Thursday, April 23, 2009

Ok so I'm challenged

My wife went back to work for the next 6 weeks...what does this mean? It means that I am primary care-giver for two boys and I am drowning. I have not been able to write on my blog in a couple of weeks. I thought my mom was coming and then she got sick and had to cancel. Oh no! These boys are a handful. I am not a pig but women seem to be designed with INCREDIBLE SKILLS that I may not posess. Ok so I'm whining. Feel sorry for me anyway! I am going to celebrate mother's day from a whole new vantage point this year!

Mr. Mom

Monday, April 13, 2009

I love my church

This weekend I witnessed a beautiful thing as our people prayed, invited, celebrated, and served thier hearts out. This church is so resiliant. We have been through so much and still come out stronger and more passionate. More and more people coming to Christ each week, stories of people growing in Christ, and morale high like when we first started the church. What a great time to be Pastor at NCC. I love my church.

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

"Heaven-the church's best kept secret"

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God's deep secrets.” I Cor. 2:9-10

My family and I go to a restraunt in Vegas that is connnected to a casino. The restraunt is not really there to make money but to serve the customers who gamble in the casino (where the real money is). What many do not know is they have this patio that is perfect for breakfast. AND there is a starbucks right next to the patio! The breakfast plates are big enough for the three of us to share. Nobody is ever really there at breakfast so Sam can run around and play on the patio while shell and I relax and linger long over breakfast. It is one of the best kept secrets in Vegas. Where is it? I’m not tellin”.

Did you know that Heaven is also one of the best kept secrets? But it is the church that's not telling. While heaven is mentioned often, it is rarely discussed. It is even even more seldom described. Why? I do not know. Maybe Satan has a strategy to keep us from knowing the amazing wonders so we will anchor ourselves in the pleasures of sin here rather than longing for the mind-blowing experiences that God hasplanned and prepared for us in the new heaven and new earth.

“Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy;” Is. 60:5
Did you hear that? Heaven will make our faces radiant and our hearts swell and throb with Joy. I can’t wait! I will be everything we have ever desired and much, much more!

This Easter Sunday we take a provacative look at your next life. It has been the best kept secrets but I’m tellin’.

Come hear things you may have never heard before. Let the anticipation of heaven begin in your heart.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Hell helps me...

Jesus spoke of heaven as a real place. "I go and prepare a place for you" (John 14:3).
Jesus also spoke of hell as a real place. In fact, he spoke of hell more than any other teacher or prophet in the Bible. He told the story about the unrepentant rich man who wanted a drop of water to cool his tongue and asked that his brothers be warned "lest they also come to this place of torment" (Luke 16:28). He wanted us to know about hell.

Jesus' teaching about the reality of hell helps me:

1) To reflect about the authenticity of my own faith.
2) It provides additional motive for me to share my faith.
3) It reminds me that in the end all injustice will be dealt with.

It may be difficult to "feel" that the neighbor across the street (who is "such a nice guy") is really destined to a Christless eternity - but so it is - unless there is real genuine repentance and a clear embracing of Jesus Christ. (John 3:36; Romans 5:9; 1 John 5:12). Friends - are you warning of the wrath to come? There is a bridge out down the road. Are you keeping quiet?