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Pastor's Page

Posted on February 13, 2007 ...

It is good to be back after a week of study leave. Thank you for your prayers for me and for your encouragement regarding this absence. Without taking this retreat, I could never devote the concentrated time needed to read and design a sermon plan for the months ahead. Being back in the office reminds me again of how many other items compete for the attention of our church staff while we are here. On the other hand, being away reminds me of how much I enjoy your fellowship. This was especially true as I worshiped last Sunday with a congregation located not too far from where I was staying. The people were welcoming, the music was uplifting, and the sermon was well prepared. Still, it was not home. As is often observed, you simply cannot appreciate home until you go away. My standard suggestion is for people to take the time to go to church when they are out of town on a Sunday. The worship is good for your soul and the participation in a different setting will be enlightening.

As you know, Ground Hog?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Day was just a couple of weeks ago. For a moment our nation?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s attention focused upon Punxsutawney Phil?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s prediction about the end of winter. As I recall, his forecast was for an early spring. Try telling that to the people in upstate New York recently buried under over ten feet of snow!

Most of us do not consider such prognostications seriously, instead we think of them simply as serious fun. Yet Jesus did teach that we have some abilities to know what weather lies ahead.

He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. Luke 12:54-55 NIV

True enough, our abilities to anticipate all future outcomes are certainly not absolute. But neither are we helpless to drift through life in idle unable to be a positive influence upon the days ahead.

As I think of and invest toward the future of our church, I have good reasons to predict that bright and exciting days are ahead of us. What reasons? Just look around:

?Ǭ? NCBC People are working today toward a meaningful DiscipleNow weekend for our young people.
?Ǭ? NCBC People are working today to complete our sanctuary renovation.
?Ǭ? NCBC People are working today toward celebrating the Resurrection Season in early April.
?Ǭ? NCBC People are working in our For a Future Generation campaign help to create an even better congregation in the days ahead.

Got any predictions? See you Sunday. Jay