Walk in the Word with Dr. James MacDonald: Igniting Passion in the People of God through the Proclamation of Truth.

Walk in the Word with Dr. James MacDonald: Igniting Passion in the People of God through the Proclamation of Truth.

Here's a website to scan and to mine for your own spiritual growth. I am also going through the book of Proverbs. Check out a different perspective than mine. Pursue truth!
Pastor d

Easter Reflections

I am recovering from a busy weekend. I am thankful for new insights in ministry. Kurt Johnston from Saddleback posts a review of the weekend services that I 'd like to emulate. I discover that taking a weekly assessment would provide feedback and direction for what God is prompting in me and where God is moving in student ministries. So here's the first attempt: the scale goes from below average-average-above average.

Attendance: Below Average
Lesson Topic: Celebrate Resurrection!
Fun Factor: Above Average
Volunteer Involvement: Above Average
Music: Above Average
Lesson Quality: Above average
Length of Lesson: 5:00
Student Response: Above Average

I'll post more specifics and music links for the songs we used for celebrating Jesus' resurrection from the dead.

Pastor d

Wisdom from Proverbs

Today is Good Friday. I read chapter six this morning in Proverbs. I was drawn to the example of the ant in regards to laziness. I find that when I am overwhelmed, or at least feel overwhelmed, I can get lazy. I can become a poor performer and can scarcely get anything done. For some of you its the same feeling. I can't get my homework done. I can't make time for God. I can't keep up with all the demands of my life. But as I look into the wisdom of God's word, I find hope.

Verses 9-11 say,

"How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hand to rest--
and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man."

When there's things

When there's things to be done, get things done. I find that most of the time I need motviation. Rather than just sleeping in, or letting it go, I need to make things happen. You need to take control of your life. Grab the rudder of your ship and steer it towards a destination rather than merely letting go and sailing wherever the winds may blow. Refuse poor performand! Resist poor grades! Get some things done. I will do so today.

If I get a chance before tonight's Good Friday Service, I will post how my day went. The service starts @ 7:30pm here at Northwest Chapel, 6700 Rings Road, Dublin, Ohio. Consider yourself and your family invited.

Pastor d

Invite a friend to church

Came across this funny clip from YouTube entitled "Baptism by the Water Cooler." After viewing it, consider what it would take to invite your friend(s) to church. It may not be as dramatic. But people matter to God. Take a step of courage and ask.

pastor d

Note: Use of a YouTube clip does not endorse everything on YouTube.

Wisdom from Proverbs

Today's chapter in Proverbs counteracts the challenge facing everyone in our sex-saturated culture. God's Word warns against adultery. The story in chapter five is an earnest plea from a father to a married son regarding the pressures of seeking a wayward women to commit adultery. Walt Mueller, President of CPYU (Center for Parent and Youth Understanding) shares how this present culture has shifted away from the sanctity of marriage. The culture portrays in the media that casual sex is normative, that "cheating" on someone is okay as long as you are not caught, that hooking up is normal.

I concur with Walt Mueller's comments about giving deep thought to the Christian response to this shift. He wrote on his blog concerning the prominence of casual sex as normative,

“Saddened, but not surprised.” Most of the time, people look at me like I’m nuts. I hope I’m not. Instead, I’ve tried to be informed by the truth of the Scriptures in a way that I hope has caused me to avoid the extremes of blind optimism and extreme pessimism in order to embrace a third option – biblical realism. Illness, destruction, death, violence, rebellion, idolatry, sin, the things kids do. . . . none of it should be surprising. A posture of biblical realism serves to give us perspective, and always should shape our response – emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Read more of Walt's full comments from his archived pages here by scrolling down to his houghts dated 03.07.2007.

In his blog he links to an interview on NBC by Meredith Vieira, "Is hooking up unhealthy for teens?" She interviews Laura Sessions Stepp author of "UnHooked," and Amber Madison author of "Hooking Up." This interview highlights the new culture of casual sex and its effect on young women. After viewing this interview you may be shocked or unaffected. But I trust you would feel both some discouragement while at the same time feel tempered by biblical realism. Anchored to a biblical worldview where sin and its manifestation in our culture is not surprising because it is not God -centered.

But victoriously, sin is remedied in Jesus. What better season to reconsider the awesome truth of Christ's death and resurrection! So proclaim with me that this world needs Jesus in spite of cultural trends to the contrary.

All disturbing cultural trends will continue to emerge on the radar screens of Christian minds who foster a biblical worldview. I wonder how you will respond. Unless a person seeks to follow God's truth, then he or she may cave-in and follow the pressure of the dominant culture. How will you shape your response? Something to seriously think about.

Pastor D

Resurrection Sunday

As I prepare for Easter Sunday I got to focus on 52 minutes cylce for each service. So I will have to adjust what I prepare. I will include worship songs for reflection and insight so that students can engage. I wonder who is in town to help with the readings. I hope to discover help today and tomorrow.

Pastor D

Easter Service for Students

For a lot of students in our church, the story of Jesus' resurrection is very familiar. A student could become jaded, or dull to its impact and importance. Students may encounter those who object to the reality of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead by offering theories to try to explain away the resurrection. I intend to renew each student's appreciation for the miraculous nature of Christ's resurrection this Sunday morning. I will need several students or adults to help me do some readings this Sunday morning. So come ready to engage and to respond to the reality of Christ's resurrection. Invite a friend.

NOTE: Middle school students gather at 9:45am this Sunday. High School students will gather at 11am.

Pastor d

Proud of the Buckeyes

Even the day after the loss, I am proud of the team. They left it "all out on the floor." One viewpoint is more matter of fact than my opinion. Check out "Florida was way, way, way, better than OSU." If Florida shoots poorly from three, then we make it closer. Whether or not we win is still up in the air. But our poor shooting from three did not help us. Regardless I am a proud fan!

Pastor D

Incubation

As I read more blogs and I engage in conversations with others, I marvel at the incredible abilities of others to make new associations and new connections for me.

Mark Cuban shared his thoughts on the music business which mind-mapped for me some thoughts about ministry to students. He offered the possibility of creating a new financial model that excites music consumers into spending more money on music, or innovating a new technological advance that creates a new experience with music. He concludes his ramblings in this manner, "Maybe the way to change music isn't by changing the music formats, but by enabling new ways for us to say new things about ourselves using music as the foundation or catalyst ?" He is thinking about new ideas and new connections.

I pondered how such thoughts could impact ministry. To recast his words as a question into the ministry realm rather than a statement of the music realm, what if the way to change ministry isn't by changing the ministry format, but by enabling students to discover new ways for them to experience new things about his or her experience with God by using ministry events as the foundation or catalyst? Maybe that's a stretch. I wonder if spending more money on ministry tools and gadgets is not the answer, but maybe innovating new advances in ministry through technology in order to create new experiences for students so that God helps him or her to grow. I wonder what things could be created to impact ministry. Just new thoughts on a journey that I am on.

Pastor D

Insight from Cuban

I was just reading Dallas Maverick's owner Mark Cuban's blog regarding "Why the NBC/Newsco Video Venture is a Great Idea." In it he ends his thoughts regarding the positioning of Newsco in juxtaposition with YouTube and Google, by saying , "But as always, concept is one thing, execution is the bottom line." I agree with his statement that concept is one thing, but execution is the bottom line.

In ministry to students I need to execute tasks, to conduct events. It's a whole lot easier thinking of the concepts rather than executing the tasks or plan. So I choose to begin to execute ministry plans rather than merely thinking about it. May God help me engage in doing His work for students.

Pastor D

Wisdom from Proverbs

Proverbs 2:1-5 helps me see things from God's perspective. I observe that the author writes from a father-like perspective, as a mentor would to a mentee. I interpret the verses as Solomon offering instruction to one of his sons. I view it as God offering insight to me.

God wants me to receive and to remember His truth. He invites me to plead for insight as I pursue His way. Then i will discover a deeper respect for God Himself--gain knowledge of Him. He empowers me to revere Him and to know Him better. The Apostle Paul say something similar to the believers at the church in Ephesus. He wrote,

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may
give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better
(Ephesians 1:17)."

God wants me to advance in my spiritual growth by getting to know him better. I can get to know Him better. I will listen for His still small voice. I will ask, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." Then I will wait in silence for Him to speak. May God give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better also. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Go buckeyes!

Pastor D

Communion Celebration

Wow! God visited me with a renewed focus of my need to apply daily cleansing of sin into my routine for each day. I have freely received forgiveness, I can freely grant forgiveness. In fact, I can forgive even when no one asks for forgiveness. God is a great God! He forgives, renews, and emboldens. He empowers His followers to go and sin no more. What a great cleansing feeling! Maybe you can join us next time when we celebrate three-fold communion. Thanks!

Pastor d

April Fools Day

This morning it crossed my mind to play and April fool's joke on the students, but I reflected on the day itself. Today commemorates Jesus coming into Jerusalem riding a donkey, triumphant, heralded as king. Palm Sunday exalts Jesus as King.

This morning I chose to engage students by bringing them to stand at the foot of the cross. God prompted me to use a great session from Worship Session for Youth Groups by Jim Marian, a Youth Specialties resource. I discovered it while browsing at Half-Priced Books on Bethel Road in Columbus, Ohio. I've found a few items there. This one was so helpful.

This session directed students to reflect on Good Friday and the crucifixion. My hope was to get students to worship Christ because he died for us. I intended to bring students to the foot of the Cross so they can come away having seen and understood Christ's unparalled, sacrifice and unconditional love from them. The session called for use of video, music, mediatation, confession, and the physical act of affixing your sins to a cross.

I wanted students to revisit this great place--at the foot of the cross. I prayed for God to have students open their minds to the personal impact of the Cross. Students prayed that each one of them would have open minds stirred afresh to open minds and hearts to focus on Christ asking that God would give a fresh, real, and personal understanding of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross.

Symbols used were hard cut masonry nails. The nail is a powerful symbol that helps to keep students focused on the Cross. We pondered the painful details to help direct students to make this event real to them. The truth is that you deserve death for your sins. We should have been up there, not Christ (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Christ loves you so much that he chose to take the punishment for our sins so we could have life forever, not eternal death in hell (Romans 5:8).

A personal reflection time ensued where students wrote down a sin or sins that they are currently struggling with. You could write down as much as you wanted: the paper had "SIN" on one side, the other side was space for you to list your sins as God prompted. No names were printed--you had total anonymity. It was between you and God. Students sought honest and serious reflection directing students that it was your sins that took Christ to the Cross.

Jesus' death also provides cleansing for sin. God's Holy Spirit prompts us to respond with thanks and gratitude. He prompts us to worship God for His provision.

So students entered into a time of praise and worship where personal reflection by affixing your sins to the cross engaged you in realizing what Jesus had done. He took your sins. He died for you. You sang an i-mix of tunes from the following artists: Michael W Smith; Jeremy Camp; Petra; the Katinas. Students sang three choruses: The Wonderful Cross, Here I am to worship, Lord I lift your name on high. As students sang, room was created at the foot of the cross to affix your sin to the cross. Students got up individually as each one felt led anytime during the singing. You could affix your sin to the cross imagining Jesus paying the price for your sins. You could have left celebrating Christ's sacrifice for you.

I trust you thank God for Christ's sacrifice this week and celebrate God's love and forgiveness. May He speak to you and may you hear,

Pastor D

Communion (parts two and three)

I celebrate communion in two more ways: the Love Feast and the Eucharist (Bread and Cup). The Love Feast is a meal which pictures what will happen when all believers in Jesus get to heaven and celebrate in a big feast. Read Luke 22:14-18 to discover where Jesus sits with his disciples to enjoy the Love Feast. Revelation 19:7-9 describes how some day in the future the Church will be united with Jesus and there will be a celebration party for this event. The Love Feast during our celebration of communion is a reminder of what will happen someday in heaven. This future picture reminds us that Jesus will return one day to call home his believers so each of his believer needs to live for Him.

The third part of Communion is the Eucharist, or Bread and the Cup. The Bread symbolizes Jesus' body which was sacrificed for you and i on the cross. I Corinthians 12:23-24 says,

"The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given
thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in
remembrance of me.'"

The Cup symbolizes Jesus' blood which was shed on the cross to pay the price for our sins. I Corinthians 11:25-26 says,

"In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying,'this cup is the new
covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.'

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." The Bread and the Cup reminds you of Christ's death on the cross and challenges you to live a life which would please Him (Luke 22:19).

My challenge to you is this: if you are a believer in Jesus, then you need to take part in communion. Talk to your parents to allow you to come join in this celebration. It starts at 5:30pm tonight. Come engage or just come and observe. You'll learn something new and may just experience God in a new way. Pastor D

TMNT Review - PlanetWisdom.com

TMNT Review - PlanetWisdom.com

Here's a good summary of the new movie. A few of the guys at Hangtime said it was a good movie. If you go, make sure you answer the questions with some friends and take a conversational "fork" in the road towards bringing God up in the conversation.

Pastor D

Three-part Communion (part 1)

Students who have trusted Christ need to take part in communion. Jesus commands that we commemorate what He did for each believer by dying on the cross for their sins; "do this in remembrance of me (Luke 22:19)." Later as the church kept growing the Apostle Paul passed on this ordinance for the church at Corinth to practice when he wrote, "For I received from the Lord, what I also passed on to you...(I Corinthians 11:23)." Paul outlined the ordinance of the Bread and the Cup.

Northwest Chapel practices three-fold, three-part communion. We engage in three symbols that picture a believer's relationship with Christ. The three parts of the Communion Service are the feet washing, the love feast, and the Bread and the Cup. Each part symbolizes biblical truth.

The first part is feet-washing. It was typical for Jewish people at the time of Jesus to wash their feet upon entering someone's house. Yet Jesus rose from the meal as it was in progres and washed the disciples' feet (see John 13:2-5). Northwest Chapel believes that the feet-washing Jesus performs with the disciples is a special feet washing. Jesus gave special meaning to this feet-washing.

The feet washing is a symbol of cleansing from sin. Once a person has trusted Jesus to take over his or her life, a Christ-follower still commits sins from time to time. He or she needs to be forgiven. Peter objects to getting his feet washed but Jesus informs him that if Peter did not have his feet washed he would have no part with Jesus. So Peter asks Jesus to wash his entire ody; however Jesus points out that he does not need to have his whole body cleaned since he already knows Jesus. Only his feet needs to be cleansed.

Feet-washing is a symbol or picture of what has happened spiritually in the life of a believer in Christ. Because I have trusted Jesus, I can experience this daily cleansing of sin and receive Christ's forgiveness. I can symbolically picture this truth by washing someone else's feet (read John 13:12-17). I will get to the second part later this week. I wonder if you would like to come and observe how we conduct communion. You are invited to join us this Sunday, April 1 @ 5:30pm in our Multi-purpose Room @ 6700 Rings Road in Dublin, Ohio--no fooling :).

Pastor D

.:: CPYU | The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding -Walt Mueller's Blog::.

.:: CPYU The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding -Walt Mueller's Blog::.

Here's a great blog to add to your newsreader. It'll make you think. Way to go Walt!

Free Hugs

I visited YouTube to see who won the First Annual Awards. I was most moved by the award to Juan Mann for freehugs video. Click on this link here to YouTube to watch this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4 I watched it and I will share with you the link above. Watch it and consider these lyrics from Casting Crowns (note bolded chorus, my emphasis),

"If We Are The Body, "Lyrics by Mark Hall Music by Casting CrownsSong based on James 2:1-9© 2003 Club Zoo Music

It's crowded in worship todayAs she slips in trying to fade into the facesThe girls teasing laughter is carrying farther than they knowFarther than they know

Chorus: But if we are the body Why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching? And if we are the body Why aren't His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way? There is a way

A traveler is far away from home He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back rowThe weight of their judgmental glancesTells him that his chances are better out on the roadJesus paid much too high a priceFor us to pick and choose who should comeAnd we are the body of ChristJesus is the way

I wonder what if we as Christians reached out our arms to hug those who need God's love in a real way. I wonder what God could do through us. Where are the free hugs from God's people to a lost and lonely world?

Time alone with God

Silence is loud.

This morning I led students to take a few moments before God to experience quiet time with Him. I discovered that for me its a learned habit. I wonder if students know what to do. So I will include what I outlined for them. If you have any links or insights about your time with God, then please post a comment.

First, wait on the Lord. Realize God's presence with you by taking 2 minutes of quiet. The Bible says that God the Holy Spirit indwells each believer. The God who created all that there is abides in you. He tabernacles in you. So get quiet and listen for his still, small voice. Invite God to speak to you. Ask Him to tell you what he thinks of your life. Say this short prayer, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." The young man Samuel heard God speak. You can read his experience in I Samuel. So wait on God's presence and His whispering voice in the silence.

Next, Pray for yourself. Ask God what He wants you to do. Say, "God, what do you want me to do?" You will get leadings, promptings, impressions within your mind. Jot them down. Then reflect on them. Is that leading truly from God?

Pastor Bill Hybels shares a warning that Satan, the evil one, is capable of both issuing his own leadings for destructive purposes and undermining God's leadings in your life (II Timothy 4:1). These lying spirits may appear to be channels of God's power. Jesus predicted that false Christs and false prophets would perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that we possible (Matthew 24:24); to deceive those who follow God. False impressions or misguided leadings are hard to distinguish for "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14)." It is very important to know the origin of the leadings coming into your mind.

For example, Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 followed a leading to increase their knowledge by eating an attractive fruit and they plunged the human race into darkness and separation from God! So know the origin of your leadings before following them.

A leading that is probably from God must remain consistent with God's truth found in the Bible, must remain consistent with who God made you to be, and require some act of service for others or sacrifice of yourself made in faith. If a leading violates what the Bible says, then question it. If a leading contradicts who God made you to be, then question it. If you have certain gifts and abilities and you feel you need to go outside of your gifts and abilities in a totally unrelated field, then question it. If a leading is self-promoting or self-serving, then question it as a counterfeit leading. Use discernment in understanding what the Lord's will is "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is (Ephesians 5:17)."

As you pray for yourself and what God wants you to do, things will pop into your mind. Jot each one down. Collect them for future reference, pray about them, and plan how you can take care of them and when.

My summary of my time with God this morning with students. I heard God say that I need to spend more consistent time with Him. He wants me to meditate, to marinate my mind in His truth. He promises success and wisdom. He truly loves me and wants me to succeed. But that means I need to turn off the noise of my busy life and get quiet to hear from Him. That's what God said to me. I wonder what He says to you. Take the challenge and spend quiet time with God.

Pastor D

An hour of prayer

This morning I will take time to talk to God, listen to God, and to ask God to do things on behalf of people who have made requests to bring before God. I want to structure my time to invite God's presence to permeate my mind & thoughts. Next, I will focus on who God is--I will reflect on what I know about God from the Bible. Subsequently, I will tell God how I experience those qualities in my life. Moreover, I will then pray for myself and the needs that I have pressing on my mind and life. Lastly, I will make time to intercede, to pray on behalf of the other requests that have been shared. I can't wait to engage in prayer. May God visit me this morning.

Pastor D