Archive for November, 2009
Faith and Honor are inseparable.
It is impossible to have one without the other.
The reverse is also true.
Wherever you find Dishonor, you find Disbelief.
“Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without HONOR.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of FAITH.” (Mark 6: 4-6)
Consider this.
Jesus had just released His supernatural blessings by healing multitudes of people in the first five chapters of Mark.
However, in Mark chapter six, Jesus’ blessings were strangely blocked.
Why?
Wherever you find Dishonor you find Disbelief.
Jesus was willing to heal people in and release His supernatural power of blessings in his home town, however…..
Wherever you find dishonor, you find disbelief
Faith and Honor are Inseparable.
Is there an area in your life where you have dishonor?
If so, God can’t honor you with His blessings.
Northway Colonie surprised me with this video, as well as cards and gifts at our Vision Night this past Sunday.
For quite a while, I had been looking forward to Vision Night at Northway Colonie.
My goal and purpose for being there last night was to encourage them in FAITH.
What happened?
Hard to explain… It’s one of those things you just had to be there to experience.
Let’s just put it this way.
I believe that I accomplished my goal.
However, Northway Colonie also encouraged me in my Faith.
How?
HONOR AMBUSH.
Thank you, Northway Colonie, for leading in Faith and Honor.
Thank you, Northway Colonie, for encouraging me and my family in FAITH.
I Love you and am proud to be your Pastor!
More to come tomorrow…
Seven years ago, Northway Church began with a small group of people.
A church that would do whatever it takes to meet people where they are.
Since then, God has changed thousands of lives through Northway Church.
Here is just one of those stories…
Jeff Cornick’s Story from Northway Church on Vimeo.
Thank You, Northway Church, for being a church that believes in the Next Generation!
Thank You, Northway Church, for empowering the Next Generation!
Thank You to ALL of our Adult Leaders who invest their time and energy!!!
I appreciate you MORE than you know.
Thank You, Northway, for investing in one of the greatest resources God has given us…
The Next Generation.
Thank You, Northway Church, for your generosity that makes it all possible!
I will never forget what God did this past weekend.
Student Takeover Weekend was just the beginning.
The Next Generation of Faith will change the World for Jesus Christ!
Thank You, Northway Church, for being… THE CHURCH!
You inspire me!
I Love you.
- Pastor Buddy
Check out this video from our students this past weekend…
Student Takeover Dance from Northway Church on Vimeo.
Leadership can often be a lonely journey.
This week on CC, Pastor Mac Richard talks about one of the things that all leaders crave in order to last.
What else do you crave as a leader?
Cremeans Couch - Mac Richard - Part 3 from Northway Church on Vimeo.
At Northway Church, we believe in the next generation!
While so many in our world believe that there is no hope for them…
We believe that they will be the greatest generation of faith in history!
This is why I am doing something this weekend that I have never done before…
I am handing over all of our weekend services in Clifton Park and Colonie to our students!
This weekend is… STUDENT TAKEOVER WEEKEND!
You are not going to want to miss even one second of this weekend’s services! Get there early!
Seven years ago, Northway Church was started on ONE THING…
FAITH!
We didn’t have networking.
We didn’t have a denomination backing us.
We didn’t have funding.
Shoot! We didn’t even have a place to meet several months before our launch.
I know its not exactly what the church plant and growth books advise, but what we did have is…
FAITH!
The experts told me we would fail.
They reminded me time and time again that the Northeast is one of the most unchurched places in the US.
They said, “Buddy, don’t you know that church planters in the Northeast end up in a spiritual graveyard?”
They said, “Church Planters come to the Northeast, but all of them end up leaving after two years.”
Oh yeah, one more thing. They said “The Northeast will reject a church like Northway because the Northeast is way too traditional.”
I know… Thanks for the encouragement, right?
God once again proved the experts wrong.
Ephesians 3:20 says, “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!”
Fast forward… Seven years later and EVERYTHING that Northway Church is today is a testimony that God can do anything, and that God is still in the miracle business!
However, somewhere along the journey…
I lost faith.
I started playing it safe.
Why? Well, I have a lot of convincing reasons, and I could probably persuade you to have empathy for me, but its all “crapola”.
Just excuses.
I can’t really put it all into words right now, but God is calling me out.
God is telling me to return to THE FAITH that started Northway.
Time to go OLD SCHOOL!
Every story about someone accepting Jesus Christ into their life is a BIG DEAL!
This week on Cremeans Couch, you will get to hear the story about how God changed Pastor Mac Richard’s life as a twelve year old.
Growing up, his mom took a stand that no matter what happens, no matter how the enemy attacks their family, they were going to STAY IN THE HOUSE!
Lake Hills Church in Austin, TX would not be the movement of God that it is today, if it were not for God moving in the life of a young teenager many (and many) years ago.
Cremeans Couch - Mac Richard Part 2 from Northway Church on Vimeo.
How do you come out of your cave?
How do you live out the CAUSE for which you were born?
Peel back your pain.
God goes to Gideon’s Pain.
God calls Gideon a Mighty Warrior.
You would think this would be an encouragement, right?
Not really. In reality, it exposed Gideon’s entire life of hiding in fear.
It exposed Gideon’s insecurities.
What was Gideon’s pain?
Gideon believed that God had abandoned him. Gideon believed that God was someone who could do miracles back in the day, but not today. Gideon was angry at God for experiencing the pain of being the most overlooked person in his family and community. Gideon was angry at God because everyone else had more talent. Gideon was carrying years of layered pain.
I don’t think Gideon ever communicated any of his pain until God called him out of his cave to live out his Cause as a MIGHTY WARRIOR.
What’s your pain?
Do you feel like God has abandoned you? Are you angry at God, but never express it? God gives you permission to go there. In fact, that’s exactly where God wants you to go.
Why?
Where your PAIN is… is where your FEAR is.
God is calling you out of your cave of pain.
Peel back your pain.
The Cave or The Cause…. It’s Your Call.
