This past week I had the privilege of meeting with close to 4,000 leaders from across the country at my favorite leadership conference…C3 in Dallas, Texas. Some of the speakers were Ed Young, Ed Young Sr, Bishop TD Jakes, Mark Driscoll, and Craig Groeschel. These men are movers and shakers in what God is doing around the world!

The theme was turning what if into what is. If we don’t keep asking what if then what is becomes what was and what isn’t. You may want to reread that one. I’ve been to many conferences thru the years…but nothing compares to this one. I leave challenged, encouraged and inspired!

The story of Northway Church is all about asking what if? 4 years ago that question birthed a different kind of church in the Northeast. Today, Northway has two locations that are thriving and touching thousands of people with the life changing message of Jesus Christ! We must keep asking what if…that’s what makes the people of Northway extraordinary. They are what if people. They are why not people. They are people of Faith with a capital F!

As our plane flew over the capital region preparing to land close to midnight on Friday, I could see the entire Capital region illuminated by a sea of lights. I was so moved. I think about all the lights representing all the different people that are searching or hurting. Is there a God? Does he exist? If he does…Does he care about me? Why am I here? What is my purpose?

In order for those questions to be answered…we must keep asking as a church…what if?

I guess I can’t get away from this moving mountains theme. I believe we are on the ground level of what God is going to do in the North East. The possibilities are limitless. The only limit is a lack of faith.

Well, we landed and the pilot said the current temperature in Albany with the wind chill factor is 17 below! We left 75 degree weather to find our vehicle covered with ice. Lets be honest…you have to be tough to live here. People here are “what you see is what you get” people…I love that! I love the people here and its great to be back! By the way I just found out I have pneumonia. I guess I’m not as tough as I thought I was.

Interesting. The other day I blogged about wanting to be a mountain mover, and I just received some pretty challenging news…That is putting it nicely! News that I didn’t want to hear. In other words, some circumstances that have blindsided me that I would rather never have to deal with. Have you ever felt that way?

I never thought about it before, but I want to pick which mountains I move. Maybe God wants to move some mountains in me before I can move the mountains. I would appreciate your prayers on this one.

I’ve been plowing through the Gospel of Matthew in my own personal God time. I’m asking God to deprogram me from the “Sunday School Jesusâ€? mindset and reprogram me with the reality of Christ’s life. In other words, what was Jesus Christ really like?

Barbara Walters always ask this great question…if you could spend a day with anyone who ever lived and interview them who would it be? That’s the approach I’m taking. What were Jesus’ day to day emotions? What was He thinking and feeling? What were His closest friends like? What would they say was the most striking thing about spending three years with Him? What was His sense of humor like? By the way I have a theory that Jesus had a great smile and a great laugh! How could you not if you were offering a life of outrageous contagious joy? If you have any questions that you would like to lob my way to add to my prayer journal please do. I feel a message series coming out of these questions.

At any rate, I’m struck by how many times Jesus called people out on how little their faith was. Over and over it’s his repeated pattern and repeated theme in His teaching…if you have faith…you can move mountains! I want to experience that! I want to be a Mountain Mover! I wonder how many times He would call me out on little faith?

No that’s not the name of a new Dairy Queen treat. Yesterday, we got hammered and slammed with 2 feet of snow on Valentines Day! Snowed in with the kids and my bride…what a nice break! Thank you God!

Got caught up on some stuff and had a lot of fun being with 3 of my favorite people! Do you remember that game Jenga? (You know that puzzle tower game where each player has to select a piece to remove?) Well we had a Jenga tournament and we raised the stakes of our tournament. If you lost you had to go outside in the blizzard without the appropriate attire for 5 seconds (5 Mississippi seconds).

Deb, lost first and fought the frigid cold literally, kicking and screaming….we had to help her go outside. My daughter lost next and laughed the entire time outside. Then it was on! A show down between my 14 year old son and me. I had no intention of going outside. Well, I think we set a Guinness world book record for the highest tower ever built in a Jenga game but finally that tower came crashing down! I don’t want to say who lost out of respect for the loser but…I think I got frost bite!

Had a blast last night hanging out at CBS Channel 6! Met some great people, and I really enjoyed talking to Liz Bishop and Greg Floyd….they had some great questions about Northway Church…Check it out!

I received a call Friday inviting me to be on the news at 6:30 on channel 6 Monday night…live! Pretty cool opportunity. Looking forward to talking to Liz Bishop about what God has done through His church! Make sure you check it out!

This past weekend I kicked off the sequel to one of my favorite series…a series on relationships called “Desperate Households.â€? Once a year I’ll do a series on relationships. Why? Because God says that relationships are the most important thing in life. Nobody on their death bed says “bring me my accomplishments” or “bring me my bank account.” They all say “get in touch with those that matter most and get them here as quickly as possible!”

We all need to be reminded to prioritize our lives around those that will cry the most at our funerals. Series like this keep me centered and grounded. I always have areas of opportunity for improvement at being a better husband, Dad, and friend.

Speaking of being a better husband…. Remember when you were dating? Remember when you were in constant state of euphoria, remember when you were in la-la land. You thought no couple had ever experienced love like you before! She was your princess and you were her prince charming! I know it was completely unrealistic but it’s funny to think about. Enjoy this flashback that I used in last week’s message…..huge props to my bride for helping me out on this one!

21 days ago a mentor friend of mine challenged me to do a 21 day Daniel Fast. Daniel is this dude in the Bible who had a strict Hebrew diet that honored God. I got the details and went for it! Looking back, I’ve discovered 3 great areas of benefit: spiritual, physical, and relational.

There have been huge changes for me spiritually…stuff I know I’ve needed to do but have procrastinated and rationalized…I’m too busy to deal with that right now. Another change I’ve noticed is how God is multiplying my time and energy. I’ve never had more things to accomplish in ministry with both campuses, and yet I’m accomplishing more in less time. I’m experiencing better focus and clarity with God.

By the way I have to say I can’t remember the last time I felt this good! My goal was not to lose X number of pounds. I put that evil scale away and redirected my hunger towards God. God is helping me as I surrender everyday and invite Him into the kitchen. Now my clothes are getting looser and I’m sleeping better as well.

Another benefit has been relational. I feel like I’m more in tune with my bride and my kids! I took my 12 year old daughter on a date last night and we laughed a lot! Remember those super bounce balls that would just take off on the second bounce? It’s almost impossible to judge them and catch them? Well we scored one at the Mall and set some records in the mall for the longest throws and catches…we also had plenty that got away…as well as some interesting looks from strangers. We had a blast! I sort of felt like Tom Hanks in that movie BIG.

My 14 year old son and I have been working out together and he is doing great! We’re having some cool man to man talks we have never had before. I’m so proud of him! Tonight is date night with my bride and I can’t wait! It’s my favorite part of the week! She is looking foxier all the time! Did I just say foxy?

At any rate there have been a lot of obstacles and temptations but with God’s help I’ve been disciplined to do it! I just finished reading that Jesus kicked his entire ministry off with a 40 day fast…after that process he had the octane to change the world in 36 months. Northway just started its 4th year and Jesus was already finished a year ago…AMAZING! Well, I was going to celebrate with a crazy meal of all the stuff I haven’t had but instead…I’m committing to doing this for another 21! I’ll keep you up to date with the ups and downs!

All my life I thought people who were hard core on working out were a little vain. Through this fast God has shown me that I’m wrong. First, who am I to judge anyone’s intentions? Second, through our last series “Just For the Health Of Itâ€? I’ve discovered that I’ve got to change my mindless mindset to a mindful mindset when it comes to the one and only body God has given me. Scripture tells me to Honor God With My Body…to respect and protect it instead of neglecting it. I’m working out now and I’m changing my mindset to a mindful act of worship to God. In short it’s a motivation issue…it’s about VALUE NOT VANITY.