It was great to have my good friend Mark Batterson here at Northway last year. Since that time, Mark has become an incredible author with his best-selling book, “In a Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day,” which is to be followed by the soon to be released, “Wild Goose Chase.”

Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. One church with eight services in four locations, NCC is focused on reaching emerging generations. The vision of NCC is to meet in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the metro DC area.

Mark will be at Northway Church again next weekend, August 9th & 10th. You don’t want to miss it! We’ll be giving out a free chapter of his new book to everyone, and he’ll be available to sign it as we continue our exciting new series, Hello My Name is God.

Years ago, God captured my heart at camp…and my life changed dramatically. In fact, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today if I hadn’t gone to camp. God completely changed the trajectory of my life and called me into something I never thought I would do…ministry. All because of a week of camp.

This week, our high school students are at camp, and yesterday during my team meeting, our whole staff spent time praying for our students by name. Please join me and our team in praying daily for the next generation every day by name. Today, I’m headed down to camp to check things out with two of our other pastors, Nathan and Brian.  Check out our student pastor, Kevin Murrell’s blog for the latest updates and pics and leave some comments to let our students and leaders know we are praying for them.

Jarod, Will, Anthony, Devin, Steven, Jake, Justin, Cole, Chase, Karl, Joseph, Tim, David, Samuel, Christopher, Nathan, Jordan, Paul, James, David, Andrew, David, Theo, Brian, Spencer, Jonathan, James, Sean, Rae, Sable, Miranda, Ashlie, Rebekah, Laura, Darbie, Kaitlyn, Sarah, Sarah, Jillian, Shannon, Alicia, Rosie, Kristie, Jessica, Katie, Jennifer, Jillayne, Caroline, Carlie, Jenna, Victoria, Bethany, Jennifer, Bethany, Sarah, Lindsay, Nina, Samantha, Linjie, Kevin, Sam, Rich, Marc, Karyn, Michelle, Jen, Linda

What’s in a name? Everything. Maybe the only thing you know about God’s name is that you shouldn’t use it in vain, but God has many names, each giving insight into His heart and character. One God. Many Names. Over the next five weeks at Northway Church, during this thought provoking new series, Hello My Name Is God, we’ll examine some of the names of God, what they mean, and how they can connect you to a more intimate understanding of our incredible God.

Five years after starting Northway Church, we are entering a new season. I am committing our next season to do everything I can to help support and encourage leaders in the Northeast. There is nothing like doing ministry in one of the most unchurched places in the U.S. I love it, and God is definitely doing a new thing in the Northeast.

One problem. It can be lonely, and I want to change that. God has placed a new passion on my heart to connect and encourage anyone who wants to be a difference maker in the Northeast. This fall, we are starting a Northway Network…(more on that later.) We will kick that off on Oct 13th in conjunction with hosting the Regional C3.

I am honored to have my good friend, Ed Young, come and share the priceless principles he has learned over the last 17 years at Fellowship Church. FC is one of the greatest movements of God in our time, and I have personally gleaned more from Ed than any other leader.

Please help me spread the word in the blog world. If you’re a leader in the Northeast, let me encourage you to get your team registered for this unprecedented opportunity as we will have limited space. It will be an unforgettable experience of making new friends and sharpening your leadership.

Bummer! Devin’s plane had mechanical problems and they ended up canceling his flight. No more flights to Albany…that stinks! The good news is they had a flight to LaGuardia that gets in at 11:30 pm. The other good news is our Sr. High students just went to camp today so they are only about a half an hour away. Huge thanks to Kevin Murrell who is going to pick him up.

Looks like we won’t see him till Friday.

Devin comes home late tonight! Yeah! Debbie and I have missed him BIG time! His younger sister? Well…not so much. Now we are racing to surprise him with an extreme makeover of his room! It will be down to the wire…don’t know if we will make it with the second coat of “brick dust” paint. If we don’t, it will look pink, and I don’t think he will dig it. By the way…this painting thing is the pits! The fumes are wigging me out!

Devin has learned a TON with his internship at Fellowship Church. I have talked to him quite a bit, and he is extremely grateful for the opportunity. Devin’s latest angle he is working with me is wanting to attend college in Texas. Why? So he can serve at Fellowship Church. I knew this would happen…we’ll see.

I want to thank FC for their hospitality to Devin. Specifically, Matt Timmons. Matt is a video genius and leads the video ministry at FC. Matt, Debbie and I appreciate your leadership in making this happen. Thanks for making a dream come true for a 16 year old. Thank you for raising his value and investing in the next generation. You need to know Devin has not stopped talking about you and your generosity. I hope you can come up to Northway on October 13th for the Regional C3 so we can return the hospitality.

God’s best to you!

Leadership can be hazardous to your health. One thing I wasn’t prepared for when we started Northway was all the criticism and personal attacks that go along with it.  I would go thru seasons and then think…Man, I’m glad that’s over…it will never happen again.  Then, it does.  It comes with the mantle of leadership. So how do you stay open to people and not become cynical?

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Typically summers at Northway are on auto pilot. Having experienced 6 months of winter most of our church family will be on vacation between July and August. So historically and strategically we have dialed it back but, this summer is different. Really different! In fact we have never had a better summer at Northway Church! Last weekend, in part 4 of At The Movies, hundreds and hundreds of people stepped forward in an old school alter call and took a stand to let go of sin. They also picked up the divine burden that God had placed on their lives.

Spiritual momentum. You know it when you see it. I don’t know if it’s a revival or an awakening, or what you call it? I just know God is picking up some serious momentum in changing lives at Northway Church. If you missed this past weekend, it’s worth the watch…you can check it out here. In fact, we have had so many requests for this series we have put all messages on line. This weekend I will wrap up this series with some BIG surprises. That’s all I can say right now…see ya soon!

WHO WAS CAIN ANGRY AT?

Genesis 4  Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.  But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?   7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must MASTER it.”

It’s easy to hydroplane over who Cain is ticked off at.  Of course Cain is furious at his brother because Abel was blessed by God and he wasn’t.  Cain experienced jealousy, pride, envy, but God brilliantly exposed the root issue, anger.  Dig deeper around the root and you’ll discover Cain’s anger towards his brother was secondary.  Cain’s primary anger problem was with God.  Cain suppressed his anger and it grew deeper and deeper and dominated his life.  What happened?  The first murder in the first family.  Cain tragically killed his brother!

Until we deal with the root issue we can’t express and confess.

What sin has dominated your life that you are now angry and taking it out on others?
Let me encourage all of us to kill the root!  Anger at God.
Take it to God.  Just let it go and tell him all your frustration and anger…God can handle it.  That’s why He is God.  God can’t begin to heal and help us until we confess the root issue.

These posts may seem old school. They are. Their origin? Genesis.

Gen 4: 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must MASTER it.”
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So many people today are wondering what’s wrong with God?  Why has God lost His power?  Why could God do great things back in the day and now it seems He can’t come thru in my life?  Or…Why are other people experiencing God’s power and freedom in their lives but I’m not? Many times the answer is Sin.  Sin?  Yes, Sin.  But that’s so old school right?

Cain wanted to define his relationship with God.  Cain said, I’ll serve you God on my terms, not yours.  Don’t tell me how to do life God…I’ve got this down…I’ll just compartmentalize my relationship with you God…I’ll do what I want when I want and circle back to you when I need you.  I’ll go to church, I’ll sing like crazy, I’ll serve in church, I’ll even give my offering in church…but don’t mess with me, God on how I’m supposed to live.  Don’t bother me with my junk and funk! One problem.  God says, NO THANK YOU.  God didn’t accept Cain’s approach and He won’t accept ours either when we refuse to listen to His voice.

Old school.  New school. The principle is timeless.  God can’t unleash his power with unconfessed sin in our lives.  God desires to release His power in our lives but we need to let go of our own.

What area in your life are you refusing to let go?
What sin is mastering and controlling your life?
Let me encourage all of us to express and confess

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.