20 Years Later

It's Friday night, September 10, 2021.  Tomorrow morning we wake up to 9/11 and for many of us the incredible reminder of a day we will never forget.  It was 2001.  I had gone to the church to my office for what I would expect to be a typical day.  It was anything but that very quickly.  My wife called to let me know that a plane had flown into one of the twin towers in NYC.  I was thinking a small plane off course.  Soon we would all learn this was a horrific planned attack on our country.  I quickly headed home.  I wanted to be with my family.  I watched as the towers fell on live TV.  Soon, knowing my family was ok, I headed back to the church trying to get my head around how to shepherd God’s people in a time like this.  The Twin Towers had fallen, the Pentagon had been attacked, and another plane had gone done in Pennsylvania diverted from its target by some very brave passengers.  

 

Now back at the church wee put a small tv in the foyer near the old sanctuary (this was before our expansion was complete).  We kept up with the news while answering phone calls and thinking about the day.  People began to ask if we were going to gather to pray as a church perhaps even that night.  I hate to admit but will honestly say I was a bit frustrated by that at first thinking to myself - do we only pray because of trouble?  But I quickly decided to go for it and we had a sign with interchangeable letters and announced on it that there would be a prayer meeting at 7pm.  As I recall the church was packed for that prayer meeting.  We prayed for one another, for our state, for our nation, and comforted one another.  We had no idea what the future held.  

 

Crises have a way of drawing us together, and it happened 20 years ago.  Now fast forward to today.  Our world is in a mess.  Our nation is in a mess.  We need answers.  We still don’t know what the future holds.  However, I’ve got good news.  The same good news I had 20 years ago.  As you wake in the morning, pray for your own life, your family, Northside, our community, this nation and God at work all around the world.  Many things have changed, but He remains the same.  He is faithful and true.  

Pray for churches that preach the gospel and lift up Jesus to be empowered this weekend to preach the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the answer.  In fact that’s the title of my message at Northside this weekend.  If you are looking for a church to attend, I invite you - Saturday night at 6pm, or Sunday morning at 9 and 11am or watch online through the Northside Church Liverpool app.  

 

I want to remind you of this invitation from the Lord.  Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.  Psalm 50:15  What a precious promise.  Call on Him, believe His promise, and live to glorify Him.  That was my goal 20 years ago.  That's my goal today.  That will be my goal tomorrow.  Join me in that journey.

 

A Rest Stop on the Thruway

About 56 miles from our home, there is a rest stop on the NYS Thruway.  On our way home from Ohio today we stopped there.  We did the same things two years ago.  Only two years ago, we got gas and I asked my wife - 'Do you mind driving?'  She did not, and we headed home.  We were bringing our daughter home from her sophomore year in college.  After we unloaded the rental van, we were going to take it back.  That plan soon changed.  I began to develop some stroke like symptoms, and soon we were in an ambulance headed to the hospital.  That began a journey over the next months unlike any we had ever known.  To keep the story short, I was diagnosed with a form of meningitis I should have never gotten - but I did.  My central nervous system was attacked.  I know now the first miracle was that we got home before the difficulties began.  I had been dealing with some mild headaches - but didn't think a lot of it - I know now my brain was swelling.  

On May 4, 2019, I thought I might die.  I knew instantly I didn't want to - for several reasons.  I'm not afraid to die, I just still wanted to live.  We had just spent 2 days with five grandchildren in Ohio, and we had just brought our youngest daughter home who had two more years of college.  Ministry was becoming a joy again and I believed God had more in store.  For everyone who has ever prayed for me - thank you from the bottom of my heart.  To my wife - Kathy you are one of the key reasons I'm still alive.  The Lord used you to offer so much support and hope.  I could never thank you enough.  Each of my kids were a blessing as was our incredible church family. The young lady who was in college was so strong as her Dad lost the ability to speak clearly and things were not looking good.  She would go on to finish her college degree in just a year and a half more (finishing a semester early).  Today I've been 100% cleared and I know it's the mercy of God.  To Him be all the glory.

So back to the rest stop.  As is often the case on long trips, Kathy and I rotate the driving.  She was driving today as we approached that rest stop.  We decided it was time for a short break and then it hit me (and she already knew) - this was the rest stop.  I drove home this time.  All is well.  God is faithful.  Two years later I got to watch that same daughter graduate yesterday - a day I wasn't sure I would ever see.  Tonight I'm one grateful man.  

When You Drop a Communion Tray . . .

This past Sunday was a first for me.  I dropped a communion tray.  We were observing the Lord's Supper as a congregation.  We share juice and bread - symbolic symbols of the body and blood of our Lord who said - eat this in remembrance of me.  His body was broken on our behalf and his blood poured out as the atonement (payment) for our sins.  At the 9:30 service, I was coming off the platform to join the deacons who had served when I reached for the tray one of the brothers was holding - actually he was holding two. I had in my mind what I was going to have him do - but he can't read my mind!  I was going to take the top one and leave the bottom one for him to serve the worship team.  He felt me grab them both and in that moment - well - the bottom one hit the floor.  It's all on me.  In that moment several things happened.  

I quickly heard the man on the left in this picture say something like 'I've got it' - or 'I'll clean it up' - our deacons are amazing servants.  I can't begin to express my gratitude and respect for them and their service to Christ through Northside.  Another gentlemen close by helped out immediately.  That situation was cleaned up faster than anyone could imagine.  

I learned later that when it happened, my wife leaned over to the lady sitting next to her in that service and said 'He will either say nothing, or use it in some way.'  After 15 seconds of silence the lady said - I think he's going to ignore it.  Not knowing anything about that conversation, I found myself saying to the congregation, 'when I was in seminary, one of my professors said - when something unexpected happens, you either ignore it and just press on, or you bring attention to it and use it somehow.  

What nobody knew at that point, was what had happened when that juice hit the floor.  I recoiled.  I flinched back quickly - I didn't want to get any of that grape juice on my pants or my shoes - and in reality - it got both.  Then I had a deeper thought.  This may just be juice - but when it comes to the blood of Jesus that was poured out on the cross, I not only need it - I need to be covered by that blood for the forgiveness of my sins, and the salvation of my soul.  I shared that story in those moments with Northside.  We need the blood of Jesus.  God met us yesterday in a deep way at about 9:50am.  

While this tray held juice, a symbolic reminder of our Savior's sacrifice, Jesus shed his blood - for real.  I wonder if those at the cross were taken back to have gotten any on them - the ones who crucified him, or stood nearby.  This world recoils from the gospel in the same way I recoiled from the potential for a mess - a stain on my clothes from which I would still preach two more services.  The reality is that only the blood of Jesus can remove the stain of sin so deep in my heart, and in all of our hearts.  

I'm a perfectionist and so moments like this can bother me.  Was I too distracted?  Was I thinking about too many things at once?  What caused me to drop a communion tray for the first time in my entire ministry?  I think God was in it.  No - I know He was.  He wanted to remind me - and the entire Northside family - and maybe you right now - that his provision was for the covering of our sin.  There's no other hope.  We need Jesus.  He died for our sins, was buried and rose again conquering sin, death and the grave.  That's the gospel.  That's good news!!!

'Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver of gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.'  1 Peter 1:18-19, ESV.  

Soccer, Tears, and Eternity

Today is my day off.  I'm watching World Cup Soccer.  I'm tired of the soccer hating.  To me the game is like music - a symphony that may take a while to develop - but I find it quite interesting and respect the game immensely.  Having raised a son who played in hundreds of games from 7 years old til the present, I have huge respect for the athleticism and heart of the athletes.

To be sure there are some challenges.  There aren't tons of goals, but there is an enormous amount of strategy.  The coaches and athletes know exactly what they are doing.  I specifically don't like faking injuries.  I've seen players brought off the field with serious injuries.  To fake one is upsetting.  I think the refs should give red cards for faking an injury!  Throw those guys out of the game!

As I'm writing, France is leading Uruguay 2-0.  Both clubs are excellent and beat powerhouses Argentina and Portugal just to get to the quarterfinals.  The level of play is elite for sure.  Both goals have been strong and both teams are playing hard.  At this moment of typing, we are at the 84:05 mark of the game.

One scene has had the biggest impact on me.  A shot of the fans in the stands showed a young boy wearing a Uruguay jersey weeping after the France's second goal.  I get that.  He loves his country, his team, probably the game and who knows all that is going through that little guys mind.  I don't mean to disparage him at all but I want to finish with a somber reminder.

When is the last time you wept over souls for eternity?  This young guy is weeping because it looks like his country will be eliminated from the World Cup 2018.  I salute his passion for the game and for life - but I pray for his understanding and more for yours and mine for eternity.  Take a moment after reading this and think about the reality that eternity is forever.  Everyone will spend eternity - forever - in one of two places.  You, your family, your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers and people you meet and never meet.

Trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord is the wisest decision anyone will ever make.  I encourage you to consider the claims of Christ and put your trust in Him!!!  I love sports.  There's a line in the movie Lalaland that says 'people love what other people are passionate about'.  That is evidenced right now in a stadium in Russia.  People love the passion for the game that has been born out in the hearts of the national teams and everyone filling the rosters.

Be passionate about the gospel.  Serve the Lord with all your heart.  Bring people to Jesus.  Don't be silent.  Share the gospel.  Show the gospel.  There's no other hope - and without Christ eternity will be spent with weeping and gnashing of teeth.  The good news is you don't have to go to hell.  Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people-  and the way to prepare is to realize you have nothing to offer and are without hope apart from the merits of Christ.

Game's now over.  France won.  Uruguay is indeed out.  But life is not a game.  Eternity is for real.  Put your trust in him today!  In heaven God will wipe away all tears!!!  Repent of your sin!  Believe on Jesus!  Receive His love gift of eternal life, forgiveness of sin and salvation!!!  Do it now!

Grateful

Today I find myself deeply grateful.  Grateful for the gospel and for God's faithfulness.  Grateful for the privilege to serve the Lord.  Grateful for a church that loves me and believes in impacting others.  I love you Northside.  Grateful for a ministry that was begun to impact pastors and leaders for the glory of God throughout the Northeast and to the ends of the earth.

Tonight we begin our Keep the Fire Burning conference for pastors and leaders at Bible Church International, in Randolph, New Jersey.  We gather tonight and tomorrow to worship the Lord and seek him.  In 2 Timothy 1:6, 'For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.'  The older pastor (Paul) writing to the younger (Timothy) reminds him to keep ablaze - fan into flame - the gift of God.  Basically - keep the fire burning.

Our first conference at Northside was in the spring of 2011.  We hosted them for six years.  We took year seven off to stoke our own fire again.  This year we are going on the road - New Jersey for the Northeast and the Philippines for international impact.  By the end of the year we hope to have impacted well over 1000 leaders for the glory of God.

We pray for faith to be renewed, for instruction and inspiration, for revival and renewal and for encouragement.  Before our first conference God gave me this passage and I returned to it this morning.  Hosea 6:1-3, 'Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.  After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.  Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.'

I'm trusting Him for all of that tonight.  What a wonderful Savior.  What a mighty God.  Praise the name of Jesus.

Kilimanjaro

On December 28, 2016 I did something I don't usually do.  I wrote down goals for the year.  An invite to Tanzania to teach pastors just a couple weeks later led to the fulfilling of one of those goals.  I wanted to invest in the life of at least a dozen pastors.  I try to do that regularly - but this would be yet another opportunity - and on a continent I had never visited.  I would go in May and that week would profoundly impact my life.

My first trip to Africa would be to teach at a small college in Moshi, Tanzania.  We would be staying at a Lutheran conference center that would have a view of one of the greatest mountains in the world - Mt. Kilimanjaro.  At 19000+ feet it is called 'The rooftop of Africa'.  We were in the territory where many come from all over the world to tackle a bucket list item - climb that mountain.

As the week wore on, it was cloudy every day.  Our trip was during the rainy season.  I remember asking my class one day for a small request - would they pray with me that the skies might open one day and the clouds disappear and we would be able to see the mountain before we left?  Well as the week wore on - we didn't get that view - but one student offered  to drive us on Saturday to an area where he had grown up and we could see perhaps a glimpse of the mountain from a different side.

We made that trip and caught a glimpse, and I must admit it was breathtaking.  I can't imagine what it would be like to see that entire mountain on a sunny clear day.  I must admit God taught me a powerful lesson that week however.  I learned that though I couldn't see the mountain it was still there.  The same is true with our Lord - I don't see Him - though I often see His work - but He is there - of this I am sure.

I was teaching the class 'The Inner Life of the Leader'.  Here's the lesson - trust Him - even when you don't see Him.  He's there.  A few years ago God told me I had more mountains to climb.  I've climbed some since then (not literal - but life mountains).  I'm sure there are more.  This much I know - the one who created the mountains is greater than my mountains.  I'm grateful for the lessons He taught me that week.

When God Heals

I just finished listening to a message by Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle.  As I listened it took me back to a day a few years ago and then I also thought of today.  This morning, I saw on social media the plea of a fellow pastor to pray for his grandson and surgery this morning.  I called and prayed with that brother and for his family.  Two days ago I stood in the hospital with a family from Northside and prayed for them and all who would be involved in a very challenging surgery.

God is a healer.  I have no doubt.  He can heal instantly or He may choose do so by surgery.  Now to be sure, I've prayed for people to be healed, and they weren't.  That doesn't mean God is not able.  It does mean He is God and He knows what He is doing and I trust Him.  This post was triggered by the memory of being at the Brooklyn Tabernacle somewhere around 2014.  That night I gave a huge request to the Lord for the healing of one of our daughter's who was battling scoliosis.  It seemed in the months to follow that God did not heal.  But a few months later He did - through surgery.

Whatever you are believing God for - keep praying!!!  This morning I read '. . .  for I am the LORD your healer.'  Exodus 15:26  God is able.  God has a plan.  Call on His name.  It may not turn out the way you anticipated, but He will hear and answer - and when He does - He will get the glory! He is perfect in all of His ways!  Maybe it's physical healing, or emotional, or relational, or any number of other needs that may be flooding your soul right now - the Lord is your healer.  Trust Him.  Turn to Him.  He loves you.  He always has and He always will.  Don't give up now!  Call upon the Lord!