In the past two weeks, I’ve had a front row seat to observe in people that I love, strength and stamina that’s hard to measure. In this series of posts, I want to HONOR them. Today, I want to honor my Father-in-law, Ray Barndt.

God’s word tells us…Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church. Many times I wish God would have left that out of scripture.  Why? Because you can’t get the bar any HIGHER! However, if there is a mortal man that could be an example of this, it is…

Ray Barndt

Ray has loved and cherished his bride, Josephine, for 50 years! 34 of those years, she had cancer. Think about that…not days, weeks or months, not even several years…but 34 years! I have watched Ray silently thru the years serve and care for his bride. From surgeries, from hospital stays, to keeping track of her medicine, to taxiing her to numerous doctors.  Ray’s list was never ending. I don’t know how he stayed sane, but he never complained. He just did it.

All the way till the end. He just did it.

I watched Ray sleep by his bride’s hospital bed on a small twin bed. (I don’t think he ever really slept in the past month). I watched Ray as he would sit with his bride during the day and talk to her even though she couldn’t talk back.  But, she did manage to pucker her lips at him to send him a kiss. If there ever was a woman who felt unconditional love…it was Ray’s bride, Josephine.

Ray, you are Remarkable! Not just in human eyes but in HEAVEN’S EYES! Jesus said the greatest in the Kingdom are those that serve. I have never met a person who has served someone MORE than you. You are the essence of HONOR. Thank you for being an example to ALL of us.  Thank you for modeling what a real MAN is. Thank you for setting the bar for all of us…now we must guard the bar.

I will do my best to honor my bride and your daughter as you have honored your bride and her mother.

There has never been a more urgent time to Speak UP.  In today’s world, where there is so much bad news, too often, all we hear are negative, critical words.  We hear words that hurt, words that destroy, and words that steal our joy.  The words we hear often become the words we speak.  The words we choose to use will shape our destiny and will shape the destiny of others. Its time to Speak UP! 

Join Northway Church starting February 28th & March 1st for this uplifting series, Speak UP.

In the past two weeks, I’ve had a front row seat to observe in people that I love, strength and stamina that’s hard to measure. In this series of posts, I want to HONOR them. Today, I want to honor my Bride, Debbie Cremeans.

Yesterday was my bride’s birthday.  I always knew I married over my head…I guess I never realized how HIGH.  Debbie is a class act. She is smart. She is loyal. Debbie is one of the most disciplined people I have met. She is feminine. She is a lady. She is a leader. Debbie is a person of great character. She is a great friend. She is fun. She is wise. Debbie has an incredible work ethic. She is compassionate. She is trustworthy…oh yeah and by the way…She is down right GORGEOUS!

After 20 plus years of marriage, I’m still crazy about her! However after witnessing her unforgettable strength last week, I have a new appreciation for her. Debbie refused to leave her mom’s bedside. I watched her face the fear of unknown territory and experience sleepless nights, and yet I’ve never seen Debbie demonstrate more kindness, gentleness and compassion. I was in amazement as Debbie nurtured her mom’s every need. It was one of the most honorable things I’ve ever witnessed.

Two of the most intimate times in our lives are when we are born and when we die. You discover a lot about a person watching the care they provide for a loved one that’s dying. I think it gives you a glimpse into their soul.  I also think it gives you an indicator of the care you may receive if you happen to be on your death bed before they are.

Debbie, I admire your courage and strength. I have a new respect for you. You are a great human being. It’s an honor to know you.

I love you always.

How do you quantify someone’s strength? If it’s how much weight you can lift, then I peaked years ago. Back in the day, I used to lift weights hardcore.  It may be hard to imagine, but I was cut and chiseled.  Today???? Not so much.  Currently, I’m more easily recognized for my puffy and fluffy physique…but don’t underestimate me.  I’m definitely stronger. Why?

Life experience has made me stronger. With life comes adversity, hardship and resistance.  The same essentials required in weight lifting to increase your physical strength are necessary to increase your emotional, mental, and spiritual endurance.

In the past two weeks, I’ve had a front row seat to observe in people that I love, strength and stamina that’s hard to measure. In this series of posts, I want to HONOR them. Today, I want to honor my mother-in-law, Josephine.

Josephine (Debbie’s Mom). Tuesday morning I had the Honor of speaking at Josephine’s funeral. To date, I don’t know that I have ever met a stronger person. In 1975 at the age of 42, Josephine was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease. She was informed she had a 50/50 chance of living. She battled thru treatments for 6 months, only later to have her cancer return in 1977. Fast forward to 1989, she learned she had breast cancer and underwent a radical mastectomy.

Thru it all, she never complained. She never gave up. She used ALL her energy to battle her illness. But Josephine’s life is not marked by her cancer. Josephine’s life is marked by her SMILE. Her gorgeous contagious smile! The greatest strength Josephine possessed was she never lost her smile.

She smiled thru the sickness.

I marvel at her life, her endurance, and her perseverance. In fact, in her last week of life, Josephine displayed more strength than I have ever witnessed. Her mind was fully aware of all that was going on. And even when her body was shutting down and she could no longer talk…she couldn’t swallow…somehow she still managed the strength to Smile.

Josephine, “Mom Barndt,” you are an inspiration to all of us. I will never forget your strength. I will never forget your smile. Thank you for giving me your baby girl…She has your smile.

We will see you soon.

Without our VIPs, what happens each weekend at Northway Church would not be possible. THANK YOU for all of your hard work and dedication. We would like to cordially invite our volunteers to attend VIP Night on Sunday, March 1st. VIP Night will be a FUN time and a great way to get to know other Northway volunteers! See you then!

1. Ray Barndt (Josie’s husband) says:
   February 17th, 2009 at 5:18 pm

   I’m reading this blog and sobbing. So much love and concern. How can I thank God and you all enough for such an outpouring of support. Please pray that God will take Josie soon. She wants to go home so bad. Thanks again everyone.

God has answered our prayers.

Around 1:20 in the morning Josephine went HOME to HEAVEN.

I”l blog later about all that God has done this past week ….just wanted to say…

THANK YOU to everybody for the online community.

Your prayers and your comments have been a HUGE encouragement to the family.

Thank you.

Please join me in praying for Bob K who shared on this post that he lost his dad this week.

Last night my bride received an unwanted phone call.

I’ve been in ministry close to 20 years, and consequently I have seen a lot of people battle illnesses…but none like Debbie’s mom.  Josephine has battled cancer for 30 plus years, and when most people would have thrown in the towel, somehow Josephine finds the inner strength to fight, battle and fight some more.

Josephine’s mental moxy is remarkable. She has faced countless surgeries, procedures, treatments, rehabs, medications, and side effects. Her body is a road map of scars that reflects her irreplaceable story.  And thru it all…is Josephine’s gorgeous smile.

I know it well because her daughter has that same stunning smile. Debbie also has her mom’s mental moxy.

Last night Debbie’s father called and shared they are bringing in hospice for Josephine.

Today we are headed down to PA.

Please pray for Josephine and Debbie and her family.

“The fields are ripe and ready for harvest, but the workers are few.” – Jesus

Yesterday, I took some of my team on a field trip. Our journey led us across state lines, scouting out an area that has the potential to be a future Northway location. I know that’s a little broad…you could literally throw a dart at a map of the Northeast and wherever it landed it has the potential to be a location for a church like Northway.

Did you know research states that the Northeast is one of the most un-churched places in the US?

I believe that God has positioned and poised Northway to change that. I believe God’s call on Northway Church is to IMPACT the Northeast with the gospel of Jesus Christ, not just to change the spiritual landscape of the Capital Region, but the entire region of the Northeast.

If in first ear- shot that sounds outrageous…that’s OK.  Here is what I know…it is Heaven’s Heart to see this become a reality. Jesus told his team, “Look at the fields…they are ripe and ready for harvest.” The fields represent people that are hungry to hear the life-changing good news of Jesus Christ.  In the farming world, if you don’t harvest your crop when it’s ready…you lose the crop.

In other words, there MUST be a sense of URGENCY or you lose the OPPORTUNITY. I believe the Northeast is ripe and ready, and I’m asking God to see the harvest happen in our lifetime. I’m also asking God for a team of workers that have the same burden.

Are you in?

• Incredible weekend in God’s House!
• God’s house has been packed in Clifton Park and Colonie!
• Colonie had a record weekend in Feb…way to go Brian Howe and Colonie!
• I love this series…Escape!
• God is helping all of us break out and break free to what we were created to be!
• I loved today’s message on Romans 5…I think we could hear this message everyday!
• Grapple with God’s Grace.
• Went old school and invited everyone to write their garbage down and bring it forward and leave it in God’s house…amazing!
• God was honored this weekend.
• Loved celebrating communion.
• Unforgettable experience this weekend!
• Honored to have some friends attend on Saturday night…Pastor Mike Servello Sr, Pastor Gareth, and Pastor Charlie…all great men of God doing an incredible work in Utica, Rome and Albany!
• It’s such a blessing having friends in the ministry.
• God’s leading me to extend our Escape series…never have done that before.
• Did a first today…ran an indoor triathlon at the YMCA and then preached at church.
• I finished…did great…exhausted…God gave me the extra energy to speak.
• Broke our fast today with the best lasagna I have ever had!
• Shout out to Sam Abate for hooking a brother up!
• Sam you need to open up your own restaurant.
• After throwing down on carbs… I went into coma zone.

This weekend we will be incredible in God’s House.We will break thru the ticker tape and complete our Daniel Deal Fast! We’ll be celebrating communion together and have an extended time of worship and music …it’s going to be an awesome weekend in God’s House as we wrap up our Escape Series!

By the way, the last 2 weekends have been an all time HIGH attendance for January. It’s very cool to see how God is starting this year out with His church and growing us together.

Let me encourage you to invite a friend, get their early, and get a seat!