• Can’t believe it’s March 7th already. Crazy.
• This is the time to be in Arizona.
• Molly and I were discussing the other day how these next few months are like our “summer” and we need to make the most of them.
• Drained the pool this weekend to get ready.
• Really fun for the girls to tool around in the bottom of it as it drained and filled.
• It was a fun weekend overall.
• Started with a date night with Molly to the Coyotes vs. Ducks hockey game.
• Hockey is good on TV, but it’s incredible live.
• Saw a truckload of goals and even a couple of fights.
• That’s a good night of hockey.
• Finished the weekend with a good day at Gateway.
• Started our three week series, Fighting Fear.
• I began the morning services with a short apology for my dismissive tone and approach to infant baptism at last week’s morning services (I adjusted it by the 5pm last week).
• Spent the rest of the sermon trying to help us fix our eyes on Jesus.
• Some have asked for the final quote I shared from Russell Moore, so here goes:

I don’t accept the narrative of progressive secularization, that religion itself will inevitably decline as humanity evolves toward more and more consistent forms of rationalism. As a matter of fact, I think the future of the church is incandescently bright. That’s not because of promises made at Independence Hall, but a promise made at Caesarea Philippi—“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). I believe that promise because I believe the One who spoke those words is alive, and moving history toward his reign.

• Amen and amen.
• This truth gives me a great deal of comfort, especially when I see people hurting.
• I’m grieving now for a few dear people in our church who recently lost loved ones.
• Death stinks.
• Unless it’s the death that conquers death.
• We had a good time planning our Good Friday services this morning.
• I think it’s usually one of the best services of the year, maybe just because it’s typically so different.
• This year should be a sweet time of reflecting on the cross of Christ–I’m praying for simple and powerful.
• Also, some people have asked whether I’m doing the “History of Redemption” (with the memorized Scripture) sermon again for Easter, and the answer is no.
• It’s a blast to do it, but it’s not something I want to do every year and it’s very taxing to do four times.
• I don’t know exactly what I’ll cook up for the Easter message this year, but I know I’m looking forward to preaching the gospel.
• In case you missed it, we’ll do Easter at 7:00am, 8:30am, 10:00am, and 11:30am.
• If you have flexibility, please consider coming to the outside services (7:00am or 11:30am).
• I’m about to head home for the day.
• There are about 400 birds outside (I can hear them chirping from inside my office), so hopefully I won’t have some Alfred Hitchcock moment break out.
• Focus on Jesus tonight, tomorrow, or whenever you read this.
• Oh, and check out this song — it’s one of my current favorites.
• Have a great day.