Next weekend, February 6th and 7th, is SUPER WEEKEND! We are going from three to five services at our Clifton Park location.

Right now, Clifton Park is packed out at all three services, so we are adding one service on Saturday night, and one on Sunday morning.

If you attend in Clifton Park, which one will you go to?

(NOTE: Service times this weekend, January 30th and 31st, are Saturday night at 6:00, and Sunday morning at 10:00 and 11:30. See you there!!)

This weekend we wrap up our current series LOVE NEVER FAILS at all of our locations.

We are getting a better view of God this year, and are understanding more about His inexhaustible love for us!

NEXT weekend, February 6th and 7th, we will be starting our brand new series… ONE THING.

What is the ONE THING that the world needs more than anything?

Check out the trailer…

The One Thing from Northway Church on Vimeo.

What am I learning half way through our 21 day Daniel fast???

Fasting = Lean.

Yes, you will loose weight, but that’s not what I mean.

I’m learning to LEAN into God’s Spirit.

Here are some benefits I’m experiencing from LEANING into God…

•    Greater awareness and sensitivity to God.

•    Sharper focus.

•    Increased energy.

•    God’ Word JUMPS off the page.

•    Amplified retention of God’s Word.

•    Accomplishing MORE with less time and energy.

•    Not defensive to criticism.

•    Better awareness of The BIG PICTURE – Eternity.

•    Wasting time (And time waster’s) angers and annoys me.

•    Pointed discernment.

•    Wisdom and solutions in areas where I’ve been stuck.

•    Desire to do the right thing

•    Better relationally.

Disclaimer: I didn’t experience all of these right away and I have my off days and moments – but I’m definitely experiencing a change. Maybe I should continue the fast???

What are you learning?

I had a friend say recently, “You’re only as good as your team.”

Well… I love my team!

They can really bring the enthusiasm at our 8am staff meetings!

Even on the Daniel Fast!

Here’s a little clip for you…

I don’t know if I can really describe this weekend, but I’ll give it a shot.

First let me recap…

Northway Church just finished week one of our Daniel Fast.

Northway Clifton Park

A first time guest told Guest Services that this was the first church she ever attended where she felt like she belonged.

Over SIXTY decisions for Christ this weekend!

Northway Clifton Park is busting at the seems and will be adding two additional services in two weeks! A total of five service options.

Northway Colonie

First time guest shared that they had always believed in God but had never been to church before. She then shared, “This is what I’ve been searching for my entire life!”

Pastor Brian and team are leading the way and sent out fifteen people to start Northway Berkshires!

Way to go Pastor Brian and team!

Northway Berkshires

With one week lead time Northway Berkshires had their first core group Sunday service. Get this -  They had 135 people in one service and FOUR people accepted Christ!

Way to go Pastor Paul!

In just nine weeks we launch publicly on Easter weekend.

Northway Church TV

Many may disagree with me on this and that’s okay, however, I look at our tv ministry as another location. We are taking the gospel of Jesus Christ into homes of people who would never hear otherwise. God’s hand is all over this ministry!

Of all the highlights, the thing I’m most excited about at Northway is that we are starting to get this…

Northway is growing in THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, 18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; 19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself!  20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]– 21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Eph 3:17-21

Northway Church,

I pray you had a great week and I want to encourage and congratulate all of you that have been fasting this past week.

I don’t know about your house but the first couple of days at “The Cremeans” were pretty cranky – but now we are getting in a groove. I pray you are as well.

Please be praying with me as tomorrow we will have our first Sunday Service in “The Berkshires” at Reid Middle School at 11:00am!

Its exciting as we have a full band prepared to bring dynamic music. I listened in on our Northway Berkshire band rehearsal Wednesday, and let me tell you… they are prepared to bring it!

Let me also encourage you not to miss this weekend at Northway Clifton Park or Northway Colonie! If you are anything like me and sometimes struggle and doubt Gods love for you- Don’t miss God’s House!

I promise you will be encouraged as I bring a message fron The Word Of God on “The Inexhaustible LOVE OF GOD.”

Let me encourage you to bring a friend with you to God’s House.

Remember 2010 is your year.

I love you.

I am loving to hear the stories from people at Northway Church doing the Daniel Fast!

I can’t wait to see what God does through our church as we lean in to Him.

This is going to stretch all of us, but WE ARE GETTING STRONGER!

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11

Here is a popular Daniel Fast approved vegetarian chili recipe… I will be posting some more recipes soon, including the one mentioned in the video…

Vegetarian Chili

Ingredients:
2 medium-sized green peppers, chopped
1 medium-sized yellow onion, chopped
1 zucchini, sliced
1 yellow squash, sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chili powder
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground red peppers
2 cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
2 16 oz. cans tomatoes (juice and all)
2 16 oz. cans pinto beans (juice and all)
2 16 oz. cans black beans (juice and all)
1   4 oz. can mild green chilies
1   4 oz. can of tomato paste

Chop and sauté in oil the peppers and onions. Add the sliced squashes, chili powder, salt, ground red peppers, and corn. When all the vegetables are soft but still firm, add the tomatoes, all the beans, the green chilies, and the tomato paste. Stir until just blended.  Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat. Let simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Yield: 6 generous servings

Our Berkshire Vision night this past Sunday evening was amazing!

Debbie and I enjoyed personally meeting so many people and hearing their stories of faith.

We haven’t been able to stop talking about it.

The group God is assembling at Northway Berkshires reminds me of the group that started Northway Church seven years ago. Can you imagine what God will do over the next seven years in the Berkshires?

I want to thank everyone that came out in the inclement weather to hear the vision of Northway Church.

If you live in or around the Berkshires and missed it, I announced that we will start having Sunday services at 11:00 am at Reid Middle School.

This will begin this Sunday, Jan 24th, at 11:00 am.

The purpose of having services over the next ten weeks is to continue to build our core group and prepare for our grand opening on Easter weekend.

We will have a full band there this week. You don’t want to miss it! We will be building our other ministry teams over the next several weeks.

Please continue to pray for Northway Berkshires!

Northway Church Berkshires…

Has a good ring to it, doesn’t it?

Last night, we went out to the Berkshires for a vision night.

I announced that in a huge step of faith, we are going to start having weekly services to continue to grow our core group.

Services will be Sundays at 11am at Reid Middle School in Pittsfield.

Northway Church… One church… multiple locations… two states!!

It all started in 2009 at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield…

Christmas Colonial Recap from Northway Church on Vimeo.

It’s difficult to wrap our minds and hearts around the images that are coming in from Haiti.

The catastrophic devastation is simply heartbreaking.

To think our lives go on as usual while the people in Haiti are suffering is simply unjust.

Love refuses to do nothing.

We must do something.

What can we do?

With every tragedy there is an opportunity.

An opportunity to respond… in LOVE.

This weekend, be ready to be the church and give generously for the hurting in Haiti.

We are partnering with Convoy Of Hope, a disaster relief organization who already has people there on the ground to ship thousands of pounds of much needed water and food to this devastated country.

Love always does something.