking prayer for tomorrow. She is sharing some details of her life tomorrow in the service that 99% of the church would never know. And for the sake of the Gospel - she wants people to see the power of Christ in changing a life. I can't wait!

Don't be late. Don't miss the service or the 10:00 OPEN HOUSE CELEBRATION. BUT - if you must miss one of the other - skip 10:00.  You won't forget the service and you won't regret being here.

Come early. Park far (satellite parking if you can), Sit Close!!

Three Things You Won't Want To Miss

Three Things You Won't Want To Miss:

1. Sunday's service is going to be GREAT! You won't forget it. I can't wait!  It is going to be amazing! It is the "Grand Opening" for our new building (three weeks in).  It is for our neighbors who haven't gotten a personal invite to come the first three weeks, and we want to give them a "normal" service, with some added touches. You won't want to miss it!  We've invited all the construction workers that have worked on the building and will be feeding them lunch following the 2nd service.
2. At 10:00 on Sunday will be the "Open House Celebration."  Mayor Duffy will be here. It starts in the new worship center.  NO CHILD CARE.  So if you attend 8:30 - pick up your children from the nursery, 2's and 3's or HIGH POINT and bring them with you to the worship center.  If you are coming at 10:00 - keep your children with you until you drop them off before the 11:00 service.  The time in the worship center will be brief and children will be welcome.  We expect it to be packed!!  COME EARLY and SIT CLOSE. After the brief time int he worship center - the entire building will be open for you to see (backstage, baptistery, nurseries, HIGH POINT stage, youth building, etc...).  Free coffee donated from Starbucks and free snacks!!  Don't miss the 10:00 hour!!!  We have no child care because we want ALL areas of the building to be open for self-guided tours.
3. One other thing I would encourage you to "not miss." I have a good friend who I've been pushing for over a year to start a blog. He is a GREAT writer and a GREAT thinker. I've NEVER pushed you do check out a blog and anytime someone asks me to push something - I always say 'no.'  So this is totally from me, without his knowledge or consent... but I would urge you to check out Harlan's blog. You will see very quickly that he is a gifted writer and thinker. And more importantly - he loves God with his MIND!  I wish I could write like Harlan, but I'm trying to be thankful for my gifts.  Harlan can write - I can verbally communicate. We make a good team! Check his blog out by clicking HERE. (http://prodigalspath.typepad.com/a-prodigals-path/)

See you Sunday!

Following and Believing and Doubting

A friend sent me a quote from a book I read long ago (Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard) about our current sermon series and I loved it so much I used it at the end of this Sunday's message. I thought it may be good to post for those who struggle with doubts...

"We do not choose to believe or not. Our beliefs and feelings cannot be changed by choice. We cannot just choose to have different beliefs and feelings. But we do have some liberty to take in different ideas and information and to think about things in different ways. We can choose to take in the Word of God, and when we do that, beliefs and feelings will be steadily pulled in a godly direction." (p. 248)

I love that!

Northridge Church - A few more pictures

So many great pictures were taken by Michele Doer of our first couple of weeks!  I wanted to share just a few more.

 

a great perspective of the baptism

backstage - after the baptism

i love this picture!!

this picture represents SO much of what I want northridge church to be...

do you think HIGH POINT keeps the kids engaged? :)

A Couple of Outreach Thoughts

I have a couple of thoughts on creative ways to reach out to people in your sphere of influence.  We talk a lot about our strategy - PI² (pray, invest, invite).

Let me give you a couple of creative ways to do this:

1. I have heard two stories of people "tagging" themselves in Facebook with photos of our new church building. In two cases - people have asked about what church it is and expressed interest in visiting. One specifically asked about the baptism photos and their desire to see a baptism! Use this tool if you use facebook!!  Take photos and tag yourself...
2. Last Sunday's sermon, STEP ONE: FOLLOW, can be a GREAT invite tool.  Why not purchase a few CDs of the sermon and ask someone to listen and see what they think? It may just open the door for them to accept an invitation to come and check Northridge Church out. I've heard of a couple of people already doing this. Your friends will more likely listen to a CD than go on the website and listen online. Why not invite your friends to "follow?"