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Posted on May 13, 2004 ...

During last Sunday night's worship, we recognized the 50th Anniversary of Roger Bannister's running of "The Miracle Mile." On May 6, 1954, at a track in Oxford, England, Bannister became the first person to run a mile in a recorded time of less than four minutes. Today, elite high school runners have matched Bannister's time. But in 1954, completing a mile in under four minutes was a significant accomplishment in sports.

Neal Bascomb writes about Roger Bannister, Wes Santee, and John Landy's pursuit of the first four minute mile in a book entitled "The Perfect Mile." Bascomb described the training each runner endured. Many hours of workouts were invested just to shave a second or two off their best race time. Their regiment included not only the things they did, but also the things they voluntarily denied themselves. Christian author, Gordon MacDonald observed that these men said "no" to a lot of things in order to reach one huge "yes."

This is a good description of a disciplined life. One must say "no" to many things in order to say "yes" to more significant accomplishments. If you want to say "yes" to a healthy weight, you must say "no" to plenty of donuts, cookies, and slices of cheesecake! If you want to say "yes" to a high level of education, you must say "no" to many things that distract from the investment of study. If you want to say "yes" to financial security, you must say "no" to impulsive spending.

Remember that the word "disciple" is from the same word as "discipline." As "disciples" of Jesus, we are to pursue the high goal of saying "yes" to Him. In order to do this, we must also say "no" to things that will deter us from this most notable ambition. What would Jesus have us do with our time, our talents, and our resources? As good disciples, let us show the discipline to say "yes" to these things. See you Sunday. (Say "no" to sleeping in!)

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This Week at NCBC

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30:
8:30 AM ... Early Worship
9:40 AM ... Old Fashioned Sing - Annex
9:45 AM ... Sunday School - Bible Study
11:00 AM ... Morning Worship
4:00 PM ... Handbells - Sanctuary
4:45 PM ... Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal - Sanctuary
5:30 PM ... All other H.O.G. participants meet in Sanctuary
6:00 PM ... Hanging of the Green
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1:
6:30 PM ... Drama Practice - Sanctuary
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2:
7:00 AM ... Coffee and Bible Study - Grissom
3:30 PM ... Contractor Meeting - Conference Room
6:00 PM ... Quilters - Annex
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3:
6:00 PM ... Bible Study - Prayer Meeting - Sanctuary
6:00 PM ... Children's Choir - Room 410
6:00 PM ... Preschool Choir - Room 310
6:30 PM ... Youth Activities - Annex
6:45 PM ... Preschool Mission Friends - Room 312
6:45 PM ... RAs & GAs - Upstairs Education Building
6:45 PM ... Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal - Choir Loft
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4:
9:30 AM ... Ladies Prayer Group - Annex
6:00 PM ... Willing Workers Christmas Party - Antonios

This Week in Worship

Welcome and Announcements ... Verlin Tucker
Prayer ... Verlin Tucker
Call To Worship ... Congregation
"Come, Now Is the Time to Worship"
"O Worship the King" (Hymn 16)
Children's Sermon ... Dr. Jay McCluskey
Scripture Reading ... Jason Cox
1 Corinthians 16:1-4
Scripture can be found on page 816 of the Bibles supplied in our Sanctuary
Choral Worship ... Sanctuary Choir
"How Beautiful"
Offertory Hymns ... Congregation
"Make Me a Blessing" (Hymn 569)
"Little Is Much When God Is in It"
Offertory Prayer ... Jeff Elliott
Offertory Music ... Instrumentalist
Giving of Tithes and Offerings ... Congregation
Special Music ... Rev. Lanny Green
Message from God's Word ... Dr. McCluskey
"Do You Need Some Gift Giving Advice?"
Invitation Hymn ... Congregation
"I Give You My Heart"
Recognition of Decisions ... Pastor
Closing Words ... Pastor
Benediction ... Pastor

Hanging of the Green
6:00 p.m., Sunday, November 30
Hanging of the Green is a worship service centered around the songs and symbols of the Holiday Season. As the Sanctuary is decorated with sights and sounds, worshipers see how candles, greenery, poinsettias, manger scenes, and other objects become part of our Christmas traditions.