“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable…
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me”. Galatians 2:20 Dear NCC family and friends, Like many of you, the change of the year has allowed me occasion for some writing and personal reflection. The last year was a very trying one for everyone and there is…
“And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” Mark 9:26 There is no spiritual exercise more mysterious than prayer. Nothing brings awareness to human weakness quite like the activity of speaking to a God whose thoughts are…
“Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening’”. 1 Samuel 3:8-9 This past Sunday during the worship gathering at NCC I did something I hadn’t done in quite some time. I sat…
“And this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent”. John 17:3 What does it mean to be Christian? That was essentially the question being asked of me by my doctor during my routine checkup recently. This individual seemed genuinely curious, yet frustrated by his…
” Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all…
” But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” Philippians 3:7-8 (NIV) I had a humorous and rather humiliating moment of clarity about…
______ LEAH LOCKETT “This can’t be happening”! I still remember that thought racing through my mind, that feeling of helplessness and shock. The doctor had left the room to give us a minute. I looked frantically at Mark. I knew it was not good. The doctor came back in and explained that I had a…
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you”. Joshua 5:9 We sunk down into our chairs feeling a mixture of embarrassment and shame. Holidays in which the entire extended family would come together were some of the most joyful times of my childhood. I rarely spent…
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is…