We’re in the midst of studying through the book of Nehemiah on Sundays.  I’m really enjoying it immensely because I sense that God is speaking to our congregation through this book.  God knows well what we’ve been through as a church, what condition we are in, and to where He wants to take us.  Someone asked me the other day, “What is our vision as a church now as we move forward?”  I simply replied that the vision that God had given to NCFC from the beginning still remains the same, “Make disciples of all nations and glorify God.”  No matter who’s at NCFC, the original vision that was given by God to NCFC should continue on because the head of NCFC is always Jesus Christ.  People change but Jesus never changes.
Yes, we’ve been experiencing some glitches recently, and some portions of walls and gates have been broken down in the city of NCFC.  But God says He will restore the broken down walls and gates of NCFC.  Then, how does He want to do it?  I truly believe that God is revealing to us how He wants to restore us through the book of Nehemiah.  It’s almost like He is giving us a manual which provides step by step procedures which we can follow to resolve problems.
What really fascinates me is that Nehemiah was a layperson like you who lead the task of rebuilding the broken wall of Jerusalem which seemed to be an insurmountable task.  How was he able to do it as a layperson?  Nehemiah caught God’s vision because his heart was focused on God’s heart.  And he cared so much about the wellbeing of Jerusalem that he was weeping and praying for the restoration of Jerusalem.  His heart was so focused on it. 
Do you see the broken walls and gates of NCFC?  Can we do the same as Nehemiah has done?  I would really like to invite all of you to come out to our Saturday morning prayer and monthly praise and prayer meetings to come together and cry out and pray to our God for the restoration of our church.  As Nehemiah began to cry out to God, He began to move and opened the door.  Do you know our prayer can move God?  Prayer moves God because it is partnership with God.  It is not an act of forcing God to do what is against His will.  But as we ask for what He wants to carry out, He begins to move.  Does God want to restore NCFC?  Is it His will?  I have no doubt it’s indeed His will.  Then, let us cry out together and reach out to Him.
God also mobilized everyone to do the work of restoration through Nehemiah.  God knows one person cannot do the restoration alone.  Can you imagine Nehemiah and a few others trying to do all the repairs of the broken walls and gates of Jerusalem?   God wanted everyone to come and work together.  Everyone needs to be involved.  I talked about “divide and conquer” last week.  Everyone gets an assignment.  It’s much easier and faster to do it together.
When we work together, everyone feels they played a part in the restoration and contributed to make a difference.  Also, God’s blessings and rewards are shared.  God wants to bless as many people as He can.   And in fact, if one or a few people do everything, those few may end up taking God’s blessing away from others.  In the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-7) describes God’s desire to bless as many people as He can.  A landowner went out again and again to hire workers for his vineyard from early in the morning until the late afternoon.  Verses 6-7 say, ‘“And about five o’clock that afternoon he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, “Why are you standing here all day without work?”  They said to him, “no one has hired us.”  He said to them, “You go and work in the vineyard too.”” 
How about you?  Are you still standing without work because no one asked you?  The vineyard at NCFC is in need of many workers who are willing to come and work.  The harvest is plentiful, and workers are few.   Come and let us work together!

From Pastor Neil’s Heart
March 16, 2014

The season of Lent is upon us.  This past Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the 40-day period of fasting and prayer for many Christians in preparation for Easter.  There are, however, 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday, so how do you explain the seeming discrepancy?  Since Jesus Christ resurrected on Sunday and since all Sundays – not just Easter Sunday – were to be celebrated for Christ’s Resurrection, the Roman Catholic Church, which began the tradition of Lent, excluded Sundays in its calculation of the 40 days, which incidentally was to mirror Christ’s 40 days of fasting in the desert before He began His public ministry.
At the dinner table on Ash Wednesday, my daughter Stacey point blank asked me, “So what are you giving up during Lent, Mom?”  As a pastor, I wish I could tell you that I had earnestly prayed about it long before Stacey asked me and had an answer right away, but I had not really thought about it so I was caught off guard.  I had to come up with something really fast without letting anyone know that I am panicking.  I was tempted to say I was going on the Daniel Fast, giving up meat for Lent, but I was in the middle of chowing down on pork barbeque.  The thought of giving up Facebook crossed my mind briefly, but FB is a valuable ministry tool for me, keeping an eye on how my beloved congregation members are doing spiritually and otherwise (I hope that doesn’t sound too creepy, like I am stalking people on FB!).  I could’ve said I would give up drinking soda or eating chocolate, but I felt like that would be more from a selfish motive to improve my health or lose a few unwanted pounds.   I managed to mutter, “I am still thinking about it,” and quickly changed the subject, praying Stacey would not push me further.
Since then I’ve been thinking about what, if any, God may want me to give up during Lent this year.   I couldn’t help but wonder if my effort to achieve a heightened state of spirituality and purity during Lent by giving up certain pleasures in life would really impress God, knowing full well that once lent is over, my life is most likely to return to business as usual.   Worse yet, I may even indulge in the things I gave up during Lent to compensate for my ‘sacrifice,’   much like people who gain weight during Ramadan,  the Islamic holy month of fasting, by excessively eating and drinking all night while fasting during the daylight hours.  That would be a classic example of following the “letter of the law” while disregarding the “spirit of the law.”    Even well-meaning Christians can err the same way if giving up something for Lent inadvertently causes us to have a sense of self-righteousness or  to judge others with a ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude.   As honorable as people’s efforts to observe Lent are, we have to be very careful to check our intentions and guard against spiritual pride because “knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”  
So, if you cannot decide what to give up for Lent, here’s a thought: how about adding something to your life during Lent?  Instead of focusing on you – all that you are giving up or sacrificing, how about adding something that helps you focus on someone else in need?   I believe ultimately that is the true spirit of Lent, to serve those God has brought into our lives, just as Jesus Christ came to meet our needs; to reconcile us with God so we can have the gift of eternal life.  Lent is indeed an excellent time to be reminded of what Jesus said, “I tell you the truth; whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me,” and put it into practice.  So this Lent, you may still see me eat meet, get on FB, and eat tons of chocolate, but I hope and pray that you will also see me surrender myself to serve His people each and every day as I am compelled by the love of Christ.

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
March 9, 2014