Sin

“Sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden, but it is forbidden because it is hurtful” - Benjamin Franklin


I really enjoyed our discussions this past Sunday morning. It is really great when the congregation gets in on the sermon. I loved the questions, answers, confessions, and love. This Sunday also brought up some really important issues. What is your view of sin. Do we really look at sin like Jesus does, like God does, or do we entertain convenient or pleasurable sins in our life. I never have a problem with Christians that struggle with sins, what saddens me deeply is when we stop struggling and just give in to them, excuse them, or justify them. Let us all take seriously the words of Jesus, he takes sin very seriously, and so should we. How far are we willing to go to purge sin from our lives.


Matthew 18:9  If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.
(Please understand that Jesus is not encouraging self mutilation but making a point about the seriousness of sin)


^{John 8:10-11
10} Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”  ¹¹ “No, Lord,” she said.  And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”


John 14:15
"If you love me, you will obey what I command.


^{Matthew 28:19-20
19} Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”


Let us all be careful not to adopt the attitudes of this world in regard to sin, but to adopt the attitude of God toward sin!!!


Comments?


Pastor Chris

Winter Camp 2011

Thank you all for you prayers, for our winter camp this past weekend. We all had an amazing time in the snow and at the cabin. We were supposed to go skiing on Sunday, but God had other plans and we got snowed in Saturday night. Sunday night we had an amazing time together, we watched the movie "To Save a Life", and had a powerful discussion at the end. We did get to go skiing on Monday and had a blast. I think we need to do a "NorthPoint at the Slopes" day, and all go Skiing.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support for this past weekend.

God Bless,
Pastor Chris

Check out pics and video at www.facebook.com/engagelifegroups

New Post

This is a new post to test this blog site!

If it shows up then I will download my brain soon.

Keep in mind, that might not take long!

Have a great day,
Paul

Not What I can do, But What God Wants To Do

This week while driving in my car, I was listening to a teaching tape I purchased at a conference many years ago. Something the speaker said really hit me as I listened, and I wanted to share it with you. The speaker, Bruce Wilkinson, said we need to stop being so worried about what we have the ability or resources to do or not do, and start thinking more about What God wants to do. If God wants it done, then he will open up the doors and resources to get it done. He is looking for faithful men and women that want His will more than their own, that He can strengthen and encourage, to accomplish his purposes (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Don't ask, "What can I do?" ask "God, What do you want done?"

What is it that God has been telling you that He wants done, that you just need to trust Him and do?

God Bless
Pastor Chris

NCF Life

Hello Church Family, Supporters and Prayer Warriors,

It has been a while since I have blogged about all that is going on. God has taken us on quite a journey. It is very exciting to see the momentum of Church life begin to build. We have been through much craziness over the last 3 years (really 10 years), and I feel as though the tides are beginning to change. As I speak with different people within the congregation, they are excited about what God is doing in the Church as well as in their own personal lives. Thank you all for your prayers and support through these tumultous times.


Here are a few things that are coming up that we are excited about. 

February 18th-21st we are taking over 20 people to Lake Arrowhead for our JH and HS winter retreat. We will be staying at the peck's cabin (thanks pecks) and then going skiing on Sunday. What an amazing way to worship God.

March 11th-13th we are doing our first ever Annual Shepherds Retreat. We are going to forest home for the weekend for a time of Prayer, Fun, Encouragment, Relaxation, and training. We are praying that God will provide the finances for this retreat so that we do not have to charge our ministry leaders for this time of training. I would love to see the church body step up and bless their Shepherds for this weekend. We will be closing out the event with a Sunday Morning All Church Worship Service at Forest home, followed by Lunch in the Forest Home Dining Room. If you would like to donate toward this event just write shepherds retreat on your giving statement, or you can give at www.northpointsb.com and click the donate tab (specify: shepherds retreat).

April 8th-9th we are doing a "15 Hours of Silence" Retreat. This will be a chance to get a way for 1 night, and spend 15 hours of complete silence, focusing on God and listening for his voice. Our world is filled with so much ambient noise, I am excited to get away with you to experience this event. The 15 hours of Silence (some of that time spent sleeping) will be broken with 1 hour of Worship and Prayer, and 1 hour of debrief. We are excited to hear what God will speak to you during that time. Spots for this event are limited. Sign ups will open soon.

As you can see we have some super exciting things happening. On the business front, we are going to be presenting the nominations for 2011 Ministry Board to the Church in the next few weeks, we truly are blessed by the caliber of people that God has called into this position. God has blessed us in our finances and we are running a balanced budget for the first time in years. Thank you to all of you that have been and continue to be faithful givers.

I again thank all of you that have stuck out these crazy times of tilling and weed pulling, and I am looking forward to the harvest that is ahead of us. Feel free to leave comments on this page and share with us what God has been doing in your life.

God Bless
Pastor Chris

PS Here is the new web address for our blog ncflife.blogspot.com