Travis Agnew 
Here’s a church sign someone probably decided was a good idea for Mother’s Day:
“GOD COULD NOT BE EVERYWHERE SO HE CREATED MOTHERS”
Fail.
Epic fail.
In an attempt to make mothers feel special, this church actually has made them more anxious. To live in a world where God was not everywhere means that the sustainment of life would be in our hands which would be a scary place to be.
Here’s why it is theologically inaccurate:
If I think of a goal of parenthood, Psalm 112 sums it up perfectly:
Hallelujah! Happy is the man who fears the LORD, taking great delight in His commands.
His descendants will be powerful in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
This psalm explains the goal of a multigenerational legacy. God desires that parents will fear the LORD in every way. They will not only obey His commands, but they will enjoy doing so because His commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3).
For the parent that accomplishes this, the desire is that his or her children will live mighty lives marked distinctly by holiness.
This destiny will not happen by accident.
What a wonderful day of worship at North Side! I got the incredible privilege to preach to finish up our 2-week series, “Through the Storms.” Ken Petrus did such a fantastic job sharing his heart last week, and it is an honor to follow his lead!
During his message last Sunday, I felt the direction to go in a different path than previously scripted. I feel like the Holy Spirit was guiding me to preach through the entire Book of Job.
From the perspective of Job.
I went into character for the message today. I even grew a beard for this message (that’s commitment ;))! I tried to convey what it’s like when you go through a storm and want to ask God why you are in it. Then, what it is like when he actually responds. As I traveled through the book, we would put up key scriptures to keep people moving along. At the end when God finally speaks, we used some really neat pictures of God’s creation to drive home the truth that God is in control. The band went right into “Indescribable,” which much of the imagery there comes straight out of Job 38-42.
Today, we worshiped to:
During the process of “Knowing Jesus,” I was asked a question frequently by many different people: “Are your musicians paid?” I think it stems from the fact that I am around such quality people and it causes many people to stand in bewilderment. Surely, he has to pay these people because of their high caliber. I really am blessed to
We read of God’s calling upon Samuel’s life in 1 Samuel 3. Samuel was the child for which Hannah had prayed for ever so earnestly. Once she finally birthed Samuel, she dedicated him to the Lord and to serve under Eli who was the priest (1 Sam. 1:26-28) who had blessed her concerning her ability to conceive a child
I am now the father of two 5-year-olds.
14 days ago, we celebrated Obadiah’s birthday. Since he turned 5, he was telling everyone that he was “1 whole handful.” So, I guess today, I have two whole handfuls. I think I have known that for quite sometime.
Eli came home when he was 2. Now living with us for 3 years, there is something special about the fact that he has been with us longer than he has been without us.
I am so honored to be the father of this little boy.
I cannot imagine our family without him.
Such a heavy, beautiful way to worship today. It was honest, authentic worship. We started a 2-week series today entitled “Through the Storms.” Ken Petrus, Executive Pastor at North Side, preached this first week.
4 months ago today, Ken’s youngest child, Eric, went to be with Jesus after an 11-year fight with cancer. Eric had asked Ken to preach his funeral. At that funeral, I witnessed one of the most beautiful expressions of faith, hope, and the peace surpasses all comprehension that I have ever seen. When Jeff and I were planning out the remainder of the messages for 2013, 2 weeks at the end of May were vacant. I asked Ken if he would want to address the congregation that had prayed so much for his family. With tears in his eyes, he said he would love to.
He did an incredible job. He shared the story but kept pointing us back to the Word as the source of our hope. He had also asked for some specific songs in today’s service. He asked Stacy Wideman to sing “It Is Well” as she lost her son a few years ago and can sing that song with more meaning than most. He asked for Ted to sing “How Great Thou Art” which he sang at Eric’s funeral. And “Amazing Grace” meant so much to the family to know that Eric’s chains are truly gone and he is finally free.
Today, we worshiped to:
This week’s bad church sign: WE LOVE HURTING PEOPLE Thanks for the warning. I will make sure to steer clear of you in the future so that I am not your next victim 😉
This week I am off. Mom is getting some time away during the day and I am playing Mr. Mom. Two things I know about a stay at home mom that complicates the job: 1) it is a very difficult job, 2) you have the stinking cutest clients in the world.
We finished up our “Knowing That You Know Jesus” series today by studying 3 John. The entire study since the beginning of this year has been so good. Jeff’s message on 3 John concerning encouragement and confrontation within the church was so insightful and practical. The Apostle John was encouraging Gaius concerning opposition he received from Diotrephes – a person within the church who loved to be first. Don’t be one of those.
Since it was Mother’s Day, we had our ladies lead us in worship. I thought about giving all these moms the week off, but then I realized that maybe someone else responsible for watching the kids that morning might be a welcomed treat. My wife and the other ladies did great. While they sing great, they lead great. They are worship focused themselves.
Today, we worshiped to:
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