Easter 2011

For some reason, Easter this year has impacted me in a new, fresh way. So much so that I have to share...

Last Sunday, we kicked off Passover by taking communion at Idlewild on Sunday morning. Communion is always special, but even more so this year since it was Bekah's first communion since she was baptized two weeks ago. It was just a really sweet time to sit next to her and teach/remind her about communion, why we do it, how we do it (examine yourself...), and why it is important.

Then Sunday night, I saw (on twitter!) that the Bible app that I use on my iPad (YouVersion) had a special Easter week devotional plan. I couldn't resist signing up for that - it gives me extra incentive this week to do my daily Bible study. Spending the time each day to walk through Jesus' life in His last week on earth just really gets to you...plus there were some new tidbits that God revealed to me this week.

In particular, I was reminded of a few things about the Holy Spirit. In John 14:15-17 it says "...I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." In John 16:13 it goes on to say "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth." This really spoke to me because I've been thinking a lot about truth over the last year - what truth is, and why some people are blinded from seeing truth when it is right in front of their eyes. And these verses reminded me that the Holy Spirit is the "Spirit of truth." He is the Counselor, the Spirit that gives discernment - discernment to evaluate truth from lies. ...and not everyone can see or hear the Holy Spirit ("the world cannot accept him"). But abiding in Christ allows the Holy Spirit to speak at his highest volume (John 15:1-17: "Remain in me, and I will remain in you...If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you."). The fact that I can know/discern truth through the Holy Spirit by abiding in Christ...that gives me comfort.

So now it's Friday night. What better to do on Friday night than watch a movie, right? Last Friday we watched the Social Network (good movie by the way). But today is Good Friday...the day that Jesus died on the cross. Watching a "normal" movie doesn't fit. So, Tammy and I dusted off "The Passion of the Christ." We've owned the DVD for years...since it came out...but I'm pretty sure we've only watched it once. It is a tough movie to watch. To sit through 2+ hours of visual images of your Savior's body being torn to pieces for your sins...yes, the sins you committed even today...it is stressful. it is painful. it brings tears to your eyes. but it is good. Too often we take Jesus' crucifixion too lightly. We don't want to think about it, so we don't. But when you take the time to really let the magnitude of Jesus' suffering wash over you, it really motivates you to get right with God.

Now i'm off to finish my Easter devotional plan for today and to put together a Easter playlist in iTunes. I'll leave you with a parting Bible verse - Isaiah 53:5:

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Jody covers "How great is the Father's love for us"

A couple of weeks back, I put in a request to my rock star of a sister-in-law, Jody Jackson, to do a YouTube cover of "How great is the Father's love for us." What she sent to me blew me away... check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1hOwr9-LeE

New music Tuesday - #ARCWorship2011

ARC Worship 2011 was just released to iTunes yesterday!

Two Sundays ago, I heard this new, original song - "You're my God" at the venue @mybaysidechurch in east Bradenton. I loved the song, and now it is already on iTunes:

You're my God by Kristen Young at Bayside Community Church

Download it! After listening to the song again, I'm convinced that I'm going to make the venue a fairly regular thing for my family on Sunday nights....

P.S. Let me know if you dig any other songs on the album.

new songs in the rotation...

A couple weeks ago, I found the best kept secret on the Casting Crowns "until the whole world hears" album...just stumbled across it on Tammy's ipod...

Blessed Redeemer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyD1FSC3d08

listen to the lyrics. simply AWESOME song for Easter. I have no idea why this didn't get any radio airplay. This updated hymn should be sung in churches across America every Sunday, slotted right in between a couple of Chris Tomlin songs. After I learn to play this song, I'm gonna make tammy sing it somewhere... (that's an empty threat!)

Speaking of great Easter songs, Nicole Nordeman's "Why" should be in the top 10. Add it in your playlist until Easter...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UIFGFimkKo

I also noticed that Travis Doucette's Defender was not on our ipod in the car this weekend. I'll have to fix that. You should too. You can download the song for free @ http://www.reverbnation.com/travisdoucette

The date is set - Bekah is getting baptized!

Bekah is getting baptized during the Sunday April 10th 6:30 PM service at Idlewild!!!!

Please sit together because the pastor will ask friends & family to stand in honor of the person being baptized...and if you sit together, Bekah will be able to see everyone! :)

You can get directions from http://www.idlewild.org/directions/

For those who live too far away to travel in, you can watch LIVE online at http://www.hypercast.net/idlewild Be prompt though...the baptisms happen right at the beginning of the service!

the venue @Bayside Community Church

We went to "the venue" @ Bayside Community Church tonight.

It is like Elevation (in Charlotte), but in east Bradenton. It is a weird location for a cool/young Elevation-style church, but I like it. very good, current worship (they did "Your love never fails" - one of my favs) and a solid Bible inspired message for a young crowd. apparently it is one of the top 20 growing churches in the US on a percentage basis YoY.

Anyhow, the sermon was titled "Five steps to wreck your life" aka "How to drift apart from God." basic blocking/tackling of the Christian faith...but well articulated/formulated thoughts by Pastor Justin ??? (didn't catch his last name). the five points were:

1. Don't spend time with God (praying, Bible reading/memory, quiet time)

2. Blame God if you don't like your circumstances (when tough times come, do we blame God?)

3. Hang out with bad influences

4. Have a selfish desire to be known (it's about me)

5. If all else fails, fake it (put on a face, don't have accountability)

basic stuff, right? But how easy is it for us to not get these five basic principles right even for a single week?

Sunday trip to Sarasota Polo

don't knock it until you've tried it, right???

So i convinced the cucchi's and the snellings to give a polo match a try today. our cumulative prior experience with polo matches was limited to one scene in "Pretty Woman" so there was no one with experience enough to object. We set the date, everyone packed their favorite hat, and off we went...

it was pretty cool...very relaxed atmosphere...beautiful grounds. less energy than a golf match....much less, actually. in fact, the audience barely looked up from their conversation/food/drink long enough to notice when one of the teams scored a goal. clapping for a goal was entirely optional. that part was...interesting...okay, odd...especially for someone who loves the competition aspect of sports.

I'd do it again if I was in the area and had time to kill on a Sunday afternoon...but I don't think I'll be dragging the friends and family on a 90 min drive for a repeat visit in the near future...

www.sarasotapolo.com/

Bekah is getting baptized!

Today was a HUGE day for our family!!!!

Today during the 9:30 AM service @ Idlewild, Bekah walked forward at the end of church and asked to be baptized!!! This has been brewing for the last week...or really over the last 1.5 years really (since she accepted Christ as her Savior)... This week Bekah had been talking with her mom about getting over the fear of getting baptized and becoming comfortable with being obedient to God in this aspect of her life. We have been very careful to make sure that this is 100% her decision and that she understands all aspects of her commitment - why she is doing it, what it means (and doesn't mean), the logistics of how/when it happens, etc.

For friends & family who want to come to witness her baptism, please hang tight for a little while. Idlewild makes sure that everyone knows what they're getting into when they commit to baptism and joining the church, so we will be getting Bekah registered into "Membership 101" - a class that will explain everything to her. That is usually a month-long class, so I expect us to set a date for her baptism sometime over the next three to eight weeks.

Praise God!

Norwood Family Pictures

So FINALLY, we got together and did a Norwood family photo shoot. You know...the kind that every yuppie family with young kids is supposed to do ANNUALLY...but somehow I have escaped doing until now... We FINALLY did it in January and the pictures are just phenominal. A pic of the girls is below, but more pics can be found in our "Best of 2011" Picasa album at:
https://picasaweb.google.com/tammy.r.norwood/BestOf2011#


By the way, if you're looking to have family pics done and are in the Charlotte area, I highly recommend reaching out to Kathleen @ www.capturedbykd.com

Caroline's first fishing trip to Myakka

This weekend Caroline got her first taste of fishing at the pond at the Norwood estate in Myakka City. She hauled in a decent sized bass on the first try, and picked up a nice sized brim on her second try!!!