Happy to have dirty fingernails

I have a confession.

There's dirt under my fingernails.

And under my toenails. And in my ears....

Yes, I've had a shower today. But I can't seem to scrub enough to get rid of all of the dirt. That's because I spent most of the day hoeing, and raking, and planting at the church garden. It was hard work. It was also one of the best Saturdays I've had in a long time.

There is something invigorating about digging in the soil. There is something wonderful and exciting about planting tiny seeds knowing that they will soon be big, green plants laden with yummy crops (fingers crossed). And there is something sweet about working alongside members of our church family.

In fact, that's my favorite part of the church garden. I love getting to know folks that I don't normally run into in service or Sunday school. We talk about vegetables. We talk about the weather. We talk about ministry. And we look forward to a shared harvest. It's what community gardens are all about.

If you're looking for a way to get plugged in at NHBC, we'd love to have you work alongside us. You'll get all the fresh veggies you can pick and we'll get the pleasure of getting to know you better. That is, if you don't mind a little dirt.

My Favorite Time of Year

I absolutely love this time of year!

Probably not for the reasons that you're thinking about-like the beauty of Springtime; warmer weather; baseball games; cook-out's; bike rides, etc.

I LOVE VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!

The time has finally arrived to prepare for my most favorite ministry of the year! Our VBS Kick-off volunteer meeting was April 19 (yesterday) and we are looking forward to the week long event that is scheduled for June 8-12 from 9am-12pm.

Please make plans for your children (ages 4 years old-6th grade) to join us for this awesome week! We have a blast: games; Bible-learning centers; high-energy Worship Rally; craft work; music class and a time to be with friends while learning Bible truths!

The National Heights web page has all the information and a way for you to register your children on-line for our VBS.

Don't miss the VBS train ride-Boomerang Express where It All Comes Back to Jesus!!
God loved us and sent His only Son, Jesus. 1John 4:9.

The Church-Wide Community Garden

The church-wide community garden is coming along. After weeks of preparing the soil and picking up oodles of rocks, we have planted a couple of rows of onions and four rows of cabbage. I wanted to plant carrots and radishes last week but the weather didn't cooperate. Perhaps this week will go better.

We have had two tillers donated. One still needs a little work but the other should be running with no problem as soon as I am able to pick it up.

We have scheduled another work day and I hope we have good weather for it. It will be on April 26th from 10 am to 12 noon. We will meet up by the garden behind the bus barn and talk a little and work a little. Perhaps we will be able to get everything in the ground that needs to be planted right now.

If you haven't been a part of the community garden and would like to, we would love to have you. Come by the meeting or talk with me to get more information.

This is a great opportunity to do ministry by working to take care of each other and meet the needs of those around us.

If it is raining on the 26th we will still meet but in the youth room.

See you there.

Permanent Holiday

I always look forward to holidays. I suppose it goes back to my days in elementary school when we saw those golden words on the board - school holiday next week. I, along with every other student (and, I suspect, most of the teachers and administration), looked forward to time away from the work of school. The end of the holiday, however, brought a sense of resignation - back to the old grind. I always wished we could find a way to have a permanent holiday.

Easter makes for an exciting holiday. Families gather, attending worship services around the world, celebrating the Resurrection. Churches overflow with young and old hearing the exiting news "He Is Risen." (Mark 16:6). Every year, I think to myself, "Why can’t we have Easter every week?"

Then I remember - we do! Every Sunday when believers gather to worship, it is a celebration of the Risen Savior. That is the nature of the eternal life Jesus provides - it never ends! Join me in making every day a holiday. Celebrate the fact that "He Is Risen, Indeed!"

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday has always been something of a mystery to me. The day commemorates what is often called the "Triumphal Entry" where Jesus entered Jerusalem to the welcoming accolades of the crowd - the same crowd that, just a few days later, would be calling for his crucifixion. What happened? What caused this extraordinary reversal in their opinion of Jesus?

I only wonder long enough to look at my own life and realize I’ve done exactly the same thing every time I know what Jesus wants me to do and then I do the exact opposite. When I take time to think about it, I am reminded of the truth of Romans 3:23 - All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I sure have and I sure do.

That is the extraordinary message of the Passion Week of Christ. Jesus came into Jerusalem that day in full knowledge that the crowd laying palm branches at his feet would soon be hammering nails in his hand. He came knowing that I would call him Lord and still repeatedly fail him. He came anyway. He came to die for them, and for me, and for you, to meet an unpayable debt for all of us (Romans 6:23).

Then he rose again! That is why we worship him. Join us at NHBC for unforgettable celebrations of Jesus’ Resurrection Sunday evening, April 5, at 6:00 p.m. for the musical presentation of Look to the Lamb and Sunday morning, April 12, in all our morning worship services for special Easter celebrations.

Will You Take Our 30 Day Challenge?

Have you read your Bible today?

I am sorry to jump out at you with such a personal question. I guess I could have started with something lighter like the weather or your plans for the weekend, but I only have a moment of your attention, and honestly, I can't think if anything more important to discuss than the amount of time you are spending reading God's Word.

The Bible is so much more than just a good book.

Hebrews 4:12 says, " For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any doubled-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

This is no ordinary book! It a living book. It is the very word of our great God. What's more, it is our lifeline to Him.

Even so, I have to be honest and tell you that I don't read the Bible as faithfully as I'd like to. In fact, there are days, and weeks when I don't open my Bible at all.

But, I'm working on that.

In fact, I've recently made the commitment to read my Bible every day for at least 30 days. And I'm not the only one. Many of the students and adults involved in the Volume student youth group are smack dab in the middle of a commitment to read our Bible's every day for 30 days. Together we are learning to love and serve God better simply by reading His Word faithfully. You can read the testimonies of many of the challenge participants on our youth group blog www.volumestudents.com.

I want you to join us. I want you to know God better simply by reading His Word more often. I want you to connect to this living and active book in ways you never have before.Will you? Will you take our 30 day challenge? Will you commit to read your Bible, even if it's just a passage or two, every day for the next 30 days?

I hope so.

I can't wait to hear how God uses your commitment to draw you closer to Him.

One of my favorite places to visit growing up was my grandma’s house. We happened to live right next door and so I was a frequent visitor. I never doubted at any time that I would not be welcome in that home. It didn’t matter what she was doing when I came to visit, she would stop and spend time with me. We had many a lengthy visit on her back porch as we both sat in the swing and sipped on a drink. On more than one occasion I would pour out my woes and confessions to her. She always made me feel important and safe and would never condemn me. It was a blessing and comfort during my growing up years to know that not only did my home provide a safe place to land, but so did my grandparent’s house. Even though she passed away in Sept. 2007 and the visits with her have ceased, it’s so vivid in my memories that I can still smell the aroma from her kitchen and hear her voice inviting me in when I knock on her back door. I’m very thankful for the time she spent with me and have been fortunate to see my own parents spend time with my children and pass on the special bond that only a grandparent can give to a grandchild. As an adult while attending a parenting class at church I heard the speaker say that “parents are the law-givers in a child’s life and grandparents are the grace-givers.” This kind of grace is a rare & precious thing among people and yet we have always had it offered to us by a loving God. The Bible says in Ephesians 2:4-5, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.”